Cellular telephone and electronic camera system with programmable transmission capability

Abstract

An electronic camera system includes a programmable transmission capability for selectively transmitting electronic image data to a plurality of remote base units. In one embodiment, a camera module is detachably coupled to a portable computer including a display screen and a data entry device. The electronic image data generated by the camera module is supplied to the portable computer for display on the display screen. The data entry device is used by an operator to select which of the plurality of base units are to receive the digital image data. The digital image data is supplied by the portable computer to a radio-frequency transmitter module for transmission to the selected base units. The radio-frequency transmitter module is formed either integral with the portable computer or, like the camera module, is detachably coupled to the portable computer. In a further embodiment, a combined telephone/camera unit is provided that includes a camera module for generating electronic image data representative of a scene to be imaged, a memory unit for storing the electronic image data generated by the camera module, a display screen for displaying the electronic image data stored in the memory unit, a mechanism for selecting which of the plurality of base units is to receive the digital image data, and a cellular transceiver for transmitting the digital image data to the base units selected by the selection mechanism.

1. A portable handheld telephone system for selectively communicating with at least one of a plurality of receiving units, comprising:
 (a) a telephone keypad for selecting a particular receiving unit;  
 (b) an image sensor for capturing image data;  
 (c) a memory for storing the captured image data;  
 (d) a control processor responsive to an image transmission mode signal indicating a type of image transmission mode receivable by the selected receiving unit for converting the stored image data into data which can be received by the selected receiving unit; and  
 (e) a portable transceiver/receiver including an antenna for transmitting the converted image data to the selected receiving unit in a format corresponding to the image transmission mode receivable by the selected receiving unit.  
 
     
     
       2. The portable handheld telephone system of  claim 1 , further including an image display for displaying the stored captured image. 
     
     
       3. The portable handheld telephone system of  claim 1 , wherein the memory can store a plurality of captured image data. 
     
     
       4. The portable handheld telephone system of  claim 1 , further including flash unit. 
     
     
       5. The portable handheld telephone system of  claim 1 , wherein the memory stores phone numbers for the receiving unit. 
     
     
       6. The portable handheld telephone system of  claim 1  wherein the image transmission uses facsimile modes. 
     
     
       7. The portable handheld telephone system of  claim 6 , wherein the facsimile modes include Group IV facsimile and color facsimile.