Transmitting digital images to a plurality of selected receivers over a radio frequency link
View Patent ↗An electronic camera system includes a programmable transmission capability for selectively transmitting electronic image data to a plurality of remote base units. In one embodiment, a camera module is detachably coupled to a portable computer including a display screen and a data entry device. The electronic image data generated by the camera module is supplied to the portable computer for display on the display screen. The data entry device is used by an operator to select which of the plurality of base units are to receive the digital image data. The digital image data is supplied by the portable computer to a radio-frequency transmitter module for transmission to the selected base units. The radio-frequency transmitter module is formed either integral with the portable computer or, like the camera module, is detachably coupled to the portable computer. In a further embodiment, a combined telephone/camera unit is provided that includes a camera module for generating electronic image data representative of a scene to be imaged, a memory unit for storing the electronic image data generated by the camera module, a display screen for displaying the electronic image data stored in the memory unit, a mechanism for selecting which of the plurality of base units is to receive the digital image data, and a cellular transceiver for transmitting the digital image data to the base units selected by the selection mechanism.
1. A method for transmitting a digital image from a handheld electronic camera to a plurality of receiver units, comprising:
providing a handheld electronic camera including:
(i) an image sensor for capturing at least one image;
(ii) an A/D converter for producing digital image data from the at least one captured image;
(iii) a display screen for displaying the at least one captured image;
(iv) a memory for storing the digital image data for the at least one captured image; and
(v) a transceiver for transmitting the stored digital image data using a plurality of different transmission frequency bands;
capturing an image using the image sensor;
storing digital image data corresponding to the captured image in the memory;
selecting at least two different receiver units from a plurality of receiver units;
after selecting the at least two different receiver units, automatically transmitting:
(a) the stored digital image data over a radio frequency transmission link to a first of the selected receiver units using a first transmission frequency band; and
(b) the same stored digital image data over the radio frequency transmission link to a second of the selected receiver units using a second transmission frequency band different from said first transmission frequency band, after the stored digital image has been transmitted to the first of the selected receiver units using the first transmission frequency band.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising converting the stored digital image data to an appropriate format prior to transmission to at least one of the selected receiver units.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a menu for selecting receiver units on the display screen.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising compressing the stored digital image data prior to transmission to at least one of the selected receiver units.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein compressing the stored digital image further comprises JPEG compressing the stored digital image data.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the handheld electronic camera further comprises providing a combined telephone/camera.