Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A system for managing files stored on a digital camera includes
detection of the digital camera, automatic reception of thumbnail
image files stored in the camera, and storage of the received thumbnail
image files in a memory. The system also includes a user interface
for a windowing application for viewing system objects which includes
a first area for displaying a hierarchical tree of system objects,
a second area for displaying a thumbnail image corresponding to
a system object selected in the first area, a third area adjacent
to the second area for displaying a second icon indicating that
a sound file is associated with the displayed thumbnail image, and
a fourth area which surrounds the second area and the third area,
wherein the fourth area may be selected and dragged to an icon representing
a storage device in order to copy the displayed thumbnail image,
a full-resolution image file associated with the displayed thumbnail
image, and any associated sound files to the storage device. The
second area may be selected and dragged to the icon representing
the storage device in order to copy the full-resolution image file
to the storage device, and the sound icon may be selected and dragged
to the icon representing the storage device in order to copy any
sound files associated with the displayed thumbnail image to the
storage device. Digital Camera Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable process
steps to monitor a computer system for connection to a digital camera,
the process steps comprising: a detecting step to automatically
detect, in the computer system, a digital camera connected to the
computer system; a receiving step to receive, in response to an
automatic detection of a connected digital camera, thumbnail image
files stored in the digital camera automatically after the digital
camera is detected; a storing step to store the received thumbnail
image files in a memory; a receiving step to receive full-resolution
image files from the digital camera after the thumbnail image files
stored in the digital camera are received; a receiving step to receive
sound files after the thumbnail image files stored in the digital
camera are received.
2. A computer-readable medium according to claim 1, wherein all
sound files are received from the digital camera after all full-resolution
image files stored in the digital camera are received.
3. A computer-readable medium according to claim 1, wherein a sound
file is received from the digital camera immediately after a full-resolution
image file associated with the sound file is received.
4. A computer-readable medium according to claim 2, wherein the
receiving step to receive full-resolution image files comprises
a step to receive a selected full-resolution image file immediately
after reception of a current full-resolution image file in a case
that a thumbnail image file corresponding to the selected full-resolution
image file receives focus during reception of the current full-resolution
image file.
5. A computer-readable medium according to claim 3, wherein the
receiving step to receive full-resolution image files comprises
a step to receive a selected full-resolution image file immediately
after reception of a current full-resolution image file in a case
that a thumbnail image file corresponding to the selected full-resolution
image file receives focus during reception of the current full-resolution
image file.
6. A computer-readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the
process steps further comprise a displaying step to display an icon
representing the digital camera while the digital camera is connected
to the computer system.
7. A computer-readable medium according to claim 6, the process
steps further comprising: a displaying step to display a toolbox
window to control camera settings in a case that the icon is selected;
a viewing step to view all thumbnail image files stored in the camera;
a downloading step to download all full-resolution image files stored
in the camera; a printing step to print at least one contact sheet
of all thumbnail image files stored in the camera; and an uploading
step to upload all full-resolution image files stored in the camera
to an internet service provider.
8. A computer-readable medium according to claim 7, wherein the
toolbox window also provides control of downloading and uploading
parameters.
9. A computer-readable medium according to claim 7, wherein the
downloading step comprises a downloading step to download all thumbnail
image files stored in the camera.
10. A computer-readable medium according to claim 7, wherein the
downloading step comprises a downloading step to download all sound
files stored in the camera.
11. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable process
steps to manage files stored on a digital camera in a windowing
environment, the process steps comprising: a displaying step to
display an icon representing a digital camera as a system object
in a system object directory; a displaying step to display an icon
representing a film canister within the digital camera as a sub-folder
of the digital camera in the system object directory; and a displaying
step to display each thumbnail image file located in the film canister
in response to selection of the film canister.
12. A computer-readable medium according to claim 11, wherein a
film canister includes a plurality of photo groups of associated
thumbnail image files, full-resolution image files and sound files.
13. A computer-readable medium according to claim 11, the process
steps further comprising: a determining step to determine whether
a displayed thumbnail image file is associated with a sound file
in the selected film canister; and a displaying step to display
an indicator adjacent to the displayed thumbnail image file in a
case it is determined that the displayed thumbnail image file is
associated with a sound file in the selected film canister.
14. A user interface for an application for viewing system objects,
comprising: a first area for displaying a hierarchical tree of system
objects, wherein the tree of system objects includes a digital camera
object and at least one other system object that corresponds to
a storage device, a file system element or an output device of the
system; and a second area for displaying information corresponding
to a system object selected in the first area, wherein upon selection
of the digital camera object in the first area the second area displays
a thumbnail of an image stored on the digital camera; a third area
adjacent to the second area for displaying a sound icon indicating
that a sound file is associated with the displayed thumbnail image;
and a fourth area which surrounds the second area and the third
area; wherein the fourth area may be selected and dragged to an
icon representing a storage device in order to copy the displayed
thumbnail image an associated full-resolution image file and all
associated sound files to the storage device.
15. A user interface according to claim 14, wherein the second
area may be selected and dragged to an icon representing a storage
device in order to copy a full-resolution image file associated
with the displayed thumbnail image to the storage device.
16. A user interface according to claim 14, wherein the second
area may be selected and dragged to an application or to an icon
representing the application in order to open a full-resolution
image file associated with the displayed thumbnail image in the
application.
17. A user interface according to claim 14, wherein the sound icon
may be selected and dragged to an application or to an icon representing
the application in order to open all sound files associated with
the displayed thumbnail image file in the application.
18. A user interface according to claim 14, wherein the fourth
area may be selected and dragged to an application or to an icon
representing the application in order to open an associated full-resolution
image file in the application.
19. A user interface according to claim 14, wherein the fourth
area may be selected and dragged to an application or to an icon
representing the application in order to open an associated full-resolution
image file in the application.
20. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable process
steps to monitor a computer system for connection to an image data
storage device, the process steps comprising: a detecting step to
automatically detect, in the computer system an image data storage
device connected to the computer system; a receiving step to receive,
in response to an automatic detection of a connected image data
storage device, thumbnail image files stored in the image data storage
device automatically after the image data storage device is detected;
a storing step to store the received thumbnail image files in a
memory; a receiving step to receive full-resolution image files
from the image data storage device after the thumbnail image files
stored in the image data storage device are received; and a receiving
step to receive sound files after the thumbnail image files stored
in the image data storage device are received.
21. A method of monitoring a computer system for connection to
an image data storage device, the process comprising the steps of:
automatically detecting an image data storage device connected to
the computer system; receiving, in response to an automatic detection,
in the computer system, of a connected image data storage device,
thumbnail image files stored in the image data storage device automatically
after the image data storage device is detected; storing the received
thumbnail image files in a memory; receiving full-resolution image
files from the image data storage device after the thumbnail image
files stored in the image data storage device are received; and
receiving sound files after the thumbnail image files stored in
the image data storage device are received.
22. Computer-executable program code stored on a computer-readable
medium, said computer-executable program code for monitoring a computer
system for connection to an image data storage device, said computer-executable
program code comprising: code to automatically detect, in the computer
system, an image storage device connected to the computer system;
code to receive, in response to an automatic detection of a connected
image data storage device, thumbnail image files stored in the image
data storage device automatically after the image data storage device
is detected; code to store the received thumbnail image files in
a memory; code to receive full-resolution image files from the image
data storage device after the thumbnail image files stored in the
image data storage device are received; and code to receive sound
files after the thumbnail image files stored in the image data storage
device are received.
23. An apparatus comprising: a program memory for storing process
steps executable to (1) automatically detect, in the computer system,
an image storage device connected to the computer system; (2) receive,
in response to an automatic detection of a connected image data
storage device, thumbnail image files stored in the image data storage
device automatically after the image data storage device is detected;
(3) store the received thumbnail image files in a memory; (4) receive
full-resolution image files from the image data storage device after
the thumbnail image files stored in the image data storage device
are received; (5) receive sound files after the thumbnail image
files stored in the image data storage device are received; and
a processor for executing the process steps stored in said program
memory.
24. A method of monitoring a computer system for connection to
a digital camera, the method comprising: automatically detecting,
in the computer system, a digital camera connected to the computer
system; receiving, in response to an automatic detection of a connected
digital camera, thumbnail image files stored in the digital camera
automatically after the digital camera is detected; storing the
received thumbnail image files in a memory; receiving full-resolution
image files from the digital camera after the thumbnail image files
stored in the digital camera are received; and receiving sound files
after the thumbnail image files stored in the digital camera are
received.
25. A method according to claim 24, wherein all sound files are
received from the digital camera after all full-resolution image
files stored in the digital camera are received.
26. A method according to claim 24, wherein a sound file is received
from the digital camera immediately after a full-resolution image
file associated with the sound file is received.
27. A method according to claim 25, wherein the step of receiving
full-resolution image files comprises a step of receiving a selected
full-resolution image file immediately after reception of a current
full-resolution image file in a case that a thumbnail image file
corresponding to the selected full-resolution image file receives
focus during reception of the current full-resolution image file.
28. A method according to claim 26, wherein the step of receiving
full-resolution image files comprises a step of receiving a selected
full-resolution image file immediately after reception of a current
full-resolution image file in a case that a thumbnail image file
corresponding to the selected full-resolution image file receives
focus during reception of the current full-resolution image file.
29. A method according to claim 24, wherein the method further
comprises a step of displaying an icon representing the digital
camera while the digital camera is connected to the computer system.
30. A method according to claim 29, the method further comprising:
displaying a toolbox window to control camera settings in a case
that the icon is selected; viewing all thumbnail image files stored
in the camera; downloading all full-resolution image files stored
in the camera; printing at least one contact sheet of all thumbnail
image files stored in the camera; and uploading all full-resolution
image files stored in the camera to an internet service provider.
31. A method according to claim 30, wherein the toolbox window
also provides control of downloading and uploading parameters.
