Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A method for customizing a digital camera for at least one particular
user is disclosed. The digital camera includes a reprogrammable
memory for storing firmware which controls the operation of the
digital camera and a camera graphical user interface responsive
to the firmware stored in the reprogrammable memory. The method
includes providing customization software executed external to the
digital camera which can access a plurality of firmware components
having different camera features. A user selects desired camera
features to cause the customization software to access the corresponding
firmware component(s). The selected corresponding firmware component(s)
are provided to the digital camera and the reprogrammable memory
is reprogrammed to store the corresponding firmware component(s)
to thereby customize the digital camera. Digital Camera Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for customizing a digital camera for at least two particular
users of such digital camera by storing at least one firmware component
in a programmable memory of the digital camera which controls the
operation of the digital camera, the method comprising the steps
of: (a) providing customization software executed external to the
digital camera which can access a plurality of firmware components
providing different camera features; (b) a first user selecting
a first desired camera feature and a second user selecting a second
desired camera feature which is different from the first desired
camera feature, to cause the customization software to access the
corresponding firmware component(s) for the first and second desired
camera features, respectively; (c) providing the selected corresponding
firmware component(s) to the digital camera to enable the first
desired camera feature and to disable the second desired camera
feature when the digital camera is used by the first user, and to
enable the second desired camera feature and to disable the first
desired camera feature when the digital camera is used by the second
user, and programming the programmable memory of the digital camera
to store the corresponding firmware component(s) to thereby customize
the digital camera.
2. The method according to claim 1 further including the steps
of: (d) displaying the first and second users on a display of the
digital camera; (e) identifying which one of the first and second
users is operating the digital camera; and (f) enabling the first
desired camera feature when the first user is identified, and enabling
the second desired camera feature when the second user is identified.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the customization software
is provided on a computer program product.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the camera customization
software is provided by a Network Service Provider.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein step (b) includes using
a host computer to select the desired camera features.
6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the host computer is
provided in a retail establishment.
7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the digital camera includes
a removable memory card, and the plurality of firmware components
is provided on the removable memory card.
8. The method according to claim 1 further including the step of
providing first and second camera graphical user interfaces in the
digital camera that are responsive to firmware stored in the programmable
memory, and wherein the first camera graphical user interface is
configured for the first user, and the second camera graphical user
interface, which is different from the first camera graphical user
interface, is configured for the second user.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first and second
camera graphical user interfaces use different icon styles.
10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first and second
camera graphical user interfaces use different color sets.
11. A digital camera configured according to the method of claim
1.
12. At least one computer program product having the customization
software stored thereon for performing the method according to claim
1.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the desired camera features that
can be selected by the first and second users include particular
sounds which the digital camera produces when images are captured
or reviewed.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein the desired camera features that
can be selected by the first and second users include configuring
the firmware component(s) to create one or more html files to arrange
images captured by the customized digital camera into a web page
having a customized background color, header text, image date, image
titles, or image size.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the desired camera features that
can be selected by the first and second users include monochrome
or sepia effects, and special effects filters.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital camera includes a
display, and wherein the desired camera features that can be selected
by the first and second users include enabling images to be uploaded
from an external, device and displayed on the display.
17. The method of claim 1 wherein the desired camera features that
can be selected by the first and second users include particular
tone or color adjustments, or sharpness adjustments.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital camera includes a
display, and wherein the desired camera features that can be selected
by the first and second users include enabling a group of images
to automatically be sequentially viewed on the display for a user
specified period of time.
19. A method for customizing a digital camera for at least two
particular users by programming the programmable memory of the digital
camera which controls the operation of the digital camera, the method
comprising the steps of: (a) displaying a list of selectable camera
features that can be provided by the digital camera; (b) a first
user selecting a first desired camera feature from the displayed
list of camera features; (c) a second user selecting a second desired
camera feature from the displayed list of camera features, wherein
the second desired camera feature is different than the first desired
camera feature; (d) programming the programmable memory of the digital
camera to enable the first desired camera feature and disable the
second desired camera feature when the digital camera is used by
the first user, and to enable the second desired camera feature
and disable the first desired camera feature when the digital camera
is used by the second user.
20. The method according to claim 19 further including the steps
of (e) displaying the first and second users on a display of the
digital camera; (f) identifying which one of the first and second
users is operating the digital camera; and (g) enabling the first
desired camera feature when the first user is identified, and enabling
the second desired camera feature when the second user is identified.
21. A digital camera configured according to the method of claim
19.
22. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions
for performing the method of claim 19.
23. The method of claim 19 wherein the digital camera produces
a first group of sounds when images are captured or reviewed by
the first user, and a second group of sounds, different from the
first group of sounds, when images are captured or reviewed by the
second user.
24. The method according to claim 19 wherein the digital camera
includes first and second camera graphical user interfaces responsive
to firmware stored in the programmable memory, wherein the first
camera graphical user interface is configured for the first user,
and the second camera graphical user interface, which is different
from the first camera graphical user interface, is configured for
the second user.
25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the first and second
camera graphical user interfaces use different icon styles.
26. The method according to claim 24, wherein the first and second
camera graphical user interfaces use different color sets.
27. The method of claim 19 wherein the digital camera provides
different tone reproduction or color reproduction for the first
and second users.
28. The method of claim 19 wherein the digital camera provides
different image sharpness settings for the first and second users.
Digital Camera Patent Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of digital cameras,
and in particular, to customizing digital cameras for particular
users.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Digital cameras, such as the Kodak DC260.TM. digital camera, sold
by the Eastman Kodak Company, enable images to be utilized on a
home personal computer (PC), printed locally or remotely, and incorporated
into e-mail documents and personal World-Wide-Web home pages which
can be accessed via the Internet. The camera's graphic user interface
(GUI) enables many different features to be selected, but it is
complicated, and thus, very difficult for a first-time user to understand.
The camera provides a fixed set of features to the end user. These
features can be controlled by Digita Scripts specified by Flashpoint,
Inc. Digita Scripts are ASCII text files created with a text editor
on a host computer. Such Scripts may be invoked to select particular
camera features and to perform a defined sequence of camera operations.
For example, a Script may capture an exposure series of still pictures
using different exposure settings.
This type of camera design presents several problems, including
the fact that any feature that is likely to be demanded by even
a small subset of the users must be included in the camera. A consequence
of this is that the complexity of digital cameras has increased.
This leads to an increase in user anxiety, and therefore, serves
as a barrier to market adoption.
