Abstract: Systems and methods for generating digital images having image meta-data combined with the image data are provided. Briefly described, one of many possible embodiments is an image capture device for generating digital images having image meta-data combined with the image data. The image capture device may comprise image capture hardware configured to capture an image and logic configured for: generating a digital representation of the image, the digital representation comprising image data; applying at least one predefined image analysis algorithm to the digital representation of the image, the at least one predefined image analysis algorithm identifying meta-data corresponding to the image; and combining the meta-data corresponding to the image with the image data to define new image data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and fixing incorrect dates tagged to digital images is disclosed. The current date on a digital imaging device and the dates tagged to digital images are used to determine any potentially incorrect dates tagged to the digital images. When the date on the digital imaging device is incorrect the dates tagged to the images may be incorrect. When the dates tagged to the images are old, or close to a default date, or have large gaps between groups, the dates may be incorrect. The potentially incorrect dates may be brought to the users attention, and after user conformation the dates are corrected.

Abstract: An event bookmarking device detects input signals corresponding to events of interest, generates event bookmarks in response to receiving the input signals so that the event bookmark identifies the event of interest, and broadcasts the event bookmarks. An image capture device detects the broadcasted event bookmarks, captures images of interest, and associates the captured images with the detected event bookmarks. An image data manager collects the captured images from at least one image capture device, receives a specified event bookmark, and identifies from the plurality of captured images those captured images that correspond to the specified event bookmark. An alternative embodiment of the event bookmarking device generates and stores an event bookmark with a time. An image capture device provides images with time stamps. An image data manager identifies captured images that correspond to the specified event bookmark based upon the time stamps and the event bookmark time.

Abstract: A content information manager communicates content information to a digital image capture device. One embodiment comprises a means for storing the content information in a memory, a means for communicating the content information to a digital image capture device, and a means for receiving a request such that the content information is communicated to the digital image capture device when the request is received. Another embodiment comprises a means for communicating a request signal such that the content information manager provides the content information upon receiving the request signal, a means for receiving the content information from the content information manager, and a means for displaying the content information on a display residing on the digital image capture device.

Abstract: A method of configuring settings in an imaging device includes configuring the settings with default values. If at least one value for the settings is externally adjusted, the settings in the imaging device are configured with the at least one value. If the user indicates that the new settings are acceptable, the imaging device determines whether to store the new settings for use in calculating new default values.

Abstract: A method of configuring settings in an imaging device includes retrieving the previous state of a plurality of settings in the imaging device. The new state of the settings in the imaging device are determined. The new state is combined with the previous state to form an optimal state of the settings. The imaging device is then configured with the settings according to the optimal state.

Abstract: An event bookmarking device detects input signals corresponding to events of interest, generates event bookmarks in response to receiving the input signals so that the event bookmark identifies the event of interest, and broadcasts the event bookmarks. An image capture device detects the broadcasted event bookmarks, captures images of interest, and associates the captured images with the detected event bookmarks. An image data manager collects the captured images from at least one image capture device, receives a specified event bookmark, and identifies from the plurality of captured images those captured images that correspond to the specified event bookmark. An alternative embodiment of the event bookmarking device generates and stores an event bookmark with a time. An image capture device provides images with time stamps. An image data manager identifies captured images that correspond to the specified event bookmark based upon the time stamps and the event bookmark time.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a multimedia presentation are disclosed. Briefly described, one embodiment, among others, can be implemented as a computer-readable medium having a program for composing a multimedia presentation from a plurality of media elements having audio media elements and image elements. The image elements comprise at least one still image. The program comprises logic configured to: determine at least one control setting, the control setting including the duration time for display of the at least one still image in an initial presentation; and automatically compose the initial presentation, the initial presentation including the plurality of media elements, the initial presentation based in part on the duration time for the at least one still image and the initial presentation based in part on at least one time stamp associated with at least one of the media elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and fixing incorrect dates tagged to digital images is disclosed. The current date on a digital imaging device and the dates tagged to digital images are used to determine any potentially incorrect dates tagged to the digital images. When the date on the digital imaging device is incorrect the dates tagged to the images may be incorrect. When the dates tagged to the images are old, or close to a default date, or have large gaps between groups, the dates may be incorrect. The potentially incorrect dates may be brought to the users attention, and after user conformation the dates are corrected.

