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.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to the field of digital still video cameras (DSVC's). More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention provides for improved storage of images generated by a DSVC. A portable DSVC is convenient for taking pictures at various locations because of the cameras's size and weight. Unfortunately, as users have come to expect small weights and compact sizes for consumer electronics, DSVC's have tended to be limited in the number of images which could be stored. One solution to the problem is to add additional memory modules, but this is an expensive solution given that the memory modules must be miniaturized so as not to adversely affect the portability of the DSVC.[0002]What is needed is a DSVC with a large image storage capacity where the image storage is not unduly expensive and does not unreasonably impact the size of the portable cameras.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION[0003]An improved portable image capture system is p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0003]An improved portable image capture system is provided by virtue of the present invention. In one embodiment, a central processing unit (CPU), a modem and a cellular telephone transmitter are coupled to an image memory of a DSVC. The CPU is also coupled to a display and a command input device, which might be a voice activated device or a touch screen device integrated with the display. The CPU executes programs as needed to download images through the cellular telephone transmitter to a server station according to a protocol optimized for the connection available. Where the connection is a direct cellular telephone line, data is sent through the cellular telephone transmitter to cellular telephone system and it is received by a modem at the server station. A CPU at the server station directs the file to be stored in a data storage device, which is typically a large-capacity, inexpensive device such as a hard drive.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, as users have come to expect small weights and compact sizes for consumer electronics, DSVC's have tended to be limited in the number of images which could be stored.

One solution to the problem is to add additional memory modules, but this is an expensive solution given that the memory modules must be miniaturized so as not to adversely affect the portability of the DSVC.

Images