Transmitting digital images to a plurality of selected receivers over a radio frequency link

• US 20030197788A1
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James R. Schueckler, Kenneth A. Parulski
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Parulski, Kenneth A., Schueckler, James R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,952,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/211.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00305 with a cordless telephone apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

An electronic camera system includes a programmable transmission capability for selectively transmitting electronic image data to a plurality of remote base units. In one embodiment, a camera module is detachably coupled to a portable computer including a display screen and a data entry device. The electronic image data generated by the camera module is supplied to the portable computer for display on the display screen. The data entry device is used by an operator to select which of the plurality of base units are to receive the digital image data. The digital image data is supplied by the portable computer to a radio-frequency transmitter module for transmission to the selected base units. The radio-frequency transmitter module is formed either integral with the portable computer or, like the camera module, is detachably coupled to the portable computer. In a further embodiment, a combined telephone/camera unit is provided that includes a camera module for generating electronic image data representative of a scene to be imaged, a memory unit for storing the electronic image data generated by the camera module, a display screen for displaying the electronic image data stored in the memory unit, a mechanism for selecting which of the plurality of base units is to receive the digital image data, and a cellular transceiver for transmitting the digital image data to the base units selected by the selection mechanism.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting a digital image from a handheld telephone/camera to a selected receiver unit over a radio frequency link, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing said handheld telephone/camera including;

(i) an image sensor for capturing at least one image;

(ii) an A/D converter for producing digital image data from each captured image;

(iii) a display screen for displaying each captured image;

(iv) a memory for storing the digital image data for at least one captured image; and

(v) a cellular telephone transceiver for transmitting the stored digital image data via radio frequency transmission;

(b) capturing an image using the image sensor;

(c) storing digital image data corresponding to the captured image in the memory;

(d) selecting a receiver unit;

(e) responsive to an image transmission mode signal indicating a type of image transmission mode receivable by the selected receiver unit, converting the stored digital image data into data which can be received by the selected receiver unit; and

(f) using the transceiver to transmit the converted digital image data to the selected receiver unit.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further including the step of receiving the image transmission mode signal from the selected receiver unit.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the receiver unit is selected from a plurality of receiver units displayed on the display screen.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of receiver units is selected.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 further including the step of transmitting information identifying each of the selected receiver units along with the converted digital image data.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 further including the step of receiving the converted digital image data and the information identifying each of the selected receiver units by a cellular telephone receiver, and providing the transmitted digital image data to each of the selected receiver units.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the transmitted information includes an address for each of the selected receiver units.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the converted digital image data is JPEG compressed image data.