Transmitting digital images to a plurality of selected receivers over a radio frequency link

• US 6,600,510 B1
• Filed: 07/27/2000
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SCA Ventures, LLC (Adam Saxon)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Parulski, Kenneth A., Schueckler, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOE, AUNG SOE
• Application Number:
  US09/626,881
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 348/211, 348/212, 348/213, 348/222, 348/207, 348/552, 348/333.01, 348/333.02, 348/333.11, 348/14.01, 348/14.02, 348/14.03, 348/14.05, 348/14.13, 348/231, 348/232, 348/211.1, 348/211.2, 348/211.5, 348/222.1, 348/207.99, 348/231.99, 348/231.3, 455/556, 455/33.1, 358/403, 358/402, 358/906, 358/400, 358/909.1
• US Class Current: 348/211.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00305 with a cordless telephone apparatus
• 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 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

An electronic camera system includes a programmable transmission capability for selectively transmitting electronic image data to a plurality of remote base units. In one embodiment, a camera module is detachably coupled to a portable computer including a display screen and a data entry device. The electronic image data generated by the camera module is supplied to the portable computer for display on the display screen. The data entry device is used by an operator to select which of the plurality of base units are to receive the digital image data. The digital image data is supplied by the portable computer to a radio-frequency transmitter module for transmission to the selected base units. The radio-frequency transmitter module is formed either integral with the portable computer or, like the camera module, is detachably coupled to the portable computer. In a further embodiment, a combined telephone/camera unit is provided that includes a camera module for generating electronic image data representative of a scene to be imaged, a memory unit for storing the electronic image data generated by the camera module, a display screen for displaying the electronic image data stored in the memory unit, a mechanism for selecting which of the plurality of base units is to receive the digital image data, and a cellular transceiver for transmitting the digital image data to the base units selected by the selection mechanism.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting a digital image from a handheld digital camera to a plurality of selected receiver units over a radio frequency link, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing said handheld digital camera including;

(i) an image sensor for capturing at least one image;

(ii) an A/D converter for producing digital image data from each captured image;

(iii) a memory for storing the digital image data for at least one captured image; and

(iv) a transceiver for transmitting the stored digital image data via radio frequency transmission;

(b) capturing an image using the image sensor;

(c) storing digital image data corresponding to the captured image in the memory;

(d) selecting a plurality of receiver units that are to receive the stored digital image data;

(e) using the transceiver to transmit the stored digital image data and a header identifying each of the selected receiver units; and

(f) receiving the transmitted digital image data and the header, and providing the transmitted digital image data to each of the selected receiver units, whenein the digital image data is transmitted once from the handheld digital camera, and is simultaneously provided to at least two different receiver units.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the handheld digital camera includes a display screen to display the captured image.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the display screen also displays the plurality of selected receiver units.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stored digital image data is JPEG compressed.

5. The method as claim ed in claim 1 wherein the header includes an address for each of the selected receiver units.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the transceiver is a cellular telephone transceiver.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the transmitted digital image data and the header is received by a cellular telephone receiver which provides the transmitted digital image data to the plurality of selected receiver units.