Abstract: A digital camera, comprising an image sensor and an optical system for capturing an image of a scene and a wireless communication system. User interface elements are provided enabling a user to select a sharing destination for a captured digital image. A plurality of network pathways are identified for communication with the sharing destination using the wireless communication system. A priority is determined for each of the network pathways and the digital image is transmitted to the sharing destination using the highest priority network pathway.

Abstract: A computer program product for controlling a programmable communication device that includes a local-area wireless communication system, a wide-area wireless communication system, and a data processing system. The computer program product causes the data processing system to perform the steps of: designating a digital camera from which digital images will be received; receiving a digital image and associated sharing data indicating one or more sharing destinations from the digital camera using the local-area wireless communication system; and transmitting the digital image to the one or more sharing destinations using the wide-area wireless communication system.

Abstract: A digital camera, comprising an image sensor and an optical system for capturing an image of a scene and a wireless communication system. User interface elements are provided enabling a user to select a sharing destination for a captured digital image. A plurality of network pathways are identified for communication with the sharing destination using the wireless communication system. A priority is determined for each of the network pathways and the digital image is transmitted to the sharing destination using the highest priority network pathway.

Abstract: A removable storage device (204) includes a memory and management software that includes prioritization criteria for determining which files stored in the memory should be transferred to an external device such as a digital picture frame (206). In another embodiment, a system for media collection management includes a computer having a storage area for storing media files, and first and second display devices in communication with the computer. Media management software stored in the storage area includes prioritization criteria for determining which of the media files need to be transferred to the first and second display devices.

Abstract: A method of processing customer images in a photofinishing apparatus. The method includes obtaining customer image signals and associated requests for image products or services incorporating respective images. The images signals are directed into image queues having different associated formats, based on the associated product or service requested for each. The image signals are communicated from the queues to respective image renderers which render the image signals into the different formats associated with each queue. An apparatus which can execute such a method is also provided.

Abstract: An image compression method in which the size of a compressed low resolution version of an image is used to either estimate a compression factor for the image needed to obtain an aim compressed image size, or to estimate the size of the compressed image resulting from a predetermined compression factor. The estimate can be made with the aid of a predetermined relationship between compressed image size, image resolution and compression factor, which relationship may be a linear or linear inverse one. This relationship is preferably obtained from images of the same class as the one to be compressed. The image is then compressed using the estimated or predetermined compression factor. An apparatus using such a method is also provided.

Abstract: A method of routing images in the form of image signals, in a photofinishing laboratory between a first device which provides the images, a workflow controller, and at least one image processor. Identifications of the images are communicated to the workflow controller. Image processing requests and associated image identifications are communicated from the workflow controller to the image processor. Images from the first device are retrieved at the image processor by: (i) communicating image identifications from the image processor to the first device; and (ii) in response to the identifiers received from the image processor, communicating the images corresponding to the received identifiers from the first device to the image processor without using the workflow controller as an intermediary. A photofinishing laboratory which can execute such methods is also provided.