WO1999056463A1 - Electronic photo album and method of film processing - Google Patents
Electronic photo album and method of film processing Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1999056463A1 WO1999056463A1 PCT/US1999/009013 US9909013W WO9956463A1 WO 1999056463 A1 WO1999056463 A1 WO 1999056463A1 US 9909013 W US9909013 W US 9909013W WO 9956463 A1 WO9956463 A1 WO 9956463A1
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- Prior art keywords
- photo album
- electronic photo
- digital images
- images
- electronic
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Classifications
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- H04N1/00129—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a display device, e.g. CRT or LCD monitor
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- H04N1/00132—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
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Definitions
- the invention relates to portable devices for displaying, editing, storing, transmitting, receiving, and manipulating digital images.
- the photographic image was then converted into a digital image by using a scanner to scan the photographic image into a computer.
- the digital camera while providing many benefits over a conventional film camera does have some drawbacks.
- One of the biggest drawbacks is that the digital images cannot be placed in a photo album like a normal photograph.
- the present invention solves these and other problems by providing a portable electronic photo album configured to store and display digital images.
- the electronic photo album provides a memory for storing the digital images, a processor to process the images, and a display to show the images.
- the electronic photo album also provides an interface to a source of digital images. Sources of images include digital cameras, computers, floppy discs, flash ram cards, and the like.
- the electronic photo album provides a convenient way to share electronic photographs with the same ease that conventional photographs are shared and exchanged.
- the electronic photo album electronically displays images that have been captured and processed by a digital camera, computer, and the like.
- the electronic photo album can be used to transport thousands of digital images and to display those digital images in different forms for different users.
- the electronic photo album stores the digital images on a mass storage device such as a hard disc, a flash memory, and the like. On user command, the electronic photo album displays the stored images on the display.
- the electronic photo album provides an output signal to display the images on an external display device such as a television, computer monitor, projector, virtual- reality display, printer, etc.
- the electronic photo album can provide digital image output directly or indirectly to photo printers, the Internet, and a photo kiosk that provides printing services for digital images.
- the electronic photo album is configured to contain electronic components, connectors, batteries, and an interface to an electronic film unit.
- a direct connection is provided between the electronic film unit readout connector and a computer via connectors and wiring.
- interfaces to a PCMCIA port that contain memory circuits with card type/identifying data, a USB Port controller or even a telephone or network modem may be included within the electronic photo album.
- the electronic photo album can be configured with memory (FLASH Memory, for example) and with data transfer and control means to transfer data from an inserted electronic film unit into the electronic photo album memory and then erase the electronic film unit memory, allowing for immediate reuse of the electronic film unit to take additional pictures.
- the electronic photo album may be connected to a computer so that the data can be transferred to the computer and the memory within the electronic photo album (and electronic film unit, if present) can be erased.
- This configuration is useful, for example, when traveling and direct computer download of each electronic film unit "roll" of pictures is not convenient.
- the electronic photo album includes a processor to compress and store images.
- processor can perform image-processing functions prior to storing of the images into the memory of the electronic photo album.
- Image data from the electronic film unit can be compressed using JPEG, Wavelet, Fractal, or other compression algorithms as part of the storage process. This has the advantage of reducing the amount of data stored and conversely increasing the capacity of the image storage capacity of the electronic photo album.
- the present system is an integrated approach to providing an electronic photo album, or memory book, that can be used to transport thousands of images and to display those images in different forms for different people, with a built- in display capability for looking at the images.
- the system can receive images from the electronic film system (E-Film), from computers, from digital cameras, or from the Internet, or virtually any way the user wants to input the digital image.
- the memory book stores the images on a mass storage device(s) such as hard drives, floppy discs, electronic flash drives or other current and future types of mass storage media.
- the memory book on command, displays the images on its built-in screen for people to look at and to share.
- the memory book can output either directly or indirectly to photo printers, directly or
- the memory book provides portability, size, and the uniqueness of the memory book functionality. It stores, displays, and provides a means of sharing thousands of images.
- the memory book includes a means for capturing electronic imagery from digital imaging devices or sources, displaying and/or processing those images, editing the images (optionally), and sharing the images with other media or directly with other people.
- Other media include computers, televisions, printers, web sites and/or developers as well as any unnamed or future versions of image media and the like.
- the memory book is a large photo album that accepts digital images and then allows a person to share those images with other people.
- size and portability are features of the concept.
- the memory book is very small, on the order of the size of a large paperback novel that can hold thousands of images, transport the images, and share the images with other people.
- the user can flip through images and albums just as he or she would through a traditional album or stack of albums.
- the memory book includes an input port of sufficient bandwidth to easily import the images; sufficient data storage space for image storage; and a display mechanism for the digital image display.
