Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
       [0001]    Reference is made to commonly assigned copending applications Ser. No. 90/004,046, entitled “Network Configuration File for Automatically Transmitting Images from an Electronic Still Camera” filed Jan. 7, 1998 in the names of Joseph Ward, Kenneth A. Parulski, and James D. Allen, and U.S. application Ser. No. 08/977,382, filed Nov. 24, 1997 entitled Electronic Camera With “Utilization” Selection Capability by Kenneth A. Parulski et al.  
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention relates generally to the field of photography, and in particular to electronic photography. More specifically, the invention relates to an electronic camera that can be interfaced with a host computer.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Digital cameras, such as the Kodak Digital Science DC25™ camera, allow images to be utilized on a home computer (PC) and to be incorporated into e-mail documents and personal home pages on the World Wide Web. Presently, if a print is desired, each image must first be copied to the PC and then individually printed. The user is required to manually select each image to be printed, and manually decide how big each print should be and how many prints to make of each image.  
           [0004]    In addition, it is possible for users to electronically send images to others using software, such as the Kodak Digital Science Picture Postcard Software™. However, this again requires the user to manually download each image to the host computer, select each image to be transmitted, and create a new “Postcard” for each image to be sent. Users can also create “albums” of photos on their computers using software such as the Family Album Creator™ by Creative Wonders, Inc. Again, however, this is a manual process that requires each image to be downloaded to the computer, individually selected, and added to the album.  
           [0005]    In U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,659, reprint information can be generated at the time a PhotoCD disc is played back. This patent describes an EEPROM card that can be inserted into a PhotoCD player. As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and  6  of this patent, the EEPROM card can contain reprint order information and “album disc” information input by the player operator. However, this information is not generated at the time of picture taking, and is not stored on the same media as the images. Moreover, the reprint information does not include information useful to the service provider, such as user account, charge card, and mailing address.  
           [0006]    What is needed is a way for camera users to quickly and easily compose “print orders” and “transmission orders” and/or “electronic albuming” orders, at the time they capture their images.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic still camera for capturing images that can be transferred to a service provider for storage, the electronic still camera comprising:  
           [0008]    (a) an image sensor for capturing a plurality of images of scenes and for producing image signals representative of the corresponding scenes;  
           [0009]    (b) an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the image signals to produce digital images;  
           [0010]    (c) a removable memory card for storing a plurality of digital image files corresponding to the digital images;  
           [0011]    (d) an internal memory for storing at least one digital image to be displayed;  
           [0012]    (e) a processor for controlling the transfer of the digital images from the removable memory card to the internal memory and for producing a utilization file;  
           [0013]    (f) a display coupled to the internal memory for displaying at least one digital image; and  
           [0014]    (g) a user interface for scrolling through the plurality of digital images stored on the removable memory card in order to display and select particular digital images to be transferred to the service provider, wherein the utilization file includes the name of at least one digital image file to be transferred to the service provider and the processor stores the utilization file on the removable memory card separate from the digital image files.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the system according to the invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a diagram of downstream services available in the system shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is an illustration of one example of a creative background added to an image;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a diagram of the organization of a utilization file; and  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a diagram of another organization of a utilization file together with each image file.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]    Because imaging systems and devices are well known, the present description will be directed in particular to elements forming part of, or cooperating more directly with, apparatus in accordance with the present invention. Elements not specifically shown or described herein may be selected from those known in the art. Some aspects of the present description may be implemented in software. Unless otherwise specified, all software implementation is conventional and within the ordinary skill in the programming arts.  
         [0021]    A system block diagram of the invention is shown in FIG. 1, and includes a user&#39;s host computer (PC)  10 , a digital camera  12 , equipment located at a “downstream” service provider  14 , and equipment at a walk-up kiosk  16 . The camera  12  includes an optical section  18  for imaging a scene upon an image sensor  20  and generating an image signal, an A/D converter  22  for digitizing the image signal, a liquid crystal display (LCD screen)  24  for displaying images and other information, a number of user input buttons  26 , and both internal memory  32  and a removable memory card  36  for storing captured images. The camera  12  may optionally include an internal communications interface  28  (e.g., modem). A microprocessor  29  generally controls the operation of the camera  12 , and interchanges data through a memory card interface  34  with the memory card  36 , through a PC interface  38  with the host computer  10 , through a host interface  30  directly with the kiosk  16 , and through the communications interface  28  and a communications network  31  with the service provider  14 .  
