Digital transmitter device

• US 7,433,068 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2002
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Stevens, Chad, Saxton, Erica
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles; Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Worku; Negussie
• Application Number:
  US10/222,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20040032624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,245 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/403, 358/408, 358/402, 358/442, 358/473, 358/407, 707/203, 707/500, 709/217, 709/206, 379/100.08
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00957 Compiling jobs, e.g. for batch processing H04N1/3208 takes precedence; program code compilation G06F8/41
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32512 of different type, e.g. internal and external devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3249 data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3261 of multimedia information, e.g. a sound signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission

Abstract

A digital transmitter device to execute a network browser application to access an e-mail account of an e-mail server and retrieve data stored in thereat. The digital transmitter device can scan and send an image to a network address along with the retrieved data.

Claims

1. A digital transmitter device comprising:

a scanning mechanism configured to optically scan at least one object to form corresponding scanned object data in a first data format; and

one or more modules configured to convert the scanned object data in the first data format into a second data format,

wherein, over an interconnected network, the one or more modules are configured to access an e-mail account at an e-mail server, request data associated with the e-mail account from the e-mail server, and receive the requested data associated with the e-mail account from the e-mail server,

wherein the one or more modules are configured to display a dialog box for the e-mail account of the e-mail server on a user interface of the digital transmitter device and receive user selection of the requested data associated with the e-mail account via the user interface,

wherein the one or more modules are configured to form an e-mail message using the requested data received from the e-mail server and the scanned object data in the second data format, and

wherein, over the interconnected network, the one or more modules are configured to deliver the e-mail message to one or more network resources using the e-mail account of the e-mail server.

2. The digital transmitter device as defined in claim 1, wherein the requested data includes an e-mail address, and wherein the one or more modules are configured to address the message data for delivery to the e-mail address.

3. The digital transmitter device as defined in claim 1, wherein the requested data includes one or more of data selected from the group consisting of one or more e-mail addresses, one or more text templates, one or more banners, one or more advertisements, one or more emoticons, one or more logos, one or more clip art items, one or more icons, one or more signatures, one or more media files, one or more data files, and one or more executable files.

4. The digital transmitter device as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more modules are further configured to:

display a network browser user interface;

receive input from the network browser user interface; and

direct a network browser application, responsive to the received input, to browse the interconnected network.

5. The digital transmitter device as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more modules are further configured to receive input for gaining access to the e-mail account at the e-mail server.

6. The digital transmitter device as defined in claim 1, wherein the second data format is selected from the group consisting of an ASCII formatted data format, a word processor format, a spread sheet data format, a PDF data format, a presentation software data format, a GIFF data format, a TIFF data format, a JPEG data format, a bit-map data format, an OCR data format, and an encoded data format.

7. The digital transmitter device as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more modules are configured to access the e-mail account of the e-mail server via a network browser application operating on the digital transmitter device, wherein the network browser application enables functionality of the e-mail account at the digital transmitter device.

8. A computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a digital transmitter device including a scanning mechanism, direct the digital transmitter device to perform a method comprising:

optically scanning with the scanning mechanism at least one object to form corresponding scanned object data in a first data format;

converting the scanned object data in the first data format into a second data format;

addressing one or more transmissions for delivery over an interconnected network from the digital transmitter device to an e-mail server, the one or more transmissions including;

a request for access to an e-mail account at the e-mail server; and

a request for data associated with the e-mail account;

receiving one or more transmissions at the digital transmitter device from the e-mail server, the one or more transmissions including;

the data associated with the e-mail account;

forming an e-mail message using the data associated with the e-mail account and the scanned object data in the second data format; and

transmitting the e-mail message over the interconnected network from the digital transmitter device to one or more network resources using the e-mail account of the e-mail server,

wherein addressing the one or more transmissions for delivery over the interconnected network from the digital transmitter device to the e-mail server includes displaying a dialog box for the e-mail account of the e-mail server on a user interface of the digital transmitter device and receiving user selection of the requested data associated with the e-mail account via the user interface.

9. The computer-readable medium as defined in claim 8, wherein the data associated with the e-mail account includes one or more of data selected from the group consisting of one or more e-mail addresses, one or more text templates, one or more banners, one or more advertisements, one or more emoticons, one or more logos, one or more clip art items, one or more icons, one or more signatures, one or more media files, one or more data files, and one or more executable files.

10. The computer-readable medium as defined in claim 9, wherein transmitting the e-mail message over the interconnected network from the digital transmitter device to one or more network resources comprises addressing the e-mail message to the one or more e-mail addresses corresponding, respectively, to the one or more network resources.

11. The computer-readable medium as defined in claim 8, wherein the second data format is selected from the group consisting of an ASCII formatted data format, a word processor format, a spread sheet data format, a PDF data format, a presentation software data format, a GIFF data format, a TIFF data format, a JPEG data format, a bit-map data format, an OCR data format, and an encoded data format.

