Method and system for sharing images using a digital media frame

• US 6,535,228 B1
• Filed: 07/21/2000
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Agarwal, Naveen, Lee, Victor, Bandaru, M. Krishna, Siegel, Robert E., Mogal, Josh
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao H.
• Application Number:
  US09/620,889
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 345/716, 345/726, 345/733, 345/776, 345/810, 345/853, 345/854, 345/744, 345/797, 345/752
• US Class Current: 715/752
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/54 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/06 Remotely controlled electronic signs other than labels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10015 Access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. using brokers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1038 Load balancing arrangements to avoid a single path through a load balancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 Image display device

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for sharing an object in a network is disclosed. From a digital media frame (DMF) coupled with a network, the object is selected. A recipient is selected to receive the object. One or more signals are sent to a network server coupled with the network, the one or more signals requesting the network server to share the object with the recipient. From the network server, in response to receiving the one or more signals, the object is identified. The object is then sent to the recipient.

Claims

1. A system for sharing digital images over at least one network comprising:

(a) a server providing a network service over the at least one network;

(b) means for permitting at least one share group to access a network server via the network service, the at least one share group including a plurality of members; and

(c) a device associated with each of the plurality of members, each device in communication with the server, the device of one or more members of each of the at least one share group being a continuously operating display, each of the plurality of members of the at least one share group capable of being a sharing member and a receiving member, each sharing member being able to share digital files with the receiving members of the at least one share group by uploading from the device associated with the sharing member at least one digital file to the network service, the at least one digital file being downloaded from the network service to the devices associated with the receiving members of the at least one share group and automatically displayed on the continuously operating displays associated with the receiving members of the at least one user group.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the continuously operating display is a digital media frame.

3. A system as recited in claim 2 wherein:

each device includes a non-volatile memory for storing digital image files thereon.

4. A system as recited in claim 2 wherein:

the device associated with one or more members of the at least one user group is a personal computer.

5. A system as recited in claim 2 wherein:

each digital media frame has an identifier for enabling the network to uniquely identify that digital media frame, a member being able to select a customized news transmission for display on the member'"'"'s digital media frame through use of the identifier.

6. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the digital files are stored on the server.

7. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the digital files are digital image files.

8. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the associated device of the sharing member allows the sharing member to select a subset of the members of the at least one user group to receive the uploaded digital files.

9. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the associated device of the sharing member allows the sharing member to select a subset of the uploaded digital files to be shared with the receiving members of the at least one share group.

10. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein:

each of the devices of the at least one user group are remotely located from one another.

11. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the network is the Internet.

12. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein:

means for allowing a member of one of the plurality of share groups to also be a member of at least one other share group.

13. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein:

each continuously operating display includes an interface for receiving digital images directly from a digital camera.

14. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein:

each continuously operating display includes an interface for receiving digital images directly from a digital camera memory card.

15. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein:

each continuously operating display can also display a customized news transmission from the network service, the customized news transmission being selected by each member having the continuously operating display.

16. A system as recited in claim 15 wherein:

the customized news transmission includes financial news.

17. A system as recited in claim 15 wherein:

the customized news transmission includes advertising.

18. A system as recited in claim 15 wherein:

the customized news transmission includes text.

19. A system as recited in claim 15 wherein:

the customized news transmission is provided from the server.

20. A system as recited in claim 15 wherein:

the customized news transmission includes an audio portion.

21. A system as recited in claim 15 wherein:

the customized news transmission is automatically displayed on the respective members continuously operating display.

22. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein:

each device has an identifier for enabling the network to uniquely identify the device.

23. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein:

each continuously operating display can receive images and data from a plurality of external devices including a digital camera, a video camera, and a computer.

24. A system as recited in claim 23 wherein:

the continuously operating display can receive images and data through direct connection to one of the plurality of external devices.

25. A system as recited in claim 23 wherein:

the continuously operating display can receive images and data through via a telephone line, a television cable, or the Internet.

26. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein:

an individual must provide authorization to the network service to become a member of the at least one share group.

27. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the network service forms a second network of a plurality of continuously operating displays.

28. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the digital files include a text portion to be displayed on the continuously operating display.

29. A system as recited in claim 28 wherein:

the digital files include an audio portion to be played via the continuously operating display.

30. A system for receiving and displaying digital images over a network comprising:

(a) at least one digital media frame associated with a member of a share group, the digital media frame including a memory for storing digital images therein and a display for displaying the stored digital images;

(b) a server in communication with the at least one digital media frame via a network, the server connected to the network for communicating digital images to the digital media frame, the server determining if the digital image has been provided by members authorized to communicate images to the digital media frame, and wherein

(c) the digital media frame automatically stores in the memory only those digital images provided by members of the share group authorized to communicate images to the digital media frame.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein:

the digital media frame automatically displays on the display the digital images automatically stored in memory.