Real-Time Remote Image Capture System

• US 20110075011A1
• Filed: 12/07/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Abebe, Muguleta S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,553,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/333.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/38 with central registration

Abstract

One system for remotely capturing an image, among others, contains a first image capture device coupled to a communications network. The first image capture device has a touch-screen display and adapted to display a map image retrieved from a map database, wherein the first image capture device enables a first user to draw markings on the map image via the touch-screen display and to transmit the markings to a second image capture device. After receipt of the markings by the second image capture device, the first image capture device concurrently displays with the second image capture device the markings on the map image.

Claims

1. A first image capture device coupled to a communications network for remotely capturing an image, comprising:

a touch screen display for displaying a map image retrieved from a map database;

a writing instrument enabling a first user to draw markings on the map image via the touch-screen display; and

a processor for transmitting the markings to a second image capture device, and after receipt of the markings by the second image capture device, concurrently displaying with the second image capture device the markings on the map image.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the markings comprise map directions to a location contained in the map image.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the second image capture device, wherein the second image capture device provides for a second user to draw secondary markings on the map image via a touch-screen display of the second image capture device and transmit the secondary markings to the first image capture device that is concurrently displaying the map image from the map database,

wherein the processor instructs displaying the secondary markings on the map image after being received from the second image capture device.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the map database.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the map database is stored locally within the first image capture device.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second writing instrument adapted to draw markings on a touch-screen display of the second image capture device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the writing instrument comprises a stylus.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the first image capture device further displays an image of an object, utilizes the writing instrument to make modifications to the image displayed on the touch-screen display, and transmits the modified image to the second image capture device.

9. A method for remotely capturing an image, comprising:

displaying a map image retrieved from a map database on a first image capture device;

capturing on a touch-screen display markings drawn on the touch-screen display in regards to the map image; and

transmitting the markings to a second image capture device,

wherein, after receipt of the markings by the second image capture device, the first image capture device concurrently displays with the second image capture device the markings on the map image.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the markings comprise map directions to a location contained in the map image.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving secondary markings from the second image capture device that is concurrently displaying the map image from the map database; and

displaying the secondary markings from the second image capture device on the map image after being received from the second image capture device.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a request from the second image capture device for directions to a location contained on the map image.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

utilizing a writing instrument to generate the markings on the touch-screen display, wherein the markings comprise map directions to the location contained in the map image.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

displaying an image of an object;

utilizing the writing instrument to make modifications to the image displayed on the touch-screen display; and

transmitting the modified image to the second image capture device.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing a computer program for remotely capturing an image, the computer readable storage medium when executed by a processor causing the processor to:

display a map image retrieved from a map database on a first image capture device;

capture on a touch-screen display markings drawn on the touch-screen display in regards to the map image; and

transmit the markings to a second image capture device,

wherein, after receipt of the markings by the second image capture device, the first image capture device concurrently displays with the second image capture device the markings on the map image.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the markings comprise map directions to a location contained in the map image.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, the computer program further causing the processor to:

receiving secondary markings from the second image capture device that is concurrently displaying the map image from the map database; and

displaying the secondary markings from the second image capture device on the map image after being received from the second image capture device.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, the computer program further causing the processor to:

receive a request from the second image capture device for directions to a location contained on the map image.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, the computer program further causing the processor to:

utilizing a writing instrument to generate the markings on the touch-screen display, wherein the markings comprise map directions to the location contained in the map image.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, the computer program further causing the processor to:

display an image of an object;

utilize the writing instrument to make modifications to the image displayed on the touch-screen display; and

transmitting the modified image to the second image capture device.