Integrated Internet camera

• US 20050078189A1
• Filed: 12/01/2004
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axis AB (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pentax USA Incorporated (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Koch, Mark, Knapp, Walter, Creamer, Rob, Helton, Richard, Araki, Yoshiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,523,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00214 details of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00217 only involving computer data transmission protocols, e.g. SMTP, WAP or HTTP communication protocol aspects and techniques in packet data networks H04L69/00; network-specific arrangements or communication protocols supporting networked applications H04L67/00
• 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 1/00838 Preventing unauthorised reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00854 Recognising an unauthorised user or user-associated action
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/164 Feedback from the receiver or from the transmission channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/172 the region being a picture, frame or field
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• 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 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects

Abstract

An integrated Internet camera includes, as embedded components contained within the camera body and controlled by a microcontroller, at least a network interface device for connecting to the Internet, a transport control device for packetizing according to Internet protocols, a file transfer device for communicating with a destination user directory on the Internet, and a transmission initiating device for initiating the connection and transfer operations of the file transfer device and transport control device. The network interface device may be a modem, network adapter, or adapter for connection to the Internet. Upon capturing the digital image, the camera initiates a connection to the Internet, connects to the destination user directory, and uploads the digital images. Thereafter, the digital images are available to authorized (or any) user having access to the Internet.

Claims

1. An imaging device, comprising:

a camera lens, image sensor and image processing circuit that together record images and output image signal data corresponding to the recorded images;

a display and display circuit permitting an operator to preview a scene to be recorded as an image and output as image signal data;

an operator'"'"'s release button that initiates recording of image signal data of the scene previewed by the operator;

a microcontroller that is operably connected to the image processing circuit, the display circuit, and the operator'"'"'s release button;

a storage device that stores image signal data;

a network adapter that connects to an internet-protocol address corresponding to a destination network device capable of serving files;

a batching routine executable by the microcontroller that organizes one or more items of image signal data as batched data;

wherein the batched data includes image signal data corresponding to previewed image scenes previewed by an operator, the network adapter operates via wireless connection, and the microcontroller transfers the batched data from the storage device of the imaging device to the destination network device at the internet-protocol address via the network adapter.

2. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising an address obtaining routine executable by the microcontroller, that operates via said network adapter to obtain an internet-protocol address for the imaging device itself from a device capable of assigning such addresses.

3. The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein the device capable of assigning such addresses includes a DNS device.

4. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising an password enabling routine executable by the microcontroller, that configures said imaging device to register on a local network via said network adapter, in a first mode providing a password in order to register on a local network and in a second mode registering on a local network without providing a password.

5. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the network adapter connects via a first network that is not an internet-protocol network to a second network that is an internet-protocol network.

6. The imaging device according to claim 5, wherein the second network is the internet, and the first network is selected from one of a public telephone network;

an ISDN network;

an ATM network;

a satellite network;

or a wireless network for wireless connection;

a high speed external serial network.

7. The imaging device according to claim 6, wherein the network adapter is selected from one of a modem for public telephone networks;

an ISDN modem;

an ATM adapter;

a T carrier terminal adapter;

an adapter for satellite connection;

an adapter for microwave connection;

an adapter for wireless connection;

an adapter for serial transmission over a high speed external serial bus.

8. The imaging device according to claim 6, further comprising an address obtaining routine executable by the microcontroller, that obtains an internet-protocol address for the imaging device itself from a device connected to the second network and capable of assigning such addresses.

9. The imaging device according to claim 6, wherein the imaging device transfers image file data using a first packetizing for the first network and a second packetizing for the second network.

10. The imaging device according to claim 9, wherein the first packetizing is pursuant to PPP, and wherein the second packetizing is pursuant to IP.

11. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a protocol switching routine executable by the microcontroller, that selectively switches transfer via said network adapter between a connection-oriented protocol and a connectionless protocol, wherein the microcontroller transfers the batched image signal data from the storage device of the imaging device to the destination network device at the internet-protocol address via the network adapter selectively employing one of the connection-oriented protocol and the connectionless protocol.

12. The imaging device according to claim 11, wherein the connection-oriented protocol is TCP, and the connectionless protocol is UDP.

13. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a streaming routine executable by said microcontroller for continuous capture and transmission of compressed data, including wavelet compressed data, as streaming data,

wherein the streaming data includes compressed data corresponding to the previewed image scenes previewed by an operator, the microcontroller transferring the streaming data from the storage device of the imaging device to the destination network device at the internet-protocol address.

14. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the microcontroller transfers the batched data from the storage device of the imaging device to the destination network device at the internet-protocol address via the network adapter using a connectionless protocol that does not retransmit data.

15. The imaging device according to claim 14, wherein the connectionless protocol that does not retransmit data is UDP.

16. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the microcontroller transfers the batched data from the storage device of the imaging device to the destination network device at the internet-protocol address via the network adapter selectively using a first protocol that uses a first packet header or a second protocol that uses a second packet header, the second packet header containing less data than the first packet header.

17. The imaging device according to claim 16, wherein the first protocol that uses a first packet header is TCP, and the second protocol that uses a second packet header is UDP.

18. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the network adapter is a network interface device that is installed in a slot interface and is not built-in to the imaging device circuitry.

19. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the batched data includes image signal data corresponding to image scenes previewed by an operator via the display.

20. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising an optical finder, wherein the batched data includes image signal data corresponding to image scenes previewed by an operator via the optical finder.

21. An imaging device, comprising:

a camera lens, image sensor and image processing circuit that together record images and output image signal data corresponding to the recorded images;

a display and display circuit permitting an operator to preview a scene to be recorded as an image and output as image signal data;

an operator'"'"'s release button that initiates recording of image signal data of scenes previewed by an operator;

a microcontroller that is operably connected to the image processing circuit, the display circuit, and the operator'"'"'s release button;

a storage device that stores image signal data;

a network adapter that connects to an internet-protocol network;

an internet-protocol file transfer application executable by the microcontroller;

a parameter memory that stores internet-protocol addressing information corresponding to a file server capable of serving files via the internet-protocol network, and user identity information that provides access rights to the file server; and

a batching routine executable by the microcontroller that organizes one or more items of image signal data as batched data;

wherein the batched data includes image signal data corresponding to the previewed image scenes previewed by an operator, the network adapter operates via wireless connection, the microcontroller transmits the user identity information permitting the internet-protocol file transfer application to access the file server via the internet-protocol network, and the microcontroller transfers the batched data from the storage device of the imaging device to the file server at the internet-protocol address via the network adapter.

22. The imaging device according to claim 21, further comprising a selection routine, executable by the microcontroller, that assigns flags to image signal data to be transferred in response to operator input, and the batching routine groups only those items of image signal data that are flagged by the selection routine.

23. The imaging device according to claim 21, further comprising an password enabling routine executable by the microcontroller, that configures said imaging device to register on a local network via said network adapter, in a first mode providing a password in order to register on a local network and in a second mode registering on a local network without providing a password.

24. The imaging device according to claim 21, wherein the network adapter connects via a first network that is not an internet-protocol network to a second network that is an internet-protocol network.

25. The imaging device according to claim 24, wherein the second network is the internet, and the first network is selected from one of a public telephone network;

an ISDN network;

an ATM network;

a satellite network;

a wireless network for wireless connection;

or a high speed external serial network.

26. The imaging device according to claim 25, wherein the network adapter is selected from one of a modem for public telephone networks;

an ISDN modem;

an ATM adapter;

a T carrier terminal adapter;

an adapter for satellite connection;

an adapter for microwave connection;

an adapter for wireless connection;

or an adapter for serial transmission over a high speed external serial bus.

27. The imaging device according to claim 24, further comprising an address obtaining routine executable by the microcontroller, that obtains an internet-protocol address for the imaging device itself from a device connected to the second network and capable of assigning such addresses.

28. The imaging device according to claim 24, wherein the imaging device transfers image file data using a first packetizing for the first network and a second packetizing for the second network.

29. The imaging device according to claim 28, wherein the first packetizing is pursuant to PPP, and wherein the second packetizing is pursuant to IP.

