公开(公告)号：US07535492B2

公开(公告)日：2009-05-19

申请号：US10190234

申请日：2002-07-02

申请人： Philippe R. Kahn ,  Eric O. Bodnar ,  Paul A. Egli ,  Brian Bodmer ,  Shekhar Kirani ,  Mark Tarantino

发明人： Philippe R. Kahn ,  Eric O. Bodnar ,  Paul A. Egli ,  Brian Bodmer ,  Shekhar Kirani ,  Mark Tarantino

IPC分类号： H04N5/232 ,  H04N5/225 ,  H04N7/14

CPC分类号： H04N1/00137 ,  H04N1/00132 ,  H04N1/00145 ,  H04N1/00151 ,  H04N1/00172 ,  H04N1/00188 ,  H04N1/00244 ,  H04N1/00307 ,  H04N2201/3253

摘要： An imaging system is described that automates fulfillment of image photofinishing based on location. The system includes the following components: an imaging device capable of capturing a plurality of images; a local host, at least occasionally connected to the imaging device, that is capable of offloading images from the imaging device and capable of determining a current position based on GPS (Global Positioning System) information; and a remote (e.g., Web-based) host capable of receiving the plurality of images, capable of receiving a request for photofinishing the images, and capable of transmitting the plurality of images to a particular fulfiller for photofinishing, based on the current position.

摘要翻译： 描述了一种成像系统，其基于位置自动实现图像相片洗印。 该系统包括以下部件：能够捕获多个图像的成像装置; 至少偶尔连接到成像设备的本地主机，其能够从成像设备卸载图像并且能够基于GPS（全球定位系统）信息来确定当前位置; 以及能够接收多个图像的远程（例如，基于Web的）主机，其能够接收对图像进行照相洗印的请求，并且能够基于当前位置将多个图像发送到用于照相洗印的特定履行器。

公开(公告)号：US07372485B1

公开(公告)日：2008-05-13

申请号：US09434703

申请日：1999-11-05

申请人： Eric O. Bodnar ,  Shekhar Kirani ,  Venkat V. Easwar ,  Philippe R. Kahn ,  Sonia Lee Kahn

发明人： Eric O. Bodnar ,  Shekhar Kirani ,  Venkat V. Easwar ,  Philippe R. Kahn ,  Sonia Lee Kahn

IPC分类号： H04N9/68 ,  H04N7/12

CPC分类号： G06T9/007

摘要： A digital imaging system is described that provides techniques for reducing the amount of processing power required by a given digital camera device and for reducing the bandwidth required for transmitting image information to a target platform. The system defers and/or distributes the processing between the digital imager (i.e., digital camera itself) and the target platform that the digital imager will ultimately be connected to. In this manner, the system is able to decrease the actual computation that occurs at the digital imager. Instead, the system only performs a partial computation at the digital imager device and completes the computation somewhere else, such as at a target computing device (e.g., desktop computer) where time and size are not an issue (relative to the imager). By deferring resource-intensive computations, the present invention substantially reduces the processor requirements and concomitant battery requirements for digital cameras. Further, by adopting an image strategy optimized for compression (compressed luminosity record), the present invention decreases the bandwidth requirements for transmitting images, thereby facilitating the wireless transmission of digital camera images.

摘要翻译： 描述了一种数字成像系统，其提供用于减少给定的数码相机设备所需的处理能力的量并减少将图像信息传输到目标平台所需的带宽的技术。 该系统在数字成像器（即，数字照相机本身）和数字成像器最终将连接到的目标平台之间延迟和/或分发处理。 以这种方式，系统能够减少在数字成像器处发生的实际计算。 相反，该系统仅在数字成像器设备处执行部分计算，并且在诸如在时间和大小不是问题（相对于成像器）的目标计算设备（例如，台式计算机）处的其它地方完成计算。 通过推迟资源密集型计算，本发明大大降低了数字照相机的处理器要求和伴随的电池要求。 此外，通过采用针对压缩（压缩发光度记录）优化的图像策略，本发明降低了发送图像的带宽要求，从而有助于数字照相机图像的无线传输。