The firmware in the DC260.TM. digital camera, for example, can
be replaced via a memory card, as described in commonly-assigned
U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,264, entitled "Electronic Imaging System
Using A Removable Software-Enhanced Storage Device," the disclosure
of which is herein incorporated by reference. Images can be assigned
to albums, as described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,678,
entitled "Electronic Still Camera For Capturing And Categorizing
Images," the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by
reference.
Commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/977,382,
filed Nov. 24, 1997, entitled "Electronic Camera With Utilization
Selection Capability" and U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/004,046, filed Jan. 7, 1998, entitled "Network Configuration
File for Automatically Transmitting Images from an Electronic Still
Camera" to Ward et al., the disclosures of which are herein
incorporated by reference, disclose digital cameras which are provided
with host software that enables templates, e-mail addresses, and
other information to be selected at the host computer, downloaded
to the digital camera, and used, for example, to automatically produce
prints and e-mail images. Although this enables user-selected information
(such as preferred templates and personalized e-mail addresses)
to be downloaded to the digital camera, the actual features of the
digital camera normally remain the same for all users who have the
same camera model.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to customize
a digital camera to include only the features desired by the user,
and to be personalized with user preferences, such as color background,
icons, and names.
It is a further object of the present invention to enable a user
to easily add or remove the features that the user wants or does
not want, respectively, to try new features, to keep only the features
that are of interest to the user, and to add a feature to the digital
camera after purchase that was not available at the time of purchase.
In addition, it is an object of the present invention to enable
the customer or retailer to customize the digital camera.
It is yet another object of the present invention to enable a digital
camera retailer to offer camera packages, or bundles of software,
that meet the needs of specific groups of their well-known clientele,
and to sell new firmware components at the point of sale that they
believe to be popular.
These objects are achieved by a method for customizing a digital
camera for at least one particular user, the digital camera including
a reprogrammable memory for storing firmware which controls the
operation of the digital camera and a camera graphical user interface
responsive to the firmware stored in the reprogrammable memory,
the firmware including at least one firmware component, the method
comprising the steps of:
(a) providing customization software executed external to the digital
camera which can access a plurality of firmware components providing
different camera features;
(b) the user selecting desired camera features to cause the customization
software to access the corresponding firmware component(s); and
(c) providing the selected corresponding firmware component(s)
to the digital camera and reprogramming the reprogrammable memory
of the digital camera to store the corresponding firmware component(s)
to thereby customize the digital camera.
ADVANTAGES
It is an advantage of the present invention for a particular user
to customize the look and feel of a digital camera, and the features
offered by the digital camera.
It is another advantage of the present invention for a particular
user to customize a digital camera to include only those features
that are of interest to the user. Therefore, a novice user can customize
a digital camera to provide a very simple set of features, and a
more advanced user can customize a digital camera to include a more
complex set of features.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1A and 1B, when taken together, are a block diagram of a
digital imaging system in accordance with the present invention
for providing a user customizable digital camera 10;
FIG. 2 is a flow diagram depicting the steps used in customizing
the digital camera 10 of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 3 illustrates a graphical screen displayed on the display
monitor 52 of FIG. 1B in the process of customizing the digital
camera 10 of FIG. 1A;
FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate two different camera graphical user
interface screens displayed on the color image display 22 of the
digital camera 10 of FIG. 1A for two different users;
FIG. 4C is a rear view of the digital camera 10 including the color
image display 22;
FIG. 5 illustrates an additional graphical screen displayed on
the display monitor 52 of FIG. 1B in the process of customizing
the digital camera 10 of FIG. 1A, which includes a depiction of
the camera graphical user interface of the digital camera 10 of
FIG. 1A;
FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of several steps of
the process depicted in FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 depicts several graphical screens used in the process of
FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a flow diagram depicting image processing operations
performed within the digital camera 10 of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 9 depicts three tone correction curves that can be used in
block 530 of FIG. 8; and
FIG. 10 depicts three Coring look-up tables that can be used in
block 540 of FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIGS. 1A and 1B, when taken together, are a block diagram of a
digital imaging system in accordance with the present invention,
which enables users to easily customize the interface and features
of their digital camera prior to taking pictures. The digital imaging
system includes a digital camera 10 which is supplied along with
camera customization software provided on a compact disc CD-ROM
32, a floppy disk 34, or other digital media. The digital imaging
system also includes a host computer 40, such as a Dell Dimension
XPS M200, and a Network Service Provider 70. In accordance with
the present invention, camera customization software is executed
external to the digital camera 10, and is typically executed on
the host computer 40. The camera customization software accesses
software code which permits firmware in the digital camera 10 to
be customized by a user. The software code can be source code which
is compiled by the camera customization software to create executable
firmware. Alternatively, the software code can be compiled firmware
components or firmware settings which are accessed by the camera
customization software. The camera customization software can modify
or combine firmware components in order to provide firmware which
customizes the digital camera 10. The camera customization software
also includes one or more applications that provide a series of
interactive dialogues with the user so that the user may learn about
available camera features and select features of interest.
The digital camera 10 produces digital images that are stored on
a removable memory card 30. The digital camera 10 includes an optical
viewfinder 11 (shown in FIG. 4C) for composing a scene (not shown),
a 3:1 zoom lens 12 controlled by a zoom switch 13 (shown in FIG.
4C) having telephoto (T) and wide angle (W) positions and having
zoom and focus motor drives (not shown), and an adjustable aperture
and shutter (not shown) for focusing light from a scene on an image
sensor 14. The image sensor 14 can be, for example, a single-chip
color charge-coupled device (CCD), using the well-known Bayer color
filter pattern. When the user depresses a shutter button 15 (shown
in FIG. 4C), the analog output signal from the image sensor 14 is
converted to digital data by an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter
16. The digital data is processed by a processor 18 controlled by
firmware stored in a reprogrammable memory, such as a Flash EPROM
28.
The processed digital image file is provided to a memory card interface
20 which stores the digital image file on the removable memory card
30 or on another type of digital memory device, such as a floppy
disk or magnetic hard drive. The removable memory card 30, which
is well-known to those skilled in the art, can include, for example,
a memory card adapted to the PCMCIA card interface standard, as
described in the PC Card Standard, Release 2.0, published by the
Personal Computer Memory Card international Association, Sunnyvale,
Calif., September 1991. The removable memory card 30 can also be
adapted to the Compact Flash interface standard, such as described
in the CompactFlash Specification Version 1.3, published by the
CompactFlash Association, Palo Alto, Calif., Aug. 5, 1998, or to
other memory devices such as the well-known SSFDC (Solid State Floppy
Disc Card) or Memory Stick formats.