30. The imaging device according to claim 27, further comprising a protocol switching routine executable by the microcontroller, that selectively switches transfer via said network adapter between a connection-oriented protocol and a connectionless protocol,

wherein the microcontroller transfers the batched image signal data from the storage device of the imaging device to the destination network device at the internet-protocol address via the network adapter selectively employing one of the connection-orientated protocol and the connectionless protocol.

31. The imaging device according to claim 30, wherein the connection-oriented protocol is TCP, and the connectionless protocol is UDP.

32. The imaging device according to claim 21, further comprising a streaming routine executable by said microcontroller for continuous capture and transmission of compressed data, including wavelet compressed data, as streaming data,

wherein the streaming data includes compressed data corresponding to the previewed image scenes previewed by an operator, the microcontroller transferring the streaming data from the storage device of the imaging device to the destination network device at the internet-protocol address.

33. The imaging device according to claim 21, wherein the microcontroller transfers the batched data from the storage device of the imaging device to the destination network device at the internet-protocol address via the network adapter using a connectionless protocol that does not retransmit data.

34. The imaging device according to claim 33, wherein the connectionless protocol that does not retransmit data is UDP.

35. The imaging device according to claim 21, wherein the microcontroller transfers the batched data from the storage device of the imaging device to the destination network device at the internet-protocol address via the network adapter selectively using a first protocol that uses a first packet header and a second protocol that uses a second packet header, the second packet header containing less data than the first packet header.

36. The imaging device according to claim 35, wherein the first protocol that uses a first packet header is TCP, and the second protocol that uses a second packet header is UDP.

37. The imaging device according to claim 21, further comprising an internet-protocol mail application executable by the microcontroller, wherein the parameter memory stores one or more e-mail addresses corresponding to an e-mail recipient, and wherein the batched data is transferred to the one or more e-mail addresses corresponding to an e-mail recipient via the network adapter.

38. The imaging device according to claim 21, wherein the network adapter is a network interface device that is installed in a slot interface and is not built-in to the imaging device circuitry.

39. The imaging device according to claim 21, wherein the batched data includes image signal data corresponding to image scenes previewed by an operator via the display.

40. The imaging device according to claim 21, further comprising an optical finder, wherein the batched data includes image signal data corresponding to image scenes previewed by an operator via the optical finder.

41. An imaging device, comprising:

a camera lens, image sensor and image processing circuit that together record images and output image signal data corresponding to the recorded images;

a display and display circuit permitting an operator to preview a scene to be recorded as an image signal;

an operator'"'"'s release button that initiates recording of image signal data of scenes previewed by an operator;

a compression circuit that forms compressed data from said image signal data that reduces the amount of data transmitted via the network adapter, the compressed data being wavelet compressed;

a microcontroller that is operably connected to the image processing circuit, the display circuit, the operator'"'"'s release button, and the compression circuit;

a storage device that stores compressed data of scenes previewed by an operator;

a network adapter that connects to an internet-protocol address corresponding to a destination networked device;

a streaming routine executable by said microcontroller for continuous capture and transmission of compressed data, including wavelet compressed data, as streaming data,

wherein the streaming data includes compressed data corresponding to the previewed image scenes previewed by an operator, the microcontroller transferring the streaming data from the storage device of the imaging device to the destination networked device at the internet-protocol address.

42. The imaging device according to claim 41, further comprising an password enabling routine executable by the microcontroller, that configures said imaging device to register on a network corresponding to the destination networked device via said network adapter, in a first mode providing a password in order to register on the network and in a second mode registering on the network without providing a password.

43. The imaging device according to claim 41, wherein the network corresponding to the destination networked device is an internet-protocol network, the network adapter connects via an intermediary network that is not an internet-protocol network to the internet-protocol network corresponding the destination networked device.

44. The imaging device according to claim 43, wherein the internet-protocol network corresponding the destination networked device is the internet, and the intermediary network is selected from one of a public telephone network;

an ethernet network;

an ISDN network;

a cable television network;

an ATM network;

a satellite network;

a wireless network for wireless connection;

a high speed external serial network;

or a network for data transmission over public power lines.

45. The imaging device according to claim 44, wherein the network adapter is selected from one of a modem for public telephone networks;

an Ethernet adapter for connecting to an Ethernet LAN;

an ISDN modem;

an xDSL adapter;

a cable modem;

an ATM adapter;

a T carrier terminal adapter;

an adapter for satellite connection;

an adapter for microwave connection;

an adapter for wireless connection;

an adapter for serial transmission over a high speed external serial bus;

or an adapter for data transmission over public power lines.