32. A method according to claim 30, wherein the step of downloading
comprises downloading all thumbnail image files stored in the camera.
33. A method according to claim 30, wherein the step of downloading
comprises a downloading step to download all sound files stored
in the camera.
34. A method to manage files stored on a digital camera in a windowing
environment, the method comprising: displaying an icon representing
a digital camera as a system object in a system object directory;
displaying an icon representing a film canister within the digital
camera as a sub-folder of the digital camera in the system object
directory; and displaying each thumbnail image file located in the
film canister in response to selection of the film canister.
35. A method according to claim 34, wherein a film canister includes
a plurality of photo groups of associated thumbnail image files,
full-resolution image files and sound files.
36. A method according to claim 34, the method comprising: determining
whether a displayed thumbnail image file is associated with a sound
file in the selected film canister; and displaying an indicator
adjacent to the displayed thumbnail image file in a case it is determined
that the displayed thumbnail image file is associated with a sound
file in the selected film canister.
37. An apparatus comprising: a program memory for storing process
steps executable to: automatically detect, in the computer system,
an digital camera connected to the computer system, receive, in
response to an automatic detection of a connected digital camera,
thumbnail image files stored in the digital camera automatically
after the digital camera is detected, store the received thumbnail
image files in a memory, receive full-resolution image files from
the digital camera after the thumbnail image files stored in the
digital camera are received, and receive sound files after the thumbnail
image files stored in the digital camera are received; and a processor
for executing the process steps stored in said program memory.
38. Computer-executable program code according to claim 37, the
computer-executable program code further comprising program code
to: receive full-resolution image files from the digital camera
after all thumbnail image files stored in the digital camera are
received, and receive sound files from the digital camera after
all full-resolution image file stored in the digital camera are
received.
39. Computer-executable program code according to claim 37, the
computer-executable program code further comprising program code
to: receive full-resolution image files from the digital camera
after all thumbnail image files stored in the camera are received,
and receive a sound file from the digital camera immediately after
a full-resolution image file associated with the sound file is received.
40. Computer-executable program code according to claim 38, wherein
the computer-executable program code to receive full-resolution
image files comprises program code to receive a selected full-resolution
image file immediately after reception of a current full-resolution
image file in a case that a thumbnail image file corresponding to
the selected full-resolution file receives focus during reception
of the current full-resolution image file.
41. Computer-executable program code according to claim 39, wherein
the computer-executable program code to receive full-resolution
image files comprises program code to receive a selected full-resolution
image file immediately after reception of a current full-resolution
image file in a case that a thumbnail image file corresponding to
the selected full-resolution image file receives focus during reception
of the current full-resolution image file.
42. Computer-executable program code according to claim 37, wherein
the computer-executable program code further comprises program code
to display an icon representing the digital camera while the digital
camera is connected to the computer system.
43. Computer-executable program code according to claim 42, wherein
the computer-executable program code further comprises program code
to: display a toolbox window to control camera settings in a case
that the icon is selected, view all thumbnail image files stored
in the camera, download all full-resolution image files stored in
the camera; print at least one contact sheet of all thumbnail image
files store in the camera, and upload all full-resolution image
files stored in the camera to an internet service provider.
44. Computer-executable program code according to claim 43, wherein
the toolbox window also provides control of downloading and uploading
parameters.
45. Computer-executable program code according to claim 43, wherein
the computer-executable program code to download comprises program
code to download all thumbnail image files stored in the camera.
46. Computer-executable program code according to claim 43, wherein
the computer-executable program code to download further comprises
program code to download all sound files stored in the camera.
47. An apparatus comprising: a program memory for storing process
steps executable to: display an icon representing a digital camera
as a system object in a system object directory, display an icon
representing a film canister within the digital camera as a sub-folder
of the digital camera in the system object directory, and display
each thumbnail image file located in the film canister in response
to selection of the film canister; and a processor for executing
the process steps stored in said program memory.
48. Computer-executable program code according to claim 47, wherein
the film canister includes a plurality of photo groups of associated
thumbnail image files, full-resolution image files and sound files.
49. Computer-executable program code according to claim 47, wherein
the computer-executable program code further comprises program code
to: determine whether a displayed thumbnail image file is associated
with a sound file in the selected film canister, and display an
indicator adjacent to the displayed thumbnail image file in a case
it is determined that the displayed thumbnail image file is associated
with a sound file in the selected film canister.
50. Computer-executable program code stored on a computer-readable
medium, said computer-executable program code to monitor a computer
system for connection to a digital camera, said computer-executable
program code comprising program code executable to: automatically
detect, in the computer system, an digital camera connected to the
computer system, receive, in response to an automatic detection
of a connected digital camera, thumbnail image files stored in the
digital camera automatically after the digital camera is detected,
store the received thumbnail image files in a memory, receive full-resolution
image files from the digital camera after the thumbnail image files
stored in the digital camera are received, and receive sound files
after the thumbnail image files stored in the digital camera are
received.
51. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the computer-executable
program code to: receive full-resolution image files from the digital
camera after all thumbnail image files stored in the digital camera
are received, and receive sound files from the digital camera after
all full-resolution image file stored in the digital camera are
received.
52. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the computer-executable
program code further comprises program code to: receive full-resolution
image files from the digital camera after all thumbnail image files
stored in the camera are received, and receive a sound file from
the digital camera immediately after a full-resolution image file
associated with the sound file is received.
53. An apparatus according to claim 51, wherein the computer-executable
program code to receive full-resolution image files comprises program
code to receive a selected full-resolution image file immediately
after reception of a current full-resolution image file in a case
that a thumbnail image file corresponding to the selected full-resolution
file receives focus during reception of the current full-resolution
image file.
54. An apparatus according to claim 52, wherein the computer-executable
program code to receive full-resolution image files comprises program
code to receive a selected full-resolution image file immediately
after reception of a current full-resolution image file in a case
that a thumbnail image file corresponding to the selected full-resolution
image file receives focus during reception of the current full-resolution
file.
55. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the computer-executable
program code further comprises program code to display an icon representing
the digital camera while the digital camera is connected to the
computer system.
56. An apparatus according to claim 55, wherein the computer-executable
program code further comprises program code to: display a toolbox
window to control camera settings in a case that the icon is selected,
view all thumbnail image files stored in the camera, download all
full-resolution image files stored in the camera; print at least
one contact sheet of all thumbnail image files stored in the camera,
and upload all full-resolution image files stored in the camera
to an internet service provider.
57. An apparatus according to claim 56, wherein the toolbox window
also provides control of downloading and uploading parameters.
58. An apparatus according to claim 56, wherein the computer-executable
program code to download comprises program code to download all
thumbnail image files stored in the camera.
59. An apparatus according to claim 56, wherein the computer-executable
program code to download further comprises program code to download
all sound files stored in the camera.
60. Computer-executable program code stored on a computer-readable
medium, said computer-executable program code to manage files stored
on a digital camera in a windowing environment, said computer-executable
program code comprising program code to: display an icon representing
a digital camera as a system object in a system object directory,
display an icon representing a film canister within the digital
camera as a sub-folder of the digital camera in the system object
directory, and display each thumbnail image file located in the
film canister in response to selection of the film canister.
61. An apparatus according to claim 60, wherein the film canister
includes a plurality of photo groups of associated thumbnail image
files, full-resolution image files and sound files.
62. An apparatus according to claim 60, wherein the computer-executable
program code further comprises program code to: determine whether
a displayed thumbnail image file is associated with a sound file
in the selected film canister, and display an indicator adjacent
to the displayed thumbnail image file in a case it is determined
that the displayed thumbnail image file is associated with a sound
file in the selected film canister.
Digital Camera Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a system for managing and
manipulating images stored on a digital camera. More particularly,
the present invention is related to a system for managing associated
full-resolution image files, thumbnail image files, and sound files
stored in a digital camera using a personal computer having a windowing
environment, wherein the system is integrated with standard user
interfaces of the windowing environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Digital cameras are becoming increasingly prevalent in consumer
households, as well as in businesses requiring capture and manipulation
of digital images, such as internet merchandising or real estate.
Most of these digital camera users also own a personal computer
system with which they envision managing and manipulating images
captured using their digital cameras. These personal computer systems
most commonly provide a windowing operating environment in which
intuitive and standardized user interfaces are used for controlling
various system objects, such as storage devices, files, and printers.
It is therefore desirable to manage a digital camera, as well as
data files stored therein, using the standardized interfaces used
to control other system objects within the windowing environment.
It is even more desirable to customize the standardized interfaces
so that special features specific to a digital camera may be controlled
and exploited.
Kodak.RTM. attempts to address the foregoing by offering, with
its digital cameras, software which is minimally integrated with
Microsoft.RTM. Windows95.RTM.. In this regard, Windows95 includes
Explorers, which is an application used to view a hierarchical tree
of system objects arranged into folders and sub-folders, as well
as the contents of a selected folder or sub-folder. As shown in
FIG. 48, Kodak's software causes the Explorer application to display
icon 1001 representing a Kodak digital camera as a system object
in All Folders window 1002. In addition, a camera memory located
within the Kodak digital camera is represented by icon 1003 and
is shown as a sub-folder of the Kodak digital camera.
Since icon 1003 is selected in FIG. 48, Folder Contents window
1004 illustrates the contents of the camera memory. Accordingly,
each icon shown in window 1004 represents a file stored in the camera
memory. However, the represented files are in a Kodak proprietary
format (.kdc) and neither the displayed icons or the filenames listed
therewith are particularly helpful to a user in determining the
contents of any represented file.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The inventors herein have concluded that what is needed is a system
for integrating management of a digital camera into a windowing
environment wherein convenient and intuitive manipulation of associated
full-resolution image files, thumbnail image files, and sound files
stored in the camera is provided, along with standard windowing
features such as customized context menus and intelligent "drag
and drop" functionality.
