Electronic still camera for capturing and categorizing images
Contents
1. 61 USER SELECTS APPROPRIATE CATEGORY ICON AND CHOOSES DESIRED CATEGORY USER TAKES PICTURE BY DEPRESSING SHUTTER BUTTON IMAGE IS STORED IN FILE ALONG WITH CATEGORY CHOSEN BY THE USER SAN GONI ANOTHER PHOTOGRAPHIC GROUP USER CONNECTS CAMERA OR MEMORY CARD TO THE HOST COMPUTER USER OPENS CAMERA APPLICATION AND CHOOSES DESIRED CATEGOR IES 66 IMAGES FROM APPROPRIATE CATEGORIES ARE DOWNLOADED TO PROPER FOLDERS ACCORDING TO THE CATEGORY IN EACH IMAGE FILE U S Patent Aug 17 2010 Sheet 4 of 6 US RE41 524 E USER INPUTS CATEGORIES AND 70 RELATED TEXT GRAPHICS ON HOST USER DOWNLOADS CATEGORIES TEXT GRAPHICS L 7 TO CAMERA USING CABLE OR MEMORY CARD 72 USER TURNS ON CAMERA 73 USER SELECTS APPROPRIATE CATEGORY ICON AND CHOOSES DESIRED CATEGORY USER TAKES PICTURE BY DEPRESSING SHUTTER BUTTON YES ANOTHER PHOTOGRAPHIC GROUP AS IMAGE IS PROCESSED OPTIONAL TEXT GRAPHICS AND OR DATE TIME 5 NO OVERLAYED INTO IMAGE IF ENABLED FOR THE CATEGORY CHOSEN BY USER IMAGE IS STORED IN FILE ALONG WITH CATEGORY NAME AND OPTIONAL TEXT FOR THE CATEGORY CHOSEN BY THE USER YES MORE IMAGES FOR THIS CATEGORY 64 USER CONNECTS CAMERA OR MEMORY CARD TO THE HOST COMPUTER USER OPENS CAMERA APPLICATION AND CHOOSES DESIRED CATEGOR IES IMAGES FROM APPROPRIATE CATEGORIES ARE DOWNLOADED TO PROPER FOLDERS ACCORDING TO THE CATEGORY NAME IN EACH IMAGE FILE2. said method comprising the steps of storing a plurality of categories two or more tag names providing classification of the images by subject selecting by a user control one of the stored tag names for each of the images assigning at least one of the plurality of categories the selected tag names to each of the images before the images are captured by the electronic camera wherein each category providing subject tag name provides classification of one two or more images capturing the images with the electronic camera converting the images into digital image data and generating by a camera processor an output image sig nal comprising an image file including both the digi US RE41 524 E 13 tal image data corresponding to the captured images and separate category data including the one or more categories selected by the user control wherein the cat egory data is separately accessible for each image apart from the image data a separate tag name file for each selected tag name storing each of the image files into the tag name file corre sponding to the selected tag name wherein the camera stores two or more tag names files with each tag name file storing two or more image files and identifving in response to a computer initiated request a particular tag name and transferring all of the image files stored in the tag name file corresponding to the identified particular tag name to the external computer
3. categories for the images before the images are captured by the image sensor and and insert a user control for selecting one or more categories for the images before the images are captured by the image sensor and Signed and Sealed this Ninth Day of November 2010 David J Kappos Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office
4. digital image data a memory for storing a plurality of categories two or more tag names providing classification of the images by subject control means for selecting one of the stored tag names for each of the images a processor having the capability of for assigning the plurality of categories selected tag names to each of the images captured by the image sensor wherein each category providing subject tag name provides classifi cation of one two or more captured images a user control for selecting one or more categories for the images before the images are captured by the image sensor means for storing the digital image data in image files and means for grouping storing each of the image files according to the plurality of categories into a tag name file corresponding to the selected tag name wherein two or more tag name files are stored and each tag name file stores two or more image files and means responsive to the computer initiated request for identifving a particular tag name for transferring all of the image files stored in the corresponding tag name file to the external computer via the cable interface 30 A method using an electronic camera for capturing images representing a variety of subjects and for providing captured images to an external computer in response to a single computer initiated request wherein the electronic camera is interconnected to the external computer via a cable interface
5. identifies images from the cat egories associated with the digital image data in the output image signal and downloads only the digital image data from one or more selected categories 17 An electronic camera for capturing images represent ing a variety of subjects said camera comprising an image sensor for capturing a particular image a converter stage for converting the particular image into digital image data a signal port for receiving at least one externally generated category providing classification of the image by sub ject amemory for storing each category provided by the signal port a processor having the capability of assigning said at least one category stored in the memory to the images cap tured by the camera each category providing subject classification of one or more images a user control for selecting a particular category for the selected image and means for generating an output image signal comprising an image file including both the digital image data cor responding to the particular image and separate cat egory data including the particular category selected by the user control wherein the category data is separately accessible for each image apart from the image data 18 An electronic camera as claimed in claim 17 wherein the externally generated category is an alphanumeric 19 An electronic camera as claimed in claim 17 wherein the signal port also receives externally a generate
