Modular digital image processing via an image processing chain with modifiable parameter controls

Abstract

Aspects for allowing variably controlled alteration of image processing of digital image data in a digital image capture device include forming an image processing chain with two or more image processors to process digital image data, and providing one or more parametric controls within each of the two or more image processors. The aspects further include accessing chosen controls of the one or more parametric controls to modify the two or more image processors for alteration of the image processing.

1. A method for allowing variably controlled alteration of image processing of digital image data in a digital image capture device, the method comprising:
 forming an image processing chain with two or more image processors, the two or more image processors being stored in memory, wherein said processors are software modules and each performing a particular type of image transformation, to process digital image data;  
 providing one or more parametric controls that are uniquely identified and within each of the two or more image processors; and  
 accessing chosen controls of the one or more parametric controls within each of the two or more image processors to modify the two or more image processors for alteration of the image processing.  
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of accessing further comprises altering a default value of the one or more parametric controls. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein the step of altering further comprises setting the default value to a desired value. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2  wherein the step of altering further comprises resetting the default value to a device dependent factory value. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of accessing further comprises determining current values of the one or more parametric controls. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of accessing further comprises determining default values of the one or more parametric controls. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of accessing further comprises determining parametric control capabilities of the one or more parametric controls. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of determining parametric control capabilities further comprises providing values, value types, and device dependent factory default values. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  wherein the two or more image processors further comprise a sharpening image processor and a compression image processor. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein the sharpening image processor provides a sharpening parametric control. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein the sharpening parametric control comprises a range type of control. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9  wherein the compression image processor provides a compression parametric control and a color specification control. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  wherein the compression parametric control comprises an enumerated list type of control. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12  wherein the color specification parametric control comprises a range type of control. 
     
     
       15. A system for allowing variably controlled alteration of image processing of digital image data, the system comprising:
 a digital image capture device, the digital image capture device capable of processing digital image data through two or more image processors, the two or more image processors being stored in memory, wherein said processors are software modules and each performing a particular type of image transformation and having one or more parametric controls that are uniquely identified; and  
 a central processing unit within the digital image capture device and capable of linking the two or more image processors to form an image processing chain, wherein the central processing unit facilitates access of chosen controls of the one or more parametric controls within each of the two or more image processors for modification of the two or more image processors and alteration of the image processing.  
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15  wherein the two or more image processors further comprise a sharpening image processor and a compression image processor. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15  wherein the central processing unit facilitates altering a default value of the one or more parametric controls. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 15  wherein the central processing unit facilitates setting the default value to a desired value. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 15  wherein the central processing unit facilitates resetting the default value to a device dependent factory default value. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 15  wherein the central processing unit facilitates determining current values of the one or more parametric controls. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 15  wherein the central processing unit facilitates determining default values of the one or more parametric controls. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 15  wherein the central processing unit facilitates determining parametric control capabilities of the one or more parametric controls, including values, value types, and device dependent factory default values. 
     
     
       23. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for:
 forming an image processing chain with two or more image processors, the two or more image processors stored in memory, wherein said processors are software modules and each performing a particular type of image transformation, to process digital image data;  
 providing one or more parametric controls that are uniquely identified and within each of the two or more image processors; and  
 accessing chosen controls of the one or more parametric controls within each of the two or more image processors to modify the two or more image processors for alteration of the image processing.  
 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 15  wherein at least one of the parameter controls has a default value that cannot be modified by a user. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 15  wherein a non- transforming image processor is chained between two transforming image processors.   
     
     
       26. A method for allowing variable controlled alteration of image processing of digital image data in a digital image capture device, the method comprising:
   forming an image processing chain with two or more image processors, the two or more image processors being stored in memory, wherein said processors are software modules and each performing a particular type of processing of digital image data;        providing one or more parametric controls that are uniquely identified and within each of the two or more image processors; and        accessing chosen controls of the one or more parametric controls within at least one of the two or more image processors to modify the image processor for alteration of the image processing.     
     
     
       27. A system for allowing variably controlled alteration of image processing of digital image data, the system comprising:
   a digital image capture device, the digital image capture device capable of processing digital image data through two or more image processors, the two or more image processors being stored in memory, wherein said processors are software modules and each performing a particular type of image processing and having one or more parametric controls that are uniquely identified; and        a central processing unit within the digital image capture device and capable of linking the two or more image processors to form an image processing chain, wherein the central processing unit facilitates access of chosen controls of the one or more parametric controls within at least one of the two or more processors for modification of the image processor and alteration of the image processing.     
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 27  wherein at least one of the parameter controls has a default value that cannot be modified by a user. 
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 27  wherein a non- transforming image processor is chained between two transforming image processors.   
     
     
       30. A method of controlling processing of digital image data in a digital image capture device, comprising:
   forming an image processing chain with a plurality of image processors, the plurality of image processors being software modules stored in memory located within the digital image capture device, the image processors each performing a particular type of image processing on the digital image data; and        providing one or more parametric controls within each of the two or more image processors, at least one of the parametric controls accessible by a user of the digital image capture device for modifying at least one of the two or more image processors.     
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 30  further comprising replacing a parametric control value with a user- specified value.   
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 30  further comprising replacing a parametric control value with a default value. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 30  further comprising exchanging a parametric control setting by an external mechanism. 
     
     
       34. A computer- readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:      forming an image processing chain with a plurality of image processors, the plurality of image processors being software modules stored in memory located within the digital image capture device, the image processors each performing a particular type of image transformation on the digital image data; and        providing one or more parametric controls that are uniquely identified and within each of the two or more image processors, at least one of the parametric controls accessible by a user of the digital image capture device for modifying one of the two or more image processors.     
     
     
       35. The computer- readable medium of    claim 34    further comprising replacing a parametric control value with a user - specified value.   
     
     
       36. The computer- readable medium of    claim 34    further comprising replacing a parametric control value with a default value.   
     
     
       37. The computer- readable medium of    claim 34    further comprising exchanging a parametric control setting by an external mechanism.   
     
     
       38. A system for controlling the processing of digital image data, comprising:
   a digital image capture device having an image processing backplane for forming an image processing chain with a plurality of image processors, the plurality of image processors being software modules stored in memory located within the digital image capture device, the image processors each performing a particular type of image processing on the digital image data; and        a parametric control coupled to at least one of the two or more image processors, wherein the parametric control is accessible by a user of the digital capture device for modifying at least one of the two or more image processors.     
     
     
       39. The system of  claim 38  wherein at least one parameter control is from a group of parameter controls comprising sharpening control values, color specification control values and compression control values. 
     
     
       40. The system of  claim 38  wherein at least one of the parameter controls has a default value that cannot be modified by a user. 
     
     
       41. The system of  claim 38  wherein a non- transforming image processor is chained between two transforming image processors.