Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera that generates contact file sheets is disclosed.
The digital camera includes a picture-taking mechanism and a contact
sheet generation mechanism. The picture-taking mechanism takes pictures
by generating image files corresponding to the pictures. The contact
sheet generation mechanism generates one or more contact sheet files.
Each contact sheet file includes a number of thumbnail images. Each
thumbnail image corresponds to one of the image files. Digital Camera Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A digital camera comprising: a picture-taking mechanism to take
pictures by generating image files corresponding to the pictures;
and, a contact sheet generation mechanism to generate one or more
contact sheet files, each contact sheet file including a plurality
of thumbnail images, each thumbnail image corresponding to one of
the image files, wherein the contact sheet generation mechanism,
in response to determining that a current contact sheet file includes
a maximum number of thumbnail images after adding an additional
thumbnail image to the current contact sheet file, is to create
a new contact sheet file and set the new contact sheet file as the
current contact sheet file to which further thumbnail images are
to be added.
2. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the contact sheet generation
mechanism dynamically generates the one or more contact sheet files
as the pictures are taken by the picture-taking mechanism.
3. The digital camera of claim 2, wherein the contact sheet generation
mechanism further dynamically updates the one or more contact sheet
files as the image files are selectively deleted from the digital
camera by a user of the digital camera, such that the contact sheet
generation mechanism, in response to determining that one or more
of the contact sheet files upon being updated includes one or more
empty contact sheet files, is to delete the empty contact sheet
files.
4. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the contact sheet generation
mechanism generates the one or more contact sheet files upon user
command.
5. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the contact sheet generation
mechanism generates the one or more contact sheet flies when the
image files are uploaded to another device.
6. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein each contact sheet file
includes for each thumbnail image of the plurality of thumbnail
images at least one of: a file name of the image file corresponding
to the thumbnail image, a date the picture to which the image file
corresponding to the thumbnail image corresponds was taken, identifying
information of the digital camera, and user-supplied information
regarding the picture to which the image file corresponding to the
thumbnail image corresponds.
7. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the image files are generated
according to a file format, and the one or more contact sheet files
are generated according to the file format.
8. The digital camera of claim 1, further comprising an uploading
mechanism to selectively upload at least some of the image files
and at least some of the one or more contact sheet files to another
device.
9. A digital camera comprising: a picture-taking mechanism to take
pictures by generating image files corresponding to the pictures;
and, a contact sheet generation mechanism to generate one or more
persistent additional image files, each additional image file including
a plurality of reduced-in-size images, each reduced-in-size image
corresponding to one of the image files generated by the picture-taking
mechanism. wherein the contact sheet generation mechanism, in response
to determining that a current persistent additional image file includes
a maximum number of reduced-in-size images after adding an additional
reduced-in-size image to the current persistent additional image
file, is to create a new persistent additional image file and set
the new persistent additional image file as the current persistent
additional image file to which further reduced-in-size images are
to be added.
10. The digital camera of claim 9, wherein each image file generated
by the picture-taking mechanism and each persistent additional image
file generated by the contact sheet generation mechanism has a same
size.
11. The digital camera of claim 9, wherein the contact sheet generation
mechanism dynamically generates the one or more persistent additional
image files as the pictures are taken by the picture-taking mechanism.
12. The digital camera of claim 9, wherein the contact sheet generation
mechanism generates the one or more persistent additional image
files in response to an event.
13. The digital camera of claim 12, wherein the event comprises
one of user command, and uploading of the image files to another
device.
14. A digital camera comprising: means for generating image files
corresponding to pictures taken by the digital camera; and, means
for generating one or more contact sheet files, each contact sheet
file including a plurality of thumbnail images, each thumbnail image
corresponding to one of the image files, wherein the means for generating
the one or more contact sheet files, in response to determining
that a current contact sheet file includes a maximum number of thumbnail
images after adding an additional thumbnail image to the current
contact sheet file, is to create a new contact sheet file and set
the new contact sheet file as the current contact sheet file to
which further thumbnail images are to be added.