公开(公告)号：US07072688B2

公开(公告)日：2006-07-04

申请号：US10424384

申请日：2003-04-28

申请人： Eric O. Bodnar ,  Shekhar Kirani ,  Philippe R. Kahn

发明人： Eric O. Bodnar ,  Shekhar Kirani ,  Philippe R. Kahn

IPC分类号： H04M1/00

CPC分类号： H04M1/0254 ,  H04M1/274516 ,  H04M1/72527 ,  H04M1/72547 ,  H04M1/72561

摘要： An enhanced “Camel-back” or “Companion” Digital Organizer (CDO) is described that is designed to interface to a cellular telephone. The CDO is preferably implemented as an add-on component which can be easily attached and detached from a phone by a user and, once in place, can dramatically enhance the phone's functionality by converting the phone into a “smart” phone. Exemplary features of the CDO include an ability for the user to initiate a voice call on the phone from the CDO. Preferably, the user may initiate the voice call from any of multiple modules of the user's data, and not merely from a phone-book module. The CDO is also capable of stand-alone use as a personal organizer device, apart from the phone. The CDO preferably includes a docking unit that removably mates to particular model(s) of phones, and a main unit that removably docks to the docking unit. The docking unit preferably includes substantially all phone-model-specific geometries and features to thereby allow the main unit to be configured for stand-alone use as an organizer with few compromises made to accommodate specific model(s) of phones. Furthermore, the same main unit is suitable for use with multiple docking units that are respectively adapted for different models of phones. Note that some phones have an “automatic hang-up” feature in which the phone unilaterally hangs up a phone call that was initiated by an external device (e.g., a modem or the CDO) upon detaching of the device by the user. For such phones, the docking unit remains attached to the phone during a call initiated by the user via the CDO, even if the user should detach the main unit for stand-alone use as an organizer. The still-attached docking unit contains sufficient circuitry and physical features to prevent automatic hang-up. The main unit includes many features such as a choice of both left- and right-handed modes and the capability for handling electronic mail, remote browsing, remote synchronization, caller identification, and the like.

公开(公告)号：US06658268B1

公开(公告)日：2003-12-02

申请号：US09369812

申请日：1999-08-06

申请人： Eric O. Bodnar ,  Shekhar Kirani ,  Philippe R. Kahn

发明人： Eric O. Bodnar ,  Shekhar Kirani ,  Philippe R. Kahn

IPC分类号： H04Q720

CPC分类号： H04M1/0281 ,  H04M1/0254 ,  H04M1/274516 ,  H04M1/72527 ,  H04M1/72547 ,  H04M1/72561

摘要： An enhanced “Camel-back” or “Companion” Digital Organizer (CDO) is described that is designed to interface to a cellular telephone. The CDO is preferably implemented as an add-on component which can be easily attached and detached from a phone by a user and, once in place, can dramatically enhance the phone's functionality by converting the phone into a “smart” phone. Exemplary features of the CDO include an ability for the user to initiate a voice call on the phone from the CDO. Preferably, the user may initiate the voice call from any of multiple modules of the user's data, and not merely from a phone-book module. The CDO is also capable of stand-alone use as a personal organizer device, apart from the phone. The CDO preferably includes a docking unit that removably mates to particular model(s) of phones, and a main unit that removably docks to the docking unit. The docking unit preferably includes substantially all phone-model-specific geometries and features to thereby allow the main unit to be configured for stand-alone use as an organizer with few compromises made to accommodate specific model(s) of phones. Furthermore, the same main unit is suitable for use with multiple docking units that are respectively adapted for different models of phones. Note that some phones have an “automatic hang-up” feature in which the phone unilaterally hangs up a phone call that was initiated by an external device (e.g., a modem or the CDO) upon detaching of the device by the user. For such phones, the docking unit remains attached to the phone during a call initiated by the user via the CDO, even if the user should detach the main unit for stand-alone use as an organizer. The still-attached docking unit contains sufficient circuitry and physical features to prevent automatic hang-up. The main unit includes many features such as a choice of both left- and right-handed modes and the capability for handling electronic mail, remote browsing, remote synchronization, caller identification, and the like.

公开(公告)号：US08212893B2

公开(公告)日：2012-07-03

申请号：US12119491

申请日：2008-05-12

申请人： Eric O. Bodnar ,  Shekhar Kirani ,  Venkat V. Easwar ,  Philippe R. Kahn ,  Sonia Lee Kahn

发明人： Eric O. Bodnar ,  Shekhar Kirani ,  Venkat V. Easwar ,  Philippe R. Kahn ,  Sonia Lee Kahn

IPC分类号： H04N9/68 ,  H04N7/12

CPC分类号： H04N5/23229 ,  H04N5/232

摘要： A digital imaging system is described that provides techniques for reducing the amount of processing power required by a given digital camera device and for reducing the bandwidth required for transmitting image information to a target platform. The system defers and/or distributes the processing between the digital imager (i.e., digital camera itself) and the target platform that the digital imager will ultimately be connected to. In this manner, the system is able to decrease the actual computation that occurs at the digital imager. Instead, the system only performs a partial computation at the digital imager device and completes the computation somewhere else, such as at a target computing device (e.g., desktop computer) where time and size are not an issue (relative to the imager). By deferring resource-intensive computations, the present invention substantially reduces the processor requirements and concomitant battery requirements for digital cameras. Further, by adopting an image strategy optimized for compression (compressed luminosity record), the present invention decreases the bandwidth requirements for transmitting images, thereby facilitating the wireless transmission of digital camera images.

摘要翻译： 描述了一种数字成像系统，其提供用于减少给定的数码相机设备所需的处理能力的量并减少将图像信息传送到目标平台所需的带宽的技术。 该系统在数字成像器（即，数字照相机本身）和数字成像器最终将连接到的目标平台之间延迟和/或分发处理。 以这种方式，系统能够减少在数字成像器处发生的实际计算。 相反，该系统仅在数字成像器设备处执行部分计算，并且在诸如在时间和大小不是问题（相对于成像器）的目标计算设备（例如，台式计算机）处的其它地方完成计算。 通过推迟资源密集型计算，本发明大大降低了数字照相机的处理器要求和伴随的电池要求。 此外，通过采用针对压缩（压缩发光度记录）优化的图像策略，本发明降低了发送图像的带宽要求，从而有助于数字照相机图像的无线传输。

公开(公告)号：US20090033752A1

公开(公告)日：2009-02-05

申请号：US12119491

申请日：2008-05-12

申请人： Eric O. Bodnar ,  Shekhar Kirani ,  Venkat V. Easwar ,  Philippe R. Kahn ,  Sonia Lee Kahn

发明人： Eric O. Bodnar ,  Shekhar Kirani ,  Venkat V. Easwar ,  Philippe R. Kahn ,  Sonia Lee Kahn

IPC分类号： H04N5/232

CPC分类号： H04N5/23229 ,  H04N5/232

摘要： A digital imaging system is described that provides techniques for reducing the amount of processing power required by a given digital camera device and for reducing the bandwidth required for transmitting image information to a target platform. The system defers and/or distributes the processing between the digital imager (i.e., digital camera itself) and the target platform that the digital imager will ultimately be connected to. In this manner, the system is able to decrease the actual computation that occurs at the digital imager. Instead, the system only performs a partial computation at the digital imager device and completes the computation somewhere else, such as at a target computing device (e.g., desktop computer) where time and size are not an issue (relative to the imager). By deferring resource-intensive computations, the present invention substantially reduces the processor requirements and concomitant battery requirements for digital cameras. Further, by adopting an image strategy optimized for compression (compressed luminosity record), the present invention decreases the bandwidth requirements for transmitting images, thereby facilitating the wireless transmission of digital camera images.

