Method and apparatus to share high quality images in a teleconference

1 . A method comprising:

capturing an image in an imaging device connected to a computer, the capture occurring responsive to a user input;

inserting a representation of the image into a content that includes text, within a current focus application window, at an action location relative to the text which is a cursor point selected by the user for action;

wherein the inserting occurs without changing focus to a dialog box or separate application; and

wherein the application is at least one of: a word processor, a presentation editor, a spreadsheet, an email client, a voice communication client, a chat client, an online forum, videoconferencing client, online meeting client, and a web browser.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

persistently storing the content including the representation of the image.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the cursor point is a user selected area.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the representation comprises at least one of:

a link;

a thumbnail image;

a reduced resolution image;

a full resolution image; or

an icon.

5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing random access to the text content; and

modifying the text content.

6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

previewing the image prior to inserting; and

requiring a confirmation prior to inserting.

7 . The method of claim 6 wherein previewing comprises:

displaying the image on the imaging device.

8 . The method of claim 6 further comprising:

signaling the confirmation from the imaging device.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein inserting occurs automatically responsive to the capturing.

10 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a live preview of a view of the imaging device in the content.

11 . A method comprising:

establishing a communications session over a distributed network between at least two nodes wherein images can be exchanged and viewed;

capturing from an imaging device a discrete image responsive to a discrete input of a user during the communications session;

inferring a destination for the image from the session context; and

sending the image to the destination within the communications session;

wherein the number of pixels present in the sent image is greater than the number of pixels that are present in the screen of the capture node.

12 . The method of claim 11 further comprising:

initiating the sending responsive to a single user action.

13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the single user action is one of:

a mouse event;

a keyboard event;

a capture button event on the imaging device;

a user input event on the imaging device;

a voice command;

an user input event on a remote control;

a user gesture;

a touch pad event;

a touch screen event;

a motion capture event; and

a graphical input device event.

14 . The method of claim 11 further comprising:

automatically presenting a representation of the image at the destination.

15 . The method of claim 1 wherein capturing comprises:

capturing N images for each discrete input.

16 . The method of claim 15 further comprising one of:

combining the N images into a fewer images before sending; or

sending a video clip or a three dimensional model to the destination made from the N images.

17 . The method of claim 11 further comprising:

Annotating the image within the session.

18 . The method of claim 17 further comprising:

persistently storing the image and annotations made within the session.

19 . The method of claim 11 further comprising:

transmitting to the destination spatial coordinates associated with a point of view of the imaging device during image capture; and

organizing the image at the destination based at least in part on the spatial coordinates.

20 . The method of claim 11 further comprising:

synchronizing presentation parameters of a view of the image between a source node and the destination.

21 . The method of claim 11 further comprising:

analyzing at least one of: an image, a user input, or a content context;

inferring presentation parameters including at least one of: a zoom level or an image center location;

and displaying the image using the parameters.