- the memory book provides a convenient way to manage the increasing amount of imagery available throughout the world which is only available in digital form, and has never been reduced to a negative or to a print.
- the memory book becomes a natural adjunct system for digital image sharing.
- Figure 1 shows an electronic film cartridge that fits within a film cavity of a standard 35 mm camera.
- Figure 2 shows an alternate view of the electronic film cartridge.
- Figures 3A-3C show an electronic photo album having a first case style, a connector for an electronic film cartridge (or other source of digital images) and a display for viewing the images.
- Figures 3D-3F show an electronic photo album having a second case style, a connector for an electronic film cartridge (or other source of digital images) and a display for viewing the images.
- Figure 4 shows a block diagram of the electronic photo album.
- Figure 5 is a flowchart showing user interaction with the electronic photo album.
- Figure 6 is a block diagram that shows one embodiment of the logical storage of images as one or more logical volumes (logical albums) in an electronic photo album.
- Figure 7A is a flowchart that illustrates input-output data flow in the electronic photo album.
- Figure 7B is a flowchart that illustrates image processing in the electronic photo album.
- the electronic film cartridge 100 fits within a film cavity of a camera 110 such as a standard 35 mm camera.
- the electronic film cartridge 100 is preferably shaped so that it can mate directly with the camera 110 without modifications being made to the camera. Placing the electronic film cartridge 100 into the camera 110 effectively turns the camera into a digital camera, offering the user the ability to rapidly switch between conventional and electronic photography, while still providing the user the freedom to use camera attachments and other lenses. This offers the user both simplicity and convenience.
- the cartridge 100 is advantageously capable of recording quality images with over 1.0 megapixel resolution, and includes a non-volatile storage (e.g., flash memory) capable of storing many full resolution pictures.
- the cartridge 100 may be reused many times, resulting in significant savings in film and film development.
- the cartridge 100 is preferably stored in a molded carrying case (not shown). To load the
- the cartridge is taken out of the carrying case and placed into the body of the camera like a conventional roll of film, with the cartridge 100 being self-seating within the camera.
- a visible display 120 on the cartridge 100 confirms that the cartridge is ready to record the next picture (generally within 2 seconds of the picture just recorded), and this may be confirmed by an audible signal from the cartridge 100.
- the display 120 also preferably provides a shot counter, and the electronic film cartridge 100 alerts the user with an audible alarm when the system is full.
- the photographic speed (ASA) of the electronic film may be 64 or greater.
- the electronic photo album 130 has a cavity for accepting the electronic film cartridge 100, a flash ram card, a floppy disc, flash ram, or other storage device suitable for storing digital images.
- the cartridge 100 typically includes electrical contacts that mate with electrical contacts in the electronic photo album 130 when the cartridge is properly inserted into the electronic photo album.
- the electrical contacts are connected to an interface within the electronic photo album 130, with at least one battery 303 supplying power to the electronics within the electronic photo album.
- the electronic photo album 130 can advantageously transmit or receive digital images over telephone lines using a built-in modem and a phone jack 320 (e.g., an RJ-I l jack).
- the electronic photo album 130 stores many pictures, which are displayed on a display 200, as illustrated in Figure 3A-3F. Using control buttons or knobs 220, a user can select stored picture for viewing.
- the electronic photo album 130 functions as a multi-volume photo album, and the memory within the electronic photo album may be advantageously partitioned into several volumes, (e.g., multiple photo albums).
- the user has the option of selecting one of a number of industry standard formats for the images: JPEG, FLASHPIX, BMP, etc.
- the electronic photo album 130 preferably further comprises a set of icons on the display and/or, optionally,
- the electronic photo album 130 can also be used to share digital images by several methods.
- One such sharing method includes downloading images to a home computer and uploading images from a home computer.
- Optional sound files associated with the digital images can also be uploaded and downloaded to the computer.
- a cartridge door 333 shown closed in Figure 3D, and open in Figures 3E and 3F, is provided with the second case style to cover the opening where the electronic film cartridge 100 is inserted.
- the cartridge door 333 can also be provided with the first case style shown in Figures 3A-3C.
- FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the functional components of the electronic photo album 130.
- an external storage device 400 is provided to an interface 410 that is linked to a central processing unit (CPU) 420.
- the external storage device 400 can be an electronic film cartridge 100, a floppy disc, a miniature floppy disc, a flash ram, a solid state floppy disc card (SSFDC), a disc drive, an electronic camera, or any other data storage device.
- the CPU 420 is in communication with a memory 430 and an internal storage device 430.
- the CPU 420 is also in communication with a display screen 200, an optional external display interface 450, and an optional computer interface 460.
- the computer interface 460 provides connection to an external computer 404.
- the computer interface 460 can be a parallel port interface, a serial port interface, a Universal
- the external computer 404 can be another electronic photo album, thereby allowing the sharing of images between photo albums.
