Wireless image transfer from a digital still video camera to a networked computer

• US 5,806,005 A
• Filed: 05/10/1996
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1996
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited, Ricoh Corporation (Ricoh Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited, Ricoh Corporation (Ricoh Company Limited)
• Inventors: Hull, Jonathan J., Cullen, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): WYCHE, MYRON
• Application Number:
  US08/644,349
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 379/59, 348/12, 348/13, 348/14, 348/15, 348/17, 348/222, 348/552, 455/33.1, 455/408, 455/566, 455/418, 455/419
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00212 Attaching image data to computer messages, e.g. to e-mails
• 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 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• 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 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera

Abstract

A portable image transfer system includes a digital still camera which captures images in digital form and stores the images in a camera memory, a cellular telephone transmitter, and a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU controls the camera memory to cause it to output data representing an image and the CPU controls the cellular telephone transmitter to cause a cellular telephone to transmit the data received from the camera memory. A receiving station is coupled to the cellular telephone transmitter by a cellular network to receive image data and store the images.

Claims

1. A portable image transfer system comprising:

a digital still camera, at a remote station, which captures images in digital form and stores the images in a camera memory;

a cellular telephone transmitter;

a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the camera memory and the cellular telephone transmitter, wherein the CPU controls the camera memory to cause it to output data representing an image and the CPU controls the cellular telephone transmitter to cause a cellular telephone to transmit the data output from the camera memory;

a receiving station coupled to the cellular telephone transmitter by a cellular network to receive image data;

means, at the receiving station, for image processing;

means for resetting the camera memory to be reused for subsequent images once an image is transmitted to the receiving station;

a return link for sending commands from the receiving station to the CPU, wherein the commands are directions for obtaining further images as needed by the means for image processing; and

an image storage device coupled to the receiving station to store images received by the receiving station.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the CPU interfaces to a camera memory of an existing digital still camera.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cellular telephone transmitter comprises:

a standard cellular telephone; and

a cellular modem.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for packaging images as electronic mail messages prior to transmission by the cellular telephone transmitter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for handling a serial line interface protocol connection between the cellular telephone transmitter and the receiving station.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for encrypting image data prior to transmission by the cellular telephone transmitter.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means for causing the digital still camera to capture images on a periodic basis, wherein the CPU is progammed to periodically transmit an image to free the camera memory for accepting subsequent images.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for determining a location of the portable image transfer system and means for including a location indication with each image.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the commands represent user directions to be displayed at the remote station directing the user to capture additional images as needed by the means for image processing.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the commands are directions directed at the remote station directing the digital still camera or CPU to capture additional image data as needed by the means for image processing.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a remote printing device for printing images processed by the receiving station.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the remote printing device is one of a facsimile machine, a digital copier or a printer.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising means, within the receiving station, for using the location indication as a variable when processing said each image.