U.S. patent application number 11/499297 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-01 for automatically transmitting images from an electronic camera to a service provider using a network configuration file.
Invention is credited to James D. Allen, Kenneth A. Parulski, Joseph Ward.
Application Number | 20100079619 11/499297 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32931162 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100079619 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
Ward; Joseph ; et
al. |
April 1, 2010 |
Automatically transmitting images from an electronic camera to a
service provider using a network configuration file
Abstract
A network configuration file is generated at a host computer and
downloaded to a digital camera. This file contains instruction
information for communicating with a selected destination via a
communications interface. The digital camera includes a "send"
button or LCD icon which allows the user to easily transmit one or
more images via a wired or wireless communications interface to a
desired destination, which among other possibilities may be an
Internet Service Provider or a digital photofinishing center. When
the user selects this option, the communications port settings,
user account specifics, and destination connection commands are
read from the network configuration file on the removable memory
card. Examples of these settings include serial port baud rate,
parity, and stop bits, as well as account name and password.
Inventors: |
Ward; Joseph; (Rochester,
NY) ; Parulski; Kenneth A.; (Rochester, NY) ;
Allen; James D.; (Rochester, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Pamela R. Crocker;Patent Legal Staff
Eastman Kodak Company
343 State Street
Rochester
NY
14650-2201
US
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20060268123 A1 |
November 30, 2006 |
|
|
Family ID: |
32931162 |
Appl. No.: |
11/499297 |
Filed: |
August 4, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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09855375 |
May 15, 2001 |
7210161 |
|
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11499297 |
Aug 4, 2006 |
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09004046 |
Jan 7, 1998 |
6784924 |
|
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09855375 |
May 15, 2001 |
|
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60037962 |
Feb 20, 1997 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
348/231.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 2201/0084 20130101;
H04N 2201/0055 20130101; H04N 5/23203 20130101; H04N 2201/0053
20130101; H04N 2101/00 20130101; H04N 2201/0015 20130101; H04N
1/2158 20130101; H04N 2201/33342 20130101; H04N 1/00172 20130101;
H04N 2201/3335 20130101; H04N 1/00973 20130101; H04N 5/23225
20130101; H04N 1/00965 20130101; H04N 1/00244 20130101; H04N
1/00307 20130101; H04N 1/0097 20130101; H04N 1/00132 20130101; H04N
1/2112 20130101; H04N 1/00204 20130101; H04N 1/00281 20130101; H04N
1/00148 20130101; H04N 5/23206 20130101; H04N 1/00312 20130101;
H04N 5/232933 20180801; H04N 2201/0049 20130101; H04N 1/00137
20130101; H04N 1/00209 20130101; H04N 5/23293 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/231.3 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/76 20060101
H04N005/76 |
Claims
1. A method of transferring one or more digital images from an
electronic camera to a service, the camera including optics and an
image sensor for generating an image signal, a display for
displaying images, a plurality of user inputs, a first digital
memory for storing digital images, a second digital memory for
storing a network configuration file, and a communications
interface, the method comprising: (a) storing the network
configuration file for the service in the second digital memory;
(b) subsequently using the optics and image sensor to generate a
plurality of image signals which are stored in the first digital
memory as a plurality of digital images representative of the
plurality of image signals; (c) displaying a representation of at
least one of the plurality of digital images on the display of the
electronic camera; (d) selecting at least one digital image for
transfer to the service in response to the use of at least one of
the plurality of user inputs; (e) initiating transfer of the
selected at least one digital image to the service in response to
use of at least one of the plurality of user inputs; and (f) using
the network configuration file to automatically establish
communications with the service provider and to transfer the
selected at least one digital image from the electronic camera to
the service provider using the communications interface; and (g)
wherein the first digital memory and second digital memory are
memory locations on the same removable memory card.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the network configuration file
includes account data.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the network configuration file is
generated at least in part by a host device.
4. A method of transferring one or more digital images from an
electronic camera to a service, the camera including optics and an
image sensor for generating an image signal, a display for
displaying images, a plurality of user inputs, a first digital
memory for storing digital images, a second digital memory for
storing a network configuration file, and a communications
interface, the method comprising: (a) storing the network
configuration file for the service provider in the second digital
memory; (b) subsequently using the optics and image sensor to
generate a plurality of image signals which are stored in the first
digital memory as a plurality of digital images representative of
the plurality of image signals; (c) displaying a representation of
at least one of the plurality of digital images on the display of
the electronic camera; (d) selecting at least one digital image for
transfer to the service in response to the use of at least one of
the plurality of user inputs; (e) initiating transfer of the
selected at least one digital image to the service in response to
use of at least one of the plurality of user inputs; and (f) using
the network configuration file to automatically establish
communications with the service provider and to transfer the
selected at least one digital image from the electronic camera to
the service provider using the communications interface; and (g)
wherein the second digital memory is located in the electronic
camera and can be loaded with the network configuration file from a
host device.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the network configuration file
includes account data.
6. A method of transferring one or more digital images from an
electronic camera to a service, the camera including optics and an
image sensor for generating an image signal, a display for
displaying images, a plurality of user inputs, a first digital
memory for storing digital images, a second digital memory for
storing a network configuration file, and a communications
interface, the method comprising: (a) storing the network
configuration file for the service in the second digital memory,
wherein the network configuration file is generated at least in
part by a host device; (b) subsequently using the optics and image
sensor to generate a plurality of image signals which are stored in
the first digital memory as a plurality of digital images
representative of the plurality of image signals; (c) displaying a
representation of at least one of the plurality of digital images
on the display of the electronic camera; (d) selecting at least one
digital image for transfer to the service in response to the use of
at least one of the plurality of user inputs; (e) initiating
transfer of the selected at least one digital image to the service
in response to use of at least one of the plurality of user inputs;
and (f) using the network configuration file to automatically
establish communications with the service provider and to transfer
the selected at least one digital image from the electronic camera
to the service provider using the communications interface.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the network configuration file
includes account data.
8. A method of transferring one or more digital images from an
electronic camera to an online service, the camera including a
first digital memory for storing digital images and a second
digital memory for storing a network configuration file, the method
comprising: (a) storing network configuration information in the
second digital memory, wherein the network configuration
information comprises information for using a communication network
to establish a connection between the electronic camera and an
online service; (b) using the network configuration information to
establish a connection with the online service; and (c)
transferring at least one digital image from the electronic camera
to the online service; and (d) wherein the first digital memory and
second digital memory are memory locations on a removable
memory.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the network configuration
information includes a protocol type identifier identifying a
TCP/IP protocol.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the network configuration
information is generated at least in part by a host device.
11. The method of claim 8 further including: (e) receiving
information indicating the status of the transferring the at least
one digital image from the electronic camera to the online service;
and (f) displaying an indication of the status.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein the network configuration
information includes account data.
13. A method of transferring one or more digital images from an
electronic camera to an online service, the camera including a
first digital memory for storing digital images and a second
digital memory for storing a network configuration file, the method
comprising: (a) storing network configuration information in the
second digital memory, wherein the network configuration
information comprises information for using a communication network
to establish a connection between the electronic camera and an
online service, and is generated at least in part by a host device;
(b) using the network configuration information to establish a
connection with the online service; and (c) transferring at least
one digital image from the electronic camera to the online
service.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the network configuration
information includes a protocol type identifier identifying a
TCP/IP protocol.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the first digital memory and the
second digital memory are memory locations on a removable
memory.
16. The method of claim 13 further including: (e) receiving
information indicating the status of the transferring the at least
one digital image from the electronic camera to the online service;
and (f) displaying an indication of the status.
17. The method of claim 13 wherein the network configuration
information includes account data.
