U.S. patent application number 16/948019 was filed with the patent office on 2020-12-17 for method for deleting data files in an electronic device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Monument Peak Ventures, LLC. Invention is credited to Frank W. Armstrong, Keith Stoll Karn, Thomas A. Napoli.
Application Number | 20200396412 16/948019 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005050109 |
Filed Date | 2020-12-17 |
![](/patent/app/20200396412/US20200396412A1-20201217-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20200396412/US20200396412A1-20201217-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20200396412/US20200396412A1-20201217-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20200396412/US20200396412A1-20201217-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20200396412/US20200396412A1-20201217-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20200396412/US20200396412A1-20201217-D00005.png)
![](/patent/app/20200396412/US20200396412A1-20201217-D00006.png)
![](/patent/app/20200396412/US20200396412A1-20201217-D00007.png)
![](/patent/app/20200396412/US20200396412A1-20201217-D00008.png)
![](/patent/app/20200396412/US20200396412A1-20201217-D00009.png)
United States Patent
Application |
20200396412 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Karn; Keith Stoll ; et
al. |
December 17, 2020 |
METHOD FOR DELETING DATA FILES IN AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE
Abstract
An electronic device, such as a digital camera, includes a
deletion mode whereby a camera/electronic device user can delete
captured images or data files that have already been transferred in
order to make room in the electronic device or digital camera
memory for capturing further images. In one embodiment, a digital
camera keeps track of which images have already been transferred to
an external storage device and presents those to the user as
potential images to be deleted. In another embodiment, the user is
presented with a "delete all transferred images" which when
selected deletes all the captured images that have already been
transferred. In still another embodiment, deletion criteria are
used to prioritize which images are deleted first.
Inventors: |
Karn; Keith Stoll; (Narbeth,
PA) ; Napoli; Thomas A.; (Webster, NY) ;
Armstrong; Frank W.; (Rochester, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Monument Peak Ventures, LLC |
Plano |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005050109 |
Appl. No.: |
16/948019 |
Filed: |
August 27, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16533441 |
Aug 6, 2019 |
10778936 |
|
|
16948019 |
|
|
|
|
15927423 |
Mar 21, 2018 |
10419714 |
|
|
16533441 |
|
|
|
|
15402512 |
Jan 10, 2017 |
9936157 |
|
|
15927423 |
|
|
|
|
14592274 |
Jan 8, 2015 |
9549095 |
|
|
15402512 |
|
|
|
|
14250689 |
Apr 11, 2014 |
8964064 |
|
|
14592274 |
|
|
|
|
12642275 |
Dec 18, 2009 |
8730351 |
|
|
14250689 |
|
|
|
|
61138729 |
Dec 18, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/00885 20130101;
H04N 2201/3277 20130101; H04N 1/2112 20130101; H04N 5/772 20130101;
H04N 5/781 20130101; G11B 27/34 20130101; H04N 5/765 20130101; H04N
2101/00 20130101; H04N 5/85 20130101; H04N 1/0044 20130101; H04N
2201/0036 20130101; H04N 2201/3219 20130101; H04N 2201/214
20130101; H04N 1/00103 20130101; H04N 5/77 20130101; H04N 1/00148
20130101; H04N 2201/0087 20130101; H04N 1/00904 20130101; H04N
9/8047 20130101; H04N 5/907 20130101; H04N 2201/0084 20130101; H04N
2201/3242 20130101; H04N 1/00244 20130101; H04N 1/2166 20130101;
H04N 1/00461 20130101; H04N 2201/0055 20130101; H04N 2201/3274
20130101; H04N 2201/3273 20130101; H04N 1/00204 20130101; H04N
2201/218 20130101; G11B 27/034 20130101; H04N 1/00137 20130101;
H04N 21/4335 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/77 20060101
H04N005/77; G11B 27/034 20060101 G11B027/034; H04N 1/00 20060101
H04N001/00; H04N 21/4335 20060101 H04N021/4335; H04N 1/21 20060101
H04N001/21; G11B 27/34 20060101 G11B027/34 |
Claims
1. A system, comprising An imaging system having a lens and an
image sensor; and a processor coupled to a memory and a
communication interface, the memory storing processor-executable
instructions, which instructions when executed by said processor,
cause said processor to: effect storage of a digital image
representing light from a scene focused onto the image sensor in
the memory; effect transfer of the digital image as stored in the
memory via the communications interface to a remote storage device
and store in the memory data indicating the transfer of the digital
image to the remote storage device; and subsequent to the transfer
of the digital image to the remote storage device and an indication
that the digital image stored in the memory is to be deleted,
delete the digital image as stored in the memory from the
memory.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication interface
comprises a wireless modem, and said processor effects transfer of
the digital image as stored in the memory via a radio frequency
(RF) link.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein said wireless modem is integrated
in said processor.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein said wireless modem is included
on an SD card.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein said instructions, when executed
by said processor, cause said processor to delete the digital image
as stored in the memory automatically to maintain a predetermined
minimum amount of storage space in said memory.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein said instructions, when executed
by said processor, cause said processor to delete the digital image
as stored in the memory in an order with other images stored in the
memory and transferred to the remote storage device based on a
deletion criterion.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the deletion criterion comprises
an age of an image previously transferred to the remote storage
device.
