Method of searching images stored in digital storage device

1. A method of searching for a desired image of a plurality of images stored in a digital storage device, the method comprising:

a) categorizing each image of the plurality of images into a category according to an image characteristic;

a1) subcategorizing each category;

b) displaying a first screen including only a first subset of thumbnail images from a first subcategory on a monitor of the digital storage device, the first subcategory being at least a portion of a first category;

b1) displaying on the monitor a first indicia identifying the subcategory;

b2) displaying on the monitor a second indicia identifying the subset and a total number of subsets in the subcategory;

c) determining if one button of a four-way direction button was pressed together with one of a first and second hot button, the first hot button being operative to change subsets of images being displayed in only an intra-subcategory manner, and the second hot button being operative to change subsets of images being displayed in only an inter-subcategory manner;

d) displaying a second screen including only a second subset of thumbnail images from the first subcategory if, according to step c, the one button of the four-way direction button was pressed with the first hot button;

e) displaying a third screen including only a first subset of thumbnail images from a second subcategory if, according to step c, the one button of the four-way direction button was pressed with the second hot button; and

f) updating, according to step c, at least one of the first indicia to show the second subcategory and the second indicia to show the second subset.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the categorizing step comprises:

detecting a user-actuated signal to enter an image categorizing item select mode;

displaying an image categorizing menu on the monitor; and

receiving a user-setting signal relative to a menu selection from the image categorizing menu; and

grouping the images based on the menu selection.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first indicia is displayed in a first corner of the monitor; and the second indicia is displayed in a second corner of the monitor.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step b2 of displaying a second indicia further comprises:

determining a total number of images in a subcategory;

dividing the total number of images by a predetermined maximum number of images that can be displayed on a screen simultaneously; and

rounding a result of the dividing step to a next whole number.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein step b further comprises displaying a cursor on a thumbnail image of the first subset that is in a first position.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein step d further comprises:

d1) determining if a thumbnail image of the second subset is being displayed in the first position; and

d2) displaying, relative to step d1, the cursor on one of a thumbnail image of the second subset that is in the first position and a last thumbnail image of the second subset.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein step e further comprises:

e1) determining if a thumbnail image of the second subcategory's first subset is being displayed in the first position; and

e2) displaying, relative to step e1, the cursor on one of a thumbnail image of the second subcategory's first subset that is in the first position and a last thumbnail image of the second subcategory.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the four-way direction button consists of an up direction button, a down direction button, a left direction button and a right direction button.

9. A method of searching for a desired image of a plurality of images stored in a digital storage device, the method comprising:

a) categorizing each image of the plurality of images into a category according to an image characteristic;

a1) subcategorizing each category;

b) displaying a first screen including only a first subset of thumbnail images from a first subcategory on a monitor of the digital storage device;

b1) displaying on the monitor a first indicia identifying the subcategory;

b2) displaying on the monitor a second indicia identifying the subset and a total number of subsets in the subcategory;

c) determining if one of a first and second direction button was pressed together with a hot button, the first and second direction buttons being two of four buttons constituting a four-way direction button;

d) determining a number of times that one of the first and second direction button of the four-way direction button was pressed;

e) displaying a second screen including only a second subset of thumbnail images from the first category if, according to step d, one of the first and second direction button of the four-way direction button was pressed one time with the hot button;

f) displaying a third screen including only a first subset of thumbnail images from a second category if, according to step d, one of the first and second direction buttons of the four-way direction button was pressed twice with the hot button; and

g) updating, according to step d, at least one of the first indicia to show the second category and the second indicia to show the second subset.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein step b further comprises displaying a cursor on a thumbnail image of the first subset that is in a first position.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein step e further comprises:

e1) determining if a thumbnail image of the second subset is being displayed in the first position; and

e2) displaying, relative to step e1, the cursor on one of a thumbnail image of the second subset that is in the first position and a last thumbnail image of the second subset.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein step f further comprises:

f1) determining if a thumbnail image of the second subcategory's first subset is being displayed in the first position; and

f2) displaying, relative to step f1, the cursor on one of a thumbnail image of the second subcategory's first subset that is in the first position and a last thumbnail image of the second subcategory.