Image communication system

• US 7,274,949 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Issued: 09/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Pablo N.
• Application Number:
  US11/211,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20060009259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 455/344, 455/556.1, 455/3.06, 455/557, 455/566, 455/525.1, 455/90.3, 455351-353, 455/414.1, 455/414.4, 455/415, 455/412.1, 455 411- 413, 705/14, 348/207.1, 348/441, 348/469, 348/552, 348/231.2, 348/231.3, 348/222, 348/211.1, 709/231, 709/246, 382/101, 382/126, 382/181, 382/217, 340/426.17, 340/539, 358/402, 358/462
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• 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 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• 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 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/325 Modified version of the image, e.g. part of the image, image reduced in size or resolution, thumbnail or screennail
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3273 Display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3288 Storage of two or more complete document pages or image frames

Abstract

Transmission and receiving of image data recorded on a digital still camera to and from a server are controlled by a portable telephone set. At the time of transmission, communication between the portable telephone set and the digital still camera and communication between the portable telephone set and the server are established. A reading command is issued from the portable telephone set to the camera. Image data are transmitted in packet units to the portable telephone set from the camera in response to the reading command. The image data is transmitted to the server from the portable telephone set. At the time of receiving, when the communication is established, all image data are transmitted to the portable telephone set from the server. All the image data are transmitted to the camera from the portable telephone set and are recorded in the camera. It is possible to control the transmission and receiving of the image data by the portable telephone set.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the operations of an image communication system comprising an image processor, a portable telephone set arranged separately from and capable of establishing data communication with said image processor, image data representing an image being stored in said image processor and image list data being prepared by said image processor, comprising the steps of:

transmitting the prepared image list data from said image processor to said portable telephone set after communication between them has been established, and receiving the transmitted image list data in said portable telephone set;

displaying an image list represented by the received image list data and accepting an image identification selected in the displayed image list in said portable telephone set;

transmitting the accepted image identification to said image processor from said portable telephone set and receiving the image identification in said image processor;

transmitting image data of the image identified by the received image identification to said portable telephone set from said image processor, and receiving the transmitted image data in the portable telephone set; and

further transmitting the received image data to a transmission destination through a communication network from said portable telephone set.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

after receiving the image identification in said image processor, transmitting thumb-nail image data of the image identified by the received image identification to said portable telephone set from said image processor, and receiving the transmitted thumb-nail image data in the portable telephone set;

displaying a thumb-nail image represented by the received thumb-nail image data, and accepting a confirmation in said portable telephone set to transmit the accepted confirmation to said image processor; and

transmitting the image data of the image identified by the image identification to said portable telephone set from said image processor in response to reception of the confirmation transmitted from said portable telephone set.

3. A portable telephone set capable of establishing data communication with an image processor which stores image data representing an image and prepares image list data, said portable telephone set and said image processor being arranged separately from each other, comprising:

list command means for transmitting a list command to said image processor;

list receiving means for receiving image list data transmitted from said image processor in response to the list command transmitted by said list command means;

a display device for displaying an image list represented by the image list data which has been received by said list receiving means;

selection means for selecting an image identification in the image list displayed in said display device;

image request means for transmitting an image request including the selected image identification to said image processor;

image receiving means for receiving image data identified by the image identification and transmitted from said image processor; and

image transmitting means for transmitting image data received by said image receiving means to a transmission destination through a communication network.

4. The portable telephone set according to claim 3, further comprising:

thumb-nail image receiving means for receiving thumb nail image data identified by the image identification and transmitted from said image processor, said display device for displaying a thumb-nail image being represented by the thumb-nail image data received by said thumb-nail image receiving means; and

confirmation accepting means for accepting confirmation of the thumb-nail image displayed by said display device, said image request means for transmitting the image request including the confirmation accepted by said confirmation accepting means.

5. The portable telephone set according to claim 3, further comprising communication means for communication with said server to receive image list data or thumb-nail image data transmitted from said server, to receive image data transmitted from said server, and to transmit the received image data to another image processor.

6. A digital camera capable of establishing data communication with a portable telephone set and of storing image data in a memory, said digital camera and said portable telephone set being arranged separately from each other, comprising:

list creation means for creating image list data representing an image list of the image of the stored image data;

list transmitting means for transmitting the image list data to said portable telephone set in response to a list command transmitted from said portable telephone set; and

image transmitting means for transmitting to said portable telephone set image data of the image identified by an image identification transmitted from said portable telephone set.

7. The digital camera according to claim 6, further comprising:

thumb-nail image transmitting means for transmitting to said portable telephone set thumb-nail image data identified by the image identification transmitted from said portable telephone set,

wherein said image transmitting means transmits the image data in response to receipt of confirmation transmitted from said portable telephone set.

8. The digital camera according to claim 6, further comprising:

remaining capacity transmitting means for transmitting remaining capacity of said memory to said portable telephone set.

9. The digital camera according to claim 6, further comprising receiving means for receiving image data transmitted from another portable telephone set.

10. A digital camera capable of establishing data communication with a portable telephone set and of storing image data in a memory, said digital camera and said portable telephone set being arranged separately from each other, comprising:

list creation means for creating image list data representing an image to be transmitted to said portable telephone set;

receiving means for receiving a reading command issued and transmitted from said portable telephone set; and

image transmitting means for transmitting to said portable telephone set image data indicated by the image list data created by said list creation means in response to the read command received by said receiving means.