15. The digital camera of claim 14, wherein the means for generating
the one or more contact sheet files further is for dynamically updating
the one or more contact sheet files as the pictures are taken by
the digital camera.
16. The digital camera of claim 14, wherein the means for generating
the one or more contact sheet files further is for dynamically updating
the one or more contact sheet files as at least some of the image
files are deleted from the digital camera, such that the means for
generating the one or more contact sheet files, in response to determining
that one or more of the contact sheet files upon being updated includes
one or more empty contact sheet files, is to delete the empty contact
sheet files.
17. A method for performance by a digital camera comprising: generating
image files corresponding to pictures taken with the digital camera;
generating one or more contact sheet files, each contact sheet file
including a plurality of thumbnail images, each thumbnail image
corresponding to one of the image files; generating an additional
image file corresponding to an additional picture taken with the
digital camera; updating a contact sheet file of the one or more
contact sheet tiles to include a thumbnail image corresponding to
the additional image file; determining whether the current contact
sheet file includes a maximum number of thumbnail images after including
the thumbnail image corresponding to the additional image file;
in response to determining that the current sheet file includes
the maximum number of thumbnail images, creating a new contact sheet
file; and setting the new contact sheet file as the current contact
sheet file.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising generating an additional
image file and updating a current contact sheet file of the one
or more contact sheet files to include a thumbnail image corresponding
to the additional image file for each of an additional number of
pictures taken with the digital camera.
19. A method for performance by a digital camera comprising: removing
an indicated image file selected from a plurality of image files
corresponding to pictures taken with the digital camera; updating
one or more contact sheet files including the contact sheet file
previously updated to remove a thumbnail image corresponding to
the indicated image file from the one or more contact sheet files;
determining whether the one or more contact sheet files as updated
include one or more empty contact sheet files; and in response to
determining that the one or more contact sheet files as updated
include one or more empty contact sheet files, deleting at least
one of the one or more empty contact sheet files.
20. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon
for execution by a digital camera comprising: a first set of instructions
for generating first image files corresponding to pictures taken
with the digital camera; a second set of instructions for generating
one or more second image files, each second image file including
a plurality of reduced-in-size images, each reduced-in-size image
corresponding to one of the first image files, wherein the second
set of instructions in response to determining that a current second
image file includes a maximum number of reduced-in-size images after
adding an additional reduced-in-sized image to the current second
image file, is to create a new second image file and set the new
second image file as the current second image file to which further
reduced-in-size images are to be added.
21. The medium of claim 20, further comprising a third set of instructions
for uploading the first image files and the one or more second image
files to another device.
Digital Camera Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Digital cameras have recently become popular with both home and
business users, as they have come down in price, and as users have
gained experience with them. A digital camera generally varies from
a regular camera in that instead of taking pictures on film that
must be developed, it takes pictures that are saved as image files
within the camera. The image files may be saved on internal memory
of the digital camera, or on a removable memory card or other computer-readable
media that can be removed from the camera and inserted into a corresponding
slot of a computer or a device attached to the computer. The image
files are thus usually uploaded to a computer, where the user may
manipulate them, and ultimately may print them on a printer.
Digital cameras generally have some advantages over regular film
cameras. One advantage is that the user may have the opportunity
to preview the pictures taken on a small screen of the screen. If
a picture is not desired, the user can then easily delete the picture,
freeing up the memory for taking additional pictures, if the camera
uses erasable memory to store the image files. Furthermore, memory
cards or other computer-readable media usually allow for a larger
number of pictures to be taken than a typical roll of film does.
This enables the user to take a large number of pictures, which
can later be culled down to a more reasonable number for printing
or exchanging with others, such as via email or a computer disk
or other media.
