Abstract:
A system and method providing a conduit ( 310 ) between a handheld electronic device ( 120 ), such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a remote storage unit ( 110 ), such as a personal computer (PC) hard drive, allowing a user to transfer images captured by an image capture device ( 124 ) attached to the handheld electronic device ( 120 ) and synchronize the data between the handheld electronic device ( 120 ) and the remote storage unit ( 110 ) in a manner that is easy, intuitive and useful, is disclosed.  
     In its preferred embodiment, the conduit ( 310 ) of the present invention is a software program that is installed into the standard sync manager ( 230 ) of a computer, providing seamless synchronization between a PDA and the computer without the need for user interaction.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/180,380, filed on Feb. 4, 2000, entitled “System And Method For Synchronization Of Image Data Between A Computer And A Handheld Device,” which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates generally to interfaces with handheld electronic devices and relates more particularly to a system and method for synchronization of image data between a handheld device and a computer.  
           [0004]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0005]    Handheld electronic devices such as personal data assistants (PDAs) are becoming increasingly popular as a convenient way to capture and store information. These devices become even more useful when they are able to exchange information with other electronic devices, especially computers. A user may thus enter information, such as an appointment or telephone number, into a handheld device and, by connecting the handheld device to a computer, may transfer the entered information to the computer. Used in this way, the user does not have to enter the information more than once in order to utilize that information in more than one device. Consequently, efficient synchronization of data between computers and handheld electronic devices is an important consideration of designers and manufacturers of electronic systems.  
           [0006]    As a result of the increasing popularity of PDAs and other similar handheld electronic devices, the industry is experiencing an equivalent growth in the market and demand for peripheral devices that can be attached to the handheld electronic device to enhance its capabilities. One such module is a digital camera, which can be attached to the handheld electronic device to turn the device into a virtual camera. These devices have the capability to allow the user to capture and store images onto the electronic device for later retrieval and viewing.  
           [0007]    As the technology of handheld electronic devices advances, users will require a method to transmit these captured images to other devices, such as a personal computer or other storage device. Because of the decreasing size and increasing power and complexity of such handheld devices, it is important to the user to be able to transmit images with as little user intervention as possible and without cumbersome hardware and/or complex software.  
           [0008]    Therefore, a current need exists for a fast and user-friendly conduit for use between a handheld electronic device and a remote storage device to transfer images and other such data and a method for transferring and synchronizing the same.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The present invention provides a system and method for transferring and synchronizing data from an electronic device to a remote storage device in a manner that is easy, intuitive and useful. Specifically, the present invention is a system and method providing a conduit between a handheld electronic device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a remote storage unit, such as a personal computer (PC) hard drive, that allows a user to transfer images captured by an image capture device attached to the electronic device and synchronize the data between the electronic device and the storage unit.  
           [0010]    In a preferred embodiment, the conduit of the present invention is a software program that is installed into the standard “HotSync” manager of the PC, providing seamless synchronization between the PDA and the PC without the need for user interaction. Other advantages, features and embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the drawings and detailed description as set forth below.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a personal computing device and a handheld electronic device, according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the computing device of FIG. 1, according to the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a block diagram for one embodiment of the sync manager of FIG. 2, according to the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the handheld electronic device of FIG. 1, according to the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the captured image data of FIG. 4, according to the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a flowchart of method steps for capturing and transferring images from a handheld electronic device, according to one embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a flowchart of method steps for seamlessly transferring images from a handheld electronic device, according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    The present invention relates to an improvement in interfaces with handheld electronic devices. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.  
         [0019]    Referring now to FIG. 1, a plan view of a computing device  110  and a handheld electronic device  120  is shown, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The handheld electronic device  120  is docked in an input output (I/O device  122 , which is connected to the computing device  110  via a connection  130 . An image capture device  124  is coupled to the handheld electronic device  120 . Images captured by the image capture device  124  are stored in the handheld electronic device  120 .  
         [0020]    The connection  130  allows the handheld electronic device  120  and the computing device  110  to synchronize (sync) or share data. The connection  130  may be implemented using any appropriate connectivity configuration, such as serial bus and Universal Serial Bus (USB). Although a hardwired connection is shown in FIG. 1, a wireless connection, such as infrared, is within the scope of the present invention. The manufacturer of the handheld electronic device  120  typically determines the configuration of the connection  130 . Data from the computing device  110  may be stored in the handheld electronic device  120 , and data from the handheld electronic device  120  may be stored in the computing device  110 . Applications in the computing device  110 , known as conduits, allow for data to be exchanged without user interaction.  
         [0021]    Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of one embodiment of the computing device  110  of FIG. 1 is shown, according to the present invention. The computing device  110  includes, but is not limited to, a processor  212 , a display device  214 , an input/output (I/O) interface  216 , a network interface  218 , and a computer memory  220 . The computer memory  220  includes, but is not limited to, a sync manager  230 , which is discussed below in conjunction with FIG. 3.  