The processor 18 performs color interpolation followed by color
and tone correction, in order to produce rendered sRGB image data.
This processing is described later with reference to FIG. 8. The
processor 18 can include internal buffer memory to store a portion
of the image, or to store one or more images. Alternatively, the
processor 18 can use a separate external memory (not shown), such
as DRAM memory. The rendered sRGB image data is then JPEG compressed
and stored as a JPEG image file on the removable memory card 30.
The processor 18 also provides a lower resolution or "thumbnail"
size image data to a color image display 22, such as a color liquid
crystal display (LCD), which displays the captured image for the
user to review. A camera user interface 24 including a series of
user buttons 80, 81, 82, 83, and 84 (shown in FIG. 4C) and a capture/review
mode switch 86 (shown in FIG. 4C), is used to control the digital
camera 10. The camera user interface 24, together with text and
icons displayed on the image display 22 (shown also in FIG. 4C),
forms the camera graphical user interface (GUI). This GUI is controlled
by the user interface portion of the firmware stored in the Flash
EPROM 28. The digital camera 10 can also include a digital-to-analog
(D/A) converter 27 and a miniature speaker 29 (also shown in FIG.
4C) which makes audible sounds when a new picture is taken, or when
the user changes modes or advances to review the next stored image.
The digital camera 10 can also include a video output driver 23
which connects to a TV display 31, such as an NTSC format home television,
for displaying the captured images on the TV display 31. The digital
camera 10 further includes a strobe flash unit (not shown) for illuminating
the subject when the ambient illumination level is low.
After a series of images has been taken by the digital camera 10
and stored on the removable memory card 30, the removable memory
card 30 can be inserted into a memory card reader 48 in the host
computer 40. Alternatively, an interface cable 36 can be used to
connect between a host interface 26 in the digital camera 10 and
a camera interface 46 in the host computer 40. The interface cable
36 may conform to, for example, the well-know universal serial bus
(USB) interface specification.
The captured images from the digital camera 10 can be downloaded
to the host computer 40 and stored on a hard drive 56 under the
control of a central processing unit (CPU) 50. The CPU 50 is coupled
to a display monitor 52, which is used to view the images, and a
keyboard 54. A mouse 55 permits the user to readily communicate
with the CPU 50. The CPU 50 communicates with a 25 local printer
58, such as an Epson Stylus Photo 700 printer, which produces hard
copy prints of the images captured by the digital camera 10.
The digital camera 10 that is supplied to a user includes firmware
stored in the Flash EPROM 28 which provides normal camera features.
Users can customize the look and feel, and the functions offered
by the digital camera 10, using the camera customization software
provided with the digital camera 10. This camera customization software
is provided on the CD-ROM disc 32, which is loaded into the host
computer 40 via the CD-ROM drive 42, or provided on the floppy disk
34, which is loaded into the host computer 40 via the floppy disk
drive 44. The CD-ROM disc 32 or the floppy disk 34 can also include
digital image application software, such as the Picture Easy.TM.
version 3.1 software developed by the Eastman Kodak Company. Alternatively,
all of the camera customization software could be downloaded from
the Network Service Provider 70 via a modem 60. The modem 60 communicates
with a modem 72 at the Network Service Provider 70, which is connected
to a computer 74, a camera firmware database 76, and a billing system
78 which can charge the user (e.g., via a credit card) for downloading
the camera customization software. The CPU 50 uses the camera customization
software in accordance with the present invention to provide custom
firmware code which is downloaded under the control of processor
18 of the digital camera 10 via the removable memory card 30, and
stored in the Flash EPROM 28, as described in commonly-assigned
U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,264, entitled "Electronic Imaging System
Using a Removable Software-Enhanced Storage Device" to Sarbadhikari
et al., or via the interface cable 36 as described in commonly-assigned
U.S. Pat. No. 5,734,425, entitled "Electronic Still Camera
With Replaceable Digital Processing Program" to Takizawa et
al., the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.
The process of storing firmware code in an EPROM and of erasing
firmware code from an EPROM is well known in the art, and need not
be discussed in detail.
FIG. 2 is a flow diagram depicting the steps used in customizing
the digital camera 10 of FIG. 1A in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, when the
CD-ROM disc 32 provided with the digital camera 10 is inserted into
the CD-ROM drive 42, the camera customization software is automatically
launched (block 100) and executed by the CPU 50. The user is informed,
via the display monitor 52, of the user's ability to enhance the
capability of his/her newly purchased digital camera 10 and asked
if the user wishes to do so at the present time (block 110). If
the user responds "yes" (block 120), the user is asked
to connect his/her digital camera 10 to the host computer 40 via
the interface cable 36 (block 125. In block' 130, the camera customization
software then determines the capabilities of the digital camera
10 and an inventory of the features currently provided by the Flash
EPROM 28. The capabilities of the digital camera 10 can be determined
either by determining the camera model number or by determining
the types of hardware features that the digital camera 10 can support
and by the size of the memory of the Flash EPROM 28.
In block 140, the camera customization software determines which
feature firmware components are available for this particular model
camera via the software provided on the CD-ROM disc 32. In block
150, the camera customization software uses the modem 60 to determine
whether the firmware components which provide the new features not
stored on the CD-ROM disc 32 are available within the camera firmware
database 76 at the Network Service Provider 70. The response from
the Network Service Provider 70, received by the host computer 40,
might include some firmware components that are available to the
user at no charge, and other firmware components for which the user
will be charged. In addition, the Network Service Provider 70 can
track whether the user has previously purchased firmware components
so that they can be downloaded again at no charge if the firmware
component was lost by the user, or is otherwise unavailable. Further,
the Network Service Provider 70 could offer discounts to the user
based on previous purchases.
In block 160, the features provided by the available firmware components
are displayed to the user on the display monitor 52 through an on-screen
listing of these features. An example screen 53 listing available
features is shown in FIG. 3. The screen 53 lists the available camera
firmware memory in a window 305, and the features that the user
can select in a product option window 310. A scroll bar 312 having
an up arrow 314 and a down arrow 316 permits the user to scroll
through a long list of available options. The product option window
310 also lists the amount of camera firmware memory needed to store
the firmware component that provides the option, and the cost of
the option.
