Configuring a digital camera for particular photo situations

Abstract

A method for customizing a digital camera for at least one particular user is disclosed. The digital camera includes a reprogrammable memory for storing firmware which controls the operation of the digital camera and a camera graphical user interface responsive to the firmware stored in the reprogrammable memory. The method includes providing customization software executed external to the digital camera which can access a plurality of firmware components having different camera features. A user selects desired camera features to cause the customization software to access the corresponding firmware component(s). The selected corresponding firmware component(s) are provided to the digital camera and the reprogrammable memory is reprogrammed to store the corresponding firmware component(s) to thereby customize the digital camera.

1 . A method for configuring a digital camera, the method comprising: 
 a) providing a digital camera, the camera having a plurality of adjustable parameters for controlling the processing of images captured by the digital camera;    b) providing a user interface for enabling a user to select a photo situation; and    c) setting the values of the plurality of adjustable parameters responsive to the selected photo situation.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the parameters include a sharpening parameter.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the parameters include color matrix values.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the parameters include a resolution setting  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the parameters include a compression setting.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the parameters include a tone correction parameter.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the photo situation includes a portrait situation  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the photo situation includes a web page creation situation.  
   
   
       9 . A method for customizing a digital camera for a user, the method comprising: 
 a) providing a digital camera, the camera having a plurality of adjustable parameters for controlling the processing of images captured by the digital camera;    b) providing customization software which questions the user to determine the user's picture taking preferences;    c) in response to the user's answers to the questions, the customization software configuring firmware which provides a camera parameters customized for the user's picture taking preferences; and    d) storing the configured firmware in the digital camera to thereby customize the digital camera.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the configured firmware provides a customized graphical user interface for the digital camera.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the customization software camera is executed external to the digital camera.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the questions are displayed on a display monitor and wherein the display monitor also displays a plurality of answers that may be selected by the user.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the customization software also questions the user to determine the experience level of the user, and wherein the configured firmware is customized responsive to the user's answers to said questions.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the parameters include a sharpening parameter.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the parameters include color matrix values.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the parameters include a resolution setting  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the parameters include a compression setting.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the parameters include a tone correction parameter.