Download of images from an image capturing device to a television

• US 7,092,022 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2002
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2002
• 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: Brake, Wilfred Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): JELINEK, BRIAN J
• Application Number:
  US10/131,635
• Time in Patent Office: 1,574 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.99, 348/207.1, 348/211.99, 348/211.1, 348/211.2, 348/211.3, 348/211.4, 348/333.01, 348/333.06, 348/333.07, 348372-373, 348375-376, 725/133, 725/141, 725/153
• US Class Current: 348/333.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An image viewing system includes at least one television and a docking station capable of communicating with an image capturing device and a television. The docking station controls operation of the television and receives one or more electronic images from the image capturing device. The docking station transmits the electronic images to the television for display and viewing. Alternatively, the image capturing device may directly control the television and may directly transmit electronic images to the television for display and viewing.

Claims

1. A docking station adapted to download electronic images from an image capturing device and adapted to display said electronic images on at least one television, comprising:

a television command transmission device capable of sending television control commands to said at least one television;

an image data reception device capable of receiving an electronic image from said image capturing device;

an image data transmission device capable of transmitting said electronic image to said at least one television;

a memory storing a television translation routine, a television power command, and a television tune command; and

a processor communicating with said television command transmission device, said image data reception device, said image data transmission device, and said memory, with said processor downloading said electronic image using said image data reception device, transmitting a television power command to said at least one television using said television command transmission device, transmitting a television tune command to said at least one television using said television command transmission device, translating said electronic image using said television translation routine to create a translated image, and transmitting said translated image to said at least one television using said image data transmission device.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein said television command transmission device comprises an infrared (IR) transmitter.

3. The docking station of claim 1, wherein said image data reception device comprises a camera port capable of interfacing with said image capturing device.

4. The docking station of claim 1, wherein said image data reception device comprises an RF receiver capable of receiving RF transmissions from said image capturing device.

5. The docking station of claim 1, wherein said image data reception device comprises an IR receiver capable of receiving IR transmissions from said image capturing device.

6. The docking station of claim 1, wherein said image data transmission device comprises a television cable interface capable of interfacing with a television cable.

7. The docking station of claim 1, wherein said image data transmission device comprises an RF transmitter.

8. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising an input device capable of accepting a user input that initiates an image download to said at least one television.

9. The docking station of claim 1, wherein a downloading operation is initiated by said processor when said one or more images are received via said image data reception device.

10. The docking station of claim 1, wherein said memory further stores a television volume command.

11. The docking station of claim 1, wherein said memory further stores images to be transmitted to said at least one television.

12. An image viewing method for an image capturing device, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a television power command from a docking station to at least one television, with said television power command being capable of powering on a receiving television;

transmitting a television tune command from said docking station to said at least one television, with said television tune command being capable of tuning said receiving television to a predetermined television channel;

translating an electronic image to a television transmission format to create a translated image;

transmitting said translated image to said at least one television;

pointing said image capturing device at said at least one television before the step of transmitting said television power command;

detecting in said image capturing device whether said at least one television powered-up as a result of said television power command; and

repeating the steps of transmitting said television power command and detecting whether said at least one television powered-up until said at least one television powers-up.