Method and system for requesting photographs

• US 7,146,188 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Deeds, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Pablo N.
• Application Number:
  US10/356,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20040152485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/456.1, 455/556.2, 455/566, 455/90.3, 455/525.1, 455/415, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/557, 455/567, 455/575.1, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/457, 455/440, 455/412.2, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/515, 396/56, 396/311, 396/429, 348/207.1, 348/207.2
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• 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 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32117 in a separate transmission or protocol signal prior to or subsequent to the image data transmission, e.g. in digital identification signal [DIS], in non standard setup [NSS] or in non standard field [NSF] for mode signalling H04N1/333
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

A programmed, first communication device, such as a cell phone, operable by a first user in a celebrity mode for requesting a photograph, and operable in a paparazzi mode for taking a picture. When in the celebrity mode, a celebrity signal indicating that a photograph of the first user is desired, is transmitted to at least one second communication device operable in the paparazzi mode. When in the paparazzi mode, an indicator alerts the first user when a celebrity signal has been received so that the first user may take a picture of a second user of the at least one second communication device.

Claims

1. A programmed, first communication device operable in a communication system further having at least one second communication device, the first communication device operable in a celebrity mode by a user and the at least one second communication device having communication means and, a second-device camera, said first communication device comprising:

program code for determining whether said first communication device is in said celebrity mode;

program code for generating, in response to a determination that said first communication device is in said celebrity mode, a first celebrity signal indicating that at least one photograph of said user is desired and including message data for limiting the number of pictures that may be taken per a predetermined period of time by said at least one second communication device in response to said first celebrity signal; and

a transmitter configured for transmitting said first celebrity signal to said second communication device.

2. The first communication device of claim 1, further comprising program code for determining whether said first communication device is in said celebrity mode;

and wherein said program code for generating is configured for generating said first celebrity signal in response to a determination that said first communication device is in said celebrity mode.

3. The first communication device of claim 1, wherein said first communication device is a selected one of a cellular mobile telephone, a communicator, a multimedia phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a gaming device.

4. The first communication device of claim 1, wherein said transmitter is configured for transmitting said first celebrity signal directly to said at least one second communication device.

5. The first communication device of claim 1, wherein said transmitter is configured for transmitting said first celebrity signal via a cellular network to said at least one second communication device.

6. The first communication device of claim 1, wherein said first celebrity signal includes a destination address to which a photograph taken of said first user is to be forwarded for subsequent retrieval by a first user, said destination address defining a selected one of a phone number of said first communication device, an email address, and an Internet web site address.

7. The first communication device of claim 1, wherein said user is a first user, and wherein said first celebrity signal includes an image of said first user for identification of said first user by a second user of said second communication device.

8. The first communication device of claim 1, wherein said user is a first user, and said first communication device further comprises a visual indicator for generating a visual signal identifying said first user to a second user of said second communication device.

9. The first communication device of claim 1, wherein said first celebrity signal further comprises message data directing a network to charge said first user for air time required to transmit said photograph of said user.

10. The first communication device of claim 1, wherein said program code for generating said celebrity signal further comprises program code for including within said celebrity signal geographic restriction data for disabling a camera of said second communication device if the second communication device is located within a geographic area defined by said geographic restriction data.

11. The first communication device of claim 1, wherein said program code for generating said celebrity signal further comprises program code for including within said celebrity signal geographic restriction data for disabling the camera of said second communication device if said second communication device is located within a geographic area defined by said geographic restriction data and oriented for taking a picture within a sector of said geographic area, said sector being defined by said geographic restriction data.

12. The first communication device of claim 1, wherein said user is a first user, wherein said first communication device is further operable in a paparazzi mode, and wherein said first communication device further comprises:

a first-device camera connected to said first communication device;

a receiver configured for receiving a second celebrity signal transmitted by said at least one second communication device; and

program code responsive to receipt of said second celebrity signal for generating an alert to said first user to take a photograph with said first-device camera of a second user of said at least one second communication device.

13. The first communication device of claim 12, further comprising program code for determining whether said first communication device is in said paparazzi mode;

and wherein said receiver is configured, responsive to a determination that said first communication device is in said paparazzi mode, for receiving said second celebrity signal transmitted by said at least one second communication device.

14. The first communication device of claim 12, wherein said first-device camera is integrated into said first communication device.

15. The first communication device of claim 12, wherein said first-device camera is a distinct unit from said first communication device.

16. The first communication device of claim 12, wherein said alert is at least one of an audible alert, a visible alert, and a vibrational alert.