46. The imaging device according to claim 43, wherein the imaging device transfers image file data using a first packetizing for the intermediary network and a second packetizing for the internet-protocol network corresponding to the destination networked device.

47. The imaging device according to claim 46, wherein the first packetizing is pursuant to PPP, and wherein the second packetizing is pursuant to IP.

48. The imaging device according to claim 43, further comprising:

a protocol selection routine executable by the microcontroller, that selectively employs a connection-oriented data transfer protocol or a connectionless data transfer protocol that does not retransmit data to increase the data rate, including a protocol switching routine that selectively switches between the connection-oriented data transfer protocol and the connectionless data transfer protocol when the streaming routine transmits the compressed data to the destination networked device.

49. The imaging device according to claim 48, wherein the compressed data corresponds to the previewed image scenes previewed by an operator, and the microcontroller employs the connectionless data transfer protocol to increase the data rate transmitted via the network adapter when the streaming routine transmits the compressed data to the destination networked device.

50. The imaging device according to claim 41, wherein the connection-oriented protocol is TCP, and the connectionless protocol is UDP.

51. The imaging device according to claim 41, further comprising a serial connection for transfer of data to a connected computer wherein the compressed data is transferred from the storage device of the imaging device to the connected computer via the serial connection.

52. The imaging device according to claim 41, further comprising an internet-protocol mail application executable by the microcontroller, wherein the parameter memory stores one or more e-mail addresses corresponding to an e-mail recipient, and wherein status messages can be transferred to one or more e-mail addresses corresponding to an e-mail recipient via the network adapter.

53. The imaging device according to claim 41, wherein the network adapter is a network interface device that is installed in a slot interface and is not built-in to the imaging device circuitry.

54. The imaging device according to claim 41, wherein the streaming data includes image signal data corresponding to image scenes previewed by an operator via the display.

55. The imaging device according to claim 41, further comprising an optical finder, wherein the streaming data includes image signal data corresponding to image scenes previewed by an operator via the optical finder.

56. An imaging device, comprising:

a camera lens, image sensor and image processing circuit that together record images and output image signal data corresponding to the recorded images;

a display and display circuit permitting an operator to preview a scene to be recorded as an image signal;

an operator'"'"'s release button that initiates recording of image signal data of scenes previewed by an operator;

a compression circuit that forms compressed data from said image signal data;

a microcontroller that is operably connected to the image processing circuit, the display circuit, the operator'"'"'s release button, and the compression circuit;

a storage device that stores compressed data of scenes previewed by an operator;

a network adapter that communicates with an internet-protocol address corresponding to a destination networked device;

a protocol selection routine executable by the microcontroller, that selectively employs a connection-oriented data transfer protocol or a connectionless data transfer protocol that does not retransmit data to increase the data rate,

a streaming routine executable by said microcontroller for continuous capture and transmission of the compressed data,

wherein the compressed data corresponds to the previewed image scenes previewed by an operator, the network adapter operates via wireless connection, the compressed data is wavelet compressed to reduce the amount of data transmitted via the network adapter, and the microcontroller employs the connectionless data transfer protocol to increase the data rate transmitted via the network adapter when the streaming routine transmits the compressed data to the destination networked device.

57. The imaging device according to claim 56, wherein the network adapter connects to an intermediary network that is not an internet-protocol network and communicates with the internet-protocol address corresponding to the destination networked device via the intermediary network.

58. The imaging device according to claim 57, wherein the intermediary network is selected from one of a public telephone network;

an ISDN network;

an ATM network;

a satellite network;

a wireless network for wireless connection;

or a high speed external serial network.

59. The imaging device according to claim 57, wherein the network adapter is selected from one of a modem for public telephone networks;

an ISDN modem;

an xDSL adapter;

an ATM adapter;

a T carrier terminal adapter;

an adapter for satellite connection;

an adapter for microwave connection;

an adapter for wireless connection;

or an adapter for serial transmission over a high speed external serial bus.