8. The system of claim 6, wherein the deletion criterion comprises
a size of an image previously transferred to the remote storage
device.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein said instructions, when executed
by said processor, cause said processor to present the digital
image as stored in the memory for selection to be transferred to
the remote storage device.
10. A method, comprising a processor, operating according to
processor-executable instructions stored in a memory coupled to
said processor, effecting storage of a digital image representing
light from a scene focused by a lens system onto an image sensor in
a memory; subsequent to storing the digital image in the memory and
according to a configuration setting established prior to storage
of the digital image, the processor effecting transfer of the
digital image from the memory to a remote storage device via a
communications interface and storing in the memory data indicating
the transfer of the digital image to the remote storage device;
and, subsequent to the transfer of the digital image to the remote
storage device, the processor receiving an indication that the
digital image stored in the memory is to be deleted and deleting
the digital image as stored in the memory from the memory.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein said processor further operates
according to said processor-executable instructions stored in said
memory to present said digital image on a display.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein said processor further operates
according to said processor-executable instructions stored in said
memory to wake from a low power state at a set time to effect said
transfer of said digital image.
13. The method of claim 6, wherein said processor further operates
according to said processor-executable instructions stored in said
memory to wake from a low power state after a set time duration to
effect said transfer of said digital image.
14. The method of claim 6, wherein said processor further operates
according to said processor-executable instructions stored in said
memory to maintain a predetermined minimum amount of storage space
in said memory by deleting said digital image automatically.
15. The method of claim 6, wherein between effecting transfer of
the digital image from the memory to a remote storage and deleting
the digital image as stored in the memory from the memory, the
processor powering down to a low power mode.
16. The method of claim 6, wherein the configuration setting
established prior to storage of the digital image determines how
captured images are tagged for communication to the remote storage
device.
17. The method of claim 6 wherein the configuration setting
established prior to storage of the digital image is one of a first
configuration setting specifying transfer of all captured images to
the remote storage device and a second configuration setting
specifying transfer of only specific captured images to the remote
storage device.
18. The method of claim 6 wherein the configuration setting
established prior to storage of the digital image is a setting
requiring user-selection of specific ones of captured images to be
communicated to the remote storage device.
19. The method of claim 6, wherein the deleting the digital image
as stored in the memory from the memory is in response to an amount
of available storage in the memory.
20. The method of claim 11, wherein the deleting the digital image
as stored in the memory from the memory is in response to an
indication that maintaining captured images in the memory would
cause available storage space in the memory to drop below a
threshold.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 16/533,441, filed Aug. 6, 2019, which is a Continuation of U.S.
application Ser. No. 15/927,423, filed Mar. 21, 2018, now U.S. Pat.
No. 10,419,714, which is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 15/402,512, filed Jan. 10, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,936,157,
which is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/592,274,
filed Jan. 8, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,549,095, which is a
Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/250,689, filed Apr.
11, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,964,064, which is a Continuation of
U.S. application Ser. No. 12/642,275, filed Dec. 18, 2009, now U.S.
Pat. No. 8,730,351, which is a Nonprovisional of and claims
priority from U.S. Provisional Application 61/138,729, filed Dec.
18, 2008, incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of electronics
and more particularly to method of deleting data files such as
image files.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Digital cameras are used by a growing number of consumer and
professional photographers. These cameras use one or more CCD or
CMOS image sensors to capture images, and digitally process these
captured images to produce digital image files, which are stored in
a digital memory in the camera, typically on a removable memory
card. The captured image files can be transferred to local
computers and other devices, such as photo printers and digital
picture frames, using wired or wireless interfaces. The image files
can also be transferred to websites and photo service providers,
either by transferring the files from the local computers or by
using a wireless interface in the digital camera that communicates
with a wireless network. Suitable wireless networks include
cellular networks, such as CDMA and 3GSM, and WiFi networks.
[0004] Wireless networks can provide an easy way to automatically
transfer images taken by a digital camera to other devices and
systems, since there is no need for the user to physically connect
a cable between the camera and device, or physically take a memory
card out of the camera and place it in a card reader in the
computer or other device.
[0005] It is known that digital images can be wirelessly
transferred from a digital camera and stored by a service provider.
In particular, the digital camera can include a wireless modem and
a user interface for selecting specific images to be uploaded to a
service provider, and for selecting other users who are allowed to
view the images, as described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No.
