# US 2006/0125935 A1 · System and method for automatic format selection for digital photographs

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- Number: US 2006/0125935 A1
- Document ID: US20060125935A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 11/010,984
- Filed: 2004-12-13
- Published: 2006-06-15
- Earliest claimed: 2004-12-13
- Assignees: Nokia Corporation
- Inventors: Marko Torvinen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20060125935A1

## CPC

- H04N 1/00005: {relating to image data}
- H04N 1/00: Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N 1/00039: {Analysis, i.e. separating and studying components of a greater whole}
- H04N 1/0005: {in service, i.e. during normal operation}
- H04N 1/00063: {using at least a part of the apparatus itself, e.g. self-testing}
- H04N 1/00082: {Adjusting or controlling (interrupting an operation H04N1/00915; inhibiting an operation H04N1/00925)}
- H04N 1/2112: {using still video cameras}
- H04N 5/76: Television signal recording
- H04N 2101/00: Still video cameras
- H04N 2201/212: Selecting different recording or reproducing modes, e.g. high or low resolution, field or frame
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A system and method for automatically determine whether an image captured by a digital camera should be stored in a raw format or a compressed format. After an image is captured by the digital camera, the digital camera checks certain sets of characteristics of the captured image to check the image quality. If the image quality falls within an acceptable range, then the digital camera saves the image in a compressed format. If the captured image does not fall within predetermined quality levels, then the captured image is save in raw format for later processing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for saving an image on a digital camera, comprising the steps of:
capturing an image;
automatically determining whether the captured image meets predetermined criteria;
if the captured image does not fall within the predetermined criteria, saving the image to a memory unit in a first form;
if the captured image does fall within the predetermined criteria, saving the image to the memory unit in a second form.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first form comprises a raw, uncompressed form, and wherein the second form comprises a compressed form.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein if the captured image does fall within the predetermined criteria, the image is compressed into a .jpg format.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of capturing the image involves using at least one lens to focus the image onto at least one image sensor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one image sensor comprises a charge coupled device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one image sensor comprises a complementary metal oxide semiconductor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of, after capturing the image, calculating a histogram of the captured image, wherein the histogram is used to determine whether the captured image meets the predetermined criteria.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria are modifiable by a user.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria include criteria concerning whether the captured image is underexposed.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria include criteria concerning whether the white balance in the captured image is within a satisfactory range.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transferring the captured image to a remote terminal.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of, if the captured image is saved to the memory unit in raw form, using third party software to process the raw captured image.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the raw captured image is processed at a remote terminal.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the raw captured image is processed within the digital camera.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically determining whether the captured image meets predetermined criteria can be enabled and disabled through a user profile in the digital camera.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of repairing deficiencies in the captured image.

### Claim 17

A computer program product for saving an image on a digital camera, comprising the steps of:
computer code for capturing an image;
computer code for automatically determining whether the captured image meets predetermined criteria;
computer code for, if the captured image does not fall within the predetermined criteria, saving the image to a memory unit in a first form;
computer code for, if the captured image does fall within the predetermined criteria, saving the image to the memory unit in a second form.

### Claim 18

A device for taking digital images, comprising:
a housing;
a lens positioned within the housing for focusing an image;
a sensor unit receiving the image focused by the lens; and
a memory unit operatively connected to the processor, the memory unit including:
computer code for automatically determining whether the image meets predetermined criteria;
computer code for, if the image does not fall within the predetermined criteria, saving the image to a memory unit in a first form;
computer code for, if the image does fall within the predetermined criteria, saving the image to the memory unit in a second form.