Method and system for integrating an application user interface with a digital camera user interface

A method for integrating a digital camera user interface with a user interface of an application program running in the digital camera, the digital camera including a display, a first button having a first orientation, and a second button having a second orientation, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing the digital camera with at least two operating modes, wherein when the digital camera is placed into at least one of the operating modes, mode-specific items corresponding to that mode are displayed on the display by;
• a1) displaying mode-specific items in the display such that all the mode-specific items are displayed in an alignment that is mapped to the orientation of the first button to create a mapped navigation button,
• a2) scrolling the mode-specific items in response to a user pressing the mapped navigation button wherein the display indicates which of the mode-specific items is a currently selected item, and wherein the mode-specific items are scrolled-off the display and replaced by new mode-specific items;
• a3) displaying additional information corresponding to the selected image in the display in a location that is offset from the active item in a direction of orientation corresponding to that of the second button;
• b) executing the application program on the digital imaging device for applying a plurality of effects to a selected image stored in the digital imaging device;
• and
• c) in response to executing the application program on the digital imaging device,
• c1) automatically applying each one of the plurality of effects to the selected image to provide a plurality of real-time preview results,
• c2) displaying the plurality of real-time preview results as a set of application specific items in the display such that all the application specific items are displayed in an alignment that is mapped to the orientation of the mapped navigation button,
• c3) scrolling the application-specific items in response to a user pressing the mapped navigation button wherein the display indicates which of the application-specific items is a currently selected effect, and wherein the application specific items are scrolled-off the display and replaced by new application specific items,
• c4) applying the selected effect to the selected image to create a large thumbnail, and
• c5) displaying the large thumbnail in the display in a location that is offset from the aligned set of application-specific items in a direction of orientation corresponding to that of the second button, wherein the user navigates both the operating modes digital camera and the application program in substantially the same manner, thereby improving ease of use of the digital camera.

A computer-readable medium containing program instructions for integrating a user interface of a digital camera having a display, a first button having a first orientation, and a second button having a second orientation, the program instructions for:

• a) executing an application program on the digital camera that applies a plurality of effects to a selected image to provide a plurality of real-time preview results;
• b) displaying the plurality of real-time preview results as an aligned set of thumbnail images in the display to thereby provide a real-time preview of each type of effect applied to the selected image, wherein all the thumbnail images are displayed in an alignment that is mapped to the orientation of the first button to create a mapped navigation button;
• c) scrolling the thumbnail images in response to a user pressing the mapped navigation button wherein the display indicates which of the thumbnail images is a currently selected effect, and wherein the thumbnail images are scrolled-off the display and replaced by new thumbnail images;
• d) applying the selected effect to the selected image to create a large modified thumbnail image and displaying the large modified thumbnail image in the display in a location that is offset from the aligned set of thumbnail images in a direction of orientation corresponding to that of the second button;
• and
• e) providing the digital camera with multiple operating modes, wherein when the digital camera is in at least one of the operating modes the user navigates both the application program and the operating mode in substantially the same manner, thereby improving ease-of-use of the digital camera.

A system for integrating a digital camera user interface with a user interface of an application, comprising:

• an application program containing program instructions for applying a plurality of effects to digital images;
• and
• a digital camera including,
• an image device for capturing image data;
• a memory coupled to the imaging device for storing the image data as captured images,
• a display,
• a first set of navigation buttons having a first orientation,
• a second set of navigation buttons having a second orientation,
• multiple operating modes for supporting a plurality of digital imaging device functions, and
• a processor coupled to the image device, the memory, the display and to the first and second set of navigation buttons for controlling operation of the digital imaging device and the multiple operating modes wherein when the digital camera is placed into at least one of the operating modes, the processor displays the user interface of the digital camera by;
• displaying mode-specific items corresponding to that mode such that all of the mode-specific items are displayed in an alignment that is mapped to the orientation of the first set of navigation buttons,
• scrolling the mode-specific items in response to a user pressing the first set of navigation buttons wherein the display indicates which of the mode-specific items is a currently selected item, and wherein the mode-specific items are scrolled-off the display and replaced by new mode-specific items, and
• displaying additional information corresponding to the selected image in the display in a location that is offset from the active item in a direction of orientation corresponding to that of the second set of navigation buttons,
• wherein when the user selects one of the captured images and invokes the application program, the processor displays the user interface of the application program such that a user navigates both the operating modes and the application program in substantially the same manner by,
• automatically applying each one of the plurality of effects to the selected image to provide a plurality of real-time preview results,
• displaying the plurality of real-time preview results as a set of application specific items in the display such that all the application specific items are displayed in an alignment that is mapped to the orientation of first set of navigation buttons,
• scrolling the application-specific items in response to the user pressing first set of navigation buttons wherein the display indicates which of the application-specific items is a currently selected effect, and wherein the application specific items are scrolled-off the display and replaced by new application specific items,
• applying the selected effect to the selected image to create a large thumbnail, and
• displaying the large thumbnail in the display in a location that is offset from the aligned set of application-specific items in a direction of orientation corresponding to that of the second set of navigation buttons.