7,057,648, titled "Capturing digital images to be transferred to a
service provider for storage", the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
[0006] It is known that digital cameras can communicate with
network service providers using a variety of protocols, which can
be selected using icons on the camera's image display, as described
in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,784,924, titled "Network
configuration file for automatically transferring images from an
electronic still camera", the disclosure of which is incorporated
herein by reference. The camera's image display can also display
feedback from the network service provider, such as "transfer in
progress" and "transfer complete".
[0007] It is known that digital cameras can stores profiles that
relate to how captured digital images should be transferred to
other devices. The profiles can include an "image deletion
preference", indicating whether the files having that preference
should be deleted after being transferred from the camera to a host
computer, as described in commonly assigned EP patent EP 1 339 214,
the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0008] Because the user does not need to perform a physical action
in order to wirelessly transfer images captured with a wireless
digital camera, the user may not understand whether or not images
captured by their camera have been transferred to other devices.
For example, the user may capture some images at a remote location,
where the digital camera is unable to access the wireless network.
In this case, the digital images cannot be immediately transferred
from the camera, and need to be transferred at a later time. For
example, if the wireless camera using a WiFi modem, and the
pictures are taken during a vacation to a beach, there is unlikely
to be a WiFi access point which can communicate with the camera.
When the user later takes the camera to a location, such as a
hotel, with WiFi access, or when the user returns from their
vacation to their home which has a WiFi network, they can then
transfer their images. However, this requires that the user turn on
the camera in order to transfer the images, which means that the
transfer is not automatic. Furthermore, the user is likely to be
unaware of whether or not particular images have already been
wirelessly transferred from the camera. Therefore, from a practical
point of view, the wireless camera may be too complicated for the
user.
[0009] Users face difficulty when the camera's internal memory or a
memory card attached to the camera fills up and cannot hold any
further images. The users of camera 330 want to take more pictures
but do not want to delete pictures that have not yet been
transferred to another storage location (e.g., home PC or web
site). The user may also want to maintain some pictures on the
camera for sharing with friends, for example by viewing the
pictures using the camera display.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a digital photography
system, including a digital camera 300;
[0011] FIGS. 2A and 2B depict a flow chart of a digital camera that
implements the present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a simplified state diagram indicating the main
states;
[0013] FIG. 4A is an Upload Status State Diagram for the "Selected
Transfer" Configuration;
[0014] FIG. 4B is an Upload Status State Diagram for the "Transfer
All" configuration;
[0015] FIG. 5 is an example XML file containing image state
data;
[0016] FIG. 6 shows a deletion mode in accordance with an
embodiment of the disclosure; and
[0017] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of a deletion mode in
accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The present disclosure relates to a digital camera that
includes a wireless modem for transferring images via a wireless
network to a computer. The wireless modem can utilize cellular,
WiFi, Bluetooth, or other wireless communications protocols. Before
taking photos, the user can select various configuration settings,
including a setting that uploads captured images that have been
tagged for uploading to a photo service provider or other website.
If a network connection is not immediately available when the
images are captured and the camera is subsequently turned off, the
camera automatically wakes up at later times to check whether or
not the camera has been moved to a location where a network
connection is available. If a suitable network connection is
available, the camera operates in a reduced power state to upload
the images from the camera. In addition, the camera can conserve
battery power by stopping transfers when the battery is nearly
depleted (i.e. in a low battery warning condition). Data indicating
whether or not each image has been uploaded and/or transferred to
the user's home computer is stored in the camera, and icons are
displayed along with the images, to indicate to the user whether or
not an image has been transferred to their computer or uploaded to
their website.
[0019] The images can be edited on the wireless digital camera, for
example by cropping the image or by associating a sound recording
with the image. When an image that has already been uploaded is
edited, the transfer and upload status is set to show that the
image is awaiting upload. The wireless digital camera also includes
an image deletion feature which deletes only the images that have
been saved (e.g. transferred to the user's computer or uploaded to
their website).
[0020] FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a digital photography
system, including a digital camera 300. The digital camera 300 is a
portable battery operated device, small enough to be easily
handheld by a user when capturing and reviewing images. The digital
camera 300 can comprise a digital still camera (DSC), digital video
camera (DVC), etc. The digital camera 300 produces digital images
that are stored using image memory 330. The digital camera 300
includes a zoom lens 304 having an adjustable aperture and
adjustable shutter 306. The zoom lens 304 is controlled by zoom and
focus motor drives 308. The zoom lens 304 focuses light from a
scene (not shown) on an image sensor 314, for example, a
single-chip color CCD or CMOS image sensor. The output of the image
sensor is converted to digital form by Analog Signal Processor
(ASP) and A/D converter 316, and temporarily stored in DRAM buffer
memory 318. The data stored in the DRAM buffer memory 318 is
subsequently processed by a processor 320 using firmware programs
stored in firmware memory 328. Alternatively, the processor 320 can
be provided by custom circuitry (e.g. by one or more custom
integrated circuits (ICs) designed specifically for use in digital
cameras), or by a combination of programmable processor(s) and
custom circuits. The processed images are then stored using image
memory 330. It is understood that the image memory 330 can be a
removable Flash memory card, internal Flash memory chips, magnetic
memory, or optical memory. In alternative embodiments, the digital
camera 300 can also capture motion video images. In alternative
embodiments, the digital camera 300 can include other functions,
including the functions of a digital music player (e.g. MP3
player), a mobile telephone, or a programmable digital assistant
(PDA).