To consider a particular option, the user clicks on a particular
option line in the product option window 310, for example, the "Beastly
Vampires" line 318, which highlights this line in the product
option window 310, for example, by making the text bolder than the
other lines, or changing the color of this line. A description window
340 provides a brief description of the option. In this example,
the option is a package of features designed for the Halloween season
that includes the ability to add custom borders and special digital
picture overlays with a Halloween theme. It includes two different
vampire border templates, and the ability to selectively paint "blood"
on pictures of faces captured by the digital camera 10. If this
component is selected by the user in block 180, the appropriate
firmware will be added to the Flash EPROM memory 28 of the digital
camera 10 in block 210 to control the processor 18 to enable the
user, via the camera user interface 24, to selectively add the vampire
border templates to specific images and to paint "blood drops"
in appropriate areas of the images they have captured using the
digital camera 10, as the image is displayed on the color image
display 22.
The product option window 310 can display many different types
of optional features and functions, which will be described later.
Some of these are listed in the product option window 310 shown
in FIG. 3, The options include a "compression adjust"
feature which provides compression algorithm settings appropriate
for taking pictures of documents, rather than of real-world scenes.
The options also include a "red-eye elimination" option
that eliminates red-eye pictures due to night flash. This option
can be a flash add-on, meaning it adds a camera pre-flash mode to
reduce the subject's pupil diameter or alternatively, can digitally
process the captured picture using the processor 18 to identify
and eliminate red-eye.
The options also include an "album" option that enables
the user to upload, from the host computer 40 to the digital camera
10, particularly memorable personal images from various sources
that are stored in the Flash EPROM memory 28, and for display on
the color image display 22 or the TV display 31. These "album"
images are compressed and stored as appropriate resolution images,
typically having a greatly reduced number of pixels (and therefore
a much smaller file size) than the images captured by the digital
camera 10 and stored in the removable memory 30.
The options further include a web-page generator that automatically
generates an html file using the captured images, as well as one
or more of the stored album images. This feature may be customized
by the user as part of the process depicted in FIG. 2 to produce
a web page that has a customized background color or image, customized
header text, customized image date format or titles, and customized
image sizes.
In block 170 of FIG. 2, the user can select a demo of one or more
features that he or she would like to see demonstrated. For example,
in FIG. 3, after selecting the "Beastly Vampires" feature
by clicking on line 318, the user can select the "demo"
button 322. When a particular feature (e.g., the beastly vampires
special package) is selected for demonstration, the demonstration
software is provided from the same location which provides the corresponding
firmware component (e.g., the CD-ROM 32 or Network Service Provider
70) in the form of a QuickTime movie, Macromedia director presentation,
or another multi-media presentation that provides more information
on the use and value of the particular feature. To return to the
display depicted in FIG. 3, the user selects a "view"
selector 320.
In block 180, the user selects the feature(s) that the user wants
to be included in his/her digital camera 10. This is done by highlighting
the desired options in the product option window 310 and then chooses
a "select" selector 342. The user can start with a previous
camera selection by selecting a "restore" selector 332,
which permits the user to select and restore a camera feature set
that was previously backed up, and use that as the starting point
for a new feature set.
When one or more features must be purchased from the Network Service
Provider 70, the purchaser selects a "purchase" selector
324 which provides a series of order menus (e.g., HTML web pages)
generated by the Network Service Provider 70 and communicated to
the computer 40 via the modem 60. The user pays for the firmware
component(s) corresponding to the selected feature(s) by providing
a payment identifier into a secured electronic commerce link which
specifies a particular account which is to be charged or debited.
The payment identifier can be a credit card number that specifies
a particular credit card account. As used in this specification,
a credit card will also include a debit card. The number of features
that can be selected depends on the size of the firmware component(s)
needed to implement the features, and the size of the firmware memory
in the camera's Flash EPROM 28.
In block 190, the user is provided with the ability to select one
of a plurality of icon schemes for the camera Graphical User Interface
(GUI) 25 displayed on the color image display 22 of the digital
camera 10, shown in FIG. 4C. This selection occurs after the user
selects a "next" selector 344 shown in FIG. 3. Two different
exemplary types of icon schemes are shown in FIGS. 4A and 48. The
icon schemes can use different colors, text fonts, icon styles (e.g.,
classic, whimsical, business), and background colors or patterns.
The icon schemes can also include themes, such as a "Winnie
the Pooh" or a "Pokemon" theme for a child, or an
"X-files" or particular football team (e.g., the Green
Bay Packers) theme for an adult, and the appropriate set of icons,
having the appropriate text style, colors, and backgrounds will
be used. Icons are provided for both the review mode features, enabled
when the capture/review mode switch 86 (shown in FIG. 4C) is set
in the review position, and for capture mode features, enabled when
the capture/review mode switch 86 is set in the capture position.
FIGS. 4A and 4B demonstrate two different graphic user interface
(GUI) screens that can be displayed on the image display 22 of the
digital camera 10. Each GUI screen displays a main image 240 and
provides the same basic camera functions through a scrollable list
of icons 250. The first icon 252A (shown in FIG. 4A) or 252B (shown
in FIG. 48) depict different types of magnifying glasses. Selecting
this icon 252A or 252B enables the user to magnify the image on
the image display 22, i.e., to rescale the image to show the center
portion of the image at a larger size. Both icons 252A and 252B
control the same function, but have a different appearance on the
image display 22 to appeal to different types of users. The second
icon 254A (shown in FIG. 4A) or 254B (shown in FIG. 48) depict different
styles of trash cans which enable the user to delete the selected
picture. The third icon 256A (shown in FIG. 4A) or 256B (shown in
FIG. 4B) enables the user to lock the image so that it cannot be
inadvertently deleted by the user. The fourth icon 258A (shown in
FIG. 4A) or 258B (shown in FIG. 4B) depict different styles of arrows
which enable the user to scroll down to view additional icons which
provide additional functions. The ability to scroll through this
list of features provides the user the ability to view either a
large or small number of camera functions. The length of this list
of icons is modified as additional functions are added to or taken
out of the camera firmware.
A representation of a film strip 260 at the bottom of the GUI screens
including three small images (i.e., thumbnails), and a memory bar
262 is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. These enable the user to easily
scroll through and review the images that are stored on the removable
memory card 30 of the digital camera 10. An image number 264 is
shown in the upper right portion of each GUI screen. FIG. 4B shows
two additional icons 266 and 268 at the top of the GUI screen which
represent features that are enabled for the current image. In the
GUI screen of FIG. 4B, the presence of icon 266 indicates that the
date is overlaid on the picture and the presence of icon 268 indicates
that the image is locked so that it cannot be deleted. Note that
FIG. 4A does not display cons 266 and 268 to provide a less informational
screen design. Because the user can select an appropriate GUI for
his/her digital camera 10, the digital camera 10 displays only that
information critical to the user.
