Device, network, server, and methods for providing digital images and associated processing information

• US 7,978,219 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2001
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AI Labs, LLC
• Original Assignee: Kevin Reid Imes
• Inventors: Imes, Kevin Reid
• Primary Examiner(s): AGGARWAL, YOGESH K
• Application Number:
  US09/943,632
• Time in Patent Office: 3,603 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.1, 348/207.99, 348/552, 34821199-2114, 348 1401- 1404, 455/95, 455/100
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2175 with local image input
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/00 Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33328 Resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33357 Compression mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/617 Upgrading or updating of programs or applications for camera control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera

Abstract

A wireless communication device operable as a digital image capturing device (wireless digital camera) may be used to associate processing information with a captured image. The wireless communication device may communicate information to a network server, such as a WAP server and/or a process server for processing. A process associated with the communicated information is identified and initiated to process the information.

Claims

1. A method of processing a digital image using a portable digital image capturing device, the method comprising:

detecting a user selection of a first function to communicate a first digital image over a wireless network to a first destination;

determining a first end use process reference in response to the user selecting the first function, wherein the first end use process reference includes a predetermined end use output format of the first destination;

detecting a selection of the first digital image at the portable digital image capturing device;

determining an image format size of the first end use process reference to display the processed image using a predetermined image format size of the first destination;

initiating a processing of the first digital image using the first end use process reference to form a first processed digital image at the portable digital image capturing device; and

in response to identifying the user, initiating a first communication of the processed digital image over the wireless network communicatively coupled to the first destination using the first function such that the first destination may display the processed digital image using the predetermined end use output format.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining an image compression size of the first end use process reference; and

processing the first digital image using the image compression size to form the processed digital image in response to initiating the processing of the first digital image using the first end use process reference.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a subscriber unit functionality of the portable digital image capturing device using a subscriber system application;

enabling at least one digital image process function of the portable digital image

capturing device in response to determining the subscriber unit functionality, the at least one digital image process function configured to access the end use process reference to initiate a processing of a captured digital image; and

enabling a non-digital image process function of the portable digital image capturing device in response to determining the subscriber unit functionality.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a profile of the portable digital image capturing device;

enabling access to at least one function using the profile; and

processing the first digital image in response to a user selecting the at least one function enabled using the profile.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting a first user profile of the portable digital image capturing device;

enabling the first function using the first user profile;

detecting a second user profile of the portable digital image capturing device; and

enabling a second function using the second user profile, the second function different than the first function.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a device identifier of the portable digital image capturing device; and

communicating the device identifier and the first processed digital image to the first destination, the device identifier operable to be used at the first destination to access the first processed digital image.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining an application identification reference of the first function;

determining a device identifier of the portable digital image capturing device; and

communicating the application identification reference and the device identifier with the processed digital image to the destination.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a subscription based service;

authenticating a user of the portable digital image capturing device;

accessing a website using the portable digital image capturing device in response to the authenticating the user;

receiving a selection of the first digital image to upload using the subscription based service; and

uploading the first digital image to the website.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the portable digital image capturing device is a wireless telephone.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the wireless telephone communicates using Global System for Mobile communication.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the first digital image is a video image.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the user is done by the portable digital image capturing device.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the user is done by the first destination.

14. A portable digital image capturing device operable to record a first digital image, comprising:

an image input sensor operable to record the first digital image;

a memory operable to store the first digital image;

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor operable to;

detect a user selection of a first function to communicate the first digital image over a wireless network to a first destination operable to display digital images;

determine a first end use process reference in response to the user selecting the first function, wherein the first end use process reference includes a predetermined end use output format of the first destination;

detect a selection of the first digital image at the portable digital image capturing device;

determine an image format size of the first end use process reference to display the processed image using a predetermined image format size of the first destination;

initiate a processing of the first digital image using the first end use process reference to form a first processed digital image at the portable digital image capturing device; and

in response to identifying the user, initiate a first communication of the processed digital image over a wireless network communicatively coupled to the first destination using the first function such that the first destination may display the processed digital image using the predetermined end use output format.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 14 further comprising wherein:

a subscriber unit system software application operable to enable access to a second digital image processing application received by the wireless communication module; and

the wireless communication module operable to receive the second digital image processing application via the wireless communication medium.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 15, further comprising:

a first digital image processing function accessible using the first digital image processing application;

a second digital image processing function accessible using the second digital image processing application; and

the wireless communication module operable to communicate the first processed digital image over the wireless communication medium.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 15, further comprising a wireless telephone.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 17, further comprising a Bluetooth communication module.

19. The portable device of claim 14, wherein:

the processor is further operable to receive a selection of an email address;

the processor is further operable to formulate a mark-up language encoded file including a reference to the first digital image; and

the first communication includes the email address and the mark-up language encoded file.

20. The portable device of claim 14, further comprising:

a first image capture function button;

an image magnification function operable to magnify a view of the first digital image;

an email function operable to be accessed using a graphical user interface;

an image upload function operable to be accessed using the graphical user interface; and

a pointing device selector operable to;

enable selection of the first function;

enable selection of the email function;

enable selection of the upload function; and

enable selection of the first digital image.

21. The portable device of claim 14 wherein the portable digital image capturing device is a wireless telephone.

22. The portable device of claim 21 wherein the wireless telephone communicates using Global System for Mobile Communication.

23. The portable device of claim 22 wherein the first digital image is a video image.

24. The portable device of claim 14 wherein identifying the user is done by the portable digital image capturing device.

25. The portable device of claim 14 wherein identifying the user is done by the first destination.