Television – Camera – system and detail – Combined image signal generator and general image signal...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-29
2004-08-10
Garber, Wendy R. (Department: 2612)
Television
Camera, system and detail
Combined image signal generator and general image signal...
C348S231200, C348S333020, C386S349000, C396S312000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06774939
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a method and device for recording and playing back images having audio information associated with the images. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and device for recording an image and associating one or more audio files with specific portions of the image so that during image playback an audio file associated with the specific portion of the image can be played back by selecting the specific portion on the image. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method and device for recording audio information and associating one or more image files with an audio file so that during playback of the audio file the image files can be played back in an ordered sequence.
Digital cameras capable of recording sound have come onto the market in recent years. For example, the KODAK™ DC260 and DC220 digital cameras allow a user to capture an image to produce an image file and to record audio content that can be attached to the image file. Information such as the recording date, the recording location, the photographers name, a description of the event, and other information can be recorded and stored as an audio file. However, with conventional digital cameras, only one audio file can be attached per image. Additionally, if one desires to append an audio recording to an existing audio file, the conventional digital camera will erase the existing audio file and replace it with the appended audio information. Essentially, the initial audio information is erased when further audio information is attached to the image.
Therefore, one disadvantage with prior art digital cameras is that only one audio file can be attached to a single image file. If a user wishes to record subsequent audio content to be appended to the audio file, the result is that the audio file is overwritten by the subsequently recorded content. Resulting are the following problems with image capture and audio recording.
First, take for example a case where it is desired to take a photograph of a group of people and to simultaneously record a message spoken by each person in the photograph. Using the prior art digital camera, for instance, the photograph is taken and the messages from the people in the photograph are recorded one after another. Because the image data and the audio information are recorded at the same time, problems can occur during the playback of the image and the audio information. For example, during playback you must listen to the messages of all the people in the photograph even though you only want to hear the message of a single person. Furthermore, during playback it can be difficult to determine who a message is coming from unless each person includes an introduction with his message.
Consequently, there is a need to play back audio information attached to image data with greater selectivity. For example, in the case where the listener is interested in hearing the message of a specific person in the photograph, the listener can select that person's image and hear the playback of that person's message. Similarly, if the listener desires only to hear the messages of three of the people in the photograph, then the listener needs only to select their respective images to hear the playback of their respective messages.
Second, in a case where a series of related subjects are photographed while audio information relating to each subject is being recorded, the prior art required the audio information for each subject be stored in an audio file that is attached to its related image file. Therefore, as each subject is photographed the audio information for that subject must be recorded and stored in a separate audio file. Accordingly, if the order in which the images are played back is changed, or if the data for a certain image is skipped, the audio information may not make sense when it is played back. Consequently, when the photographed images are played back, the audio information cannot be reproduced correctly unless the image data is played back in the correct order.
Accordingly, there is a need to synchronize the playback of the images so that the order of image playback is consistent with the content of the audio information. For example, if the images relate to a sophisticated piece of machinery and the audio information relates to how to fix the machinery, by synchronizing the order of image playback the audio information on how to fix the machine is played back in a manner consistent with the order in which the images were photographed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves the first problem by associating one or more audio files with an image file. The association between the audio files and the image file is accomplished by assigning an audio file attachment position to each audio file. The audio file attachment position includes coordinate information about a specific portion of the image. For example, a user can select one or more specific portions of the image using a cursor, and for each specific portion selected, the user can record audio information corresponding to that specific portion. Resulting is one audio file for each specific portion selected by the user and each audio file has an assigned audio file attachment position. The audio file name and audio file attachment position can be included in the image file.
During playback of the image file the user once again uses the cursor to select one of the previously selected specific portions. The audio file associated with that selection is then played back. For instance, after a group of people have been photographed, the cursor is moved to the position of one of the members of the group to select that member. The voice of that member is recorded to generate an audio file. The audio file attachment position is recorded in the image file. The selection and audio recording steps can be repeated for each member of the group. During playback, the image is displayed on the monitor and the user moves the cursor to the position of one of the members to select that member. The audio file for the selected member is then played back.
Other applications for playback of audio files associated with one or more positions on an image include retrieving an image from a data source such as the Internet or a wireless network, and displaying the image on a monitor. The monitor can be connected to a PC, a PDA, a laptop PC, or a palmtop PC, for example. For example, the image displayed on the monitor could include a model wearing articles to be sold. Selecting the shoes of the model using a cursor, for example, triggers playback of an audio file that contains audio information related to the shoes, such as the manufacturer's name, the size of the shoe, available shoe sizes, the model name for the shoe, and delivery dates for the shoe. Selecting a jacket worn by the model triggers playback of information about the jacket. A description of a pair of sunglasses worn by the model can be heard by selecting the sunglasses.
The present invention solves the second problem by associating a single audio file with one or more image files. Timing information is assigned to each image file. The timing information includes an image playback start time and an image playback end time. Each image file is associated with the audio file using an image file identifier. The image file identifier includes the image file name and the timing information assigned to the image file. The file identifiers can be stored in the audio file.
One or more images are captured by a user as audio information about each image is being recorded to generate the audio file. An image file is generated for each captured image and each image file has an associated image file identifier. When the audio file is played back, the image files are played back in a sequence determined by their image playback start time and image playback end time. Therefore, if images one, two, and three are captured during the audio recording, then upon playback of the audio file, image one is pla
Denny, II Trueman H.
Garber Wendy R.
Hewlett--Packard Development Company, L.P.
Ye Lin
LandOfFree
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