[0021] The image sensor 314 is controlled by a timing generator
312. The image sensor 314 can have, for example, 10.2 megapixels
(3680 pixels by 2760 pixels). To provide a color image, the image
sensor is overlaid with a color filter array, which provides an
image sensor having an array of pixels that include different
colored pixels. The different color pixels can be arranged in many
different patterns. As one example, the different color pixels can
be arranged using the well-known Bayer color filter array, as
described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,065, "Color
imaging array" to Bayer, the disclosure of which is incorporated
herein by reference. As a second example, the different color
pixels can be arranged as described in commonly assigned US patent
application number US2005191729, filed on Jul. 28, 2007 and titled
"Image sensor with improved light sensitivity" to Compton and
Hamilton, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference. These examples are not limiting, and many other color
patterns may be used.
[0022] The image sensor 314 is effective when actuated in a first
mode by the timing generator 312 for providing initial sensor image
data, which is used for previewing the final image that will be
captured in a second mode. This preview mode sensor image data is
provided as a low resolution output, which can have, for example,
460 pixels by 345 pixels, which is a factor of 8 fewer rows and
columns of pixels than is normally used for reading out the final
image from the 10.2 megapixel sensor. The preview mode sensor image
data can be provided by combining values of adjacent pixels having
the same color, or by eliminating some of the pixels values, or by
combining some color pixels values while eliminating other color
pixel values. The preview mode image data can be processed as
described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,292,218 "Electronic
camera for initiating capture of still images while previewing
motion images" which is incorporated herein by reference. In an
alternative embodiment, the digital camera 300 uses an optical
viewfinder, and the initial sensor image data is used only to
determine the exposure level of the final image, and to focus the
zoom lens 304, not to provide preview images.
[0023] The image sensor 314 is also effective when actuated in a
second mode by timing generator 312 for providing final sensor
image data. This final mode sensor image data is provided as high
resolution output image data, which for scenes having a high
illumination level includes all of the pixels of the image sensor,
and can be, for example, 10.2 megapixel final image data having
3680 pixels by 2760 pixels. At lower illumination levels, the final
sensor image data can be provided by "binning" some number of
like-colored pixels on the image sensor, in order to increase the
signal level and thus the "ISO speed" of the sensor.
[0024] The zoom and focus motors 308 and the timing generator 312
are controlled by control signals supplied by processor 320, which
control the exposure level of the image sensor 314, by controlling
the f-number and exposure time of the adjustable aperture and
adjustable shutter 306, the gain (i.e. ISO speed) setting of the
ASP & A/D converter 316, and a flash 302 which can illuminate
the scene.
[0025] The processor 320 also creates a lower-resolution that can
be reviewed on the color LCD image display 332. Icons, including
state icons (e.g. awaiting transfer/upload) may be display along
with the lower-resolution image on the color LCD image display 332.
The graphical user interface displayed on the color LCD image
display 332 is controlled by user controls 334. The user controls
334 are used to set camera modes and parameters, and to select
favorite images and images to be uploaded to a service provider, as
will be described later in reference to FIG. 2.
[0026] The processor 320 also provides additional calculations,
such as focus calculations used to focus the lens 304, during the
preview mode. The processor 320 also provides additional processing
of the final sensor image data, in order to produce rendered sRGB
image data which is stored within a "finished" image file, such as
a well-known Exif-JPEG image file, in the image memory 330.
[0027] The processor 320 also includes a real-time clock (not
shown) which operates even in a low power state (e.g. when the
digital camera is turned off) in order to maintain the correct date
and time. This real-time clock can also be used to enable the
processor 320 to "wake up" after a specified "sleep" interval, in
order to automatically transfer images captured by the digital
camera 300 at a later time, without the user initiating the
transfer.
[0028] The processor 320 is coupled to a wireless modem 350, which
enables the digital camera 300 to transmit and receive image files
via an RF (radio frequency) link 352A and 352B. The wireless modem
350 communicates over a radio frequency (e.g. wireless) link 352B
with a corresponding wireless modem in an access point 342, such as
a WiFi hot spot. The wireless modem 350 can be integrated inside
the digital camera 300. Alternatively, the wireless modem 350 can
be included on a plug-in card, such as an SD card, that is inserted
into a memory card slot (not shown) of the digital camera 300.