6. that any prints made from the camera can be easily identified Such processing of the captured images is today performed in a host computer such as the host computer 4 in FIG 1 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 2 The Kodak Professional Digital Camera System model DCS 100 included a digital camera tethered by cable to a separate digital storage unit DSU The DSU similar to the computer 4 of FIG 1 contained a hard drive for storing images a small image display and a keypad for manipulat ing the images For images that had already been captured by the camera the system included a tag feature that allowed a user to flag selected images for later display or for upload ing from the DSU to another computer Suppose that a user wanted to tag a couple of already captured images for later viewing or uploading The first of the images would be brought up on the display and a tag button on the keypad would be pressed and so on with the other images that are to be tagged Then if the user presses a find tags key on the keypad the first of the tagged images is displayed and or uploaded With a second press of the find tags key the second tagged image is displayed and or uploaded and so on Another embodiment of this camera the Kodak Hawkeye II camera also allowed the user to type in a name for any one image after the image was taken and to add a note text string to the image fil
7. via the cable interface 31 The electronic camera according to claim I wherein the control means is a user control 32 The electronic camera according to claim 29 wherein the control means is a user control 14 33 The electronic camera according to claim I wherein the tag name is selected on the computer 34 The electronic camera according to claim 33 wherein the tag names are communicated from the electronic camera to the computer via the cable interface and the at least one particular tag name is selected on the computer and down loaded to the electronic camera via the cable interface 35 The electronic camera according to claim 29 wherein the tag name is selected on the computer 36 The electronic camera according to claim 35 wherein the tag names are communicated from the electronic camera to the computer via the cable interface and the at least one particular tag name is selected on the computer and down loaded to the electronic camera via the cable interface UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO RE 41 524 E Page 1 of 1 APPLICATION NO 09 313535 DATED August 17 2010 INVENTOR S Kenneth A Parulski et al It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby corrected as shown below Issued Patent Description of Error Column Line 9 50 52 In Claim 1 after images delete a user control for selecting one or more
8. 28 8 1998 Matsumoto etal 348 231 INPUT SECTION A 1 FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS EP 0 640 938 A2 8 1994 EP 640938 A2 3 1995 JP 5 044460 12 1993 JP 5 344460 12 1993 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Kodak Professional Digital Camera System DSC 100 User s Manual excerpts Eastman Kodak Company 1991 1992 TIFF EP A Flexible Image Format for Electronic Still Cameras by Ken Parulski and George Lathrop Eastman Kodak Company Rochester NY Preprint from IS amp T s 48th Annual Conference May 1995 Operation and Maintenance Manual for the Kodak Hawkeye II Imaging Accessory Part 636 101 Catalogue No 144 7903 Eastman Kodak Company Federal Systems Divi sion cited by examiner Primary Examiner Quochien B Vuong 74 Attorney Agent or Firm David M Woods 57 ABSTRACT An electronic camera captures images representing a variety of subjects and categorizes the image according to subject matter The camera comprises an image sensor for capturing an image a converter stage for converting the image into digital image data and a memory for storing a plurality of categories providing classification of the images by subject A processor in the camera has the capability of assigning the plurality of categories to the images captured by the camera with each category providing a subject classification for the images A user selects one or more categories for a plurality of images prior to captur
9. 65 FIG 5 66 US RE41 524 E Sheet 5 of 6 Aug 17 2010 U S Patent 2 914 WIDID 4X2 210 gummi I L g WIDE euoN 00 00 _ SQI 60 01 50 JOVI SOVAI JOVI JOVI WENG 3 LER oe CAMPI Z 9 G 913 ta 9113 CH 914 Qs 914 913 JOVI JOVI JOVI JOVI FOV JOVWI 9 914 03 89001150 Jubiu q 4j 214009 7400209 914dDs9 to uotuo uHl lpp iX oui 90p Xe uasppy JnQ 1 9 1 9 2018 Wid jxo p 214 9WON 601 ZZIH z9UDN Z Boy 25 3141020 430 9ull 91 Dp 1 29l DI HIH WON 60 U S Patent Aug 17 2010 Sheet 6 of 6 US RE41 524 E STORED IMAGE FOR SELECTED CATEGORY F123 Fly by night Insurance Co CLAIM 23 TEXT ___ GRAPHIC Fly by night Nov 9 1995 Insurance 10 15 am Claim 123 DATE TIME FIG 8 x FIG 9 KIDS F123 US RE41 524 E 1 ELECTRONIC STILL CAMERA FOR CAPTURING AND CATEGORIZING IMAGES Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specifica tion matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to
10. ALPHANUMERIC SECTION 52c BATTERY ICON 52d FLASH MODE ICON 52e SELF TIMER ICON 52f IMAGE DELETE ICON 54 TOGGLE SWITCH 56 SELECTOR SWITCH 60 66 STEPS What is claimed is 1 An electronic camera for capturing images representing a variety of subjects and for providing captured images to an external computer in response to a single computer initiated request wherein the electronic camera is interconnected to the external computer via a cable interface said camera comprising an image sensor for capturing the images a converter stage for converting the images into digital image data a memory for storing a plurality of categories two or more tag names providing classification of the images by subject control means for selecting one of the stored tag names for each of the images a processor having the capability of for assigning the plurality of categories selected tag names to each of the images captured by the image sensor wherein each category providing subject tag name provides classifi cation of one two or more captured images a user control for selecting one or more categories for the images before the images are captured by the image sensor and means for generating an output image signal comprising an image file including both the digital image data corresponding to the captured images and separate category data including the one or more categories selected by the user control wherein the category data i
