Automatically Configuring A Web-Enabled Digital Camera To Access The Internet

• US 20090009610A1
• Filed: 09/17/2008
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mind Fusion, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: KDL Scan Designs LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Anderson, Eric C., Morris, Robert Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,009,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00151 with selective access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00196 Creation of a photo-montage, e.g. photoalbum H04N1/0019 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00212 Attaching image data to computer messages, e.g. to e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00241 using an image reading device as a local input to a computer input via network, e.g. network scanners H04N1/00225
• 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 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A method and system for automatically configuring a hand-held electronic device for accessing a site on a public network is disclosed. The method and system include establishing a connection to a website server, which is responsible for establishing and maintaining website accounts, and sending information uniquely identifying the electronic device to the website server. The server then sends user account information to the device, including an account ID and password, created based on the electronic device information. The user account information is then stored on electronic device for use the next time the electronic device accesses the website, whereby the user does not have to enter account information in order to establish the ISP connection or the website account before accessing the public network.

Claims

1. A method for automatically establishing a user account and for configuring a portable device, which includes a digital camera, for accessing a website on a public network using the user account, the method comprising:

establishing, by the portable device, a connection to a server, the server being responsible for establishing and maintaining user accounts;

automatically sending, by the portable device, device information uniquely identifying at least one of the portable device and a user of the portable device to the server so that the server can partially set up a user account for accessing a website on a public network based on the device information;

receiving, via the portable device, user account information associated with the partially set-up user account from the server; and

storing the user account information on the portable device, wherein the user does not have to enter the stored account information to establish a connection with the public network or to establish the user account a next time the portable device connects to the server.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the portable device provides wireless communication to establish the connection.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the wireless communication is cellular wireless communication.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the portable device is a cell phone.

5. The method of claim 4 further including sending at least a partial serial number as the device information uniquely identifying the portable device.

6. The method of claim 5 further including uploading captured images to the server.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein establishing a connection further comprises:

providing the portable device with default ISP information; and

establishing a connection to an ISP using the default ISP information.

8. The method of claim 7 further including terminating the connection with the ISP when the uploading of the images is complete.

9. The method of claim 5 further including providing the portable device with a default ISP access number, user ID, and password.

10. A portable device having a digital camera, the portable device configured to access a website on a public network using a user account, the portable device comprising:

an operating system;

a communication manager in communication with the operating system, the operating system configured to;

establish, via the communication manager, a connection to a server, the server being responsible for establishing and maintaining user accounts;

automatically send device information uniquely identifying at least one of the portable device and a user of the portable device to the server so that the server can partially set up a user account for accessing a website on a public network based on the device information;

receive user account information associated with the partially set-up user account from the server; and

store the user account information on the portable device, wherein the user does not have to enter the stored account information to establish a connection with the public network or to establish the user account a next time the portable device connects to the server.

11. The portable device of claim 10 wherein the communication manager is configured to provide wireless communication to establish the connection.

12. The portable device of claim 11 wherein the wireless communication is cellular wireless communication.

13. The portable device of claim 10 wherein the portable device is a cell phone.

14. The portable device of claim 13 wherein the operating system is further configured to send at least a partial serial number as the device information uniquely identifying the portable device.

15. The portable device of claim 14 wherein the operating system is further configured to upload captured images to the server.

16. The portable device of claim 15 wherein establishing a connection further comprises:

providing the portable device with default ISP information; and

establishing a connection to an ISP using the default ISP information.

17. The portable device of claim 16 further including terminating the connection with the ISP when the uploading of the images is complete.

18. The portable device of claim 14 further including providing the portable device with a default ISP access number, user ID, and password.