[0029] The wireless link 352 can utilize various wireless
communications standards, such the 802.11 family of WiFi standards.
Alternatively, the wireless link 352 can use other WLAN standards
such as UWB, Personal Area Network standards such as Bluetooth, or
cellular communications standards such as TDMA or narrowband and
wideband CDMA.
[0030] The wireless link 352A enables the digital camera 300 to
communicate with the user's home computer 340 in order to transfer
images which may be saved on a data storage device (e.g. a hard
drive) of the home computer 340. The home computer 340 can
communicate via the internet 370 with a photo service provider 372,
such as the Kodak EasyShare Gallery, in order to upload images
captured by the digital camera 300.
[0031] The wireless link 352B enables the digital camera 300 to
communicate with an access point 342, such as a WiFi hot spot. The
access point 342 can communicate via the internet 370 with the
user's home computer 340, in order to transfer images to a data
storage device in the home computer 340. The access point 342 can
also communicate via the internet 370 with photo service provider
370, in order to upload images captured by the digital camera 300.
It will be understood that instead of transferring the images to
home computer 340, they can be transferred to computers at other
locations, or to other types of devices including network storage
systems, TV set-top boxes, and the like. It will be further
understood that instead of uploading images to a photo service
provider such as Kodak Gallery, the images can be uploaded to many
different types of image-capable websites, such as blogs, social
networking websites, and file sharing websites. In addional, images
can be uploaded from the digital camera 300 to another digital
camera that includes a wireless modem 350.
[0032] The digital camera 300 can also transfer images to the home
computer 340 using a wired interface 326. This wired interface 326
can conform to, for example, the well-known USB 2.0 interface
specification.
[0033] The various subsystems of the digital camera 300 are
controlled by the power management block 362, which conditions and
controls the power supplied by rechargeable batteries 364. The
rechargeable batteries 364 are recharged when the camera 300 is
connected to the battery charger 366.
[0034] The power management block 362 can be set to several
different power modes, including a capture mode for capturing
images using the lens 304 and image sensor 314, a review mode for
reviewing captured images on the color LCD image display 332, a
reduced power mode used for automatically transferring images, and
a sleep mode. In the capture mode, power is provided to all of the
subsystems of the digital camera 300, except that power can be
optionally applied to the wireless modem 350 and the wired
interface 326 only if previously captured images are being
transferred as a background task during the capture mode. In the
review mode, power is not provided to the capture subsystem 310. In
the reduced power mode, power is provided only to those components
needed to transfer images from the image memory 330 via the
processor 320 to the wireless modem 350, and to transmit the image
data over the wireless link 352 In the reduced power mode, power is
not provided to the capture subsystem 310 nor to the color image
display 332. To indicate that the camera is functioning, a status
LED (not shown) may blink, indicating that the camera is performing
a background task.
[0035] FIGS. 2A and 2B together depict a flow chart of a digital
camera that implements the present disclosure.
[0036] In block 100 of FIG. 2A, before taking photos, the user can
select a transfer configuration setting. The setting determines how
images are tagged for uploading to the photo service provider 372.
The settings include an "upload all" configuration setting in which
all captured images are uploaded to the photo service provider 372,
and an "upload selected images" configuration setting in which the
user selects specific images to be uploaded to the service provider
372.
[0037] In block 102, the user captures a group of images using
digital camera 300. These images can include still photos and
motion video clips.
[0038] In block 104, the user can review images and provide content
and action tags for some or all of the captured still and video
images. Content tags are metadata that relate to the content of the
image. Some examples of content tags include a "favorites" tag
(marking a picture as a user favorite) and "keyword" tags. This can
be accomplished as described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No.
7,369,164 titled "Using favorite digital images to organize and
identify electronic albums", the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference. Content tags are then associated
with the appropriate images by the processor 320 responsive to user
inputs provided by user controls 334.
[0039] In block 104, while the user is reviewing images, the user
can also select specific "action" tags. Action tags are tags that
associate a specific action with a still or video image. Examples
include print tags, e-mail tags and upload tags. The upload tag
indicates which images are to be uploaded to the Photo Service
Provider 372. If the camera was set to the "upload all" mode in
block 100, all captured images are tagged with the upload tag in
block 106, without requiring user input. If the camera was set to
the "upload selected images" mode in block 100, only the specific
images selected by the user in block 106 are tagged for uploading.
In this case, upload tags are associated with the appropriate
images by the processor 320 responsive to user inputs provided by
user controls 334.
[0040] In block 106, "Image state data", indicating the upload and
transfer status of the images stored in the image memory 330, is
stored in the digital camera 300, either in the firmware memory 328
or image memory 330. The data indicates which images are to be
uploaded to Photo Service Provider 372. In addition, the data
indicates which of the captured images have been transferred to a
home computer 340.
