Image transfer over mobile radio network

• US 6,832,102 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2001
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: IʼAnson, Colin
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Iqbal, Khawar
• Application Number:
  US09/798,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20010026376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/556.1, 455/414.1, 455/419, 455/3.01, 455/557, 455/66, 455/566, 705/26, 705/12, 358/400, 358/296, 358/500, 709/232, 709/233, 707/10, 348/207.1, 348/207.11, 348/211.1, 348/211.2, 348/211.3, 348/211.5, 348/211.14
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00106 using land mobile radio networks, e.g. mobile telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32776 using an interactive, user-operated device, e.g. a computer terminal, mobile telephone H04N1/32782, H04N1/32784 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/41 Bandwidth or redundancy reduction by scanning H04N1/17 ; methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

To enable low cost distribution of pictures from a mobile entity that incorporates digital camera functionality, the mobile entity (20) generates both a high resolution picture image (81) and a low resolution thumbnail (80). This thumbnail (80) is distributed via a mobile radio infrastructure to a service system (40) that then transfers the thumbnail to specified recipients (60). After viewing the thumbnail (80), each recipient (60) indicates to the service system (40) whether they wish to receive the high resolution image (81) and, if so, whether it is to be transferred immediately or at the next. The service system (40) effects transfer of the high resolution image (81) accordingly. In other embodiments, distribution of the high resolution image is effected independently of the service system.

Claims

1. A method of transferring image data from a mobile entity through a mobile radio infrastructure to a recipient, the method involving:

(a) taking a photograph using camera functionality of the mobile entity and providing, at the mobile entity, first image data and second image data respectively corresponding to low and high resolution images of what was photographed;

(b) transferring the first image data from the mobile entity, through the mobile radio infrastructure, to a service system;

(c) transferring the first image data from the service system to at least one recipient, over a communications system to which the service system is connected;

(d) at the service system, receiving back any response sent by any of said at least one recipient for indicating whether that recipient wishes to receive the second image data corresponding to the first image data transferred in step (c) and, if so, whether the second image data is to be transferred to the recipient immediately;

(e) where any said response received in step (d) indicates that a said recipient wishes immediately to receive the second image data, immediately transferring the second image data from the mobile entity to the service system over the mobile radio infrastructure, whereas if only responses for non-immediate receipt of the second image data are received in step (d). transferring the second image data from the mobile entity to the service system by a low-tariff communication; and

(f) transferring the second image data from the service system to the or each said recipient who has indicated they wish to receive said second image data, any recipient who has indicated in a said response that they wish to receive the second image data immediately being sent the second image data as soon as received by the service system in step (e).

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein transfer of the second image data from the service system to said recipient involves transfer via the mobile radio infrastructure, this transfer being effected during a low tariff period of the mobile radio infrastructure except where the recipient has indicated that immediate transfer is wanted in which case the second image data is transferred over the mobile radio infrastructure to the recipient without regard to the currently applicable tariff.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein information concerning the progress of distribution of the second image data to the intended recipients of this data is made available by the service system.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the said at least one recipient for said first image data is determined in one or more of the following ways:

set in by the user of the mobile entity using the latter;

selected by the user of the mobile entity from recipient data held on the service

system;

preset in the service system.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein where a said recipient has indicated in a said response that they wish to receive the second image data immediately, the service system causes the cost of transferring the second image data from the mobile entity to the service system via the mobile radio infrastructure to be charged to the recipient.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one said response includes a bid price for the second image data the service system sending the second image data to the or each recipient making an accepted bid.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the service system collates the responses received back from multiple recipients.

8. A service system comprising:

a receiving arrangement for receiving image data from a mobile entity via a mobile radio infrastructure;

a low-resolution-image distribution arrangement for distributing low-resolution image data, received by the receiving arrangement and representative of an image, to at least one recipient;

a response-handling arrangement for receiving back any response sent by any of said at least one recipient for indicating whether that recipient wishes to receive high-resolution image data for said image and, if so, whether that data is to be transferred to the recipient immediately;

the response-handling arrangement being arranged, where any said response indicates that a said recipient wishes immediately to receive the high-resolution image data, to request immediate transfer of that data from the mobile entity but otherwise not to make such said request without regard to cost; and

a high-resolution-image distribution arrangement for sending the high-resolution image data, after receipt by the receiving arrangement, to the or each said recipient who has indicated they wish to receive that data;

the high-resolution-image distribution arrangement being arranged to send on the high-resolution image data, as soon as received by the receiving arrangement, to any said recipient who has indicated in a said response that they wish to receive the high-resolution image data immediately.