Automatically configuring a web-enabled digital camera to access the internet

• US 8,009,194 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2008
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mind Fusion, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: FotoMedia Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Inventors: Morris, Robert P., Anderson, Eric C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lam; Hung H
• Application Number:
  US12/212,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20090009610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.1, 348/211.1
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00151 with selective access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00196 Creation of a photo-montage, e.g. photoalbum H04N1/0019 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00212 Attaching image data to computer messages, e.g. to e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00241 using an image reading device as a local input to a computer input via network, e.g. network scanners H04N1/00225
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus H04N2201/0013; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A method and system for automatically configuring a hand-held electronic device for accessing a site on a public network is disclosed. The method and system include establishing a connection to a website server, which is responsible for establishing and maintaining website accounts, and sending information uniquely identifying the electronic device to the website server. The server then sends user account information to the device, including an account ID and password, created based on the electronic device information. The user account information is then stored on electronic device for use the next time the electronic device accesses the website, whereby the user does not have to enter account information in order to establish the ISP connection or the website account before accessing the public network.

Claims

1. A method for automatically establishing a user account and for configuring a handheld portable device, which includes an integral digital camera, for accessing a website on a public network using the user account, the method comprising:

establishing, by the handheld portable device, a connection to a server, the server being responsible for establishing and maintaining user accounts;

automatically sending, by the handheld portable device, device information uniquely identifying the handheld portable device and a user of the handheld portable device to the server so that the server can at least partially set up a user account for accessing a website on a public network based on the device information;

receiving, via the handheld portable device, user account information associated with the at least partially set-up user account from the server; and

storing the user account information on the handheld portable device, wherein the user does not have to enter the stored account information to establish a connection with the public network or, if the user account is not completely set up, to establish the user account a next time the handheld portable device connects to the server.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the handheld portable device provides wireless communication to establish the connection.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the wireless communication is cellular wireless communication.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the handheld portable device is a cell phone.

5. The method of claim 4 further including sending at least a partial serial number as the device information uniquely identifying the handheld portable device.

6. The method of claim 5 further including uploading captured images to the server.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein establishing a connection further comprises:

establishing a connection to an Internet service provider (ISP) using a default ISP information.

8. The method of claim 7 further including terminating the connection with the ISP when the uploading of the images is complete.

9. The method of claim 5 further including providing the handheld portable device with a default Internet service provider (ISP) access number, user ID, and password.

10. A handheld portable device having an integral digital camera, the handheld portable device configured to access a website on a public network using a user account, the handheld portable device comprising:

an operating system;

a communication manager in communication with the operating system, the operating system configured to;

establish, via the communication manager, a connection to a server, the server being responsible for establishing and maintaining user accounts;

automatically send device information uniquely identifying the handheld portable device and a user of the handheld portable device to the server so that the server can at least partially set up a user account for accessing a website on a public network based on the device information;

receive user account information associated with the at least partially set-up user account from the server; and

store the user account information on the handheld portable device, wherein the user does not have to enter the stored account information to establish a connection with the public network or, if the user account is not completely set up, to establish the user account a next time the handheld portable device connects to the server.

11. The handheld portable device of claim 10 wherein the communication manager is configured to provide wireless communication to establish the connection.

12. The handheld portable device of claim 11 wherein the wireless communication is cellular wireless communication.

13. The handheld portable device of claim 10 wherein the handheld portable device is a cell phone.

14. The handheld portable device of claim 13 wherein the operating system is further configured to send at least a partial serial number as the device information uniquely identifying the handheld portable device.

15. The handheld portable device of claim 14 wherein the operating system is further configured to upload captured images to the server.

16. The handheld portable device of claim 10 wherein establishing a connection further comprises

establishing a connection to an Internet service provider (ISP) using a default ISP information.

17. The handheld portable device of claim 16 further including terminating the connection with the ISP when the uploading of the images is complete.

18. The handheld portable device of claim 14 further including providing the handheld portable device with a default Internet service provider (ISP) access number, user ID, and password.

19. A method for automatically establishing an Internet service provider (ISP) user account and for configuring a handheld portable device, which includes an integral digital camera, for accessing a public network using the ISP user account, the method comprising:

establishing, by the handheld portable device, a connection to a server a first time the handheld portable device attempts to connect to the public network, the server being responsible for establishing and maintaining ISP user accounts;

automatically sending, by the handheld portable device, device information uniquely identifying the handheld portable device and a user of the handheld portable device to the server so that the server can set up, based on the device information, an ISP user account for accessing a public network;

receiving, via the handheld portable device, ISP user account information associated with the set-up user account; and

storing the ISP user account information on the handheld portable device, wherein the user does not have to enter the ISP user account information a next time the handheld portable device connects to the public network.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the ISP user account information associated with the set-up user account is received from the server.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein establishing, by the handheld portable device, a connection to a server a first time the handheld portable device attempts to connect to the public network comprises connecting to the server using default ISP account information.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the default ISP account information includes the device information.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the server is accessed via the public network.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the handheld portable device provides wireless communication to establish the connection.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the wireless communication is cellular wireless communication.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein the handheld portable device is a cell phone.

27. The method of claim 26 further including sending at least a partial serial number as the device information uniquely identifying the handheld portable device.

28. The method of claim 19 further including providing the handheld portable device with a default ISP access number, user ID, and password.

29. A handheld portable device having an integral digital camera, the handheld portable device configured to access a website on a public network using a user account, the handheld portable device comprising:

an operating system;

a communication manager in communication with the operating system, the operating system configured to;

establish, via the communication manager, a connection to a server a first time the handheld portable device attempts to connect to the public network, the server being responsible for establishing and maintaining user accounts;

automatically send device information uniquely identifying the handheld portable device and a user of the handheld portable device to the server so that the server can set up, based on the device information, an Internet service provider (ISP) user account for accessing a public network;

receive ISP user account information associated with the set-up user account; and

store the ISP user account information on the handheld portable device, wherein the user does not have to enter the ISP user account information a next time the handheld portable device connects to the public network.

30. The handheld portable device of claim 29 wherein the communication manager receives the ISP user account information from the server.

31. The handheld portable device of claim 29 wherein the communication manager is configured to provide wireless communication to establish the connection.

32. The handheld portable device of claim 31 wherein the wireless communication is cellular wireless communication.

33. The handheld portable device of claim 29 wherein the handheld portable device is a cell phone.

34. The handheld portable device of claim 33 wherein the operating system is further configured to send at least a partial serial number as the device information uniquely identifying the handheld portable device.

35. The handheld portable device of claim 34 wherein the operating system is further configured to upload captured images to a photo-sharing site via the public network.

36. The handheld portable device of claim 29 wherein establishing the connection to the server further comprises establishing a connection to the server using default ISP information.