Patent Document

BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     Retail stores that sell digital cameras typically display the cameras on a shelf with a short list of features printed next to each camera. However, due to shelf space constraints, the amount of information presented regarding each camera is very limited. Also, there are generally no measures taken to encourage a user to demo the cameras. If an instruction tag is provided indicating to the user how to demonstrate the cameras, it may be lost or deliberately removed (sabotaged).  
         [0002]     Many digital cameras can connect to a dock, or docking station, that provides connections to a PC, printer, and/or TV. The dock may also be used to charge the camera&#39;s batteries.  
         [0003]     It would be desirable to have a camera and dock, or docking station, that permits a customer to interactively demonstrate features of a digital camera without allowing camera settings to be corrupted or sabotaged. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]     The various features and advantages of disclosed embodiments may be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:  
         [0005]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary demo dock prior to docking of a digital camera;  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary demo dock after camera docking;  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram that illustrates operation of exemplary firmware for use with the demo dock and digital camera; and  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram that illustrates an exemplary method of using the demo dock and digital camera. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0009]     Referring to the drawing figures,  FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary demo dock  10 , or docking station  10 , prior to docking of a digital camera  20  therein, and  FIG. 2  illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the demo dock  10  after docking of the digital camera  20 . In one embodiment, the demo dock  10  may incorporate dock firmware  11  as a detectable feature  11  that is detectable by the digital camera  20  that is inserted therein or coupled thereto (i.e., docked), identifying that the dock is a demo dock  10 . For example, a particular communication protocol used to communicate between the camera  20  and the demo dock  10  may comprise the detectable feature  11 .  
         [0010]     Alternatively, in other embodiments, any mechanical or electrical feature  11  or characteristic that is detectable by the digital camera  20  may be used to distinguish the demo dock  10  from a normal dock. For example, a special key or protrusion on the demo dock  10  or its electrical connector  12 , for example, may be sensed by the camera  20  to identify that it is coupled to a demo dock  10 .  
         [0011]     When the camera  20  is removed from the demo dock  10 , it begins an interactive in-hand customer sales presentation implemented via demo firmware  21  residing in the camera  10  that utilizes its liquid crystal display (LCD)  22  and speaker  23  (generally designated) to inform the user of the various features and benefits of the camera  20 . The customer may be encouraged to interact with the demo by pressing selected navigation buttons  24 . One or more navigation buttons  24  may also be designated as an exit button  24 . Pressing an exit button  24  terminates the demo and causes the camera  20  to revert to factory settings defining normal operation.  
         [0012]     When the camera  20  is placed back into the demo dock  10 , the firmware  21  residing therein prepares it for the next demo by resetting camera settings to demo defaults to ensure that the camera  20  does not remain in a nonstandard state that could be confusing to other customers. This resetting action also defeats deliberate attempts at camera sabotage. The camera  20  may also erase some of the oldest pictures stored in its memory, if necessary, to guarantee that there is always sufficient space for the next user to take several pictures. After resetting itself, the camera  20  would then start a dock demo by displaying images and/or playing audio designed to arouse the curiosity of customers walking by and encourage them to pick up and investigate the camera  20 .  
         [0013]     The camera  20  may be reset any time after it is placed in the demo dock  10  until the time the user exits demo mode. For example, the camera  20  may be reset when it is first placed in the dock  10 , or when it is removed from the dock  10 , or when the user exits demo mode.  
         [0014]     If the demo dock  10  is connected to a TV, for example, the dock demo implemented by the demo firmware  21  may be automatically routed to the TV screen, rather than requiring the user to press a TV button  24  as is the case for a normal dock. This allows retailers to painlessly set up a point-of-purchase demo on a large display screen that would draw much more attention and be easier to read than a demo running on the liquid crystal display  22  of the camera  20 .  
         [0015]     It is desirable that it not be too hard for a retailer or customer to put a camera  20  into demo mode or it is not likely to happen. The above-described demo dock  10  provides a simple way to put the camera  20  into demo mode without affecting normal operation of the camera  20 .  
         [0016]     It is not desirable to have every camera  20  default to demo mode or customers may have problems getting it out of demo mode after purchase. This is not an issue with the demo dock  10 , because customers will not be able to buy the demo dock  10 , so they will never see the demo mode at home.  
         [0017]     It is not desirable to have the camera  20  left in a nonstandard or confusing state after a customer has played with it. Every time the camera  20  is placed into the demo dock  10 , it resets itself to demo defaults. This also overcomes deliberate attempts at sabotage.  
         [0018]     Cameras  20  on display at retail stores typically sit idly sleeping on a shelf until a user picks them up and turns them on. When a camera  20  detects that it is sitting on a demo dock  10  it may be configured to automatically launch a dock demo on its liquid crystal display  22 , or on a connected TV, to attract attention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram that illustrates operation of exemplary firmware  21  for use with the demo  10  dock and the digital camera  20 . Actions implemented by the exemplary firmware  21  are as follows.  
         [0020]     The firmware  21  detects  31  that the camera  20  has been placed in a demo dock  10 . When the camera  20  is removed from the demo dock  10 , the firmware  21  presents  32  an interactive demonstration using audio-visual capabilities of the camera  20 . The firmware  21  activates  33  certain navigation buttons  24  of the camera  20  to allow interaction with the demonstration. The firmware  21  terminates  34  the demonstration when an exit button  24  is depressed or when the camera  20  is returned to the demo dock  10 . When the camera  20  is in or returned to the demo dock  10 , the firmware  21  resets  35  camera settings to demo defaults. When the camera  20  is returned to the demo dock  10 , the firmware  21  may optionally present  36  a dock demo that displays images and/or plays audio to arouse the curiosity of customers and encourage them to pick up and investigate the camera  20 . Also, when the camera  20  is returned to the demo dock  10 , and if the demo dock  10  is connected to a TV, the dock demo may be automatically routed  37  to the TV for presentation.  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram that illustrates an exemplary method  40  of using the demo dock  10  and the digital camera  20 . The demo dock  10  is configured  41  to have a dock connector  12  for connection to the digital camera  20 , and a detectable feature  11  that identifies the demo dock  10 . The digital camera  20  is configured  42  to be connectable to the demo dock  10  and include demo firmware  21  that is operative to present a demonstration of the camera  20  when it is removed from the dock  10  and reset the camera  20  for normal operation when the demonstration is ended.  
         [0022]     The camera  20  is removed  43  from the demo dock  10 . Upon removal, the firmware  21  presents  44  an interactive demonstration using audio-visual capabilities of the camera  20 , and activates certain navigation buttons  24  to allow interaction with the demonstration. The customer interacts  45  with the camera  20  to learn about the features and operation of the camera  20 . The customer terminates  46  the demonstration by selecting an exit button  24 , which resets the camera  20  to demo defaults.  
         [0023]     When the camera  20  is in the demo dock  10 , the firmware  21  may be made operative to present  47  a dock demo that displays images and/or plays audio to arouse the curiosity of customers and encourage them to pick up and investigate the camera  20 . Also, when the camera  20  is in the demo dock  10 , and the demo dock  10  is connected to a TV, the dock demo may be automatically routed  48  to the TV for presentation.  
         [0024]     Thus, a demo dock and related methods and algorithms that provide for a point-of-purchase dock demo to attract attention have been disclosed. It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of some of the many specific embodiments that represent applications of the principles described herein. Clearly, numerous and other arrangements can be readily devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 5