However, the large number of pictures that can be taken by a digital
camera presents its own set of problems. In some cases, uploading
the pictures from the digital camera to a computer may be a slow
process, and may require a large portion of the computer's storage.
Once the pictures are uploaded to the computer, the user also loses
the concept of a "roll" of film in which pictures are
logically grouped according to the event or time period in which
the pictures were taken. Furthermore, printing the pictures can
be a slow process that may take hours if there are a large number
of pictures to print, especially if the user is using a consumer-oriented
color inkjet printer. Where the user wishes to exchange pictures
with others, emailing or otherwise transferring the pictures electronically
can also be a slow process that requires individual attachment of
each picture to send, and exceedingly slow where the user only has
a telephone modem network connection and not a broadband network
connection. In addition, many mail servers exclude large files,
which digital image files often are.
Deciding which pictures to upload, print, or exchange may therefore
be desirable to the user before starting one of these processes.
The user may examine the pictures one by one on the small screen
of the camera to decide which pictures to actually upload to the
computer. However, this can be disadvantageous, because the small
screen is an inconvenient display device on which to view pictures,
and is a relatively low image-quality device on which to view pictures.
The user may also examine the pictures one by one on the screen
of the computer after uploading them, to determine which pictures
to print or exchange. This may entail a time consuming and laborious
process of opening each picture individually in a photo-viewing
computer program. In the case of printing, the color fidelity of
the screen of the computer may be different or worse than that of
the printer. In the case of exchanging pictures, the user may not
know which pictures the person to whom he or she is sending the
pictures actually wants.
For these and other reasons, there is a need for the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention may be embodied in a digital camera that generates
contact file sheets. The digital camera includes a picture-taking
mechanism and a contact sheet generation mechanism. The picture-taking
mechanism takes pictures by generating image files corresponding
to the pictures. The contact sheet generation mechanism generates
one or more contact sheet files. Each contact sheet file includes
a number of thumbnail images. Each thumbnail image corresponds to
one of the image files. Still other aspects and embodiments of the
invention will become apparent by reading the detailed description
of the invention, and by referring to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of contact sheet files that
have thumbnail images and that can be generated by a digital camera,
according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for generating contact sheet
files with a digital camera, according to an embodiment of the invention,
upon the generation and/or removal of image files corresponding
to pictures taken with digital camera.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustratively showing the generation of an
image file corresponding to a picture taken with a digital camera,
and the resulting addition of a thumbnail image corresponding to
the image file to a current contact sheet file, according to an
embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustratively showing the creation of a new
contact sheet file when the current contact sheet file contains
its maximum number of thumbnail images, and the setting of the new
contact sheet file as the current contact sheet file, according
to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustratively showing the removal of image
files from a digital camera, resulting in the removal of thumbnail
images corresponding to the image files from contact sheet files,
according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a digital camera that generates contact
sheet files, according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram of an example digital camera, in conjunction
with which embodiments of the invention may be implemented.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a computer program that may be included
in a digital camera and that generates contact sheet files, according
to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments
of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings
that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration
specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced.
These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those
skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments
may be utilized, and logical, mechanical, and other changes may
be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present
invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not
to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention
is defined only by the appended claims.
Contact Sheet Files
FIG. 1 shows an example of contact sheet files having thumbnail
images that can be generated by digital cameras, according to an
embodiment of the invention. The user takes a number of pictures
using a digital camera, which generates image files 102 corresponding
to the pictures. The image files 102 may be according to a file
format, such as the JPEG file format, or another file format. The
image files 102 include a number of images 102a, 102b, . . . , 102n.
Copies of the images of the image files 102 are reduced in size,
such as in terms of the number of pixels in either the x and/or
y directions, and a number of these reduced-in-size images are stored
together in new image files called contact sheet files 104, as indicated
by the arrow 106.