11. AM instruction memory 32b connected to receive code from the memory card 24 When the memory card 24 is inserted into the camera the processor 20 uses the firmware algorithms in the memory 32a to determine if the memory card 24 contains externally generated files which can be used by the camera If not the firmware algorithms supplied with the camera in the memory 32a are used by the programmable processor 20 In particular the default category parameters are stored in the firmware memory 32a and accessed by the processor 20 If the card does contain appropriate externally generated category information however these are down loaded from the header file section 24b of the card 24 to the RAM instruction memory 32b and used by the program mable processor 20 in place of some portion of the firmware algorithms supplied with the camera from the firmware memory 32a In this way the camera can execute customized category definitions which provide higher quality or more complex categorization of pictures User control is provided by a status display 30 connected to the control processor 20 for displaying information useful in operation of the camera and by a set of user control switches 29 The set of user control switches 29 are also connected to the processor 20 for entering highlighting and selecting information displayed on the status display 30 In accordance with invention the status display 30 is a liquid crystal display LCD having a pane
12. USOORE41524E as United States a2 Reissued Patent Parulski et al 0 Patent Number 45 Date of Reissued Patent US RE41 524 E Aug 17 2010 54 ELECTRONIC STILL CAMERA FOR CAPTURING AND CATEGORIZING IMAGES 75 Inventors Kenneth A Parulski Rochester NY US Thomas A Napoli Rochester NY US David M Lewis Phoenix AZ US 73 Assignee Eastman Kodak Company Rochester NY US 21 Appl No 09 313 535 22 Filed May 13 1999 Related U S Patent Documents Reissue of 64 Patent No 5 633 678 Issued May 27 1997 Appl No 08 574 756 Filed Dec 20 1995 51 Int CI H04N 5 76 2006 01 52 UIS CL aiite 348 231 5 348 207 11 348 231 2 348 239 348 552 58 Field of Classification Search 348 207 99 348 207 1 207 11 222 1 231 99 231 1 348 231 2 231 3 231 5 231 7 239 552 HOAN 5 30 5 225 See application file for complete search history 56 References Cited U S PATENT DOCUMENTS 4 524 381 A 6 1985 Konishi 386 38 4 574 319 3 1986 Konishi 348 23 1 6 5 016 107 A 5 1991 Sasson etal 348 23 1 1 5 018 017 A 5 1991 Sasaki et al 348 231 3 5 153 729 A 10 1992 Saito 348 231 6 5 335 072 8 1994 Tanaka etal 348 231 3 5 477 264 12 1995 Sarbadhikari 348 231 5 502 486 A 3 1996 Uedaetal 348 239 5 515 101 5 1996 Yoshida 348 232 5 796 4
13. andard such as described in the PC Card Standard Release 2 0 published by The Personal Computer Memory Card Interna tional Association Sunnyvale Calif September 1991 The memory card 24 accordingly contains solid state memory 24a such as Flash EPROM memory which the card uses to store image data files According to this invention the digital camera includes a categorization feature which enables a user to establish an appropriate category providing classification of the images by subject before taking a group of pictures The category information can be default code symbols A B C etc or can be externally generated category information such as names and optional text 1 account numbers and or graphics overlays i e company logos which is entered via US RE41 524 E 5 a host computer and uploaded to the camera through the signal port 26 before the pictures are taken or via cable con nection After the user selects a particular category the image is captured and the category information is stored in the removable storage device along with the image data in the image file and any text and graphics logo as appropriate are overlaid onto the image When downloading the images to a host computer the user can select a particular category and download only the images which have a par ticular category identifier or the images can all be down loaded and stored in file folders labeled with each category name Consequ
14. ch identifies images from the par ticular category associated with the digital image data in the output image signal and downloads only the digital image data from the particular category 26 An electronic camera as claimed in claim 7 wherein the signal port connects to a she removable memory card 20 25 30 35 40 50 55 60 65 12 27 An electronic imaging system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the signal port connects to a the removable memory card and the host processor external computer provides the externally generated categories user custom ized tag names to the signal port by writing the categories tag names into the removable memory card 28 An electronic imaging system as claimed in claim 15 wherein a cable connection the cable interface is provided between the signal port and the host processor external computer and the host processor external computer pro vides the externally generated categories user customized tag names over the cable connection interface to the signal port 29 An electronic camera for capturing images represent ing a variety of subjects and for providing captured images to an external computer in response to a single computer initiated request wherein the electronic camera is intercon nected to the external computer via a cable interface said camera comprising an image sensor for capturing the images a converter stage for converting the images into