In block 200 of FIG. 2, the user is provided the ability to configure
the layout of the camera GUI 25 for the selected camera feature(s).
Certain features, such as adding or deleting flash modes (e.g.,
fill flash, red-eye reduction mode, auto mode) have preferred locations
in the camera GUI 25 displayed on the color image display 22. Other
features, such as the ability to group images into different albums,
may not have predefined places in the camera GUI 25. To configure
the camera GUI 25, the CPU 50 controls the display monitor 52 to
provide the display shown in FIG. 5. As the user enters this phase
of the process, the user is given the option of automatically configuring
these objects into the camera GUI 25 by selecting an "auto
configure" selector 352, or by dragging and dropping icons
to a simulation window 300 of the image display 22 of the camera
GUI 25 of the desired final camera 10. This simulation window 300
includes a series of icons 362, 364, and 366 that the user can "drag
and drop" in order to set their preferred icon order for the
camera GUI 25 to be displayed on the color image display 22 of the
digital camera 10 (shown in FIG. 1A). A scroll bar 372 having an
up arrow 374 and a down arrow 376 enables the user to scroll through
the icons 362, 364, and 366. The user arranges the icons 362, 364
and 366 displayed in the simulation window 300 that are used for
the review mode by first selecting a "review" button 380,
and then arranges another set of icons (not shown) that are displayed
in the simulation window 300 for the capture mode by selecting a
"capture" button 382.
Note that by selecting the "view" selector 320 shown
in FIG. 5, the user can return to an earlier step in the process
(e.g., block 160 of FIG. 2) if he or she wants to review other features.
The user can also demo the various firmware-enabled camera options
by selecting the product in a product window 360, and then selecting
the "demo" selector 322. The user also has some other
options. For example, the user can backup the customized camera
firmware to be stored in the Flash EPROM 28 to a file on the host
computer 40 by selecting a "backup" selector 350, or restore
an earlier configuration from a file on the host computer 40 to
override the current configuration by selecting a "restore"
selector 354.
FIG. 5 also includes an "install" selector 330. In block
210 of FIG. 2, this instructs the camera customization software
to configure the firmware components and upload them to the firmware
stored in the Flash EPROM 28 in the digital camera 10 in order to
customize the camera features and the camera user interface 24.
This can be done by first erasing some of the firmware installed
in Flash EPROM 28, and then uploading the new firmware components.
Alternatively, the camera customization software provided on the
CD-ROM 32 or the Floppy disk 34 can include camera source code that
must be compiled by a firmware compiler (not shown) designed to
produce firmware capable of being executed by the processor 18,
before being downloaded to the digital camera 10. In this situation,
the camera customization software also includes the necessary compiler
software, which is executed when the user selects a "build
camera" selector 356 shown on the screen 53 in FIG. 5 which
is displayed on the display monitor 52 shown in FIG. 1B. This enables
the camera firmware to be "built" (e.g., compiled) to
create a firmware component that provides all of the user selected
features. After this firmware component has been created by the
compiler, the "install" selector 330 is used to initiate
the downloading of the compiled firmware component to the digital
camera 10. If the user is unhappy with the features provided by
the newly installed firmware, the user can re-install an older firmware
component by using the "restore" selector 354 followed
by the "install" selector 330.
FIG. 6 is a flow chart depicting the steps of another embodiment
of the present invention. In this embodiment, the camera customization
software can, in accordance with the responses provided by the user
to a series of questions provided as part of the camera customization
software, selectively enable or remove various firmware from the
digital camera 10, to customize the digital imaging system so that
the digital camera 10 provides only those features that are of interest
to the user.
The additional steps shown in the flow chart of FIG. 6 can be inserted
between blocks 150 and 160 of the flow chart in FIG. 2, and provide
an alternative to blocks 160 through 200 of FIG. 2. Block 162 in
FIG. 6 follows block 150 of FIG. 2. In blocks 162 though 172 of
FIG. 6, the user answers a number of questions displayed on the
display monitor 52 using the keyboard 54 or the mouse 55. FIG. 7
depicts an example of an interface screen, displayed on the display
monitor 52, for entering the answers to these questions using groups
of "radio buttons" 418, 428, 430, 440, and 450.
In block 162 of FIG. 6, by clicking one of the radio buttons 418,
the user selects a camera GUI style from a group of possible style
choices 410, for example, a classic style 412, a whimsical style
414, and a business style 416 (shown in FIG. 7). In the example
shown in FIG. 7, the user has selected the business style 416.
In block 164 of FIG. 6, by clicking one of the radio buttons 428,
the user selects a camera GUI color set from a group of possible
color sets choices 420, for example, a white/blue/red color set
422, a gray/mauve/violet color set 424, or a gray/blue/pink color
set 426. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the user has selected the
gray/mauve/violet color set 424.
In block 166 of FIG. 6, by clicking the appropriate radio buttons
430, the user enters his or her experience levels for using digital
cameras, traditional cameras, and computers. In the example shown
in FIG. 7, the user has indicated that he or she has seldom used
a digital camera or film camera, but is an experienced computer
user.
In block 168 of FIG. 6, by clicking the appropriate radio buttons
440, the user enters his or her picture taking preferences. This
provides information on the types of pictures the user expects to
take quite often, and those the user does not expect to take very
often. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the user has indicated that
he or she expects to "often" take portraits of faces and
close-up equipment, "sometimes" take pictures of groups
of people, "seldom" take pictures of far-away scenery,
and never take pictures of fast-moving sports.
In block 172 of FIG. 6, by clicking the appropriate radio buttons
450, the user enters his or her expectations of how the user will
use the pictures he or she plans to take with the digital camera
10. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the user has indicated that
he or she expects to "often" use his or her pictures for
web pages, "sometimes" use his or her pictures for electronic
documents, "seldom" use his or her pictures for color
photo prints, and "never" use his or her camera for photo
enlargements.
In block 174 of FIG. 6, the camera customization software executed
by the CPU 50 classifies the user in an appropriate category based
on the user responses in blocks 162 through 172. For example, the
answers provided in the example shown in FIG. 7 indicate a business
user who is not familiar with photography but is very familiar with
computers. Furthermore, the user is interested primarily in taking
pictures of faces and close-up objects for use in creating web pages
and electronic documents.
