Abstract:
A system and method for capturing and distributing photographic images are provided. A wireless transmitter is physically coupled with a subject. The wireless transmitter broadcasts an identification code that is received by a wireless transceiver associated with a camera. One or more cameras capture visual images and associate at least one image with at least one wireless transmitter identification code. The image is stored as a record in a database and associated with one or more identification codes and a time/date stamp. The record is retrievable by reference to each associated identification code and optionally in reference to the time/date stamp. Records may be provided via the Internet or other electronic communications network, to include telephony systems. Records may be provided according to price schedules related to image quality, quantity, advertising content options,

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This present Non-Provisional U.S. Utility Patent Application is a Continuation-in-Part to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/587,726 which was filed on Jul. 13, 2004, and this present Non-Provisional U.S. Utility Patent Application does hereby claim the benefit of the priority date of the aforementioned U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/587,726. The aforementioned U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/587,726 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein and for all purposes in this Patent Application. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The Present Invention relates to electronic systems and methods for acquiring and distributing photographic images. More particularly, the Present Invention relates to methods and systems for generating and providing access to digital data files related to, or comprising, photographic images.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Most consumers often enjoy viewing photographs of themselves, their friends and families engaged in athletic, leisure and recreational activities. The photographic instrument industry has consistently responded to this wide-spread desire by striving to design and manufacture photographic equipment that record quality photographs while placing minimal skill requirements on the operator of the camera. The increased sophistication of commercially available and modestly priced digital electronics cameras has created an expectation among the public that photography should be easily and reliably accomplished in any setting. In addition, the storage of photographic images in digital electronic media has satisfied a public appetite for easily acquiring and enabling the delivery and presentation of visual images.  
         [0004]     The common use of the Internet to enable remote access to digital photographs has created a vibrant market in hassle-free photographic processing. In particular, vacationers and persons engaged in recreational activities often wish to have photographs of their activities recorded for later selection and publishing. Yet most people often do not wish to be responsible for taking photographs while performing athletic or athletic feats, such as surfing or playing tennis. There is therefore a long-felt need to enable consumer access to photographs of identifiable persons engaged in active pursuits, wherein the photographs are generated by equipment operated by third party agents or vendors.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     Towards this object, and other objects that will become obvious in light of the Prior Art and the present disclosure, the Method of the Present Invention provides a method and system to generate and provide access to photographic images of persons, animals, other living entities and objects.  
         [0006]     In a first preferred embodiment of the, the present invention provides a system and method for capturing and distributing photographic images. The basic system includes a portable wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver, a digital storage module and a camera. The wireless transmitter is associated with and transmits an identification code to the wireless receiver. The wireless receiver is configured to receive the identification code broadcast from the wireless transmitter. The digital storage module is coupled with the wireless receiver and stores the identification code record. The camera is communicatively coupled with the digital storage module. The camera captures photographic images, provides the photographic images to the digital storage module, and stores the photographic images in a record and associates the record with the identification code record, also incorporated into the storage module.  
         [0007]     The invention further allows for a method and system to readily connect customers to their pictures or video. This technology can be used in many areas of everyday life but in one particular embodiment example provided herein is for the sports and recreation photography market. The invention will give skiers, snowboards, surfers, an many other sport or recreation customers, instant and easy access to his/her sport pictures or videos associated with a person, location or object, wherein the person place or object is associated with an identification code and photographic records. Additionally, the system and method can be sold to or used in the business sector where a business using this invention will receive a percentage of the cost of each photo sold. In other embodiments this invention can be expanded to many other general areas such as theme park photography, parent-child security safety, and extreme sport buddy tracking, etc. The many potential uses and possibilities are will be made relevant to one skilled in the art in light of this disclosure.  
         [0008]     In a basic embodiment, this system and method comprise two elements of hardware, a key chain module, and a camera side module. The key chain module can be a small, battery operated, optionally weather proofed, wireless transmitter. The key chain module is assigned an identification number on a permanent or reprogrammable basis. The identification number may optionally be visually displayed on the outside of the key chain device. The key chain module may additionally be associated with a universal resource locator of a website or webpage of a website. The camera side module comprises a wireless receiver hardware configured to couple and communicate with the camera (e.g., as a camera&#39;s hot shoe) and with a digital memory storage module. The wireless receiver module may be configured to be compatible with one or a plurality of commercially available camera brands. In certain preferred alternate embodiments, the camera images and associated recorded identification (“ID”) ID numbers can be stored directly on a standard digital camera memory chip. The recorded images with associated ID numbers can then be downloaded manually onto a computational system, such as a personal digital assistant, a personal computer or a laptop computer. These images can then be retrieved directly from the computer, such as by the photographer, and sorted by ID number, to be given or sold to the person who was photographed or other third party requestor or customer. Alternatively, in still certain other preferred embodiments, the recorded images with associated ID numbers can be uploaded from storage on a computational system to a web-linked database, such as via phone lines or DSL, or cable or other such link. In certain additional preferred embodiments, digital photo images with associated ID numbers can be uploaded via wireless link, directly from the camera based site, to an Internet linked database.  