17. The first communication device of claim 12, further comprising program code responsive to receipt of said second celebrity signal, for generating a confirmation signal to said at least one second communication device indicating that said second celebrity signal had been received by said first communication device.

18. The first communication device of claim 12, further comprising program code for transmitting and deleting a photograph taken in response to receipt of said second celebrity signal.

19. The first communication device of claim 12, further comprising:

program code for transmitting to a destination address provided in said second celebrity signal, a photograph taken in response to receipt of said second celebrity signal; and

program code for deleting said photograph and destination address after said photograph is transmitted.

20. The first communication device of claim 12, further comprising:

program code for transmitting to a destination address provided in said second celebrity signal, a photograph taken in response to receipt of said second celebrity signal; and

program code for deleting said photograph after said photograph is transmitted.

21. The first communication device of claim 12, further comprising:

program code for transmitting to a destination address provided in said second celebrity signal, a photograph taken in response to receipt of said second celebrity signal, said destination address being a selected one of a phone number of said first communication device, an email address, and an Internet web site; and

program code for deleting said photograph and destination address after said photograph is transmitted.

22. The first communication device of claim 12, further comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS) for determining the geographic area in which said first communication device is located; and

program code responsive to said second celebrity signal comprising geographic restriction data for disabling said first device camera if said first communication device is located within a geographic area defined by said geographic restriction data.

23. The first communication device of claim 12, further comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS) for determining the geographic area in which said first communication device is located;

a compass for determining a direction that said camera is oriented for taking a photograph; and

program code responsive to said second celebrity signal comprising geographic restriction data for disabling said camera if said first communication device is located within a geographic area defined by said geographic disabling message and is oriented for taking a photograph within a sector of said geographic area, said sector being defined by said geographic restriction data.

24. The first communication device of claim 12, wherein said first communication device is simultaneously operable in said celebrity mode and said paparazzi mode.

25. The first communication device of claim 12, wherein said first communication device is operable in said paparazzi mode independently of said celebrity mode.

26. A method executable by a first communication device operable in a communication system further having at least one second communication device, the first communication device, the first communication device operable in a celebrity mode by a first user for requesting a photograph, and the at least one second communication device having communication means and a second-device camera, the method comprising steps of:

determining whether said first communication device is in said celebrity mode;

generating a first celebrity signal indicating that a photograph of said first user is desired, the first celebrity signal further including message data for limiting the number of pictures that may be taken per a predetermined time period by said at least one second communication device in response to said first celebrity signal; and

transmitting said first celebrity signal to said at least one second communication device.

27. A programmed, first communication device operable in a communication system further having at least one second communication device, the first communication device operable in a celebrity mode by a user and the at least one second communication device having communication means and, a second-device camera, said first communication device comprising:

program code for determining whether said first communication device is in said celebrity mode;

program code for generating, in response to a determination that said first communication device is in said celebrity mode, a first celebrity signal indicating that at least one photograph of said user is desired and the first celebrity signal further including geographic restriction data for disabling a camera of said second communication device if the second communication device is located within a geographic area defined by said geographic restriction data; and

a transmitter configured for transmitting said first celebrity signal to said second communication device.

28. A programmed, first communication device operable in a communication system further having at least one second communication device, the first communication device operable in a celebrity mode by a user and the at least one second communication device having communication means and, a second-device camera, said first communication device comprising:

program code for determining whether said first communication device is in said celebrity mode;

program code for generating, in response to a determination that said first communication device is in said celebrity mode, a first celebrity signal indicating that at least one photograph of said user is desired and the first celebrity signal further including geographic restriction data for disabling the camera of said second communication device if said second communication device is located within a geographic area defined by said geographic restriction data and oriented for taking a picture within a sector of said geographic area, said sector defined by said geographic restriction data; and

a transmifter configured for transmitting said first celebrity signal to said second communication device.

29. A programmed, first communication device operable in a communication system further having at least one second communication device, the first communication device operable in a celebrity mode by a user and in a paparazzi mode by the user, and the at least one second communication device having communication means and, a second-device camera, said first communication device comprising:

program code for determining whether said first communication device is in said celebrity mode;

program code for generating, in response to a determination that said first communication device is in said celebrity mode, a first celebrity signal indicating that at least one photograph of said user is desired;

a transmitter configured for transmitting said first celebrity signal to said second communication device;

a first device camera connected to said first communication device;

a receiver configured for receiving a second celebrity signal transmitted by said at least one second communication device; and

program code responsive to receipt of said second celebrity signal for generating an alert to said first user to take a photograph with said first-device camera of a second user of said at least one second communication device.