The present invention addresses the foregoing by integrating a
digital camera as a system object into windowing applications for
viewing system objects, such as Explorer or My Computer.RTM., and
by providing visual feedback and drag and drop functionality with
respect to all data files stored in the camera. As a result, associated
full-resolution image files, thumbnail image files, and sound files
stored in the camera may be easily manipulated either individually
or as a single unit.
Therefore, in one aspect, the present invention concerns a system
to manage files stored on a digital camera in a windowing environment
including display of an icon representing a digital camera as a
system object in a system object directory, display of an icon representing
a film canister within the digital camera as a sub-folder of the
digital camera in the system object directory, and display of a
plurality of thumbnail image files in the film canister in response
to user selection of the film canister. Accordingly, this aspect
of the present invention allows a user to view thumbnail image files
stored in the digital camera simply by selecting a film canister
displayed within an application for viewing system objects. In addition,
a film canister preferably includes a plurality of photo groups
of associated thumbnail image files, full-resolution image files
and sound files.
In a preferred aspect, the icon representing the film canister
may be dragged and dropped into any folder on a hard disk or a network
disk, wherein the plurality of thumbnail image files will be displayed
upon subsequent selection of the dragged and dropped icon. In this
embodiment, the feature to display thumbnail image files upon selection
of a film canister is advantageously preserved even if the film
canister is located in a storage device other than the digital camera.
In another aspect, the present invention concerns a system to monitor
a computer system for connection to a digital camera, including
detection of the digital camera connected to the computer system,
reception of thumbnail image files stored in the camera automatically
after the camera is detected, and storage of the received thumbnail
image files in a cache memory. In a preferred embodiment, full-resolution
files are received and stored in the cache memory after the thumbnail
image files are stored in the cache memory. Moreover, the full-resolution
files are received and stored either sequentially or based on a
selection of a thumbnail image. Due to the automatic caching of
files stored in a detected camera, the invention allows multiple
client applications to access quickly files from the digital camera
by diversion of requests for access to the cache.
In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a system
to control a digital camera toolbox application user interface including
display of a toolbox window, the toolbox window including a Settings
button, a Download button, a View button, a Print button, and an
Upload button. The toolbox application also provides control of
settings of a digital camera in a case the Settings button is selected,
viewing of all thumbnail image files stored in the camera in a case
the View button is selected, downloading of all thumbnail image
files, full-resolution image files, and sound files stored in the
camera in a case the Download button is selected, printing of at
least one contact sheet of all thumbnail image files stored in the
camera in a case the Print button is selected, and uploading of
all full-resolution image files stored in the camera to an internet
photo service provider in a case the Upload button is selected.
In a preferred arrangement, the Settings button provides control
over downloading and uploading parameters. The one-button functionality
provided by the toolbox application allows easy operation of commonly-used
camera management functions.
The present invention also relates to a user interface for a windowing
application for viewing system objects which includes a first area
for displaying a hierarchical tree of system objects, and a second
area for displaying a thumbnail image corresponding to a system
object selected in the first area. Preferably, the second area may
be selected and dragged to an icon representing a storage device
in order to copy a full-resolution image file associated with the
displayed thumbnail image to the storage device.
The user interface also preferably includes a third area adjacent
to the second area for displaying an icon indicating that a sound
file is associated with the displayed thumbnail image, wherein the
third area may be selected and dragged to the icon representing
the storage device in order to copy any sound files associated with
the displayed thumbnail image to the storage device. A further preferred
aspect includes a fourth area which surrounds the second area and
the third area, wherein the fourth area may be selected and dragged
to the icon representing the storage device in order to copy the
displayed thumbnail image, the associated full-resolution image
file and any associated sound files to the storage device.
Advantageously, this aspect masks the existence of separate but
associated thumbnail image files, full-resolution files, and sound
files from the user. As a result, this aspect provides simple and
intelligent manipulation of data files produced by a digital camera.
This brief summary has been provided so that the nature of the
invention may be understood quickly. A more complete understanding
of the invention can be obtained by reference to the following detailed
description of the preferred embodiment thereof in connection with
the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an outward view of representative computing equipment
embodying the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the internal architecture of the FIG.
1 computing system.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the internal architecture of a digital
camera for use in conjunction with the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing process steps of a port monitor
according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a view of an operating system desktop displaying a toolbox
application user interface window according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a Settings property sheet accessible through the FIG.
5 toolbox user interface.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating minimization of a toolbox window.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating minimization of a toolbox window.
FIG. 9 is a view of a task bar context menu corresponding to the
FIG. 5 toolbox application.
FIG. 10 is a view of a title bar pop-up menu.
FIG. 11 is a view of a sample Settings dialog specific to a Canon.RTM.
PowerShot 600.RTM. digital camera.
FIG. 12 is a view of a Communications Settings dialog for setting
camera communication parameters.
FIG. 13 is a view of a Settings property sheet with a Save Photos
property page displayed.
FIG. 14 is a view of a Set Directory dialog for selecting a picture
destination directory.
FIG. 15 is a view of a Deletion Warning dialog.
FIG. 16 is a view of an Internet property page of a Settings property
sheet.
FIG. 17 is a view of a Save Photos dialog for setting photo saving
parameters.
FIG. 18 is a view of a Saving Status dialog.
FIG. 19 is a view of a Print dialog to control printing of contact
sheets according to the present invention.
FIG. 20 is a view of a Printing Status dialog.
FIG. 21 is a view of an Uploading Status dialog.
FIG. 22 is a view of a Windows95 Explorer user interface according
to the present invention.
FIG. 23 is a view of a photo group displayed according to the present
invention.
FIG. 24 is a view of a photo group displayed according to the present
invention.
FIG. 25 is a view of a photo group context menu according to the
present invention.
FIG. 26 is a view of a Photo Group property page.
FIG. 27 is a view of a Multiple Photo Group property page.
FIG. 28 is a view of a Moving Warning dialog.
FIG. 29 is a view of a Windows95 Explorer toolbar according to
the present invention.
FIG. 30 is a view illustrating rotation of a displayed thumbnail
image.
FIG. 31 is a view of a Save Photos dialog for setting saving parameters.
FIG. 32 is a view of a Save Photos dialog for setting saving parameters.
FIG. 33 is a view of a Save Photos dialog for setting saving parameters.
FIG. 34 is a view of a Deletion Warning dialog.
FIG. 35 is a view of a Print dialog for setting photo printing
parameters.
FIG. 36 is a view of printed image files.
FIG. 37 shows representative views of sheets of printed image files.
FIG. 38 is a view of a Print dialog for setting printing parameters.
FIG. 39 is a view of a Print dialog for setting printing parameters.
FIG. 40 is a view of Print dialog for setting printing parameters.
FIG. 41 is a view of a contact sheet printed in accordance with
the present invention.
FIG. 42 is a view of Print dialog for setting contact sheet printing
parameters.
FIG. 43 is a view of Print dialog for setting contact sheet printing
parameters.
FIG. 44 is a view of a Windows95 Explorer user interface according
to the present invention.
FIG. 45 is a view of a Windows95 Explorer user interface according
to the present invention.
FIG. 46 is a view of a Windows95 Explorer user interface according
to the present invention.
FIG. 47 is a view of a Windows95 Explorer user interface according
to the present invention.
FIG. 48 is a view of a conventional graphical user interface for
managing digital camera images.
FIG. 49 is a view of a Windows95 Explorer File pull-down menu according
to the present invention.
FIG. 50 is a view of a Windows95 Explorer Edit pull-down menu according
to the present invention.
FIG. 51 is a view of a Windows95 Explorer View pull-down menu according
to the present invention.
FIG. 52 is a view of a Confirm File Delete dialog.
FIG. 53 is a view of a Windows95 Explorer Tools pull-down menu.
FIG. 54 is a view of a Windows95 Explorer Help pull-down menu.
FIG. 55 is a view of an Options property sheet.
FIG. 56 is a view of a File Delete Warning dialog.
FIG. 57 is a view illustrating invocation of an Explorer user interface
according to the present invention.
FIG. 58 is a view illustrating invocation of an Explorer user interface
according to the present invention.
FIG. 59 is a view illustrating invocation of an Explorer user interface
according to the present invention.
FIG. 60 is a view illustrating invocation of an Explorer user interface
according to the present invention.
FIG. 61 is a view illustrating invocation of an Explorer user interface
according to the present invention.
FIG. 62 is a list of Component Object Model interfaces supported
by a shell extension module embodying the present invention.
FIG. 63, comprising FIG. 63a to FIG. 63d, is a list of object classes
for implementing the FIG. 62 interfaces.
FIG. 64 is a list of Windows95 registry keys for supporting camera
and canister system objects in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 65 is a view illustrating invocation of a TWAIN user interface
from an image processing application.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 is a representational view of a computer system in which
the present invention may be utilized. Computer system 1 is preferably
an IBM PC-compatible system executing Microsoft Windows95. Computer
system 1 may be another type of system executing a windowing environment,
such as a Macintosh or the like. Provided with computer system 1
are display 2, which is preferably a color monitor, keyboard 4 for
entering user commands, and pointing device 5 such as a mouse for
pointing to and for manipulating graphical user interfaces and other
objects displayed on display 2.
Computer system 1 also includes a mass storage device such as fixed
disk 6 for storing computer-executable process steps to provide
a port monitor, a toolbox application, a Windows95 Explorer shell
extension module, and Windows95 registry keys according to the present
invention. Fixed disk 6 may also store image processing applications,
word processing applications, image files, and device drivers for
use in conjunction with the present invention. The storage provided
by fixed disk 6 may also be provided by a CD-ROM accessed via a
CD-ROM drive (both unshown).
Floppy disk drive 7 is used to access files stored on floppy disks
for direct loading into a Random Access Memory (RAM) of computer
system 1, or into fixed disk 6. Computer-executable process steps
or other files may also be retrieved over a network via network
connection 9 or over the World Wide Web ("WWW") via World
Wide Web connection 10.
