Wireless image transfer from a digital still video camera to a networked computer

Abstract

A portable image transfer system includes a digital still camera which captures images in digital form and stores the images in a camera memory, a cellular telephone transmitter, and a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU controls the camera memory to cause it to output data representing an image and the CPU controls the cellular telephone transmitter to cause a cellular telephone to transmit the data received from the camera memory. A receiving station is coupled to the cellular telephone transmitter by a cellular network to receive image data and store the images.

1. A portable image transfer system comprising:
 a digital still camera, at a remote station, which captures images in digital form and stores the images in a camera memory;  
 a cellular telephone transmitter;  
 a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the camera memory and the cellular telephone transmitter, wherein the CPU controls the camera memory to cause it to output data representing an image and the CPU controls the cellular telephone transmitter to cause a cellular telephone to transmit the data output from the camera memory;  
 a receiving station coupled to the cellular telephone transmitter by a cellular network to receive image data;  
 means, at the receiving station, for image processing;  
 means for resetting the camera memory to be reused for subsequent images once an image is transmitted to the receiving station;  
 a return link for sending commands from the receiving station to the CPU, wherein the commands are directions for obtaining further images as needed by the means for image processing; and  
 an image storage device coupled to the receiving station to store images received by the receiving station.  
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the CPU interfaces to a camera memory of an existing digital still camera. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cellular telephone transmitter comprises:
 a standard cellular telephone; and  
 a cellular modem.  
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising means for packaging images as electronic mail messages prior to transmission by the cellular telephone transmitter. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising means for handling a serial line interface protocol connection between the cellular telephone transmitter and the receiving station. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising means for encrypting image data prior to transmission by the cellular telephone transmitter. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a means for causing the digital still camera to capture images on a periodic basis, wherein the CPU is progammed  programmed to periodically transmit an image to free the camera memory for accepting subsequent images. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising means for determining a location of the portable image transfer system and means for including a location indication with each image. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the commands represent user directions to be displayed at the remote station directing the user to capture additional images as needed by the means for image processing. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the commands are directions directed at the remote station directing the digital still camera or CPU to capture additional image data as needed by the means for image processing. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a remote printing device for printing images processed by the receiving station. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the remote printing device is one of a facsimile machine, a digital copier or a printer. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising means, within the receiving station, for using the location indication as a variable when processing said each image. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the return link is further for sending commands from the CPU to the receiving station. 
     
     
       15. A portable image transfer system comprising:
   a digital still camera, at a remote station, which captures images in digital form and stores the images in a camera memory;        a cellular telephone transmitter;        a central processing unit  ( CPU )  coupled to the camera memory and the cellular telephone transmitter, wherein the CPU controls the camera memory to cause it to output data representing an image and the CPU controls the cellular telephone transmitter to cause a cellular telephone to transmit the data output from the camera memory;        a receiving station coupled to the cellular telephone transmitter by a cellular network to receive image data;        means, at the receiving station, for image processing;        means for resetting the camera memory to be reused for subsequent images;        a return link for sending commands from the receiving station to the CPU, wherein the commands are directions for obtaining further images as needed by the means for image processing; and        an image storage device coupled to the receiving station to store images received by the receiving station.     
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the CPU is configured to format the images into electronic mail messages prior to transmission by the cellular telephone transmitter. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a component to provide location information relating to the location of the portable image transfer system, the CPU being configured to include location information with each image. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the return link is further for sending commands from the CPU to the receiving station. 
     
     
       19. A portable image transfer system comprising:
   a digital still camera, at a remote station, which captures one or more images in digital form and stores the images in a camera memory;        a cellular telephone transmitter for communication with a receiving station, the receiving station having an image processor;        a central processing unit  ( CPU ) ; and        a return link for receiving commands from the receiving station to the CPU to obtain further images as needed by the image processor,        the CPU being coupled to the camera memory and the cellular telephone transmitter, the CPU being configured to control the camera memory to produce output data representing the images formatted as one or more electronic mail messages, the CPU further being configured to control the cellular telephone transmitter to transmit the output data from the camera memory to the receiving station.     
     
     
       20. The portable image transfer system of  claim 19  wherein the one or more electronic mail messages is provided in MIME format. 
     
     
       21. The portable image transfer system of  claim 19  further including means for connecting to the receiving station using a predetermined communication protocol. 
     
     
       22. The portable image transfer system of  claim 19  wherein the CPU is further configured to connect to an external printing device via the cellular telephone transmitter. 
     
     
       23. The portable image transfer system of  claim 19  wherein the return link is further for sending commands from the CPU to the receiving station. 
     
     
       24. A portable image transfer system comprising:
   a digital still camera, at a remote station, which captures one or more images in digital form and stores the images in a camera memory;        a cellular telephone transmitter for communication with a receiving station, the receiving station having an image processor;        circuitry to produce information relating to the location of the portable image transfer system;        a central processing unit  ( CPU ) ; and        a return link for receiving commands from the receiving station to the CPU to obtain further images as needed by the image processor,        the CPU being coupled to the camera memory, to the circuitry, and to the cellular telephone transmitter, the CPU being configured to control the camera memory to produce output data representing a combination of the images and the location information, the CPU further being configured to control the cellular telephone transmitter to transmit the output data from the camera memory to the receiving station.     
     
