Tradeshow photographic and data transmission system

• US 5,768,633 A
• Filed: 09/03/1996
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Allen, James D., Moghadam, Omid A., Squilla, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chizmar, John
• Application Number:
  US08/707,265
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 396/56, 396/57, 396/310, 396/311, 396/319, 396/297, 396/300, 396/1, 396/2, 396/3, 348/64
• US Class Current: 396/2
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/00 Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2206/00 Systems for exchange of information between different pieces of apparatus, e.g. for exchanging trimming information, for photo finishing

Abstract

In a photographic and data transmission system utilizing a wireless communication system, a camera used with the wireless system includes film or electronic sensor for capturing an image, a receiver for receiving a wireless signal from the wireless communication system, a decoder for decoding the wireless signal obtained by the receiver and magnetic layer on film or electronic storage device for storing the decoded wireless signal and the image. A trigger signal from the camera can be used to initiate transmission of the wireless signal from the wireless communication system. Moreover, the wireless signal preferably contains an internet address for accessing further information about an item being photographed. Such a camera is of particular use in a tradeshow for conveying information between a wireless communication system in a display booth and a camera brought to the booth by a tradeshow visitor.

Claims

1. A camera for use with an external wireless communication system that is physically separated from the camera, said camera comprising:

means for capturing an image;

means operative contemporaneously with the capturing means for signaling the external wireless communication system to initiate transmission of a wireless signal;

means for receiving the wireless signal from the external wireless communication system, wherein the wireless signal contains data pertaining to the subject matter of the captured image;

means for decoding the wireless signal obtained by the receiving means; and

means for storing the decoded wireless signal and the image.

2. The camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the camera is an electronic camera, the capture means is an electronic sensor, and the storing means is an electronic storage device.

3. The camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the camera is a film camera, the capture means is a photographic film having an emulsion for capturing the image and the storing means is a magnetic storage area on the film.

4. The camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein wireless signal is an infrared signal and the receiving means is an infrared receiving means.

5. The camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wireless signal contains an internet address for accessing further information about the item.

6. A camera for use with an external wireless communication system that is physically separated from the camera, said camera comprising:

means for capturing an image;

means operative contemporaneously with the capturing means for emitting a trigger signal that initiates transmission of a wireless signal from the wireless communication system;

means for receiving the wireless signal from the external wireless communication system, wherein the wireless signal contains data pertaining to the subject matter of the captured image;

means for decoding the wireless signal obtained by the receiving means; and

means for storing the decoded wireless signal with the image.

7. The camera as claimed in claim 6 wherein the camera is an electronic camera, the capture means is an electronic sensor, and the storing means is an electronic storage device.

8. The camera as claimed in claim 6 wherein the camera is a film camera, the capture means is a photographic film having an emulsion for capturing the image and the storing means is a magnetic storage area on the film.

9. The camera as claimed in claim 6 wherein wireless signal is an infrared signal and the receiving means is an infrared receiving means.

10. The camera as claimed in claim 6 wherein the trigger signal and the wireless signal are infrared signals and the emitting means and receiving means are together an infrared transceiver.

11. The camera as claimed in claim 6 further including a flash unit and wherein the trigger signal is a flash from the flash unit.

12. The camera as claimed in claim 6 wherein the wireless signal contains an internet address for accessing further information about the item.

13. An electronic camera for use with an external infrared wireless communication system that is physically separated from the camera, said camera comprising:

an electronic sensor for capturing an image;

an emitter operative contemporaneously with the electronic sensor for emitting a trigger signal that initiates transmission of a wireless signal from the external wireless communication system;

an infrared receiver for receiving the wireless signal from the wireless communication system, wherein the wireless signal contains data pertaining to the subject matter of the captured image;

a decoding section for generating a decoded signal from the wireless signal obtained by the receiving means; and

a storage device for storing the decoded signal with the image.

14. A film camera for use with an external infrared wireless communication system that is physically separated from the camera, the film having a photographic recording region and a magnetic recording region, said camera comprising:

means for capturing an image on the film;

an emitter operative contemporaneously with the capturing means for emitting a trigger signal that initiates transmission of an infrared wireless signal from the external wireless communication system;

a receiver for receiving the wireless signal from the wireless communication system, wherein the wireless signal contains data pertaining to the subject matter of the captured image;

means for converting the wireless signal obtained by the receiving means into a magnetic signal; and

means for storing the magnetic signal on the magnetic recording region on the film.

