Electronic still camera for capturing and categorizing images

Abstract

An electronic camera captures images representing a variety of subjects and categorizes the image according to subject matter. The camera comprises an image sensor for capturing an image, a converter stage for converting the image into digital image data, and a memory for storing a plurality of categories providing classification of the images by subject. A processor in the camera has the capability of assigning the plurality of categories to the images captured by the camera, with each category providing a subject classification for the images. A user selects one or more categories for a plurality of images prior to capture, and an output image signal is then generated including the digital image data corresponding to a captured image and the particular category selected by the user. The categories can be default identifiers stored in the memory, or can be names, text (i.e., account number), and/or graphics overlays (i.e., company logo) entered via a host computer and uploaded to the camera memory before the pictures are taken.

1. An electronic camera for capturing images representing a variety of subjects and for providing captured images to an external computer in response to a single computer initiated request, wherein the electronic camera is interconnected to the external computer via a cable interface, said camera comprising:
 an image sensor for capturing the images;  
 a converter stage for converting the images into digital image data;  
 a memory for storing a plurality of categories  two or more tag names providing classification of the images by subject ;  
 control means for selecting one of the stored tag names for each of the images; 
 a processor having the capability of  for assigning the plurality of categories  selected tag names to each of the images captured by the image sensor, wherein each category providing subject  tag name provides classification of one  two or more captured images;  
 a user control for selecting one or more categories for the images before the images are captured by the image sensor; and  
 means for generating an output image signal comprising  an image file including both  the digital image data corresponding to the captured images and separate category data including the one or more categories selected by the user control, wherein the category data is separately accessible for each image apart from the image data  a separate tag name file for each selected tag name;  
   a removable memory for storing each of the image files into the tag name file corresponding to the selected tag name, wherein the removable memory stores two or more tag name files with each tag name file storing two or more image files; and    
   means responsive to the single computer initiated request for identifying a particular tag name for transferring all of the image files stored in the corresponding tag name file to the external computer via the cable interface .  
 
     
     
       2. An electronic camera as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the memory is firmware and the categories  tag names are default categories stored in the firmware. 
     
     
       3. An electronic camera as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the user  control means includes a status display for showing the default categories and the user  control means selects a particular one of the default categories from those displayed on the status display. 
     
     
       4. An electronic camera as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the user controls  control means includes a first control interface for cycling through the default categories one-by-one and displaying each category individually, and a second control interface for selecting a displayed category. 
     
     
       5. An electronic camera as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the one or more categories  tag names included in the output image data is associated with the digital image data in a distinct file location. 
     
     
       6. An electronic camera as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the one or more categories  tag names included in the output image data is overlaid into the image data. 
     
     
       7. An electronic camera as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the camera further comprises a signal port for receiving externally generated categories  user customized tag names, and wherein the processor also stores the externally generated categories  user customized tag names in the memory and the user  control means is further capable of selecting a particular one of the externally generated categories  user customized tag names. 
     
     
       8. An electronic camera as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the externally generated categories  tag names are alphanumeric names. 
     
     
       9. An electronic camera as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the signal port also receives externally generated text strings for one or more of the categories  tag names, and wherein the processor also stores the text strings in the memory with the one or more categories  tag names. 
     
     
       10. An electronic camera as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the signal port also receives externally generated graphics images for one or more of the categories  tag names, and wherein the processor also stores the graphics images in the memory with the one or more categories  tag names. 
     
     
       11. An electronic camera as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the means for generating an output image signal  image file overlays the text strings into the digital image data. 
     
     
       12. An electronic camera as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the means for generating an output image signal  image file overlays the graphics images into the digital image data. 
     
     
       13. An electronic camera as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the memory stores a plurality of default categories  tag names providing a default classification of the image by a set of codes, and wherein the camera further comprises a signal port for receiving externally generated categories  tag names, the processor stores the externally generated categories  tag names in the memory, and the user  control means preferentially accesses the externally generated categories  tag names when they are stored in the memory. 
     
     
       14. An electronic camera as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the processor includes date and time information with the externally generated categories  tag names. 
     
     
       15. An electronic imaging system using an electronic camera as claimed in  claim 7  in combination with a host processor  the external computer, wherein the host processor  external computer provides the externally generated categories  user customized tag names to the signal port. 
     
     
       16. An electronic imaging system as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the output image signal is output to the host processor through the signal port and the host processor includes an application program which identifies images from the categories associated with the digital image data in the output image signal and downloads only the digital image data from one or more selected categories. 
     
     
       17. An electronic camera for capturing images representing a variety of subjects, said camera comprising:
 an image sensor for capturing a particular image;    a converter stage for converting the particular image into digital image data;    a signal port for receiving at least one externally generated category providing classification of the image by subject;    a memory for storing each category provided by the signal port;    a processor having the capability of assigning said at least one category stored in the memory to the images captured by the camera, each category providing subject classification of one or more images;    a user control for selecting a particular category for the selected image; and    means for generating an output image signal comprising an image file including both the digital image data corresponding to the particular image and separate category data including the particular category selected by the user control, wherein the category data is separately accessible for each image apart from the image data.    
     