60. The imaging device according to claim 57, wherein the internet-protocol address of the destination network device is on an internet-protocol network, and wherein the imaging device transfers image file data using a first packetizing for the intermediary network and a second packetizing for the internet-protocol network corresponding to the destination networked device.

61. The imaging device according to claim 60, wherein the first packetizing is pursuant to PPP, and wherein the second packetizing is pursuant to IP.

62. The imaging device according to claim 56, further comprising:

a protocol selection routine executable by the microcontroller, that selectively employs a connection-oriented data transfer protocol or a connectionless data transfer protocol that does not retransmit data to increase the data rate, including a protocol switching routine that selectively switches between the connection-oriented data transfer protocol and the connectionless data transfer protocol when the streaming routine transmits the compressed data to the destination networked device.

63. The imaging device according to claim 62, wherein the compressed data corresponds to the previewed image scenes previewed by an operator, and the microcontroller employs the connectionless data transfer protocol to increase the data rate transmitted via the network adapter when the streaming routine transmits the compressed data to the destination networked device.

64. The imaging device according to claim 62, wherein the connection-oriented protocol is TCP, and the connectionless protocol is UDP.

65. The imaging device according to claim 56, further comprising a serial connection for transfer of data to a connected computer wherein the compressed data is transferred from the storage device of the imaging device to the connected computer via the serial connection.

66. The imaging device according to claim 56, further comprising an internet-protocol mail application executable by the microcontroller, wherein the parameter memory stores one or more e-mail addresses corresponding to an e-mail recipient, and wherein status messages can be transferred to one or more e-mail addresses corresponding to an e-mail recipient via the network adapter.

67. The imaging device according to claim 56, wherein the network adapter is a network interface device that is installed in a slot interface and is not built-in to the imaging device circuitry.

68. The imaging device according to claim 56, wherein the compressed data includes image signal data corresponding to image scenes previewed by an operator via the display.

69. The imaging device according to claim 56, further comprising an optical finder, wherein the compressed data includes image signal data corresponding to image scenes previewed by an operator via the optical finder.

70. An imaging device, comprising:

a camera lens, and image sensor that together record images;

an image processing circuit including a compression circuit that outputs compressed image signal data corresponding to the recorded images;

a microcontroller that controls circuits, including the image processing circuit;

a storage device that stores image signal data, including compressed image signal data;

a network adapter that communicates with a networked device capable of serving files via an internet-protocol address;

a first transmission mode routine that sends single image data files via a connection-oriented protocol, said connection oriented protocol employing a first packet header type; and

a second transmission mode routine that streams image data files employing a second packet header type having less data than said first packet header type,

wherein said microcontroller is capable of switching from the first transmission mode routine to the second transmission mode routine and the second packet header type having less data than said first packet header type, and transmits one or more items of compressed image signal data from the storage device of the digital camera to the destination networked device capable of serving files, via the network adapter and the internet-protocol address.

71. The imaging device according to claim 70, wherein the network adapter connects to an intermediary network that is not an internet-protocol network and communicates via the intermediary network and via the internet-protocol address to the destination networked device.

72. The imaging device according to claim 71, wherein the intermediary network is selected from one of a public telephone network;

an ethernet network;

an ISDN network;

a cable television network;

an ATM network;

a satellite network;

a wireless network for wireless connection;

a high speed external serial network;

or a network for data transmission over public power lines.

73. The imaging device according to claim 72, wherein the network adapter is selected from one of a modem for public telephone networks;

an Ethernet adapter for connecting to an Ethernet LAN;

an ISDN modem;

an xDSL adapter;

a cable modem;

an ATM adapter;

a T carrier terminal adapter;

an adapter for satellite connection;

an adapter for microwave connection;

an adapter for wireless connection;

an adapter for serial transmission over a high speed external serial bus;

or an adapter for data transmission over public power lines.

74. The imaging device according to claim 71, wherein the internet-protocol address for the destination network device is on an internet-protocol network, and wherein the imaging device transfers image file data using a first packetizing for the intermediary network and a second packetizing for the internet-protocol network corresponding to the destination networked device.

75. The imaging device according to claim 74, wherein the first packetizing is pursuant to PPP, and wherein the second packetizing is pursuant to IP.

