Method and apparatus for improved digital image control

• US 6,392,757 B2
• Filed: 02/26/1999
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Manowitz, Neal
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Kimberly A.
• Application Number:
  US09/258,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20010040695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 358/442, 358/404, 358/444, 358/468, 358/400, 358/1.15, 358/909.1, 709/200, 709/213, 710/13, 348/233
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00111 specially adapted for optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2104 for one or a few pictures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0053 Optical, e.g. using an infrared link
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods consistent with the present invention use a remote-control device to retrieve digital images from portable digital memory and transmit the digital image to a computer, a network, or another remote-control device. A user inserts the portable digital memory into a the remote-control device and browses the digital images stored in the portable digital memory. Upon the user'"'"'s instructions, the remote-control device transmits the digital image, preferably using an infrared transmitter. The user can also receive digital images from a computer, a network, or another remote-control device. A user inserts the portable digital memory into the remote-control device and the remote-control device receives a digital image, preferably using an infrared receiver. Upon the user'"'"'s instructions, the remote-control device stores the digital image into the portable digital memory.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a portable remote-control device including

means for detecting a connection of a portable digital memory to the remote-control device;

means for receiving a digital signal representing a plurality of digital images;

means for displaying one of the plurality of digital images;

a user-input device configured for a user to display a next image of the plurality of digital images and to select a selected image among the plurality of digital images; and

means for storing a digital signal representing the selected image into the portable digital memory.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portable digital memory includes a Memory Stick, and wherein the portable digital memory reader includes a Memory Stick reader.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portable digital memory includes a digital film, and wherein the portable digital memory reader includes a digital film reader.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portable digital memory includes a smart card, and wherein the portable digital memory reader includes a smart card reader.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiving means includes means for receiving the digital signal representing the plurality of digital images using an infrared receiver.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiving means includes means for receiving the digital signal representing the plurality of digital images through a network connected to the remote-control device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, including means for transmitting the received digital signal to a computer.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, including means for transmitting the received digital signal to a computer in a network.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means of receiving includes means for receiving the digital signal from farther than 2 meters from the source.

10. A method for receiving and storing digital images using a portable remote-control device including a receiver, said method comprising:

detecting a connection of a portable digital memory to the remote-control device;

receiving a digital signal representing a plurality of images using the receiver;

displaying one of the plurality of digital images;

providing a user-input device configured for a user to display a next image of the plurality of digital images and to select a selected image among the plurality of digital images; and

storing a digital signal representing the selected image into the portable digital memory.

11. The method of claim 10, including the stage of transmitting the received digital signal to a computer.

12. The method of claim 10, including the stage of transmitting the received digital signal to a computer in a network.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the stage of receiving includes the stage of receiving the digital signal from farther than 2 meters from the source.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the portable digital memory includes a Memory Stick, and wherein the detecting stage includes the stage of detecting a connection of the Memory Stick into a Memory Stick reader.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the portable digital memory includes a digital film, and wherein the detecting stage includes the stage of detecting a connection of the digital film into a digital film reader.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the portable digital memory includes a smart card, and wherein the detecting the connection stage includes the stage of detecting an insertion of the smart card into a smart card reader.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the receiving stage includes the stage of receiving the digital signal representing the plurality of images using an infrared receiver.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the receiving stage includes the stage of receiving the digital signal representing the plurality of images through a network connected to the remote-control device.