Method and apparatus for prioritizing menu items of an electronic device

Abstract

A method of dynamically prioritizing menu items embedded in an electronic device, such as a digital camera, comprising the steps of selecting a menu item from an ordered list of menu items, recording the selected menu item in a record file stored in the electronic device, analyzing the record file to determine the frequency of use for each menu item, and dynamically prioritizing the ordered list by a firmware embedded in the electronic device based on the user's frequency of use to provide a prioritized ordered list, such that frequently used menu item is ranked higher in the prioritized ordered list.

1 - 8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . An electronic device comprising: 
 a graphic user interface for displaying an ordered list of menu items to a user and receiving a menu item selected by said user a storage device for storing said selected menu item in a record file; and    a firmware for analyzing said record file to determine said user's frequency of use for each menu item and dynamically prioritizing said ordered list of menu items based on said user's frequency of use to provide a prioritized ordered list, such that frequently used menu item is ranked higher in said prioritized ordered list.    
   
   
       10 . The electronic device of  claim 9  wherein said firmware is operable to control said graphical user interface to display said prioritized ordered list of menu items to said user.  
   
   
       11 . The electronic device of  claim 9  wherein said firmware is operable to dynamically prioritize said ordered list periodically.  
   
   
       12 . The electronic device of  claim 9  wherein said firmware is operable to dynamically prioritize upon an occurrence of a predetermined event.  
   
   
       13 . The electronic device of  claim 9  wherein said firmware is operable to periodically download said record file onto a processing device, said processing device being operable to analyze said downloaded record file to determine said user's frequency of use for each menu item and operable to dynamically prioritize said ordered list based on said user's frequency to provide said prioritized ordered list.  
   
   
       14 . The electronic device of  claim 13  wherein said firmware is operable to upload said prioritized ordered list from said processing device.  
   
   
       15 . The electronic device of  claim 9  wherein said processing device is one of the following: a computer, a server, or a set-top box.  
   
   
       16 . The electronic device of  claim 9  wherein said firmware is operable to dynamically prioritize based on frequency of menu item's use and said menu item's current rank in said ordered list.  
   
   
       17 . The electronic device of  9  wherein said electronic device is a digital camera.  
   
   
       18 . A computer-readable medium comprising firmware code for dynamically prioritizing menu items embedded in an electronic device, said firmware code including instructions for: 
 displaying an ordered list of menu items on a graphical user interface of said electronic device;    receiving a menu item selected by a user from said ordered list of menu items;    recording said selected menu item in a record file stored in said electronic device;    analyzing said record file to determine said user's frequency of use for each menu item; and    dynamically prioritizing said ordered list based on said user's frequency of use to provide a prioritized ordered list, such that frequently used menu item is ranked higher in said prioritized ordered list.    
   
   
       19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 18  wherein said firmware code further includes instructions for displaying said prioritized ordered list of menu items to said user.  
   
   
       20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 18  wherein said firmware code further includes instructions for dynamically prioritizing prioritizes said ordered list periodically.  
   
   
       21 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 18  wherein said firmware code further includes instructions for dynamically prioritizing prioritizes upon an occurrence of a predetermined event.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus for dynamically prioritizing menu items embedded in an electronic device comprising: 
 means for selecting a menu item from an ordered list of menu items;    means for recording said selected menu item in a record file stored in said electronic device;    means for analyzing said record file to determine said user's frequency of use for each menu item; and    means for dynamically prioritizing said ordered list using firmware embedded in said electronic device based on said user's frequency of use, such that frequently used menu item is ranked higher in said prioritized ordered list.