Apparatus for capturing, converting and transmitting a visual image signal via a digital transmission system
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A handheld self-contained cellular telephone and integrated image processing system for both sending and receiving telephonic audio signals and for capturing a visual image and transmitting it to a compatible remote receiving station of a wireless telephone network, the system comprising:
- a manually portable housing;
an integral image capture device comprising an electronic camera contained within the portable housing;
a display for displaying an image framed by the camera, the display being supported by the housing, the display and the electronic camera being commonly movable in the housing when the housing is moved by hand;
a processor in the housing for generating an image data signal representing the image framed by the camera;
a memory associated with the processor for receiving and storing the digitized framed image, accessible for selectively displaying in the display window and accessible for selectively transmitting over the wireless telephone network the digitized framed image;
a user interface for enabling a user to select the image data signal for viewing and transmission;
a telephonic system in the housing for sending and receiving digitized audio signals and for sending the image data signal;
alphanumeric input keys in the housing for permitting manually input digitized alphanumeric signals to be input to the processor, the telephonic system further used for sending the digitized alphanumeric signals;
a wireless communications device adapted for transmitting any of the digitized signals to the compatible remote receiving station; and
a power supply for powering the system.
4 Assignments
Litigations
12 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
An image capture, conversion, compression, storage and transmission system provides a data signal representing the image in a format and protocol capable of being transmitted over any of a plurality of readily available transmission systems and received by readily available, standard equipment receiving stations. In its most comprehensive form, the system is capable of sending and receiving audio, documentary and visual image data to and from standard remote stations readily available throughout the world.
145 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A handheld self-contained cellular telephone and integrated image processing system for both sending and receiving telephonic audio signals and for capturing a visual image and transmitting it to a compatible remote receiving station of a wireless telephone network, the system comprising:
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a manually portable housing; an integral image capture device comprising an electronic camera contained within the portable housing; a display for displaying an image framed by the camera, the display being supported by the housing, the display and the electronic camera being commonly movable in the housing when the housing is moved by hand; a processor in the housing for generating an image data signal representing the image framed by the camera; a memory associated with the processor for receiving and storing the digitized framed image, accessible for selectively displaying in the display window and accessible for selectively transmitting over the wireless telephone network the digitized framed image; a user interface for enabling a user to select the image data signal for viewing and transmission; a telephonic system in the housing for sending and receiving digitized audio signals and for sending the image data signal; alphanumeric input keys in the housing for permitting manually input digitized alphanumeric signals to be input to the processor, the telephonic system further used for sending the digitized alphanumeric signals; a wireless communications device adapted for transmitting any of the digitized signals to the compatible remote receiving station; and a power supply for powering the system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A handheld cellular telephone having an integrated electronic camera for both sending and receiving telephonic audio signals and for capturing a visual image, converting the visual image to a digitized image data signal and transmitting digitized image data signal via a cellular telephone network, the cellular telephone comprising:
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a manually portable housing supporting the cellular telephone and the integrated electronic camera, the cellular telephone and the integrated electronic camera being movable in common with the housing; a cellular telephone in the housing, the cellular telephone further including a transmitter/receiver for transmitting and receiving audio telephone messages over a cellular telephone network, a keypad for entering manually input alphanumeric signals to be transmitted over the cellular telephone network, and a display window for viewing the manually input alphanumeric signals; an integral electronic camera in the housing, the camera for visually framing a visual image to be captured; a processor associated with the electronic camera for capturing and digitizing the framed image in a format for transmission over the cellular telephone network via the cellular telephone; a memory associated with the processor for receiving and storing the digitized framed image, accessible for selectively displaying in the display window and accessible for selectively transmitting over the cellular telephone network the digitized framed image; a user interface for enabling a user to selectively display the digitized framed image in the display window and subsequently transmit the digitized framed image over the cellular telephone network; and an integrated power supply for powering both the cellular telephone and the camera. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A combination of handheld cellular telephone and electronic camera comprising:
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a housing; an electronic camera integral within the housing; a display in the housing for framing the image to be captured by an image capture device and for viewing the image, whereby an operator can view and frame the image prior to capture; a processor for processing the image framed by the camera for generating a digitized framed image as displayed in the display; a memory associated with the processor for receiving and storing the digitized framed image for selectively displaying the digitized framed image in the display window and for selectively transmitting the digitized framed image over a cellular telephone network; a cellular telephone in the housing for accepting and digitizing audio signals to be transmitted and for convening received digitized audio signals into acoustic audio, the cellular telephone further for transmitting and receiving non-audio digital signals including digitized image signals; alphanumeric input keys in the housing for permitting manually input alphanumeric signals to be input into the cellular telephone, the manually input alphanumeric signals being presented in the display; a power supply in the housing for powering the processor, the cellular telephone, the display and the camera; a wireless transmitter/receiver in the housing for transmitting digital signals sent from and receiving digital signals sent to the cellular telephone; and digital/analog circuits for convening digital commands to analog signals for controlling gain, pedestal, setup, white clip, lens focus, white balance, lens iris, lens zoom and other functions of the camera from a local input device, a remote device or as automatic or programmed functions. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A combination of handheld wireless telephone and digital camera comprising:
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a handheld housing which supports both the wireless telephone and the digital camera, the wireless telephone and electronic camera being commonly movable with the housing; a display supported in the housing for framing an image to be captured and for viewing the image, whereby an operator can view and frame the image prior to capture; a processor for processing the image framed by the camera for generating a digitized framed image as displayed in the display; a memory associated with the processor for receiving and storing the digitized framed image, for selectively displaying in the display window and for selectively transmitting over a wireless telephone network the digitized framed image; the wireless telephone being selectively operable to accept and digitize audio signals to be transmitted, the wireless telephone being selectively operable to convert received digitized audio signals into acoustic audio, the wireless telephone being selectively operable to transmit and receive non-audio digital signals, the non-audio digital signals including a selected digitized framed image; a set of input keys supported by the housing to permit alphanumeric signals to be manually input by an operator into the wireless telephone, the alphanumeric signals being presented in the display for viewing by the operator; a power supply supported by the housing; the wireless telephone including a wireless transmitter/receiver for transmitting digital signals sent from and receiving digital signals sent to the wireless telephone; and at least one camera control circuit connected to an input device for controlling at least one of the following functions;
gain, pedestal, setup, white clip, lens focus, white balance, lens iris, lens zoom. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification