MEMORY CARD

• US 20120327268A1
• Filed: 03/01/2010
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Data Systems (S) Pte. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: T-Data Systems (S) Pte. Ltd.
• Inventors: Tan, Wayne Joon Yong
• Granted Patent: US 9,569,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/231.99
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/00 Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not involving significant data processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00148 Storage information retrieval G06F16/00
• 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 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 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00424 using a list of graphical elements, e.g. icons or icon bar
• 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 1/00464 using browsers, i.e. interfaces based on mark-up languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00493 Particular location of the interface or console
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32773 to capture an image, e.g. at a location or event remote from the requester
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32776 using an interactive, user-operated device, e.g. a computer terminal, mobile telephone H04N1/32782, H04N1/32784 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0018 via a non-image communication channel, e.g. via a computer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0036 Detecting or checking connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 : By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 : by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 : Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 : Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 : Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3266 : of text or character information, e.g. text accompanying an image H04N2201/3226 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 23/00 : Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 : Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 : Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits

Abstract

A memory card (103) for use in an electronic apparatus (101) is proposed. In order to control an electronic apparatus (101) with an inbuilt processor (301) incapable of exporting digital data externally of the electronic apparatus (101), a user local at the electronic apparatus (101) is required to operate the electronic apparatus (101). This is not always convenient. The proposed memory card (103) has a wireless module (207) for receiving an instruction wirelessly from a remote wireless-enabled apparatus (105), and also a central processor (201) for controlling the inbuilt processor (301) of the electronic apparatus (101) in accordance with the received instruction.

Claims

1. A memory card for use in an electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus having an inbuilt processor incapable of exporting digital data externally of the electronic apparatus, the memory card comprising:

a wireless module; and

a central processor configured to control the inbuilt processor of the electronic apparatus, in accordance with an instruction wirelessly received through the wireless module from a remote wireless-enabled apparatus,

wherein the central processor is configured to wirelessly send an index image file through the wireless module to the remote wireless-enabled apparatus for display, the index image file comprising a plurality of menu items.

2. The memory card of claim 1, wherein the central processor is configured to request from the inbuilt processor of the electronic apparatus a real-time view of an image sensor, and to wirelessly transmit the real-time view onward to the remote wireless-enabled apparatus through the wireless module.

3. The memory card of claim 2, wherein the central processor is configured to instruct the image sensor, via the inbuilt processor of the electronic apparatus, to move in three-dimensional space.

4. The memory card of claim 2, wherein the central processor is configured to control the image sensor, via the inbuilt processor of the electronic apparatus.

5. The memory card of claim 4, wherein the central processor is configured to wirelessly receive position and/or text data from the remote wireless-enabled apparatus through the wireless module, the position and/or text data being associated with the image captured by the image sensor.

6. The memory card of any preceding claim 1, wherein the central processor is configured to wirelessly transmit thumbnail versions of images stored in the memory card through the wireless module to the remote wireless-enabled apparatus for display.

7. The memory card of claim 6, wherein the central processor is configured to wirelessly transmit an image from the memory card directly to a remote electronic apparatus through the wireless module, upon a corresponding thumbnail version of the image displayed on the remote wireless-enabled apparatus being selected.

8. The memory card of claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the central processor is configured to detect for availability of an access point, and upon detection of an available access point, to establish communications between the wireless module and the access point.

9. The memory card of claim 8, wherein the central processor is configured to automatically detect for availability of an access point in the absence of a remote electronic apparatus for direct wireless transmission of the image from the memory card.

10. The memory card of claim 8 or claim 9, wherein upon detection of a plurality of available access points, the central processor is configured to wirelessly transmit associated IDs of the plurality of available access points through the wireless module to the remote wireless-enabled apparatus for display.

11. The memory card of claim 10, wherein the central processor is configured to instruct the wireless module to establish communications with one of the plurality of available access points, upon a corresponding identity of that access point displayed on the remote wireless-enabled apparatus being selected.

12. The memory card of claim 8 or claim 11, wherein the central processor is configured, upon the communications between the wireless module and the access point being established, to wirelessly transmit an image from the memory card through the wireless module and that access point to a predetermined website or server, the image corresponding to a selected thumbnail image displayed on the remote wireless-enabled apparatus.

