Cygnus Systems, Inc., the holder of the '850 patent, has asserted the patent in litigation against Google, Microsoft and Apple alleging their use of document preview icons - thumbnails - in their operating systems and browsers. If successful in this action, this patent may be asserted against other operating systems and browsers. The '850 patent claims continuation from a patent application filed June 12, 1998.
#42FILE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF IMAGE DATA
Applies to Claims 1,16,17,2
Last updated: 3 months ago
Summary / Description
Summary / DescriptionIn a system for file managing image data of an electronic camera, so long as the image data is recorded by the same image pickup apparatus, a peculiar file name which is not overlapped is generated and in order to prevent that a plurality of files of the same name exist, when an electronic camera is connected to a main body of a computer, a storage device in the electronic camera is examined from a host application of the computer, and when a file of a file name including numerical values exceeding a predetermined value is found, a message is displayed for the user in a manner such that after all of the files having the file names which had automatically been formed were transferred to the computer, all of the contents in the storage device are deleted or formatted. When the detachable storage device is loaded or a power source is turned on, if the file having the unique file name which was automatically generated does not exist in the storage device, the numerical values held in the electronic camera are initialized.
 
Basic Information
Type of Prior ArtIssued Patents - US
 
CountryUnited States of America
 
Patent/Application #20020090208
 
Kind CodeUnited States (US) - Patent Appl. Publ. within the ... - A1
 
Patentee NameCanon, K.K.
 
Relevant Pages, Columns, or LinesDescription of Preferred Embod
 
URLhttp://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi...
 
Publication DateOctober 14, 1997
 
Additional InformationDate listed is filing date
 
Notes / To Do
Notes
 
Excerpt
Description of Preferred Embodiment - [0041] In FIG. 3 , an image pickup unit 31 includes a lens and a CCD and generates a photographed image as image data (JPG data). The image pickup unit 31 also simultaneously forms thumbnail image data as a reduction image of the photographed image.
Relevance
Claims
The invention with a plurality of icons and relationships

A method for providing a user interface for accessing a file based on a corresponding icon comprising: storing a plurality of icons in a memory along with a corresponding plurality of references to an underlying file system for storage information for a plurality of files, each icon having an appearance substantially depicting information content from its corresponding file, wherein the plurality of icons were created by capturing automatically one or more graphical representations of one or more portions of information content of an icon's corresponding file while an application was manipulating an icon's corresponding file and include selected portions of the captured one or more graphical representations of the information content; linking an application to each icon based utility on the ability of the application to manipulate the information content of the file corresponding to the icon; providing a window on a display screen for displaying the plurality of icons; invoking the application for manipulating the information content of the file corresponding to the selected icon upon selection of an icon from the plurality of icons in the window; accessing the file designated by the reference to the underlying file system corresponding to the selected icon; and opening the accessed file into the corresponding application.
Relevance
Anticipates automatically generating a thumbnail while the application (image pickup unit) is manipulating the file.
Anticipates automatically generating a thumbnail while the application (image pickup unit) is manipulating the file.
Claim Chart
All
Application generated graphical icon

The method of Claim 1, wherein capturing a graphical representation is initiated by a user input command while the application manipulating the one or more computer files are active.
Relevance
Anticipates automatically generating a thumbnail while the application (image pickup unit) is manipulating the file.
Anticipates automatically generating a thumbnail while the application (image pickup unit) is manipulating the file.
Claim Chart
All
Graphical representation of files and method for accessing

A method of accessing one or more computer files via a graphical icon, comprising the steps of: capturing automatically one or more graphical representations of one or more portions of information content of one or more computer files while an application is manipulating the one or more computer files; creating automatically an icon including selected portions of the captured one or more graphical representations of the information content of the one or more computer files wherein the icon graphically depicts at least a portion of the information content from the one or more computer files and wherein the icon is created while the application was manipulating the icon's corresponding one or more computer files and includes selected portions of the captured one or more graphical representations of the information content; linking the icon to the application and to the one or more computer files based on the ability of the application to manipulate the information content of the one or more computer files corresponding to the icon; storing the icon in a memory; displaying the icon in a window on a display screen; invoking the application for manipulating the information content of the one or more computer files upon selection of the icon by accessing the more or more computer files by reference to an underlying file system corresponding to the icon and opening the one or more computer files within the application.
Relevance
Anticipates automatically generating a thumbnail while the application (image pickup unit) is manipulating the file.
Anticipates automatically generating a thumbnail while the application (image pickup unit) is manipulating the file.
Claim Chart
All
Storing information on plural icon/application relationship

The method of Claim 16, wherein the step of storing a plurality of icons in a memory further comprises storing data related to an application for manipulating the corresponding file along with each of the plurality of icons and wherein the step of invoking the application corresponding to the selected icon comprises invoking an application based on the corresponding stored data related to the application.
Relevance
Anticipates automatically generating a thumbnail while the application (image pickup unit) is manipulating the file.
Anticipates automatically generating a thumbnail while the application (image pickup unit) is manipulating the file.
Claim Chart
All