WIRELESS DATA CAPTURE AND SHARING SYSTEM, SUCH AS IMAGE CAPTURE AND SHARING OF DIGITAL CAMERA IMAGES VIA A WIRELESS CELLULAR NETWORK

• US 20100026816A1
• Filed: 07/30/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Drovdahl, Mark, Temple, Sinclair, Bergstrom, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US12/182,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20100026816A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.110
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00183 Photography assistance, e.g. displaying suggestions to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00196 Creation of a photo-montage, e.g. photoalbum H04N1/0019 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00461 marking or otherwise tagging one or more displayed image, e.g. for selective reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/324 intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32411 Handling instructions for routing or relaying
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0053 Optical, e.g. using an infrared link

Abstract

Described in detail herein are systems and methods for allowing a wireless telecommunications device, such as a cell phone, to wirelessly receive and transmit digital content, such as digital images from a camcorder. Further, the wireless telecommunications device can wirelessly command a digital content capture device. Further, a card may be inserted into a digital content capture device to permit the device to wirelessly send digital content. Further details and features are described herein.

Claims

1. A digital content sharing system, wherein the digital content sharing system may be used with a cellular telecommunications network and a Internet Protocol (IP) based computer network, the system comprising:

a digital image capture apparatus comprising;

optics and image capture circuitry,

image capture input and output components,

a short-range wireless transceiver, and

at least one image capture processor coupled to communicate with the optics and image capture circuitry, the image capture input and output components, and the short-range wireless transceiver, and

a first hand-held housing for carrying the optics and image capture circuitry, the image capture input and output components, the short-range wireless transceiver, and the at least one image capture processor; and

,

a mobile telecommunications device comprising;

user input and output components,

a first wireless transceiver component for communicating with the short-range wireless transceiver;

a second wireless transceiver component for communicating with the cellular telecommunications network,

at least one processor coupled to communicate with the user input and output components, the first wireless transceiver component, and the second wireless transceiver component, and

a second hand-held housing, separate from the first housing, for carrying the user input and output components, the first wireless transceiver component, the second wireless transceiver component, and the at least one processor;

wherein the cellular telecommunications network has a range greater than that of the short-range wireless transceiver,

wherein the digital image capture apparatus is configured to capture a digital image via the optics and image capture circuitry, and to forward the captured digital image directly to the mobile telecommunications device via the short-range wireless transceiver, and

wherein the mobile telecommunications device is configured to receive the captured digital image via the first wireless transceiver component, and to forward the captured digital image to the cellular telecommunications network via the second wireless transceiver component, wherein the cellular telecommunications network in turn forwards the captured digital image to a designated network address on the IP based computer network.

2. The digital content sharing system of claim 1, wherein the digital image capture apparatus is a digital camera, wherein the short-range wireless transceiver is formed on a removable card received within a memory card slot of the digital camera, and wherein the short-range wireless transceiver includes a Bluetooth radio, and

wherein the mobile telecommunications device is a cell phone, wherein the first wireless transceiver component includes a Bluetooth radio paired to the digital camera'"'"'s Bluetooth radio, wherein the network address is a universal resource locator (URL), and wherein the IP based computer network is the World Wide Web.

3. The digital content sharing system of claim 1, wherein the digital image capture apparatus and the mobile telecommunications device are packaged together as a single unit, and

wherein the digital image capture apparatus and the mobile telecommunications device are preconfigured as logically paired together to exchange communications.

4. The digital content sharing system of claim 1, wherein the digital image capture apparatus is a digital camera configured to capture still images, video images, or both,

wherein the mobile telecommunications device is a cellular phone having an integrated digital camera, and

wherein the digital camera produces higher resolution or higher quality images than the cellular phone'"'"'s digital camera.