15. d text string for the particular category and wherein the processor also stores the text string in the memory with the particular cat egory 20 An electronic camera as claimed in claim 17 wherein the signal port also receives an externally generated graphics image for the particular category and wherein the processor also stores the graphics image in the memory with the par ticular category 21 An electronic camera as claimed in claim 19 wherein the means for generating an output image signal overlays the text string into the digital image data 22 An electronic camera as claimed in claim 20 wherein the means for generating an output image signal overlays the graphics image into the digital image data 23 An electronic camera as claimed in claim 17 wherein the memory also stores a plurality of default categories pro viding a default classification of the image and wherein the user control preferentially accesses the default categories when the signal port does not receive any externally gener ated categories 24 An electronic imaging system using an electronic camera as claimed in claim 17 in combination with a host processor wherein the host processor provides each exter nally generated category to the signal port 25 An electronic imaging system as claimed in claim 24 wherein the output image signal is output to the host proces sor through the signal port and the host processor includes an application program whi
16. ded in the output image data is associated with the digital image data in a distinct file location 6 An electronic camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more categories tag names included in the output image data is overlaid into the image data 7 An electronic camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the camera further comprises a signal port for receiving exter nally generated categories user customized tag names and wherein the processor also stores the externally generated categories user customized tag names in the memory and the user control means is further capable of selecting a particular one of the externally generated categories user customized tag names 8 An electronic camera as claimed in claim 7 wherein the externally generated categories tag names are alphanu meric names 9 An electronic camera as claimed in claim 7 wherein the signal port also receives externally generated text strings for one or more of the categories tag names and wherein the processor also stores the text strings in the memory with the one or more categories tag names 10 An electronic camera as claimed in claim 7 wherein the signal port also receives externally generated graphics images for one or more of the categories tag names and wherein the processor also stores the graphics images in the memory with the one or more categories tag names 11 An electronic camera as claimed in claim 9 wherein the means for generati
17. e Both cameras allowed a simple divi sion of already captured images into tagged and not tagged images and required a pattern of keystrokes subsequent to capture for every image of interest In particular the tagging feature functioned more as a post capture data gatekeeper than as a useful tool for image han dling Anything more complex in the way of data organiza tion requires as shown in FIG 1 the use of a special application program in the host computer 4 to organize and sort the image data Consequently it would be desirable to have an electronic still system that could handle image con tent more efficiently in the field than is presently the case SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above Briefly summarized according to one aspect of the present invention an elec tronic camera captures images representing a variety of sub jects and categorizes the image according to subject matter The camera comprises an image sensor for the images a converter stage for converting the images into digital image data and a memory for storing a plurality of categories pro viding classification of the images by subject A processor in the camera has the capability of assigning the plurality of categories to the images captured by the camera with each category providing subject classification of one or more images A user then interacts with a user control o
18. e and an output image signal is then generated including the digital image data corresponding to a captured image and the particular category selected by the user The categories can be default identifiers stored in the memory or can be names text i e account number and or graphics overlays i e company logo entered via a host computer and uploaded to the camera memory before the pictures are taken 26 Claims 6 Drawing Sheets COMPRESSION RECORDING SECTION B 6 BUFFER 2 8 US RE41 524 E Sheet 1 of 6 Aug 17 2010 U S Patent 140 914 SWHL1IY 091V 3HVM14O0S viva J9VWI 43184 33825 AV 1dSIG 49 8 VH3WVO AYOWIW 3UVMWHI 4 viva al YOSS39014 x US RE41 524 E Sheet 2 of 6 Aug 17 2010 U S Patent e NOILONYLSNI w Lud SHOLIMS lOBINOO yasn AYOWIN 3HVAWSla 29145 AYISI 50715 1 nonna 6 931 1 5 E 405532094 0c SWH LINOO IV 9 553204 p enc NOIL23S WN9IS 3unSOdX3 71910 ae 22 gi u333Jn8 39v rg eee ee J 9i 8 NOILI3S 9NIQHO23H NOISSIYdWOD V NOIL23S LNdNI U S Patent Aug 17 2010 Sheet 3 of 6 US RE41 524 E 56 gt L2 60 USER TURNS ON CAMERA
19. e or the memory card 24 to a host computer step 64 such as the host computer 4 illustrated in FIG 1 Using software supplied by the camera manufacturer the user opens a camera application and chooses the desired category step 65 Then the images from appropriate cat egories stored in the camera or the memory card 24 are downloaded to proper file folders according to the category data stored with the digital image data in each file step 66 The user may also customize the tags using the host com puter As shown in the process diagram of FIG 5 a user inputs category information such as category names and related text or graphics images from the host computer step 70 The user then downloads the category information to the camera step 71 This may be done through a tethered con nection to the camera or by writing appropriate files into the memory card 24 The user turns on the camera step 72 and selects an appropriate category step 73 At this stage the user can also decide to activate the overlay capability for date time text and graphics images The picture is taken step 74 and the category information is optionally overlaid into the image step 75 The digital image data is then stored in the memory card 24 together with category information either separately or as overlaid into the image data step 76 The remaining steps are substantially the same as in FIG 4 FIGS 6 7 and 8 show examples of categories cu
