Method For Specifying Image Handling For Images On A Portable Device

Abstract

A method and system for enabling a user to specify and automate file handling in a portable image capture device is provided, wherein the device includes at least one stored file and is capable of communicating with a computer over a network. An action list is downloaded from the computer to the device, wherein the action list includes a mapping of one or more user input events on the device to one or more file handling actions. When an input event on the device is detected that matches one of the events in the downloaded action list, the corresponding file handling action is then performed on the file within the device. In a preferred embodiment, prior to the action list being downloaded, the user is allowed to configure the action list on the computer by mapping one or more user input events on the device to one or more file handling actions.

1 . A method for specifying and automating file handling in a portable image capture device, the portable image capture device including at least one stored file and configured to communicate with a computer, the method comprising:
 in response to a user configuring an action list on the computer by mapping one or more user input events detectable on the portable image capture device to one or more file handling actions on the at least one stored file, downloading the action list from the computer to the portable image capture device; and   performing, on the at least one stored file included in the portable image capture device, the corresponding file handling action within the portable image capture device when an input event on the portable image capture device is detected that matches one of the user input events in the action list.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 downloading an executable file associated with the corresponding file handling action to the portable image capture device; and   executing the executable file in the portable image capture device in order to perform the file handling action.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein downloading the executable file associated with the file handling action to be performed comprises downloading the executable file corresponding to the file handling action when the action is to be performed. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising downloading all executable files associated with the file handling actions in the action list to the portable image capture device at the time the action list is downloaded. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one stored file comprises at least one digital image captured by the portable image capture device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the computer is used to access a server via a web browser, the method further comprising configuring the action list on the server in response to user input. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising retrieving the user's account information, including the portable image capture device type and an operating environment of the portable image capture device in response to the user logging into the server. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising displaying to the user a list of supported user interface input events specific to the user's type of portable image capture device for the user to select a desired set of user input events to map to the one or more file handling actions. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising displaying a set of actions that can be performed on the portable image capture device when each selected event occurs for the user to map one or more actions to each event. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the set of actions may include any combination of e-mailing the file as an attachment, posting the file to a photo sharing service, posting the file to a specified web site, resizing if the file is an image, and saving the file to a folder. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising storing the mappings as a downloadable action list. 
     
     
         12 . A computer-readable medium encoded with computer executable instructions for specifying and automating file handling in a portable image capture device, the portable image capture device including at least one stored file and configured to communicate with a computer, the instructions, when executed:
 downloading an action list from the computer to the portable image capture device, the action list comprising a mapping of one or more user input events on the portable image capture device to one or more file handling actions on the at least one stored file; and   performing, on the file, a corresponding file handling action within the portable image capture device when an input event is detected on the portable image capture device that matches one of the events in the downloaded action list.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 12  further including instructions for downloading an executable file associated with the file handling action to be performed and executing the executable file in the device in order to perform the action. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13  further comprising instructions for downloading the executable file corresponding to the file handling action when the action is to be performed. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 12  further including instructions for downloading all the executable files associated with the actions in the action list to the portable image capture device at the time the action list is downloaded. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 12  wherein the at least one stored file comprises at least one digital image captured by the portable image capture device. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 12  wherein the computer is used to access a server via a web browser, the computer-readable medium having further instructions for configuring the action list on the server in response to user input. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17  further comprising instructions for retrieving the user's account information, including the portable image capture device type and an operating environment of the portable image capture device in response to the user logging into the server. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17  having further instructions for displaying to the user a list of supported user interface input events specific to the user's type of portable image capture device for the user to select a desired set of input events. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19  having further instructions for:
 displaying a set of available actions that can be performed when each selected event occurs; and   providing an interface for the user to map one or more actions to each event.   
     
     
         21 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 20  wherein the set of available actions may include any combination of e-mailing the file as an attachment, posting the file to a photo sharing service, posting the file to a specified web site, resizing if the file is an image, and saving the file to a folder. 
     
     
         22 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19  having further instructions for storing the mappings as a downloadable action list. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17  having further instructions for requesting the action list from the computer. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 23  having further instructions for transmitting identity information from the device to the server for the server to use to retrieve the action list configured by the user and downloading the action list to the device. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 12  having further instructions for: detecting the input events on the device;
 comparing the detected input events to the events listed in the downloaded action list; and   if a match occurs, performing the corresponding action or actions in the list by retrieving the executable file necessary to execute that action.   
     
     
         26 . A method for specifying and automating file handling in a portable image capture device including at least one stored file, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the portable image capture device, an action list comprising a mapping of one or more events on the portable image capture device to one or more file handling actions on the at least one stored file; and   performing, on the at least one stored file, a corresponding file handling action within the portable image capture device in response to detecting an event on the portable image capture device that matches one of the events in the action list.   
     
     
         27 . A method for specifying and automating file handling in a portable image capture device including at least one stored image, the method comprising:
 In response to a user configuring an action list on a computing device by mapping an event detectable on the portable image capture device to an image handling action within the portable image capture device, downloading the action list from the computing device to the portable image capture device; and   performing, on an image captured by the portable image capture device the image handling action when an event on the portable image capture device is detected that matches the event in the action list.   
     
     
         28 . A method for specifying and automating file handling in a portable image capture device including at least one stored file, the method comprising:
 receiving a list of supported events for the portable image capture device;   selecting at least one event from the list of supported events;   receiving a set of available actions that can be performed on the at least one stored file; and   mapping at least one of the available actions to the at least one event, thereby creating an action list; and   sending the action list to the portable image capture device.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the set of available actions may include any combination of e-mailing the file as an attachment, posting the file to a photo sharing service, posting the file to a specified web site, resizing if the file is an image, and saving the file to a folder. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the at least one stored file comprises at least one image.