5. A method of sharing digital content using a wireless telecommunications device, wherein the wireless telecommunications device operates on a wireless telecommunications network, the method comprising:

at the wireless telecommunications device, automatically and directly receiving captured digital content using a short-range wireless protocol,

wherein the wireless telecommunications device is logically associated with a digital content capture device that is in wireless range of the wireless mobile device under the short-range wireless protocol, and,

automatically forwarding the digital content, using the wireless telecommunications device, to a predetermined network destination,

wherein the forwarding is done using the wireless telecommunications network and without contemporaneous human interaction with the wireless telecommunications device, and

wherein the predetermined network destination is associated with a user of the wireless telecommunications device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the wireless telecommunications network is a cellular telecommunications network, wherein the telecommunications device is a cellular phone, wherein the digital content is a digital photo captured via a digital camera, wherein the short-range wireless protocol is the Bluetooth protocol, and wherein the predetermined network destination is accessible over a TCP/IP network via a Universal Resource Locator (URL).

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

pairing the wireless telecommunications device with a digital camera under the Bluetooth protocol; and

,

employing the Dial-Up Networking (DUN) or Personal Area Network (PAN) profile under the Bluetooth protocol to receive the digital content at the wireless telecommunications device from the digital camera.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

detecting multiple wireless networks, wherein the wireless networks include the wireless telecommunications network and a wireless local area network (WLAN); and

,

automatically forwarding the digital content via the WLAN.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein the predetermined network location is associated with an electronic picture frame.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein the predetermined network location comprises encapsulating a logical network address with the digital content, and wherein the logical address is associated with a web page for the user and related to an operator of the wireless telecommunications network.

11. The method of claim 5 wherein the digital content comprises an audio file.

12. The method of claim 5 wherein the automatically forwarding includes adding a user identifier, wherein the user identifier comprises:

a mobile identification number (MIN), International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI), International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI), Secret Serial Number (SSN), phone number, Medium Access Control (MAC) address, or Globally Unique Identifier (GUID).

13. The method of claim 5, wherein the wireless telecommunications network is an IP-based wireless telecommunications network.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein the short-range wireless protocol differs from a protocol used within the wireless network.

15. An apparatus configured for sharing digital content within a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

means for logically associating with a digital content capture device, wherein the digital content capture device is within wireless range under a short-range wireless protocol;

means for automatically receiving captured digital content using the short-range wireless protocol; and

,

means for automatically forwarding the digital content to a predetermined network destination,

wherein the means for forwarding employs the wireless network, and

wherein the predetermined network destination is associated with a user of the apparatus.

16. A method of routing still digital images, moving digital images, or both, within a wireless network, the method comprising:

receiving a wireless transceiver card,

wherein the wireless transceiver card includes a processor, a wireless transceiver, and instructions executed by the processor for wirelessly transmitting digital images to a predetermined network address via the wireless transceiver,

wherein the wireless transceiver card is configured to be received within a memory card slot of a digital camera or digital video camera and is configured to be recognized by the digital camera or digital video recorder as a memory card to receive digital images for storage, and,

wherein the wireless transceiver employs at least one protocol compatible with a protocol employed by the wireless network; and

automatically forwarding digital images to the predetermined network address, via the wireless transceiver and the wireless network,

wherein the wireless transceiver card is associated with prepaid authorization to access or use the wireless network.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the wireless network is a wireless telephone network, and wherein the wireless transceiver of the wireless transceiver card includes at least one of a GSM radio, a GPRS radio, an EDGE radio, a UMTS radio, an LTE radio, an 802.11 radio, an 802.16 radio, and a CDMA radio.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving customer data during or after purchase of the wireless transceiver card, wherein the customer differs from a user of the wireless transceiver card, wherein the customer data includes obtaining a billing address for the customer that differs from a billing address of the user, and wherein the customer data further includes a new predetermined network address that replaces the predetermined network address.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving customer data during or after purchase of the wireless transceiver card.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising performing or receiving over-the-air activation of the wireless transceiver card with the wireless network during or after initial power up of the wireless transceiver card, wherein the wireless network is a wireless telephone network, and wherein the wireless transceiver card includes identification information to authorize access to the wireless network.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the wireless transceiver card incorporates a semiconductor memory for at least temporarily storing the digital images captured by the digital camera or digital video camera.