13. The memory card of claim 7 or claim 12, wherein the central processor is configured, upon completion of the image transfer from the memory card to the remote electronic apparatus or the predetermined website or server, to send a confirmation signal to the remote wireless-enabled apparatus.

15. The memory card of claim 1, wherein upon one of the plurality of menu items displayed on the remote wireless-enabled apparatus being selected, the central processor is configured to perform a function selected from a group consisting of:

i) to request from the inbuilt processor of the electronic apparatus a real-time view of the image sensor, and to wirelessly transmit the real-time view onward to remote wireless-enabled apparatus through the wireless module; and

ii) to wirelessly transmit thumbnail versions of images stored in the memory card through the wireless module to the remote wireless-enabled apparatus for display.

16. A wireless-enabled apparatus for controlling a remote electronic apparatus having the memory card of any preceding claim and an inbuilt processor that is incapable of independently exporting digital data externally of the remote electronic apparatus, the wireless-enabled apparatus being configured to wirelessly send an instruction to the remote electronic apparatus so as to control the remote electronic apparatus in accordance with the instruction.

17. The wireless-enabled apparatus of claim 16, wherein the wireless-enabled apparatus is a telecommunications-enabled apparatus and/or a navigation system.

18. A method of controlling an electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus having the memory card of claim 1 and an inbuilt processor incapable of independently exporting digital data externally of the electronic apparatus, the method comprising:

the memory card wirelessly receiving an instruction through the wireless module from a remote wireless-enabled apparatus, and

the memory card controlling the electronic apparatus in accordance with the received instruction.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the memory card controlling the electronic apparatus comprises the central processor of the memory card requesting from the inbuilt processor of the electronic apparatus a real-time view of an image sensor, and wirelessly transmitting the real-time view onward through the wireless module to the remote wireless-enabled apparatus for display.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the central processor controlling the inbuilt processor comprises the central processor instructing the image sensor to move in three-dimensional space.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the central processor controlling the inbuilt processor comprises the central processor instructing the image sensor to capture an image for storing in the memory card.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of:

the memory card wirelessly receiving position data from the remote wireless-enabled apparatus, the position data being associated with the image captured by the electronic apparatus; and

the memory card wirelessly receiving text data from the remote wireless-enabled apparatus, the text data being associated with the image captured by the electronic apparatus.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of:

the memory card wirelessly transmitting thumbnail versions of images stored in the memory card to the remote wireless-enabled apparatus for display;

the memory card wirelessly transmitting an image from the memory card directly to a remote electronic apparatus, upon a corresponding thumbnail version of the image displayed on the remote wireless-enabled apparatus being selected; and

the memory card detecting for availability of an access point and establishing communications between the wireless module and the access point, upon detection of an available access point.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of the memory card detecting for the availability of the access point is automatic, in the absence of the remote electronic apparatus for direct wireless transmission of the image from the memory card.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of:

the memory card wirelessly transmitting associated IDs of a plurality of available access points to the remote wireless-enabled apparatus through the wireless module for display on the screen of the remote wireless-enabled apparatus, upon the detection of the plurality of available access points;

the memory card establishing communications with one of the plurality of available access points, upon a corresponding identity of that access point displayed on the remote wireless-enabled apparatus being selected;

the memory card wirelessly transmitting an image from the memory card through the wireless module and that access point to a predetermined website or server, upon the communications between the wireless module and the access point being established, the image corresponding to a selected thumbnail image displayed on the screen of the remote wireless-enabled apparatus;

the memory card sending a confirmation signal to the remote wireless-enabled apparatus, upon completion of the image transfer from the memory card to the remote electronic apparatus or to the predetermined website or server; and

the memory card sending an index image file to the remote wireless-enabled apparatus for display, the index image file comprising a plurality of menu items.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein upon one of the plurality of menu items displayed on the screen of the remote wireless-enabled apparatus being selected, the method further comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of:

i) the central processor of the memory card requesting from the inbuilt processor of the electronic apparatus a real-time view of the image sensor, and wirelessly transmitting the real-time view onward through the wireless module to the remote wireless-enabled apparatus for display; and

ii) the central processor of the memory card wirelessly transmitting thumbnail versions of images stored in the memory card through the wireless module to the remote wireless-enabled apparatus through the wireless module for display.

14. (canceled.)

27-28. -28. (canceled)