摘要翻译： 描述了一种数字成像系统，其提供用于减少给定的数码相机设备所需的处理能力的量并减少将图像信息传送到目标平台所需的带宽的技术。 该系统在数字成像器（即，数字照相机本身）和数字成像器最终将连接到的目标平台之间延迟和/或分发处理。 以这种方式，系统能够减少在数字成像器处发生的实际计算。 相反，该系统仅在数字成像器设备处执行部分计算，并且在诸如在时间和大小不是问题（相对于成像器）的目标计算设备（例如，台式计算机）处的其它地方完成计算。 通过推迟资源密集型计算，本发明大大降低了数字照相机的处理器要求和伴随的电池要求。 此外，通过采用针对压缩（压缩发光度记录）优化的图像策略，本发明降低了发送图像的带宽要求，从而有助于数字照相机图像的无线传输。

公开(公告)号：US06825876B1

公开(公告)日：2004-11-30

申请号：US09489511

申请日：2000-01-21

申请人： Venkat V. Easwar ,  Eric O. Bodnar ,  Shekhar Kirani ,  Philippe R. Kahn ,  Sonia Lee Kahn

发明人： Venkat V. Easwar ,  Eric O. Bodnar ,  Shekhar Kirani ,  Philippe R. Kahn ,  Sonia Lee Kahn

IPC分类号： H04N968

CPC分类号： G06T9/007

摘要： A digital imaging system is described that provides techniques for reducing the amount of processing power required by a given digital camera device and for reducing the bandwidth required for transmitting image information to a target platform. The system defers and/or distributes the processing between the digital imager (i.e., digital camera itself) and the target platform that the digital imager will ultimately be connected to. The system only performs a partial computation at the digital imager device and completes the computation somewhere else, such as at a target computing device (e.g., desktop computer) where time and size are not an issue (relative to the imager). This image processing technique employs an efficient color conversion process, using a GUV color space. After an RGB mosaic (image) is captured, the image may be “companded” or quantized by representing it with less bits (e.g., companding from 10 bits to 8 bits). The image is then mapped from RGB color space to GUV color space, using an RGB-to-GUV transformation. Once converted into GUV color space, the image may now be compressed, for instance using wavelet transform-based compression, and then transmitted, using wireless or wire-line transfer, to a target platform (e.g., desktop or server computer). At the target platform, the GUV information may be restored in a non-compressed format and then further processed into a desired representation (e.g., standard format, such as JPEG). In this fashion, the GUV-based methodology avoids the inefficiency of remaining in RGB color space and avoids the computational complexity of converting to YUV color space, yet retains the benefits associated with YUV color space (e.g., de-correlation of image information).

摘要翻译： 描述了一种数字成像系统，其提供用于减少给定的数码相机设备所需的处理能力的量并减少将图像信息传送到目标平台所需的带宽的技术。 该系统在数字成像器（即，数字照相机本身）和数字成像器最终将连接到的目标平台之间延迟和/或分发处理。 该系统仅在数字成像器设备处执行部分计算，并且完成其它地方的计算，例如在时间和大小不是问题（相对于成像器）的目标计算设备（例如台式计算机）处。 该图像处理技术使用有效的颜色转换处理，使用GUV颜色空间。 在捕获RGB马赛克（图像）之后，可以通过用较少的比特（例如，从10比特到8比特的压缩比例）来表示图像来“压缩”或量化图像。 然后，使用RGB到GUV变换，将图像从RGB颜色空间映射到GUV颜色空间。 一旦转换成GUV颜色空间，图像现在可以被压缩，例如使用基于小波变换的压缩，然后使用无线或有线传输方式传送到目标平台（例如桌面或服务器计算机）。 在目标平台上，可以以非压缩格式还原GUV信息，然后进一步处理为期望的表示（例如，标准格式，例如JPEG）。 以这种方式，基于GUV的方法避免了RGB颜色空间中的残留效率低下，避免了转换为YUV色彩空间的计算复杂度，同时保留了与YUV色彩空间相关的优点（例如图像信息的去相关）。

公开(公告)号：US07881715B2

公开(公告)日：2011-02-01

申请号：US11516809

申请日：2006-09-05

申请人： Shekhar Kirani ,  Matthew H. Gerlach ,  Timothy W. Genske ,  David Vogel ,  William G. Swinton ,  Venkat V. Easwar ,  Eric O. Bodnar

发明人： Shekhar Kirani ,  Matthew H. Gerlach ,  Timothy W. Genske ,  David Vogel ,  William G. Swinton ,  Venkat V. Easwar ,  Eric O. Bodnar