         [0022]    The I/O interface  216  allows the computing device  110  to communicate with the handheld electronic device  120  via the connection  130  using any appropriate connectivity configuration. The network device  218  allows the computing device  110  to exchange data with a network (not shown) via any appropriate network connectivity configuration.  
         [0023]    Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram of one embodiment of the sync manager  230  of FIG. 2 is shown, according to the present invention. The sync manager  230  includes, but is not limited to, an imaging conduit  310 , a mail conduit  312 , a contacts conduit  314 , a calendar conduit  316 , and an expense conduit  318 . Each conduit in the sync manager  230  controls the exchange of particular types of data between the computing device  110  and the handheld electronic device  120 .  
         [0024]    The sync manager  230  copies all the data in the handheld electronic device  120  and stores the data in one location of the computing device  110  to create a backup for the handheld electronic device  120 . Thus, if all data is lost from the handheld electronic device  120 , the backup data may be reinstalled from the computing device  110  to the handheld electronic device  120 . The sync manager  230  also provides the user the capability to change the data on one device, the handheld electronic device  120  for example, and subsequently synchronize the changed data with data located on the computing device  110 . To accomplish this, the various conduits are run by the sync manager  230  to seek out specific data for synchronization. For example, the contacts conduit  314  will seek out contact data in the handheld electronic device  120 , and then will copy any updated data, e.g., a new address, to the computing device  110 . Likewise, the contacts conduit  314  will seek out contact data in the computing device  110  and copy any updated data to the handheld electronic device  120 . The sync manager  230  thereby assures the user that only the latest data located on either device will be synchronized with the other and all information is current and up-to-date.  
         [0025]    The sync manager  230  runs the imaging conduit  310  to seek out image data in the handheld electronic device  120 . The imaging conduit  310  queries records stored in various databases in the handheld electronic device  120  for image data. The imaging conduit  310  transfers image data from the handheld electronic device  120  and stores the images in the computer memory  220  of the computing device  110  (FIG. 2).  
         [0026]    Referring now to FIG. 4, a block diagram of one embodiment of the handheld electronic device  120  of FIG. 1 is shown, according to the present invention. The handheld electronic device  120  includes, but is not limited to, a processor  412 , a display device  414 , the I/O device  122  of FIG. 1, a capture device interface  418  coupled to the image capture device  124  of FIG. 1, and a handheld device memory  420 . The handheld device memory  420  includes, but is not limited to, a handheld device operating system  430 , captured image data  432 , and an imaging application  434 .  
         [0027]    In one embodiment, the I/O device  122  is a cradle with a hardwire connection to the computing device  110 . In another embodiment, the I/O device  122  is integral with the handheld electronic device  120 . An example of the capture device interface  418  is the SPRINGBOARD™ expansion slot available on the VISOR™ PDA manufactured by Handspring, Inc. In the preferred embodiment, the image capture device  124  is a digital camera, such as the EYEMODULE™, manufactured by IDEO Product Development Inc.  
         [0028]    The image capture device  124  captures images under the control of the imaging application  434 . A captured image is displayed on the display device  414  via the capture device interface  418 . A user can determine whether the image capture device  124  captures images as a gray scale (black and white) image or a color image. Since the display device  414  typically only displays gray scale images, a gray scale image is usually captured by the image capture device  124  for display on the handheld electronic device  120 . The user may also choose between a high-resolution gray scale image and a low-resolution gray scale image.  
         [0029]    Captured images may be stored in the captured image data  432 . If the user chooses to capture a color image, the color version and the gray scale version of the image will be stored in the captured image data  432 . The imaging application  434  may prompt the user to name the image, and to supply a text annotation to the image if desired. If no name is specified, the imaging application  434  uses a time/date stamp as the name of the image.  
         [0030]    Referring now to FIG. 5, a block diagram of one embodiment of the captured image data  432  of FIG. 4 is shown, according to the present invention. The captured image data  432  includes, but is not limited to, a primary image database  510 , a color image database  512 , and a text annotation database  514 . The primary image database  510  includes category, name, size, and gray scale data for each captured image. Each image record in the primary image database  510  also has a flag that indicates whether a corresponding color image exists and whether a corresponding text annotation exists. If a corresponding color image exists, the primary image database  510  contains a pointer to the location of the color image in the color image database  512 . If a corresponding text annotation exists, the primary image database  510  contains a pointer to the location of the text in the text annotation database  514 .  
