GB2423890A

GB2423890A - Cameraphone

Info

Publication number: GB2423890A
Application number: GB0525815A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Olaf Hudson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-12-17
Filing date: 2005-12-19
Publication date: 2006-09-06
Also published as: GB0427668D0; GB0525815D0

Abstract

The present invention provides a data capture device or a device having a data capture mode and arranged to initiate transmission of captured data as part of or substantially immediately following data capture. In particular, the invention provides a downloadable software application which configures a cameraphone to offer a 'one button snap and send' option which allows for capture of the recipient's number/address and any other option or 'set-up' selections as well as any required text input. Once configured and when 'one button snap and send' mode is selected, then the camera is enabled for taking a photo. As soon as the photo is taken a transmission sequence begins without the need to press more buttons.

Description

I Improvements i or relating to the Transmission of Data and Ima2es This

Invention relates to the transmission of data other than voice over a wireless or other network from a data gathering device such as a mobile phone.

l oday, if one takes a picture with a cameraphone one then has to push a sequence of buttons in order to send the picture over a wireless network. This activity takes several seconds, which in time-critical situations is a severe disadvantage (e.g. emergency, journalism, and for the mass market: interaction with a TV show etc. and other situations where it is first come first served). Additional capabilities of the mobile phone, such as attaching the user's location information will require further set-up in order to gather, arrange and send, all of which takes the user time to accomplish.

My invention in one aspect thereof provides a down loadable software application which configures a cameraphone to offer a one button snap and send' option which allows for capture of the recipient's number/address and any other option or set-up' selections as well as any required text input. Once configured and when one button snap and send' mode is selected, then the camera is enabled for taking a photo. As soon as the photo is taken a transmission sequence begins without the need to press more buttons. See attached figure 1 (lower portion).

A cameraphone would thus memorise a number of default' settings which are automatically invoked when one button snap and send' mode is chosen. Any of those settings may be overridden by the touch of an alternative button. To the one button snap and send' button, see Figure 2. Several selectable one button snap and send' profiles or groups of settings may exist.

By contrast, the problem is normally to date overcome by pushing a sequence of several buttons as fast as possible (e.g. selecting whether to send the picture as an * ** email or as a multimedia message, looking up the recipient's number from a phonebook' or typing the number in, attaching the photo gathering and arranging any ** *** other information (such as place, time) and then pressing send') Figure 1 shows a * comparison of how this procedure with that of my invention. ** ** * S * * S

My invention further provides fur settings to he transmitted to an end user's camera- based device from a central location created by a service provider based on the profile of the end user (which may be in whole or in part obtained by that provider) and/or the requirements of the service provider and/or the activity envisaged. The end user S. * ,*5 profile may determine any of the settings normally entered by the end user in the process of taking a picture, storing it and then sending it over a network from a mobile device. The end user profile may exist either as a result of the end user responding to an invitation to set up such a profile, such as a proposition from a TV broadcast (for example by sending a text message registering an interest in future participation as a home contestant in a TV game show), or as a result of a working agreement related to employment or as a result of a subscription to a specific service.

The result is a shortened time from the point of capturing a photo to the time that it is in transmission over a network. Data may be tagged with a code indicative of further information, tbr example the location that a photo was taken. This could be GPS or wireless basestation positional data stored at the moment of capture.

Capture devices may co-operate or be arranged in a locally linked array. For example, phones may he in a locally linked group for capture of multiple images of the same or related scenes. The group would be set up in a precapture phase as with the normal capture and after that further set up would not be needed between captures. The group may be enabled by short distance communications or local network jxig.

An example of a way in which the "one button snap and send" user interface is provided to a user's camera phone handset is using a J2ME (Java version 2 Micro Edition) application executable software or similar. See the example in Figure 3.

This is provided either during the manufacture and initial set-up of the phone when new, or by way of an "over the air" (OTA) download.

In the phone, an extra option appears in the top-level menu called one button snap and send' or similar. When the user selects this option for the first time, a screen appears asking for the default choices to be entered and stored. These are the settings which will be used to send the data as soon as the photo is taken.

Examples of data categories and actual data entered on the "one button snap and send" default settings screen are (including example entries in italics) Recipients Address 07836 591545 Type of message MMS Picture size/quality Landscape, 640 x 480 Increased camera time-out 5 minutes * ** * * * * *** Include location info? Cell ID only a...

Accompanying text message John Smith, 42 The High Road, J-uton LU3 4TY a. a.

: * * The J2ME OTA download is initiated when a cameraphone user responds to a proposition relating to a TV game show, advertisement or competition. It may also be for business purposes where an employee's business cameraphone is set up in a ** . similar way to ensure fast and efficient transmission of pictorial data back to the : * * office or factory. Any of the data categories can already be tilled in or selected for the * *. user before he/she uses the "one button snap and send" camera phone for the first *. time.

