INTERNET DIRECT DEVICE

• US 20120162446A1
• Filed: 03/08/2012
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alex is the Best LLC
• Original Assignee: Alex is the Best LLC
• Inventors: CLEMENTE, FRANK, Feaser, Ted
• Granted Patent: US 8,477,197 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• 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 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

An Internet direct device comprises an imaging system and a microprocessor. The imaging system captures still or video images. The microprocessor transmits the captured still or video images to an account associated with a website or another Internet direct device upon image capture, and receives still or video images from other Internet direct devices over a communications network. The Internet direct device automatically connects to the communications network on power-up using one of a plurality of available modes of connection, which is designated as a primary mode of connection. The Internet direct device automatically switches to another available mode of connection when the Internet direct device detects that the primary mode of connection to the communications network is unavailable.

Claims

1-26. -26. (canceled)

27. An Internet direct device comprising an imaging system to capture still or video images;

a microprocessor to transmit said captured still or video images to an account associated with the Internet direct device on a website archive and review (WSARC) upon image capture, and receive still or video images from said WSARC over a communications network; and

wherein the Internet direct device automatically connects to said communications network on power-up using one of a plurality of available modes of connection, which is designated as a primary mode of connection, and wherein the Internet direct device automatically switches to another available mode of connection when the Internet direct device detects that said primary mode of connection to said communications network is unavailable.

28. The Internet direct device of claim 27, wherein said plurality of available modes of connection is selected from a group consisting of:

a land line, DSL, cable, satellite, wireless network, cellular, Wi-Fi, and Wi-Max.

29. The Internet direct device of claim 27, further comprising a storage device for locally storing captured still or video images and said received still or video images.

30. The Internet direct device of claim 29, wherein the storage device stores the captured still or video images when the connection to said communications network is unavailable;

and wherein the microprocessor transmits the stored still or video images to said WSARC when the connection to said communications network is re-established.

31. The Internet direct device of claim 27, further comprising a scope-shaped attachment to provide specialized lighting to record fine cracks and crevices in a machine or a building.

32. The Internet direct device of claim 27, wherein said primary mode of communication is changeable to another available mode of communication by an operator of the Internet direct device.

33. The Internet direct device of claim 27, wherein the microprocessor of the Internet direct device communicates with other Internet direct devices over said communications network.

34. The Internet direct device of claim 33, wherein said microprocessor transmits and receives still or video images to and from said other Internet direct devices over said communications network

35. The Internet direct device of claim 34, wherein said microprocessor transmits and receives audio to and from said other Internet direct devices over said communications network

36. The Internet direct device of claim 27 is a portable camera, a personal digital assistant or a cell phone.

37. The Internet direct device of claim 27, further comprising a display for displaying still or video images.

38. The Internet direct device of claim 37, wherein said display of the Internet direct device comprises a touch pad for entering texts.

39. The Internet direct device of claim 27 is operable to access the Internet using a web browser over said communications network.

40. The Internet direct device of claim 39, wherein said microprocessor is operable to download live or recorded audio or video images from a website over said communications network.

41. The Internet direct device of claim 39 is operable support voice over IP over said communications network.

42. The Internet direct device of claim 27, wherein said imaging system further comprises an image pickup, an optical component for forming an image on the image pickup, and an image capturing component for capturing digital still or video images from the image pickup.

44. The Internet direct device of claim 27 is a web-enabled portable device.

45. The Internet direct device of claim 27, further comprising an image compression component for compressing said captured still or video images.

43. The Internet direct device of claim 43, wherein said optical component comprises an auto-focus optical system.