The contact sheet files 104 include a number of contact sheet files
104a, 104b, . . . , 104n. Each of the contact sheet files 104 has
a number of the reduced-in-size images corresponding to the image
files 102. For example, the contact sheet file 104a has six such
images, the images 108a, 108b, 108c, 108d, 108e, and 108f. The number
of images per each of the contact sheet files 104 may be more or
less than this number, however. The size of the contact sheet files
104 may be the same size as the image files 102, in terms of the
number of pixels in either the x and/or y directions, and so on.
Furthermore, the file format of the contact sheet files 104 may
also be the JPEG file format, or another file format.
The number of contact sheet files 104 is the number of image files
102, divided by the number of images that can fit on each of the
contact sheet files 104, rounded up. For example, where six images
fit on each contact sheet file, if there are twenty image files,
then there are four contact sheet files. This is because twenty
divided six is three and one-third, which rounded up is four.
A contact sheet is generally and non-restrictively defined as a
sheet containing a number of reduced-in-size images. The sheet is
often used to select individual images for printing. The reduced-in-size
images can be referred to as contact images, or thumbnail images.
A thumbnail image itself is generally and non-restrictively defined
as a small image representation of a larger image. Thumbnail images
on a contact sheet, therefore, usually make it easier and faster
to view or manage a group of larger images.
The reduced-in-size, or thumbnail, images that constitute each
of the contact sheet files 104 are preferably not separate image
files, but rather are part of a single image file that is the contact
sheet file. For example, the images 108a, 108b, 108c, 108d, 108e,
and 108f are preferably not separate image files that the contact
sheet file 104a refers to in a hyperlink or other manner. Rather,
the images 108a, 108b, 108c, 108d, 108e, and 108f are preferably
part of a single image file that is the contact sheet file 104a.
This is why contact sheets are preferably referred to herein as
files, since they correspond to files, and the thumbnail images
they contain are not referred to herein as files, since they do
not correspond to individual files. Furthermore, the contact sheet
files are preferably persistent, in that once they are generated,
they are stored in the digital camera, allowing them to be uploading
to another device, such as a host computer. The contact sheet files
are further continually updated as image files representing pictures
are added or deleted.
In this way, the contact sheet file 104a, as well as the other
of the contact sheet files 104, can be uploaded from the digital
camera no differently than any of the image files 102. Because each
of the contact sheet files 104 includes a number of thumbnail images
that correspond to a number of the image files 102, a user only
has to download, print, exchange, or otherwise process, one such
contact sheet file to receive an approximation of a number of image
files. The user can then determine which image files to actually
download, print, exchange, or otherwise process, based on the images
shown in the contact sheet file.
The contact sheet files 104 may also each contain textual information
in addition to the images corresponding to the image files 102.
Each thumbnail image of the contact sheet file may have nearby or
thereon the name of the image file to which the thumbnail image
corresponds, as well as the date and/or time the picture to which
this image file corresponds was taken. User-entered information,
such as indicating what the subject matter of this picture is, may
also appear near or on the thumbnail image. Identifying information
regarding the digital camera itself can further appear on each contact
sheet file. Other types of textual and other information can also
be included on each contact sheet file.
Furthermore, the contact sheet files 104 may be generated dynamically
or in response to an event. Dynamic generation of the contact sheet
files 104 means that, as the image files 102 are generated as a
result of pictures being taken by the user, the contact sheet files
104 are updated to include thumbnail images corresponding to the
new image files taken, and to add new contact sheet files as needed.
Furthermore, the contact sheet files 104 are updated as the image
files 102 are selectively deleted, or removed, by the user from
the digital camera. Alternatively, the contact sheet files 104 may
be generated in response to an event, such as a user command to
generation these files, when the image files 102 are being uploaded
from the digital camera, and so on.
