Communication system, digital camera and docking apparatus

• US 20060184705A1
• Filed: 10/26/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Nakajima, Yukio
• Application Number:
  US11/258,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20060184705A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• 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 2201/0058 Docking-station, cradle or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

Wireless communications between a digital camera and a printer dock are established in a simple manner. A processor (10f) of a digital camera (10) detects a printer dock (12) within communication range via a communications circuit (10e) and its ID is acquired. The processor (10f) uses the acquired ID to transmit a sequential power transmit request to the printer dock (12). In response to this request, the printer dock (12) wirelessly transmits power from a communications circuit (12b) and a transmitting coil (12c). When power is received by a receiving coil (10a), it specifies that printer dock (12) is the communication party, and photographed data is wirelessly transmitted using an ID of the specified printer dock (12).

Claims

1. A communication system comprising a portable terminal apparatus and a base station apparatus and performing data communications between said portable terminal apparatus and said base station apparatus;

said base station apparatus comprising;

power transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting power to said portable terminal apparatus; and

base station side communicating means for transferring data with said portable terminal apparatus;

said portable terminal apparatus comprising;

power receiving means for receiving power transmitted wirelessly from said base station apparatus;

terminal side communicating means for transferring data with said base station apparatus; and

data storing means for storing data to be transmitted to said base station apparatus;

wherein said terminal side communicating means transmit a power transmit request command to said base station side communicating means;

wherein said power transmitting means wirelessly transmit power when said base station side communicating means receive said power transmit request command from said terminal side communicating means;

wherein said terminal side communicating means transmit data stored in said data storing means to said base station apparatus when power that is wirelessly transmitted from said base station apparatus is received by said power receiving means.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

said portable terminal apparatus further comprises identification data acquiring means for detecting the base station apparatus located within data communication range of said terminal communicating means and acquiring identification data unique to each base station;

said base station apparatus further comprises identification storing means for storing identification data thereof;

said terminal side communicating means sequentially transmit the power transmit request command to said base station side communicating means using identification data acquired by said identification data acquiring means;

said power transmitting means wirelessly transmit power when said power transmit request command including identification data thereof is received from said terminal side communicating means;

said terminal side communicating means set a data communication party using said identification data of the base station apparatus, which is the power transmission source, and transmit data stored in said data storing means to said base station apparatus when power that is wirelessly transmitted from said base station apparatus is received by said power receiving means.

8. A communication system according to claim 1, said portable terminal apparatus further comprising:

a secondary battery; and

charging means for charging said secondary battery with power transmitted wirelessly from said base station apparatus and received by said power receiving means.

3. A communication system for transmitting photographed data stored in a digital camera to a docking apparatus;

said docking apparatus comprising;

power transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting power to said digital camera;

dock side communicating means for transferring data with said digital camera;

ID storing means for storing an ID thereof; and

means for printing or storing photographed data transmitted from said digital camera;

said digital camera comprising;

power receiving means for receiving power wirelessly transmitted from said docking apparatus;

camera side communicating means for transferring data with said docking apparatus;

photographed data storing means for storing photographed data to be transmitted to said docking apparatus; and

ID acquiring means for detecting the docking apparatus located within data communication range and acquiring an ID thereof;

said camera side communicating means sequentially transmit the power transmit request command to said docking apparatus using the ID acquired by said ID acquiring means;

said power transmitting means wirelessly transmit power when said power transmit request command is received from said camera side communicating means by said dock side communicating means;

said camera side communicating means set a data communication party using said ID of the docking apparatus, which is the power transmission source, and transmit photographed data stored in said photographed data storing means to said docking apparatus when power that is wirelessly transmitted from said docking apparatus is received by said power receiving means.

6. A system according to claim 3, wherein:

said digital camera further comprises means for detecting remaining capacity of an internal secondary battery;

said camera side communicating means transmit said photographed data when said remaining capacity is greater than or equal to a capacity necessary for transmission of said photographed data, and transmit said photographed data after said internal secondary battery has been charged to a capacity greater than or equal to that necessary for transmission of said photographed data by power from said docking apparatus that was set as said data communication party when said remaining capacity is less than necessary for data communication.

4. A digital camera for performing data communications with a docking apparatus, said digital camera comprising:

power receiving means for receiving power that is wirelessly transmitted;

ID acquiring means for detecting the docking apparatus located within data communication range and acquiring an ID thereof; and

data communicating means for sequentially transmitting a power transmit request command to said docking apparatus using the ID acquired by said ID acquiring means, and when power that is transmitted in response to said power transmit request command is received by said power receiving means, for specifying a docking apparatus for data communications using said ID of said docking apparatus that transmitted the power, and for transmitting photographed data to the specified docking apparatus.

7. A digital camera according to claim 4, further comprising:

means for detecting remaining capacity of an internal secondary battery;

said data communicating means transmit said photographed data when said remaining capacity is greater than or equal to a capacity necessary for transmission of said photographed data, and transmit said photographed data after said internal secondary battery has been charged to a capacity greater than or equal to that necessary for transmission of said photographed data by power from said specified docking apparatus.

5. A docking apparatus for supplying power to a digital camera and for inputting, then printing or storing, photographed data from within said digital camera, said docking apparatus comprising:

ID storing means for storing an ID thereof;

means for transmitting said ID in accordance with a request from said digital camera;

power transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting power to said digital camera in accordance with a power transmit request specified with said ID;

means for receiving said photographed data specified with said ID and transmitted from the digital camera that received said power; and

means for printing or storing said photographed data.