18. A method of transferring one or more digital images from an
electronic camera to a service, the camera including a first
digital memory for storing digital images and a second digital
memory for storing a network configuration file, the method
comprising: (a) storing network configuration information in the
second digital memory, wherein the network configuration
information comprises information for using a communication network
to establish a connection between the electronic camera and a
service; (b) using the network configuration information to
establish a connection with the service; and (c) transferring at
least one digital image from the electronic camera to the service;
and (d) wherein the first digital memory and second digital memory
are memory locations on a removable memory.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the network configuration
information includes a protocol type identifier identifying a
TCP/IP protocol.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein the network configuration
information is generated at least in part by a host device.
21. The method of claim 18 further including: (e) receiving
information indicating the status of the transferring the at least
one digital image from the electronic camera to the service; and
(f) displaying an indication of the status.
22. The method of claim 18 wherein the network configuration
information includes account data.
23. A method of transferring one or more digital images from an
electronic camera to a service, the camera including a first
digital memory for storing digital images and a second digital
memory for storing a network configuration file, the method
comprising: (a) storing network configuration information in the
second digital memory, wherein the network configuration
information comprises information for using a communication network
to establish a connection between the electronic camera and a
service, and is generated at least in part by a host device; (b)
using the network configuration information to establish a
connection with the service; and (c) transferring at least one
digital image from the electronic camera to the service.
24. The method of claim 23 wherein the network configuration
information includes a protocol type identifier identifying a
TCP/IP protocol.
25. The method of claim 23 further including: (e) receiving
information indicating the status of the transferring the at least
one digital image from the electronic camera to the service; and
(f) displaying an indication of the status.
26. The method of claim 23 wherein the network configuration
information includes account data.
27. An electronic camera for transferring one or more digital
images to a service, comprising: (a) a first digital memory for
storing a digital image; (b) a second digital memory for storing
network configuration information; (c) wherein the network
configuration information comprises information for using a
communications network to establish a connection between the
electronic camera and a service, and is generated at least in part
by a host device; and (d) wherein the first digital memory and
second digital memory are memory locations on a removable memory.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application is a division of application U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/855,375 filed May 15, 2001 entitled
"Automatically Transmitting Images From An Electronic Camera To A
Service Provider Using A Network Configuration File" by Ward et
al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates generally to the field of photography,
and in particular to electronic photography. More specifically, the
invention relates to a digital camera that interfaces with a host
computer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Digital cameras, such as the Kodak Digital Science DC25.TM.
camera, allow images to be utilized on a home computer (PC) and to
be incorporated into e-mail documents and personal home pages on
the World Wide Web. Presently, images must be copied to the PC and
transmitted as e-mail, for example using an online service or an
Internet Service Provider (ISP), via a modem from the user's PC. It
would be desirable to be able to transmit pictures directly from
the digital camera instead of first transferring the pictures to a
PC. For instance, on a vacation trip, it is desirable to
immediately share pictures with friends or relatives via e-mail or
Internet access. It is also desirable to transmit pictures from a
location without PC access in order to free up camera storage to
take additional pictures. There are a wide variety of connection
means to online services such as America On Line, ISPs, and
bulletin board services. Each of these services typically requires
an account name and password, as well as local telephone access
numbers, and specific communications settings. It would be
difficult to provide an easy-to-use means with buttons or menus on
a small digital camera to input and/or modify all of these required
settings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more
of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to
one aspect of the communicating with a selected destination via a
communications interface. The digital camera includes a "send"
button or LCD icon which allows the user to easily transmit one or
more images via a wired or wireless communications interface to a
desired destination, which among other possibilities may be an
Internet Service Provider or a digital photofinishing center. When
the user selects this option, the communications port settings,
user account specifics, and destination connection commands are
read from the network configuration file. Examples of these
settings include serial port baud rate, parity, and stop bits, as
well as account name and password.
[0005] In addition, information about which image or images to
transmit is entered using the user buttons on the digital camera.
This information is used to automatically establish a connection,
log-in to the desired destination, and to transmit the image. The
transmission may occur immediately after the pictures are taken,
for example if the camera has a built-in cellular phone modem, or
at a later time, when the camera is connected to a separate unit
(such as a dock, kiosk, PC, etc.) equipped with a modem. In the
latter case, a "utilization file" is created to provide information
on which images should be transmitted to which account.