Method for Generating Contact Sheet Files
FIG. 2 shows a method 200 for generating contact sheet files according
to an embodiment of the invention. The method 200 is preferably
performed by a digital camera, and the contact sheet files are generated
to include thumbnail images of the image files corresponding to
pictures taken with the digital camera. The method 200 shows the
different functionality that can be performed in conjunction with
generating contact sheet files. However, the steps or acts of the
method 200 do not necessarily reflect the order in which a user
may take pictures with or remove image files from the digital camera,
such that other embodiments of the invention may not include all
the steps or acts indicated in FIG. 2, and/or other embodiments
may perform the steps or acts in a different order.
At least two basic types of actions can be performed by the digital
camera (201). First, in response to the digital camera taking a
picture, an image file corresponding to the picture is generated
(202). If there is no current contact sheet file, or if the current
contact sheet file is full (204), then a new contact sheet file
is created (208), and set as the current contact sheet file (210).
The current contact sheet file is then updated to include a thumbnail
image corresponding to the image file (211), which is also performed
where there is a current contact sheet file that is not full (204).
The current contact sheet file is preferably a contact sheet file
that is not completely filled with thumbnail images. Thus, as more
pictures are taken, generating more image files, new thumbnail images
corresponding to these additional image files are added to the current
contact sheet.
FIG. 3 shows illustratively an example of the generation of an
image file and the updating of the current contact sheet file to
include a thumbnail image corresponding to the image file. A current
contact sheet file 302 includes thumbnail images 304a, 304b, 304c,
304d, and 304e. There are thus five thumbnail images in the current
contact sheet file 302, and the current contact sheet file 302 can
show a maximum of six thumbnail images. A picture is taken with
the digital camera, leading to the generation of the image file
306 that corresponds to this picture. As indicated by the arrow
308, the current contact sheet file 302 is updated to include a
thumbnail image corresponding to the image file 306. The updated
current contact sheet file is indicated as the current contact sheet
file 302'. It still has the thumbnail images 304a, 304b, 304c, 304d,
and 304e, but now also has the thumbnail image 306', which is a
thumbnail image corresponding to the image file 306.
FIG. 4 shows illustratively an example of a current contact sheet
file having the maximum number of thumbnail images, resulting in
the creation of a new contact sheet file as the current contact
sheet file. The current contact sheet file 302', as has been indicated,
has the thumbnail images 304a, 304b, 304c, 304d, 304e, and 306'.
It therefore has six thumbnail images, which is the maximum number
of thumbnail images the contact sheet file 302' can hold. Therefore,
as indicated by the arrow 402, a new contact sheet file 404 is created.
This new contact sheet file 404 is set as the current contact sheet
file, so that new thumbnail images are added to the contact sheet
file 404.
Furthermore, referring back to FIG. 2, the other basic type of
action is a picture being deleted from the digital camera (201).
Therefore, the image file corresponding to this picture is removed
(212). Image files may be deleted from the digital camera because,
for example, the user has decided that the pictures to which the
image files correspond did not come out as intended, that he or
she does not want to keep these pictures due to decreasing available
storage in the digital camera for new pictures, and so on. Removal
of the image files may also result when the user uploads from the
image files from the digital camera to another device, such as a
host computer, resulting in their removal from the camera.
Once these image files are removed, or deleted, then the contact
sheet(s) that have been so far created, including the current contact
sheet, are correspondingly updated to remove the thumbnail images
corresponding to the removed image files (214). The terms removal
and deletion are used synonymously herein. Next, the method 200
determines whether there are any empty contact sheet files after
updating the contact sheet files (215). If so, then these empty
contact sheet files are deleted (216).
FIG. 5 shows illustratively two examples of the removal of image
files and the resulting updating of the contact sheet files as a
result. Initially, there are contact sheet files 502, including
a contact sheet file 502a, and a contact sheet file 502b. The contact
sheet file 502b is the current contact sheet file, because it has
space for new thumbnail images to be added thereto. The contact
sheet file 502a has thumbnail images 504a, 504b, 504c, 504d, 504e,
and 504f, whereas the contact sheet file 502b has thumbnail images
504g, 504h, and 504i. The thumbnail image 504i is circled with the
loop 506 to indicate that the user has deleted the image file to
which the thumbnail image 504i corresponds.
