Proximity of shared image devices

• US 20060170958A1
• Filed: 04/26/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Lord, Robert W., Jung, Edward K.Y., Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,920,169 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/4092 Image resolution transcoding, e.g. by using client-server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00005 relating to image data
• 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 1/00132 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 1/00204 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 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• 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 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33328 Resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/634 Warning indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/662 by using master/slave camera arrangements for affecting the control of camera image capture, e.g. placing the camera in a desirable condition to capture a desired image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/815 : for controlling the resolution by using a single image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 : Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/951 : by using two or more images to influence resolution, frame rate or aspect ratio

Abstract

A technique involving either: a) transmitting at least one portion of at least one image representation from, or b) receiving at least one portion of at least one image representation to, a first shared image device in a manner at least partially relying on a proximity of the first shared image device and an at least one other shared image device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

transmitting at least one portion of at least one image representation from a first shared image device in a manner at least partially relying on a proximity of the first shared image device and an at least one other shared image device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

establishing a permission for the first shared image device to join a sharing session.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

providing an ability for the first shared image device to join a sharing session.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

providing ancillary information pertaining to at least one image at least partially using the first shared image device to form at least one ancillary-based image.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

providing ancillary information pertaining to an image at least partially using the first shared image device to form an ancillary-based image, wherein the ancillary information includes at least one from a group of format-shared information, associated information, textual information, audio, annotation information, image map information, executable code, data overlay information, or transmitted license.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

watermark-transforming at least one image at least partially using the first shared image device to form at least one watermark-transformed image.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

combining at least one image with at least another image at least partially using the first shared image device to form at least one combined transformed image.

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

pushing the at least one portion of the at least one image representation from the first shared image device at least partially based on the proximity of the first shared image device and the at least one other shared image device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request at the first shared image device to share the at least one portion of the at least one image representation.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing and forwarding of the at least one portion of the at least one image representation from the first shared image device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

user-controllably deleting the at least one image representation.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

capturing the at least one image representation at least partially using the first shared image device.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

capturing the at least one image representation at least partially using the at least one other shared image device.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

publishing the at least one portion of the at least one image representation.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selectively sharing the at least one portion of the at least one image representation with the at least one other shared image device, but not with at least another shared image device.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sharing the at least one portion of the at least one image representation with the at least one other shared image device, wherein the sharing includes actuating at least one from a group of a user-actuated button, a menu, or at least some audio information.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically deleting the at least one image representation.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically controlling processing of the at least one image representation.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

controlling processing of the at least one image representation at least partially using a user interface.

4. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

27. A method, comprising:

receiving at a first shared image device at least one portion of at least one image representation at least partially in response to a proximity of the first shared image device and at least one other shared image device.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises:

providing an ability for the first shared image device to join a sharing session.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises:

transforming at least one image at least partially using the first shared image device to form at least one transformed image.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises:

providing ancillary information pertaining to an image at least partially using the first shared image device to form at least one ancillary-based image.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises:

providing ancillary information pertaining to an image at least partially using the first shared image device to form an ancillary-based image, wherein the ancillary information includes at least one from a group of format-shared information, associated information, textual information, audio, annotation information, image map information, executable code, data overlay information, or transmitted license.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises:

watermark-transforming at least one image at least partially using the first shared image device to form at least one watermark-transformed image.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises:

combining at least one image with at least another image at least partially using the first shared image device to form at least one combined transformed image.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein the receiving at a first shared image device at least one portion of at least one image representation at least partially in response to a proximity of the first shared image device and at least one other shared image device further comprises:

receiving the at least one portion of the at least one image representation that has been pushed from the at least one other shared image device to the first shared image device.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the receiving at a first shared image device at least one portion of at least one image representation at least partially in response to a proximity of the first shared image device and at least one other shared image device further comprises:

receiving a plurality of images at the first shared image device from the at least one other shared image device.

38. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

storing and forwarding of the at least one portion of the at least one image representation received at the first shared image device.

39. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

user-controllably deleting the at least one image representation.

40. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

capturing the at least one image representation at least partially using the first shared image device.

43. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

capturing the at least one image representation at least partially using the at least one other shared image device.

46. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

automatically deleting the at least one image representation.

47. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

automatically controlling generation of the at least one image representation.

28. (canceled)

37. (canceled)

41. (canceled)

42. (canceled)

44. (canceled)

45. (canceled)

48. (canceled)

49. An apparatus, comprising:

a first shared image device configurable to transmit at least a portion of at least one image representation at least partially in response to a proximity of the first shared image device and an at least one other shared image device.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the first shared image device configurable to transmit at least a portion of at least one image representation at least partially in response to a proximity of the first shared image device and an at least one other shared image device comprises:

a communication link configurable to transmit the at least the portion of the at least one image representation for at least part of an operational coupled distance between the first shared image device and the at least one other shared image device.

51. The apparatus of claim 50 wherein the communication link configurable to transmit the at least the portion of the at least one image representation for at least part of an operational coupled distance between the first shared image device and the at least one other shared image device comprises:

at least one intermediate shared image device operatively located between the first shared image device and the at least one other shared image device.

54. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the communication link configurable to transmit the at least the portion of the at least one image representation for at least part of an operational coupled distance between the first shared image device and the at least one other shared image device comprises:

a camera-flash based communication link.

55. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the communication link configurable to transmit the at least the portion of the at least one image representation for at least part of an operational coupled distance between the first shared image device and the at least one other shared image device comprises:

a physical contact mechanism configurable by physically touching a portion of the first shared image device with a portion of the at least one other shared image device.

52. (canceled)

53. (canceled)

56. (canceled)

57. (canceled)

58. (canceled)

59. An apparatus, comprising:

a first shared image device configurable to receive at least a portion of at least one image representation at least partially in response to a proximity of the first shared image device and at least one other shared image device.

60. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving at a first shared image device at least one portion of at least one image representation at least partially in response to a proximity of the first shared image device and at least one other shared image device.

61. The apparatus of claim 60 further comprising:

at least one intermediate shared image device being operatively located between the first shared image device and the at least one other shared image device.

62. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the means for receiving at a first shared image device at least one portion of at least one image representation at least partially in response to a proximity of the first shared image device and at least one other shared image device includes:

means for operating at least partially in response to positioning the first shared image device within a prescribed distance of the at least one other shared image device.

63. (canceled)

64. An apparatus, comprising:

a communication link configurable to transfer, at least partially relying on a proximity, an at least one portion of at least one image representation in at least part of an operational coupled distance from a first shared image device to an at least one other shared image device, wherein the at least one other shared image device is configurable to capture at least one image.

65. (canceled)

66. A system, comprising:

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

the first shared image device configurable to transmit the at least the portion of the at least one image representation to the at least one other shared image device at least partially in response to the request to share, and wherein the transmission is at least partially provided based upon a proximity of the first shared image device and the at least one other shared image device.