Abstract:
A method and apparatus for virtual storage of images from an electronic camera in near real time. The camera compresses images taken as either still images or moving video images into a compressed format such as JPEG or MPEG. The images are then sent to an electronic media server via a gateway connection to the Internet. The images can be viewed at a remote location by streaming or download.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS  
       [0001]    This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/891,005, filed Jun. 25, 2001 to Giffin, et al., which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to the field of digital photography. More particularly, this invention relates to methods and apparatus for wireless virtual storage of images from a digital camera.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Currently available electronic cameras, including moving video cameras and still image cameras, often permit the user to download images from the camera to a local computer. In addition, several cameras permit the user to download images to a remote storage location using wireless communications. Unfortunately, such cameras are often inconvenient to operate due to the extended download times required to download image files to the remote or local storage location.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention relates generally to wireless virtual storage of images from a digital camera. Objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention.  
           [0005]    In certain embodiments consistent with the present invention, a method and apparatus for virtual storage of images from an electronic camera in near real time is provided. The camera compresses images taken as either still images or moving video images into a compressed format such as JPEG or MPEG. The images are then sent to an electronic media server via a gateway connection to the Internet. The images can be viewed at a remote location by streaming or download.  
           [0006]    A digital video camera, consistent with an embodiment of the present invention captures an electronic representation of an image. The electronic representation of the image is converted into a compressed image. A modem encodes the compressed image into a form suitable for transmission. A transmitter transmits the encoded compressed image to a receiving station, wherein the transmission is carried out in near real time.  
           [0007]    A digital video camera, consistent with another embodiment has a charge coupled device for capturing an electronic representation of an image. A processor converts the electronic representation of the image into a compressed image. A modem encodes the compressed image into a form suitable for transmission. A transmitter for transmits the encoded compressed image to a receiving station wherein the transmission is carried out in near real time.  
           [0008]    A digital camera system, consistent with another embodiment has  
           [0009]    a digital camera, having means for capturing an electronic representation of an image. A compression processor converts the electronic representation of the image into a compressed image. A modem encodes the compressed image into a form suitable for transmission. A transmitter transmits the encoded compressed image, wherein the transmission is carried out in near real time. A receiving station receives the transmissions of the encoded compressed image. An electronic media server is provided that can be accessed via the Internet. The receiving station further has means for sending the compressed image to the electronic media server for storage in near real time.  
           [0010]    A method of storing an electronic image, consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention, includes receiving an electronic image;  
           [0011]    encoding the electronic image; and sending the electronic image to a remote electronic media server in near real time.  
           [0012]    An electronic storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor, carry out a method of storing an electronic image consistent with an embodiment of the invention, including receiving an electronic image; encoding the electronic image; and sending the electronic image to a remote electronic media server in near real time.  
           [0013]    A method, consistent with embodiments of the invention, of storing video images, includes producing an electronic camera image; sending the electronic camera image to a remotely located electronic media server via a wireless communication in near real time; and storing the image at the electronic media server.  
           [0014]    An electronic storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor, carry out a method consistent with embodiments of the present invention of storing video images, includes producing an electronic camera image; sending the electronic camera image to a remotely located electronic media server via a wireless communication in near real time; and storing the image at the electronic media server.  
           [0015]    The above summaries are intended to illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, which will be best understood in conjunction with the detailed description to follow, and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, which describes certain exemplary embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary digital camera consistent with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a wireless virtual storage arrangement consistent with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a flow chart describing operation of an embodiment consistent with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an example of the principles of the invention and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings.  
         [0021]    Throughout this document, the term “near real time” is used. In many contexts, it is common to refer to events occurring in “real time” or “near real time”. In the present context, the term “near real time” is used to encompass actions that are carried out almost immediately, and is generally synonymous with the common usage of the term “real time”. However, near real time is more accurate since it accounts for minor delays associated with processing actions such as encoding, compressing, etc. Moreover, in the context of wireless communication of data, it is often not possible to avoid the need for some amount of buffering to account for fading and drop-out of radio frequency signals. Thus, the term “near real time” is adopted herein to encompass the communication of images essentially immediately after the capture of the images, and accounts for both processing delays as well as buffering delays associated with problems inherent with the communication medium.  
         [0022]    Turning now to FIG. 1, a moving video camera or still image camera  100  is illustrated. A lens elements or elements  104  direct light to a charge coupled device (CCD)  108  that converts light to a digital representation of the image projected thereon by the lens  104 . The CCD  108  is read by processor  112  that carries out several operations on the image. The processor  112  may store the image locally to a mass storage device  116  such as a Memory Stick™ device (or any other suitable mass storage), or may simply buffer the image to random access memory forming a part of the processor  112 &#39;s memory  120 . Communication with mass storage device  116  and RAM or ROM memory  120  is carried out through a bus  124  as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The processor  112 , depending upon whether the camera is a still image camera or a moving video camera, may then carry out a compression operation on the image. In the case of a still camera  100 , a compression algorithm such as JPEG (Joint Pictures Expert Group) compression may be carried out. In the case of a moving video camera, MPEG (Moving Pictures Expert Group) compression (e.g., MPEG-2) may be carried out. Such compression may be carried out prior to storage in mass storage device  116  or buffering to a designated portion of RAM memory  120 . Processor  112  may also encrypt the images prior to transmission using any suitable compression algorithm.  