Image files may also be input into computer system 1 using scanner
11.
In this regard, images retrieved from fixed disk 6, floppy disk
7, network connection 9, WWW connection 10, or scanner 11 may be
output directly to printer 12, which is preferably a color printer
for producing high quality color/photographic images, or such images
may be retrieved, processed according to an image processing application
executing in computer system 1, and sent to printer 12 thereafter.
Digital camera 14, such as a Canon PowerShot 350 or PowerShot 600
digital camera, is used for capturing digital photos. The captured
photos are preferably stored in camera 14 as both a full-resolution
(1024 pixels.times.768 pixels) JPEG image file and a low-resolution
thumbnail (60.times.80) TIFF image file, and may be associated with
one or more sound files also stored in camera 14. Of course, other
digital camera models storing differently-formatted full-resolution
image files and thumbnail image files may be used in practicing
the present invention.
Each of the files stored in camera 14 is preferably available for
download to computer system 1 upon connection to computer system
1 through a cabled or other type of connection. In this regard,
although most digital cameras are configured to connect to a serial
port (not shown) of computer system 1, any other method of connection
to computer system 1 may be used in practicing the present invention.
Further details of camera operation and of the files stored therein
are given below.
It should be understood that, although a programmable general purpose
computer is shown in FIG. 1, a dedicated computer terminal or other
type of data processing equipment can utilize a system for managing
digital camera images as discussed below.
FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram showing the internal architecture
of computer system 1. As shown in FIG. 2, computer system 1 includes
central processing unit (CPU) 15 which interfaces with computer
bus 16. Also interfacing with computer bus 16 are scanner interface
17, digital camera interface 18, network interface 19, WWW interface
20, floppy disk drive interface 21, display interface 22, printer
interface 24, mouse interface 25, keyboard interface 26, fixed disk
6, Read Only Memory (ROM) 27, and main RAM 29.
Main RAM 29 interfaces with computer bus 16 so as to provide memory
storage to CPU 15 during execution of computer-executable process
steps. More specifically, CPU 15 loads process steps from fixed
disk 6 into RAM 29 and executes the stored process steps from RAM
29 in order to provide a system for managing digital camera images
according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 2, fixed disk 6 contains computer-executable process
steps to provide a port monitor, a toolbox application, a shell
extension module, and registry keys as described below. Fixed disk
6 also includes image processing applications, word processing applications,
image files in various image formats, device drivers, other applications
and other data files.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the internal architecture of camera
14. It should be noted that FIG. 3 shows a generic digital camera
which may be used in conjunction with the present invention. Of
course, other digital cameras which may be used in conjunction with
the present invention may possess a more complex architecture.
Camera 14 includes lens 30 for gathering light waves from objects
toward which lens 30 is pointed, charge-coupled device 31 for translating
the received light waves into analog signals, analog to digital
converter 32 for converting the analog signals into digital signals,
and frame memory 34 for storing a single photo frame. Elements 30
to 32 and 34 are controlled by microprocessor 35, which stores a
photo from frame memory 34 into camera memory 36. Files stored in
camera memory 36 can be downloaded to an external device via I/O
port 37. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention,
and as described above, microprocessor 35 stores a captured photo
in camera memory 36 as a full-resolution (1024.times.768) image
file in JPEG format, and also as a thumbnail resolution (60.times.80)
image file in TIFF format.
Camera 14 also includes microphone 38 for receiving analog sound
waves during capture of a photo, and analog to digital converter
39 for converting the captured sound waves into digital form. It
should be understood that a camera lacking a microphone may be used
in accordance with the present invention. In the preferred embodiment,
however, microprocessor 35 stores digitized sound files in camera
memory 36 in a manner that associates a sound file or files with
a corresponding full-resolution file and a corresponding thumbnail
image file. For the discussion below, a set of thus-associated files
is referred to as a photo group.
Port Monitor
FIG. 4 is a flow diagram for describing process steps to monitor
a device port of computer system 1 for connection to a digital camera
in accordance with the present invention. Briefly, the FIG. 4 process
steps are used to detect a digital camera connected to a device
port of a computer system, to receive thumbnail image files stored
in the digital camera automatically after the digital camera is
detected, and to store the received thumbnail image files in a cache
memory. The FIG. 4 process steps also are used to receive full-resolution
image files from the digital camera after each thumbnail image file
stored in the digital camera is received, and to receive sound files
from the digital camera after each full-resolution image file stored
in the digital camera is received. By virtue of these steps, time
required for a client application to access files stored in a digital
camera is reduced.
More particularly, a port monitor application is initiated in step
S401. As described above, the port monitor application may be retrieved
from fixed disk 6 and stored in RAM 29 for execution therefrom by
CPU 15. Next, a background thread is created in step S402. According
to the Windows95 operating system, a background thread is notified
by the operating system in a case that an event associated with
the thread is detected. In the present example, the created background
thread is associated with connection of a device to the serial port
of computer system 1.
In step S404, it is determined whether the thread has been signalled
by the operating system. If not, flow loops within step S404. If
so, it is assumed that a device is connected to the serial port,
and, in step S405, it is determined whether the device is a digital
camera compatible with the present invention. If the device is not
a digital camera compatible with the present invention, flow returns
to step S404.
If the device is determined to be a compatible camera, flow proceeds
to step S406, wherein a camera icon is displayed on the Windows95
desktop. In this regard, FIG. 5 shows camera icon 40 displayed in
status area 41 of desktop 53. Also shown in FIG. 5 is toolbox user
interface window 44, the functionality of which will be described
in more detail below. User interface window 44 includes logo area
54. After camera icon 40 is displayed, each thumbnail image file
stored in camera 14 is sequentially downloaded in step S407.
In step S409, sequential download of each full-resolution JPEG
image file stored in camera 14 begins. Flow then proceeds to step
S411 in which it is determined whether a full-resolution image file
other than the currently-downloading full-resolution image file
has received focus. In this regard, focus can be received by a full-resolution
image file through user selection of an icon representing the file
or by user selection of a displayed thumbnail image file associated
with the full-resolution image file. Display of thumbnail images
for purposes of receiving focus is described more fully below. If
focus has not changed, flow proceeds to step S412.
In step S412, it is determined whether all full-resolution image
files in camera 14 have been downloaded. If not, flow returns to
step S409. If so, flow continues to step S413, wherein all sound
files stored in digital camera 14 are downloaded sequentially.
Flow therefore proceeds between steps S409, S411 and S412 until
either focus changes or until all full-resolution image files are
downloaded. If, in step S411, it is determined that focus has changed,
flow proceeds to step S414, wherein the currently-downloading full-resolution
image file is completely downloaded. Flow then proceeds to step
S415, at which the full-resolution image file having focus is downloaded.
Then, in step S416, the next full-resolution image file in the original
sequence begun in step S409 begins to download. Flow thereafter
proceeds from step S416 to step S409 and continues as described
above.
In another embodiment, any associated sound files are downloaded
immediately after their corresponding associated full-resolution
image files are downloaded, thereby providing faster access to a
complete group of associated files.
It should be noted that the port monitor controls all requests
for access to files stored in digital camera 14. That is, any client
application must access the port monitor in order to access files
stored in camera 14. In this regard, the port monitor delivers requested
files to client applications from the cache memory to which files
from camera 14 are downloaded during the FIG. 4 process steps. Accordingly,
it is not necessary to perform repeated downloading of a file from
camera 14 each time the file is requested. As a result, processing
of files stored in camera 14 proceeds quickly.
Moreover, the port monitor allows multiple client applications
to simultaneously access camera files by directing requests for
access from the client applications to the cache memory. Preferably,
the port monitor controls such access to digital camera 14 during,
as well as after, execution of steps S406 to S416. Accordingly,
a client application need not wait for all files to be downloaded
from camera 14 before attempting to access one of the files.
It should also be noted that the port monitor continuously monitors
the serial port for disconnection of camera 14 once camera 14 is
detected. In this regard, upon disconnection of camera 14 from computer
system 1, the port monitor removes camera icon 40 from status area
41.
In another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the port monitor
is used to detect connection of a removable camera memory card to
computer system 1. In such a case, the operating system signals
the port monitor in case a card is placed in a PCMCIA slot of computer
system 1. The port monitor then determines whether the card is compatible
with the present invention. If so, camera folders within the card
are converted to canister system objects, the properties and use
of which are described more fully below.
Toolbox
As described above, the port monitor displays camera icon 40 upon
detection of digital camera 14. The port monitor also monitors user
selection of icon 40. If icon 40 is selected, the port monitor launches
a toolbox application according to the present invention. Upon launching
the toolbox application, user interface window 44 of FIG. 5 is displayed
on desktop 53.
Window 44 includes View button 45, Get Photos button 46, Contact
Sheet button 47, Internet button 48, and Settings button 49. Toolbox
window 44 also includes Help button 50, Minimize button 51 and Close
button 52. Each of these buttons is described in detail below.
Initially, selection of Settings button 49, which can be accomplished
using either mouse 5 or keyboard 4, causes display of Settings property
sheet 55 of FIG. 6. Settings property sheet 55 includes logo area
56, OK button 57, Cancel button 58, Help button 59, and three property
pages. As shown in FIG. 6, Main property page 60 is initially displayed.
Main property page 60 includes tool preferences area 61 in which,
by selecting check box 62, a user can control toolbox window 44
such that it is never obscured by another window concurrently displayed
on desktop 53. Tool preferences area 61 also contains check box
63, which controls whether or not a toolbox icon appears in desktop
task bar 43 upon minimizing toolbox window 44.
FIG. 7 and 8 illustrate minimization of toolbox window 44 in instances
where check box 63 is not checked and is checked, respectively.
Specifically, in a case that check box 63 in main property page
60 is not checked and a user selects Minimize button 51, toolbox
window 44 is dismissed and camera icon 71, which is displayed by
the port monitor during camera detection, remains in status area
41. In this case, Close button 52 and Minimize button 51 perform
identical functions.