         [0009]     In some embodiments a digital data memory storage system and method may comprise a web site accessible database housed on a web server system with internet access as the central hub of such a product for customer access to recorded photos and/or video. Such a system not only provides a user-friendly customer interface, but also can help automate a photographer&#39;s camera upload process. The website, and associated programming behind it, can facilitate data distribution processes including uploading pictures from a photographer&#39;s camera, customer search and sort capability, and customer downloads and purchase. The Internet accessible database method can give a customer the capability to have instant on-line access to his or her pictures/video. Certain still alternate preferred embodiments of the method of the present invention comprise a user friendly customer interface where the customer can just login and type in his/her ID code for instant access to his/her pictures or video. The customer will have the ability to perform targeted searches on a picture database and purchase only the images of interest and after partial or complete observation on a video screen receiving photographic records from the web site.  
         [0010]     Furthermore an example a web accessibility technique comprised within yet other alternate preferred embodiments of the present invention is provided: One or more cameras will each have a wireless receiver hardware module and antenna attached. For manual camera applications, the present invention may be configured to attach to hot shoe coupled with the manual camera. For automated cameras, the hot shoe can be used to mount hardware, or the hardware can be placed away from the camera in a fixed location. In one such embodiment, surfers can be given a waterproof transmitter to be attached to clothes or body of the surfer, or a surfboard. Alternatively, a keychain with a transmitter can attach to clothes, or a nose guard with a transmitter can be attached to a surfboard. The transmitters can be made available at no charge, or rented and/or a monetary deposit in conformance with the instant business model. The transmitter device may have the associated web address for database access printed on it, along with the surfer&#39;s unique ID number which the transmitter is programmed to transmit.  
         [0011]     In such an embodiment, automated cameras are aimed at main surf zones or any high volume surf location, and are zoomed in and adjusted accordingly. When a surfer passes through the camera&#39;s field of view, with his transmitter turned on, his unique ID number gets broadcast to and received by the camera-based receiver, and logged into memory with associated photos or video. The memory with photos and ID numbers are uploaded to the website accessible database. After surfing, the surfer can go home and log in to the associated web page for instant access to his/her pictures or video.  
         [0012]     Where automated equipment cannot be or is not configured at a particular implementation or location, e.g., a beachfront, then paid photographers can attach the Camera Side Module hardware to their cameras. Similar to the automated cameras, the manual camera&#39;s pictures will have the surfer&#39;s unique ID numbers logged to memory along with their pictures.  
         [0013]     Similarly, certain other additional alternate preferred embodiments of the method of the present invention provide a system useful for winter sports photography. For example, skiers and snowboarders at a resort can be given a weather resistant transmitter to be attached to or coupled with their body, clothes or equipment. A keychain can attach to clothes, or it can be attached to snow equipment. Similar to the surf example, the transmitters can be rented, pre-sold, made available at no charge and/or a monetary deposit can be required depending on the relevant and applied business model. Each transmitter device may optionally have the web address for retrieval and the assigned ID number printed on or visually presented on the outside of the transmitter device. The transmitter device is programmed to transmit a unique ID number. Automated cameras may be aimed at selected locations, e.g., ski zones, terrain parks, or any high volume activity area. The camera may be adjusted in relation to the environment of the camera&#39;s location to enable the camera to more typically generate better photographic images. When a skier passes through the camera&#39;s field of view, his unique ID number is logged to the current video segment or picture most recently generated by the camera. After a long day, the skier can go home and log in to an associated web page for instant access to his/her pictures or video.  
