Methods and apparatus for automatic recording of photograph information into a digital camera or handheld computing device

• US 20020076217A1
• Filed: 12/15/2000
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Spinac, Clifford Jay, Rodriguez, Herman, Smith, Newton James Jr.
• Application Number:
  US09/738,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20020076217A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/72
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00339 with an electronic or magnetic storage medium I/O device RFID or the like H04N1/00342
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• 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 2201/3225 of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3276 of a customised additional information profile, e.g. a profile specific to a user ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission

Abstract

An information system for communication between a digital camera and bidirectional device that is located in proximity to a photographic site is disclosed. In the absence of the digital camera, the bidirectional device may provide communication with a personal digital communication device (PDCD) carried by the photographer. The digital camera may transmit preferences and camera data to the bidirectional device so that customized information, prepared by an information provider, may be automatically transmitted to the digital camera or PDCD or, via the Internet, to the photographer'"'"'s e-mail address. A standardized photographic identification data packet (PIDDP) may be defined for use by the digital camera or the PDCD, for communication with the bidirectional device. The PIDDP may be transmitted by means of radio frequency, infrared, Bluetooth enabled transmission, or any other transmission method. The information system is implemented by a method for automatically recording information related to a photograph into the communication device in a digital camera or PDCD.

Claims

1. A method for automatically recording information into a communication device, comprising:

selecting a focal point;

providing a bidirectional device in proximity to said focal point;

receiving a signal in said bidirectional device from said communication device;

responsive to said signal, determining a set of information related to said focal point; and

transmitting part of said set of information, so that information related to said focal point is received by said communication device when a photograph is taken by a camera.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a camera data is transmitted in said signal to said bidirectional device in order to determine a set of information to be transmitted.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein a preference is transmitted in said signal to determine a set of information to be transmitted.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising s electively retrieving part of said set of information from a database.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, responsive to receiving the focal length of said camera, determining the distance of said camera from said focal point.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting said information to said communication device.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising combining the transmitted part of said set of information with said photograph.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication device is contained within said camera.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication device is separate from said camera.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication device comprises a personal digital communication device.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication device communicates with said bidirectional device through the Internet.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising using a menu for selection of preferences.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a menu for selection of various information subsets.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an IP address for said bidirectional device to said communication device.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending data to a user'"'"'s e-mail address.

17. The storage medium of claim 16 further comprising instructions for causing said computer to selectively retrieve part of said set of information from a database.

19. The programmable apparatus of claim 18 wherein said second program causes said communication device to determine the distance of said camera from said focal point.

20. The programmable apparatus of claim 18 wherein, responsive to receipt of a set of information from said bidirectional device, said communication device combines said set of information with a photograph according to instructions from said second program.

21. The programmable apparatus of claim 18 wherein said network is a direct wireless communication path between said bidirectional device and said communication device.

22. The programmable apparatus of claim 18 wherein said network comprises the bidirectional device having an IP and a personal digital communication device adapted for communication with said bidirectional device via the Internet.

23. The programmable apparatus of claim 18 wherein said network comprises the bidirectional device having an IP address, a PDCD adapted for communication with said bidirectional device via the Internet, and the photographer'"'"'s personal computer having an e-mail address;

wherein, responsive to a request for a set of information from said PDCD, said bidirectional device transmits said set of information to said e-mail address.

25. The communication system of claim 24 further comprising a bidirectional device for receiving said signal and transmitting said set of information related to said focal point to said communication device associated with said camera.

26. The communication system of claim 24 wherein said signal comprises a PIDDP.

27. The communication system of claim 24 wherein said communication device is contained within said camera.

28. The communication system of claim 24 wherein said set of information comprises graphical data.

29. The communication system of claim 24 wherein said set of information comprises textual data.

30. The communication system of claim 24 wherein said set of information comprises video data.

31. The communication system of claim 24 wherein said set of information comprises audio data.

32. A communication system of claim 24 wherein said set of information comprises factual information about a site in proximity to said focal point.

33. The communication system of claim 24 wherein said set of information is sent to a user'"'"'s e-mail address via the Internet.

16. A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for automatically recording information into a communication device, said storage medium including instructions for causing a computer in a bidirectional device to receive a signal from said communication device;

responsive to said signal, determining a set of information related to a focal point; and

transmitting part of said set of information so that information related to said focal point is received by said communication device when a photograph is taken by a camera.

18. A programmable apparatus for sending a set of information from an information provider to a photographer comprising:

programmable hardware comprising;

a bidirectional device; and

a communication device;

a network connecting said bidirectional device and said communication device;

a first program installed on a first memory in said bidirectional device;

a second program installed on a second memory in said communication device; and

wherein, responsive to said bidirectional device receiving a request from said communication device, said bidirectional device transmits a set of information to the communication device.

24. A communication system for automatically recording photographic information into a communication device comprising:

a focal point;

a camera focused onto a point at least in proximity to said focal point;

a communication device associated with said camera capable of transmitting a signal toward said focal point; and

a set of information related to said focal point adapted for transmission to said communication device, whereby said information related to said focal point is automatically recorded and later combined with a photo taken by said camera.