On the other hand, if check box 63 is checked and a user selects
Minimize button 51, Toolbox button 74 appears in task bar 43. Display
of toolbox button 74 in task bar 43 ensures that the toolbox can
be accessed using an ALT/Tab key sequence, which cycles through
open applications. Also in accordance with the Windows95 operating
system, a left mouse click on bar entry 74 will invoke the toolbox
as the current active task, while Toolbox button 74 will remain
in task bar 43 as long as the toolbox is not closed and a camera
is available to computer system 1.
As described above, minimization results in at least one icon indicative
of the toolbox. In a case that such an icon is selected using a
right mouse click, a context menu is displayed as shown in FIG.
9. In the preferred embodiment, Maximize option 76 of menu 77 is
always disabled because toolbox window 44 has only one size and
cannot be expanded or contracted. Minimize option 78 will be enabled
in a case that the toolbox is active and will be disabled if the
toolbox is minimized. The lower four options of context menu 77
invoke processes similar to those invoked by selection of corresponding
buttons 45 to 48 of toolbox window 44, which are described in detail
below. It should be noted that context menu 77 does not include
a close option, because the toolbox remains active as long as a
camera is available to computer system 1.
Context menu 81, shown in FIG. 10, is displayed upon a right mouse
click selection of toolbox title bar 80. Maximize option 82 will
always be disabled because window 44 cannot be expanded or contracted.
Minimize option 83 is enabled, and, if option 83 is selected, window
44 is minimized in accordance with check box 63 of Main property
page 60. Selection of About Camera Gear option 84 causes display
of a dialog box containing information such as camera gear toolbox
name, version number, and copyright notices. Context menu 81 does
not contain a Close option because the toolbox remains active as
long as a camera is available to computer system 1.
Returning to Settings property sheet 55, Main property page 60
also includes Source Camera Settings area 64, in which Properties
button 68 and Communications Port button 69 are displayed.
Selection of Properties button 68 causes display of a settings
dialog corresponding to the camera detected by the port monitor.
For example, FIG. 11 shows Settings dialog 85 corresponding to a
Canon PowerShot 600 digital camera. As shown in FIG. 11, Settings
dialog 85 includes Information area 86 in which camera model and
firmware versions are displayed. Dialog 85 also includes Owner's
Name area 88, in which a camera owner's name may be input, and Date
and Time input areas 89 and 91 having spinner controls 90 and 92
for incrementally-changing the input date and time, respectively.
The date and time may also be obtained from computer system 1 for
input into areas 89 and 91 using From System button 93.
Dialog 85 also includes battery charge indicator 96 for indicating
a percentage of battery power remaining in digital camera 14. Also
shown are Installed Camera Memory icon 98 displayed adjacent to
a numeral reflecting an amount of memory installed in digital camera
14. Icon 99 represents a removable memory card or the like within
digital camera 14 and is displayed adjacent to a numeral reflecting
an amount of memory storage provided by the card. Camera icon 100
is displayed adjacent to an amount of available memory in digital
camera 14, while card icon 101 is displayed adjacent to an amount
of available memory within the removable storage medium.
Camera settings dialog 85 also includes logo bar 94, OK button
103 for saving information entered into dialog 85, and Cancel button
104 for discarding any changes made to Settings dialog 85. Buttons
103 and 104 also cause Settings dialog 85 to be dismissed. Help
button 106 provides context-sensitive help regarding dialog 85.
It should be noted that auxiliary buttons 107 and 108 function similarly
to buttons 106 and 104, respectively.
For the sake of brevity, descriptions of displayed logo bars, OK
buttons, Cancel buttons, Help buttons, and Cancel and Help auxiliary
buttons which function as described with respect to FIG. 11 will
be hereinafter omitted.
Returning to FIG. 6, in a case that Communications Port button
69 is selected, a Camera Communications Settings dialog is displayed.
Such a dialog is shown in FIG. 12. Camera Communications Settings
dialog 110 includes Port input area 111 for indicating a communications
port through which computer system 1 should communicate with camera
14. As shown, input area 111 includes a pull-down button for displaying
a list of available communications ports. Communications area 113
includes options 114 and 115 for selecting whether automatic or
custom communications settings are desired, respectively. In a case
that custom communications are desired, Baud Rate area 116 is provided
for inputting a desired baud rate for communications with digital
camera 14. Flow Control input area 117 is also provided for indicating
a type of flow control desired for communications between computer
system 1 and digital camera 14. Both input areas 116 and 117 are
provided with a pull-down button for displaying a list of potential
baud rates and flow control mechanisms, respectively.
As described above, Settings property sheet 55 includes three property
pages. Save Photos property page 65 is shown in FIG. 13. Property
page 65 includes check box 118 for controlling whether a dialog
box with controls similar to that shown in property page 65 will
be presented to a user upon selection of Get Photos button 46 of
toolbox window 44. If not checked, the values set on property page
65 will govern file downloading and saving initiated by selection
of Get Photos button 46.
In this regard, destination file 119 indicates the drive and directory
to which files downloaded from digital camera 14 will be saved.
Selection of Browse button 120 allows a user to change the destination
directory by causing display of Set Directory dialog 121, shown
in FIG. 14. As shown in FIG. 14, Set Directory dialog 121 includes
Drive Selection area 123 for selecting a subject drive of available
local and network drives, and Directory Selection area 122 for selecting
a directory of the drive selected in area 123.
Returning to FIG. 13, Options area 124 allows user control over
whether files are saved in canister format or as separate files.
Options area 124 also provides user control over names to which
files downloaded from digital camera 14 are saved, selection of
files to be downloaded, format conversion, prior to saving, of full-resolution
JPEG files stored in digital camera 14, and deletion of camera files
after downloading. In this regard, Explain button 125 is a context-sensitive
link to Help files which explain the nature of canisters as well
as other controls of Options area 124.
In order to understand the nature of canisters, it should be noted
that, as described above, each photo captured by digital camera
14 is stored in camera memory 36 as a photo group. Each photo group
consists of an associated full-resolution image file, an associated
thumbnail image file, and associated sound files, if any sound files
were created during capture of the photo. According to a preferred
embodiment, photo groups can exist only within a canister. Accordingly,
camera 14 stores photo groups in canister format. Preferably, such
a canister includes up to fifty photo groups. As described below,
the present invention exploits the associations between files of
a photo group in order to provide simple and flexible management
of photo groups. Therefore, in order to experience many of the advantages
of the present invention, any downloaded photo groups must be saved
to a hard disk in canister format.
Custom Save option 127 allows actions which alter the above-described
photo group canister structure. Accordingly, selection of option
126 or option 127 is mutually exclusive. In this regard, upon selection
of option 126, options listed under Custom Save option 127 are disabled.
Three sets of controls are provided within Custom Save option 127.
Rename Photos check box 128 can be selected in order to rename downloaded
full-resolution image files, as well as associated thumbnail files
and sound files (if downloaded), as they are downloaded from camera
14 for saving. If check box 128 is not checked, the downloaded files
are saved with names assigned by digital camera 14. Area 129 is
used for inputting a root file name for naming of downloaded files.
Input area 130 is provided for assigning a number to the downloaded
files having the root file name shown in area 129. In this regard,
area 130 is provided with spinner control 131 for ease of use. Check
boxes 132 and 133 are used to control whether associated sound files
and thumbnail files are downloaded along with full-resolution image
files, respectively.
Files downloaded from camera 14 using Custom Save option 127 are
named in accordance with their format and the selected Custom Save
parameters. Accordingly, using the parameters shown in elements
129 to 133 of property page 65, a first photo group downloaded from
camera 14 will be saved as "yosemite_trip001.jpg", "yosemite_trip001.tif"
and "yosemite_trip001.wav". The second photo group will
be saved as "yosemite_trip002.jpg", "yosemite_trip002.tif"
and "yosemite_trip002.wav".
Save Photo input area 134 determines a format to which a downloaded
JPEG photo file will be converted prior to saving. Area 134 includes
a pull-down button for displaying a list of possible image formats.
In a preferred embodiment, the provided formats consist of: native
camera format; Windows bitmap (*.bmp); JPEG (*.jpg); TIFF uncompressed
(*.tif); and Flashpix (*.fpx).
Delete Files check box 135 is used to control deletion of files
from digital camera 14 after downloading and saving the files. In
this regard, Warning check box 136, when checked, provides a dialog
to a user before any files are deleted. If box 136 is not checked
and box 135 is checked, the downloaded and saved files will be deleted
without any prior warning.
FIG. 15 shows Deletion Warning dialog 140, which is displayed after
downloading and saving camera files in a case that check box 136
of property page 65 is checked. If OK button 142 is selected, the
downloaded files are deleted. If Cancel button 144 is selected,
the files are not deleted. Always Warn Before Deleting check box
148 controls whether dialog 140 will appear a next time camera files
are downloaded. Advantageously, check box 148 and check box 136
in property page 65 are linked. As a result, either both check boxes
136 and 148 are checked or both are unchecked.
Returning to property sheet 55, internet photo property page 67
is provided for selecting an internet photo service provider for
use in conjunction with Internet button 48 of toolbox window 44.
As shown in FIG. 16, internet property page 67 contains Service
Provider input area 150, which provides a pull-down list box of
several internet photo service providers. Internet photo service
providers listed in the pull-down list box preferably include major
photo/image archive and service providers such as PictraNet and
PhotoNet. The list of service providers in the list box is contained
in a registry so that new service providers may be accessed by adding
the service providers to the list through plug-ins or upgrades.
Get Photos
As described above, toolbox window 44 provides Get Photos button
46. Upon selection of Get Photos button 46, files from digital camera
14 are downloaded and saved in accordance with the parameters set
in Save Photos property page 65, described with respect to FIG.