         [0014]     In still other additional preferred embodiments of the method of the present invention, a Theme Park example is provided with still and/or video camera equipment, and alternately or additionally for a manual equipment photographer. Customers will be given a transmitter device to carry around the park. This can be attached to clothes. Cameras are aimed at selected location, high volume activity locations, park rides entrances or segments, etc., and are zoomed in and optically adjusted to better generate marketable photographic images. When a customer passes through the camera&#39;s field of view, his unique ID number is transmitted by the transmitter device and received by the receiver of the camera. The ID number is then stored in a record of the digital device module and is associated with to the most recently generated, or a closely temporally associated, video segment or picture. After a long day, the customer can go home and log in to the associated web page for instant access to his/her pictures or video. Other versions of embodiments can be envisioned by and made obvious to one of skill in art in light of this disclosure. For example, in addition to the automated cameras, paid photographers can walk around the park taking pictures. Similar to the automated cameras, the manual camera&#39;s pictures will have customer ID numbers stored as records and associated with appropriate photographic image records of a digital memory device module.  
         [0015]     One particular advantage of certain yet other additional preferred embodiments of the method of the present invention is that ID code numbers can be transmitted to camera side devices at considerable distances, and in particular can be configured to transmit the ID numbers in ranges significantly more than a 20 feet distance between transmitter and receiver, and optionally more than 1,000 feet in certain other preferred embodiments of the method of the present invention.  
         [0016]     It is understood that in certain alternative preferred embodiments of the Method of the Present Invention access to and/or availability of the records or documents may be limited to specified individuals, permitted upon payment or promise of payment, a showing of permission, or after a time delay. The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     These, and further features of the invention, may be better understood with reference to the accompanying specification and drawings depicting the preferred embodiment, in which:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, or first system;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a schematic of a wireless transmission device, or keychain side device, of the first system of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a schematic of a camera side device of the first system of  FIG. 1  and having a wireless receiver, a digital storage module and a camera;  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a syntax diagram of an identification message generated by the keychain side device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a syntax diagram of an image message generated by the camera side device of  FIGS. 1 and 3 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is a second preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, or second system;  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  presents a flow chart of a system software of the keychain side device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  presents a flow chart of a system software of the camera side device of  FIGS. 1 and 3 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 9  presents a flow chart of a system software of the second preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 10  is a top view of the keychain side device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 11  is an illustration of a first alternate preferred embodiment of the process flow of a second preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention that is enabled by the second system of  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0029]      FIGS. 12A, 12B  and  12 C are schematics of the process flow of  FIG. 11 ;  
         [0030]      FIGS. 13A and 13B  are illustrations of a second and third alternate preferred embodiment of the process flow of a second preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention that is enabled by the second system of  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0031]      FIG. 14A  is a schematic of the process flow of  FIG. 13A ; and  
         [0032]      FIG. 14B  is a schematic of the process flow of  FIG. 13B   
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0033]     The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his or her invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the Present Invention have been defined herein.  
         [0034]     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 1  is an illustration of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, or first system  2 . A plurality of Keychain Side Devices  4  (“KSD  4 ”) is each coupled with a specific subject, such as a user, animal, object or location. It is understood that the term subject is defined to include herein a person, a living being, a geographic fixture, a vehicle, a real property, a location, a building, an equipment, and an object. The coupling of the KSD  4  with a person may be accomplished by a strap  6  of a KSD  4  that physically attaches a transmission module  8  to a person. The coupling of the KSD  4  with an object or a location may be accomplished by a hook  9  of a KSD  4  that physically attaches a transmission module  8  to a user. It is understood that the terms “coupled” and “coupling” are defined herein to include direct or indirect mechanical or physical attaching and attachment. It is further understood that the term “communicatively coupled” and “communicatively coupling” are defined herein to include the enablement of and/or capability to transmit and receive messages via wireless transmission means and techniques, and not requiring a direct or indirect physical or mechanical attachment or coupling. The transmitter modules  8 , as described below in reference to  FIG. 2  and elsewhere within this disclosure, transmits messages to a Camera Side Device  10  (“CSD  10 ”) via an antenna  12  of the CSD  10 . It is understood that the CSD antenna  12  may be a directional antenna. In certain alternate preferred embodiments of the present invention he KSD  4  may be configured to transmit information, and the CSD  10  may be configured to receive the information transmitted by the KSD  4 , over a distance greater than a 20 feet, and optionally more than 1,000 feet.  