[0041] FIG. 3 is a simplified state diagram showing the various
states for the captured images. The states include an "awaiting
transfer" state 402, an "awaiting upload" state 404, a
"transferred" state 406, and a "transferred and uploaded" state
408. Specific icons 414, 416, and 418 are used to indicate the
state to the user, except for the awaiting transfer state 402,
where the lack of an icon indicates that the image has been neither
uploaded nor transferred.
[0042] FIG. 4A shows that there are six detailed states when the
user selects the "upload selected images" configuration setting in
block 100. States 5 and 6 represent still or video images that have
been successfully transferred from the camera. As will be described
later in relation to block 140, upon entering the delete menu, the
processor 320 determines if any images are in states 5 or 6. If
images exist in these states, the processor 320 will present a
delete option to delete `all transferred` images along with a total
count. If images exist only in states 1, 2, 3, and 4, then the user
is not presented with an option to delete only the transferred
images, and is instead only presented with options to delete the
currently displayed image, or to delete all stored images.
[0043] FIG. 4B shows that there are four detailed states when the
user selects the "upload all images" configuration setting in block
100. State 6 represents still or video images that have been
successfully transferred from the camera. If the user chooses this
configuration setting, upon entering the delete menu (block 140),
the processor 320 determines if any images are in state 6. If
images exist in this state, the processor 320 will present a delete
option to delete `all transferred` images along with a total count.
If images exist only in states 2, 3, and 4, then the user is not
presented with an option to delete only the transferred images, and
is instead only presented with options to delete the currently
displayed image, or to delete all stored images.
[0044] Note that a still or video image can be uploaded but not yet
transferred. This may happen because the transfer destination (home
computer 340) is turned off, although the still or video image has
been uploaded to the photo service provider 372.
[0045] These states shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B can be aggregated into
a smaller number of simplified states, for display to the user, as
described in relation to FIG. 3.
[0046] FIG. 5 is an example XML file containing image state data.
In this example, the user has tagged for upload the following still
(JPG) and movie (MOV) files; "104_0101.JPG", "104_0109.JPG",
"104_0120.JPG", and "104_0155.MOV". Image "104_0120.JPG" has an
associated annotation WAV file "10410120.WAV" and this WAV file is
also added to the list of files to be uploaded, as will be
described later in reference to block 136.
[0047] The "header" section contains the following elements: [0048]
1. "transfer_XML_Version"--This element is the version of the XML
file used to support uploading tagged assets. Initial version is
set to "1.0". [0049] 2. "creator"--This element is the company name
that created the XML file. For Kodak cameras this element value is
set to "Eastman Kodak". [0050] 3. "modelname"--This element is the
camera model name. The value of this element is identical to the
Model tag value in the Exif JPEG file. [0051] 4.
"camera_serial_number"--This element is the camera serial number.
The value is identical to the serial number stored in the Exif
MakerNotes tag. [0052] 5. "firmversion"--This element is the camera
firmware version.
[0053] The "transfer" section contains the following elements:
[0054] 1. "list"--This element stores a list of items or assets
that have been tagged to be uploaded. [0055] 2. "item"--This
element stores information about the file that has been tagged to
be uploaded.
[0056] Within the item element the following element is currently
defined: [0057] 1. "path"--The path of the file tagged for upload
from the camera. The value of this element has been constricted to
match the following syntax of a Regular Expression:
([.][.][/][/]DCIM/([A-Z]|[0-9]|[_]){8}/([A-Z]|[0-9]|[_]){8}[.]([A-Z]|[a-z-
]){3}) [0058] 2. "camera_upload_status"--This element stores the
upload status of the asset. The value of this element has been
constricted to two values, "awaiting_upload" and "uploaded".
[0059] The selection of a JPEG image file or a QuickTime movie file
for upload in block 104 will result in a new "item" element that
contains a mandatory "path" and the mandatory
"camera_upload_status" elements to be added to the "list" element.
If the JPEG image file has an associated WAV annotation file then
automatically that WAV file is also added to a new "item" element
in the "list" element of the XML file.
[0060] In block 104, it is possible for a user to deselect an image
or movie file that was previously selected for uploading but that
has not yet been uploaded. In this case, the XML file is updated to
remove the "item" element in the "list" element that relates to the
item that has been deselected for upload. If the JPEG file
deselected has an associated audio WAV file that WAV file is
removed from the "item" element in the "list" element that relates
to this audio asset.
[0061] In block 110 of FIG. 2A the processor determines if the user
wants to capture more images, for example by switching the camera
from the image review to the image capture mode. If yes (yes to
block 110), block 102 is repeated in order to capture additional
images, and blocks 104-106 are repeated to provide content and
action tags for the new images, and to provide and display
appropriate image state data for these new images.
