System and device for communicating images

• US 10,124,247 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2014
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Imaizumi, Masahiro, Masaki, Takako
• Primary Examiner(s): Hernandez Hernandez, Nelson D.
• Application Number:
  US14/478,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20140375832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 : using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 : Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 : for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 : with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00965 : using a plug-in memory module, e.g. memory card, memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 : using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2129 : Recording in, or reproducing from, a specific memory area or areas, or recording or reproducing at a specific moment
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 : using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 : Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 : Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/216 : Arrangements for recording on different types of storage medium, e.g. IC card or magnetic tape; Recording on a plurality of storage media
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 : of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 : Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 : Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 : Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 : Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/95 : Computational photography systems, e.g. light-field imaging systems

Abstract

An example system includes at least one a first device and at least one second device. The first device includes a camera; memory for storing user-configurable name information and a picture captured by the camera; and communication circuitry for wirelessly transmitting the name information. The second device includes communication circuitry for wirelessly receiving the name information; a display controller for controlling display of a name based on the received name information; and a user interface for receiving, while the name is displayed, a user-supplied request for picture reception. The communication circuitry of the first device transmits the stored picture to the second device based on the picture reception request and the communication circuitry of the second device receives the transmitted picture.

Claims

1. A system including at least one first multifunction device and at least one second multifunction device,

the first multifunction device comprising:

a camera;

a display controller;

memory configured to store user-configurable first user name information and a picture captured by the camera; and

communication circuitry configured to wirelessly transmit the first user name information to unspecified devices, and the second multifunction device comprising;

communication circuitry configured to wirelessly receive the first user name information;

a display controller configured to control display of a user name based on the received first user name information; and

a user interface configured to receive, while the user name is displayed, a user-supplied request for picture reception,

wherein the communication circuitry of the first multifunction device is configured to transmit the stored picture to the second multifunction device based on the picture reception request and the communication circuitry of the second multifunction device is configured to receive the transmitted picture,

wherein the communication circuitry of the first multifunction device is configured to receive second user name information from the second multifunction device to which the picture reception request is supplied and the display controller of the first multifunction device is configured to control display of one or more user names based on the received second user name information, and

wherein the communication circuitry of the first multifunction device is configured to transmit data representing the stored picture along with the first user name information, the display controller of the second multifunction device is configured to control display of the data representing the picture and the user name, and the user interface of the second multifunction device is configured to receive the picture reception request while the data representing the picture and the user name are displayed.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first multifunction device further comprises a display and the display controller of the first multifunction device is configured to control display of status information about transmitting the picture on the display of the first device.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second multifunction device further comprises a display and the display controller of the second multifunction device is configured to control display of status information about receiving the picture on the display of the second multifunction device.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the user interface of the second multifunction device comprises a touchscreen display, the display controller is configured to control display of the name on the touchscreen display, and the picture reception request comprises an input to the touchscreen display.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the memory of the first multifunction device is configured to store multiple pictures captured by the camera, the first multifunction device further comprises a user interface configured to receive at least one user-supplied picture selection input for selecting a stored picture, and the communication circuitry of the first multifunction device is configured to transmit the at least one selected picture.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the user interface of the first multifunction device comprises a touchscreen display configured to display multiple selection items, each selection item corresponding to one of the pictures stored in the memory of the first multifunction device, and wherein each of the at least one picture selection inputs comprises a touch input to the touchscreen display for selecting a corresponding one of the selection items.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein each selection item comprises a thumbnail of the corresponding picture.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the selection items are arranged in an array.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein the display of selection items is scrollable in response to a scroll input to the touchscreen display.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communication circuitry of the first multifunction device and the communication circuitry of the second multifunction device are configured for near-field wireless communication.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first multifunction device and the multifunction second device are each portable.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communication circuitry of the first multifunction device and the communication circuitry of the second multifunction device are configured to allow direct communication between the first and second multifunction devices.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first multifunction device is configured to search for other multifunction devices and the second multifunction device is a multifunction device found during the search, and wherein communication circuitry of the first multifunction device transmits the stored picture to those ones of the second multifunction devices found during the search, to which a picture reception request is supplied.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the communication circuitry of the first multifunction device is configured to broadcast data during the search.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the communication circuitry of the first multifunction device is configured to receive broadcast data during the search.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first multifunction device further comprises a user interface configured to enable selecting of at least one of the displayed names and the communication circuitry of the first multifunction device is configured to transmit the stored picture to each second multifunction device associated with a selected name.

17. A system comprising a first multifunction device and a second multifunction device,

the first multifunction device comprising:

a camera;

a touchscreen display;

memory configured to store user-configurable first user name information and a picture captured by the camera;

communication circuitry configured to wirelessly transmit the first user name information to unspecified devices; and

processing circuitry, and

the second multifunction device comprising;

communication circuitry configured to wirelessly receive the first user name information;

a touchscreen display; and

processing circuitry configured to control the touchscreen display to display a user name based on the received first user name information and to receive, while the user name is displayed, a user-supplied request for picture reception,

wherein the communication circuitry of the first multifunction device is configured to transmit the stored picture to the second multifunction device based on the picture reception request and the communication circuitry of the second multifunction device is configured to receive the transmitted picture,

wherein the communication circuitry of the first multifunction device is configured to receive second user name information from the second multifunction device to which a picture reception request is supplied and the processing circuitry of the first multifunction device is configured to control display of a user name on the touchscreen display of the first multifunction device based on the received second user name information, and

wherein the communication circuitry of the first multifunction device is configured to transmit data representing the stored picture along with the first user name information and the processing circuitry of the second multifunction device is configured to control display of the data representing the picture and the user name and to receive the picture reception request while the data representing the picture and the user name are displayed.