         [0035]     The CSD  10  may optionally be mounted on a rotating stage  14 , wherein the visual range of the CSD  10  may be increased by rotating and/or translating the CSD  10  (optionally within up to six degrees of freedom) to capture wider areas of a transmission operating region  16  (defined within the lines  16 A and  16 B) within a photographic field of view  18  (defined within the lines  18 A and  18 B) of the CSD  10 .  
         [0036]     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 2  is a schematic of the KSD  4  of the first system  2  of  FIG. 1 . The KSD  4  includes the (a.) transmission module  8  and (b.) the strap  6  and/or the attachment hook  9 . The strap  6  wraps fully around a limb  20  of the user, such as an ankle or wrist, and is detachably secured to the user&#39;s limb  20  by means of a hook and fastener assembly  22 A &amp;  22 B of the strap  6 . It is understood that in certain alternate preferred embodiments of the method of the present invention the transmission module  8  may be removably attached to an article of clothing by means of an attachment means known in the art, to include buckles, safety pins and pressure clips. The transmission module  8  includes a case  23 , an identification register  24 , a digital memory device  25 , a transmitter  26  comprising a transmission interface  26 A and an antenna  26 B, an optional programming interface  27 , a battery  28  and a controller  29 . The identification register  24 , digital memory device  25 , transmitter  26 , optional programming interface  27  and controller  29  are communicatively coupled via a KSD communications and power bus  30  (“KSD bus  30 ”). The battery  28  provides electrical power to the identification register  24 , optional digital memory device  25 , transmitter  26 , programming interface  27 , and the controller  29  via the KSD bus  30 . The case  23  houses, protects and is coupled with the identification register  24 , the optional digital memory device  25 , the transmitter  26 , the optional programming interface  27 , the battery  28 , the controller  29  and the KSD bus  30 . It is understood that in certain alternate preferred embodiments of the method of the present invention the battery  28  may be a energy receptor and storage device that harvests and stores energy stored via radio wave transmission and then provides the harvested and stored data to power the KSD  4 . The controller  29  is a logical device that controls the operations of the KSD  4  via the KSD bus  30  and in accordance with a KSD system software  32 . The KSD system software  32  is partly or wholly stored within the digital memory device  25  and/or the KSD controller  29 . The identification register  24  (“ID register  24 ”) is a memory device than may be read only memory, random access memory, programmable memory, and/or other suitable electronic memory device in the art. An ID field  34  of the ID register  24  stores an identification code  36  (“ID code  36 ”), the ID code  36  uniquely distinguishing each KSD  4  from the plurality of KSD&#39;s  4 . An optional data field  38  of the ID register  24  may be used to store additional information, such as indicia of ownership or source of the ID register  24 . A user personality identifier  40  may be stored in the digital memory device  25 , wherein the user personality identifier  40  associates a specified person, location or object temporarily or permanently associated with the KSD  4 . The optional programming interface  27  may be used to enter the ID code  36  and/or the personality identifier  40  into the ID register  24  and/or the optional digital memory device  25 . The optional programming interface may comprise a keyboard or other suitable data interface device known in the art. The optional programming interface  27  may also be used by a user to direct the controller to format, issue and transmit a request to the CSD  10  to take a photograph.  
         [0037]     The KSD  4  may optionally include one or more additional modules, to include a clock  42 , a time date stamp circuit  44 , a GPS locator module  46  and/or a manual control  48 , each of which are communicatively coupled with the KSD bus  30  and are powered by the battery  28 . The clock  42  may inform the controller  29  when to periodically read data from ID register  24  and when to format and transmit an ID message  50  via the KSD transmitter, as per  FIG. 5 . The time date stamp circuit  44  may provide the KSD controller  29  with time and date information  52  to include in the ID message  50 . The GPS locator module  46  may receive or generate geographical positioning information  54  on the basis of signals received form the Earth orbiting satellite transmissions by means of the KSD transmitter  26 . The GPS locator module  46  processes the satellite transmissions received via the KSD transmitter  26  and transmits geographical positioning information  54  derived from the satellite transmissions to the controller  29  for inclusion in the ID message  50 .  
         [0038]     The manual control  54  may be enable a user to direct the KSD controller  29  to prepare and transmit an ID message  50  via the antenna  46  to the CSD  10  and/or request the CSD  10  to capture an image by taking a photograph.  
