Image capture reporting based on content-associated wireless identification

• US 8,036,703 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Baker, Richard M., Malani, Ketan P., Estevez, Leonardo W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier; Gerald
• Application Number:
  US11/617,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20080161044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,747 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/541, 348/211.12, 348/211.99, 348/77, 348/169, 348/207.1, 348/211.2, 348/220.1, 348/372, 351/205, 379/387, 379/387.01, 455/556.1, 455/566, 235/472.02, 358/302, 705/26, 705/26.1, 709/202
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264

Abstract

An electronic device. The device comprises circuitry for capturing data representing an image and circuitry for detecting a wireless signal associated with an object. The device also comprises circuitry, responsive to the detecting circuitry, for storing image data from said circuitry for capturing and associating and storing, with same image data, additional data included in the wireless signal.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

imaging apparatus for directing toward an object;

circuitry for capturing data from the imaging apparatus and for representing an image of the object;

circuitry for detecting a wireless signal associated with the object; and

circuitry, responsive to the detecting circuitry, for storing image data from the circuitry for capturing, and also responsive to the detecting circuitry for associating and storing, with the stored image data, additional data included in the wireless signal.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, and further comprising circuitry for communicating the additional data to a destination external from the electronic device.

3. The electronic device of claim 2:

wherein the device comprises wireless telephony circuitry; and

wherein the wireless telephony circuitry comprises the circuitry for communicating.

4. The electronic device of claim 2 and further comprising circuitry for displaying information to a user of the electronic device, wherein the circuitry for communicating the additional data communicates the additional data without providing an indication of the communicating on the circuitry for displaying.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, and further comprising circuitry for wirelessly communicating the additional data to a destination external from the electronic device.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the circuitry for detecting comprises:

circuitry for issuing an interrogation signal to detect if the device is within a discernable range of a responder device, the responder device for providing, as the wireless signal associated with an object, a responsive signal to the interrogation signal; and

wherein the circuitry for associating and storing the additional data is operable in response to the circuitry for issuing an interrogation signal detecting the responder device.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 wherein the circuitry for issuing an interrogation signal comprises radio frequency identification circuitry.

8. The electronic device of claim 6 wherein the responder device comprises a radio frequency identification tag.

9. The electronic device of claim 6:

wherein the circuitry for issuing an interrogation signal comprises radio frequency identification circuitry; and

wherein the responder device comprises a radio frequency identification tag.

10. The electronic device of claim 6 wherein the responder device is affixed to the object.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the device is a portable device.

12. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is selected from a set consisting of a photocopier, facsimile, handheld camera, and wireless telephone.

13. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the circuitry for detecting a wireless signal comprises circuitry for detecting a wireless signal selected from a set consisting of Bluetooth, Zigbee, and ISM band.

14. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the circuitry for capturing is for capturing data selected from a set consisting of still image data and video image data.

15. The electronic device of claim 1:

wherein the circuitry for detecting comprises;

circuitry for issuing an interrogation signal to detect if the device is within a discernable range of a first responder device, the responder device for providing, as the wireless signal associated with an object, a responsive signal to the interrogation signal; and

wherein the device further comprises a second responder device;

wherein the circuitry for issuing an interrogation signal is also to detect the second responder device.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 and further comprising circuitry for inhibiting the circuitry for capturing in response to a failure to detect the second responder device.

17. The electronic device of claim 15 wherein the additional data comprises a unique identifier provided by the second responder device.

18. The electronic device of claim 1:

wherein the circuitry for detecting comprises;

circuitry for issuing an interrogation signal to detect if the device is within a discernable range of a first responder device, the responder device for providing, as the wireless signal associated with an object, a responsive signal to the interrogation signal; and

wherein the electronic device further comprises a second responder device;

wherein the circuitry for issuing an interrogation signal is also to detect the second responder device; and

wherein the electronic device further comprises circuitry for inhibiting the circuitry for capturing in response to a failure to detect the second responder device.

19. The electronic device of claim 1 and further comprising circuitry for associating with the additional data an identifier of the electronic device.

20. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the circuitry for detecting operates in response to a function call to the circuitry for capturing.

21. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the circuitry for detecting operates in response to a passage of a predetermined time period.