Abstract: An imaging appliance family is a cooperative system of two or more imaging appliances that are linked together to share images, command and control. Imaging appliances may be linked to each other by introducing the appliances to each other, establishing a communications link, and exchanging appliance information. After communications are established, appliance information is exchanged and the appliances are dynamically configured into a cooperative system. As part of the appliance information exchanged, an address and an associated image are exchanged. The image may be of the imaging appliance, the user or the location of the user or imaging appliance. When selecting another imaging appliance to communicate with, instead of identifying the imaging appliance by descriptive text, the user identifies the imaging appliance according to its identifying image. Thus, each imaging appliance includes a thumbnail associated with it that identifies it to other appliances.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing digitally-stored media files. The method involves maintaining a decay function, and then periodically applying the decay function to at least a portion of the digitally-stored media files. The apparatus includes computer-readable media, and program code stored on the computer-readable media. The program code comprises program code for maintaining a decay function, and program code for periodically applying the decay function to at least a portion of the digitally-stored media files.

Abstract: The present invention is a system that coordinates the printing of a page of photos that match the layout of a pre-existing matte. The matte layout can be created from a physical matte. When creating an electronic layout or template from a physical matte, a digital image of the matte and a reference target is created. The template can then be created by using the relationship in the digital image between the image of the reference target and the image of the physical matte.

Abstract: A device service progress indication method and system reports the progress of a requested device service in the absence of feedback from the device providing the service to a client device. The method is adaptable and may be applied to a wide variety of open-loop progress indication situations.

Abstract: A method for the equalization of white space around multiple placements of photographs or other placement items with optional, associated captions on a medium such as a page or a computer screen. The method provides techniques for creating aesthetically pleasing layouts for a set of items to be displayed, as for example printed on a sheet of paper by a printer.

Abstract: A system for organizing and navigating through files allows a user to view and navigate through files in a rendering of three-dimensional space. The system comprises a plurality of files, each file comprising at least two attributes, a first code segment for mapping the at least two attributes into at least two dimensions, a graphical user interface for rendering the at least two attributes representing each file into three-dimensional space, where an icon represents each file, and where the graphical user interface allows a user to navigate through the three-dimensional space to view the icons representing each of the files. Embodiments of the invention map files into three-dimensional space according to values assigned to the attributes and allow the user to view and manipulate the files in three-dimensional space.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing automated delivery of digital images, such as still images and/or video, from an image capture device to an image display device are provided. Briefly described, in architecture, one of many possible embodiments is an image capture device. The image capture device may comprise image capture hardware configured to capture an image, a network interface configured for communication with a communications network, and logic configured to generate a digital image comprising image data and configured to automatically provide the image data to the communications network for delivery to at least one specified display device.

Abstract: A content information manager communicates content information to a digital image capture device. One embodiment comprises a means for storing the content information in a memory, a means for communicating the content information to a digital image capture device, and a means for receiving a request such that the content information is communicated to the digital image capture device when the request is received. Another embodiment comprises a means for communicating a request signal such that the content information manager provides the content information upon receiving the request signal, a means for receiving the content information from the content information manager, and a means for displaying the content information on a display residing on the digital image capture device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating digital images having image meta-data combined with the image data are provided. Briefly described, one of many possible embodiments is an image capture device for generating digital images having image meta-data combined with the image data.. The image capture device may comprise image capture hardware configured to capture an image and logic configured for: generating a digital representation of the image, the digital representation comprising image data; applying at least one predefined image analysis algorithm to the digital representation of the image, the at least one predefined image analysis algorithm identifying meta-data corresponding to the image; and combining the meta-data corresponding to the image with the image data to define new image data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preparing a record of an event based on images from multiple image capture devices are provided. One embodiment is an image capture device configured to capture images and generate electronic representations of the images. Briefly described, one such image capture device comprises: a network interface device configured for communication with a communication network; and logic associated with the network interface device, the logic configured to establish communication with an image collection server via the communication network, to capture at least one image of an event, and to provide an electronic representation of the at least one image of the event to the communication network for delivery to the image collection server.

Abstract: A method, device, and logic for synchronizing captured data from a recorder, such as image data from a digital camera, with stored data in a storage medium. The system includes determining whether any two sets of the captured and stored data have the same first data attribute, further determining whether any two captured and stored data sets having the same first attribute at the same second and third attributes, and deleting captured data sets having the same first, second, and third data attributes. The first data attribute may be a non-calculated data attribute, such as the size, name, and time. At least one of the second and third data attributes is preferably a calculated data attribute, such as a checksum.