         [0039]     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 3  is a schematic of the CSD  10  of  FIG. 1  comprising the CSD antenna  12 , a CSD control module  56  comprising a CSD digital data storage module  58 , and a camera  60 . The camera  60  is a digital camera having a light-sensitive pickup electronic device  62  coupled with a digital image processor  64 . The light-sensitive pickup electronic device  62  converts received visual signals of light energy into electrical impulses and translates the electrical impulses to the digital image processor  64 . The digital image processor  64  converts the electrical impulses generated by and received from the light-sensitive pick-up device  62  into a digital image document  66 . The digital image processor  64  is communicatively coupled with a CSD communications and power bus  68  (“CSD bus  68 ”) of the control module  56 , and transmits the digital image document  66  to the control module  56  via the CSD bus  68 .  
         [0040]     The CSD control module  56  includes a CSD case  70 , the CSD digital memory storage device  56 , a CSD controller  72 , a CSD digital memory device  74 , a transmitter  76  comprising a transmission interface  78  and the antenna  12 , an optional CSD programming interface  80 , a server interface  82 , and a CSD battery  84 . The CSD controller  72 , CSD digital memory device  74 , transmitter  76 , CSD programming interface  80  and a server interface  82  are communicatively coupled via the CSD bus  68 . The battery  84  provides electrical power to the CSD digital memory storage device  56 , the CSD controller  72 , the CSD digital memory device  74 , transmitter, the CSD programming interface  80 , and server interface  82  via the CSD bus  68 . The CSD case houses, protects and is coupled with the CSD digital memory storage device  56 , the battery  84 , the CSD controller  72 , CSD digital memory device  74 , transmitter, CSD programming interface  80 , and server interface  82  and the CSD bus  68 .  
         [0041]     The CSD controller  72  directs the operations of the control module  56  in conformance with a CSD system software  86 . The CSD system software  86  may be stored within or distributed among the CSD controller  72 , the CSD memory device  74 , and/or the CSD digital memory storage device  56 .  
         [0042]     The CSD  10  may optionally include one or more additional modules, to include a CSD clock  88 , a CSD time date stamp circuit  90 , a CSD GPS locator module  92  and/or a CSD manual control  94 , each of which are communicatively coupled with the CSD bus  68  and are powered by the CSD battery  84 . The CSD clock  88  may inform the CSD controller  72  when to periodically read data from the CSD digital memory storage device  56  and when to format and transmit an image message  96  via the CSD transmitter  76 , as per  FIG. 6 . The CSD time date stamp circuit  90  may provide the CSD controller  72  with a time and date information  98  to include in the image message  96 . The CSD GPS locator module  92  may receive or generate geographical positioning information  54  on the basis of signals received form the Earth orbiting satellite transmissions by means of the CSD transmitter  76 . The CSD GPS locator module  92  processes the geographical information received from the CSD transmitter  76  and transmits geographical positioning data to the CSD controller  72  for inclusion in the image message  96 .  
         [0043]     The CSD manual control  94  may be enable an operator to direct the CSD controller  72  to prepare and transmit the image message  96  via the CSD transmitter  76  and/or request the server interface  82 .  
         [0044]     The CSD memory storage device  56  comprises a memory card interface  56 A, or digital media reader  56 A, and a removable memory card  56 B, where the memory card interface  56 A is configured to write image messages  96  into a memory of the memory card  56 B. The removable memory card  56 B may be or comprise a CD ROM, a DVD, a PCMCIA memory card or other suitable memory media known in the art.  
         [0045]      FIG. 4  is a syntax diagram of an ID message  50  generated by the keychain side device  4  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . A header data field  50 A contains information that initiates and identifies the ID message  50 . The ID code  36  is stored in an ID code data field  50 B. Time date information  52  is stored in a TDS data field  50 C. Geographic position data  54  is stored in a GPS data field  50 D. The optional user personality identifier  40  is stored in the data field  50 E. An optional open data field  50 F permits the inclusion of other information. A tail data field  50 G contains information that identifies and concludes the ID message  50 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 5  is a syntax diagram of an image message  96  generated by the camera side device of  FIGS. 1 and 3 . A header data field  96 A contains information that initiates and identifies the image message  96 . The ID code  36  is stored in an IM ID code data field  96 B. Time date information  98  is stored in an IM TDS data field  96 C. Geographic position data  54  is stored in an IM GPS data field  96 D. The digital image document  66  is stored in a data field  96 E. Where the format of the digital image document  66  includes attributes, e.g., in accordance with a JPEG format, the ID code  36  may be included as attribute to the digital image document  66  and stored in the data field  96 E.  