In block 176 of FIG. 6, the camera customization software executed
by the CPU 50 determines the appropriate camera features for the
user class determined in block 174 and creates an appropriate camera
GUI 25 to enable the user to access these features. In the example
shown in FIG. 7, the ability to store many relatively low resolution
images in the digital camera 10, and special modes for portraits
and close-up photography, would be emphasized by including the appropriate
firmware components and organizing the camera GUI 25 to make these
features most prominent, so they could be easily accessed by the
user when using the digital camera 10. In addition, a firmware component
that automatically arranges the digital pictures in a web page could
be included, since the user often wishes to use his or her pictures
for web pages. Camera features that are not appropriate for this
class of user would not be included. For example, firmware components
that provide a fast moving "sports photography" mode,
or enable a direct connection between the digital camera 10 and
a home printer 58 via the host interface 36, to print images without
using the host computer 40, would not be included, since the user
has little interest in these features.
In block 178 of FIG. 6, the customized camera GUI 25 and features
are displayed to the user, for example, using the screen 53 depicted
in FIG. 5, which is displayed on the display monitor 52 of FIG.
1B. The screen 53 includes a simulation window 300 of the color
image display 22 of the camera GUI 25 of the digital camera 10.
In block 182, the user can approve the GUI and features, for example,
by selecting the "install" selector 330. In this case,
block 210 of FIG. 2 is then completed in order to install the customized
firmware in the digital camera 10. Alternatively, in block 182,
if the user does not approve of some aspects of the GUI and features,
the user can then modify the GUI or features by demonstrating and
selecting alternative features, icon styles, or GUI arrangements
using blocks 160 through 200 of FIG. 2.
Therefore, the process depicted in the flow chart of FIG. 6 in
accordance with the present invention enables the camera customization
software executed by the CPU 50 to create a customized camera GUI
25 for a particular user. The camera customization software can
provide a "novice user" with a very simple set of features
by "hiding" the advanced features. In addition, the camera
customization software can enable the user to select the output
size of the image, as well as the type of output (e.g., a web page,
4.times.6 inch inkjet color photo print, or an 8.times.12 inch thermal
print photo enlargement), and have the digital camera 10 automatically
select the resolution and compression settings. The camera customization
software can also enable the user to select particular "photo
situations" (e.g., portrait printing, web page creation), and
have the digital camera 10 automatically set many camera parameters
including, for example, the color matrix values and the amount of
sharpening, rather than have the user deal with many complex controls.
The camera customization software executed by the CPU 50 can provide
the user with the ability to select from many different features
that may be provided by the firmware executed by the processor 18
in the digital camera 10. In addition to the previously described
features, additional features can include:
Configuring the firmware stored in the Flash EPROM 28 in the digital
camera 10 to add firmware components which provide special effects
features, such as posterization or "coloring book" creative
effects, monochrome or sepia effects, and special effects filters
(e.g., star, defocus corners);
Configuring the firmware stored in the Flash EPROM 28 in the digital
camera 10 to enable the user to upload, from the host computer 40
to the digital camera 10, particularly memorable personal images
for sharing with others via the color image display 22 of the digital
camera 10;
Configuring the firmware stored in the Flash EPROM 28 in the digital
camera 10 to add a "slide show" capability to the digital
camera 10 for automatically reviewing the image on an LCD or video
display, for a selected period (e.g., five seconds per image) including
"transition" effects (e.g. fades or pulls) from one image
to the next;
Configuring the firmware stored in the Flash EPROM 28 in the digital
camera 10 to add unique sounds to the camera user interface 24,
such as, for example, funny noises as pictures are taken;
Configuring the firmware stored in the Flash EPROM 28 in the digital
camera 10 to support various image resolution or compression levels,
compression algorithms, or image tile formats, or to provide the
ability to modify captured images as they are processed, such as
by digital zooming and cropping, tone or color adjustments, or sharpness
adjustments;
Configuring the firmware stored in the Flash EPROM 28 in the digital
camera 10 to provide red-eye removal, as described in commonly assigned
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/290,290, filed Apr. 13, 1999
to Fredlund, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference;
Configuring the firmware components stored in the Flash EPROM 28
in the digital camera 10 to provide the ability to select one or
more border templates that may be combined with newly captured digital
images, as described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,264
to Sarbadhikari et al., the disclosure of which is herein incorporated
by reference;
Configuring the firmware components stored in the Flash EPROM 28
in the digital camera 10 to group images into various categories
or folders, as described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,678
to Kenneth Parulski, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated
by reference;
Configuring the firmware components stored in the Flash EPROM 28
in the digital camera 10 to provide the ability to stitch multiple
images together to produce panoramic images, such as by using the
method described in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 09/224,547, filed Dec. 31, 1998 to Parulski, the disclosure
of which is herein incorporated by reference;
Configuring the firmware components stored in the Flash EPROM 28
in the digital camera 10 to provide print ordering from the camera,
as described in commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No.
08/977,382, filed Nov. 24, 1997 to Parulski, the disclosure of which
is herein incorporated by reference;
Configuring the firmware components stored in the Flash EPROM 28
in the digital camera 10 to composite multiple images together,
for example, using the method and apparatus described in commonly-assigned
U.S. Pat. No. 5,914,748 to Parulski, the disclosure of which is
herein incorporated by reference;
Configuring the firmware components stored in the Flash EPROM 28
in the digital camera 10 to create html files to arrange the images
into 10 a web page that has a customized background color, header
text, image date/titles, and image size; and
Configuring the firmware components stored in the Flash EPROM 28
in the digital camera 10 to provide the ability to e-mail images
from the digital camera 10, for example, as described in commonly-assigned
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/004,046, filed Jan. 7, 1998
to Ward, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.
Depending on the features selected, the user must provide appropriate
personalization information that will later be incorporated into
the customized digital camera 10. Such personalization information
can include personal digital data, for example, ASCII text providing
the name, mailing address, phone number, or e-mail address of the
user. The personalization information can also include names of
people or events to be used to categorize images, and an address
book of e-mail addresses to be displayed on the color image display
22. The personalization information can also include one or more
border templates selected by the user.
In an alternative embodiment, the camera customization software
is uploaded to the digital camera 10 by storing the camera customization
software on the removable memory card 30 using the memory card reader
48, inserting the removable memory card 30 into memory card interface
20 of the digital camera 10, and uploading the camera customization
software from the removable memory card 30 to the Flash EPROM 28
as described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,264, entitled
"Electronic Imaging System Using a Removable Software-Enhanced
Storage Device" to Sarbadhikari et al., the disclosure of which
is herein incorporated by reference.
