A robust embedded software platform for versatile camera systems

The paper presents a reusable embedded software platform to support multiple functions in digital still cameras (DSCs). The design methodology adopted is to extract the application specific features and device dependant controls from the functional operation modules by a well-defined application program interface (API) and device driver interface (DDI). In order to support high performance applications, the system can simultaneously take still images and instant audio annotation continuously. The audio annotation can be recorded immediately after the picture is taken, and the audio record length is limited only by the maximum memory size of the storage card. In addition, the system also includes high performance software MPEG-4 video/audio recording with an integrated motion stabilization algorithm that performs better than a typical hardware based solution.