     
       25. The portable image transfer system of  claim 24  wherein the output data represent the images and the location information in an electronic mail message. 
     
     
       26. The portable image transfer system of  claim 24  further including means for connecting to the receiving station using a predetermined communication protocol. 
     
     
       27. The portable image transfer system of  claim 24  wherein the CPU is further configured to connect to an external printing device via the cellular telephone transmitter. 
     
     
       28. The portable image transfer system of  claim 24  wherein the return link is further for sending commands from the CPU to the receiving station. 
     
     
       29. A portable image transfer apparatus comprising:
   a cellular telephone transmitter component;        an image capture component for producing digital images;        a memory operatively coupled to the image capture interface to receive and store one or more digital images;        a controller coupled to the memory and to the cellular telephone transmitter component, the controller configured to produce output data representing the images, the controller further configured to control the cellular telephone transmitter component to communicate with a receiving station to transmit the output data from the memory to the receiving station, the receiving station having image processing means; and        a return link for receiving commands from the receiving station,        wherein the output data is transmitted to the receiving station when the receiving station transmits a first command to the portable image transfer apparatus to obtain further images needed by the image processing means.     
     
     
       30. The portable image transfer system of  claim 29  wherein the image capture component is a digital camera. 
     
     
       31. The portable image transfer system of  claim 29  wherein the image capture component is an interface to a digital camera. 
     
     
       32. The portable image transfer system of  claim 29  wherein the controller is further configured to receive one or more images from the receiving station. 
     
     
       33. The portable image transfer system of  claim 29  wherein the controller is further configured to communicate with the receiving station using a predetermined communication protocol. 
     
     
       34. The portable image transfer system of  claim 29  wherein the controller is further configured to communicate with the receiving station to send the image over the Internet. 
     
     
       35. The portable image transfer system of  claim 29 , wherein the controller is further configured to format the images into one or more electronic mail messages prior to transmission by the cellular telephone transmitter. 
     
     
       36. The portable image transfer system of  claim 35  wherein the one or more electronic mail messages is provided in MIME format. 
     
     
       37. The portable image transfer system of  claim 29 , wherein the cellular telephone transmitter comprises a standard cellular telephone and a cellular modem. 
     
     
       38. The portable image transfer system of  claim 29 , wherein the controller is further configured to encrypt image data prior to transmission by the cellular telephone transmitter. 
     
     
       39. The portable image transfer system of  claim 29 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the image capture device to periodically capture images and to periodically transmit image data to the receiving station. 
     
     
       40. A telecommunication system comprising:
   a communication component for receiving image data originating from a cellular telephone device;        an image data store for storing the image data;        a return link for sending commands to the cellular telephone device; and        a controller coupled to the communication component and to the image data store, the controller configured to process the image data and to communicate the image data over the Internet to a receiving station,        wherein the cellular telephone device is an image transfer apparatus as recited in    claim 29   ,        wherein the image data is transmitted to the receiving station when the receiving station transmits a first command to the cellular telephone device.     
     
     
       41. An image processing system comprising:
   a communication component for receiving image data originating from a cellular telephone device, the cellular telephone device comprising an image transfer apparatus as recited in    claim 29   ;        an image data store for storing the image data; and        a controller coupled to the communication component and to the image data store, the controller configured to process the image data and to communicate the image data over the Internet.     
     
     
       42. The image processing system of  claim 41  wherein the controller is further configured to transmit one or more images to the cellular telephone device. 
     
     
       43. An image processing system comprising:
   a communication component for receiving image data originating from a cellular telephone device, the cellular telephone device comprising an image transfer apparatus as recited in    claim 31   ;        an image data store for storing the image data; and        a controller coupled to the communication component and to the image data store, the controller configured to process the image data and to communicate the image data over the Internet.     
     
     
       44. The portable image transfer system of  claim 29  wherein the return link is further for sending commands to the receiving station. 
     
     
       45. A telecommunication system comprising:
   a communication component for receiving image data originating from a cellular telephone device;        an image data store for storing the image data;        a return link for sending commands to the cellular telephone device; and        a controller coupled to the communication component and to the image data store, the controller configured to process the image data and to communicate the image data over the Internet to a receiving station, the receiving station having image processing means,        wherein the image data is transmitted to the receiving station when the receiving station transmits a first command to the cellular telephone device to obtain further images needed by the image processing means.     
     
     
       46. The telecommunication system of  claim 45  wherein the return link is further for sending commands from the cellular telephone device. 
     
     
       47. A portable image transfer system comprising:
   a digital still camera, at a remote station, which captures one or more images in digital form and stores the images in a camera memory;        a cellular telephone transmitter for communication with a receiving station, the receiving station having means for image processing;        a central processing unit  ( CPU ) ; and        a link for receiving data from the receiving station to the CPU,        the CPU being coupled to the camera memory and the cellular telephone transmitter, the CPU being configured to control the camera memory to produce output data representing the images formatted as one or more electronic mail messages, the CPU further being configured to control the cellular telephone transmitter to transmit the output data from the camera memory to the receiving station,        wherein the output data is transmitted to the receiving station when the receiving station transmits a first command to the portable image transfer system to obtain further images needed by the means for image processing.     
     
