Wireless imaging device and system

• US 6,788,332 B1
• Filed: 12/29/1999
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cook, Charles I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/474,575
• Time in Patent Office: 1,714 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.714, 348/14.01, 348/14.02, 348/14.03, 348/14.04, 348/14.05, 348/14.07, 348/14.08, 348/14.09, 348/207, 348/552, 348/231, 348/232, 348/233, 348/211.3, 455/566, 455/556, 455/557, D16/202
• US Class Current: 348/14.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging
• 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 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

A handheld, portable device for capturing and communicating digital images includes a digital camera having an electronic image sensor for sensing an image and producing a digital image indicative of the sensed image. The device further includes a wireless transceiver having a transmitter operable with the digital camera for transmitting the digital image over a wireless communications link through the establishment of a data call. A second device having a wireless transceiver may communicate digital images over the wireless communications link through the establishment of the data call with the wireless transceiver of the first device.

Claims

1. A handheld, portable dual camera and telephone device for capturing and communicating digital still images with a remote user and for communicating voice signals with the remote user, the device comprising:

a housing configured to be portably hand-held by a user;

a display on the housing for displaying digital still images for the user to view;

a digital camera in the housing, the digital camera having an electronic image sensor for sensing a still image and producing a digital still image indicative of the sensed still image in response to a user using the digital camera; and

a wireless transceiver in the housing, the wireless transceiver having a transmitter operable with the digital camera for transmitting the digital still image over a wireless communications link through the establishment of a data call to a remote user without the digital still image being temporarily stored in memory associated with the digital camera, wherein the transmitter transmits the digital still image over the wireless communications link through the establishment of the data call to the remote user autonomously;

the wireless transceiver further having a receiver operable for receiving digital still images taken by another digital camera and transmitted by the remote user over the wireless communication link through the establishment of a data call, wherein the digital camera is operable with the wireless transceiver to produce the received digital still images on the display for the user to view;

wherein the wireless transceiver is operable for establishing a voice call for communicating voice signals with the remote user simultaneously with a data call.

2. A handheld, portable dual camera and telephone device for capturing and communicating digital still images with a remote user and for communicating voice signals with the remote user, the device comprising:

a housing configured to be portably hand-held by a user;

a display on the housing for displaying digital still images for the user to view;

a digital camera in the housing, the digital camera having an electronic image sensor for sensing a still image and producing a digital still image indicative of the sensed still image in response to a user using the digital camera, wherein the digital still image is a facsimile; and

a wireless transceiver in the housing, the wireless transceiver having a transmitter operable with the digital camera for transmitting the digital still image over a wireless communications link through the establishment of a data call to a remote user without the digital still image being temporarily stored in memory associated with the digital camera, wherein the transmitter transmits the digital still image over the wireless communications link through the establishment of the data call to the remote user autonomously;

the wireless transceiver further having a receiver operable for receiving digital still images taken by another digital camera and transmitted by the remote user over the wireless communication link through the establishment of a data call, wherein the digital camera is operable with the wireless transceiver to produce the received digital still images on the display for the user to view;

wherein the wireless transceiver is operable for establishing a voice call for communicating voice signals with the remote user simultaneously with a data call.