In another alternative embodiment, the firmware memory is provided
as a Read Only Memory (ROM) that stores firmware which implements
a plurality of different camera features. The digital camera 10
also includes a programmable memory (not shown) which stores camera
settings. The processor 18 uses the stored camera settings to determine
which camera features to implement, from the plurality of camera
features provided by the firmware. In this embodiment, the camera
customization software displays the selectable camera features to
the user. The user selects desired features, and the camera customization
software determines the associated camera setting(s). The settings
are then communicated to the digital camera 10 using the host interface
36 or the removable memory card 30, and are then stored in the camera
programmable memory.
In another alternative embodiment, the camera customization software
provides the user with sets of digital images, for example, three
images at a time, and asks the user to choose which of the three
images is preferred out of each set. The images have noticeable
differences in flesh tones, sharpness, contrast, and other image
attributes. Based on the user's choices, the camera customization
software customizes the firmware in the Flash EPROM 28 to provide
the type of images preferred by the use. For example, a first user
may prefer more vibrant colors, and sharper, more contrasty images.
A second user may prefer softer looking images. Based on the user's
selections, the edge enhancement setting, color correction matrix,
and tone correction lookup tables may be modified. Alternatively,
the digital camera can include a programmable memory (not shown)
which stores the camera settings. For example, the programmable
memory can store one or more edge enhancement settings, color correction
settings and/or tone correction settings. When the user selects
a preferred image, the camera customization software determines
the associated camera setting(s), and the programmable memory stores
the associated camera setting(s). In this embodiment, the camera
customization software can be executed external to the digital camera
10 (e.g., by the CPU 50 of FIG. 1), or alternatively, can be executed
by the processor 18 in the digital camera 10. In the latter case,
the sets of digital images are displayed on the image display 22
of the digital camera 10 so that the camera customization process
can be performed using only the digital camera 10 without the use
of the host computer 40.
In another embodiment, the customization is done in a retail establishment
which sells the digital camera 10. The camera firmware stored in
the Flash EPROM 28 is customized at the time of purchase, either
by a clerk operating a computer and selecting features at the request
of the user, or by a customer-operated kiosk. In this embodiment,
it is possible for the firmware to selectively limit camera features,
such as by modifying the control program used for the zoom lens
12 in order to limit the zoom range (e.g., to provide only a 2:1
or a fixed focal length lens rather than the 3:1 normal zoom range)
at a lower price, or to disable other features.
In another embodiment, the camera customization software permits
two or more different users to customize the feature set and GUI
25 of the digital camera 10 and to store the corresponding firmware
components or firmware settings in the Flash EPROM 28. When the
digital camera 10 is powered on, a list 20 of users is displayed
on the image display 22 and the user selects their name using the
camera user interface 24. In response to this user input, the processor
18 uses the appropriate firmware components or firmware settings
stored in the Flash EPROM 28 to provide the customized camera GUI
and feature set for that particular user. Alternatively, when the
digital camera 10 is powered on, the settings for the last user
can be employed, and a camera preferences menu can be used to select
a different user.
FIG. 8 is a flow diagram depicting image processing operations
that can be performed by the processor 18 in the digital camera
10 in order to process the images from the image sensor 14 provided
by the A/D converter 16. The processing performed by the digital
camera 10 to process a particular image is determined by user settings,
for example, User A settings 580 or User B settings 582, shown in
FIG. 8. The User A settings 580 include a resolution setting 514,
a color correction setting 524, a tone correction setting 534, a
sharpness setting 544, and a compression setting 554. The User B
settings 582 include a resolution setting 516, a color correction
setting 526, a tone correction setting 536, a sharpness setting
546, and a compression setting 556.
The Bayer pattern color filter array data (block 500) which has
been digitally converted by the A/D converter 16 is interpolated
in block 510 to provide red, green and blue (ROB) image data values
at each pixel location. The color filter array interpolation in
block 510 can use the luminance CFA interpolation method described
in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,652,621, entitled "Adaptive
color plane interpolation in single sensor color electronic camera"
to Adams et. al., the disclosure of which is herein incorporated
by reference. The color filter array interpolation in block 510
can also use the chrominance CFA interpolation method described
in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,678, entitled "Signal
processing method and apparatus for producing interpolated chrominance
values in a sampled color image signal", to Cok, the disclosure
of which is herein incorporated by reference.
To provide multiple resolution images, for example, a full resolution
image and a reduced resolution image, the color filter array 20
interpolation in block 510 can use the method described in commonly-assigned
U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,335, entitled "Single sensor color camera
with user selectable image record size", to Parulski et. al.,
the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. The
resolution mode provided in block 512 is either the full or reduced
resolution, corresponding to the current user setting, which can
be either User A resolution setting 514 or User B resolution setting
516 shown in FIG. 8.
The RGB image data is color corrected in block 520 using, for example,
the 3.times.3 linear space color correction matrix 20 depicted in
FIG. 3 of commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,511, entitled "Method
and apparatus for improving the color rendition of hardcopy images
from electronic cameras" to Parulski et al., the disclosure
of which is incorporated herein by reference. The color correction
matrix coefficients which are stored in the flash EPROM 28 in the
digital camera 10 can include the following:
Setting 1 (normal color reproduction) Rout=1.50 Rin-0.30 Gin-0.20
Bin Gout=-0.40 Rin+1.80 Gin-0.40 Bin Bout=-0.20 Rin-0.20 Gin+1.40
Bin
Setting 2 (saturated color reproduction) Rout=2.00 Rin-0.60 Gin-0.40
Bin Gout=-0.80 Rin+2.60 Gin-0.80 Bin Bout=-0.40 Rin-0.40 Gin+1.80
Bin
Setting 3 (desaturated color reproduction) Rout=1.25 Rin-0.15 Gin-0.10
Bin Gout=-0.20 Rin+1.40 Gin-0.20 Bin Bout=-0.10 Rin-0.10 Gin+1.20
Bin
Setting 4 (monochrome) Rout=0.30 Rin+0.60 Gin+0.10 Bin Gout=0.30
Rin+0.60 Gin.div.0.10 Bin Bout=0.30 Rin+0.60 Gin+0.10 Bin
The color matrix coefficients provided in block 522 include the
four settings listed above. The coefficients used in color correction
block 520 for a particular picture are determined by the current
user setting, which can be either the User A color correction setting
524 or the User B color correction setting 526. For example, User
A may have selected Setting 1 (normal color reproduction) and User
B may have selected Setting 4 (monochrome). Therefore, Setting 1
is used if User A is the current user of the digital camera 10,
and Setting 4 is used if User B is the current user of the digital
camera 10.
The color corrected image data is tone corrected in block 530.
This tone correction 530 can use, for example, the lookup table
corresponding to FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,511 cited above.