13, and dialog 160 of FIG. 18 is displayed, functioning as described
below. However, if Prompt For Settings check box 118 is checked
in Save Photos property page 65, Save Photos dialog 155 is presented
to the user upon selection of Get Photos button 46. Dialog 155 and
property page 65 are linked, therefore, upon initial display of
dialog 155, each field located therein reflects the contents of
Save Photos property page 65. The buttons, options, fields and check
boxes of dialog 155 function similarly to their corresponding buttons,
options, fields and check boxes of property page 65, therefore a
description thereof is omitted at this point. In contrast, however,
OK button 157 initiates downloading and saving of the selected files
from digital camera 14 to the file destination shown in dialog 155.
Accordingly, upon selection of OK button 157, dialog 155 is dismissed
and dialog 160 of FIG. 18 is displayed. Dialog 160 includes status
bar 162, which is darkened in direct relation to the percentage
of data to be saved which has been downloaded and saved. Accordingly,
the dark area of indicator 162 moves from left to right of dialog
160 during downloading and saving.
Cancel button 163, if selected, aborts file downloading. In this
case, all buffers and temporary files will be cleared or deleted
and files already downloaded and saved to computer system 1 are
deleted. In addition, dialog 160 is dismissed and toolbox window
44 remains active. Dialog 160 is also dismissed after file saving
is complete.
As described above with respect to Save Photos property page 65,
Warning dialog 140 is displayed after saving in a case that Warn
Before Deleting check box 136, and linked check box 148, are checked.
Contact Sheet
Contact Sheet button 47 of toolbox window 44 allows a user to print
a contact sheet of all images stored in digital camera 14. Upon
selection of button 47, print dialog 165 of FIG. 19 is displayed
to the user.
Contact sheets printed according to the present invention are intended
to be similar to traditional contact sheets produced by conventional
dark room photography. The purpose of such contact sheets is to
create a quick reference to each photo on a photo storage medium,
in the present case a computer-readable medium, in the latter, a
roll of film. In addition, contact sheets according to the present
invention can be used as a quick method for distributing printed
copies of photos captured by camera 14.
Dialog 165 includes Printer Control area 166 for controlling printer
12 so as to print a contact sheet. In this regard, Printer Name
input area 167 provides an area for listing a printer to be used
to print contact sheets, and includes a pull-down list for displaying
a list box of available printers, either local or networked. Properties
button 168 provides access to printer-specific property sheets for
control of printer properties. In addition, check box 169 allows
a user to indicate that a print job should spool to a file rather
that to the printer listed in Printer Name input area 167.
Spinner control 172 controls a number of contact sheet copies to
be printed. Options area 175 allows a user to set several options
for printing contact sheets. For example, check boxes 176 and 177
within Options area 175 allow a user to indicate the date of printing
and a title to be printed on the contact sheet. In this regard,
title information is input in Title input area 178. Options 180
and 181 are mutually exclusive and provide a user, respectively,
with lower-quality, high-speed output and high-quality, lower-speed
output. Similarly, mutually exclusive options 182 and 183 respectively
provide a user with printout of small thumbnail images and large
thumbnail images on contact sheet.
Selection of OK button 185 initiates printing of a contact sheet
in accordance with the parameters set in print dialog 165. During
contact sheet printing, dialog 180 of FIG. 20 is displayed. Dialog
180 includes status bar 182, which shows a darkened area corresponding
to a print job completion percentage. Stop button 183 can be selected
to abort contact sheet printing. If selected, all buffers and temporary
files are cleared or deleted and the print driver/spooler is instructed
to abort printing. In this case, dialog 180 is dismissed and toolbox
window 44 remains the active application. Dialog 180 is also dismissed
after the system sends a last contact sheet to printed to the printer/spooler.
Layout of printed contact sheets will be described in more detail
below with respect to FIG. 41.
Internet
Toolbox window 44 also provides Internet button 48 for uploading
camera files to an internet photo service provider providing storage
and display of photographic images via the WWW. Upon selection of
button 48, the internet service provider specified in Internet property
page 67 is contacted and a request for uploading of photos is initiated.
Thereafter, the internet photo service provider will provide a user
with a login dialog and/or other setup dialogs. The present invention
provides required upload information such as file location and number
of files. Preferably, in a case that Internet button 48 is selected
and no internet photo service provider is specified in Internet
property page 67, Settings property sheet 55 will be displayed to
the user with Internet property page 67 of FIG. 16 selected. If
Cancel button 152 of property page 67 is selected, the Internet
toolbox task is aborted and Settings property sheet 55 is dismissed.
If OK button 151 is selected, the PhotoNet task continues by connecting
with the specified internet photo service provider and by proceeding
as described above.
During file upload, Uploading Status dialog 185 of FIG. 21 is displayed
with status bar 187 indicating percent completion of uploading.
Stop button 188 can be used to abort the file upload. In this case,
all buffers and temporary files will be cleared or deleted, and
the files already sent to the connected internet photo service provider
will not be deleted. The toolbox will remain the active application.
Status dialog 185 is dismissed once upload is completed. It should
be noted that in a case that the connected internet photo service
provider provides a file upload status dialog, it will be displayed;
dialog 185 is provided as a default.
View
View button 45 of toolbox window 44 provides a user with a view
of files stored on camera 14. Explorer user interface 190 of FIG.
22 shows an example of such a view. The elements and creation of
interface 190 are described below with respect to the Shell Extension
Module section of the present application.
As is evident by the foregoing description, the toolbox application
provides simple and fast manipulation of files stored on digital
camera 14. Although the functionality of the toolbox is less than
that provided by the Shell Extension Module described below, the
toolbox is intended to provide fast and simple control over common
camera-related functions.
Preferably, the toolbox accesses digital camera 14 through the
port monitor described above. In this case, requests for access
from the toolbox to camera files are diverted by the port monitor
to the cache memory to which the port monitor downloads camera files
upon detection of the camera. Accordingly, utilization of the toolbox
application in conjunction with the port monitor provides even faster
functionality.
Shell Extension Module
Generally, a shell extension module according to the present invention
allows a user to browse files stored on camera 14 intelligently.
That is, according to the present invention, a user is able to distinguish
and separately-manipulate associated thumbnail image files, full-resolution
files, and sound files located on camera 14 in a manner similar
to manipulation of typical data files using the Explorer interface
or any other interface for viewing system objects. Moreover, in
conjunction with above-described port monitor, such viewing and
manipulation proceeds quickly without need to download a file from
camera 14 each time a command related to that file is issued.
In this regard, user interface window 190 includes viewing area
192, system object tree area 194, toolbar 196, menu 197, title bar
198, Minimize button 199, Maximize button 200, Close button 201,
and status bar 204. As shown in FIG. 22, PowerShot 600 icon 206
is the current system object, and contains four film canisters.
Canister 208 is selected, therefore viewing area 192 reflects the
contents of canister 208. Since Explorer user interface window 190
is in Display Thumbnails mode, thumbnail image files stored in canister
208 are displayed in viewing area 192. Other display modes will
be described below.
In Display Thumbnails mode, each blocked area surrounding and including
a displayed thumbnail image file of a photo group contains information
indicative of the file and of associated files of the photo group.
In this regard, Display Thumbnails mode is preferably invoked only
when a canister is selected from area 194, because, as described
above, thumbnail image files, full-resolution files, and sound files
are associated as photo groups only when existing within a canister.
Advantageously, although each blocked area of viewing area 192 represents
a single captured photo to a user, each blocked area allows individual
manipulation of files of a photo group representing the captured
photo.
Due to the reliance of interface 190 on the definition of photo
groups within a canister, files in canisters preferably cannot be
renamed. Furthermore, canisters in cameras cannot be renamed, although
canisters located on other storage devices may be renamed.
The thumbnail view shown in viewing area 192 consists of displayed
60.times.80 pixel thumbnail images representing each photo group
in a selected canister. FIGS. 23 and 24 are close-up views of blocked
areas representing photo groups as displayed in Display Thumbnails
mode. Blocked area 210 shows a 60.times.80 pixel thumbnail image
of a photo group represented by blocked area 210, and numeral 212
indicates an identification number of the photo group within camera
14. In this regard, photo group 5 was created after photo group
4 and prior to photo group 6. In a case that a photo group is deleted
from camera 14, the remaining photo groups are renumbered to exclude
the deleted photo group each time a camera or canister is deselected
then re-selected.
Preferably, photo groups within a camera are numbered sequentially
across canisters. For example, the first photo group in camera 14
is designated photo group 1 within canister 1, and photo groups
51, 52, and 53 represent the first, second and third photo groups
within canister 2. On non-camera devices, photos are numbered individually
by canister so that each canister contains photo groups numbered
from 1 to the total number of photo groups within the canister.
Accordingly, photo groups may have to be renumbered when transferred,
in canister format, from a camera to a non-camera device.
Photo name 215 preferably indicates the date and time that the
represented photo group was created.
FIG. 24 shows various icons that may be displayed along with thumbnail
image 211 within a blocked area representing a photo group. In this
regard, blocked area 220 contains Sound icon 222, Auto-Correct icon
223, and Acquired icon 224. Sound icon 222 indicates that photo
group 5, represented by blocked area 220, contains one or more associated
sound files. Preferably, double clicking sound icon 222 causes the
associated sound files to play in sequence.
Auto-Correct icon 223 indicates that thumbnail image 211 is displayed
after being subjected to an Auto-Correct function. The Auto-Correct
function will be described below with reference to toolbar 196.
Acquired icon 224 indicates that photo group 5 has been downloaded
from camera 14 to another storage device or that its associated
full-resolution image file has been inserted into an application.
Each photo group within camera 14 will hold its "acquired"
state until the current installation of interface 190 is quit, until
memory 36 of camera 14 is erased, or until camera 14 is disconnected
from computer system 1. It should be noted that Acquired icon 224
is displayed only in cases where a camera-stored canister is being
viewed in area 192 because photo groups within canisters located
on other storage devices have, by definition, already been acquired.