         [0047]     It is further that the digital image document  66  may be single frame data or video data. It is further understood that the image message  96  may include a plurality of data fields  96 B wherein information received in a plurality of ID messages  44  generated by more than one KSD  4  is associated with the digital image document. An optional service provider data field  96 F may include information related to the person, corporation, or entity providing the first system  2 . An optional camera data field  96 G may include information related to the camera  60 . An optional location data field  96 H may include information related to the location of the camera  60  and/or the first system  2 . A tail data field  96 I contains information that identifies and concludes the image message  96 .  
         [0048]     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 6  is a second preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention  100 , or second system  100 , comprising the first system  2  of  FIG. 1 , a communications network  102  and optionally the Internet  104 . The communications network  102  may be or comprise a telephony system, a wireless telephony system, and/or a computer communications network. The CSD  10  is communicatively coupled via a server base station  106  with the communications network  102 , and optionally to the Internet  104 . In accordance with a network system software  105 , a server base station  106  communicates with the CSD  10  via a server transceiver  108 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively or additionally, the server base transceiver  108  may be communicatively coupled via the server interface  82  to the CSD data bus  68  by a hard wire connection  110 . The hard wire connection  110  may be or comprise wire, cabling, optical fibers, or other suitable signal transmission media known in the art. Image messages  96  may be transmitted to the server base station  106  and therefrom made accessible to the communications network  102  and/or the Internet  104 .  
         [0049]     Image messages  96  may be transmitted via the communications network  102  to a data library system  112 . The data library system  112  comprises a data base  113  maintained by an image memory data base module  114 . The image messages  96  are made accessible while stored in one or more image data base  113  maintained by the image memory data base module  114 . A data library system  115  comprises a data base  113  maintained by the image memory data base module  114 . The image data base  113  may be accessed by a network computer  116 , whereby a user may search for image messages  96  associated with a time and date, a location, an ID code  36 , a GPS information  54 , a personality identifier  40 , or other information stored in an image message  96 .  
         [0050]     Alternatively or additionally, Image messages  96  may be transmitted via the Internet  104  to one or more image memory data base modules  114 . The image messages  96  are stored in an image data base  113  maintained by the image memory data base module  114 . The image data base  113  may be accessed by a network computer  116  via the Internet  104 , whereby a user may search for image messages  96  associated with a time and date, a location, an ID code  36 , a GPS information  54 , a personality identifier  40 , or other information stored in an image message  96 .  
         [0051]     Image messages  96  may be alternatively delivered to a network computer  116  for access by a user by means of the memory card  54 B and a memory card interface  54 A. Image messages  96  may be alternatively be made accessible by a user by means of an image server  118  via a transmitter  120  and a wireless telephone  122 . The wireless telephone  122  may be a portable wireless telephone or a personal digital assistant having a video display configured to visually present still images and or video.  
         [0052]     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 7  presents a flow chart of the KSD system software  32 . In step  7 . 0  the KSD  4  is powered up and reset. In step  7 . 1  a KSD ID code  36  is written into the KSD  4  via the programming interface  27 . It is understood that in certain alternate preferred embodiments of the KSD  4  the ID code  36  is present in the KSD  4  upon power up and does not have to be written into the KSD  4 . In step  7 . 2  a personality identifier  40  is written into the KSD  4  via the programming interface  27 . In step  7 . 3  the KSD  4  generates and formats an ID message  50 . In optional step  7 . 4  GPS information is entered into the ID message  50 . In optional step  7 . 5  the personality identifier  40  is entered into the ID message  50 . In optional step  7 . 6  time date information  52  is entered into the ID message  50 . In step  7 . 7  the ID message  50  is transmitted via the KSD transmitter  76  to the CSD  10  and/or the server base station  106 . In step  7 . 8  the KSD controller  29  determines whether the KSD shall (a.) power down in step  7 . 9 , or (b.) proceed on to a wait step of  7 . 10  and from step  7 . 10  onto step  7 . 3 . It is understood that in certain still alternate preferred embodiments of the KSD  4  a power down may be caused by an interrupt initiated by a user by means of the programming interface  27 .  
