Capturing digital images to be transferred to a service provider for storage

• US 20010012066A1
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Published: 08/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Joseph Ward, Kenneth A. Parulski, Michael C. Hopwood
• Inventors: Parulski, Kenneth A., Ward, Joseph, Hopwood, Michael C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,057,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/231.99
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0014 via e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00143 Ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00145 from a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00148 Storage information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00151 with selective access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00156 with a group of selected individuals or correspondents
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00161 Viewing or previewing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00167 Processing or editing H04N1/00196 - H04N1/00201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00172 directly from a still digital camera or from a storage medium mounted in a still digital camera H04N1/0018 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00175 from a still image storage medium H04N1/00172, H04N1/0018 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00177 from a user terminal, e.g. personal computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00196 Creation of a photo-montage, e.g. photoalbum H04N1/0019 takes precedence
• 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 1/00212 Attaching image data to computer messages, e.g. to e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00458 : Sequential viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. browsing or scrolling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00962 : Input arrangements for operating instructions or parameters, e.g. updating internal software program loading in general G06F9/445; network-specific protocols involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 : using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 : using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32112 : in a separate computer file, document page or paper sheet, e.g. a fax cover sheet H04N1/32122 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 : attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 : Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0034 : Details of the connection, e.g. connector, interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 : By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0053 : Optical, e.g. using an infrared link
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 : By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 : Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3208 : of an e-mail or network address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 : of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3252 : Image capture parameters, e.g. resolution, illumination conditions, orientation of the image capture device H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 : Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3277 : The additional information being stored in the same storage device as the image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 : the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 : using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

An electronic still camera for capturing images that can be transferred to a service provider for storage is disclosed. The electronic still camera includes an image sensor for capturing a plurality of images of scenes and for producing image signals representative of the corresponding scenes; an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the image signals to produce digital images; and a removable memory card for storing a plurality of digital image files corresponding to the digital images. The electronic still camera also includes an internal memory for storing at least one digital image to be displayed; a processor for controlling the transfer of the digital images from the removable memory card to the internal memory and for producing a utilization file; and a display coupled to the internal memory for displaying at least one digital image. The electronic still camera further includes a user interface for scrolling through the plurality of digital images stored on the removable memory card in order to display and select particular digital images to be transferred to the service provider, wherein the utilization file includes the name of at least one digital image file to be transferred to the service provider and the processor stores the utilization file on the removable memory card separate from the digital image files.

Claims

1. An electronic still camera for capturing images that can be transferred to a service provider for storage, the electronic still camera comprising:

(a) an image sensor for capturing a plurality of images of scenes and for producing image signals representative of the corresponding scenes;

(b) an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the image signals to produce digital images;

(c) a removable memory card for storing a plurality of digital image files corresponding to the digital images;

(d) an internal memory for storing at least one digital image to be displayed;

(e) a processor for controlling the transfer of the digital images from the removable memory card to the internal memory and for producing a utilization file;

(f) a display coupled to the internal memory for displaying at least one digital image; and

(g) a user interface for scrolling through the plurality of digital images stored on the removable memory card in order to display and select particular digital images to be transferred to the service provider, wherein the utilization file includes the name of at least one digital image file to be transferred to the service provider and the processor stores the utilization file on the removable memory card separate from the digital image files.

2. The electronic still camera as claimed in

claim 1

wherein the user interface further enables selection of particular digital image files to be printed, and the utilization file further includes the names of at least one digital image file to be printed by the service provider.

3. The electronic still camera as claimed in

claim 1

further including a communications interface which interfaces to a communications network for transferring the selected digital image files to the service provider.

4. The electronic still camera as claimed in

claim 3

wherein the communications interface includes a transmitter.

5. The electronic still camera as claimed in

claim 4

wherein the transmitter provides a cellular connection.

6. The electronic still camera as claimed in

claim 4

wherein the electronic still camera provides a send command to initiate transfer of the selected digital image files to the service provider using the transmitter.

7. The electronic still camera as claimed in

claim 1

further including a separate docking unit having a modem for transferring the selected digital image files to the service provider.

8. The electronic still camera as claimed in

claim 1

wherein the user interface selects at least one group of users to provide permission to view the images stored by the service provider.

9. The electronic still camera as claimed in

claim 8

wherein the permitted group of users is identified in the utilization file.

10. The electronic still camera as claimed in

claim 1

wherein the utilization file further includes the file type of each digital image file.

11. The electronic still camera as claimed in

claim 10

wherein the file type of at least one digital image file is a JPEG file type.

12. The electronic still camera as claimed in

claim 1

wherein the utilization file further includes a camera owner name and a mailing address of such camera owner.

13. The electronic still camera as claimed in

claim 12

wherein the utilization file further includes a credit card number of the camera owner.

14. A method for capturing digital images to be transferred to a service provider, comprising the steps of:

(a) capturing a plurality of images of scenes and producing image signals representative of the corresponding scenes;

(b) digitizing the image signals to produce digital images;

(c) storing a plurality of digital image files corresponding to the digital images on a removable memory card;

(d) providing a user interface for scrolling through the plurality of digital images stored on the removable memory card in order to display and select particular digital images to be transferred to the service provider;

(e) in response to a user selecting particular digital images to be transferred, producing a utilization file and storing the utilization file on the removable memory card separate from the digital image files, wherein the utilization file identifies at least one digital image file to be transferred to the service provider.

15. The method as claimed in

claim 14

wherein the user interface further enables selection of particular digital image files to be printed, and the utilization file further identifying at least one digital image file to be printed by the service provider.

16. The method as claimed in

claim 14

further including the step of interfacing to a communications network and transferring the selected digital image files to the service provider.

17. The method as claimed in

claim 16

wherein the communications network includes a cellular transmitter.

18. The method as claimed in

claim 14

wherein the utilization file further includes the file type of each digital image file.

19. The method as claimed in

claim 18

wherein the file type of at least one digital image file is a JPEG file type.

20. The method as claimed in

claim 14

wherein the utilization file further includes a camera owner name and a mailing address of such camera owner.

21. The method as claimed in

claim 20

wherein the utilization file further includes a credit card number of the camera owner.