[0006] These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of
the present invention will be more clearly understood and
appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of
the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of the invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the steps used to automatically
transmit images using the network configuration file.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a diagram of an image file.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing several versions of the network
configuration file.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Because imaging systems and devices are well known, the
present description will be directed in particular to elements
forming part of, or cooperating more directly with, apparatus in
accordance with the present invention. Elements not specifically
shown or described herein may be selected from those known in the
art. Some aspects of the present description may be implemented in
software. Unless otherwise specified, all software implementation
is conventional and within the ordinary skill in the programming
arts.
[0012] A system block diagram of the invention is shown in FIG. 1
including an electronic still camera 10, a host computer(PC) 12 and
a service provider 14. The camera includes an optical section 20
for imaging a scene upon a CCD sensor 22 and generating an image
signal, a liquid crystal display (LCD) 24 for displaying images and
other information, a number of user input buttons 26, both
permanent memory 28 and removable memory 30, and an internal
communications interface 32 (e.g., modem). This interface may
connect to a variety of known networks, such as a public switched
telephone network (PSTN), ISDN, an RF cellular phone network, or
Ethernet. The camera 10 also includes a microprocessor 34 for
generally controlling the camera functions, as well as the
interchange of data with the host PC 12 and the memory card 30
through a host PC interface 36 and a memory card interface 38,
respectively. Besides the host PC 12, the system includes a network
connection 40 to the online service or ISP (Internet Service
Provider) 14. Alternately, the network 40 can connect to the user's
home PC 12.
[0013] When the camera 10 is first purchased (or at any time
thereafter), it is connected to the PC 12 via the host PC 36
interface and a software application (stored on a disc 45) running
on the host PC 12 will enable the user to specify the name of a
destination ISP or online service and to input from the host PC
keyboard 44 the appropriate communication settings and account
information. This information generates a network configuration
file, which then can then be downloaded to the camera 10 through
the host PC interface 36, which may be a wired or infrared (e.g.,
IrDA) interface, and written to the camera's internal memory 28
and/or the removable memory card 30. Alternatively, a host PC
equipped with a memory card reader/writer 42 can write the
information directly to the card 30 without connecting the camera
through its host PC interface 36. Also, this information could be
predetermined by the user and stored in a "preferences" file on the
host PC 12 and then transferred to the camera 10 from this file
without further intervention by the user. Multiple sets of
destination services can be stored on the memory card 30.
Typically, keyword or graphic descriptors (e.g., icons) accompany
the information in the network configuration file about destination
services to enable easy access by the camera user.
[0014] The steps used to automatically transmit images using the
network configuration file are shown in FIG. 2. After disconnecting
the camera from the host PC, the user operates the camera to take
pictures (step 50). This is typically done at a remote location,
for example while traveling to another city. As the user takes or
reviews images on the image LCD display, the decision can be made
to transmit one or more images (step 52). This is done by choosing
one of the keywords or icons in a menu 54 shown in FIG. 2, which
are displayed on the LCD 24 and selected, e.g., through the user
buttons 26. (Note that a camera will typically only include a
subset (only those desired by the user) of all the different
services shown.) The selected image files may be tagged with a code
(step 56) indicating which service is requested, as shown in FIG.
3. (Alternately, an "image utilization" file can be created in the
camera storing a list of images to be transmitted by a particular
method, as described in the cross-referenced copending patent
application (U.S. Ser. No. 60/037,963). As described in that patent
application, the details of an order, e.g., number of print copies
to be made from an image and the size of the prints and/or a list
of images to be e-mailed to various recipients, is written into the
"utilization" file, which identifies the order and includes
pointers to the image files that store the images required to
"fulfill" the order. The "utilization" file is stored in the
internal memory 28 or the memory card 30.)