Therefore, the thumbnail image 504i also is deleted, as indicated
by the arrow 508. This results in the contact sheet files 502',
including the contact sheet file 502a' and the contact sheet file
502b'. The contact sheet file 502a' has not changed from the contact
sheet file 502a, and still includes thumbnail images 504a, 504b,
504c, 504d, 504e, and 504f. However, the contact sheet file 502b'
is changed from the contact sheet file 502b, in that it now only
includes the thumbnail images 504g and 504h. The contact sheet file
502b' is still the current contact sheet file. Next, the thumbnail
images 504d, 504e, and 504f are circled with the loop 510 to indicate
that the user has removed the image files to which these thumbnail
images correspond.
Therefore, the thumbnail images 504d, 504e, and 504f are correspondingly
removed, as indicated by the arrow 512. This results in the contact
sheet files 502", which now only includes the contact sheet
file 502a". The contact sheet file 502a" includes the
thumbnail images 504a, 504b, 504c, 504g, and 504h, where the latter
two thumbnail images were moved over from the contact sheet file
502b', since space became available in the contact sheet file 502a"
after deletion of the thumbnail images 504d, 504e, and 504f. Furthermore,
the contact sheet file 502a" has space for one more thumbnail
images, so it is now set as the current contact sheet file. There
is no more need for a second contact sheet file.
Referring back to FIG. 2, the method 200 can repeat, in an event-driven
or other manner (217). For example, the method 200 proceeds back
to 201, where it awaits another action, such as a picture being
taken or deleted, to be performed with the digital camera. The method
200 as has been described is dynamic in that as image files are
generated by or removed from the digital camera, the contact sheet
files are updated to reflect the newly added or removed image files.
However, as has been noted, this updating process may also be static,
and performed in response to an event. For example, the updating
of the contact sheet files in 211 and 214 of the method 200 may
only be performed at the user's command, or when the image files
are to be uploaded to another device. That is, the updating of the
contact sheet files in 211 and 214 may not be performed each time
image files are added or removed, respectively.
Digital Camera and Computer Program
FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a digital camera 600 according
to an embodiment of the invention. Only those parts that are needed
to implement this embodiment of the invention are shown in FIG.
6. However, as can be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in
the art, the digital camera 600 may typically have other parts,
and/or the parts shown in FIG. 6 may have sub-parts, for proper
implementation and operation of the digital camera 600. Furthermore,
the previous embodiments of the invention that have been described
can be implemented in conjunction with and can relate to the digital
camera 600. The digital camera 600 specifically has a picture-taking
mechanism 602, a contact sheet generation mechanism 604, and an
optional uploading mechanism 606. Each of the mechanisms 602, 604,
and 606 may be hardware, software, or a combination of hardware
and software.
The picture-taking mechanism 602 is for the digital camera 600
to take pictures, by generating image files corresponding to the
pictures. The mechanism 602 may also be referred to as a first mechanism.
The contact sheet generation mechanism 604 generates one or more
contact sheet files. Each contact sheet file includes a number of
thumbnail images, where each thumbnail image corresponds to one
of the image files. The contact sheet generation mechanism 606 may
be referred to as a second mechanism. Finally, the optional uploading
mechanism 606 uploads the image files, as well as the one or more
contact sheet files, to another device, such as a host computer,
a storage device, a printer, and so on. The uploading mechanism
606 may be referred to as a third mechanism. The uploading mechanism
606 is optional in that, for example, the image files and the contact
sheet files may be stored on a removable memory card in the digital
camera 600. Uploading of the files to another device may thus alternatively
be accomplished by removing the card from the camera 600, and inserting
it into the other device, or a memory card reader communicatively
coupled to the other device.
