Image-capturing device controlled through internet and method for operating the same

• US 20040017490A1
• Filed: 11/07/2002
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IEI Integration Corp.
• Original Assignee: IEI Integration Corp.
• Inventors: Lin, Chih-Chung
• Application Number:
  US10/065,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20040017490A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/231.99
• 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 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus H04N2201/0013; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015

Abstract

The present invention discloses an image-capturing device and method for receiving signals from an external network. The image-capturing device includes: an image-capturing module for capturing an image and for transforming the image into a digital image signal, a first processor electrically connected to the image-capturing module for controlling operation of the image-capturing module, a first memory electrically connected to the first processor for storing data and program codes of the first processor, a second processor electrically connected to the first processor for receiving operation signals to control operation of the image-capturing device, a second memory electrically connected to the second processor for storing data and program codes of the second processor, a network controller electrically connected to the second processor for receiving signals transmitted from an external network, and a third memory electrically connected to the first memory thereby storing the digital image signal, wherein when the network controller receives a first signal transmitted from the external network, the network controller transmits a second signal corresponding to the first signal to the second processor, and then the second processor transmits a third signal corresponding to the second signal to the first processor, and then the first processor controls the image-capturing module with the third signal to transmit the digital image signal transformed by the image-capturing module through the external network.

Claims

1. An image-capturing device for receiving signals from an external network, the image-capturing device comprising:

an image-capturing module for capturing an image and for transforming the image into a digital image signal;

a first processor electrically connected to the image-capturing module for controlling operation of the image-capturing module;

a first memory electrically connected to the first processor for storing data and program codes of the first processor;

a second processor electrically connected to the first processor for receiving operation signals to control operation of the image-capturing device;

a second memory electrically connected to the second processor for storing data and program codes of the second processor;

a network controller electrically connected to the second processor for receiving signals transmitted from an external network; and

a third memory electrically connected to the first memory thereby storing the digital image signal, wherein when the network controller receives a first signal transmitted from the external network, the network controller transmits a second signal corresponding to the first signal to the second processor, and then the second processor transmits a third signal corresponding to the second signal to the first processor, and then the first processor controls the image-capturing module with the third signal to transmit the digital image signal transformed by the image-capturing module through the external network.

2. The image-capturing device of claim 1, wherein the image-capturing module comprises a lens set and a plurality of light-sensing cells for receiving light transmitted from the lens set and for transforming the light into the digital image signal.

3. The image-capturing device of claim 1, wherein the external network is a wireless, an Internet, or a local area network.

4. The image-capturing device of claim 1, wherein the second processor is capable of transmitting the digital image signal transformed by the image-capturing module to an external receiving terminal via the network.

5. The image-capturing device of claim 4, wherein the external receiving terminal is a file server or a networking storage.

6. The image-capturing device of claim 1, wherein the third memory is a compact flash card.

7. The image-capturing device of claim 1 further comprising a flash and a flash controller electrically connected to the first processor for controlling operation of the flash according to signals transmitted from the first memory.

8. A method for processing real-time images via an external network, comprising:

generating a first signal by a remote computer, according to required operation;

transmitting the first controlling signal to a network controller via the network;

utilizing the network controller to generate a second signal corresponding to a first signal to a processor unit; and

utilizing the processor unit to control a image-capturing module to process digital signals of images captured by the image-capturing module.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the image-capturing module further is used to transform the images into digital signals.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the processor unit consists of a first and second processors.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a first memory is electrically connected to the first processor for storing data and program codes of the first processor.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a third memory is electrically connected to the first memory and used for storing the digital signals of the images.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

utilizing the second processor to receive the second signals to correspondingly generate a third signal to the first processor.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein a second memory is electrically connected to the second processor for storing data and program codes of the second processor.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the network controller is electrically connected to the second processor for receiving the first signals transmitted from the external network.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

utilizing the first processor to control the image-capturing module with the third signal.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the image-capturing module comprises a lens set and a plurality of light-sensing cells for receiving light transmitted from the lens set and for transforming the light into the digital signals of the images.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein the external network belongs a wireless, an Internet, or a local area network.

19. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

utilizing the processor unit to control the image-capturing module to transmit the digital signals of images back the remote computer via the network for displaying the images in real time.

20. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

utilizing the processor unit to control the image-capturing module to transmit the digital signals of images to an external receiving terminal via the network.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the external receiving terminal is a file server or a net working storage.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the third memory is a compact flash card.

23. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

utilizing the processor unit to control a flash controller, according to the first signals generated by the remote computer via the network, thereby adjusting a flash of the image-capturing module.