12. The computer-readable medium as defined in claim 8, wherein addressing the one or more transmissions for delivery over the interconnected network from the digital transmitter device to the e-mail server includes accessing the e-mail account of the e-mail server via a network browser application operating on the digital transmitter device, wherein the network browser application enables functionality of the e-mail account at the digital transmitter device.

13. A digital transmitter device comprising:

a scanning mechanism configured to scan an image; and

a controller including at least a network interface module, a browser module, and an e-mail module operatively coupled and configured to access an e-mail account of an e-mail server having an address on a network, retrieve data stored in connection with the e-mail account from the e-mail server, form an e-mail message using the retrieved data from the e-mail server and the scanned image, and transmit the e-mail message from the digital transmitter device to one or more network resources via the network using the e-mail account of the e-mail server,

wherein the browser module is configured to access the e-mail account of the e-mail server via the network interface module, wherein the browser module enables functionality of the e-mail account at the digital transmitter device.

14. The digital transmitter device as defined in claim 13, wherein the browser module displays a dialog box for the e-mail account of the e-mail server on a user interface of the digital transmitter device and receives user selection of the retrieved data stored in connection with the e-mail account via the user interface.

15. The digital transmitter device as defined in claim 13, wherein:

the retrieved data includes one or more items selected from the group consisting of one or more e-mail addresses, one or more text templates, one or more banners, one or more advertisements, one or more emoticons, one or more logos, one or more clip art items, one or more icons, one or more signatures, one or more media files, one or more data files, and one or more executable files; and

the transmission of the e-mail message is addressed to the one more e-mail addresses corresponding, respectively, to the one or more network resources.

16. The digital transmitter device as defined in claim 13, wherein the scanned image is formatted by the digital transmitter device into a format selected from the group consisting of an ASCII formatted data format, a word processor format, a spread sheet data format, a PDF data format, a presentation software data format, a GIFF data format, a TIFF data format, a JPEG data format, a bit-map data format, an OCR data format, and an encoded data format.

17. The digital transmitter device as defined in claim 13, further comprising an input device operatively coupled to the controller and configured to receive the address of the e-mail server on the network, receive input for gaining access to the e-mail account, and receive input to select data items stored in connection with the e-mail account so as to be contained in the retrieved data.

18. The digital transmitter device as defined in claim 17, wherein the data items stored in connection with the e-mail account include one or more of data selected from the group consisting of one or more e-mail addresses, one or more text templates, one or more banners, one or more advertisements, one or more emoticons, one or more logos, one or more clip art items, one or more icons, one or more signatures, one or more media files, one or more data tiles, and one or more executable files.

19. The digital transmitter device as defined in claim 17, wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting of a keyboard and a touch sensitive menu screen.

20. The digital transmitter device as defined in claim 19, wherein the touch sensitive menu screen displays a menu page having selectable menu items that include:

one or more menu items to input the address of the e-mail server on the network and the input for gaining access to the e-mail account; and

a menu item to initiate the scanning mechanism to optically scan the image.

21. A method comprising:

optically scanning with a scanning mechanism of a digital transmitter device at least one object to form corresponding scanned object data in a first data format;

converting the scanned object data in the first data format into a second data format;

addressing one or more transmissions for delivery over an interconnected network from the digital transmitter device to an e-mail server, the one or more transmissions including;

a request for access to an e-mail account at the e-mail server; and

a request for data associated with the e-mail account;

receiving one or more transmissions at the digital transmitter device from the e-mail server, the one or more transmissions including;

the requested data associated with the e-mail account;

forming an e-mail message using the requested data associated with the e-mail account and the scanned object data in the second data format; and

transmitting the e-mail message over the interconnected network from the digital transmitter device to one or more network resources using the e-mail account of the e-mail server,

wherein addressing the one or more transmissions for delivery over the interconnected network from the digital transmitter device to the e-mail server includes accessing the e-mail account of the e-mail server via a network browser application operating on the digital transmitter device, wherein the network browser application enables functionality of the e-mail account at the digital transmitter device.

22. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein addressing the one or more transmissions for delivery over the interconnected network from the digital transmitter device to the e-mail server includes displaying a dialog box for the e-mail account of the e-mail server on a user interface of the digital transmitter device and receiving user selection of the requested data associated with the e-mail account via the user interface.

23. The method as defined in 22, wherein the requested data associated with the e-mail account includes one or more of data selected from the group consisting of one or more e-mail addresses, one or more text templates, one or more banners, one or more advertisements, one or more emoticons, one or more logos, one or more clip art items, one or more icons, one or more signatures, one or more media files, one or more data files, and one or more executable files.

24. The method as defined in claim 23, wherein transmitting the e-mail message over the interconnected network from the digital transmitter device to one or more network resources comprises addressing the e-mail message to the one or more e-mail addresses corresponding, respectively, to the one or more network resources.

25. The method as defined in claim 23, wherein the second data format is selected from the group consisting of an ASCII formatted data format, a word processor format, a spread sheet data format, a PDF data format, a presentation software data format, a GIFF data format, a TIFF data format, a JPEG data format, a bit-map data format, an OCR data format, and an encoded data format.