     
       48. The portable image transfer system of  claim 47  wherein the one or more electronic mail messages is provided in MIME format. 
     
     
       49. The portable image transfer system of  claim 47  further including means for connecting to the receiving station using a predetermined communication protocol. 
     
     
       50. The portable image transfer system of  claim 47  wherein the CPU is further configured to connect to an external printing device via the cellular telephone transmitter. 
     
     
       51. The portable image transfer system of  claim 47  wherein the link is further for sending data from the CPU to the receiving station. 
     
     
       52. A portable image transfer system comprising:
   a digital still camera, at a remote station, which captures one or more images in digital form and stores the images in a camera memory;        a cellular telephone transmitter for communication with a receiving station, the receiving station having means for image processing;        circuitry to produce information relating to the location of the portable image transfer system;        a central processing unit  ( CPU ) ; and        a link for receiving data from the receiving station to the CPU,        the CPU being coupled to the camera memory, to the circuitry, and to the cellular telephone transmitter, the CPU being configured to control the camera memory to produce output data representing a combination of the images and the location information, the CPU further being configured to control the cellular telephone transmitter to transmit the output data from the camera memory to the receiving station,        wherein the output data is transmitted to the receiving station when the receiving station transmits a first command to the portable image transfer apparatus to obtain further images needed by the means for image processing.     
     
     
       53. The portable image transfer system of  claim 52  wherein the output data represent the images and the location information in an electronic mail message. 
     
     
       54. The portable image transfer system of  claim 52  further including means for connecting to the receiving station using a predetermined communication protocol. 
     
     
       55. The portable image transfer system of  claim 52  wherein the CPU is further configured to connect to an external printing device via the cellular telephone transmitter. 
     
     
       56. The portable image transfer system of  claim 52  wherein the link is further for sending data from the CPU to the receiving station. 
     
     
       57. A portable image transfer apparatus comprising:
   a cellular telephone transmitter component;        an image capture component for producing digital images;        a memory operatively coupled to the image capture interface to receive and store one or more digital images;        a controller coupled to the memory and to the cellular telephone transmitter, the controller configured to produce output data representing the images, the controller further configured to control the cellular telephone transmitter to communicate with a receiving station to transmit the output data from the camera memory to the receiving station, the receiving station having an image processor; and        a link for receiving data from the receiving station,        wherein the output data is transmitted to the receiving station when the receiving station transmits a first command to the portable image transfer apparatus to obtain further images as needed by the image processor.     
     
     
       58. The portable image transfer system of  claim 57  wherein the image capture component is a digital camera. 
     
     
       59. The portable image transfer system of  claim 57  wherein the image capture component is an interface to a digital camera. 
     
     
       60. An image processing system comprising:
   a communication component for receiving image data originating from a cellular telephone device, the cellular telephone device comprising an image transfer apparatus as recited in    claim 59   ;        an image data store for storing the image data; and        a controller coupled to the communication component and to the image data store, the controller configured to process the image data and to communicate the image data over the Internet.     
     
     
       61. The portable image transfer system of  claim 57  wherein the controller is further configured to receive one or more images from the receiving station. 
     
     
       62. The portable image transfer system of  claim 57  wherein the controller is further configured to communicate with the receiving station using a predetermined communication protocol. 
     
     
       63. The portable image transfer system of  claim 57  wherein the controller is further configured to communicate with the receiving station to send the image over the Internet. 
     
     
       64. The portable image transfer system of  claim 57 , wherein the controller is further configured to format the images into one or more electronic mail messages prior to transmission by the cellular telephone transmitter. 
     
     
       65. The portable image transfer system of  claim 64  wherein the one or more electronic mail messages is provided in MIME format. 
     
     
       66. The portable image transfer system of  claim 57 , wherein the cellular telephone transmitter comprises:
   a standard cellular telephone; and        a cellular modem.     
     
     
       67. The portable image transfer system of  claim 57 , wherein the controller is further configured to encrypt image data prior to transmission by the cellular telephone transmitter. 
     
     
       68. The portable image transfer system of  claim 57 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the image capture device to periodically capture images and to periodically transmit image data to the receiving station. 
     
     
       69. An image processing system comprising:
   a communication component for receiving image data originating from a cellular telephone device, the cellular telephone device comprising an image transfer apparatus as recited in    claim 57   ;        an image data store for storing the image data; and        a controller coupled to the communication component and to the image data store, the controller configured to process the image data and to communicate the image data over the Internet.     
     
     
       70. The image processing system of  claim 69  wherein the controller is further configured to transmit one or more images to the cellular telephone device. 
     
     
       71. The image processing system of  claim 57  wherein the link is further for sending data to the receiving station. 
     
     
       72. The image processing system of  claim 57  wherein the link is further for sending data from the CPU to the receiving station.