- the computer 404 can also be a desktop personal computer or laptop.
- the external computer 404 can be provided with an interface to a communications network 441, such as the Internet, thereby allowing the electronic photo album 130 to indirectly download and upload pictures via the network (i.e., Internet) through the computer 404.
- a power management system 462 supplies power to the various functional blocks of the electronic photo album 130 on an as-needed basis to conserve power.
- the CPU 420 is also linked to an optional modem 440 through which data, including images and sound files, may be downloaded to a communications network 441 without the need for the computer 404.
- the communications network 441 can be the Internet, an intranet, and the like.
- the modem 440 can be configured to provide a connection through a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), an Integrated
- the communication network 441 can be connected to a remote site 490 that is configured to store, print, and/or display the images.
- the electronic photo album 130 can also include an optional audio output system
- a digital-to-analog converter 470 which includes a digital-to-analog converter 471, an amplifier 472 and a loudspeaker (and/or headphone connector) 473.
- An output of the processor 420 provides digital audio data to a digital input of the digital-to-analog converter 471.
- An analog output of the digital-to-analog converter 471 is provided to an input of the amplifier 472 and an output of the amplifier 472 is provided to the loudspeaker 473.
- the audio system 470 can be used to play a digital-audio sound clip associated with the picture being viewed.
- the audio system 470 can also be used to provide user interface functions, such as a low-battery beep, a memory-full beep, etc.
- the display 200 includes, for example, flat panel displays, liquid crystal displays, and the like.
- the extemal display interface 450 is configured as an interface to an extemal display/printer device 403.
- the extemal display/printer device 403 can be a video display device such as a television, a computer monitor, a flat panel display, an image projection system, a virtual-reality headset, a printer, and the like.
- the video interface provides a standard analog NTSC (National Television Systems Committee) signal.
- the extemal display interface 450 provides a digital video signal, such as, for example, an MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group) signal, an HDTV (High Definition Television) signal, etc.
- the display 200 is used to select the images that will be downloaded, to select the images that will be printed, and , optionally, to manipulate a selected image (e.g., crop the image, lighten the image, darken the image, etc.).
- the user can also use the display 200 to review, organize, and select images that were previously downloaded and stored in the electronic photo album 130.
- FIG. 5 is a flowchart that illustrates user interaction with the electronic photo album 130.
- the user provides digital images stored on an extemal device such as a flash ram card 502, an E-file cartridge 100, a computer 504, another electronic photo album (EPA), or other digital storage device.
- an extemal device such as a flash ram card 502, an E-file cartridge 100, a computer 504, another electronic photo album (EPA), or other digital storage device.
- EPA electronic photo album
- the user connects the extemal storage device to the electronic photo album 130.
- the electronic photo album 130 is turned on and runs its power-up sequence in a process block 506.
- the power-up sequence advances to either a "too-cold" warning process block 507, a "low-battery" warning process block
- the warning process blocks 507 and 508 provide status messages to the user indicating that the memory book cannot be used due to an error condition.
- the electronic photo album 130 examines the data stored on the extemal storage device and begins a download operation. If, in the media input process block 509, the electronic photo album 130 detects that the extemal storage device is a flash ram card, the process advances to a flash card process block 510; otherwise, the process advances to a download block 511. In the download block 511, digital images from the extemal storage device are downloaded into the electronic photo album 130 and a "downloading" icon is displayed on the display 200.
- the process advances to a process block 512 where the downloaded images are stored on the internal mass storage device in the electronic photo album 130. Images can be stored by date and by volume. If the process block 512 detects that the extemal storage device is an electronic film cartridge 100, then the process advances to an erase block 513, otherwise the process advances to a thumbnail block 516.
- the erase block 513 the memory in the electronic film cartridge is erased and the process advances to a process block 514 where the clock on the electronic film is updated from a clock in the electronic photo album 130. After updating the clock, the process advances to a process block 515 where a "remove" icon is displayed informing
- thumbnail process block 516 a plurality of blank “thumbnail” (i.e., small) images are shown on the display 200 and the process advances to a process block 517.
- the downloaded images are processed (i.e. decompressed, dark current corrected, etc.) and as each image is processed, one of the blank thumbnail images is replaced by an actual thumbnail image of one of the downloaded digital images.
- a moving highlight cursor shows the user which thumbnail is being processed.
- the process advances to a process block 519 where the electronic photo album 130 accepts data manipulation commands from the user via the buttons and user controls 220 on the electronic photo album 130. From the process block 519, the user can advance to a view- full-image block 520, a delete image block 522, or a view/select thumbnail images block 521.
- the process advances to data output process block 523.
- the data output process block 523 provides output of the viewed/selected digital images to a device such as a flash ram card 524, the computer 404, the display 403, the network 441, etc.
