Intelligent digital image storage for an electronic camera

Claim 2

A digital storage device detachably connectable to an electronic camera of the type that generates image signals corresponding to captured images and provides the image signals to an output connection on the camera for storage in the digital storage device, said device comprising: an algorithm memory for storing a plurality of algorithms for processing the image signals; a signal interface for transmitting the image signals between the device and the output connection on the camera according to a predetermined interface specification; a processor responsive to write command signals from the camera provided through said signal interface for selecting one of the algorithms stored in said algorithm memory, and for generating processed image signals by applying the selected algorithm to the image signals provided through said signal interface, said selected algorithm processing the image signals for storage according to a particular configuration independent of the interface specification; and an image memory section for storing the processed image signals.

Claim 3

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of algorithms includes at least one compression algorithm.

Claim 4

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said compression algorithm includes a lossless algorithm for processing the image signal in such a way that the image can be later reconstructed without any data loss.

Claim 5

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said compression algorithm includes a visually lossless algorithm for processing the image signal in such a way that the image can be later reconstructed in a visually lossless manner.

Claim 6

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of algorithms further includes an erase algorithm for erasing one or more of the image signals stored in said image memory section.

Claim 7

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said device retains the identity of the algorithm used to process the image signal, and wherein said processor is responsive to a read command provided through said signal interface for selecting a particular processed image signal stored in said image memory section, and for restoring the processed image signal either to its original state as an image signal or to another processed state.

Claim 8

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the read command is provided by the camera.

Claim 9

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the storage device is further useful with a reader, and wherein the read command is provided by the reader.

Claim 10

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said device is a memory card and said image memory section includes integrated circuit memory.

Claim 11

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said image memory section includes a magnetic disk.

Claim 12

An image memory card detachably connectable to an electronic camera of the type that generates image signals corresponding to captured images and provides the image signals to an output connection on the camera for storage in the memory card, said image memory card comprising: an algorithm memory for storing a plurality of algorithms for processing the image signals; a signal interface for transmitting the image signals between the card and the output connection on the camera according to a predetermined interface specification; a processor responsive to write command signals from the camera provided through said signal interface for selecting one of the algorithms stored in said algorithm memory, and for generating processed image signals by applying the selected algorithm to the image signals provided through said signal interface, said selected algorithm processing the image signals for storage according to a particular configuration independent of the interface specification; and an image memory section for storing the processed image signals.

Claim 13

An image memory card detachably connectable to an electronic camera of the type that generates image signals corresponding to captured images and provides the image signals to an output connection on the camera for storage in the memory card, said image memory card comprising: an algorithm memory for storing a plurality of algorithms for processing the image signals; a signal interface for transmitting the image signals between the card and the output connection on the camera according to a predetermined interface specification; a processor responsive to write command signals from the camera provided through said signal interface for selecting one of the algorithms stored in said algorithm memory, and for generating processed image signals by applying the selected algorithm to the image signals provided through said signal interface, said selected algorithm processing the image signals for storage according to a particular configuration independent of the interface specification; and an image memory section for storing the processed image signals.

Claim 14

An image memory card as claimed in claim 11 wherein said plurality of algorithms includes a plurality of compression algorithms.

Claim 15

An image memory card as claimed in claim 12 wherein one of said plurality of compression algorithms includes a lossless algorithm for processing the image signal in such a way that the image can be later reconstructed without any data loss.

Claim 16

An image memory card as claimed in claim 12 wherein one of said plurality of compression algorithms includes a visually lossless algorithm for processing the image signal in such a way that the image can be later reconstructed in a visually lossless manner.

Claim 17

An image memory card as claimed in claim 12 wherein said plurality of algorithms further includes an erase algorithm for erasing one or more of the image signals stored in said image memory section.

Claim 18

An image memory card as claimed in claim 11 wherein said card retains the identity of the algorithm used to process the image signal, and wherein said processor is responsive to a read command provided through said signal interface for selecting a particular processed image signal stored in said image memory section, and for restoring the processed image signal either to its original state as an image signal or to another processed state.

Claim 19

An image memory card as claimed in claim 16 wherein the read command is provided by the camera.

Claim 20

An image memory card as claimed in claim 16 wherein the card is further useful with a reader, and wherein the read command is provided by the reader.

Claim 21

An image memory card as claimed in claim 16 wherein said plurality of algorithms includes a plurality of compression algorithms, and wherein said processor is responsive to a read command provided through said signal interface for selecting a particular processed image signal stored in said image memory section, and for restoring the processed image signal by decompressing the processed image signal according to the inverse of the selected compression algorithm.

Claim 22

An image memory card as claimed in claim 19 wherein one of said plurality of compression algorithms includes a lossless algorithm for processing the image signal in such a way that the image can be later reconstructed without any data loss, and wherein said processor is responsive to a read command provided through said signal interface for selecting a particular processed image signal stored in said image memory section, and for restoring the processed image signal without any data loss.

Claim 23

An image memory card as claimed in claim 19 wherein one of said plurality of compression algorithms includes a visually lossless algorithm for processing the image signal in such a way that the image can be later reconstructed in a visually lossless manner, and wherein said processor is responsive to a read command provided through said signal interface for selecting a particular processed image signal stored in said image memory section, and for restoring the processed image signal approximately without any visual data loss.

