Method and apparatus for controlled camera useability
First Claim
1. A digital camera system comprising:
- camera means including;
image capture means for converting a light image to digital image data;
computer means including;
permit means for providing for first operation of said digital camera system based on an existing authorization and for determining a condition of expiration for revoking said existing authorization; and
disabling means for, during the first operation, revoking the existing authorization and disabling a continued operation of said digital camera system responsive to said condition of expiration occurring, wherein disabling the continued operation includes preventing access to an available resource of the digital camera systen; and
receiver means for receiving a radiated signal carrying an operational code;
wherein said permit means includes means responsive to reception of said operational code to provide for the first operation, said computer means further includes means for checking if said operational code is received in a predetermined time interval, and said condition of expiration occurs when said operational code is not received in said time interval.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A programmable digital camera requiring a programming password to be entered to access the camera'"'"'s programmability. The camera further includes programming so as to allow the camera to be operated only for a specified time interval, after which the camera becomes inoperable until the programming password is again entered and the camera is programmed to operate for another interval of time. An alternate embodiment of the invention includes a programmable digital camera as above described wherein the camera is programmed to only capture a set number of images, at which point the programming password must again be entered and the camera reset for another quantity of images. A further alternate embodiment includes a camera system with a separate transmitter for radiating a signal designed to cover a designated area, the signal being modulated with a camera operational code. The camera is equipped with a corresponding receiver and demodulator to receive the operational code. The camera is programmed to check for the operational code periodically, and if the code is not received, the camera automatically shuts down, thereby limiting operation of the camera to the designated area.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A digital camera system comprising:
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camera means including; image capture means for converting a light image to digital image data; computer means including; permit means for providing for first operation of said digital camera system based on an existing authorization and for determining a condition of expiration for revoking said existing authorization; and disabling means for, during the first operation, revoking the existing authorization and disabling a continued operation of said digital camera system responsive to said condition of expiration occurring, wherein disabling the continued operation includes preventing access to an available resource of the digital camera systen; and receiver means for receiving a radiated signal carrying an operational code;
wherein said permit means includes means responsive to reception of said operational code to provide for the first operation, said computer means further includes means for checking if said operational code is received in a predetermined time interval, and said condition of expiration occurs when said operational code is not received in said time interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17, 18, 21)
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11. A method of operation of a programmable digital camera comprising:
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providing for first operation of said digital camera system based on an existing authorization; receiving in the digital camera a radiated signal carrying an operational code; checking if said operational code is received in a predetermined time interval for providing for the first operation; determining a condition of expiration for revoking said existing authorization has occurred when said operational code is not received in said time interval; providing for converting a light image to digital image data during the first operation; and revoking, during the first operation, the existing authorization and disabling a continued operation of said digital camera system responsive to said condition of expiration occurring, wherein disabling the continued operation includes preventing access to an available resource of the digital camera system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 22)
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Specification