22. An article of manufacture configured to route, via a wireless telecommunications network, still digital images, moving digital images, or both, from a digital camera or digital camcorder, the article of manufacture comprising:

a combined memory and wireless transceiver card, comprising;

a processor,

a semiconductor memory, wherein the memory includes a first memory portion for storing digital images, and a second memory portion for storing instructions,

a wireless transceiver, wherein the wireless transceiver employs at least one protocol compatible with a protocol employed by the wireless telecommunications network,

routing instructions stored in the second memory portion and executed by the processor to wirelessly transmit digital images stored in the first memory portion to a predetermined network address via the wireless transceiver,

network instructions stored in the second memory portion and executed by the processor to permit the wireless transceiver to communicate network identification information to the wireless telecommunications network for authorization by the wireless telecommunications network, and,

a carrying member for carrying the processor, memory and wireless transceiver, wherein the carrying member is sized and configured to be received within a memory card slot of the digital camera or digital camcorder and to be automatically recognized as a memory card to receive digital images for storage.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 22 wherein the predetermined network address is a TCP/IP-based URL.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 22 wherein the network identification information is associated with prepaid authorization to access or use data services, but not voice services, of the wireless telecommunications network.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 22 wherein the network instructions include a software-based Subscriber Identity Module (SIM).

26. An article of manufacture configured to route, via a wireless network, digital content from a digital content capture device, the article of manufacture comprising:

a combined memory and wireless transceiver card, comprising;

a processor,

a memory,

a wireless transceiver, wherein the wireless transceiver employs at least one protocol compatible with a protocol employed by the wireless network,

first instructions stored in the memory and executed by the processor to wirelessly transmit digital images stored in the memory via the wireless transceiver,

second instructions stored in the second memory portion and executed by the processor to permit the wireless transceiver to communicate identification information to the wireless network for authorization to use or access the wireless network,

wherein the identification information is associated with prepaid authorization to access or use data services of the wireless network, and,

a carrying member for carrying the processor, memory and wireless transceiver, wherein the carrying member is sized and configured to be received within a memory card slot of the digital content capture device and to be recognized as a memory card to receive digital content for storage.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 26 wherein the wireless network is a GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, LTE or CDMA-based cellular network and wherein the wireless transceiver and second instructions are configured to permit exchange of data via the cellular network.

28. An article of manufacture, wherein the article of manufacture comprises a computer-readable medium carrying instructions for use by a wireless telecommunications device, wherein the instructions, when executed by the wireless telecommunications device permit the device to perform a method, the method comprising:

wirelessly receiving at the wireless telecommunications device still digital images, moving digital images, or both, directly from a digital camera or digital camcorder;

displaying the received images at the wireless telecommunications device;

receiving at the wireless telecommunications device at least one user-input command affecting at least one of the received digital images; and

,

wirelessly transmitting to the digital camera or digital camcorder, from the wireless telecommunications device, the user-input command, wherein the digital camera or digital camcorder in turn performs locally at the digital camera or digital camcorder the transmitted user-input command from the wireless telecommunications device.

29. The article of manufacture of claim 28 wherein the wireless telecommunications device is a cellular phone, wherein the cellular phone is configured to communicate with both a cellular network using a longer range cellular network protocol and with the digital camera or digital camcorder using a shorter range wireless protocol, and wherein the wirelessly transmitting includes wirelessly transmitting to the digital camera or digital camcorder the user-input command using the shorter range wireless protocol.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 28 wherein the user-input command is a command to modify or delete at least one of the received digital images at the digital camera or digital camcorder.

31. The article of manufacture of claim 28, further comprising wirelessly transmitting at least one received digital image to a wireless network, and wherein the user-input command includes inputting a new network address for routing the at least one digital image.