[0015] Next, the system determines whether a request exists to send
an image (step 58). If no request is present, the image and
associated data is stored in either permanent memory 28 or the
memory card 30 (step 59). (Typically, all images are initially
saved in memory whether eventually sent or not.) Otherwise, if
there is a request to send an image, the user ensures that the
camera is connected to the appropriate service (wired telephone
line, cellular phone, kiosk, etc.) and pushes a "send" button in
the user button section 26, or selects a "send" menu option on the
LCD 24. The camera then utilizes the appropriate network
configuration file, shown in FIG. 4. Each network configuration
file contains items such as the protocol type, phone number, etc.,
as described in Appendix I. The user password may be checked
against the password in the network configuration file to ensure
that the user is authorized to connect the camera to the desired
service (step 60). Alternately, the stored password in the
appropriate configuration file can be used. Next, the camera uses
the parameters in the configuration file to establish
communications with the service and send one or more image files as
selected by the user (steps 62). The service receiver interprets
the system commands issued by the camera from the network
configuration file list and sends appropriate feedback (such as
"transfer in progress" and "transfer complete") which are
interpreted by the camera and displayed on the LCD 24 (steps
64).
[0016] For example, when the camera uses a normal wired telephone
(Public Switched Telephone Network) connection (i.e., network 40)
to the camera's internal modem 32, after the user selects the
images to be sent and presses the "send" button, the camera
performs the following steps without user intervention: [0017] 1)
Read the appropriate connection parameters from the network
configuration file (on the memory card 30 or internal camera memory
28), dial the phone and establish the connection to the destination
service 14. [0018] 2) Read the user's account name and password and
transmit these to "log-on" to the service 14. [0019] 3) Using the
appropriate communications protocol (FTP, mailto, etc.), transmit
the selected image or images to the destination service 14.
[0020] The invention has been described with reference to a
preferred embodiment. However, it will be appreciated that
variations and modifications can be effected by a person of
ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the
invention.
APPENDIX I
[0021] These are descriptions of the tags listed in the previous
drawing:
Protocol Type
[0022] Each communication method has its own protocol, or rules to
communicate. This tag identifies that protocol and where to find
it. For example, the Network may use TCP/IP and a modem may use
XModem.
Phone Number
[0023] This is the number of the receiving service. If internet
access is requested, this could be the number of the Internet
Service Provider. For ISDN, some systems require two phone numbers,
dialed and connected to in sequence.
Default Settings
[0024] Standard settings that make the communications device
compatible with the imaging device.
Modem Control String
[0025] Modem and communications devices have a command language
that can set them up before they are used. For example, modems have
many options controlled by command strings including volume level,
the amount of time the carrier is allowed to fail before the system
hangs up, and so on.
Account Data
[0026] This can be internet account data, charge number data, phone
card data, billing address, and data related to the commerce part
of the transmission.
Password
[0027] Any password needed to get into the communications system.
Other passwords to get into the remote application or destination
are located in the System Commands section.
System Commands
[0028] These are commands that control the end destination.
Error Protocol
[0029] In cellular and some other wireless communications, error
protocols are used to increase the robustness of the link. For
example, MNP10 or ETC may be used for cellular links.
Radio Type
[0030] The type of radio used for this communications feature may
be identified here. Some cell phones have modems built in, others
will have protocols for many communications functions built in. The
radio type will make the imaging device adapt to the correct
interface.
IOC
[0031] ISDN Ordering Code identifies what features are available on
the ISDN line provided by the teleco. It is used to establish the
feature set for that communications link.
Internet Service Provider
[0032] This identifies the actual service provider and any specific
information or sequence of information that the service wants to
see during connection and logoff. It also tells the device how to
handle the return messages, like "time used" that are returned by
the server.
Commands to Receiver
[0033] This may be a list of commands to control the receiving
application. For example, a command to print one of the images and
save the data to a particular file on a PC may be embedded
here.
Return Status Requests
[0034] This tag can set up the ability of the application to tell
if an error has occurred, or what the status of the application
might be. The data here will help the device decide if it should
continue communicating and a set user interface response can be
developed around this feedback.
* * * * *