Method and apparatus for the creation of digital photo albums

Abstract

An apparatus for creating a digital photo album is disclosed. Digital photo albums may be created on the storage media by a method that includes the steps of displaying a group of images, receiving instructions to select a subset of those images and save the subset as an album, compressing the files corresponding to those images and saving the compressed files to the storage medium.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of storing a collection of digital images on a storage medium, comprising the steps of: 
 a) displaying, to a user, a group of images for which corresponding image files are available;    b) prompting the user to select a plurality of selected images from the group;    c) prompting the user to save the selected images to a storage medium as an album of images;    d) receiving an instruction from the user to save the selected images to the storage medium as an album of images;    e) making a copy of each image file that corresponds to the selected images to result in image file copies;    f) compressing the image file copies; and    g) saving, to the storage medium, the image file copies that correspond to the selected images.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of making a contact sheet comprised of a user-selected album title having a font and color selected by the user and including representations of the images contained in the album.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of automatically resizing the image file copies so that the selected images, when displayed, will have a resolution not exceeding a resolution required for optimal viewing on a standard display.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising the steps of: 
 a) prompting the user to make one or more modifications to any of the selected images;  
 b) automatically adjusting the image file copies corresponding to the selected images for which the user makes one or more modifications so that said image file copies result in adjusted image file copies that include the one or more modifications; and  
 c) in the saving step, ensuring that the image file copies that have resulted in adjusted image file copies are saved as adjusted image file copies.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising the step of saving, to the storage medium, a file that contains parameters of the album, wherein the file allows a user to automatically recreate the image album for further duplication or modification.  
     
     
         6 . A computer-readable carrier containing instructions thereon that is capable of instructing a computing device to: 
 a) display, to a user, a group of images for which corresponding image files are available;    b) prompt the user to select a plurality of selected images from the group;    c) prompt the user to save the selected images to a storage medium as an album of images;    d) receive an instruction from the user to save the selected images to the storage medium as an album of images, the instruction comprising a single click of an input device by the user;    e) make a copy of each image file that corresponds to the selected images to result in image file copies;    f) compress the image file copies; and    g) save, to the storage medium, the image file copies that correspond to the selected images.    
     
     
         7 . The carrier of  claim 7 , wherein the instructions are also capable of making a contact sheet image comprised of a user-selected album title having a font and color selected by the user and including representations of the images contained in the album.  
     
     
         8 . The carrier of  claim 7  further comprising the step of automatically resizing the image file copies so that the selected images, when displayed, will have a resolution not exceeding a resolution required for optimal viewing on a standard display.  
     
     
         9 . The carrier of  claim 7 , wherein the instructions are also capable of instructing a computing device to: 
 a) prompt the user to make one or more modifications to any of the selected images;    b) automatically adjust the image file copies corresponding to the selected images for which the user makes one or more modifications so that said image file copies result in adjusted image file copies that include the one or more modifications; and    c) in the saving step, ensure that the image file copies that have resulted in adjusted image file copies are saved as adjusted image file copies.    
     
     
         10 . The carrier of  claim 3  further comprising the step of saving, to the storage medium, a file that contains parameters of the album, wherein the file allows a user to automatically recreate the image album for further duplication or modification.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for the creation of a digital photo album comprising: 
 a) means for displaying, to a user, a group of images for which corresponding image files are available;    b) means for prompting the user to select a plurality of selected images from the group;    c) means for prompting the user to save the selected images to a storage medium as an album of images;    d) means for receiving an instruction from the user to save the selected images to the storage medium as an album of images;    e) means for making a copy of each image file that corresponds to the selected images to result in image file copies;    f) means for compressing the image file copies; and    g) means for saving, to the storage medium, the image file copies that correspond to the selected images.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising means for making a contact sheet comprised of a user-selected album title having a font and color selected by the user and including representations of the images contained in the album.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising means for automatically adjusting the image file copies so that the selected images, when retrieved from the storage medium, will display in sizes and resolutions appropriate for a standard television screen.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a) means for prompting the user to make one or more modifications to any of the selected images;    b) means for automatically adjusting the image file copies corresponding to the selected images for which the user makes one or more modifications so that said image file copies result in adjusted image file copies that include the one or more modifications; and    c) means for ensuring that the image file copies that have resulted in adjusted image file copies are saved as adjusted image file copies.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising means for saving, to the storage medium, a link that allows a user to view the image files that are stored on the storage medium as an album of images.