Viewing area 192 not only provides a user with easily-accessible
and detailed information regarding photo groups stored within a
digital camera, viewing area 192 also provides a user with means
to manipulate photo groups or associated individual files therein.
For example, a thumbnail image displayed in area 192 may be selected
and dragged to a storage device shown in area 194 or elsewhere on
desktop 53. This action will cause a full-resolution image file
related to the selected thumbnail image file to be copied to the
storage device or desktop 53. In addition, holding down a left button
of mouse 5 while dragging will move the full-resolution file to
the storage device or desktop 53 and delete the corresponding photo
group from camera 14. Moreover, holding down a right button of mouse
5 while dragging will cause the full-resolution file to be copied
or, if dragged to desktop 53, will create a shortcut to the full-resolution
file on camera 14.
Similarly, individual sound files within photo groups may be dragged
and dropped as described above by selecting and dragging a displayed
sound icon. In addition, an entire photo group may be dragged and
dropped as described above by selecting an area within a blocked
area representing a photo group but outside the displayed thumbnail
image and by performing drag and drop as described above. In a case
that an entire photo group is dragged and dropped in this manner,
the related files of the photo group will lose their representation
as a single entity and will be copied (or moved) as separate files.
Accordingly, subsequent selection of these files will not invoke
an Explorer view according to the present invention, such as that
shown in FIG. 22.
Photo groups may also be dragged and dropped into OLE2-compliant
applications, such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, FrontPage, or
the like. In such cases, only the full-resolution image file of
a photo group is dropped into the application.
It should be noted that, according to the preferred embodiment,
dragging objects to a location within a storage device causes the
file to be moved. On the other hand, dragging objects from one storage
device to another causes the objects to be copied.
Photo groups are selected by clicking any area of the blocked area
representing the photo group except for the sound icon. By holding
down the Shift key during selection, a contiguous selection of photo
groups is made from the currently-selected photo group to the last
previously-selected photo group. Holding down the Control key while
selecting various photos allows a user to individually select photos
in a non-contiguous manner. In addition, selection of the photos
may be toggled while the Control key is pressed down by clicking
with the left button of mouse 5.
Double clicking on a displayed thumbnail image file launches an
OLE image container application and opens an associated full-resolution
image file within the application. Alternatively, double clicking
of a displayed thumbnail image file launches a JPEG default application
specified by the system registry and opens an associated full-resolution
file therein. Advantageously, and in order to preserve the association
between a thumbnail image file and a full-resolution image file
of a photo group, the full-resolution image file opened in the application
will be read-only, and can be saved only to a non-camera device.
A shell extension module according to the present invention also
supports context menus activated by selection of a photo group using
the right mouse button of mouse 5. In this regard, FIG. 25 shows
context menu 230, which is displayed upon right button clicking
on a photo group. The Windows95 standard context menu options displayed
in menu 230, Open with, Send to fax recipient, Send to mail recipient,
Send to mail recipient using Microsoft Outlook, Send to Web Publishing
Wizard, and Print result in standard behavior according to Windows95.
Play Sound option 232, when selected, is equivalent to double clicking
upon a displayed sound icon. In this regard, in a case that a user
right clicks on a photo group which does not contain any related
sound files, Play Sound option 232 will be disabled.
Selection of Properties option 234 causes display of one of two
types of property pages. First, in a case that one photo group is
selected, property page 240, shown in FIG. 26, is displayed. As
shown, property page 240 contains a displayed thumbnail image file
of the selected photo group, the photo group number, the photo group
name, the location of the selected photo group, and the date on
which the photo group was created. In addition, property page 240
provides details on the size of the associated files within the
photo group as well as the total size of the photo group. Check
boxes 241 and 242 are provided to selectively choose between read-only
and archive file types.
In a case that Properties option 234 is selected while multiple
photo groups are selected, a property page such a property page
245 of FIG. 27 is displayed. As shown, property page 245 shows cascading
thumbnail images representing each selected photo group, the number
of selected photo groups, the total size of all full-resolution
image files in the selected groups, of all thumbnail image files
in the selected groups, of all sound files in the selected groups,
as well as the total size of all the selected groups.
Other options shown in context menu 230 may also be selected through
icons displayed in toolbar 196 and will therefore be described with
respect to toolbar 196.
It should be noted that all canisters, whether located on a camera
or on another storage device, are preferably read-only and that,
accordingly, no files can be dropped onto a canister, or moved or
copied within or into a canister. Therefore, when files are selected
to be moved out of a canister to another storage device, dialog
250 of FIG. 28 is displayed. Dialog 250 contains a warning regarding
moving files from a canister as well as from a camera. Accordingly,
dialog 250 is displayed in a case that files are selected to be
moved out of a canister or out of a camera. Dialog 250 provides
copy Instead button 252, which causes the selected files to be copied
to their selected destination rather than moved. Accordingly, the
selected files will remain in the camera or canister from which
they were selected.
Cancel button 253 terminates the move command and the selected
files will remain in the camera or canister. OK button 254 causes
the move to continue and the moved files will be deleted from the
camera or canister. Check box 256 may be de-selected so that subsequent
attempts to move files from a canister or camera will not cause
dialog 250 to appear.
FIG. 29 is a detailed view of toolbar 196. It should be noted that
toolbar 196 is displayed during viewing of a canister or camera
contents by virtue of the shell extension module. Toolbar 196 includes
Object Selection area 260, in which a system object from area 194
is represented. Toolbar 196 also includes Parent Directory button
262 for providing a view of a parent folder of a folder currently
displayed in viewing area 192.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, toolbar
196 includes Auto-Correct button 264. Auto-Correct button 264 is
active in a case that one or more photo groups are selected in viewing
area 192, and is disabled in a case that no photo groups are selected.
Button 264 acts as a toggle switch in that selected photos are marked
for auto-correction once button 264 is depressed. If selected photos
have previously been marked for auto-correction, the photos are
unmarked upon depression of button 264. Moreover, selection of previously-marked
photos causes button 264 to be displayed in a depressed state, and
selecting any unmarked photos causes button 264 to be displayed
in an undepressed state. In a case that several photo groups are
selected in which some selected photo groups are marked for photo
correction and others are not marked, button 264 will be displayed
in an undepressed state and subsequent selection of button 264 will
result in all of the selected photos being marked for auto-correction.
Moreover, in Display Thumbnails mode, thumbnail image files marked
for auto-correction will be subjected to auto-correction, therefore
the marked thumbnail image files displayed in area 192 will be auto-corrected
and displayed adjacent to icon 223 of FIG. 24. It should be noted
that such correction is preferably applied to a corresponding thumbnail
image file stored in the cache memory to which the port monitor
downloads camera files, rather than to the actual thumbnail image
file stored within a subject canister. Moreover, in a case than
an auto-corrected thumbnail image file is selected and dragged to
an application or other storage device, auto-correction is performed
on the associated full-resolution image file, which is then saved
to the storage device or opened within the application. Again, the
full-resolution image file is not altered within the subject canister.
Photo groups stored on non-camera devices can be permanently marked
for auto-correction and will therefore be displayed along with an
auto-correction icon whenever viewed in Display Thumbnails mode.
Photo groups stored on a camera cannot be permanently marked for
auto-correction, therefore any auto-correction mark is lost upon
exiting a system object viewer according to the present invention
or upon disconnection of camera 14.
Rotate buttons 266 and 267 are active in a case that a photo group
is selected in Display Thumbnails mode. Depression of buttons 266
or 267 will cause a selected thumbnail image to rotate 90 degrees
in a direction indicated by the depressed button each time the button
is depressed. FIG. 30 shows thumbnail image 269 before and after
depression of button 267.
As described above with respect to Auto-Correct button 264, photo
groups rotated using buttons 266 and 267 are copied or moved using
drag and drop techniques with the applied rotations intact. In this
regard, associated full-resolution files stored in the cache memory
are subjected to the applied rotations prior to such moving or copying.
Photo groups stored on non-camera devices can be permanently marked
for 90 degree rotation such that the associated thumbnail image
files are shown rotated each time they are viewed by a system object
viewer according to the present invention. However, photo groups
stored in a camera cannot be permanently marked for rotation and
therefore rotation attributes are lost each time the system object
viewer is quit or camera 14 is disconnected from computer system
1.
Select All button 270 selects each item in viewing area 192. These
items may consist either of all canisters in a camera or of all
photo groups in a canister.
Move/Copy Photo Group button 272 causes selected photo groups to
be moved or copied to a new (non-internet) storage location. In
this regard, if photo groups are selected upon depression of button
272, Save Photos dialog 275 of FIG. 31 is displayed. The elements
shown in dialog 275 correspond to identical elements shown in Save
Photos property page 65, therefore descriptions thereof are omitted.
However, check box 276 does not directly correspond to any element
of property page 65. In this regard, check box 276 causes selected
photo groups to be deleted after copying, thereby resulting in a
"move" function.
In a case that a canister is selected upon depression of button
272, dialog 280 of FIG. 32 is displayed. The elements of dialog
280 are described above with respect to property page 65 and dialog
275.
If button 272 is depressed while a digital camera is selected,
dialog 282, shown in FIG. 33, is displayed. The settings and functionality
of dialog 282 are also described above with respect to property
page 65 and dialog 275.
Delete Photo Group button 285 causes the currently-selected items
to be deleted. If photo groups are selected, then the selected photo
groups are deleted, and if canisters are selected, both the selected
canisters and photo groups within the canisters are deleted. In
a case that a camera is selected, each canister stored in the camera
as well as each photo group stored in the canisters is deleted.
Since deletion of photo groups from a canister cannot be undone,
dialog 287 of FIG. 34 is initially displayed after selection of
button 285. OK button 288 of dialog 287 deletes the selected files.
Cancel button 290 cancels the deletion and selected files will remain
in the camera or canister. In a case that check box 291 is selected,
subsequent selection of Delete Photo Group button 285 will not cause
display of dialog 287.
