Digital camera with communications interface for selectively transmitting images over a cellular phone network and a wireless LAN network to a destination

• US 7,936,391 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2009
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Allen, James D., Ward, Joseph, Parulski, Kenneth A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, TUAN V
• Application Number:
  US12/625,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20100073489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 3482312-2313, 3482112-2114, 34833301-33302
• US Class Current: 348/333.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00148 Storage information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00172 directly from a still digital camera or from a storage medium mounted in a still digital camera H04N1/0018 takes precedence
• 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 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• 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 1/00312 with a digital transmission apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, SMS or ISDN device transmitting or receiving via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network or the internet H04N1/00214; transmission of digital information H04L
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00965 using a plug-in memory module, e.g. memory card, memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0097 Storage of instructions or parameters, e.g. customised instructions or different parameters for different user IDs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• 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: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0053 Optical, e.g. using an infrared link
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 : Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33342 : of transmission mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3335 : Speed or rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/617 : Upgrading or updating of programs or applications for camera control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 : Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 : Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 : Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

Digital camera includes an image sensor receiving incident light of a scene, the digital camera captures an image corresponding to the incident light; display displays the plurality of captured images and displays a menu of destinations; at least one user input for selection of at least one image from the plurality of captured images and a destination from the menu of destinations displayed on the display; communications interface transmits the at least one selected image to the selected destination over one of a plurality of networks, the plurality of networks including at least two different types of wireless networks; memory; and processor coupled to the image sensor, the display, the at least one user input, the communications interface, and the memory, the processor controlling the transmission of the at least one selected image to the selected destination using either one of the at least two different types of wireless networks.

Claims

1. A digital camera for capturing a plurality of images comprising:

an image sensor for receiving incident light of a scene, the digital camera capturing an image corresponding to the incident light of the scene;

a display for displaying the plurality of captured images and for displaying a menu of destinations;

at least one user input for selection of at least one image from the plurality of captured images and a destination from the menu of destinations displayed on the display;

a communications interface for transmitting the at least one selected image to the selected destination over one of a plurality of networks, the plurality of networks including at least two different types of wireless networks;

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the image sensor, the display, the at least one user input, the communications interface, and the memory, the processor controlling the transmission of the at least one selected image to the selected destination using either one of the at least two different types of wireless networks.

2. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the at least two different types of wireless networks include a cellular phone network and a wireless LAN.

3. The digital camera of claim 2, wherein the image sensor, the display, the at least one user input, and the communications interface are directly coupled to the processor, and the memory is coupled to the processor via a memory interface, and wherein the memory stores first information used by the processor to control the communications interface to enable transmission over the cellular phone network, and stores second information used by the processor to control the communications interface to enable transmission over the wireless LAN.

4. The digital camera of claim 3, wherein the first information is stored in a first configuration file and the second information is stored in a second configuration file.

5. The digital camera of claim 4, wherein the first and second configuration files are generated by a separate device, and transferred from the separate device to the memory of the digital camera.

6. The digital camera of claim 5, wherein the separate device is a computer.

7. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the memory is an internal memory.

8. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the memory is a removable memory card.

9. The digital camera of claim 3, wherein the first information includes a phone number associated with the selected destination.

10. The digital camera of claim 3, wherein the first and second information include account data.

11. A digital camera for capturing a plurality of images comprising:

an image sensor for receiving incident light of a scene, the digital camera capturing an image corresponding to the incident light of the scene;

a display for displaying the plurality of captured images;

at least one user input for selection of at least one image from the plurality of captured images;

a communications interface for transmitting the at least one selected image over one of a plurality of networks, the plurality of networks including a cellular phone network and a wireless LAN;

a processor coupled to the image sensor, the display, the at least one user input, and the communications interface, the processor controlling the transmission of the at least one selected image to a destination;

a memory coupled to the processor for storing first information used by the processor to control the communications interface to transmit to the destination over the cellular phone network when the camera is connected to the cellular phone network, and for storing second information used by the processor to control the communications interface to transmit to the destination over the wireless LAN when the camera is connected to the wireless LAN.

12. The digital camera of claim 11, wherein the first information is stored in a first configuration file and the second information is stored in a second configuration file.

13. The digital camera of claim 12, wherein the first and second configuration files are generated by a separate device, and transferred from the separate device to said memory of said digital camera.

14. The digital camera of claim 13, wherein the separate device is a computer.

15. The digital camera of claim 11, wherein the memory is an internal memory.

16. The digital camera of claim 11, wherein the memory is a removable memory card coupled to the processor via a memory card interface, and wherein the image sensor, the display, the at least one user input, and the communications interface are directly coupled to the processor.

17. The digital camera of claim 11, wherein the first information includes a phone number associated with the destination.

18. The digital camera of claim 11, wherein the first and second information include account data.