         [0022]    When the camera  12  is purchased, it is provided with a software application (located on a disc  40 ) for running on the user&#39;s host PC  10  that enables the user to specify the name(s) of downstream service providers, network addresses (friends, family or business associates) and related account information such as billing information (e.g., charge card number, mailing addresses). The user can also select, through the software application, one or more “creative backgrounds” offered by the service provider (such as a postcard border) and enter one or more text messages, (such as “Hi, I&#39;m having a relaxing vacation, John Smith”), as will be described in connection with FIG. 3. All of this information can then be downloaded, via a memory card reader  42  on the host PC  10 , to the removable memory card  36 , which can be subsequently inserted into the camera  12 . Alternatively, the information can be downloaded to the camera  12  via the host PC interface  38  and written to the camera&#39;s internal memory  32  or the removable memory card  36  in the camera. Typically, keyword descriptors accompany the information to enable easy access by the camera user.  
         [0023]    After placing the memory card  36  in the camera  12  (or disconnecting the camera  12  from the host PC  10 ), the user can operate the camera  12  to take numerous pictures, which are stored either in the internal memory  32  or in the memory card  36  (or in both). After taking pictures, the user reviews the images on the LCD screen  24 , using the buttons  26  to scroll through the images. The user can then select the desired “downstream services” (printing, e-mailing, and/or albuming) and compose the order using the options listed in FIG. 2. These services and options are accessed from the memory card  36  and, for example, the keyword descriptors are assembled in a menu and displayed on the LCD screen  24 . Selections among these services and options are made, for example, by reference to the keyword descriptors and actuation of the user buttons  26 . The details of the order information is written into a “utilization” file generated by the camera  12  that identifies the order and includes pointers to the image files that store the images required to “fulfill” the order. The “utilization” file is stored in the internal memory  32  or the memory card  36 .  
         [0024]    For printing, order composition involves selecting the quantity, print size, and quality level (e.g., thermal or ink jet) of the images to be printed. For example, the user might choose one “standard” (4″×6″ size) image of 2 different images, and 2 standard size images plus one “enlargement” (8″×10″ size) image of their “favorite” vacation image. The print order information is provided in the utilization file that identifies the order and includes pointers to the image files that store the images required to “fulfill” the print order. In addition to “normal” type prints, the prints can be “creative” prints, using one of the creative backgrounds selected on the host computer and downloaded to the camera along with text. In this case, the “favorite” image might be surrounded with one of the border and captions provided via the host PC  10 , as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0025]    The user can then take or mail the image memory card  36  containing the image files and order information (utilization file) to the print service provider  14 . The provider reads the information, fills the print order, and returns the print order either for pick-up by the user or by mail. The service provider  14  charges the user&#39;s credit card account (which can be stored in the print order information file) for the prints provided. Alternatively, the user can place the card  36  in a slot  50  of a “walk-up kiosk”  16  along with a credit card. The kiosk can then automatically produce the prints required while minimizing the amount of user interaction required. Finally, the user could place the card in a home printer  48 , and the printer could automatically produce the quantity of prints of each image required. In the last two cases, the size and quality of print types available might be limited to those available by the kiosk  16  or the home printer  48 .  
         [0026]    Alternatively, the camera  12  could incorporate or be connected to a wired or wireless modem, such as the communications interface  28 . In this case, the print order information, and the image information needed to fulfill the print order, would be transmitted to the service provider  14  along with the account information through the communication network  31  (which could be a wired or wireless network). The service provider  14  would print the order and mail the prints back to the user.  
         [0027]    Instead of, or in addition to, composing a print order, the user may choose to transmit one or more images to others. These images can include the “creative” images and/or text described above. The user selects the images and the person(s) who will receive them, from the group of addresses loaded into the camera  12  via the process described earlier (the software application running on the home PC  10 ). The e-mail order information is provided in the utilization file that gives the e-mail address and includes pointers to the image files that store the images required to “fulfill” the e-mail order.  
         [0028]    If the camera  12  includes a transmitter, e.g., a cellular connection in the communications interface  28 , the camera  12  could include and initiate a “send” command that the user would enable after completing the e-mail order. This command would automatically send the appropriate images to the appropriate user&#39;s e-mail accounts through the network  31  using the appropriate communications protocol (i.e., FTP, mailto). Alternatively, the camera  12  can be placed in a docking unit (not shown) containing the modem. The images can then be automatically transmitted to the service provider  14 , when the camera  12  is inserted into the dock. Alternatively, the memory card  36  could be removed from the camera  12  and placed in a kiosk, which would then transmit the images and bill the user&#39;s charge card.  
         [0029]    Instead of, or in addition to, composing a print order and/or an e-mail order, the user may choose to transmit one or more images to their “electronic photo album” account, which could be maintained by the service provider  14  (or alternatively could be maintained on the user&#39;s home computer  10 ) in an image “album” storage  52 . In this case, the user selects the images to be transferred to their photo album, and optionally selects what group of users might be allowed to view the images. The groups may include “Self only”, “Self plus immediate family only”, and “All” (i.e., family, friends) The information may include text, which may be input and selected as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,678, “An Electronic Still Camera for Capturing and Categorizing Images”, filed Dec. 20, 1995, and assigned to the assignee of the present application, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.  
         [0030]    Instead of having the camera  12  communicate directly to the “downstream” service provider  14  over the communications network  31 , the communications network  31  from the camera  12  could alternatively be connected to an internet service provider (ISP) (not shown) such as AOL (America On Line), Earthlink, and Eznet. The “downstream” service provider  14  would then be connected to all ISPs via the internet, eliminating the need to maintain a separate communications network. The ISP would transfer the utilization file data and images needed to order prints and album images to the downstream service provider. The ISP could itself handle e-mailing of images to other users, using the data and images in the utilization file.  
         [0031]    The utilization order information is provided in the utilization file. The general file organization is shown in FIG. 4, and a detailed example of the file contents of an elaborate utilization file is given in Appendix I. This file may be encrypted to prevent unauthorized use of the sensitive information, such as the user&#39;s credit card number. Referring to Appendix I, a Global information section (lines  2 - 26 ) provides the customer information (name, address, credit card), as well as the time the order was placed, and whether it has been processed or not.  
         [0032]    The file may contain one or more Print Order sections. For example, lines  28 - 37  describe a print order of “standard” size (4″×6″) prints of the images made on a silver halide based CRT printer. Line 34 indicates that two copies of the image referenced in line  33  will be printed, while only one copy of the images referenced in lines  35 - 36  is printed. A second print order section (lines  39 - 55 ) indicates a large size print (24″×36″) should be made on a silver halide printer and mounted in particular in a walnut frame. This printer should be sent via UPS to the address shown in lines  47 - 52 . The image is the composite shown in FIG. 3, which is described in the CreativeDetail section (lines  76 - 90 ).  
         [0033]    An e-mail order section (lines  57 - 65 ) provides the e-mail address and a list of images that should be sent to this address. An album order section (lines  67 - 72 ) provides a means for adding images to the users on-line photo album. The user can classify the images under a particular heading (e.g., “vacation” images) and indicate who is allowed to access the images via the internet.  
         [0034]    A Creative Detail section (lines  74 - 90 ) defines each creative image, such as the image in FIG. 3. It also describes user defined text (line  81 ). Multiple templates and user text options may be downloaded from the host computer to a memory card  36  that is then inserted into the camera  12 , prior to taking pictures. The template (background) may be an identification code that is only added, for example, during printing. In this case, the template is not viewed when the image is displayed on the camera  12 . Alternatively, a low resolution version of the templates desired by the user can be stored in the camera  12 , so that the user can preview the final composite image. A high resolution version of the template can be used by the service provider to print the final composite image. The user may decide to crop and rotate the image (lines  86 - 87 ) prior to inserting it into the creative background.  
         [0035]    Finally, an image detail section ( 92 - 102 ) describes the file type (e.g., FlashPix, JPEG, TIFF) and location of each image. In this example, the three images are all FlashPix images located on the memory card “Local Card” in the “vacation” folder.  
         [0036]    Most of the information in GlobalInfo and CreativeDetail sections of the digital camera utilization file, for example the addresses and creative text, is downloaded from the host computer to the camera prior to picture taking. After reviewing the images, the user uses the image LCD and user interface to select which images to print, e-mail, and album. The print size, e-mail, albuming, and creative options are offered by pull-down menus that match the options provided by the service providers they have selected on the computer and downloaded to the camera  12  (via the memory card  36 ). The fall utilization file (i.e., Print order, e-mail order) is then created by the camera based on the user selections.  
         [0037]    A much simpler print utilization file is shown in Appendix II. In this case, the camera  12  simply allows a print order to be created. The memory card  36  containing the images and the simple utilization file is then inserted into the home PC  10 , the home printer, or the walk-up kiosk  16  or sent to a service provider via a communications interface. The proper number of each selected image is then automatically printed, without further user intervention.  
         [0038]    Instead of providing the utilization information for multiple images in a single utilization file, other embodiments are possible. For example, the camera may create three utilization files, one containing the information needed to produce a print order, a second containing information needed to provide electronic albuming, and a third containing e-mail order information. Alternatively, the utilization information may be provided with each image file, as shown in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, the print order information describing the number and size of each image to be printed is included in tags provided within each image file. For example, image file #1 contains the image data and a tag indicating that the user has requested one standard size print. Image file #2 does not contain a print tag (or alternatively could include a tag with the number of prints set equal to zero) so no prints will be made of image #2. Image file #3 includes a first print tag indicating that the user has requested two standard size prints, and a second tag indicating that the user has also requested a single 8″×10″ size enlargement.  
         [0039]    The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications can be effected by a person of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     APPENDIX I: DIGITAL CAMERA UTILIZATION FILE                                00000000 UTILIZATION ORDER SPECIFICATION (Non-zero initial number identifies encryption                key)            %Section: GlobalInfo                %Section: ConsumerInfo (Provides info on camera owner and default mailing address)                %Name: ˜Smith˜˜John˜˜W˜           %Consumer ID: Njj1007                %Address:   ˜1 Picture Avenue˜               ˜Apartment 8b˜               ˜PO Box 123˜               ˜Anytown˜               ˜State˜                %PostalCode:˜14650˜           %CountryCode:USA           %Email:˜jdoe@kodak.com˜           %PhoneDay: ˜(716) 555-1111˜           %PhoneNight: ˜(716) 555-2222˜           %CreditCardExpDate: 1996 03 24           %CreditCardNumber: 3030445643345           %CreditCardType: AmericanExpress                %EndSection: ConsumerInfo           %Section: OrderInfo (Provides information on when utilization file was created)                %Date: 1996 2 28           %Time: 14 22 29           %Processed: 0 (1 Indicates that this utilization order was processed)                %EndSection: OrderInfo            %EndSection: GlobalInfo       %Section: PrintOrder (Lists the images in a print order)                %Section: FinishInfo                %ImageOutputSize: 4 6 Inches (This example is for standard size prints)           %MediaClass: AgX 20 EN34 Glossy                %EndSection: FinishInfo                %ImageRef: ImageDetail1 (Points to images defined below)           %Quantity:2 (Optionally indicates number of copies, default=1)           %ImageRef: ImageDetail2           %ImageRef: ImageDetail3            %EndSection: PrintOrder       %Section: PrintOrder                %Section: FinishInfo                %ImageOutputSize: 24 36 Inches (This example is for a large creative print)           %MediaClass: AgX 20 EN34 Glossy           %FrameType: F134 Walnut                %EndSection: FinishInfo           %Section: ShippingInfo (Instructions to ship to an address other than the one in                GlobalInfo)           %ShippingCarrier: UPS           %Name: ˜Good˜˜Johnny˜˜B˜                %Address:   ˜1 Song Street˜               ˜Mytown˜               ˜State˜                %PostalCode: ˜00111˜           %CountryCode: USA                %EndSection: ShippingInfo           %ImageRef: CreativeDetail1 (Points to creative defined below)            %EndSection: PrintOrder       %Section: EmailOrder (Sends images via e-mail)                %Section: AddressInfo (Instructions to ship to an address other than the one in                GlobalInfo)           %Name: ˜Good˜˜Johnny˜˜B˜           %Email: ˜jgood@localnet.net˜                %EndSection: AddressInfo           %ImageRef: Creative Detail1 (Points to creative defined below)           %ImageRef: ImageDetail2           %ImageRef: ImageDetail3            %EndSection: EmailOrder       %Section: AlbumOrder (Add these images to on-line photo album)                %AlbumHeading: ˜Vacation images˜ (Place images under “vacation” album heading)           %AlbumViewing: All (gives access to all authorized album viewers)           %ImageRef: CreativeDetail1 (Points to creative defined below)           %ImageRef: ImageDetail2            %EndSection: AlbumOrder       %Section: CreativeDetail 1 (Describes each composite image)                %LayoutRef: T12345 (Indicates template ID or template image file)           %Section: PageInfo                %PageRef: 0           %Section: TextInfo (Indicates what text appears in the template)                %TextNodeRef: 1           %ConsumerText: ˜Hi, I&#39;m having a relaxing time on vacation. John Smith                %EndSection: TextInfo           %Section:ImageInfo (Indicates which images(s) appear in template)                %ImageNodeRef: 2           %ImageDetailRef: 1           %CropRect: 256 0 768 1280 (Cropped image top, left, width, height)           %Rotate: 90 (Indicates rotation in degrees clockwise)                %EndSection: ImageInfo                %EndSection: PageInfo            %EndSection: CreativeDetail       %Section: ImageData (Describes each image, may be referenced multiple times)                %Section: ImageDetail 1                %FileType: FlashPix Version 2.0           %ImageLocation: LocalCard˜Vacation/Image4.FPX˜                %Section: ImageDetail 2                %FileType: FlashPix Version 2.0           %ImageLocation: LocalCard˜Vacation/Image7.FPX˜                %Section: ImageDetail 3                %FileType: FlashPix Version 2.0           %ImageLocation: LocalCard˜Vacation/Image10.FPX˜            %EndSection: ImageData                  
 
         [0040]    [0040]                                                     APPENDIX II: SIMPLE PRINT ORDER UTILIZATION FILE                                %Section: PrintOrder (Lists the images in a print order)                Image4.FPX 1 (One copy of image 4)           Image7.FPX 2 (Two copies of image 7)           Image10.FPX 1           Image12.FPX 4           Image13.FPX 1            %EndSection:PrintOrder

Technology Category: 5