Wirelessly communicating digital photograph image files

• US 7,096,038 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2002
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth IP Corporation
• Inventors: Perrella, Ronald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMOS FELICIANO, ELISEO
• Application Number:
  US10/279,156
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: 348/211.99, 348/207.1, 348/148, 348/143, 348/153, 348/154, 358/1.13, 358/1.15, 375/240.01, 375/240.26, 375/240.1, 382/235, 709/206, 709/217, 709/246, 709/247, 719/328, 719/329, 455/414.1, 455/414.4, 455/412.1, 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/566, 455/550.1, 455/426.1, 455/454, 455/517, 455/186.1
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00212 Attaching image data to computer messages, e.g. to e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00225 details of image data generation, e.g. scan-to-email or network scanners using an image reading device as a local input to a computer H04N1/00241
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00251 with an apparatus for taking photographic images, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2179 Interfaces allowing access to a plurality of users, e.g. connection to electronic image libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for wirelessly communicating a digital photograph image file. The image file may be divided into resulting files and the resulting files attached to e-mail messages that are wirelessly transmitted to a wireless network. Upon receipt of the wireless e-mail messages and resulting file attachments, the resulting files are recombined back into the image file.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wirelessly communicating a digital photograph image file, the apparatus comprising:

a first portion, comprising;

a data store;

a first processor in communication with the data store, the first processor being operable to create a compressed image file and store the compressed image file on the data store; and

a first communication port;

a second portion, comprising;

a second processor that is operable to receive the compressed image file from the data store of the first portion and operable to convert the compressed image file to a plurality of files, each of the plurality of files containing a portion of the compressed image file; and

a wireless transmitter in communication with the second processor that is operable to wirelessly communicate each of the plurality of files;

and

a second communication port, the first and second communications ports in communication via a bus;

wherein the first portion and the second portion are removably connected via the bus.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first processor of the first portion and the second processor of the second portion are in communication via the bus.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter is operable to communicate with a Mobitex network.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises a digital camera.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, the first portion further comprising a camera lens, a charge coupled device for converting light received from the camera lens to an electrical signal, and an analog-to-digital converter for converting the electrical signal to a digital signal.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises a wireless e-mail messaging device.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the data store comprises at least one of a hard drive and flash memory.

9. A system for wirelessly communicating a digital photograph image file comprising:

the apparatus of claim 1; and

a wireless e-mail server operable to wirelessly receive the plurality of files communicated by the wireless transmitter of the apparatus.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the wireless e-mail server comprises an image file assembler for recombining the plurality of files into a compressed image file.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, further comprising a local e-mail server in communication with the wireless e-mail server, that is operable to receive image files having a corresponding destination address that is associated with the local e-mail server.

8. The apparatus as recited in 1, wherein the first and second communications ports each comprise one of a parallel port, a serial port, and a USB port.