Share link between image capturing devices

• US 7,136,094 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2002
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Ziemkowski, Theodore B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Ngoc-Yen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Daniels, Anthony J.
• Application Number:
  US10/081,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20030160870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• Field of Search: 348/75, 348/73, 348/211.3, 348/375, 348/24, 348/207.99, 348/211.1, 348/376
• US Class Current: 348/211.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

A digital image capturing system includes at least two digital image capturing devices and a bi-directional link cable connecting the image capturing devices. The image capturing devices are capable of sharing data items over the bi-directional link cable.

Claims

1. A method of linking a first digital image capturing device to one or more other digital image capturing devices, comprising the steps of:

obtaining a first digital image capturing device capable of sending and receiving data items over a bi-directional link cable, said first digital image capturing device comprising a first I/O port;

obtaining a second digital image capturing device capable of sending and receiving data items over a bi-directional link cable, said second digital image capturing device comprising a second I/O port;

obtaining a bi-directional link cable having a first end and a second end;

connecting the first end of the cable to the first I/O port;

connecting the second end of the cable to the second I/O port;

using the first digital image capturing device to capture an image;

transmitting a real time view of the image from the first digital image capturing device to the second digital image capturing device over the bi-directional link cable, which directly connects the first digital image capturing device to the second digital image capturing device;

while transmitting the real time view, also transmitting to the second device from the first device a pointer overlay, wherein pointer overlay and the real time view of the image are displayed simultaneously on a display screen of the second device such that the pointer overlay overlays the real time view of the image; and

enabling the user to move the pointer within the display screen of the second device by manipulating a control on the first device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sharing image information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and/or the second digital image capturing device is capable of operating as a pseudo host.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

detecting a connection of a bi-directional link cable in said digital image capturing device;

accepting a master or slave input that determines whether said digital image capturing device is a master or a slave;

accepting an image selection of a first data item to be sent to a connected slave digital image capturing device if said digital image capturing device is a master;

transmitting said first data item to said connected slave digital image capturing device if said digital image capturing device is a master;

accepting a second data item from a connected master digital image capturing device if said digital image capturing device is a slave; and

displaying said second data item on said digital image capturing device if said digital image capturing device is a slave.