Synchronised cameras with auto-exchange

• US 20030021591A1
• Filed: 07/10/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Grosvenor, David Arthur, Cheatle, Stephen Philip
• Granted Patent: US 7,139,018 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/124
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of sharing a digital recording between a group of users of digital recording devices (e.g. digital cameras) present at a common event, said method comprising: (a) creating a digital recording (e.g. a digital photograph) using a digital recording device; (b) subjecting the users'"'"' digital recording devices to a synchronisation event associated with the common event, the synchronisation event resulting in the transmission of a synchronisation code between the users'"'"' digital recording devices, the synchronisation code comprising an address code to uniquely identify a database; (c) establishing a digital communication connection between the digital recording device which created the recording and the database; (d) causing the database to receive the digital recording without input from a user; and (e) enabling a user to access the digital recording from the database. The invention also provides a digital recording device for creating digital recordings, the digital recording device being communicatively connectable to a data communication network, the said digital recording device being operable to receive a synchronisation code and hence to become synchronised with other such digital recording devices, the synchronisation code comprising the address of a database, the digital recording device being configured to make digital recordings available to the database at the said address without input from a user on the establishment of a data communication connection between the digital recording device and the data communication network.

Claims

1. A method of sharing a digital recording between a group of users of digital recording devices present at a common event, said method comprising:

(a) creating a digital recording using a digital recording device;

(b) subjecting the users'"'"' digital recording devices to a synchronisation event associated with the common event, the synchronisation event resulting in the transmission of a synchronisation code between the users'"'"' digital recording devices, the synchronisation code comprising an address code to uniquely identify a database;

(c) establishing a digital communication connection between the digital recording device which created the recording and the database;

(d) causing the database to receive the digital recording without input from a user; and

(e) enabling a user to access the digital recording from the database.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the synchronisation event comprises a first digital recording device transmitting a synchronisation signal in which the synchronisation code is transmitted to the other digital recording devices.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the synchronisation signal is transmitted using an electrical link.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the synchronisation signal is transmitted using a wireless link.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the synchronisation event comprises the users manually entering a code via the user interfaces of their digital recording devices.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the synchronisation code further comprises an event identification code, this event identification code being attributable to the digital recordings created by the digital recording devices at the common event, to signify that the digital recordings have been created at the common event.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the synchronisation code further comprises a password, the password being for use by the database to restrict access to the digital recordings created at the common event.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the synchronisation code further comprises a code identifying the initiator of the synchronisation event.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the synchronisation code further comprises a code specifying the current time.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the synchronisation code further comprises an encryption code for use in encrypting and/or decrypting the digital recordings during transfer to and/or from the database.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a digital camera assigning a digital recording with a reference code.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the reference code comprises information representative of the time at which the digital recording it accompanies was created, the database being able to interpret this information to organise chronologically the digital recordings taken at the common event.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the reference code comprises an identification code specific to the digital recording device on which it was created, the database being able to interpret this code to indicate the identity of the creator of each of the digital recordings taken at the common event.

14. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the reference code comprises the event identification code.

15. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the database comprises the collective data storage media of at least one digital recording device, the said at least one digital recording device having respective communication devices to enable them to function collectively as the database on establishing a digital communication connection between them.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the communication devices are selected from a group comprising:

modems and GSM transceivers and GPRS transceivers.

17. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the database comprises the data storage media of at least one personal computer connected to a data communication network.

18. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the database comprises the data storage media of at least one data storage appliance connected to a data communication network.

19. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising providing a user with an opportunity to veto the inclusion in the said database of a digital recording he created.

20. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the digital recording devices are digital cameras and the digital recordings are digital photographs.

21. A digital recording device for creating digital recordings, the digital recording device being communicatively connectable to a data communication network, the said digital recording device being operable to receive a synchronisation code and hence to become synchronised with other such digital recording devices, the synchronisation code comprising the address of a database, the digital recording device being configured to make digital recordings available to the database at the said address without input from a user on the establishment of a data communication connection between the digital recording device and the data communication network.

22. A digital recording device as claimed in claim 21, further comprising means for transmitting and receiving signals to and from other such digital recording devices.

23. A digital recording device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the means for transmitting and receiving signals comprise a port into which a cable can be inserted and electrically coupled.

24. A digital recording device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the means for transmitting and receiving signals comprise a wireless transmitter and receiver.

25. A digital recording device as claimed in claim 21, operable to generate and receive coded information by which an event can be identified.

26. A digital recording device as claimed in claim 21 having data storage media which can serve as part of the said database on connection of the digital recording device to a data communication network.

27. A digital recording device as claimed in claim 21, being a digital camera.

28. A database configured to receive digital recordings from a digital recording device via a data communication network and to enable the digital recordings to be accessed by others, the database being configured to receive the digital recordings from the digital recording device upon connection of the digital recording device to the data communication network and without input from a user.