Automatically configuring a web-enabled digital camera to access the internet

• US 6,636,259 B1
• Filed: 07/26/2000
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mind Fusion, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: IPAC Acquisition Subsidiary I LLC
• Inventors: Anderson, Eric C., Morris, Robert Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON, JACQUELINE B
• Application Number:
  US09/625,824
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.01, 348/14.02, 348/14.04, 348/14.08, 348/14.09, 348/552, 348/143, 348/156, 348/157, 348/211.3, 348/211.12, 709/322
• US Class Current: 348/211.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00151 with selective access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00196 Creation of a photo-montage, e.g. photoalbum H04N1/0019 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00212 Attaching image data to computer messages, e.g. to e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00241 using an image reading device as a local input to a computer input via network, e.g. network scanners H04N1/00225
• 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 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 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 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for automatically establishing a user account and for configuring a hand-held electronic device for accessing a site on a public network using the user account. The method and system include establishing a connection to a website server, which is responsible for establishing and maintaining website accounts. The presence of account information on the electronic device camera is then checked, and if none are found, it is determined that this is a first-time connection and information uniquely identifying the electronic device is sent to the website server so that the server can set-up the account information based on the electronic device information. The server then sends user account information to the device, including an account ID and password. The user account information is then stored on electronic device for use the next time the electronic device accesses the website, whereby the user does not have to enter account information in order to establish the ISP connection or the website account before accessing the public network.

Claims

1. A method for automatically establishing a user account and for configuring a hand-held image capture device which includes a digital camera for accessing a site on a public network using the user account, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing a connection to a website server, the website server being responsible for establishing and maintaining website accounts;

(b) checking for the presence of account information on the image Capture Device and if none are found, determining that this is a first-time connection and automatically sending image capture device information uniquely identifying the electronic device to the website server so that the server can set-up the account information based on the image capture device information;

(c) receiving user account information from the server, wherein the user account information includes an account ID and password; and

(d) storing the user account information on image capture device for use a next time the image capture device accesses the website, whereby the user does not have to enter account information in order to establish the connection with the public network or to establish the website account.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of providing a digital camera as the hand-held image capture device.

3. The method of claim 2 further including the step of sending at least a partial serial number as the image capture device information uniquely identifying the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 3 further including the step of uploading captured images to the website server.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein step (a) further including the steps of:

(i) providing the image capture device with default ISP information; and

(ii) establishing a connection to an ISP using the default ISP information.

6. The method of claim 5 further including the step of terminating the connection with the ISP when the uploading of the images is complete.

7. The method of claim 6 further including the step of providing the digital camera with a default ISP access number, user ID, and password.

8. A system for automatically establishing a user account and for configuring a hand-held image capture device which includes a digital camera image capture device for accessing a site on a public network using the user account, comprising:

means for establishing a connection to a website server, the website server being responsible for establishing and maintaining website accounts;

means for checking for the presence of account information on the image capture device, and if none are found, determining that this is a first-time connection and automatically sending image capture device information uniquely identifying the image capture device to the website server so that the server can set-up the account information based on the image capture device information; and

means for receiving user account information from the server, wherein the user account information includes an account ID; and

means for storing the user account information on image capture device for use a next time the image capture device accesses the website, whereby the user does not have to enter account information in order to establish the ISP connection or the website account.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the hand-held image capture device comprises a digital camera.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the image capture device information uniquely identifying the image capture device includes a serial number of the image capture device.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the camera uploads captured images to the website server.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the camera further includes means for providing the image capture device with default ISP information, and means for establishing a connection to an ISP using the default ISP information.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the digital camera terminates the connection with the ISP upon completion of image uploading.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the camera is provided with a default ISP access number, user ID, and password.

15. A method for automatically establishing a user account and for configuring a digital camera to access a website on a public network using the user account, the digital camera including captured images and communication means for accessing the public network, the method comprising the steps of:

(e) storing default ISP information on the digital camera, the default ISP information including an access number;

(f) in response to a user request to upload images to the website, determining whether this is a first-time connection;

(g) if it is first-time connection, establishing communication with the default ISP by dialing the access number;

(h) establishing communication with the website and automatically sending a digital camera ID to the website;

(i) using the digital camera ID to set up a user account on the website,

(j) sending user account information to the digital camera, the user account including an account ID and an account password;

(k) storing the user account information on the camera; and

(l) uploading images to the website and associating the images with the user account, whereby the user does not have to enter information to establish a connection with the public network or to establish the website account.

16. The method of claim 15 further including the step of sending at least a partial serial number as the digital camera ID.

17. The method of claim 16 further including the step of receiving new ISP information from the website.

18. The method of claim 17 further including the step of using the new ISP information a next time the digital camera establishes a connection with the public network.

19. A system for automatically establishing a user account and for configuring a digital camera for accessing a website on a public network using the user account, the digital camera including images captured by user and communication means for wirelessly accessing the public network, the system comprising the steps of:

means for storing default ISP information on the digital camera, the default ISP information including an access number;

means for determining whether this is a first-time connection in response to a user request to upload images to the website;

means for the establishing communication with the default ISP by dialing the access number;

means for establishing communication with the website and sending a digital camera ID to the website;

means for using the digital camera ID to set up a user account on the website,

means for automatically sending user account information to the digital camera, the user account including an account ID and an account password;

means for storing the user account information on the camera; and

means for uploading images to the website and associating the images with the user account, whereby the user does not have to enter information to establish a connection with the public network or to establish the website account.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the digital camera ID includes a serial number.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the digital camera receives new ISP information from the website.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the digital camera uses the new ISP information a next time the digital camera establishes a connection with the public network.