Abstract:
A simplified user interface is provided for transferring a captured image. Several steps requiring multiple user inputs have been simplified to occur in response to a single user input. Among other steps, the separate step of selecting the communication mode of the device prior to selection to transmit an image has been eliminated. Additionally, the separate steps requiring two user interactions of connecting to the device and transmitting to the device have been simplified into a single step.

Description:
PRIORITY  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority from co-pending provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/450,303, Filed on Feb. 22, 2003 and entitled SIMPLIFIED USER INTERFACE FOR AN IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to the intra-device transmission of images and more particularly, to a simplified user interface for expediting the transmission of captured images.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Currently available devices equipped with BLUETOOTH radio transmission circuitry requires an additional step(s) to locate (discover) and connect with potential receiving devices and transmit to those devices.  
         [0004]     What is needed is an image capture device that can transmit an image to one of a plurality of waiting devices with a minimum of user steps.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     A simplified user interface is provided for transferring a captured image. Several steps requiring multiple user inputs have been simplified to occur in response to a single user input. Among other steps, the separate step of selecting the communication mode of the device prior to selection to transmit an image has been eliminated.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings an exemplary embodiment that is presently preferred, it being understood however, that the invention is not limited to the specific methods and instrumentality&#39;s disclosed. Additionally, like reference numerals represent like items throughout the drawings. In the drawings:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a front plan view of an image capture device in accordance with one particular embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a rear plan view of an image capture device in accordance with one particular embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram contrasting the user taken steps with the algorithm driven device responsive actions taken in accordance with one particular embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIGS. 4-9  show the image capture device user display and user interface in accordance with one particular embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 10  shows an image capture device user display and user interface in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0012]     Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.  
         [0013]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown one image capture device  10  with which the present invention may be used. Among other features, image capture device  10  includes a radio transmitter  18  and associated processing circuitry programmed in accordance with the BLUETOOTH standard initially developed by Ericsson, and presently maintained by the BLUETOOTH SIG, such as is covered by the BLUETOOTH SPECIFICATION ver. 1.1. The image capture device of the present invention is one that includes at least a lens  12  and image sensor  14  for digitally capturing an image, a memory  16  (which may be internal memory or a removable memory card, as shown) for storing an image or images, a radio transceiver  18  operational to at least transmit in accordance with the BLUETOOTH SPECIFICATION and, if desired, to receive in accordance with that specification, and an internal or external display  20  to assist a user in reviewing and selecting an image or images for transmission. Additionally, user interface buttons, such as four way directional button  22 , power button  24 , LCD button  26 , menu button  28  and ok/select button  30 , may additionally be provided. It can be seen that this is not meant to be limiting, as fewer or more buttons may additionally be provided, as desired.  
         [0014]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-9 , there will be described a device and method for facilitating transmission of an image to one of a plurality of BLUETOOTH enabled devices with a minimum of user interaction. At some time during the use of an image capture device, a user may desire to send the captured image to another device (i.e. a printer, a computer, an internet device, a cell phone a PDA, a handheld computing device). For example, a user may capture a scene or desire to transmit a scene previously captured to another device.  
         [0015]     If the image capture device is not already turned on, the user must first turn on the image capture device. Step  150 . In one particular embodiment of the present invention, turning on the image capture device  10  simultaneously powers on and initializes the BLUETOOTH radio transceiver  18  inside the image capture device. Step  160  of  FIG. 7 . In this manner the user does not have to separately turn on the radio transceiver  18 , as is required in other devices.  
         [0016]     Next, a photographic scene is selected from the image capture device memory  16 . Step  170 . In one particular embodiment, BLUETOOTH radio transceiver  18  can additionally receive images from other BLUETOOTH enabled devices. As such, the image selected from memory  16  may be an image captured by that image capture device  10 , or may be an image previously uploaded to the image capture device memory from another image capture device or computing device. The selected image is displayed on the image capture device&#39;s display, which may be an LCD viewing panel  20 , as shown.  
         [0017]     Once a particular image is selected, the image processing menu is entered (Step  180 ) by pressing the menu button  28 . As shown more particularly in  FIG. 4 , the image processing menu  35  will be displayed on the display  20 . At which point the four way directional button  22  may be used to select the “TRANSMIT” soft button from the menu display. Step  190 . Once highlighted, the ok/select key  30  may be entered.  
