I wasn't sure if this is a hardware or software question, so I thought it should go here. I just got 2 digital picture frames very cheap because Walmart is getting rid of everything they have before they move 500 feet to their new store. Anyway, I want to find out what the processor is controlling them and then dump the firmware so it can be patched for a live video feed. I am just not sure where to begin. The program on the frame is for windows of course, so my Debian box just treats it like a mass storage device. Is there a nice way I can send a command out the USB port and get a response with a memory dump or a name at least?

Without knowing anything about the hardware or firmware details my first guess would be probably not.
You are going to have to dissemble the unit and see. I would say you are going to have to dump the firmware via a jtag connector.