         [0031]    When the sync manager  230  is active, the imaging conduit  310  queries the primary image database  510  for new and/or different image records, which the imaging conduit  310  preferably determines by the name of the image. If a new image is found, the imaging conduit  310  reviews the image record to determine whether a corresponding color image exists, and if so, where located. The imaging conduit  310  also reviews the image record in the primary image database  510  to determine whether a text annotation for the image exists, and if so, where located. If the imaging conduit  310  determines that a corresponding color image exists, the imaging conduit  310  will preferably transfer only the color image to the computing device  110 . The gray scale image may then be recreated in the computing device  110  using techniques known in the art.  
         [0032]    When the imaging conduit  310  transfers image data to the computing device  110 , the imaging conduit  310  preferably modifies the format of the image data. In one embodiment, the image data may be transformed into a JPEG format. During this transformation, the image may be further formatted into RGB for display on the color monitor of a personal computer. The JPEG images are then stored in the computer memory  220  in a directory specified by the user as part of the installation process of the imaging conduit  310  to the computing device  110 . Within that directory are various subdirectories based on categories created using the imaging application  434  in the handheld electronic device  120 , such as family, friends, business, etc. The imaging conduit  310  may create new subdirectories during the synchronization process based on new categories created by the user.  
         [0033]    Images transferred to the computing device  100  by the imaging conduit  310  will preferably be stored in JPEG format in the computer memory  220  with a “.jpg” file extension. Text annotation files will have the same name as the corresponding image, but will be stored in the computer memory  220  with a “.txt” file extension. Although the transferred images are stored in the computer memory  220  as JPEG files, other image data file formats are within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0034]    Referring now to FIG. 6, a flowchart of method steps for capturing and transferring images from a handheld electronic device is shown, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Initially, in step  610 , the user of the handheld electronic device  120  selects the type of image to be captured. In the preferred embodiment, the user may choose from a color image, a high-resolution gray scale image, and a low-resolution gray scale image.  
         [0035]    In step  612 , the user captures a desired image using the image capture device  124 . Next, in step  614 , the captured image is stored in the handheld device memory  420  of the handheld electronic device  120 . The user can preferably create a category and a title for the image. If the user so chooses, then in step  616  the user creates a text annotation file containing the caption or description information, which is saved to the handheld device memory  420  along with the image.  
         [0036]    Once the desired images have been captured, the handheld electronic device  120  is connected to the computing device  110  utilizing the I/O device  122  in step  618 . Then, in step  620 , the sync manager  230  runs the imaging conduit  310  along with any other conduits to synchronize the handheld electronic device  120  and the computing device  110 . The functionality of the imaging conduit  310  is discussed below in conjunction with FIG. 7. Although the above discussion describes transferring images from the handheld electronic device  120  to the computing device  110 , a bi-directional synchronization of images, including uploading images from the computing device  110  to the handheld electronic device  120 , is within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0037]    Referring now to FIG. 7, a flowchart of method steps for seamlessly transferring images from a handheld electronic device is shown, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Initially, in step  710 , the sync manager  230  starts the imaging conduit  310 . In step  712 , the imaging conduit  310  locates an image in the handheld device memory  420  of the handheld electronic device  120 . Image data is preferably stored in the captured image data  432 , as discussed above in conjunction with FIG. 5.  
         [0038]    In step  714 , the imaging conduit  310  determines whether the image exists in the computing device  110  by comparing the name of the image with the names of the images stored in the computer memory  220 . If the image exists in the computer memory  220 , then in step  716  the imaging conduit  310  skips that image record and locates and processes the next image in handheld device memory  420 . If the image does not exist in the computer memory  220 , then in step  718  the imaging conduit  310  transfers the image and any corresponding text annotation to the computing device  110 . As discussed above in conjunction with FIG. 5, the imaging conduit  310  determines whether a color version of the image exists, and if so, transfers the color image only. The imaging conduit  310  also determines whether a text annotation exists for the image, and if so, transfers the annotation. If a new text annotation exists for an image stored in the computing device  110 , the imaging conduit  310  will only transfer the new text annotation information.  
         [0039]    Next, in step  720 , the imaging conduit  310  preferably converts the image data into a JPEG format. In step  722 , the imaging conduit  310  converts the JPEG image into an RGB format before storing the JPEG image in the appropriate folder based on the category of the image. The JPEG image is stored as a file of the name created by the user upon image capture, or by the default name of the date/time stamp.  
         [0040]    Then, in step  724 , the corresponding text annotation, if available, is stored in the same folder as the image. The text annotation file has the same name as the image file, but has an extension that identifies the file as a text file, as described above. The method then returns to step  712 , where the imaging conduit  310  locates further images in the handheld device memory  420  of the handheld electronic device  120 .  
         [0041]    As preferred embodiments of the present invention are described above with reference to the aforementioned drawings, various modifications or adaptations of the methods and specific structures described may become apparent to those skilled in the art. All such modifications, adaptations, or variations that rely upon the teachings of the present invention, and through which these teachings have advanced the art, are considered to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Hence, these descriptions and drawings are not be considered in a limiting sense as is understood that the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments illustrated.