Apparatus for capturing, converting, and transmitting a visual image signal via a digital transmission system

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handheld information processing apparatus, comprising:
 an image capture system for generating information representing a visual image captured thereby;   a signal transmitting system coupled to the image capture system for enabling a signal comprising the information representing the visual image to be wirelessly transmitted for reception by a remote receiving station; and   power control circuitry coupled to the image capture system and to the signal transmitting system for providing electrical power thereto, wherein the power control circuitry enables electrical power from a power source to be selectively provided to the image capture system and to the signal transmitting system.   
     
     
         2 . The handheld information processing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein enabling electrical power from the power source thereof to be selectively provided to the image capture system and to the signal transmitting system using the power control circuitry includes enabling the signal transmitting system to be independently powered up and powered off with respect to the image capture system. 
     
     
         3 . The handheld information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 circuitry that is coupled to the image capture system for receiving and processing the information representing the visual image to create the signal comprising the information representing the visual image and that is coupled to the signal transmitting system for providing the signal thereto, wherein the power control circuitry is coupled to said signal receiving and processing circuitry for providing electrical power thereto and wherein the power control circuitry enables electrical power from the power source thereof to be selectively provided to the image capture system and to said signal receiving and processing circuitry.   
     
     
         4 . The handheld information processing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the power control circuitry is configured for:
 determining if the image capture system is in a respective idle mode while the signal transmitting system is in a respective active mode; and 
 in response to determining that the image capture system is in the respective idle mode while the signal transmitting system is in the respective active mode, discontinuing electrical power from being provided to the image capture system while continuing to supply electrical power to the signal transmitting system. 
 
     
     
         5 . The handheld information processing apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 circuitry that is coupled to the image capture system for receiving and processing the information representing the visual image to create the signal comprising the information representing the visual image and that is coupled to the signal transmitting system for providing the signal thereto, wherein the power control circuitry is coupled to said signal receiving and processing circuitry for providing electrical power thereto and wherein the power control circuitry enables electrical power from the power source thereof to be selectively provided to the image capture system and to said signal receiving and processing circuitry.   
     
     
         6 . A handheld information processing apparatus, comprising:
 a camera including a power system; and   cellular telephone circuitry including a power system, wherein the cellular telephone circuitry is coupled to the camera for enabling a visual image signal comprising information representing a visual image captured using the camera to be wirelessly transmitted for reception by a remote receiving station and wherein the power system of the cellular telephone circuitry is electrically isolated from the power system of the camera such that electrical power from a power source can be selectively provided to the power system of the camera and to the power system of the cellular telephone circuitry.   
     
     
         7 . The handheld information processing apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the power system of the cellular telephone circuitry and the power system of the camera are jointly configured for enabling the cellular telephone circuitry to be independently powered up and powered off with respect to the power system of the camera. 
     
     
         8 . The handheld information processing apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 circuitry that is coupled to the camera for receiving and processing the information comprising the visual image captured to create the visual image signal and that is coupled to the cellular telephone circuitry for providing the visual image signal thereto, wherein the power system of the camera, the power system of said cellular telephone circuitry and a power system of said signal receiving and processing circuitry are jointly configured for enabling electrical power from the power source to be selectively provided to the camera, to the cellular telephone circuitry and to said signal receiving and processing circuitry.   
     
     
         9 . The handheld information processing apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising power control circuitry configured for:
 determining if the camera is in a respective idle mode while the cellular telephone circuitry is in a respective active mode; and   in response to determining that the camera is in the respective idle mode while the cellular telephone circuitry is in the respective active mode, discontinuing electrical power from being provided to the power system of the camera while continuing to supply electrical power to the power system of the cellular telephone circuitry.   
     
     
         10 . The handheld information processing apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 circuitry that is coupled to the camera for receiving and processing the information comprising the visual image captured to create the visual image signal and that is coupled to the cellular telephone circuitry for providing the visual image signal thereto, wherein the power system of the camera, the power system of said cellular telephone circuitry and a power system of said signal receiving and processing circuitry are jointly configured for enabling electrical power from the power source to be selectively provided to the camera, to the cellular telephone circuitry and to said signal receiving and processing circuitry.   
     
     
         11 . A method of controlling utilization of electrical power in a handheld information processing apparatus, comprising:
 operating visual image capture circuitry and cellular telephone circuitry of the handheld information processing apparatus in a manner that isolates electrical power provided thereto thereby enabling electrical power from a power source to be selectively provided to the visual image capture circuitry and to the cellular telephone circuitry; and   in response to determining that the visual image capture circuitry is in an idle mode while the cellular telephone circuitry is in an active mode, discontinuing electrical power from being provided to the visual image capture circuitry while continuing to supply electrical power to the cellular telephone circuitry.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 reducing a clock rate of a system processor of the handheld information processing apparatus in response to determining that the cellular telephone circuitry is in an idle mode while supply of electrical power to the visual image capture circuitry remains discontinued.   
     
     
         13 . The handheld information processing apparatus of  claim 9  wherein:
 operating the visual image capture circuitry includes providing information representing a visual image captured by using the visual image capture circuitry from the visual image capture circuitry to circuitry of the handheld information processing apparatus that is configured for processing the information representing the visual image to create a visual image signal comprising the information representing the visual image; and 
 in response to determining that said signal receiving and processing circuitry is in an idle mode while the cellular telephone circuitry is in an active mode, discontinuing electrical power from being provided to said signal receiving and processing circuitry while continuing to supply electrical power to the cellular telephone circuitry. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 reducing a clock rate of a system processor of the handheld information processing apparatus in response to determining that the cellular telephone circuitry is in an idle mode while supply of electrical power to the visual image capture circuitry and to said signal receiving and processing circuitry remains discontinued.