     
       18. An electronic camera as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the externally generated category is an alphanumeric name. 
     
     
       19. An electronic camera as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the signal port also receives externally a generated text string for the particular category, and wherein the processor also stores the text string in the memory with the particular category. 
     
     
       20. An electronic camera as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the signal port also receives an externally generated graphics image for the particular category, and wherein the processor also stores the graphics image in the memory with the particular category. 
     
     
       21. An electronic camera as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the means for generating an output image signal overlays the text string into the digital image data. 
     
     
       22. An electronic camera as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the means for generating an output image signal overlays the graphics image into the digital image data. 
     
     
       23. An electronic camera as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the memory also stores a plurality of default categories providing a default classification of the image, and wherein the user control preferentially accesses the default categories when the signal port does not receive any externally generated categories. 
     
     
       24. An electronic imaging system using an electronic camera as claimed in  claim 17  in combination with a host processor, wherein the host processor provides each externally generated category to the signal port. 
     
     
       25. An electronic imaging system as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the output image signal is output to the host processor through the signal port and the host processor includes an application program which identifies images from the particular category associated with the digital image data in the output image signal and downloads only the digital image data from the particular category. 
     
     
       26. An electronic camera as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the signal port connects to a  the removable memory card . 
     
     
       27. An electronic imaging system as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the signal port connects to a  the removable memory card , and the host processor  external computer provides the externally generated categories  user customized tag names to the signal port by writing the categories  tag names into the removable memory card . 
     
     
       28. An electronic imaging system as claimed in  claim 15  wherein a cable connection  the cable interface is provided between the signal port and the host processor  external computer, and the host processor  external computer provides the externally generated categories  user customized tag names over the cable connection  interface to the signal port. 
     
     
       29. An electronic camera for capturing images representing a variety of subjects and for providing captured images to an external computer in response to a single computer initiated request, wherein the electronic camera is interconnected to the external computer via a cable interface, said camera comprising:
 an image sensor for capturing the images;  
 a converter stage for converting the images into digital image data;  
 a memory for storing a plurality of categories  two or more tag names providing classification of the images by subject ;  
 control means for selecting one of the stored tag names for each of the images; 
 a processor having the capability of  for assigning the plurality of categories  selected tag names to each of the images captured by the image sensor, wherein each category providing subject  tag name provides classification of one  two or more captured images;  
 a user control for selecting one or more categories for the images before the images are captured by the image sensor; 
 means for storing the digital image data in image files; and  
 means for grouping  storing each of the image files according to the plurality of categories  into a tag name file corresponding to the selected tag name, wherein two or more tag name files are stored and each tag name file stores two or more image files; and  
   means responsive to the computer initiated request for identifying a particular tag name for transferring all of the image files stored in the corresponding tag name file to the external computer via the cable interface .  
 
     
     
       30. A method using an electronic camera for capturing images representing a variety of subjects and for providing captured images to an external computer in response to a single computer initiated request, wherein the electronic camera is interconnected to the external computer via a cable interface, said method comprising the steps of:
 storing a plurality of categories  two or more tag names providing classification of the images by subject ;  
 selecting, by a user control, one of the stored tag names for each of the images; 
 assigning at least one of the plurality of categories  the selected tag names to each of the images before the images are captured by the electronic camera, wherein each category providing subject  tag name provides classification of one  two or more images;  
 capturing the images with the electronic camera;  
 converting the images into digital image data; and  
 generating, by a camera processor, an output image signal comprising an  image file including both  the digital image data corresponding to the captured images and separate category data including the one or more categories selected by the user control, wherein the category data is separately accessible for each image apart from the image data  a separate tag name file for each selected tag name;  
   storing each of the image files into the tag name file corresponding to the selected tag name, wherein the camera stores two or more tag names files with each tag name file storing two or more image files; and    
   identifying, in response to a computer initiated request, a particular tag name and transferring all of the image files stored in the tag name file corresponding to the identified particular tag name to the external computer via the cable interface .  
 
     
     
       31. The electronic camera according to  claim 1  wherein the control means is a user control. 
     
     
       32. The electronic camera according to  claim 29  wherein the control means is a user control. 
     
     
       33. The electronic camera according to  claim 1  wherein the tag name is selected on the computer. 
     
     
       34. The electronic camera according to  claim 33  wherein the tag names are communicated from the electronic camera to the computer via the cable interface, and the at least one particular tag name is selected on the computer and downloaded to the electronic camera via the cable interface. 
     
     
       35. The electronic camera according to  claim 29  wherein the tag name is selected on the computer. 
     
     
       36. The electronic camera according to  claim 35  wherein the tag names are communicated from the electronic camera to the computer via the cable interface, and the at least one particular tag name is selected on the computer and downloaded to the electronic camera via the cable interface.