20. e image buffer 18 the stored data is applied to a programmed digital signal processor 22 which controls the throughput processing rate for the compression and record ing section B of the camera The algorithms and other oper ating code used by the processor 22 are stored in an algo rithm memory 28 The digital signal processor 22 compresses each still image stored in the image buffer 18 according to any one of a number of known image compres sion algorithms such as the well known JPEG Joint Photo graphic Experts Group discrete cosine transformation based compression algorithm The processor 22 applies the compression algorithm from the memory 28 to the digital image data and sends the compressed data to a removable storage device via a signal port 26 However while compres sion is shown in the camera of FIG 2 compression is not a necessary feature and uncompressed data could be stored instead in the removable storage device In this example the signal port 26 is a card interface and the removable storage device is a memory card 24 While a memory card 24 is shown in this system as the storage device other devices may be used such as a floppy disk magnetic medium a small hard drive or optical storage in the latter cases suitable conventional reading writing appa ratus would be provided in the camera e g magnetic or optical read write head etc A representative memory card is a card adapted to the PCMCIA card interface st
21. ed category information is present in the header file 24b on the card 24 it can also be identified on the status display 30 For instance the externally generated category information such as names text strings and graph ics images can be identified and displayed if the status dis play 30 has the appropriate display capability Alternatively the toggle switch 54 can be used to cycle through alphanu meric names that are provided from the host computer and displayed on the segmented section 52b Selecting any one name then automatically accesses any text string or graphics image that might be associated with the name in the instruc tion memory 32b and stores such strings or graphics image with the digital image data The camera may also have the additional feature of overlaying a text string or date and or time from the date time generator 20a into the image Whether or not the date time or text string is overlaid in the images of any particular category can be controlled by over lay control information for each category present in the header file 24b Alternately this can be done from additional icons in the panel configuration 50 and from the user control switches 29 as shown in FIG 9 Date time name and text are separately activated by the toggle switch 54 and on overlay active or off icons are activated by the select switch 56 It is assumed that an uploaded graphics image would always overlay into the image but if thi
22. ence to a pre ferred 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 For example the image files shown in FIG 7 could be stored in many different types of optical magnetic or solid state digital memory The category customization information shown in FIG 6 could be transferred from the computer 3 to the camera 1 via a cable connection instead of via a removable memory card or the camera 1 could include means for entering category customization information PARTS LIST 1ELECTRONIC CAMERA 1A ELECTRONIC SENSING SECTION 1B DIGITAL PROCESSING SECTION 1C FIRMWARE MEMORY 2 MEMORY CARD SLOT 3 REMOVABLE MEMORY CARD 4 COMPUTER 5 MEMORY CARD READER 6a PRINTER 6b DISPLAY 7 KEYBOARD 8 HARD DRIVE 9A COMPUTER RAM MEMORY 9B CPU 10 EXPOSURE SECTION 11 FLASH UNIT 12 IMAGE SENSOR 14 OUTPUT DIODE 16 A D CONVERTER 18 IMAGE BUFFER US RE41 524 E 9 20 CONTROL PROCESSOR 21 SHUTTER BUTTON 22 DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSOR 24 MEMORY CARD 24A SOLID STATE IMAGE MEMORY 24B EXTERNALLY GENERATED DATA FILES 26 SIGNAL PORT 28 ALGORITHM MEMORY 29 USER CONTROL SWITCHES 30 STATUS DISPLAY PANEL 31 MEMORY SECTION 32a FIRMWARE MEMORY 32b INSTRUCTION MEMORY 34 INTERFACE 35 NON VOLATILE IMAGE MEMORY 36 ELECTRICALLY ERASABLE FIRMWARE MEMORY 38 INTERFACE CABLE 50 PANEL CONFIGURATION 52a TAG ICON 52b
23. ently the memory card 24 contains additional memory to store header files 24b containing category infor mation helpful in providing classification of the images by subject matter Such category information may include default tag codes such as simple alphabetic identifiers A B C D etc or alphanumeric names that can be associated with specific images according to subject matter The header files 24b can also contain strings of text that identify particu lar images and separate graphics images that signify or oth erwise identify subject matter The header files 24b can also contain instructions to overlay all or part of the category information into the image data files 24a or alternatively the digital signal processor 22 can access an algorithm in the algorithm memory 28 which accomplishes the overlay and then stores all or part of the category information with the image data It is a further feature of this invention that the externally generated category information can be supplied to the digital camera through the signal port 26 Such exter nally generated category information can be stored in the Card Information Structure CIS of the PCMCIA Format as described in the aforementioned Release 2 0 in the header data file 24b or in a portion of the memory space of the memory 24a used to store the image data The camera also contains a memory section 31 including firmware memory 32a with operating code for the camera as well as R