- the user may also use the electronic photo album 130 in a recall/viewing mode to view images previously stored in the electronic photo album 130.
- the recall/viewing mode begins at a process block 526 and advances immediately to a process block 527 where the electronic photo album 130 is turned on. After turn-on, and a subsequent warm-up process block 528, the process advances to an icon display process block 529.
- icons are shown on the display 200.
- the electronic photo album 130 allows the user to organize the images into multiple volumes (albums), where each volume is a collection of images. In other words, the physical album 130 can be configured as multiple logical albums.
- the icons give the user various choices for selecting a volume (or "roll") of images (an, optionally, sound files) previously downloaded (as discussed in connection with Figure 6). The user choices include “select photo volume” and "delete volume.” If the user selected the
- the process advances to a delete process block 531. If the user selects the "select photo volume” the process advances to the process block 518 to display thumbnail images of the pictures in that volume. Thumbnail images are small images sized so that the thumbnail images for several complete pictures can be shown on the display 200 at one time.
- Figure 6 is a block diagram that illustrates one embodiment of the logical storage of images in the electronic photo album 130.
- Figure 6 shows two volumes of images, a first volume 602 and a second volume 603.
- the first volume 602 contains images 610-614 and, optionally, sound files 630-634. Each sound file is associated with an image, and the sound files 630-634 are associated with images 610-614 respectively.
- the second volume 603 contains images 620-623 and, optionally, sound files 641-643.
- Images can be arranged in volumes according to date, according to subject, according to size, and by user selection.
- the user can delete a volume, download an entire volume, add or remove images from a volume, and display a volume.
- the electronic photo album 130 displays a volume by showing each image in the volume for a period of time and then automatically advancing to the next picture in the volume. When digital sound clips are provided, the sound clip associated with each picture is played while the picture is displayed.
- Figure 7A is a data flowchart that illustrates one embodiment of an input output signal processing sequence used by the electronic photo album 130.
- Figure 7A begins with a step 710 where image data is loaded from an extemal source such as the E-f ⁇ lm cartridge 100, a computer, the internet, a digital camera, a scanner, and the like. Once the image data is loaded, the data advances to a process block 711 where the image data is stored on the internal storage device 402 and, optionally, displayed on the display 200.
- an extemal source such as the E-f ⁇ lm cartridge 100, a computer, the internet, a digital camera, a scanner, and the like.
- an image output processing block 713 retrieves images from the internal storage device 402, formats the image data,
- FIG. 7B is a flowchart that illustrates one embodiment of a signal processing sequence used by the electronic photo album 130.
- Figure 7B begins with a step 701 where an image is retrieved from either the internal storage device 402 or the extemal (removable) storage device 400. After retrieving the image, the image is decompressed in a process block 702 and passed to an image edit block 703. The image edit block 703 can also provide the uncompressed image to the display device 200.
- the image can be edited by the user.
- User edit functions include changing the image color balance, contrast, brightness, size.
- the user can also crop portions of the image and zoom-in on portions of the image.
- the image edit block 703 also provides non-user controlled (e.g., automatic) image editing directed by the processor 420.
- the processor 420 performs edge detection, gamma correction, and other image processing to enhance the appearance of the image when displayed on the display 200, the extemal display/printer 403, or the computer 404.
- the data is recompressed in a compression block 706. After compression, the process advances to a storage block 706 where the data is stored.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU36654/99A AU3665499A (en) | 1998-04-27 | 1999-04-26 | Electronic photo album and method of film processing |
CA002329723A CA2329723A1 (en) | 1998-04-27 | 1999-04-26 | Electronic photo album and method of film processing |
EP99918834A EP1080578A4 (en) | 1998-04-27 | 1999-04-26 | Electronic photo album and method of film processing |
JP2000546515A JP2002515658A (en) | 1998-04-27 | 1999-04-26 | Electronic photo album and film processing method |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US8319398P | 1998-04-27 | 1998-04-27 | |
US10834898P | 1998-11-13 | 1998-11-13 | |
US60/108,348 | 1998-11-13 | ||
US60/083,193 | 1998-11-13 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1999056463A1 true WO1999056463A1 (en) | 1999-11-04 |
Family
ID=26769035
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1999/009013 WO1999056463A1 (en) | 1998-04-27 | 1999-04-26 | Electronic photo album and method of film processing |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1080578A4 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2002515658A (en) |
AU (1) | AU3665499A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2329723A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1999056463A1 (en) |
Cited By (18)
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- 1999-04-26 CA CA002329723A patent/CA2329723A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2329723A1 (en) | 1999-11-04 |
EP1080578A1 (en) | 2001-03-07 |
AU3665499A (en) | 1999-11-16 |
EP1080578A4 (en) | 2001-05-16 |
JP2002515658A (en) | 2002-05-28 |
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