Shared image devices

• US 20060170956A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Lord, Robert W., Jung, Edward K.Y., Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US11/048,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20060170956A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00148 Storage information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00161 Viewing or previewing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00167 Processing or editing H04N1/00196 - H04N1/00201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00172 directly from a still digital camera or from a storage medium mounted in a still digital camera H04N1/0018 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/42 Systems for two-way working , e.g. conference systems H04N1/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera

Abstract

A device comprising a first shared image device that captures at least one image representation. The first shared image device receives a request to share the at least one image representation to an at least one other shared image device. The first shared image device and the at least one other shared image device are each capable of capturing image representations. The first shared image device transmits the at least one image representation.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

capturing at least one image representation with a first shared image device;

receiving a request at the first shared image device from at least one other shared image device to share at least a portion of the at least one image representation, wherein the at least one other shared image device is capable of capturing at least one image representation; and

transmitting the at least the portion of the at least one image representation from the first shared image device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the at least the portion of the at least one image representation from the first shared image device comprises:

transmitting a thumbnail or a reduced resolution version of the at least one image representation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the at least the portion of the at least one image representation from the first shared image device comprises:

transmitting a corresponding at least one image representation that was obtained prior to a most recently captured image representation obtained during the capturing at least one image representation with a first shared image device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the at least the portion of the at least one image representation from the first shared image device comprises:

transmitting the at least the portion of the at least one image representation from the first shared image device to the at least one other shared image device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the at least the portion of the at least one image representation from the first shared image device comprises:

transmitting the at least the portion of the at least one image representation from the first shared image device to another shared image device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

combining the at least the portion of the at least one image representation with an additional image portion to yield an at least a combined image.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving a request at the first shared image device from at least one other shared image device to share at least a portion of the at least one image representation, wherein the at least one other shared image device is capable of capturing at least one image representation comprises:

receiving the request at the first shared image device indirectly from the at least one other shared image device via at least one intermediate shared image device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving a request at the first shared image device from at least one other shared image device to share at least a portion of the at least one image representation, wherein the at least one other shared image device is capable of capturing at least one image representation comprises:

recognizing a shared image device domain based at least in part on a proximity of the first shared image device with at least one of another shared image device or the at least one other shared image device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving a request at the first shared image device from at least one other shared image device to share at least a portion of the at least one image representation, wherein the at least one other shared image device is capable of capturing at least one image representation comprises:

recognizing a shared image device domain based at least in part on a password of at least one of another shared image device or the at least one other shared image device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the at least the portion of the at least one image representation from the first shared image device comprises:

storing and forwarding the at least the portion of the at least one image representation.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprises:

establishing a communication link between the first shared image device and at least one of another shared image device or the at least one other shared image device.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the capturing at least one image representation with a first shared image device further comprises:

photographing a still image representation with a camera.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the capturing at least one image representation with a first shared image device comprises:

photographing a moving image representation with a motion picture camera.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the at least the portion of the at least one image representation from the first shared image device further comprises:

selecting those at least the portion of the at least one image representation taken at the first shared image device that are private and those that are public;

allowing those at least the portion of at least the image representation that are public to be transmitted; and

reducing the possibility of those at least the portion of at least the image representation that are private to be transmitted.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the at least the portion of the at least one image representation from the first shared image device further comprises:

at least one of publishing or broadcasting the at least the portion of the at least one image representation captured at the first shared image device.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the capturing at least one image representation with a first shared image device further comprises:

transmitting to a shared image device that is a member of a session that characterizes a public-sharing domain.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the at least the portion of the at least one image representation from the first shared image device comprises:

transmitting to a shared image device that is a member of private-sharing domain that relies at least in part on input from the first shared image device.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the at least the portion of the at least one image representation from the first shared image device further comprises:

transmitting audio information from the first shared image device.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the at least the portion of the at least one image representation from the first shared image device further comprises:

transmitting metadata from the first shared image device.

2. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

destroying the communication link following the session.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

destroying the communication link following the session;

establishing at least one other communication link following the destroying the communication link; and

transmitting another at least a portion of at least another image representation over the at least one other communication link.

21. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

32. An apparatus, comprising:

a first shared image device configurable to capture at least one image representation;

the first shared image device configurable to receive a request to share the at least one image representation with an at least one other shared image device, wherein the first shared image device and the at least one other shared image device are each capable of capturing image representations; and

the first shared image device configurable to transmit the at least one image representation.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the first shared image device configurable to capture at least one image representation comprises:

the first shared image device configurable to share the at least one image representation.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the first shared image device configurable to capture at least one image representation comprises:

a still-picture camera configurable to capture the at least one image representation.

36. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the first shared image device configurable to capture at least one image representation comprises:

a motion-picture camera configurable to capture the at least one image representation.

39. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the first shared image device configurable to receive a request to share the at least one image representation with an at least one other shared image device comprises:

the first shared image device configurable to establish a communication link with the at least one other shared image device.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the first shared image device configurable to establish a communication link with the at least one other shared image device comprises:

the first shared image device configurable to establish a store and forward mechanism.

46. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the first shared image device configurable to establish a communication link with the at least one other shared image device comprises:

the first shared image device configurable to establish a wireless communication link.

47. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the first shared image device configurable to establish a communication link with the at least one other shared image device comprises:

the first shared image device configurable to establish a camera-flash based communication link.

48. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the first shared image device configurable to establish a communication link with the at least one other shared image device comprises:

the first shared image device configurable to establish the communication link relying at least in part on physical contact of a portion of the first shared image device with a portion of the at least one other shared image device.

50. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the first shared image device configurable to establish a communication link with the at least one other shared image device comprises:

the first shared image device and the at least one other shared image device configurable in a peer-to-peer configuration.

51. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the first shared image device configurable to establish a communication link with the at least one other shared image device comprises:

the first shared image device and the at least one other shared image device are configurable in a master-satellite configuration.

34. (canceled)

37. (canceled)

38. (canceled)

41. (canceled)

42. (canceled)

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the first shared image device configurable to establish an intermediate device comprises:

the first shared image device configurable to establish yet another shared image device that is capable of capturing image representations.

44. (canceled)

45. (canceled)

49. (canceled)

52. A method, comprising:

requesting at a first shared image device to receive at least a portion of at least one image representation from an at least one other shared image device, wherein the first shared image device and the at least one other shared image device are each capable of capturing image representations; and

receiving the at least the portion of the at least one image representation at the first shared image device.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the receiving the at least the portion of the at least one image representation at the first shared image device comprises:

receiving the at least the portion of the at least one image representation at the first shared image device at least partially from the at least one other shared image device, and wherein the receiving the at least the portion of the at least one image representation at the first shared image device acts to share the at least the portion of the at least one image representation from the at least one other shared image device.

55. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

establishing a communication link between the first shared image device and the at least one other shared image device, wherein the establishing a communication link occurs at least partially utilizing proximity of the first shared image device and the at least one other shared image device.

58. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

combining the at least the portion of the at least one image representation with an additional image portion to yield a combined image.

54. (canceled)

56. (canceled)

57. (canceled)

59. A system, comprising:

a first shared image device configurable to capture at least a portion of at least one image representation;

an at least one other shared image device configurable to transmit a request to share an at least a portion of the at least one image representation to the first shared image device, wherein the first shared image device and the at least one other shared image device are each capable of capturing image representations;

the first shared image device configurable to receive the request to share the at least the portion of the at least one image representation from the at least one other shared image device;

the first shared image device configurable to transmit over the communication link the at least the portion of the at least one image representation to the at least one other shared image device; and

the at least one other shared image device configurable to receive the at least the portion of the at least one image representation to effect sharing of the at least the portion of the at least one image representation.

60. A system, comprising:

a first shared image device configurable to capture at least one image representation;

the first shared image device configurable to transmit the at least one image representation to at least one other shared image device, wherein the at least one other shared image device is configurable to capture an another image representation; and

the at least one other shared image device configurable to receive the at least one image representation transmitted by the first shared image device to effect sharing of the at least one image representation.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the first shared image device configurable to transmit the at least one image representation to at least one other shared image device, wherein the at least one other shared image device is configurable to capture an another image representation further comprises:

the at least one other shared image device configurable to transmit a request to share the at least one image representation to the first shared image device; and

the first shared image device configurable to receive the request to share the at least one image representation from the at least one other shared image device.

62. The system of claim 60, wherein the first shared image device configurable to transmit the at least one image representation to at least one other shared image device, wherein the at least one other shared image device is configurable to capture an another image representation comprises:

a store and forward mechanism configurable to transmit the at least one image representation to an at least one other shared image device.

67. The system of claim 60, wherein the first shared image device configurable to transmit the at least one image representation to at least one other shared image device comprises:

the first shared image device configurable to transmit the at least one image representation over a communication link established between the first shared image device and the at least one other shared image device, wherein the communication link at least partially relies on proximity of the first shared image device and the at least one other shared image device.

63. (canceled)

64. (canceled)

65. (canceled)

66. (canceled)

68. A method, comprising:

imaging at a first capturing shared image device;

sharing the image of the first capturing shared image device with a second capturing shared image device based at least in part to the imaging capability of the first capturing shared image device.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the sharing the image of the first capturing shared image device with a second capturing shared image device based at least in part to the imaging capability of the first capturing shared image device at least partially comprises:

an imaging resolution of the first capturing shared image device.

70. The method of claim 68, wherein the first shared image device configurable to capture at least one image representation at least partially comprises:

a battery life of the first capturing shared image device.

71. An apparatus, comprising:

a first shared image device that is configured to capture at least one image representation;

the first shared image device shares at least a portion of the at least one image representation at least partially by the first shared image device transmitting the at least the portion of the at least one image representation to the at least one other shared image device, wherein an at least one other shared image device is also capable of capturing at least one image representation.