24. ges The tag names and text are then included in the image files as shown in FIG 7 In this example the user selected Tag name H111 and took images 1 2 The user then selected Tag name KIDS and took images 3 5 Finally the user selected tag name F123 and took image 6 As the images are captured and processed the appropriate overlay information for the tag chosen is used For the category F123 the tag indicates that the image should include a graphics overlay the text Claim 123 and the date time as shown in FIG 8 In a further embodiment shown in FIG 10 images are stored on the removable memory card 3 within a file 80 containing a group of files corresponding to each category For example file 82 contains images 1 and 2 having tag name H111 file 84 contains images 3 4 and 5 having tag name KIDS and file 86 contains image 6 having tag name F123 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 8 After the images from the camera are stored on the memory card 24 the card is inserted into the computer memory card reader 5 see FIG 1 In applications where the memory card may contain category information which can be used by the computer the computer uses the software supplied with the camera to check if the memory card con tains such information If the card does contain appropriate category information this information is downloaded from the card to the RAM instruction memory 9a a
25. l configuration 50 such as shown in FIG 3 which includes a tag icon 52a and an alphanumeric segmented section 52b The panel configura tion includes other typical icons such as a battery level icon 52c a flash mode icon 52d a self timer icon 52e and an 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 6 image delete icon 52f The user control switches 29 include a toggle switch 54 and a select button 56 The toggle switch 54 is used to toggle to a setting once an icon has been acti vated by the select button 56 For example if the flash mode icon 52d is highlighted and showing that it is the currently active control pressing the select button would activate the tag icon 52a and make it the currently active control While not important to this invention other information displayed on the status display 30 might include typical pho tographic data such as shutter speed aperture exposure bias color balance auto tungsten fluorescent daylight high low resolution low light exposure modes aperture preferred shutter preferred and so on Moreover other information unique to this type of camera may be displayed For instance the memory card 24 would ordinarily include a directory signifying the beginning and ending of each stored image This would show on the display 30 as either or both the number of images stored or the number of image spaces remaining or estimated to be remaining If externally generat
26. lowing detailed descrip tion of the preferred embodiments and appended claims and by reference to the accompanying drawings BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG 1 is a diagram of a known electronic imaging system incorporating a digital camera for inputting images to a host computer FIG 2 is a block diagram of an electronic camera config ured according to the invention to process and categorize images FIG 3 is a diagram of the status display panel and the user control switches used in the camera shown in FIG 2 FIG 4 is a process diagram for categorizing images according to default parameters stored in the camera shown in FIG 2 FIG 5 is a process diagram for categorizing images according to externally generated parameters supplied to the camera shown in FIG 2 FIG 6 is an example of categories that are customized from a host computer FIG 7 is an example of a file format resulting from cus tomized categories FIG 8 is an example of an image display with customized category information overlaid into the image FIG 9 is an additional diagram of the status display panel and the user control switches set up for activating an overlay feature FIG 10 is an example of an image file management struc ture using categories DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Because electronic still cameras employing electronic sensors are well known the present description will be directed in particular to elements for
27. ming part of or cooper ating 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 Certain aspects of the embodiments to be described are provided in software Given the system description as described in the following materials all such software implementation is conventional and within the ordinary skill in such arts FIG 2 shows an electronic still camera capable of catego rizing images as taught by the invention The electronic still camera is divided generally into an input section A and a compression and recording section B The input section A includes an exposure section 10 for directing image light from a subject not shown toward an image sensor 12 A flash unit 11 may be used to illuminate the subject Although not shown the exposure section 10 includes conventional optics for directing the image light through a diaphragm which regulates the optical aperture and a shutter which regulates exposure time The sensor 12 which includes a two dimensional array of photosites corresponding to pic ture elements ofthe image is a conventional charge coupled device CCD using e g either well known interline trans fer or frame transfer techniques The sensor 12 is exposed to image light to capture a particular image accordingly ana 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 4 log image charge info
28. n the cam era in order to select one or more of the categories for the images and an output image signal is then generated includ ing the digital image data corresponding to the images and the one or more categories selected by the user control The advantage of the invention is that the known provi sion of a simple post capture tag is enlarged into useful pre capture categories that can effectively manage images according to variable subject content According to this invention a digital camera includes a display based tag icon feature which the user can set to an appropriate cat egory before taking a group of pictures The category names can be defaults or be names and optional text 1 account number and or graphics overlays 1 company logo entered via a host computer and uploaded to the cam era before the pictures are taken When the user selects a particular category the category name is stored along with the image data in the image file and any text and graphics logo as appropriate are overlaid onto the image When downloading the images to a host computer the user can US RE41 524 E 3 select a category and download only the images which have a particular category name or the images can be stored in folders labeled with each category name These and other aspects objects features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the fol