En some applications, the ability to override certain or all settings may be prohibited

by making those fields unchangeable.

When the phone is in one button snap and send mode' the main options on the phone will be exit' and update one button settings'. Selecting update one huiton settings' gives the user the opportunity to modify any of the existing default settings.

It is also envisaged that users may enjoy using one button snap arid send' for personal applications rather than communicating with a TV show or an employer.

Application Example 1.

A TV show is broadcast which asks for people to send in a picture to the programme.

The first and best pictures to be received by the television studio will be sampled and winners chosen. Winners may receive prizes and/or the reward of having their photo broadcast on air. The TV show asks people who want to participate to send a short code text message to a particular number. A first time use of one button snap and send' responds to an advertisement by the broadcaster to participate in the show by registering their interest (for example by the sending of a blank sms text message to their published number). Once the broadcaster knows the number of a would-be contestant, they are able to send a data file which consists of J2ME executable code together with settings information for the existing operation of the phone. When accepted by the user, the J2ME executable code will add a one button snap and send' icon to the mobile phone's menu of selectable applications. The user can then at any time choose to initiate one button snap and send' mode for the purposes of sending a photo in the fastest possible way.

Being a first time user, the user is prompted to add the default text which will be sent attached to any pictures sent in one button snap and send' mode. The words put your name and address here' have already been filled in by the TV company. The user edits these to he text representing his/her own name and address.

Thus, since all settings are known then the action of capturing a photo is also the * ** means by which the photo transmission sequence is initiated thereby ensuring the * fastest possible time between photo capture and delivery to the desired recipient. a...

S Application Example 2 :* An insurance company employs an agent to visit garages where damaged cars are waiting to be fixed. They are trying to process claims more quickly. Photos of the damaged cars are needed by head office for this purpose. A one button snap and send application which includes the location information allows an agent of the insurance company to simply take photos of damaged vehicles, confident that all the pictures, together with location information arc automatically being sent to his/her head office a....' without the need for time consuming typing or any chance of errors.

Such use may be enabled on a temporary or permanent basis Application Example 3 David has a good friend Karen. They are both avid amateur antique collectors.

Whenever David sees an interesting item he likes to send a picture as a matter of course to Karen. David configures his one button snap and send' settings as follows: Recipients Address Karen.Acorn@I7otmaj! corn Type of message email Picture size/quality Portrait, 640 x 480 Increased camera time-out 2 minutes Include location info? no Accompanying text message Another curio from David This way whenever David goes into an antique shop he puts his phone into one button snap and send' mode, any pictures he takes will automatically be sent to Karen's computer via the mobile operator and the internet.

After a while David makes a new and better friend called Karla. He decides that from now on he prefers sending pictures to Karla on a regular basis. He then selects update settings' from within one button snap and send mode' and modifies the settings to show: Recipients Address KarIa.overall@j,otrnajI com Type of message email Picture size/quality Portrait, 640 x 480 Increased camera time-out 2 minutes * ** * * S S...

Include location info? no S...

Accompanying text message Another curio from David * * From then on all his annotated pictures are sent to Karla. * a. * S S... *SSS c-f-

Claims

Claims Having described my invention I declare that what I claim is:- 1. A

data capture device or a device having a data capture mode and arranged to initiate transmission of captured data as part of or substantially immediately following data capture.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 and having a one button send or capture and send.
3. A device as claimed in acclaim 1 or claim 2 having a pre capture set up phase defining parameters of transmission.
4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the resultant of the set up phase is used repeatedly.
5. A device as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein selected set parameters of transmission may be varied.

* ..
6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein data is tagged with further information or information not part of the data capture itself. **** * I

* I.
7. A device as claimed in claim 5 where the further information is user id or location.
S. * S * S

:555:. 8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim linked with others to form a group.
9. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the grouping is via short distance communications or networking.
10. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein set up is by a downloadable software application.
11. A device as claimed in any preceding claim and comprising a cameraphone.
12. A cameraphone as claimed in claim 11 and wherein substantially a soon as a photo is taken a transmission sequence begins without need to press buttons.
13. A cameraphone as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 and wherein settings are be transmissible by a service provider.
14. A cameraphone as claimed in claim 13 and wherein setting are based on a profile of the end user and/or the requirements of the service provider and/or the activity envisaged.
15. A method of providing data capture and transmission over a network comprising the steps of: sending a settings to a data capture device; configuring that device in response to said settings; and performing a data capture with said device, **S.

whereby said data transmission occurs based on said settings as part of or : . substantially immediately afler said data capture.
16. The features herein set forth in any novel or inventive combination.

S * S * * *S..

s
17. A data capture device or method substantially as hereindescribed with reference to the drawings, excluding the upper portion of Figure 1.