ADVERTISING THROUGH RECYCLABLE DIGITAL CAMERAS
Data of updated or new advertising messages are loaded into a non-volatile memory of a digital camera in the course of it being recycled. The user of the camera therefore receives the updated or new advertising messages as a part of recycling the camera. There are a number of ways the advertising message can be displayed on a picture preview screen of the camera and/or reproduced by a loudspeaker on the camera. The advertising message can either be displayed along with a picture acquired by the camera or at separate times.
1 . A method of communicating an advertising message by a recyclable digital camera, the method comprising the acts of:
receiving at least one advertising message, by a digital camera, during recycling of the digital camera;
playing an advertising message, by the digital camera, during initialization of the digital camera based on the at least one advertising message received during recycling;
detecting user activation of the digital camera to capture image data once the initialization is completed;
storing image data captured by the digital camera;
displaying, by the digital camera, the captured image data; and
playing a selected advertising message by the digital camera, wherein the selected advertising message is selected based on user operation of the camera during display of captured image data.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving at least one advertising message, by the digital camera, relates to exchanging a removable non-volatile memory from within the digital camera.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein recycling relates to processing image data stored by the digital camera prior to redistribution of the digital camera.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an advertising message relates to one or more of advertising messages for one or more of goods, services, coupons, and directories of restaurants or movie theatres.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected advertising message is played as a visual advertising display on a screen during display of image data stored in the digital camera.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected advertising message is randomly selected based on the user operation.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein only a portion of the selected advertising message is played based on the user operation of the digital camera.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected advertising message is selected based on content of the advertising message data relating to one or more of audio and video data.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising playing the at least one advertising message by the digital camera immediately prior to, during, or immediately following capture of image data by the digital camera.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring a number of times that an advertising message is played by the digital camera, wherein payment to a first entity from a second entity is based on the number of times an advertising message is played.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving at least one new advertising message, by the digital camera, during the recycling, wherein the new advertising message is associated with a first entity receiving payment from a second entity for the at least one new advertising message.
12 . A recyclable digital camera comprising:
an image sensor for detecting image data;
a memory; and
a processor coupled to the memory and image sensor, the processor configured to:
receive at least one advertising message during recycling of the digital camera;
play an advertising message during initialization of the digital camera based on the at least one advertising message received during recycling;
detect user activation of the digital camera to capture image data once the initialization is completed;
store image data captured by the digital camera;
display the captured image data; and
play a selected advertising message by the digital camera, wherein the selected advertising message is selected based on user operation of the camera during display of captured image data.
13 . The recyclable digital camera of claim 12 ,, wherein receiving at least one advertising message relates to exchanging a removable non-volatile memory from within the digital camera.
14 . The recyclable digital camera of claim 12 , wherein recycling relates to processing image data stored by the digital camera prior to redistribution of the digital camera.
15 . The recyclable digital camera of claim 12 , wherein an advertising message relates to one or more of advertising messages for one or more of goods, services, coupons, and directories of restaurants or movie theatres.
16 . The recyclable digital camera of claim 12 , wherein the selected advertising message is played as a visual advertising display on a screen during display of image data stored in the digital camera.
17 . The recyclable digital camera of claim 12 , wherein the selected advertising message is randomly selected based on the user operation.
18 . The recyclable digital camera of claim 12 , wherein only a portion of the selected advertising message is played based on the user operation of the digital camera.
19 . The recyclable digital camera of claim 12 , wherein the selected advertising message is selected based on content of the advertising message data relating to one or more of audio and video data.
20 . The recyclable digital camera of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to play the at least one advertising message immediately prior to, during, or immediately following capture of image data by the digital camera.
21 . The recyclable digital camera of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to monitor a number of times that an advertising message is played by the digital camera, wherein payment to a first entity from a second entity is based on the number of times an advertising message is played.
22 . The recyclable digital camera of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive at least one new advertising message, by the digital camera, during the recycling, wherein the new advertising message is associated with a first entity receiving payment from a second entity for the at least one new advertising message.