Automatically transmitting images from an electronic camera to a service provider using a network configuration file
View Patent ↗A network configuration file is generated at a host computer and downloaded to a digital camera. This file contains instruction information for communicating with a selected destination via a communications interface. The digital camera includes a “send” button or LCD icon which allows the user to easily transmit one or more images via a wired or wireless communications interface to a desired destination, which among other possibilities may be an Internet Service Provider or a digital photofinishing center. When the user selects this option, the communications port settings, user account specifics, and destination connection commands are read from the network configuration file on the removable memory card. Examples of these settings include serial port baud rate, parity, and stop bits, as well as account name and password.
1. A method of transferring one of more images from an electronic camera to a service provider, the camera including optics and an image sensor for generating an image signal, a display for displaying images, a plurality of user inputs, a first digital memory for storing digital images, a second digital memory for storing a network configuration file, and a communications interface, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) storing the network configuration file for the service provider in the second digital memory;
(b) subsequently using the optics and image sensor to generate a plurality of image signals which are stored as a plurality of digital images in the first digital memory;
(c) viewing at least one of the plurality of digital images on the display of the electronic camera;
(d) using at least one of the plurality of user inputs to select at least one digital image for transfer to the service provider;
(e) using at least one of the plurality of user inputs to initiate transfer of the selected at least one digital image to the service provider;
(f) using the network configuration file, the electronic camera automatically establishing communications with the service provider and transferring the selected digital image(s) from the electronic camera to the service provider using the communications interface;
(g) transferring from the service provider to the electronic camera, feedback indicating the status of the transfer process; and
(h) displaying the status on the display of the electronic camera.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the network configuration file includes a protocol type identifier.
3. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein protocol type identifier identifies a TCP/IP protocol.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the network configuration file includes account data.
5. A method of transferring one or more digital images from an electronic camera to a service, the camera including optics and an image sensor for generating an image signal, a display for displaying images, a plurality of user inputs, a first digital memory for storing digital images, a second digital memory for storing a network configuration file, and a communications interface, the method comprising:
(a) storing the network configuration file for the service in the second digital memory, wherein the network configuration file includes a protocol type identifier identifying a TCP/IP protocol;
(b) subsequently using the optics and image sensor to generate a plurality of image signals which are stored in the first digital memory as a plurality of digital images representative of the plurality of image signals;
(c) displaying a representation of at least one of the plurality of digital images on the display of the electronic camera;
(d) selecting at least one digital image for transfer to the service in response to the use of at least one of the plurality of user inputs;
(e) initiating transfer of the selected at least one digital image to the service in response to use of at least one of the plurality of user inputs; and
(f) using the network configuration file to automatically establish communications with the service and to transfer the selected at least one digital image from the electronic camera to the service using the communications interface.
6. The method of claim 5 further including:
(g) receiving feedback indicating the status of the transfer process from the service; and
(h) displaying the status on the display of the electronic camera.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein the network configuration file includes account data.
8. The method of claim 5 wherein the network configuration file is generated at least in part by a host device.
9. A method of transferring one or more digital images from an electronic camera to a service, the camera including optics and an image sensor for generating an image signal, a display for displaying images, a plurality of user inputs, a first digital memory for storing digital images, a second digital memory for storing a network configuration file, and a communications interface, the method comprising:
(a) storing the network configuration file for the service in the second digital memory;
(b) subsequently using the optics and image sensor to generate a plurality of image signals which are stored in the first digital memory as a plurality of digital images representative of the plurality of image signals;
(c) displaying a representation of at least one of the plurality of digital images on the display of the electronic camera;
(d) selecting at least one digital image for transfer to the service in response to the use of at least one of the plurality of user inputs;
(e) initiating transfer of the selected at least one digital image to the service in response to use of at least one of the plurality of user inputs;
(f) using the network configuration file to automatically establish communications with the service and to transfer the selected at least one digital image from the electronic camera to the service using the communications interface;
(g) receiving information indicating the status of the transferring at least one digital image from the electronic camera to the service; and
(h) displaying an indication of the status.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the network configuration file includes account data.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the network configuration file is generated at least in part by a host device.