76. The imaging device according to claim 70, wherein the compression circuit employs wavelet compression and, to increase the data rate, the connectionless data transfer protocol does not retransmit data.

77. The imaging device according to claim 76, wherein the compressed data corresponds to the previewed image scenes previewed by an operator, and the microcontroller employs the connectionless data transfer protocol to increase the data rate transmitted via the network adapter when the microcontroller transmits the one or more items of compressed image signal data from the storage device of the digital camera to the destination networked device capable of serving files.

78. The imaging device according to claim 70, wherein the connection-oriented protocol is TCP, and the connectionless protocol is UDP.

79. The imaging device according to claim 70, further comprising a serial connection for transfer of data to a connected computer wherein the compressed data is transferred from the storage device of the imaging device to the connected computer via the serial connection.

80. The imaging device according to claim 70, further comprising an internet-protocol mail application executable by the microcontroller, wherein the parameter memory stores one or more e-mail addresses corresponding to an e-mail recipient, and wherein status messages can be transferred to one or more e-mail addresses corresponding to an e-mail recipient via the network adapter.

81. The imaging device according to claim 70, wherein the network adapter is a network interface device that is installed in a slot interface and is not built-in to the imaging device circuitry.

82. The imaging device according to claim 70, further comprising a display, wherein the compressed image signal data includes image signal data corresponding to image scenes previewed by an operator via the display.

83. The imaging device according to claim 70, further comprising an optical finder, wherein the compressed image signal data includes image signal data corresponding to image scenes previewed by an operator via an optical finder.

84. An imaging device, comprising:

a camera lens, image sensor and image processing circuit that together record images and output image signal data corresponding to the recorded images;

a display and display circuit permitting an operator to preview a scene to be recorded as an image and output as image signal data;

an operator'"'"'s release button that initiates recording of image signal data of scenes previewed by an operator;

a microcontroller that is operably connected to the image processing circuit, the display circuit, and the operator'"'"'s release button;

a storage device that stores image signal data;

a communications adapter that connects via a point to point connection to a destination networked device;

an transport control protocol that permits internet-protocol connection, via said communications adapter and point to point connection, to an internet-protocol address at the destination networked device;

a network communication routine operating under a transfer protocol for transferring picture files;

wherein the image signal data corresponds to the previewed image scenes previewed by an operator, and the microcontroller and network communication routine transmit the image signal data from the storage device of the imaging device to the destination networked device via the communications adapter, the point to point connection, the transport control protocol, the transfer protocol for transferring picture files, and the internet-protocol address.

85. The imaging device according to claim 84, further comprising a password enabling routine executable by the microcontroller, that configures said imaging device to register with the destination networked device via said communications adapter, in a first mode providing a password in order to register with the destination networked device and in a second mode registering with the destination networked device without providing a password.

86. The imaging device according to claim 84, wherein the destination networked device is an internet server, and the point to point connection is selected from one of a public telephone connection;

an ISDN connection;

an ATM connection;

a satellite connection;

a wireless connection;

a high speed external serial connection;

or a connection for data transmission over public power lines.

87. The imaging device according to claim 86, wherein the communications adapter is selected from one of a modem for public telephone networks;

an ISDN modem;

an xDSL adapter;

an ATM adapter;

a T carrier terminal adapter;

an adapter for satellite connection;

an adapter for microwave connection;

an adapter for wireless connection;

an adapter for serial transmission over a high speed external serial bus;

or an adapter for data transmission over public power lines.

88. The imaging device according to claim 84, wherein the imaging device transfers image file data using a first packetizing for the point to point connection and a second packetizing for the transport control protocol.

89. The imaging device according to claim 88, wherein the first packetizing is pursuant to PPP, and wherein the second packetizing is pursuant to IP.

90. The imaging device according to claim 84, wherein said transport control protocol is connection-oriented and retransmits data upon a failed transmission, and further comprising:

a connectionless data transfer protocol that does not retransmit data to increase the data rate; and

a protocol selection routine executable by the microcontroller, that selectively employs the connection-oriented transport control protocol or the connectionless data transfer protocol.

91. The imaging device according to claim 90, wherein the connection-oriented transport control protocol is TCP, and the connectionless data transfer protocol is UDP.