29. nd used by the CPU 9b in combination with the software algorithms from the hard drive 8 This allows a quick and convenient way of categorizing the images accessed by the computer without requiring further intervention from the host computer According to the invention shown in FIG 2 the images are transferred from the camera to the computer via the removable memory rather than a cable interface Therefore the camera does not have to be in the same location as the computer This makes it possible to view the images from the camera in many different locations on many different computers as long as the computer has the ability to both accept the removable memory and correctly process the image data Since the removable memory can be used to store code for processing the image data in the computer this code can include the processing algorithms needed to download the stored images according to the stored catego ries The advantage of storing the processing algorithms on the removable memory is that it eliminates the need for a separate means of supplying the code such as the floppy disk Supplying the algorithms along with the images on the removable memory such as a PCMCIA card makes it pos sible for any computer capable of reading the image data from the card to also download and utilize the algorithms needed to process the image data in order to create one or more files of categorized images The invention has been described with refer
30. ng an output image signal image file overlays the text strings into the digital image data 12 An electronic camera as claimed in claim 10 wherein the means for generating an output image signal image file overlays the graphics images into the digital image data 13 An electronic camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the memory stores a plurality of default categories tag names providing a default classification of the image by a set of codes and wherein the camera further comprises a signal port for receiving externally generated categories tag names the processor stores the externally generated catego ries tag names in the memory and the user control means preferentially accesses the externally generated categories tag names when they are stored in the memory 14 An electronic camera as claimed in claim 13 wherein the processor includes date and time information with the externally generated categories tag names 15 An electronic imaging system using an electronic camera as claimed in claim 7 in combination with a host processor the external computer wherein the host proces sor external computer provides the externally generated categories user customized tag names to the signal port US 41 524 E 11 16 An electronic imaging system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the output image signal is output to the host proces sor through the signal port and the host processor includes an application program which
31. rmation corresponding to the particu lar image is generated in respective photosites The charge information is applied to an output diode 14 which converts the charge information to analog image signals correspond ing to respective picture elements of the particular image captured The analog image signals are applied to an A D converter 16 which generates digital image data from the analog input signals for each picture element The digital image data is applied to an image buffer 18 for storing one or more images albeit shown in FIG 2 as a random access memory RAM with storage capacity for a plurality of still images A programmed control processor 20 generally controls the input section A of the camera by initiating and controlling exposure by operation of the diaphragm and shutter not shown in the exposure section 10 by controlling the flash unit 11 by generating the horizontal and vertical clocks needed for driving the sensor 12 and for clocking image information therefrom and by enabling the A D converter 16 in conjunction with the image buffer 18 for each signal segment relating to a picture element Exposure control would typically be effected by using ambient light informa tion from a photocell 19 and a shutter button 21 allows the user to initiate a capture cycle The processor 20 also receives date and time information from a date time genera tor 20a Once a certain amount of digital image data has accumu lated in th
32. s is not always desirable then a separate graphics icon may be provided for overlay control The process for categorizing images according to default parameters is shown in FIG 4 and the process for categoriz ing images according to customized externally generated parameters is shown in FIG 5 Referring first to FIG 4 when the camera is first turned on the tag icon 52a will be shown only in outline form step 60 The inner part of the tag icon 52a will fill to indicate when the user has posi tively selected the tag feature by activation of the user con trol switches 29 In the default mode there are a predeter mined plurality of possible categories for example five alphabetic categories A B C D E and NONE or OFF With the tag icon 52a activated the user will select categories A B C D E NONE repeat sequence A B etc by pressing the toggle switch 54 step 61 Each press of the switch 54 causes a different tag code to be displayed on the alphanu meric segment 52b After the tag is selected the user can activate other icons by use of the select button 56 Then when the shutter button 21 is pressed the selected category tag is associated with the digital image data steps 62 63 Then the steps 62 63 are repeated for any additional images in the same category US RE41 524 E 7 If a new category is desired the process reverts to step 61 When all the images are captured the user connects the camera by cabl