18. A system including at least a portable first multifunction device and a second portable multifunction device,

the first portable multifunction device comprising:

a camera;

a touchscreen display;

memory configured to store user-configurable first user name information and a picture captured by the camera;

near-field communication circuitry configured to transmit the first user name information to unspecified portable multifunction devices; and

processing circuitry, and

the second portable multifunction device comprising;

near-field communication circuitry configured to receive the first user name information;

a touchscreen display; and

processing circuitry configured to control display of a user name based on the received first user name information and to receive, while the user name is displayed, a user-supplied request for picture reception,

wherein the near-field communication circuitry of the second portable multifunction device is configured to transmit a reception request to the first portable multifunction device based on the picture reception request, the near-field communication circuitry of the first portable multifunction device is configured to receive the reception request and to transmit the stored picture to the second portable multifunction device based on the reception request, and the near-field communication circuitry of the second portable multifunction device is configured to receive the transmitted picture,

wherein the near-field communication circuitry of the second portable multifunction device to which the reception request is supplied is configured to transmit second user name information to the first portable multifunction device in addition to the reception request, the near field communication circuitry of the first portable multifunction device is configured to receive the second user name information from the second portable multifunction device, and the processing circuitry of the first portable multifunction device is configured to control display of a user name on the touchscreen display of the first portable multifunction device based on the received second user name information, and

wherein the near-field communication circuitry of the first portable multifunction device is configured to transmit data representing the stored picture along with the first user name information and the processing circuitry of the second portable multifunction device is configured to control display on the touchscreen display of the second portable multifunction device of the data representing the picture and the user name and to receive the picture reception request while the data representing the picture and the user name are displayed on the touchscreen display of the second portable multifunction device.

19. A system comprising a first multifunction device and at least one second multifunction device,

the first multifunction device comprising:

a camera;

memory configured to store user-configurable first user name information and one or more pictures captured by the camera;

communication circuitry configured for local wireless communication;

a touchscreen display; and

processing circuitry operatively coupled to the camera, the memory, the communication circuitry, and the touchscreen display, the processing circuitry configured to control the communication circuitry to transmit the first user name information to unspecified multifunction devices, and

each second multifunction device comprising;

communication circuitry configured for local wireless communication;

a touchscreen display; and

processing circuitry operatively coupled to the communication circuitry and the touchscreen display, the processing circuitry configured to control the communication circuitry to receive the first user name information from the first multifunction device, controlling the touchscreen display to display a user name based on the received first user name information, and controlling the communication circuitry to transmit a picture reception request to the first multifunction device in response to a user-supplied input to the touchscreen display while the user name is displayed,

wherein the communication circuitry of the first multifunction device is configured to receive the picture reception request and the processing circuitry of first multifunction device is configured to control the communication circuitry of the first multifunction device to transmit a stored picture to the second multifunction device based on the received picture reception request,

wherein the communication circuitry of the second multifunction device is configured to receive the transmitted picture,

wherein the communication circuitry of the first multifunction device is configured to receive second user name information from each second multifunction device to which a picture reception request is supplied and the processing circuitry of the first multifunction device is configured to control display of one or more user names based on the received second user name information on the touchscreen display of the first multifunction device, and

wherein the communication circuitry of the first multifunction device is configured to transmit data representing the stored picture along with the first user name information, the processing circuitry of the second multifunction device is configured to control display of the data representing the picture and the user name and to receive the picture reception request while the data representing the picture and the user name are displayed.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the processing circuitry of the first multifunction device is configured to control display on the touchscreen display of the first multifunction device of status information about transmitting the picture.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein the processing circuitry of the second multifunction device is configured to control display on the touchscreen display of the second multifunction device of status information about receiving the picture.

22. A multifunction device comprising:

a camera;

memory configured to store user-configurable first user name information and one or more pictures captured by the camera;

wireless communication circuitry configured for local wireless communication;

a touchscreen display; and

processing circuitry operatively coupled to the camera, the memory, the wireless communication circuitry, and the touchscreen display, the processing circuitry being configured to control the multifunction device to perform operations comprising;

transmitting, via the wireless communication circuitry, the first user name information to unspecified multifunction devices;

receiving, from each of one or more other multifunction devices to which a picture reception request is supplied based on receiving the transmitted user name information, via the wireless communication circuitry, a reception request and user-configurable second user name information;

displaying one or more user names on the touchscreen display based on the second user name information;

receiving input for selecting at least one of the displayed user names; and

transmitting the stored picture to each other device associated with a selected user name,

wherein the processing circuitry is configured control the multifunction device to transmit data representing a stored picture along with the first user name information.

23. The device according to claim 22, further comprising:

a speaker, wherein

the memory is further configured to store audio data, and

the processing circuitry is further configured to control the multifunction device to playback audio data selected from the memory and control output of the played-back audio data via the speaker.