System to manage digital camera images

A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable process steps to manage files stored on a digital camera in a windowing environment, the process steps comprising:

• a displaying step to display an icon representing a digital camera as a system object in a system object directory;
• a displaying step to display an icon representing a film canister within the digital camera as a sub-folder of the digital camera in the system object directory;
• and
• a displaying step to display each thumbnail image file located in the film canister in response to selection of the film canister.

A user interface for an application for viewing system objects, comprising:

• a first area for displaying a hierarchical tree of system objects, wherein the tree of system objects includes a digital camera object and at least one other system object that corresponds to a storage device, a file system element or an output device of the system;
• and
• a second area for displaying information corresponding to a system object selected in the first area,
• wherein upon selection of the digital camera object in the first area the second area displays a thumbnail of an image stored on the digital camera;
• a third area adjacent to the second area for displaying a sound icon indicating that a sound file is associated with the displayed thumbnail image;
• and
• a fourth area which surrounds the second area and the third area;
• wherein the fourth area may be selected and dragged to an icon representing a storage device in order to copy the displayed thumbnail image an associated full-resolution image file and all associated sound files to the storage device.

A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable process steps to monitor a computer system for connection to an image data storage device, the process steps comprising:

• a detecting step to automatically detect, in the computer system an image data storage device connected to the computer system;
• a receiving step to receive, in response to an automatic detection of a connected image data storage device, thumbnail image files stored in the image data storage device automatically after the image data storage device is detected;
• a storing step to store the received thumbnail image files in a memory;
• a receiving step to receive full-resolution image files from the image data storage device after the thumbnail image files stored in the image data storage device are received;
• and
• a receiving step to receive sound files after the thumbnail image files stored in the image data storage device are received.

A method of monitoring a computer system for connection to an image data storage device, the process comprising the steps of:

• automatically detecting an image data storage device connected to the computer system;
• receiving, in response to an automatic detection, in the computer system, of a connected image data storage device, thumbnail image files stored in the image data storage device automatically after the image data storage device is detected;
• storing the received thumbnail image files in a memory;
• receiving full-resolution image files from the image data storage device after the thumbnail image files stored in the image data storage device are received;
• and
• receiving sound files after the thumbnail image files stored in the image data storage device are received.

Computer-executable program code stored on a computer-readable medium, said computer-executable program code for monitoring a computer system for connection to an image data storage device, said computer-executable program code comprising:

• code to automatically detect, in the computer system, an image storage device connected to the computer system;
• code to receive, in response to an automatic detection of a connected image data storage device, thumbnail image files stored in the image data storage device automatically after the image data storage device is detected;
• code to store the received thumbnail image files in a memory;
• code to receive full-resolution image files from the image data storage device after the thumbnail image files stored in the image data storage device are received;
• and
• code to receive sound files after the thumbnail image files stored in the image data storage device are received.

An apparatus comprising:

• a program memory for storing process steps executable to (1) automatically detect, in the computer system, an image storage device connected to the computer system;
• (2) receive, in response to an automatic detection of a connected image data storage device, thumbnail image files stored in the image data storage device automatically after the image data storage device is detected;
• (3) store the received thumbnail image files in a memory;
• (4) receive full-resolution image files from the image data storage device after the thumbnail image files stored in the image data storage device are received;
• (5) receive sound files after the thumbnail image files stored in the image data storage device are received;
• and
• a processor for executing the process steps stored in said program memory.

A method of monitoring a computer system for connection to a digital camera, the method comprising:

• automatically detecting, in the computer system, a digital camera connected to the computer system;
• receiving, in response to an automatic detection of a connected digital camera, thumbnail image files stored in the digital camera automatically after the digital camera is detected;
• storing the received thumbnail image files in a memory;
• receiving full-resolution image files from the digital camera after the thumbnail image files stored in the digital camera are received;
• and
• receiving sound files after the thumbnail image files stored in the digital camera are received.

A method to manage files stored on a digital camera in a windowing environment, the method comprising:

• displaying an icon representing a digital camera as a system object in a system object directory;
• displaying an icon representing a film canister within the digital camera as a sub-folder of the digital camera in the system object directory;
• and
• displaying each thumbnail image file located in the film canister in response to selection of the film canister.

An apparatus comprising:

• a program memory for storing process steps executable to:
• automatically detect, in the computer system, an digital camera connected to the computer system, receive, in response to an automatic detection of a connected digital camera, thumbnail image files stored in the digital camera automatically after the digital camera is detected, store the received thumbnail image files in a memory, receive full-resolution image files from the digital camera after the thumbnail image files stored in the digital camera are received, and receive sound files after the thumbnail image files stored in the digital camera are received;
• and
• a processor for executing the process steps stored in said program memory.

An apparatus comprising:

• a program memory for storing process steps executable to:
• display an icon representing a digital camera as a system object in a system object directory, display an icon representing a film canister within the digital camera as a sub-folder of the digital camera in the system object directory, and display each thumbnail image file located in the film canister in response to selection of the film canister;
• and
• a processor for executing the process steps stored in said program memory.