92. The imaging device according to claim 84, further comprising a serial connection for transfer of data to a connected computer wherein the compressed data is transferred from the storage device of the imaging device to the connected computer via the serial connection.

93. The imaging device according to claim 84, further comprising an internet-protocol mail application executable by the microcontroller, wherein the parameter memory stores one or more e-mail addresses corresponding to an e-mail recipient, and wherein status messages can be transferred to one or more e-mail addresses corresponding to an e-mail recipient via the network adapter.

94. The imaging device according to claim 84, wherein the communications adapter is a network interface device that is installed in a slot interface and is not built-in to the imaging device circuitry.

95. The imaging device according to claim 84, wherein the image signal data includes image signal data corresponding to image scenes previewed by an operator via the display.

96. The imaging device according to claim 84, further comprising an optical finder, wherein the image signal data includes image signal data corresponding to image scenes previewed by an operator via the optical finder.

97. An imaging device, comprising:

a camera lens, image sensor and image processing circuit that together record images and output image signal data corresponding to the recorded images;

a display and display circuit permitting an operator to preview a scene to be recorded as an image and output as image signal data;

an operator'"'"'s release button that initiates recording of image signal data of scenes previewed by an operator;

a microcontroller that is operably connected to the image processing circuit, the display circuit, and the operator'"'"'s release button;

a set of communications protocols providing different connections, including a serial connection for transfer of data to a connected computer and an internet-protocol file transfer connection for transfer of data to an internet-protocol network;

a storage device that stores image signal data;

a batching routine executable by the microcontroller that organizes one or more items of image signal data as batched data;

a file transfer application routine that transfers the batched data;

wherein the batched data includes image signal data corresponding to the previewed image scenes previewed by an operator, and the microcontroller selectively transfers image signal data as batched data from the storage device of the imaging device to (i) a connected computer, using the serial connection for transfer of data to a connected computer, or to (ii) an internet-protocol network using the internet-protocol file transfer connection for transfer of data to an internet-protocol network.

98. The imaging device according to claim 97, further comprising an password enabling routine executable by the microcontroller, that configures said imaging device to register on the internet-protocol network via said network adapter, in a first mode providing a password in order to register on the internet-protocol and in a second mode registering on the internet-protocol without providing a password.

99. The imaging device according to claim 97, further comprising a protocol switching routine executable by the microcontroller, that selectively switches the internet-protocol file transfer connection for transfer of data between a connection-oriented protocol and a connectionless protocol, wherein the microcontroller selectively transfers image signal data as batched data from the storage device of the imaging device to the internet-protocol network using the internet-protocol file transfer connection for transfer of data to an internet-protocol network selectively employing one of the connection-oriented protocol and the connectionless protocol.

100. The imaging device according to claim 99, wherein the connection-oriented protocol is TCP, and the connectionless protocol is UDP.

101. The imaging device according to claim 97, further comprising a streaming routine executable by said microcontroller for continuous capture and transmission of image signal data as streaming data,

wherein the streaming data includes image signal data corresponding to the previewed image scenes previewed by an operator, the microcontroller transferring the streaming data from the storage device of the imaging device to the internet-protocol network.

102. The imaging device according to claim 99, wherein the microcontroller transfers the batched data from the storage device of the imaging device to the internet-protocol network via the network adapter using a connectionless protocol that does not retransmit data.

103. The imaging device according to claim 102, wherein the connectionless protocol that does not retransmit data is UDP.

104. The imaging device according to claim 97, further comprising an internet-protocol mail application executable by the microcontroller, wherein the parameter memory stores one or more e-mail addresses corresponding to an e-mail recipient, and wherein status messages can be transferred to one or more e-mail addresses corresponding to an e-mail recipient via the network adapter.

105. The imaging device according to claim 97, wherein the network adapter is a network interface device that is installed in a slot interface and is not built-in to the imaging device circuitry.

106. The imaging device according to claim 97, wherein the batched data includes image signal data corresponding to image scenes previewed by an operator via the display.

107. The imaging device according to claim 97, further comprising an optical finder, wherein the batched data includes image signal data corresponding to image scenes previewed by an operator via the optical finder.