[0062] In block 128, the processor 320 in the digital camera 300
determines if the wireless modem 350 can communicate over an
available network with either the home computer 340 or an access
point 342.
[0063] If a network connection is available (yes to block 128),
then in block 130, images stored in the image memory 330 that are
in the awaiting transfer state 402 are transferred to the home
computer 340, and images that are in the awaiting upload state 404
are uploaded to the Photo Service Provider 372.
[0064] In block 132, the image state data described earlier in
relation to block 106 is updated (e.g. the XML file in FIG. 5 is
updated), and icons are displayed along with the images, to
indicate to the user whether or not an image has been transferred
to their computer or uploaded to their website.
[0065] In block 134, the user can select an image editing mode so
that specific images can be viewed on the image display 332 and
edited using the user controls 334.
[0066] If the user decides to edit one or more images (yes to block
134), then in block 136 the image is edited in response to user
inputs from user controls 334. The editing can include common image
editing operations, such as cropping, color adjustments, and
red-eye correction. The editing can also include recording sounds
using a microphone (not shown) in the digital camera 300. This
audio data can then be associated with the edited digital image
file, for example by including the audio data within the image
file, or by adding an associated audio tag to the image file that
provides the name of the audio file.
[0067] When images are edited in block 136, the image state data
for the edited image is updated to show that the image is now
awaiting transfer (402 in FIG. 3). This is done, even if the
unedited image (or previously edited image) has already been
transferred to the photo service provider 372 and/or uploaded to
the home computer 340, because the edited image is now different
that the image that was uploaded and/or transferred. Therefore, the
edited image needs to be uploaded and/or transferred.
[0068] In block 138, the user can select the image deletion feature
in order to delete some of the images stored in the image memory
330 of the digital camera 300. If the user selects the image
deletion mode (yes to block 138), then in block 140 the image
display 332 provides the user with the options of deleting either
(1) a single image (e.g. the currently displayed images), (2) all
of the stored images, or (3) only those stored images that have
already been transferred to the home computer 340, as indicated by
the "image state data" stored in the XML file described in relation
to FIG. 5.
[0069] In block 150, the user can select to power down the digital
camera 300. In this case (yes to block 150) the flow diagram shown
in FIG. 2B is followed.
[0070] In block 160 of FIG. 2B, the processor 320 determines if
some of the images stored in the image memory 330 have not yet been
transferred. This determination can be made from the image state
data described in relation to FIG. 5.
[0071] If all of the images have been transferred (no to block
160), then in block 164 the camera is powered down without using
auto wake-up. In this case, the camera will not be powered up again
until the user turns the camera on again at a later time.
[0072] If some images require transferring (yes to block 160), then
in block 116 the processor 320 in the digital camera 300 powers
down the camera in a "sleep" mode, so that it automatically wakes
up at a later time and attempts to transfer the images. This is
done because it is likely that the user, at some point, will move
the digital camera 300 to a location that can access a suitable
wireless network 352. For example, the user may take the camera
from a remote location to public hotspot, or to their home.
[0073] In block 168 the sleep time is set to be equal to the
predetermined time period. This time period can optionally be set
by the user in step 100. A typical default time period is 4 hours.
Therefore, if the real-time clock in the camera has a current time
of 9:30 pm, the camera will be set to automatically power up, in
reduced power mode, at 1:30 pm.
[0074] In block 170, the processor 320 in the digital camera 300
determines whether or not the battery charger 366 has been
connected to the digital camera 300.
[0075] If the battery charger 366 is connected (yes to block 170),
in block 172 the sleep time is set for a time based on the battery
charging time. This is done so that battery charging takes
priority, in order for the user to be able to take more pictures.
For example, if the battery normally takes 2 hours to charge, the
sleep time can be set to be 2 hours if the battery is fully
depleted, and can be set to 1 hour is the battery is approximately
halfway charged.
[0076] In block 174, the camera is powered up in the reduced power
state, which was described earlier in relation to FIG. 1.
[0077] In block 176, the processor 320 in the digital camera 300
determines if the wireless modem 350 can communicate over an
available network with either the home computer 340 or an access
point 342.
[0078] If a network connection is not available (no to block 176),
blocks 168 to 176 are repeated. In other words, the digital camera
300 automatically wakes up again at a later time to check whether
or not the camera has been moved to a location where a network
connection is available. In some embodiments, the predetermined
time period in block 168 can be changed after block 168 is repeated
several times. For example, the predetermined time period can be a
relatively short (e.g. 1 hour initially), and then be much longer
(e.g. 8 hours) after several repetitions in order to conserve
battery power.
[0079] If a network connection is available (yes to block 128),
then in block 180, images stored in the image memory 330 that are
in the awaiting transfer state 402 are transferred to the home
computer 340, and images that are in the awaiting upload state 404
are uploaded to the Photo Service Provider 372, as described
earlier in relation to block 130.
