Wireless updateable digital picture frame

• US 20020126150A1
• Filed: 03/07/2001
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Parry, Travis J.
• Application Number:
  US09/802,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20020126150A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/06 Remotely controlled electronic signs other than labels

Abstract

A wireless updateable digital picture frame includes a display, a memory, and a wireless component to receive digital images from an external device via wireless transfers. The wirelessly received images are stored in the memory and displayed on the display of the picture frame. Images may also optionally be wirelessly transferred to other devices external to the picture frame.

Claims

1. A digital picture frame comprising:

a wireless component configured to receive, from a source, a digital image via a wireless transfer;

a memory, coupled to the wireless component, to store the received digital image; and

a display device, coupled to the memory, to display the stored digital image.

2. A digital picture frame as recited in claim 1, further comprising a controller, coupled to the memory, configured to identify which of a plurality of images stored in the memory are to be displayed on the display device.

3. A digital picture frame as recited in claim 1, further comprising a controller, coupled to both the wireless component and the display device, configured to present on the display device a plurality of wireless devices that are currently within communications range of the digital picture frame.

4. A digital picture frame as recited in claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to allow a user to select one of the plurality of wireless devices from which the digital image is to be received.

5. A digital picture frame as recited in claim 1, further comprising a user-actuatable mechanism, coupled to the wireless component, and wherein actuation of the user-actuatable mechanism initiates a transfer of a new digital image to the digital picture frame.

6. A digital picture frame as recited in claim 1, further comprising a controller, coupled to the wireless component, configured to receive a new digital image request from a wireless device external to the digital picture frame, and to manage reception of the new digital image from the wireless device.

7. A digital picture frame as recited in claim 1, wherein the source comprises a digital camera.

8. A digital picture frame as recited in claim 1, wherein the source comprises a personal digital assistant.

9. A digital picture frame as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless component comprises a wireless receiver.

10. A digital picture frame as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless component comprises both a wireless receiver and a wireless transmitter.

11. A digital picture frame as recited in claim 1, further comprising a controller, coupled to the memory, configured to manage storage and retrieval of a plurality of digital images in the memory.

12. A digital picture frame as recited in claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to manage storage and retrieval of the plurality of digital images by executing one or more control modules stored in the memory.

13. A digital picture frame as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless component is further configured to transmit the digital image stored in the memory to another source external to the digital picture frame.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a request to transfer the new digital picture from the memory; and

transmitting the new digital picture to an external device via a wireless transfer.

16. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein receiving the new digital picture comprises receiving the new digital picture via a wireless transfer from a digital image source external to the digital picture frame.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the digital image source comprises a digital camera.

18. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising displaying the new digital picture on a display of the digital picture frame.

19. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

displaying a plurality of wireless devices that are within a wireless communications range of the digital picture frame; and

allowing the user to select one of the plurality of wireless devices from which the new digital picture is to be received.

20. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein receiving the request comprises receiving a request for a new digital picture from a digital image source external to the digital picture frame.

21. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein the digital image source comprises a digital camera.

14. A method implemented in a digital picture frame, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a new digital picture;

receiving the new digital picture via a wireless transfer; and

saving the new digital picture in a memory of the digital picture frame.

22. A wireless updateable digital picture frame.

23. A picture frame as recited in claim 22, further comprising a removable wireless component, wherein the removable wireless component is configured to receive a digital image from an external image source via a wireless communication.

24. A picture frame as recited in claim 23, wherein the removable wireless component comprises a PCMCIA card.

26. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 25, wherein managing reception of the new digital picture comprises managing reception of the new digital picture from a digital camera via a wireless transfer.

27. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 25, wherein the plurality of instructions further causes the controller to perform acts including receiving the request for a new digital picture from a digital camera via a wireless connection.

28. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 25, wherein the plurality of instructions further causes the controller to perform acts including transmitting, to a device external to the digital picture frame, the new digital picture via a wireless transfer.

30. A digital picture frame as recited in claim 29, wherein the external source comprises a digital camera.

31. A digital picture frame as recited in claim 30, wherein the means for receiving further comprises means for receiving a request for the digital image from the digital camera.

25. One or more computer readable media having stored thereon a plurality of instructions that, when executed by a controller of a digital picture frame, causes the controller to perform acts including:

receiving a request for a new digital picture; and

managing reception of the new digital picture from a digital picture source via a wireless transfer.

29. A digital picture frame comprising:

means for displaying a digital image; and

means, coupled to the means for displaying, for receiving the digital image from an external source via a wireless communication.