22. A method of operating a portable electronic device, comprising:

directing an imaging apparatus of the portable electronic device toward an object;

detecting with the portable electronic device a wireless signal associated with the object; and

in the portable electronic device, storing image data subject to the detecting step, wherein the storing step stores the image data and associates with the same image data additional data included in the wireless signal.

23. The method of claim 22 and further comprising communicating the additional data to a destination external from the electronic device.

24. The method of claim 22 and further comprising wirelessly communicating the additional data to a destination external from the electronic device.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the detecting step comprises:

issuing an interrogation signal to detect if the device is within a discernable range of a responder device, the responder device for providing, as the wireless signal associated with an object, a responsive signal to the interrogation signal; and

wherein the storing step is in response to detecting the responder device.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of detecting a wireless signal comprises detecting a wireless signal selected from a set consisting of Bluetooth, Zigbee, and ISM band.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein the storing step is for storing data selected from a set consisting of still image data and video image data.

28. The method of claim 22:

wherein the detecting step comprises;

issuing an interrogation signal to detect if the device is within a discernable range of a first responder device, the responder device for providing, as the wireless signal associated with an object, a responsive signal to the interrogation signal; and

wherein the device further comprises a second responder device;

and further comprising issuing an interrogation signal to detect the second responder device.

29. The method of claim 28 and further comprising inhibiting the circuitry for capturing in response to a failure to detect the second responder device.

30. An electronic device, comprising:

circuitry for capturing data representing an image;

circuitry for detecting a wireless signal associated with an object; and

circuitry, responsive to the detecting circuitry, for storing image data from said circuitry for capturing and associating and storing, with same image data, additional data included in the wireless signal,

wherein the circuitry for detecting comprises circuitry for issuing an interrogation signal to detect if the device is within a discernable range of a responder device, the responder device for providing, as the wireless signal associated with an object, a responsive signal to the interrogation signal; and

wherein the circuitry for associating and storing the additional data is operable in response to the circuitry for issuing an interrogation signal detecting the responder device.

31. The electronic device of claim 30 wherein the circuitry for issuing an interrogation signal comprises radio frequency identification circuitry.

32. The electronic device of claim 30 wherein the responder device comprises a radio frequency identification tag.

33. The electronic device of claim 30:

wherein the circuitry for issuing an interrogation signal comprises radio frequency identification circuitry; and

wherein the responder device comprises a radio frequency identification tag.

34. The electronic device of claim 30 wherein the responder device is affixed to the object.

35. An electronic device, comprising:

circuitry for capturing data representing an image;

circuitry for detecting a wireless signal associated with an object; and

circuitry, responsive to the detecting circuitry, for storing image data from said circuitry for capturing and associating and storing, with same image data, additional data included in the wireless signal;

wherein the circuitry for detecting comprises circuitry for issuing an interrogation signal to detect if the device is within a discernable range of a first responder device, the responder device for providing, as the wireless signal associated with an object, a responsive signal to the interrogation signal; and

wherein the device further comprises a second responder device;

wherein the circuitry for issuing an interrogation signal is also to detect the second responder device.

36. The electronic device of claim 35 and further comprising circuitry for inhibiting the circuitry for capturing in response to a failure to detect the second responder device.

37. The electronic device of claim 35 wherein the additional data comprises a unique identifier provided by the second responder device.

38. A method of operating a portable electronic device, comprising:

detecting a wireless signal associated with an object; and

storing image data subject to the detecting step, wherein the storing step stores the image data and associates with the same image data additional data included in the wireless signal;

wherein the detecting step comprises issuing an interrogation signal to detect if the device is within a discernable range of a responder device, the responder device for providing, as the wireless signal associated with an object, a responsive signal to the interrogation signal; and

wherein the storing step is in response to detecting the responder device.

39. A method of operating a portable electronic device, comprising:

detecting a wireless signal associated with an object; and

storing image data subject to the detecting step, wherein the storing step stores the image data and associates with the same image data additional data included in the wireless signal;

wherein the detecting step comprises issuing an interrogation signal to detect if the device is within a discernable range of a first responder device, the responder device for providing, as the wireless signal associated with an object, a responsive signal to the interrogation signal;

wherein the device further comprises a second responder device;

and further comprising issuing an interrogation signal to detect the second responder device.

40. The method of claim 39 and further comprising inhibiting the circuitry for capturing in response to a failure to detect the second responder device.