[0080] In block 182, the image state data described earlier in
relation to block 106 is updated (e.g. the XML file in FIG. 5 is
updated), and icons are displayed along with the images, to
indicate to the user whether or not an image has been transferred
to their computer or uploaded to their website, as described
earlier in relation to block 132. Then, in block 164, the digital
camera 300 is powered down without auto wake-up, until the user
turns on the camera at a later time.
[0081] In some embodiments, the user can select a "manual" transfer
mode in block 100. When the camera is set to manual operation, the
camera does not perform the automatic uploads described in relation
to blocks 160-182 of FIG. 2B.
[0082] Referring now to FIG. 6, in one embodiment, the camera user
captures some pictures or videos as shown in 602, The camera in
this embodiment can include a wireless modem 350 or it does not
have to for transferring images to a remote storage device. After
602, the user then transfers images to an external storage device
such as a computer, external memory, website, etc. but does not
delete them from the camera in 604. In this embodiment the camera
300 keeps track of which pictures/images have been transferred,
using for example a database file located in a memory such as a
memory card used in the camera or internal camera memory. Later the
user takes more pictures as shown in 606 eventually filling up the
memory card in 608. The camera 300 then prompts the camera user
asking if he/she wants to start deleting pictures that have been
transferred to the PC one at a time in 610. When the user accepts
this prompts in 612, the user places the camera 300 into an
automatic deletion mode. In another embodiment, the automatic
delete mode can be preset in the camera so the camera is already
operating using the automatic deletion mode. The automatic deletion
mode would delete pictures as necessary to maintain a minimum
amount of space on the image memory (e.g., internal camera memory
or removable memory card or a combination of both). This automatic
deletion can be based on picture age (i.e., delete oldest images
first) or image size (i.e. delete largest images first) or using
some other deletion criteria.
[0083] In this embodiment, pictures that have been labeled in the
database as being previously transferred to another storage
location (e.g., PC, network server, external memory device, etc.)
are automatically deleted. The camera deletes just enough pictures
to maintain a buffer larger enough to accommodate some additional
amount of pictures or videos. For example, it could maintain enough
space for three more pictures or 10 seconds of video recording at
the current resolution settings of the camera. The amount of memory
space that is to be made available can be preset or preprogrammed
by the camera user using the camera settings function. Additionally
in another embodiment, if the user increases the still or video
capture resolution settings in the camera, more images (that have
been previously transferred) would be deleted automatically to
free-up more memory. The user is then free to capture more images
without worrying about losing important pictures as shown in
614.
[0084] In FIG. 7 there is illustrated another deletion mode
embodiment in which the camera user captures some pictures or
videos in 702, The camera user then transfers (wired or wirelessly)
images to an external storage device such as a PC, external memory,
etc. but does not delete the pictures/images from the camera 300 in
704. The camera 300 keeps track of which pictures have been
transferred (e.g., in a database file on the memory card or
internal camera memory). Later the user takes more pictures in 706.
The user notices that the memory card is getting full in 708 and
places the camera 300 into a mode such as a Review Mode or other
similar mode in 710. The user then presses a Delete button, Delete
icon on a touch-screen or uses another technique to cause a delete
function to occur in the camera in 712. The camera may display
delete option(s) including Delete All Transferred pictures/images
in 714. This deletes from the camera all pictures and/or videos
which have been previously transferred to the PC in 716. The user
is now free to capture more images without worrying about losing
important pictures in 718. Although the above deletion techniques
have been described in association with a digital camera and
captured images, the disclosure can also apply to electronic
devices that store information such as memory cards, hard drives,
electronic devices that load other types of data besides images,
etc.
[0085] The disclosure has been described in detail with particular
reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be
understood that variations and modifications can be effected within
the spirit and scope of the disclosure. For example, numerous
techniques for marking which data files/captured images have been
transferred to a remote storage device can be used with the present
disclosure. Which can be as simple as marking a data bit in a
database associated with the data file/image.
PARTS LIST
[0086] 300 digital camera [0087] 302 flash [0088] 304 zoom lens
[0089] 306 adjustable aperture and adjustable shutter [0090] 308
zoom and focus motor drives [0091] 310 capture subsystem [0092] 312
timing generator [0093] 314 image sensor [0094] 316 ASP and A/D
converter [0095] 318 DRAM buffer memory [0096] 320 processor [0097]
326 wired interface [0098] 328 firmware memory [0099] 330 image
memory [0100] 332 color LCD image display [0101] 334 user controls
[0102] 340 home computer [0103] 350 wireless modem [0104] 352
wireless link [0105] 362 power manager [0106] 364 rechargeable
batteries [0107] 366 battery charger [0108] 370 Internet [0109] 372
photo service provider
* * * * *