Patent ID: 6891567

Claim:
An integrated digital camera apparatus comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a digital image acquisition apparatus built into said housing, said digital image acquisition apparatus including image capture apparatus for converting a light image to digital image data and image storage apparatus for storing said digital image data; (c) a messaging apparatus independent of said digital image acquisition apparatus built into said housing, said messaging apparatus including (i) transceiver apparatus limited to sending and receiving messages through a communications network, said messages not including digital image data from said digital image acquisition apparatus; (ii) automatic signal transmission apparatus for automatically causing said transceiver apparatus to transmit a message request signal to said messaging apparatus conveying an identification of said camera apparatus when said transceiver is turned on; (iii) code apparatus for selectively receiving messages sent to said transceiver by a message center from a service provider, wherein said messages include advertisements and at least one of warranty registration forms and questionnaires, and wherein said service provider includes any combination of a billing center, a retailer, and a camera manufacturer; and (iv) message display apparatus for communicating said messages to a user of said camera apparatus in graphic or audio form; whereby said messaging apparatus in said camera apparatus and said message center allows said service provider to promote an ongoing business relationship with said user after sale of said camera apparatus.