Wireless digital camera image caching apparatus and method

• US 20040070670A1
• Filed: 10/11/2002
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Foster, Ward S.
• Application Number:
  US10/269,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20040070670A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00315 with a radio transmission apparatus with a cordless telephone H04N1/00305; systems or arrangements for the transmission of a picture signal specially adapted for transmission via radio H04N1/00103; H04N1/00307 takes precedence; radio transmission systems H04B7/00; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• 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

Abstract

This invention relates to a digital camera with a wireless networking hardware that automatically transmits images from its internal storage to a service on the Internet. Whenever the camera is in range of a wireless network, the camera transmits all of its images on the camera to the Internet service. It then marks all of the transferred images as having been transferred and may delete them from the camera as it needs to make more space for newer images. This allows the user to use the camera as if it had limitless imaging capacity

Claims

1. An apparatus for digital camera image caching, comprising:

a digital camera including a wireless networking hardware; and

a wireless network operatively connected to said camera such that said camera can wirelessly upload/download images from said camera to a remote device operatively connected to said wireless network.

2. The apparatus, as in claim 1, wherein said digital camera is further comprised of:

a graphical user interface operatively connected to said wireless networking hardware.

3. The apparatus, as in claim 1, wherein said remote device is further comprised of:

an access point; and

a server operatively connected to said access point.

4. The apparatus, as in claim 1, wherein said wireless network is further comprised of:

a link.

5. The apparatus, as in claim 1, wherein said wireless network is further comprised of:

the Internet.

6. A method for wireless digital camera image caching, comprising the steps of:

recording a first image by a digital camera;

storing said first image in an image repository;

determining when said camera is accessible to an access point;

wirelessly transferring said first image in said repository to a remote wireless network device through said access point; and

downloading said first image from said remote wireless network device.

7. The method, as in claim 6, wherein said method is further comprised of the steps of:

recording a second image by said digital camera;

storing said second image in said image repository; and

downloading said second image from said image repository.

8. The method, as in claim 6, wherein said determining step is further comprised of the step of:

employing a monitoring means to determine when said camera is accessible to said access point.

9. The method, as in claim 8, wherein said monitoring means is further comprised of:

a pinging means.

10. The method, as in claim 6, wherein said downloading step is further comprised of the step of:

employing an interface means to manipulate said first image.

11. The method, as in claim 7, wherein said downloading step is further comprised of the step of:

employing an interface means to manipulate said second image.

12. The method, as in claim 10, wherein said interface means is further comprised of:

a graphical user interface.

13. The method, as in claim 11, wherein said interface means is further comprised of:

a graphical user interface.

14. A means for wireless digital camera image caching, comprising:

a digital camera means including hardware means for wireless networking; and

a wireless network means operatively connected to said camera means for wirelessly upload/download images from said camera to a remote device means operatively connected to said wireless network.

15. The apparatus, as in claim 14, wherein said digital camera means is further comprised of:

a graphical user interface means operatively connected to said hardware means.

16. A computer readable medium, having instructions for:

recording a first image by a digital camera;

storing said first image in an image repository;

determining when said camera is accessible to an access point;

wirelessly transferring said first image in said repository to a remote wireless network device through said access point; and

downloading said first image from said remote wireless network device.

17. The method, as in claim 16, wherein said method is further comprised of the steps of:

recording a second image by said digital camera;

storing said second image in said image repository; and

downloading said second image from said image repository.

18. The method, as in claim 16, wherein said determining step is further comprised of the step of:

employing a monitoring means to determine when said camera is accessible to said access point.

19. The method, as in claim 18, wherein said monitoring means is further comprised of:

a pinging means.

20. The method, as in claim 16, wherein said downloading step is further comprised of the step of:

employing an interface means to manipulate said first image.

21. The method, as in claim 17, wherein said downloading step is further comprised of the step of:

employing an interface means to manipulate said second image.

22. The method, as in claim 20, wherein said interface means is further comprised of:

a graphical user interface.

23. The method, as in claim 21, wherein said interface means is further comprised of:

a graphical user interface.

24. In a computer network, a method for enabling a user to:

record a first image by a digital camera;

store said first image in an image repository;

determine when said camera is accessible to an access point;

wirelessly transfer said first image in said repository to a remote wireless network device through said access point; and

download said first image from said remote wireless network device.

25. The method, as in claim 24, wherein said method is further comprised of the steps of:

record a second image by said digital camera;

store said second image in said image repository; and

download said second image from said image repository.

26. The method, as in claim 24, wherein said determine step is further comprised of the step of:

employ a monitoring means to determine when said camera is accessible to said point.

27. The method, as in claim 26, wherein said monitoring means is further comprised of:

a pinging means.

28. The method, as in claim 24, wherein said download step is further comprised of the step of:

employ an interface means to manipulate said first image.

29. The method, as in claim 25, wherein said download step is further comprised of the step of:

employ an interface means to manipulate said second image.

30. The method, as in claim 28, wherein said interface means is further comprised of:

a graphical user interface.

31. The method, as in claim 29, wherein said interface means is further comprised of:

a graphical user interface.