Print button 292 provides printout of full-resolution image files
of selected photo groups. The particular printing process initiated
by button 292 is determined by the object selected in interface
190 when button 292 is depressed.
In a case that a camera is selected, dialog 295 of FIG. 35 is displayed.
Dialog 295 contains Printer area 297 for defining a printer, Photo
Range area 298 for selecting files to be printed, Copies area 299
for selecting a number of copies to print via spinner control 300,
and Options area 302. Within Options area 302, a user may select
several formatting options for printout. For instance, selection
of Date Taken check box 304 causes a printed sheet to include the
date and time that a printed file was captured. Selection of Title
check box 305 causes each printed sheet to include a title typed
within text box 307. Layout Options area 308 allows selection of
one of three layout options, one photo per page, two photos per
page, and four photos per page.
In this regard, FIG. 36 shows printed sheet 310 containing title
311 and date/time stamps 312 and 313, one stamp corresponding to
each image printed on sheet 310. As can be seen from FIG. 36, sheet
310 is printed in a two photo per page layout. FIG. 37 shows examples
of images printed using the various layout options of area 308.
Within Photo Range area 298, a user may select particular photos
for printing. Selection of All Photos In Camera option 315 causes
each full-resolution image file stored in camera 14 to be printed.
Selection of Canisters option 317 causes printing of each full-resolution
image file within the specified range of canisters. In addition,
selection of Photos option 319 causes printing of full-resolution
image files of photo groups corresponding to the selected range
of photos.
Preferably, the default photo range of dialog 295 is option 315,
while the default ranges of options 317 and 319 are all canisters
in the camera and all photos in the camera, respectively.
FIG. 38 shows dialog 325, which is selected in a case that a canister
is selected upon depression of button 292. Areas 326, 327 and 328
function similarly to areas 297, 299 and 302 described above with
respect to FIG. 35. Photo range area 330, however, presents a user
with a different range of options then that shown in dialog 295.
Particularly, a user can select option 332 in order to print all
full-resolution image files of the selected canister, or option
333 in order to print a range of full-resolution image files from
the selected canister. The initial and default settings of dialog
325 are preferably such that option 332 is selected and photos option
333 is set to the entire range of photos in the selected canister.
In a case that a photo group or range of photo groups are selected
upon depression of button 292, dialog 335 of FIG. 39 is displayed.
Dialog 335 is similar to dialogs 295 and 325 except for Photo Range
area 337, which provides a user with options for printing selected
full-resolution image files, all full-resolution image files in
the canisters containing the selected photo group(s), or a specified
range of full-resolution image files. Default settings for dialog
335 are option 339, wherein the photo range of option 340 set to
the photo range of the canister containing the selected photos.
E-mail button 345 of toolbar 196 invokes the Windows95 standard
"Send To mail recipient" file menu procedure.
Print Contact Sheet button 347 is used to print contact sheets
of selected photo groups. Similar to Print button 292, selection
of button 347 causes display of one of three dialogs, depending
upon the objects selected during selection of button 347.
In a case that a digital camera is selected during selection of
button 347, dialog 350 of FIG. 40 is displayed. Dialog 350 includes
Printer Control area 352 and area 354 to select a number of contact
sheet copies to be printed. Photo Range area 355 determines the
photo groups which are represented on a printed contact sheet. In
this regard, the functionality of area 355 of dialog 350 parallels
that of area 298 of dialog 295.
Options area 356 contains formatting options for printing contact
sheets. Date check box 358 causes the contact sheet printing date
to be printed upon printed contact sheets in the form: day name,
month day, year. Title check box 359 causes a title printed in text
box 361 to be printed on each contact sheet. FIG. 41 shows sample
contact sheet 363 including printing date 365 and title 367.
Quality area 370 allows a user to determine the print quality of
images printed on the contact sheet. Quick Print option 372 prints
thumbnail image files of the photo groups selected in photo range
area 355, after scaling the files using image up-sampling. Best
Quality option 373 utilizes full-resolution image files that are
down-sampled and therefore results in a slower but higher-quality
printout than that achieved using option 372.
Option 375 is selected in order to print a contact sheet of small
images, fifty per contact sheet, while option 378 is used to print
larger images, approximately fifteen per contact sheet. OK button
380 initiates printing.
In a case that a canister is selected upon depression of button
347, dialog 385 of FIG. 42 is displayed. The functionality of dialog
385 corresponds to that of dialog 350. However, Photo Range area
387 includes two options, option 388 for printing images representing
each photo group in the selected canister, and option 389 for printing
images representing a selected range of photo groups.
Dialog 390 of FIG. 43 is displayed in a case that button 347 is
depressed while a photo group or a range of photo groups are selected.
The functionality of dialog 390 is similar to that of dialogs 350
and 385 except for Photo Range area 392, which provides for printing
a contact sheet of images representing the selected photo groups
(option 394), representing all photo groups in the canister containing
the selected photo groups (option 395), or representing a specified
range of photo groups (option 396).
Upload button 400 of toolbar 196 causes selected photo groups to
be uploaded to the internet photo service provider specified in
Internet property page 67. In this regard, only full-resolution
image files of the selected photo groups are uploaded. If a canister
is selected upon depression of button 400, then all full-resolution
files located in the canister are uploaded. Similarly, if a camera
is selected, all full-resolution files on the camera are uploaded.
In a case that no internet photo service provider is specified in
property page 67, property page 67 will be presented to the user.
Display Thumbnails button 402 provides a display such as that shown
in area 192 of FIG. 22. Again, this view is available only for viewing
canister or camera contents. As described with respect to FIGS.
23 and 24, each photo group within a canister is represented in
area 192 by a 60.times.80 pixel image.
Large Icon button 405 causes each photo group of a selected canister
to be represented within area 192 by a 32.times.32 pixel icon and
a photo group name, as shown in FIG. 44. Small Icon button 410 causes
display of 16.times.16 icons representing each photo group, and
List button 415 shows a list of each photo group, along with 16.times.16
pixel icons representing each photo group. Views corresponding to
Small Icon button 410 and List button 415 are shown in FIGS. 45
and 46, respectively.
The icons representing photo groups in FIGS. 44 through 46 represent
associated thumbnail image files, full-resolution image files, and
sound files. The photo group names listed adjacent to the icons
consist of the photo group number, and date and time at which the
photo group was created. In either of the views shown in FIGS. 44
to 46, double clicking upon a photo group icon will launch an OLE
image container application, or the system registry JPEG default
application, and open the full-resolution image file corresponding
to the selected photo group icon within the application.
Details button 420 can be selected to produce a view such as that
shown in FIG. 47. In the FIG. 47 view, each photo group is represented
by a 16.times.16 pixel icon and a line of detailed information.
The detailed information preferably includes photo group number,
name (date and time taken), a sound icon if sound files are present,
an auto-correct icon, and byte size of the associated full-resolution
image file. Double clicking on a photo group icon in the FIG. 47
view will also launch an OLE image container application, or a system
registry JPEG default application, and open the corresponding full-resolution
file therein.
It should be noted that one common aspect of each viewing mode
provided in viewing area 192 of interface 190 is that, because associated
files such as a thumbnail image file, a full-resolution image file,
and a sound file are linked together as a photo group within a selected
canister, only one file entry per photo group is displayed. Hidden
file information is presented in status bar 204. This information
consists of total byte size of selected full-resolution image files,
byte size of hidden files (thumbnail and sound), and total byte
size of selected photo groups (including thumbnail, full-resolution,
and sound files).
Moreover, in each of the view modes provided by the present invention,
selection and dragging of a photo group or multiple photo groups
causes each file of the selected photo group(s) to be subjected
to drag and drop functionality. In this regard, if the selected
groups are dropped onto desktop 53, a storage device, or a folder,
then each file of the selected photo group(s) is dropped on the
destination. If the selected groups are dropped onto an application,
only the full-resolution image files are dropped.
In contrast to the foregoing views according to the present invention,
and as described in the above Background Of The Invention section,
FIG. 48 shows a view of the Windows95 Explorer application resulting
from software developed by Kodak. In FIG. 48, folder contents window
1004 displays icons representing each file stored in a Kodak camera
memory. However, the represented files are in a proprietary format
(.kdc), and are not listed with file names helpful in determining
the contents of each file.
Menu bar 197 of interface 190 contains menus similar to those found
in the standard Windows95 Explorer application. For example, FIG.
49 shows File menu 425, in which Print, Contact sheet, Mail recipient,
and Upload to internet account options are equivalent to toolbar
196 buttons 292, 347, 345, and 400, respectively.
Edit menu 430 of FIG. 50 contains Move/copy files, Auto-Correct,
Rotate plus 90 degrees, and Rotate minus 90 degrees options, which
are equivalent to toolbar 196 buttons 272, 264, 267, and 266, respectively.
View menu 435 of FIG. 51 controls views as described above with
respect to toolbar 196 buttons 402, 405, 410, 415 and 420. Arrange
Icons sub-menu 440 allows displayed icons to be arranged by date
and time or by size, where the relevant size is photo group size.
In addition, menu 435 includes an option for deleting temporary
files created according to the present invention. Accordingly, this
option will cause all temporary files not currently in use (by an
application other than the current object viewer) to be sent to
the Windows95 Recycle Bin. If this option is selected, dialog 441
of FIG. 52 is presented to the user.
As shown in FIG. 53 and 54, Tools menu 442 and Help menu 443 contain
standard Windows95 options.
As described above, rotation and auto-correction functions provided
by user interface 190 cannot be applied to data stored within a
canister/camera unless the data is first removed from the canister/camera.
Accordingly, prior to opening a full-resolution image file stored
in a canister or a camera within an application, a copy of the file
must be made outside of the canister or camera.
Therefore, a copy of a full-resolution image file is created in
the Windows95 System Temp directory when the image file is opened
in an application. This file is created using a Window95 system
file temporary name "cgtlbXXX.bmt", w |