In the present invention, a plurality of tone correction Lookup
tables is provided in block 532. These can include lookup tables
corresponding to the three curves depicted in FIG. 9, which include
a "normal" tone correction curve 600, a "high contrast"
tone correction curve 602, and a "low contrast" tone correction
curve 604. These three lookup tables are stored in the flash EPROM
28 in the digital camera 10.
The tone correction lookup table used in tone correction block
530 for a particular image is determined by the current user setting,
which can be either the User A tone correction setting 534 or the
User B tone correction setting 536.
The image sharpening provided in block 540 of FIG. 8 can utilize
the method described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,419
('419 patent), entitled "Detail processing method and apparatus
providing uniform processing of horizontal and vertical detail components"
to Hibbard et. al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein
by reference. In the present invention, the coring lookup table
depicted in FIG. 4 of the '419 patent is selected from a plurality
of coring lookup tables that correspond to the curves depicted in
FIG. 10.
These lookup tables include a "normal" sharpening level
curve 610, an "extra sharp" curve 612, and a "less
sharp" curve 608. These three lookup tables are stored in the
flash EPROM 28 in the digital camera 10.
The coring lookup tables provided in block 542 of FIG. 8 include
tables corresponding to the three curves 610, 612, and 614 depicted
in FIG. 10. The lookup table used in image sharpening block 540
for a particular image is determined by the current user setting,
which can be either the User A sharpness setting 544 or the User
B sharpness setting 546.
The image compression provided in block 550 of FIG. 8 can use the
method described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,574 (the
'574 patent), entitled "Adaptive block transform image coding
method and apparatus" to Daly et. al., the disclosure of which
is incorporated herein by reference. The compression quantization
tables provided in block 552 include a plurality of quantization
tables, for example, three different tables, for the quantize block
26 in FIG. 1 of the '574 patent. These tables provide different
quality levels and average file sizes for the compressed image file
560 provided to the removable memory card 30 by the digital camera
10. These three quantization tables are stored in the flash EPROM
28 in the digital camera 10.
The quantization table used in image compression block 550 of FIG.
8 for a particular image is determined by the current user setting,
which can be either by the User A compression setting 554 or the
User B compression setting 556 shown in FIG. 8.
The User A settings 580 and the User B settings 582 shown in FIG.
8 can be determined as part of the camera customization process
depicted in FIG. 2. In this case, the settings 580 and 582 are downloaded
from the host computer 40 to the digital camera 10. As described
earlier, the settings 580 and 582 are used to select particular
matrix coefficients (block 522), tone correction lookup tables (block
532), coring lookup tables (block 542), and compression quantization
tables (block 552) stored in the flash EPROM 28 of the digital camera
10 (shown in FIG. 1 A). Alternatively, the matrix coefficients (block
522), tone correction lookup tables (block 532), coring lookup tables
(block 542), and compression quantization tables (block 552) can
be stored in a ROM (not shown), and only the camera settings 580
and 582 can be stored in a reprogrammable memory, such as the flash
EPROM 28. As another alternative, only the particular matrix coefficients
(block 522), tone correction lookup tables (block 532), coring lookup
tables (block 542), and compression quantization tables (block 552)
selected by Users A and B can be downloaded from the host computer
40 to the digital camera 10 and stored in the flash EPROM 28. As
yet another alternative, the user selection can be performed using
the camera GUI 25. In this embodiment, the matrix coefficients (block
522), tone correction lookup tables (block 532), coring lookup tables
(block 542), and compression quantization tables (block 552) are
stored in the flash EPROM 28 or in the ROM (not shown), and the
user settings 580 and 582 are stored in a reprogrammable memory,
such as the flash EPROM 28.
Computer program products, such as readable storage medium, can
be used to store the customization software, and also the desired
firmware components in accordance with the present invention. The
readable storage medium can be a magnetic storage media, such as
a magnetic disk (such as a floppy disk) or magnetic tape; optical
storage media, such as an optical disk, an optical tape, or a machine
readable bar code; solid state electronic storage devices, such
as a random access memory (RAM) or a read only memory (ROM); or
any other physical device or medium employed to store computer programs.
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference
to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood
that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit
and scope of the invention.
Parts List 10 digital camera 11 optical viewfinder 12 lens 13 zoom
switch 14 image sensor 15 shutter button 16 analog-to-digital converter
18 processor 20 memory card interface 22 image display 23 video
output driver 24 camera user interface 25 camera graphical user
interface 26 host interface 27 digital-to-analog converter 28 Flash
EPROM 29 miniature speaker 30 removable memory card 31 TV display
32 CD-ROM disc 34 Floppy disk 36 interface cable 40 host computer
42 CD-ROM drive 44 Floppy disk drive 46 interface 48 memory card
reader 50 central processing unit 52 display monitor 53 screen 54
keyboard 55 mouse 56 hard drive 58 home printer 60 modem 70 Network
Service Provider 72 modem 74 computer 76 camera firmware database
78 billing system 80 user button 81 user button 82 user button 83
user button 84 user button 86 capture/review mode switch 240 main
image 250 list of icons 252A, 252B first icon 254A, 254B second
icon 256A, 256B third icon 258A, 258B fourth icon 260 filmstrip
262 memory bar 264 image number 266 icon 268 icon 300 simulation
window 305 window 310 product option window 312 scroll bar 314 up
arrow 316 downarrow 318 "Beastly Vampires" line 320 "view"
selector 322 "demo" selector 324 "purchase"
selector 330 "install" selector 332 "restore features"
selector 340 description window 342 "select" selector
344 "next" selector 350 "backup" selector 352
"auto configure" selector 354 "restore" selector
356 "build camera" selector 360 product window 362 icon
364 icon 366 icon 372 scroll bar 374 up arrow 376 down arrow 380
"review" button 382 "capture" button 410 style
choices 412 classic style 414 whimsical style 416 business style
418 radio button 420 color set choices 422 white/blue/red color
set 424 gray/mauve/violet color set 426 gray/blue/pink color set
428 radio button 430 radio button 440 radio button 450 radio button
514 resolution setting 516 resolution setting 524 User A color correction
setting 526 User B color correction setting 534 User A tone correction
setting 536 User B tone correction setting 544 User A sharpness
setting 546 User 13 sharpness setting 554 User A compression setting
556 User B compression setting 580 User A settings 582 User B settings
600 "normal" tone correction curve 602 "high contrast"
tone correction curve 604 "low contrast" tone correction
curve 608 "less sharp" curve 610 "normal" sharpening
level curve 612 "extra sharp" curve |