FIG. 7 shows an example of a typical digital camera 700 in conjunction
with which embodiments of the invention can be implemented. The
digital camera 600 of FIG. 6, for example, may be implemented as
including at least some of the parts of the digital camera 700 of
FIG. 7. The digital camera 700 includes a viewfinder 702, a lens
704, a charge-coupled device (CCD) 706, an analog-to-digital converter
(ADC) 708, a digital signal processor (DSP) 710, and memory 712.
A user views an image through the viewfinder 702, and then causes
the digital camera 704 to record a desired picture of the image
as an image file, using a mechanism not particularly shown in FIG.
7. Light from the image goes through the lens 704, where the CCD
706 records analog intensities of red, green, and blue light of
the image as variable charges. The resolution of the CCD 706 determines
the resolution of the digital camera 700. The ADC converter 708
converts these analog intensities to digital data according to a
color depth measured in bits, as indicated by the arrow 714.
Furthermore, the DSP 710 can be used to adjust contrast and detail
of the of the image file, and also compresses the digital data according
to a file format such as JPEG, as indicated by the arrow 716. As
indicated by the arrow 718, the DSP 710 stores the digital data
as an image file corresponding to the picture taken in the memory
712. The memory 712 is shown as permanent, hard-wired storage within
the camera 700. However, it may also be removable storage.
FIG. 8 shows a computer program 800 for performance by a digital
camera, according to an embodiment of the invention. The program
800 is more specifically a set of instructions that can be stored
on a computer-readable medium, for execution by a digital camera,
such as a processor of the camera. The computer-readable medium
may be, for instance, a read-only memory (ROM). The previous embodiments
of the invention that have been described can be implemented in
conjunction with and can relate to the computer program 800. The
program 800 specifically includes an image file generation means
802, a contact sheet file generation means 804, and an optional
uploading means 806. Each of the means 802, 804, and 806 can be
implemented as a sub-set of the computer instructions stored on
the computer-readable medium.
The image file generation means 802 is for generating image files
corresponding to pictures taken with the digital camera. These image
files may be referred to as first image files. The contact sheet
file generation means 804 is for generating contact sheet files.
Each contact sheet file has a number of thumbnail images, where
each thumbnail image corresponds to one of the first image files.
The contact sheet files may be referred to as second image files,
and the thumbnail images may be referred to as reduced-in-size images.
Finally, the optional uploading means 806 is for uploading the first
and the second image files to another device.
Conclusion
At least some embodiments of the invention provide for advantages
not found within the prior art. The contact sheet files generated
by an embodiment of the invention can be uploaded to a computer
no differently than any other image file generated by the digital
camera. The user may initially only upload the contact sheet files
to the computer, and from viewing the contact sheet files on the
display of the computer, decide which pictures to actually upload
to the computer. The user may also initially print only the contact
sheet files to decide which pictures to actually print. This provides
the advantage of sharing a hard copy of the "roll" of
film--i.e., a group of image files taken with a digital camera--with
others without having to print out the image files individually.
Furthermore, the user may first exchange the contact sheet files
with another user, so that this other user can decide for him or
herself which pictures he or she actually wants to receive. Finally,
the user may send this abstraction of the entire contents of a "roll"
of film--a contact sheet file--via email by creating only one email
attachment to the email message. This is true whether the contact
sheet file is sent by email, or electronically by other Internet
transport protocols, such as the file transfer protocol (FTP) and
the hypertext transport protocol (HTTP). This is also true where
the contact sheet file is sent by regular postal mail. Embodiments
of the invention also may provide for other advantages not described
here.
It is noted that, although specific embodiments have been illustrated
and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary
skill in the art that any arrangement that is calculated to achieve
the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments
shown. Other applications and uses of embodiments of the invention,
besides those described herein, are amenable to at least some embodiments.
This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations
of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that
this invention be limited only by the claims and equivalents thereof.
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