         [0053]     2. Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 8  presents a flow chart of the CSD system software  86 . In step  8 . 0  the CSD  10  is powered up and reset. In step  8 . 1  the camera  60  takes a photo or records a video file and forms a digital image document  66 . In optional step  8 . 2  the CSD  10  receives an ID message  50  from a KSD  4 . It is understood that in certain alternate preferred embodiments of the method of the present invention the ID messages  50  and the image messages  96  are associated by the server base station  82  rather than by the CSD  10 . It is further understood that in certain other alternate preferred embodiments of method of the present invention the digital image document  66  associated with the ID code  36  of the ID message  50  is generated within one minute of receipt of the ID code  36  by the CSD  10 .  
         [0054]     In step  8 . 3  the CSD  10  generates and formats an image message  96  containing the payload of the digital image document  60  and optionally information harvested from one or more payloads of ID messages  50 . Where the format of the digital image document  66  includes attributes, e.g., in accordance with a JPEG format, the ID code  36  may be added as attribute to the digital image document  66  and include in the data field  96 E of the image message  96  in step  8 . 3 .  
         [0055]     It is understood that more than one User ID code  36  and/or personality identifier  49  may be stored into the image message  96  and associated with the digital image document  66  stored in the same image message  96 . In optional step  8 . 4  GPS information  54 , the personality identifier  40 , CSD time date information  98  and/or KSD time date information  52  is entered into the image message  96 . In optional step  8 . 5  the image message  96  is written into the removable digital memory card  54 A. In step  8 . 6  the image message  96  is transmitted by the CSD  10  to the server base station  106  by wireless transmission and/or via the hard line  110 . In step  8 . 7  the CSD controller .x determines whether the CSD shall (a.) power down in step  8 . 8 , or (b.) proceed on to step  8 . 1 .  
         [0056]     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 9  presents a flow chart of the network system software  105 . It is understood that the network system software  105  may be distributed about the base server system  106 , the communications network  102  and/or the Internet  104  is powered up. In step  9 . 0  the base server system  106  is powered up. In step  9 . 1  the base server system  106  receives an image message  96  from the CSD  10 . In optional step  9 . 2  an ID message  50  is received from the KSD  4  and integrated into an image message  96 . In step  9 . 3  the image message  96  is transmitted to a memory module  114 , or other suitable memory module that is communicatively coupled with the Internet  104  and/or the communications network  102 . In step  9 . 4  the image message is stored into one or more data bases  113  and/or one or more removable data storage cards  54 B. In step  9 . 5  access by the network computer  116  to one or more data bases  113  is enabled. In step  9 . 6  the network software  105  determines whether a request for a digital image document  66  stored within one or more data bases  114 . The request may be issued from a network computer  116  and/or a wireless telephone/PDA  122  and may reference an ID code  36 , a personality identifier  40 , a time date information  54 , or other suitable data stored in a data base  113 . When a request is received in step  9 . 6 , and an electronic payment is received in step  9 . 7 , the network system  100  downloads one or more digital image document  66  in step  9 . 8 . In step  9 . 9  the network system software  105  determines whether the network system  100  shall (a.) cease operations in step  9 . 10 , or (b.) proceed on to step  9 . 1 .  
         [0057]     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 10  is a top view of the KSD  4  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0058]     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 11  is an illustration of a first alternate preferred embodiment of the process flow of a second preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention that is enabled by the second system  100  of  FIG. 6 . It is understood that the retrieval of digital image documents  66 , i.e. “pictures”, may require the customer to submit an electronic payment by means of a purchasing system or method employable via the Internet, or other suitable payment or purchasing system or method known in the art.  
         [0059]     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIGS. 12A and 12B ,  FIGS. 12A, 12B  and  12 C are schematics of the process flow of  FIG. 11 .  
         [0060]     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIGS. 13A and 13B ,  FIGS. 13A and 13B  are illustrations of a second and third preferred embodiment of the process flow of a second alternate preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention that is enabled by the second system  100  of  FIG. 6   
         [0061]     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 14A ,  FIG. 14A  is a schematic of the process flow of  FIG. 13A .  
         [0062]     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 14B ,  FIG. 14B  is a schematic of the process flow of  FIG. 13B .  
         [0063]     Although the examples given include many specificities, they are intended as illustrative of only certain possible embodiments of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein. Other embodiments and modifications will, no doubt, occur to those skilled in the art. The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Thus, the examples given should only be interpreted as illustrations of some of the preferred embodiments of the invention, and the full scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Other suitable techniques and methods known in the art can be applied in numerous specific modalities by one skilled in the art and in light of the description of the Present Invention described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention as disclosed and claimed should, therefore, be determined with reference to the knowledge of one skilled in the art and in light of the disclosures presented above.