Apparatus for communicating over a network images captured by a digital camera
First Claim
1. An apparatus for communicating over a network images captured by a digital camera using a memory card slot of said camera, said apparatus comprising:
- a processing unit having memory for storage of images and means for communicating said images over at least one network;
a camera interface card receivable in the memory card slot of said camera; and
means for coupling said camera interface card to said processing unit for data communication;
said camera interface card and processing unit provide means for emulating operation of a memory card for transfer of images captured by said camera via said coupling means for storage in said memory of said processing unit, in which said camera has access to said stored images in said memory of said processing unit; and
means capable of associating user data inputted to said processing unit with said images prior to communicating said images over said network.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for communicating over a network images captured by a digital camera, such as a digital camera without an on-board network interface. The apparatus includes a housing separate from the digital camera having a processing unit with memory for storage of images, a camera interface card received in a memory card slot of the digital camera, and a cable or wireless connection coupling the camera interface card to the processing unit for data communication. The apparatus emulates a memory card to the digital camera, such that the digital camera'"'"'s electronics operate with the memory of the processing unit through the camera interface card, as if such memory was on a memory card located in slot of the digital camera. Images captured by the digital camera are transferred, via the camera interface card and cable, to memory of the processing unit, and the digital camera can access images stored in memory of the processing unit. The processing unit has a wireless data network interface and Ethernet communication interface, whereby captured images stored in memory of the processing unit are queued in real-time for network transfer, and subsequently transferred via one of the network communication interfaces, to a computer system, such as an web site or file server, at a network destination address configurable in the processing unit. Data may be inputted by the user before and/or after image capture for association with images prior to their network transfer. The housing for the processing unit may be shaped like a motor drive unit and attached to the bottom of the camera, or worn by the user of the camera in the form of a belt pack or backpack.
201 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus for communicating over a network images captured by a digital camera using a memory card slot of said camera, said apparatus comprising:
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a processing unit having memory for storage of images and means for communicating said images over at least one network;
a camera interface card receivable in the memory card slot of said camera; and
means for coupling said camera interface card to said processing unit for data communication;
said camera interface card and processing unit provide means for emulating operation of a memory card for transfer of images captured by said camera via said coupling means for storage in said memory of said processing unit, in which said camera has access to said stored images in said memory of said processing unit; and
means capable of associating user data inputted to said processing unit with said images prior to communicating said images over said network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for communicating over a network images captured by a digital camera using a memory card slot of said camera, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a computer system having memory for storage of images;
inserting a camera interface card in the memory card slot of said camera;
coupling said camera interface card to said computer system for data communication;
emulating operation of said a memory card for transfer of images captured by said camera for storage in said memory of said computer system, in which said camera has access to said stored images in said memory of said computer system; and
associating user data inputted to said computer system with said images prior to communicating said images over said network.
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27. A system for communicating over a network images captured by a digital camera using a memory card slot of said camera comprising:
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a computer system having memory for storage of images;
a camera interface card insertable in the memory card slot of said camera in which said camera interface card and said computer system are coupled for data communication;
means for emulating operation of said a memory card for transfer of images captured by said camera for storage in said memory of said computer system, in which said camera has access to said stored images in said memory of said computer system; and
means capable of associating user data inputted to said computer system with said images prior to communicating said images over said network.
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Specification