Claim 24

A digital storage device detachably connectable to an electronic camera of the type that generates an image signal and provides the signal to an output connection on the camera, said device comprising: an algorithm memory for storing a plurality of algorithms for processing the image signal, said algorithms representing the functional capabilities which the storage device will support; a characteristics memory for storing a table of the functional capabilities of the storage device; a signal interface for transmitting signals between the device and the output connection on the camera; a processor responsive to 1) read command signals from the camera provided through said signal interface for transmitting the table in said characteristics memory to the camera for use therewith to select a desired functional capability, and 2) write command signals from the camera provided through said signal interface for selecting one of the algorithms stored in said algorithm memory corresponding to a desired functional capability, and for generating a processed image signal by applying the selected algorithm to an image signal provided through said signal interface; and an image memory section for storing the processed image signal.

Claim 25

A digital storage device detachably connectable to an electronic camera of the type that generates an image signal and provides the signal to an output connection on the camera, said device comprising: an algorithm memory for storing a plurality of algorithms for processing the image signal, said algorithms representing the functional capabilities which the storage device will support; a characteristics memory for storing a table of the functional capabilities of the storage device; a signal interface for transmitting signals between the device and the output connection on the camera; a processor responsive to 1) read command signals from the camera provided through said signal interface for transmitting the table in said characteristics memory to the camera for use therewith to select a desired functional capability, and 2) write command signals from the camera provided through said signal interface for selecting one of the algorithms stored in said algorithm memory corresponding to a desired functional capability, and for generating a processed image signal by applying the selected algorithm to an image signal provided through said signal interface; and an image memory section for storing the processed image signal.

Claim 26

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 22 wherein said plurality of algorithms includes at least one compression algorithm.

Claim 27

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 23 wherein said compression algorithm includes a lossless algorithm for processing the image signal in such a way that the image can be later reconstructed without any data loss.

Claim 28

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 23 wherein said compression algorithm includes a visually lossless algorithm for processing the image signal in such a way that the image can be later reconstructed in a visually lossless manner.

Claim 29

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 22 wherein said plurality of algorithms further includes an erase algorithm for erasing one or more of the image signals stored in said image memory section.

Claim 30

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 22 wherein said plurality of algorithms includes at least one color space transformation algorithm.

Claim 31

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 22 wherein the storage device is further useful with a reading device, and wherein said plurality of algorithms includes at least one algorithm for rendering the image signal for use by the reading device.

Claim 32

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 22 wherein said device retains the identity of the algorithm used to process the image signal, and wherein said processor is responsive to a read command provided through said signal interface for selecting a particular processed image signal stored in said image memory section, and for restoring the processed image signal either to its original state as an image signal or to another processed state.

Claim 33

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 29 wherein the read command is provided by the camera.

Claim 34

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 29 wherein the storage device is further useful with a reader, and wherein the read command is provided by the reader.

Claim 35

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 22 wherein said device is a memory card and said image memory section includes integrated circuit memory.

Claim 36

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 22 wherein said image memory section includes a magnetic disk.

Claim 37

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 22 wherein the storage device is further useful with a host processor, and wherein said algorithm memory is updated by said host processor by changing one or more of the stored algorithms, or by adding one or more new algorithms representing new functionality.

Claim 38

A digital storage device detachably connectable to an electronic camera of the type that generates an image signal and provides the signal to an output connection on the camera, said device comprising: an algorithm memory for storing a plurality of algorithms for processing the image signal, including at least one compression algorithm; a signal interface for transmitting signals between the device and the output connection on the camera; a processor responsive to write command signals from the camera provided through said signal interface for selecting one of the algorithms stored in said algorithm memory, and for generating a processed image signal by applying the selected algorithm to an image signal provided through said signal interface; and an image memory section for storing the processed image signal.

Claim 39

A digital storage device detachably connectable to an electronic camera of the type that generates an image signal and provides the signal to an output connection on the camera, said device comprising: an algorithm memory for storing a plurality of algorithms for processing the image signal, including at least one compression algorithm; a signal interface for transmitting signals between the device and the output connection on the camera; a processor responsive to write command signals from the camera provided through said signal interface for selecting one of the algorithms stored in said algorithm memory, and for generating a processed image signal by applying the selected algorithm to an image signal provided through said signal interface; and an image memory section for storing the processed image signal.

Claim 40

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 35 wherein said compression algorithm includes a lossless algorithm for processing the image signal in such a way that the image can be later reconstructed without any data loss.

Claim 41

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 35 wherein said compression algorithm includes a visually lossless algorithm for processing the image signal in such a way that the image can be later reconstructed in a visually lossless manner.

Claim 42

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 35 wherein said plurality of algorithms further includes an erase algorithm for erasing one or more of the image signals stored in said image memory section.

Claim 43

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 35 wherein said device retains the identity of the algorithm used to process the image signal, and wherein said processor is responsive to a read command provided through said signal interface for selecting a particular processed image signal stored in said image memory section, and for restoring the processed image signal either to its original state as an image signal or to another processed state.

Claim 44

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 39 wherein the read command is provided by the camera.

Claim 45

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 39 wherein the storage device is further useful with a reader, and wherein the read command is provided by the reader.

Claim 46

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 35 wherein said device is a memory card and said image memory section includes integrated circuit memory.

Claim 47

A digital storage device as claimed in claim 35 wherein said image memory section includes a magnetic disk.