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US5986701A
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Method and system of grouping related images captured with a digital image capture device
Assignee: FlashPoint Technology Inc
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Filing: 1996-09-26
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Granted: 1999-11-16
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Expires: 2016-09-26
Abstract
Abstract A method for grouping related images captured with an image capture device includes identifying a first group, the first group distinguishing at least one first image of an image capture method defined in the image capture device, and identifying a second group, the second group distinguishing at least one second image of one or more designated image characteristics, wherein the first and second groups provide structured relationships among images. The first group further includes a natural group and the image capture method further includes a time lapse capture. A system includes a digital image capture device, the digital image capture device capable of capturing and processing digital image data, and a central processing unit within the digital image capture device. The central processing unit further coordinates identification of a first group and identification of a second group, wherein the first and second groups provide structured relationships among images.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric C. Anderson
- 👤 Mike Masukawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 05:50
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/21; H04N1/2104; H04N1/2112; H04N1/2129; H04N1/2133; G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/50; G06F16/58; H04N1/215; H04N1/2158; H04N2101/00; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/21; H04N2201/212; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3225; H04N2201/3243; H04N2201/3247; H04N2201/3252
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for grouping related images captured with an image capture device, the method comprising: forming a natural group, wherein the natural group comprises sets of images related by an image capture sequence; forming a programmed group, wherein the programmed group comprises image groups created by program instructions within the image capture device, wherein the natural and programmed groups provide structured relationships among images; and storing the natural and programmed groups in the digital image capture device, wherein a plurality of tags is stored with the natural and programmed groups, wherein the plurality of tags include information for identifying what type of group the image files form and what position in the sequence of image files each image file represents comprise tags identifying group types, tags identifying group sequence numbers, and tags identifying group data fields.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for grouping related images captured with an image capture device, the method comprising: forming a natural group, wherein the natural group comprises sets of images related by an image capture sequence; forming a programmed group, wherein the programmed group comprises image groups created by program instructions within the image capture device, wherein the natural and programmed groups provide structured relationships among images; and storing the natural and programmed groups in the digital image capture device, wherein a plurality of tags is stored with the natural and programmed groups, wherein the plurality of tags include information for identifying what type of group the image files form and what position in the sequence of image files each image file represents comprise tags identifying group types, tags identifying group sequence numbers, and tags identifying group data fields.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the image capture sequence further comprises a time lapse capture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the time lapse capture further comprises burst image captures.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the programmed group further comprises a panorama image capture group.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the programmed group further comprises an exposure autobracket capture group.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the programmed group further comprises a user-defined capture group.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the programmed group distinguishes at least one programmed image of one or more designated image characteristics, the designated image characteristics comprising at least one parameter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the at least one parameter provides information for at least one tag for the at least one second image.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
155 words
A system for grouping related images captured with an image capture device, the system comprising: a digital image capture device, the digital image capture device capable of capturing and processing digital image data; and a central processing unit, the central processing unit within the digital image capture device and coordinating formation of a natural group, wherein the natural group comprises sets of images related by an image capture sequence, formation of a programmed group, wherein the programmed group comprises image groups created by program instructions within the image capture device, and storage of the natural and programmed groups in the digital image capture device, wherein the central processing unit further coordinating storage of a plurality of tags with the natural and programmed groups, wherein the plurality of tags comprise tags identifying group types, tags identifying group sequence numbers, and tags identifying group data fields, wherein the natural and programmed groups provide structured relationships among images.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
155 words
A system for grouping related images captured with an image capture device, the system comprising: a digital image capture device, the digital image capture device capable of capturing and processing digital image data; and a central processing unit, the central processing unit within the digital image capture device and coordinating formation of a natural group, wherein the natural group comprises sets of images related by an image capture sequence, formation of a programmed group, wherein the programmed group comprises image groups created by program instructions within the image capture device, and storage of the natural and programmed groups in the digital image capture device, wherein the central processing unit further coordinating storage of a plurality of tags with the natural and programmed groups, wherein the plurality of tags comprise tags identifying group types, tags identifying group sequence numbers, and tags identifying group data fields, wherein the natural and programmed groups provide structured relationships among images.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the image capture sequence further comprises a time lapse capture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the time lapse capture further comprises burst image captures.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 9 further comprising a removable storage device coupled to the digital image capture device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 12 wherein the removable storage device stores the natural and programmed groups in a hierarchical manner.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the program instructions comprise command sequences used to access the functions and features of a capture device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the program instructions comprise command sequences used to access the functions and features of a capture device when away from a host computer.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for grouping related images captured by a digital image capture device, the method comprising: forming a natural group, wherein the natural group comprises sets of images related by an image capture sequence, wherein the image capture sequence comprises time lapse captures, burst image captures, synchronized images with sound, and video clips with or without sound; forming a programmed group, wherein the programmed group comprises image groups created by program instructions within the image capture device, wherein the natural and programmed groups provide structured relationships among images; and storing the natural and programmed groups in the digital image capture device, wherein a plurality of tags are stored with the natural and programmed groups, wherein the plurality of tags comprise tags identifying group types, tags identifying group sequence numbers, and tags identifying group data fields.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for grouping related images captured by a digital image capture device, the method comprising: forming a natural group, wherein the natural group comprises sets of images related by an image capture sequence, wherein the image capture sequence comprises time lapse captures, burst image captures, synchronized images with sound, and video clips with or without sound; forming a programmed group, wherein the programmed group comprises image groups created by program instructions within the image capture device, wherein the natural and programmed groups provide structured relationships among images; and storing the natural and programmed groups in the digital image capture device, wherein a plurality of tags are stored with the natural and programmed groups, wherein the plurality of tags comprise tags identifying group types, tags identifying group sequence numbers, and tags identifying group data fields.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
172 words
A system for grouping related images by a digital image capture device, the system comprising: a digital image capture device, the digital image capture device capable of capturing and processing digital image data; and a central processing unit, the central processing unit within the digital image capture device and coordinating formation of a natural group, wherein the natural group comprises sets of images related by an image capture sequence, the image capture sequence comprising time lapse captures, burst image captures, synchronized images with sound, and video clips with or without sound, formation of a programmed group, wherein the programmed group comprises image groups created by program instructions within the image capture device, and storage of the natural and programmed groups in the digital image capture device, wherein a plurality of tags is stored with the natural and programmed groups, wherein the plurality of tags comprise tags identifying group types, tags identifying group sequence numbers, and tags identifying group data fields, and wherein the natural and programmed groups provide structured relationships among images.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
172 words
A system for grouping related images by a digital image capture device, the system comprising: a digital image capture device, the digital image capture device capable of capturing and processing digital image data; and a central processing unit, the central processing unit within the digital image capture device and coordinating formation of a natural group, wherein the natural group comprises sets of images related by an image capture sequence, the image capture sequence comprising time lapse captures, burst image captures, synchronized images with sound, and video clips with or without sound, formation of a programmed group, wherein the programmed group comprises image groups created by program instructions within the image capture device, and storage of the natural and programmed groups in the digital image capture device, wherein a plurality of tags is stored with the natural and programmed groups, wherein the plurality of tags comprise tags identifying group types, tags identifying group sequence numbers, and tags identifying group data fields, and wherein the natural and programmed groups provide structured relationships among images.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-15 | 2003-05-17 | 2003-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-15 | 2007-05-17 | 2007-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-15 | 2011-05-17 | 2011-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |