The present invention relates generally to digital cameras and, more particularly, to wireless adapters for digital cameras that enable digital cameras to communicate with remote devices.
A digital camera is an electronic device for capturing and storing images electronically instead of on photographic film. Modern digital cameras have many advantages over conventional film cameras and have virtually replaced film cameras in the marketplace. Digital cameras are small, lightweight, and inexpensive to operate since no film is required. Digital cameras allow consumers to view images immediately after they are captured. Consumers can delete images they do not like and retake images. Images captured can be uploaded to photo libraries on the user's home computer or imported into photo-editing software.
Digital cameras typically include a USB or FIREWIRE port for connecting the digital camera to the user's home computer. A cable plugs into the camera at one end and to the computer at the other end. There are many circumstances in which a user may want to send images wirelessly to remote devices. Because many home computers now have wireless interfaces, it would be convenient for consumers to connect to home computers using a wireless interface. Further, long range wireless interfaces would enable users of digital cameras to access remote devices and services from whatever location the user may currently be in.
To date, wireless interfaces have not been used in digital cameras for several reasons. Wireless interfaces increase the size, weight, and cost of the digital camera. Further, other interfaces in the digital cameras do not provide sufficient power for a wireless transceiver. These design challenges have so far prevented use of wireless interfaces in small, portable digital cameras.
The present invention provides a wireless adapter for a digital camera to enable communication between the digital camera and remote devices over a wireless network. The wireless adapter comprises a wireless card including a wireless interface for communicating over wireless networks, and a card holder to receive the wireless card. The card holder may be an integral part of the digital camera, or may be an accessory that detachably mounts to the digital camera. A file transfer agent on either the wireless card or the card holder receives image data from the digital camera and transfers the image data to a remote device over a wireless network. In one exemplary embodiment, the file transfer agent emulates a printer and appears to the digital camera like any other printer.
The present invention may be used, for example, to transfer image files to the user's home computer, to post an image to a web album or web blog, or to send the image to web printing service.
Referring now to the drawings, a wireless adapter 100 for a digital camera 10 is shown that enables wireless communications between a digital camera 10 lacking inherent wireless communication capability and remote devices over wireless networks. Remote devices may comprise, for example, a home computer 30, web album 32, web blog 34, or web printing service 36. The wireless adapter 100 can be used with both digital still cameras and digital video cameras.
As previously described, the wireless card 150 includes at least one wireless interface 152 coupled to an antenna 154. The wireless interface 152 may comprise a long-range wireless interface for connecting over long distances to a WWAN 20, such as a cellular network (e.g. GSM, CDMA, etc.) or WiMAX network. Alternatively, the wireless interface 152 may comprise a short-range wireless interface (e.g., BLUETOOTH, WiFi, RFID, NFC) for connecting over short distances to a WLAN 22, such as the user's home network. In a preferred embodiment, a second wireless interface 156 and second antenna 158 may also be provided. In this case, the first wireless interface 152 can be used to connect over long distances to WWANs 20. The second wireless interface 156 may be used to connect over short distances to WLANs 22.
The wireless card 150 further includes a communication control circuit 160 for controlling the operation of the wireless card 150. The communication control circuit 160 includes processing circuits and memory to enable communication over wireless networks. The processing circuits may comprise one or more processors and/or processing hardware. Connector 164 connects the communication control circuit 160 with the card holder 102. The communication control circuit 160 includes a file transfer agent 162, which can be implemented as a software application on a processor. The file transfer agent 162 provides remote access capability to the digital camera 10. The file transfer agent 162 stores information about one or more remote destinations. Such information includes, for example, the destination address for each destination and authentication information, such as the username and password for each destination. The file transfer agent 162 is configured to receive image data from the digital camera 10 and transfer the image data to the remote destination via one of the wireless interfaces 152, 156.
In one embodiment, the file transfer agent 162 emulates a printer as described in related Application Ser. No. 60/863,382, filed concurrently herewith and incorporated herein by reference. In this embodiment, file transfer agent 162 implements PictBridge or other direct printing technology to communicate directly with the digital camera 10. The file transfer agent 162 can create one or more emulated printers that appear to the digital camera 10 like any other printer. When the user “prints” to an emulated printer, the file transfer agent 162 transfers the image data to a corresponding remote destination. By emulating a printer, wireless adaptor 100 provides networking capabilities to any digital camera 10 that can connect directly to a printer.
The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other ways than those specifically set forth herein without departing from essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/863,384 filed on Oct. 29, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60863384 | Oct 2006 | US |