33. s separately accessible for each image apart from the image data a separate tag name file for each selected tag name a removable memory for storing each of the image files into the tag name file corresponding to the selected tag name wherein the removable memory stores two or more tag name files with each tag name file storing two or more image files and means responsive to the single computer initiated request for identifving a particular tag name for transferring 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 10 all of the image files stored in the corresponding tag name file to the external computer via the cable inter face 2 An electronic camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the memory is firmware and the categories tag names are default categories stored in the firmware 3 An electronic camera as claimed in claim 2 wherein the user control means includes a status display for showing the default categories and the user control means selects a particular one of the default categories from those displayed on the status display 4 An electronic camera as claimed in claim 3 wherein the user controls control means includes a first control inter face for cycling through the default categories one by one and displaying each category individually and a second con trol interface for selecting a displayed category 5 An electronic camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more categories tag names inclu
34. stomized from a host computer following on the previously men tioned claims adjuster example and the resulting file format and image display As shown in FIG 6 the categories tags are given names optional text strings and graphics The category information also includes overlay control informa tion indicating whether or not the text string date and time should be overlaid into the image In this example the user a free lance claims adjuster has created four different catego ries H111 and H122 for different insurance claims from a first insurance company one F123 for a claim from a sec ond insurance company and one KIDS for personal images The user also indicates whether the text string should be overlaid into the image and whether the camera should overlay the date and or time in the image This cat egory information including names text and graphics is then downloaded to the host computer from the memory card 24 A typical technique for such downloading is described in U S Ser No 08 219 608 entitled Electronic Imaging System Using a Removable Software Enhanced Storage Device which is to issue as U S Pat No 5 477 264 on Dec 19 1995 When programmed by the host or memory card 24 the number of tag categories that can be selected in the camera and the four letter name of each category is as set by the user via the host computer The user selects the appropriate category before taking a sequence of ima
35. the field of electronic imaging systems and in particular to a digital electronic still camera of the type that is used with a host computer BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As understood in the prior art a digital electronic still camera is a device which uses an electronic sensor to capture an image signal processing to represent the captured signal numerically and some storage device to preserve the numerical image data It is further known for a digital elec tronic still camera to use a removable storage device such as an integrated circuit memory card to store images For instance U S Pat No 5 016 107 describes an electronic still camera utilizing image compression and providing digital storage in a removable memory card having a static random access memory In this camera the integrated circuits in the removable memory card store image data and a directory locating the data Coordination between a digital camera and a computer is generally known in the prior art FIG 1 shows a known electronic still photography system useful for inputting images to a computer The system includes an electronic camera 1 with an electronic sensing section la a digital processing section 1b a memory card slot 2 and a remov able memory card 3 and a host computer 4 with a built in memory card reader 5 a printer 6a a display 6b a keyboard data entry device 7 and a disk drive 8 Images are captured by the sensing section 1a in the camera 1 manip
36. ulated in the processing section 1b stored on the memory card 3 and transferred from the card 3 to the host computer 4 The soft ware used to control the sensing and processing sections la and 1b in the camera is located in firmware memory 1c in the camera 1 The application software used to control the play back operations of the host computer is supplied at least in part by the camera manufacturer For instance the manufac turer may provide a special disk or memory card that comes with the camera The application software is transferred to the computer hard drive 8 and then downloaded to a com puter random access memory RAM memory 9a where the program is used by a central processing unit CPU 9b Digital cameras such as the Kodak Digital Science DC40 camera sold by Eastman Kodak Company allow almost a hundred images to be stored Because the images are stored as sequentially numbered images it can be diffi cult and time consuming to locate a group of images of interest from all of the images stored in the camera In a typical usage an insurance adjuster may take a number of photos in processing a number of different claims during one day s operations It would be desirable to be able to identify the images of each group for example by claim number or client name It may be further desirable to allow this information along with the date and time or a company logo to be optionally included with the image data This ensures
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