System to manage digital camera images

Abstract

A system for managing files stored on a digital camera includes detection of the digital camera, automatic reception of thumbnail image files stored in the camera, and storage of the received thumbnail image files in a memory. The system also includes a user interface for a windowing application for viewing system objects which includes a first area for displaying a hierarchical tree of system objects, a second area for displaying a thumbnail image corresponding to a system object selected in the first area, a third area adjacent to the second area for displaying a second icon indicating that a sound file is associated with the displayed thumbnail image, and a fourth area which surrounds the second area and the third area, wherein the fourth area may be selected and dragged to an icon representing a storage device in order to copy the displayed thumbnail image, a full-resolution image file associated with the displayed thumbnail image, and any associated sound files to the storage device. The second area may be selected and dragged to the icon representing the storage device in order to copy the full-resolution image file to the storage device, and the sound icon may be selected and dragged to the icon representing the storage device in order to copy any sound files associated with the displayed thumbnail image to the storage device.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable process steps to monitor a computer system for connection to a digital camera, the process steps comprising: 
 a detecting step to detect a digital camera connected to the computer system;    a receiving step to receive thumbnail image files stored in the digital camera automatically after the digital camera is detected; and    a storing step to store the received thumbnail image files in a memory.    
     
     
         2 . A computer-readable medium according to  claim 1 , the process steps further comprising: 
 a receiving step to receive full-resolution image files from the digital camera after all thumbnail image files stored in the digital camera are received; and    a receiving step to receive sound files from the digital camera after all full-resolution image file stored in the digital camera are received.    
     
     
         3 . A computer-readable medium according to  claim 1 , the process steps further comprising: 
 a receiving step to receive full-resolution image files from the digital camera after all thumbnail image files stored in the camera are received; and    a receiving step to receive a sound file from the digital camera immediately after a full-resolution image file associated with the sound file is received.    
     
     
         4 . A computer-readable medium according to  claim 2 , wherein the receiving step to receive full-resolution image files comprises a step to receive a selected full-resolution image file immediately after reception of a current full-resolution image file in a case that a thumbnail image file corresponding to the selected full-resolution image file receives focus during reception of the current full-resolution image file.  
     
     
         5 . A computer-readable medium according to  claim 3 , wherein the receiving step to receive full-resolution image files comprises a step to receive a selected full-resolution image file immediately after reception of a current full-resolution image file in a case that a thumbnail image file corresponding to the selected full-resolution image file receives focus during reception of the current full-resolution image file.  
     
     
         6 . A computer-readable medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the process steps further comprise a displaying step to display an icon representing the digital camera while the digital camera is connected to the computer system.  
     
     
         7 . A computer-readable medium according to  claim 6 , the process steps further comprising: 
 a displaying step to display a toolbox window to control camera settings in a case that the icon is selected;    a viewing step to view all thumbnail image files stored in the camera;    a downloading step to download all full-resolution image files stored in the camera;    a printing step to print at least one contact sheet of all thumbnail image files stored in the camera; and    an uploading step to upload all full-resolution image files stored in the camera to an internet service provider.    
     
     
         8 . A computer-readable medium according to  claim 7 , wherein the toolbox window also provides control of downloading and uploading parameters.  
     
     
         9 . A computer-readable medium according to  claim 7 , wherein the downloading step comprises a downloading step to download all thumbnail image files stored in the camera.  
     
     
         10 . A computer-readable medium according to  claim 7 , wherein the downloading step comprises a downloading step to download all sound files stored in the camera.  
     
     
         11 . A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable process steps to provide a digital camera toolbox, the process steps comprising: 
 a displaying step to display a toolbox window, the toolbox window including a settings button, a downloading button, a viewing button, a printing button, and an uploading button;    a controlling step to control settings of a digital camera in a case the settings button is selected;    a viewing step to view all thumbnail image files stored in the camera in a case the viewing button is selected;    a downloading step to download all full-resolution image files stored in the camera in a case the downloading button is selected;    a printing step to print a contact sheet of selected thumbnail image files stored in the camera in a case the printing button is selected; and    an uploading step to upload all full-resolution image files stored in the camera to an internet service provider in a case the uploading button is selected.    
     
     
         12 . A computer-readable medium according to  claim 11 , wherein the controlling step includes a step to control download and upload parameters.  
     
     
         13 . A computer-readable medium according to  claim 11 , wherein the downloading step comprises a downloading step to download all thumbnail image files stored in the camera.  
     
     
         14 . A computer-readable medium according to  claim 11 , wherein the downloading step comprises a downloading step to download all sound files stored in the camera.  
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable process steps to manage files stored on a digital camera in a windowing environment, the process steps comprising: 
 a displaying step to display an icon representing a digital camera as a system object in a system object directory;    a displaying step to display an icon representing a film canister within the digital camera as a sub-folder of the digital camera in the system object directory; and    a displaying step to display each thumbnail image file located in the film canister in response to selection of the film canister.    
     
     
         16 . A computer-readable medium according to  claim 15 , wherein a film canister includes a plurality of photo groups of associated thumbnail image files, full-resolution image files and sound files.  
     
     
         17 . A computer-readable medium according to  claim 15 , the process steps further comprising: 
 a determining step to determine whether a displayed thumbnail image file is associated with a sound file in the selected film canister; and    a displaying step to display an indicator adjacent to the displayed thumbnail image file in a case it is determined that the displayed thumbnail image file is associated with a sound file in the selected film canister.    
     
     
         18 . A user interface for an application for viewing system objects, comprising: 
 a first area for displaying a hierarchical tree of system objects; and    a second area for displaying a thumbnail image corresponding to a system object selected in the first area.    
     
     
         19 . A user interface according to  claim 18 , wherein the second area may be selected and dragged to an icon representing a storage device in order to copy a full-resolution image file associated with the displayed thumbnail image to the storage device.  
     
     
         20 . A user interface according to  claim 18 , wherein the second area may be selected and dragged to an application or to an icon representing the application in order to open a full-resolution image file associated with the displayed thumbnail image in the application.  
     
     
         21 . A user interface according to  claim 18 , further comprising a third area adjacent to the second area for displaying a sound icon indicating that a sound file is associated with the displayed thumbnail image.  
     
     
         22 . A user interface according to  claim 21 , wherein the sound icon may be selected and dragged to an icon representing a storage device in order to copy all sound files associated with the displayed thumbnail image file to the storage device.  
     
     
         23 . A user interface according to  claim 21 , wherein the sound icon may be selected and dragged to an application or to an icon representing the application in order to open all sound files associated with the displayed thumbnail image file in the application.  
     
     
         24 . A user interface according to  claim 21 , further comprising a fourth area which surrounds the second area and the third area, wherein the fourth area may be selected and dragged to an icon representing a storage device in order to copy the displayed thumbnail image, an associated full-resolution image file and all associated sound files to the storage device.  
     
     
         25 . A user interface according to  claim 21 , further comprising a fourth area which surrounds the second area and the third area, wherein the fourth area may be selected and dragged to an application or to an icon representing the application in order to open an associated full-resolution image file in the application.