         [0018]     Upon selection of the “TRANSMIT” button from the menu, the BLUETOOTH radio transceiver is activated to perform an INQUIRY and NAME REQUEST of all BLUETOOTH receiving devices (e.g. cell phone, pda, printer, computer) within the device range (See  FIG. 5 ). After which, as shown in  FIG. 6 , a list is automatically provided to the camera user on the LCD viewing panel. Step  200 .  
         [0019]     If no BLUETOOTH devices are found, the program may follow a pre-selected hierarchy to initiate a second discover mode for a non-BLUETOOTH device (i.e. IR or WIFI) before signaling the user that no devices were found with which to communicate. Such a hierarchy is disclosed in commonly assigned PCT Application No. PCT/US02/35818 published on May 22, 2003 under International Publication No. WO 03/043305 entitled IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE WITH MULTIPLE PROTOCOL WIRELESS TRANSMISSION, that application being incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0020]     Note that in an alternate embodiment of the invention, the BLUETOOTH radio transceiver is not powered and initialized in step  160 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , but rather, is powered and initialized, either when the image review mode is entered or in response to the “TRANSMIT” selection in step  200 , wherein the radio transceiver goes on to transmit the INQUIRY.  
         [0021]     Returning to the embodiment of  FIGS. 3-9 , the user selects the desired receiving device from the list using the four way directional button  22  and selects the ok/select button  30  to activate the transmission. Step  210 . If desired, if only one BLUETOOTH enabled device is found, the camera may default to automatically transmit the image to that device and not present the user with a list of devices, thus eliminating Step  210 .  
         [0022]     In response to user selection of a device or default to a single located device, the device  10  connects to the selected device, transmits the selected image ( FIG. 7 ) and auto-displays the status of the transmission and acknowledging the picture has been transmitted ( FIG. 8 ), and returns the user to the device selection menu ( FIG. 6 ) when transmission is complete. Step  220 . In this way the user may select another device to which to transmit the selected image. If the user would like to transmit the image to another device, steps  210 - 230  are repeated. If the user would not like to transmit to another device, activating the menu button  28  returns the user to the selected image ( FIG. 9 ). Step  240 .  
         [0023]     As can be seen from the description and drawings, the user interface of the present invention has been optimized to eliminate several user steps from the process of transmitting an image. Among other steps eliminated, the user does not need to separately turn on the BLUETOOTH transceiver or separately select the BLUETOOTH mode from a menu. Additionally, the user does not need to separately initiate a connection to the chosen device and select “transmit” again, after connecting to the device. Instead, it can be seen that simply powering on the image capture device  10  and selecting TRANSMIT once from the menu, automatically performs these additional steps that other systems require the user to perform.  
         [0024]     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , there is shown another embodiment of the present invention wherein the user interface includes a dedicated transmit button, which may replace the LCD function of button  26  of  FIG. 2 . In the present embodiment, the user selects the image to be transmitted on the display and selects the transmit button (as shown in  FIG. 10 ) and in response to the depression of the TRANSMIT button, all of the following occurs: 1. The radio transceiver ( 18  of  FIG. 1 ) is initialized, if it was not already done so when the device was turned on; 2. an INQUIRY and NAME REQUEST is performed, as shown in  FIG. 5 ; and 3. A list of BLUETOOTH devices available within range are displayed or, if only one BLUETOOTH device is detected within range, the image is automatically transmitted to that device, by default, as shown in  FIG. 10 . In this embodiment, the steps of pulling up a menu and selecting TRANSMIT from a menu are eliminated in addition to the steps of choosing to initialize the transceiver and choosing the BLUETOOTH mode. As described above, setting the default to transmit automatically when only one local BLUETOOTH enabled device is located, further eliminates the step of choosing the device from a list, wherein the list only includes the one found device. As in the previous embodiment, if no BLUETOOTH devices are found, the program may follow a pre-selected hierarchy to initiate a second discover mode for a non-BLUETOOTH device (i.e. IR or WIFI) before signaling the user that no devices were found with which to communicate.  
         [0025]     While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.