Camera supporting removable storage divided into multiple partitions

Abstract

A camera that supports removable storage divided into multiple partitions is configured to write files to removable storage that is formatted into journaled and non-journaled partitions. The journaled partition uses a journaling file system and the non-journaled partition uses a non-journaling file system that is supported natively by an operating system, such as the operating system of a desktop computer. The non-journaled partition has stored on it computer program code executable by a processor to use the operating system to access files stored on the journaled partition. The camera may also be configured to partition the removable storage into the journaled and non-journaled partitions. The camera writes data to the journaled partition. This permits the processor to access the files stored on the journaled partition by the camera even if the operating system does not natively support the journaled partition.

1 . A camera, comprising:
 (a) a camera body comprising an aperture to permit light to enter the camera body;   (b) an image sensor located within the camera body and positioned to receive at least some of the light entering the camera body;   (c) removable media circuitry configured to write to removable storage that is formatted to comprise:
 (i) a journaled partition that uses a journaling file system; and 
 (ii) a non-journaled partition that uses a non-journaling file system supported natively by an operating system, wherein the non-journaled partition has stored thereon computer program code executable by a processor to use the operating system to access files stored on the journaled partition; and 
   (d) processing circuitry, communicatively coupled to the image sensor and the removable media circuitry, configured to store files to the journaled partition using the journaling file system.   
     
     
         2 . The camera of  claim 1  wherein all usable capacity of the removable storage is allocated entirely to the journaled and non-journaled partitions. 
     
     
         3 . The camera of  claim 1  wherein the processing circuitry does not write or erase data from the non-journaled partition. 
     
     
         4 . The camera of  claim 1  wherein the journaled partition has a larger capacity than the non-journaled partition. 
     
     
         5 . The camera of  claim 1  wherein the camera is a security camera. 
     
     
         6 . A camera, comprising:
 (a) a camera body comprising an aperture to permit light to enter the camera body;   (b) an image sensor located within the camera body and positioned to receive at least some of the light entering the camera body;   (c) removable media circuitry, wherein the removable media circuitry is configured to write to removable storage; and   (d) processing circuitry, communicatively coupled to the image sensor and the removable media circuitry, configured to perform a method comprising:
 (i) partitioning the removable storage to comprise a journaled partition that uses a journaling file system and a non-journaled partition that uses a non-journaling file system supported natively by an operating system; and 
 (ii) storing on the non-journaled partition computer program code executable by a processor to use the operating system to access files stored on the journaled partition. 
   
     
     
         7 . The camera of  claim 6  wherein all usable capacity of the removable storage is allocated entirely to the journaled and non-journaled partitions. 
     
     
         8 . The camera of  claim 6  wherein the processing circuitry is further configured not to write or erase data from the non-journaled partition following storing the computer program code on it. 
     
     
         9 . The camera of  claim 6  wherein the processing circuitry is further configured, following partitioning the removable storage, to store one or more of video files derived from the light incident on the image sensor, audio files, and still images. 
     
     
         10 . The camera of  claim 6  wherein the journaled partition has a larger capacity than the non-journaled partition. 
     
     
         11 . The camera of  claim 6  wherein the method further comprises, prior to partitioning the removable storage:
 (a) determining whether the removable storage comprises only a first initial partition that uses the non-journaling file system and whether the first initial partition is empty; and 
 (b) when the removable storage comprises only the first initial partition and the first initial partition is empty, erasing the first initial partition. 
 
     
     
         12 . The camera of  claim 6  wherein the method further comprises, prior to partitioning the removable storage:
 (a) determining whether the removable storage comprises only a first initial partition that uses the non-journaling file system and a second initial partition that uses the journaling file system; and 
 (b) when the removable storage does not comprise only the first and second initial partitions, prompting a user to confirm the partitioning is to proceed and commencing the partitioning after receiving user confirmation. 
 
     
     
         13 . The camera of  claim 12  wherein the method further comprises, prior to partitioning the removable storage:
 (a) when the removable storage comprises only the first and second initial partitions, determining the size of the first initial partition; and 
 (b) when the size of the first initial partition does not equal a fixed non-journaled partition size, prompting the user to confirm the partitioning is to proceed and commencing the partitioning after receiving user confirmation. 
 
     
     
         14 . The camera of  claim 13  wherein the method further comprises, prior to partitioning the removable storage:
 (a) when the size of the first initial partition equals the journaled partition size, determining whether the computer program code is present on the second initial partition; and 
 (b) when the computer program code is absent from the second initial partition, prompting the user to confirm the partitioning is to proceed and commencing the partitioning after receiving user confirmation. 
 
     
     
         15 . The camera of  claim 14  wherein the method further comprises, prior to partitioning the removable storage:
 (a) when the computer program code is present on the second initial partition, determining whether all usable capacity of the removable storage is allocated entirely to the first and second initial partitions; and 
 (b) when the capacity of the removable storage is not allocated entirely to the first and second initial partitions, prompting the user to confirm the partitioning is to proceed and commencing the partitioning after receiving user confirmation. 
 
     
     
         16 . The camera of  claim 6  wherein the camera is a security camera. 
     
     
         17 . A method for partitioning removable storage for a camera, the method comprising:
 (a) determining whether the removable storage is connected to the camera;   (b) when the removable storage is connected to the camera, using the camera to:
 (i) partition the removable storage to comprise a journaled partition that uses a journaling file system and a non-journaled partition that uses a non-journaling file system supported natively by an operating system; and 
 (ii) store on the non-journaled partition computer program code executable by a processor to use the operating system to access files stored on the journaled partition. 
   
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having encoded thereon statements and instructions to cause a camera to partition removable storage for the camera by performing a method comprising:
 (a) determining whether the removable storage is connected to the camera; and   (b) when the removable storage is connected to the camera, using the camera to:
 (i) partition the removable storage to comprise a journaled partition that uses a journaling file system and a non-journaled partition that uses a non-journaling file system supported natively by an operating system; and 
 (ii) store on the non-journaled partition computer program code executable by a processor to use the operating system to access files stored on the journaled partition.