15. A photographic and data transmission system for conveying information between an external data unit and a camera unit that is physically separated from the data unit, said data unit comprising:

a storage device for storing data about at least one item;

a wireless communication system for generating a wireless signal containing data about the item, wherein said wireless communication system is responsive to use of the camera unit for initiating the wireless signal; and

a computer for accessing the data from the storage device and applying the accessed data to the wireless communication system; and

said camera unit comprising;

means for capturing an image of the item;

means operative contemporaneously with the capturing means for signaling the external wireless communication system to initiate transmission of the wireless signal;

means for receiving the wireless signal from the wireless communication system;

means for decoding the wireless signal obtained by the receiving means; and

means for storing the decoded wireless signal containing data about the item with the image of the item.

16. The photographic and data transmission system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the wireless signal contains an internet address for accessing further information about the item.

17. The photographic and data transmission system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the camera unit is an electronic camera, the capture means is an electronic sensor, and the storing means is an electronic storage device.

18. The photographic and data transmission system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the camera unit is a film camera, the capture means is a photographic film having an emulsion for capturing the image and the storing means is a magnetic storage area on the film.

19. A tradeshow photographic and data transmission system for conveying information between a data unit in a display booth and a camera unit brought near to the booth by a tradeshow visitor, said data unit comprising:

a storage device for storing data about at least one product on display in the trade show booth;

a wireless communication system for generating a wireless signal containing data about the product, wherein said wireless communication system initiates the wireless signal in response to use of the camera unit by the tradeshow visitor; and

a computer for accessing the data from the storage device and applying the accessed data to the wireless communication system; and

said camera unit comprising;

means for capturing an image of the product;

means operative contemporaneously with the capturing means for signaling the wireless communication system to initiate transmission of the wireless signal;

means for receiving the wireless signal from the wireless communication system;

means for decoding the wireless signal obtained by the receiving means; and

means for storing the decoded wireless signal containing data about the product with the image of the product.

20. The tradeshow photographic and data transmission system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the wireless signal contains an internet address for accessing further information about the product.

21. The tradeshow photographic and data transmission system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the camera unit is an electronic camera, the capture means is an electronic sensor, and the storing means is an electronic storage device.

22. The tradeshow photographic and data transmission system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the camera unit is a film camera, the capture means is a photographic film having an emulsion for capturing the image and the storing means is a magnetic storage area on the film.

23. A method for conveying information between a data unit in a display booth at a tradeshow and a camera unit brought near to the booth by a tradeshow visitor, said method comprising the steps of:

storing data at the data unit about at least one product on display in the trade show booth;

capturing an image of the product by use of the camera unit;

generating, contemporaneously with use of the camera unit, a wireless signal from the data unit containing data about the product;

receiving the wireless signal at the camera unit from the wireless communication system;

decoding the wireless signal obtained by the receiving step; and

storing the decoded wireless signal containing data about the product with the image of the product.

24. A camera system for use with an external wireless communication system that is physically separated from the camera system, said camera system comprising a signaling module and a capture module, said signaling module comprising means operative contemporaneously with operation of the capture module for signaling the wireless communication system to initiate transmission of a wireless signal;

and said capture module comprising;

means for capturing an image;

means for receiving the wireless signal from the external wireless communication system; and

means for storing data corresponding to the wireless signal in the capture module.

25. A photographic and data transmission system for conveying information between a data unit and a camera unit, said data unit comprising:

a storage device for storing data about at least one item;

a wireless communication system for generating a wireless signal containing the data, wherein said wireless communication system is responsive to presence of the camera unit for initiating the wireless signal; and

said camera unit comprising a signaling module and a capture module, said signaling module including means operative contemporaneously with operation of the capture module for signaling the wireless communication system to initiate transmission of the wireless signal, and said capture module comprising;

means for capturing an image of the item;

means for receiving the wireless signal from the wireless communication system; and

means for storing the wireless signal containing data about the item.

26. A method for conveying information between a data unit near an object of interest and a camera unit brought near to the object of interest by a photographer, said method comprising the steps of:

storing data at the data unit about the object of interest;

capturing an image of the object of interest by use of the camera unit;

generating, contemporaneously with the step of capturing an image, a wireless signal from the data unit containing data about the object of interest;

receiving the wireless signal at the camera unit from the wireless communication system; and

storing the wireless signal containing data about the object of interest in the camera unit.