Image capture method, system and apparatus

• US 7,970,833 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Slobodin, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): BHATIA, AJAY M
• Application Number:
  US10/860,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20040264775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,582 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/206, 353/30
• US Class Current: 709/206
• 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 1/00204 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 1/00283 with a television apparatus
• 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 2201/0039 Connection via a network

Abstract

A method for selectively accessing a projected image is provided. In one embodiment, the method may include requesting an image display device to transmit over a network a projected image as displayed by the image display device. The method further may include receiving a copy of the requested projected image from the image display device in response to the request over the network.

Claims

1. A method for selectively accessing during a presentation, a projected image of the presentation as displayed by an image display device, the method comprising:

requesting the image display device to transmit over a network a specific select image of the presentation as displayed by the image display device,

wherein a request for the select image is based on a requested image attribute,

wherein the select image is part of the presentation concurrently displayed by the image display device,

wherein the select image is one of a single projected image, a series of projected images within the presentation, and specific image data within a projected image;

wherein requesting the image display device to transmit the select image comprises requesting the image display device to determine that the select image has been unlocked and made available by a user of the image display device;

receiving, in response to requesting the select image, a response to the request from the image display device, the response including a message indicating that the select image has been unlocked and made available by a user of the image display device; and

receiving, in response to requesting the select image, a copy of the select image as projected concurrently by the image display device from the image display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein requesting the image display device to transmit the select image as displayed by the image display device, where the request for the select image is based on the requested image attribute, includes wirelessly sending the request for the select image as projected by the image display device based on the requested image attribute.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein requesting the select image as projected by the image display device, where the request for the select image is based on the requested image attribute, includes providing identity information to the image display device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the select image is selectively locked to prevent subsequent manipulation upon receiving the copy of the select image.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, upon receiving the copy of the select image, immediately viewing the copy of the select image.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, upon receiving the copy of the select image, saving the copy of the select image for subsequent viewing.

7. A method for image capture between an image display device and a requesting device during a presentation displayed by the image display device, the method comprising:

receiving a request to capture a specific select image from the presentation from the requesting device, where the request is based on a requested image attribute associated with the select image, and where the requested select image is projected concurrently by the image display device as part of the presentation;

receiving a request to determine that the select image has been unlocked and made available by a user of the image display device;

determining if the select image is unlocked and available for delivery;

selecting the select image,

preparing the select image for transmission to the requesting device; and

if the select image has been made unlocked and available by a user of the image display device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising identifying a network address for the requesting device.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising confirming that the request is authorized.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein preparing the select image for transmission to the requesting device includes formatting the select image in a select format.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the select format is a compressed format.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein preparing the select image for transmission to the requesting device includes formatting the select image in a compressed format if the select image is over a given size.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the select format is a locked format to prevent subsequent manipulation.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein preparing the select image for transmission to the requesting device includes transferring the select image to an output buffer.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein transmitting the select image to the requesting device occurs without user input from the user of the image display device.

16. The method of claim 7, further comprising, if the select image is unavailable for capture, not transmitting the select image to the requesting device.

17. The method of claim 7, wherein the select image is one of a single projected image of the presentation, a series of projected images of the presentation, and specific image data within a projected image of the presentation.

18. The method of claim 7, wherein the request to capture the specific select image, preparing the select image for transmission to the requesting device, and transmitting the select image to the requesting device is fully automated according to user preferences.

19. An image processing and display system comprising:

a network;

an image display device coupled to the network, the image display device configured to project an image of a presentation, the image display device further configured to receive and process one or more requests to determine if the select image is unlocked and available for capture, and to transmit a response to the requesting device indicating an availability of the select image and to capture select images of the presentation being projected concurrently by the image display device, and to select and transmit the select image, each select image being one of a single projected image of the presentation, a series of projected images of the presentation, and specific image data within a projected image of the presentation; and

a requesting device coupled to the network, the requesting device configured to request a specific select image of the presentation based on an image attribute and if the select image is unlocked and available, to capture the select image as projected substantially concurrently by the image display device.

20. The image processing and display system of claim 19, wherein the image attribute of the select image is selected from a group consisting of a time period of an image display, an image format, and an image source.

21. The image processing and display system of claim 20, wherein the image display device is configured to transmit the select image to the requesting device if the select image is available for capture.

22. The image processing and display system of claim 19, wherein the select image is selectively locked to prevent subsequent manipulation.

23. An apparatus for displaying images, the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to generate an image for display;

memory linked to the processor to store the image; and

optical components configured to display the image;

wherein the processor is further configured to receive a request from a networked requesting device corresponding to a request for a specific select image based on an image attribute, determine if the select image is unlocked and available for delivery, and select, package and transmit the select image to the requesting device substantially concurrently with displaying the select image, the select image being part of a presentation concurrently displayed by the apparatus.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the select image is one of a single projected image, a series of projected images within a presentation, and specific image data within a projected image of the presentation.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured to identify and the memory is configured to store a network address of the requesting device.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured to identify whether the request from the requesting device is an authorized request.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processor is configured to package the image in a compressed format.

28. A program storage device readable by a machine, the storage device tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for image capture, the method comprising:

receiving a request for transmission of a specific select image of a presentation as projected substantially concurrently wherein the request for transmission of the select image is based on an image attribute;

determining if the request is received from an authorized requesting device;

determining if the requested select image has been unlocked and made available by a user of the image display device;

if the requested select image is unlocked and available for capture, directing preparation of the requested select image for transmission from the image display device to the authorized requesting device; and

directing transmission of the requested select image from the image display device to the authorized requesting device.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising providing a user interface on a network that is configured to enable a user to request transmission of the select image from the image display device to the requesting device.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising providing a user interface on a network that is configured to enable a user to define the image attribute on which the request for transmission of the select image is based.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein determining if the request is received from the authorized requesting device includes identifying a requesting device that sent the request for transmission of the select image.

32. A method for image capture between an image display device and a requesting device, the method comprising:

receiving a request to capture a specific select image during a presentation as projected concurrently by the image display device, where the request to capture the select image is based on a requested image attribute associated with the select image and the select image includes an option enabling the select image to be selectively locked to prevent subsequent manipulation after capture;

determining if the requested select image has been unlocked and made available by a user of the image display device;

preparing the select image for transmission to the requesting device upon receiving the request; and

transmitting the select image to the requesting device.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the select image is one of a single projected image, a series of projected images within a presentation, and specific image data within a projected image of the presentation.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the requested image attribute is selected from the group consisting of a time period of an image display, an image format, and an image source.

35. The method of claim 34,

wherein receiving the request for the select image includes wirelessly receiving the request for the select image,

wherein transmitting the select image to the requesting device includes wirelessly transmitting the select image.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein preparing the select image for transmission includes limiting types of subsequent manipulation that may be applied to the select image.