         [0023]    Once the image or images are compressed (and possibly encrypted) by processor  112  (or a hardware equivalent thereof), in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the images are immediately directed to a modem  130 , via bus  124 , which appropriately formats the compressed image for transmission. In other embodiments, the compressed image is directed to modem  130  during the compression process, as soon as a compressed portion is available for transmission. Modem  130  is coupled to a wireless transmitter/receiver  134  that transmits the compressed image in near real time using an antenna  140 . The transmission may be carried out, for example, using Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) or any other suitable wireless transmission protocol. Thus, immediately upon taking a still image or continuously during the process of capturing a moving video image, the image or images are compressed and transmitted in near real time by the camera  100 .  
         [0024]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the configuration of camera  100  illustrated in FIG. 1, is simplified and given by way of example. The exact configuration can vary considerably, and thus the invention should not be considered limited by the architecture shown.  
         [0025]    Referring now to FIG. 2, camera  100  captures an image of a target such as  202  and transmits in near real time the image or images being received to a nearby (i.e., within transmission range) base station antenna  204  for a transmitter/receiver station  208 . Transmitter/receiver station  208  receives the images and sends the images through a gateway  212  to a specified location on the Internet  220  (e.g., a location designated by a Universal Resource Locator (URL)). The transmitter/receiver station  208  may represent an entry point for Internet service provider (ISP) that provides wireless Internet access services (i.e., a wireless Internet services provider). Transmitter/receiver  208 , via gateway  212 , thus uses the Internet  220  to forward the images to an electronic media server  226  having data storage capabilities  230  for storing the images received. The images are thus forwarded in near real time to a designated storage area of electronic media server  226 . The electronic media server thereby provides storage services to the user by permitting storage of images to a designated area of the server. The user may provide payment to the entity controlling the electronic media server  226  (i.e., a virtual storage provider) in exchange for storage and retrieval services provided. Such payments can be based on any number of business models including payment for storage, payment for retrieval, payments based on amount of storage used and other scenarios without departing from the invention.  
         [0026]    The images stored on the electronic media server  226  can be retrieved using a number of scenarios. In one scenario, consider the application of the present technology to a security company. In this embodiment, a computer  240  residing at a computer security company accesses the images stored in the electronic media server  226  via access to a specified URL on the Internet  220 . The images received by electronic media server  226  can be streamed to computer  240  as they are received from camera  100  and displayed on monitor  244  in near real time. This permits viewing of activities as they occur and are captured by camera  100 . In this embodiment, camera  100  may be situated at a business or residence that is being monitored by the security company. Such a system has a significant advantage over conventional systems in which video tapes are produced at or near the camera for later viewing. In such existing systems, theft of the tape can take place to circumvent the security of the camera. In a wired camera with a hard wired connection to the security company for communication, a criminal can determine where the wiring is and neutralize the camera by severing the wiring. However, those options are not available in the current scenario to anyone attempting to circumvent the security measures of the camera of the present invention.  
         [0027]    In another embodiment, real time transmission of moving video images or still images are stored at electronic media server  226  for later retrieval at a computer  250 . In one scenario, computer  250  may reside at a relative&#39;s residence that may be located anywhere in the world, so that a relative or friend can view images taken by camera  100  and display them on monitor  254 . In this embodiment, anyone controlling computer  240  or  250  may, if given appropriate access privileges, accesses the images stored on electronic media server  226  either in near real time or by retrieving images stored previously. Those images may then be either streamed or downloaded from electronic media server  226  for local storage and/or playback at computer  240  or  250 . Still images may also be printed locally by computers  240  or  250  by printing to a connected printer (not shown).  
         [0028]    Referring now to FIG. 3, an exemplary process  300  consistent with an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated starting at  304 . At  310  a user takes a still photograph or a moving video image at  314 . Camera  100  processes the image (for example using JPEG or MPEG compression and possibly encryption) at  314 . At  320 , modem  130  encodes the image for transmission. At  324  the image or image are wirelessly transmitted by the wireless transmitter/receiver  134  to a receiving station  208  in near real time. At  330  receiving station  208  sends the image or images to an electronic media server  226 , for example via the Internet. The image or images can then be retrieved either in real time or at a later time by a remote computer at  336 . The process ends at  342 .  
         [0029]    Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments based upon use of a programmed processor, with the program residing in ROM memory  120 . However, the invention should not be so limited, since the present invention could be implemented using hardware component equivalents such as special purpose hardware and/or dedicated processors which are equivalents to the invention as described and claimed. Similarly, general purpose computers, microprocessor based computers, micro-controllers, optical computers, analog computers, dedicated processors and/or dedicated hard wired logic may be used to construct alternative equivalent embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0030]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the program steps and associated data used to implement the embodiments described above can be implemented using Read Only Memory (ROM) devices as well as other forms of storage such as for example disc storage, Random Access Memory (RAM) devices, optical storage elements, magnetic storage elements, magneto-optical storage elements, flash memory, core memory and/or other equivalent storage technologies without departing from the present invention. Such alternative storage devices should be considered equivalents.  
         [0031]    The present invention, as described in embodiments herein, is implemented using a programmed processor executing programming instructions that are broadly described above in flow chart form and that can be stored on any suitable electronic storage medium or transmitted over any suitable electronic communication medium. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the processes described above can be implemented in any number of variations and in many suitable programming languages without departing from the present invention. For example, the order of certain operations carried out can often be varied, additional operations can be added or operations can be deleted without departing from the invention. Error trapping can be added and/or enhanced and variations can be made in user interface and information presentation without departing from the present invention. Such variations are contemplated and considered equivalent.  
         [0032]    While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, permutations and variations will become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.