IPC分类号： H04W4/00

CPC分类号： G06T9/007 ,  H04L67/04 ,  H04L67/06 ,  H04L67/1095

摘要： A media spooler system is described that provides a methodology for efficient transmission of media content from client devices, such transmission of digital images from wireless digital cameras. The media spooler or gateway addresses wireless transmission problems by acting as a protocol gateway between a thin-client device and a target host or server (supported by a server infrastructure). More particularly, the media spooler of the present invention acts as a protocol gateway between thin-client devices (e.g., “mobile visual communicator” in the form of a wireless digital camera) and server infrastructure (e.g., server-based computer systems or “Web servers” of a photographic service provider). This task entails accepting multiple, simultaneous connections from various client devices (e.g., wireless digital cameras), extracting information from those devices (e.g., digital photographs or other media content), and then uploading that information to the target server infrastructure. In basic operation, the media spooler queries each client device for the information (e.g., media, such as pictures) the client device thinks should uploaded, and then the media spooler queries the server infrastructure for the subset of pictures that have not been already uploaded. This improved coordination or synchronization of information between a device and target host allows for efficient recovery of dropped cellular data calls by essentially allowing the media spooler to “pick up where it left off.”

摘要翻译： 描述了一种媒体假脱机系统，其提供用于从客户端设备有效地传输媒体内容的方法，例如来自无线数字照相机的数字图像的传输。 媒体假脱机程序或网关通过充当瘦客户机设备与目标主机或服务器（由服务器基础设施支持）之间的协议网关来解决无线传输问题。 更具体地说，本发明的媒体假脱机器作为瘦客户端设备（例如，无线数字照相机形式的“移动可视通信器”）和服务器基础设施（例如基于服务器的计算机系统或“ 摄影服务提供商的Web服务器“）。 该任务需要接受来自各种客户端设备（例如，无线数字照相机）的多个同时连接，从那些设备提取信息（例如，数字照片或其他媒体内容），然后将该信息上传到目标服务器基础设施。 在基本操作中，媒体后台处理程序向每个客户端设备查询客户端设备认为应上传的信息（例如，媒体，如图片），然后介质后台处理程序查询服务器基础结构以获得尚未上传的图片子集 。 这种改进的设备和目标主机之间的信息的协调或同步允许通过基本上允许媒体假脱机程序“拾取其停留在何处”来有效地恢复丢弃的蜂窝数据呼叫。

公开(公告)号：US06915312B2

公开(公告)日：2005-07-05

申请号：US09928609

申请日：2001-08-13

申请人： Eric O. Bodnar ,  Chris LaRue ,  Bryan Dube ,  Shekhar Kirani ,  Sethuraman Suresh

发明人： Eric O. Bodnar ,  Chris LaRue ,  Bryan Dube ,  Shekhar Kirani ,  Sethuraman Suresh

IPC分类号： G06F17/30

CPC分类号： G06F17/30575 ,  Y10S707/951 ,  Y10S707/99952 ,  Y10S707/99954

摘要： A synchronization system providing multi-client synchronization is described. By storing the data that is actually being synchronized (i.e., storing the actual physical body of a memo, for instance) inside an extra database, “Grand Unification Database” (GUD), (or by specially-designated client data set) under control of a central or core synchronization engine, rather than transferring such data on a point-to-point basis, the system of the present invention provides a repository of information that is available at all times and does not require that any other synchronization client (e.g., PIM client or hand-held device) be connected. The GUD provides a super-set of the other client data sets. Therefore, if the user now includes an additional client, such as a server computer storing user information, the synchronization system has all the information necessary for synchronizing the new client, regardless of whether any of the other clients are currently available. The system can, therefore, correctly propagate information to any appropriate client without having to “go back” to (i.e., connect to) the original client from which that data originated.

摘要翻译： 描述了提供多客户端同步的同步系统。 通过将实际上被同步的数据（例如，将备忘录的实际物理本体存储在另外的数据库中）存储在控制下的“大统一数据库”（GUD）（或通过专门指定的客户机数据集） 的中央或核心同步引擎，而不是在点对点的基础上传送这样的数据，本发明的系统提供了在任何时候可用的信息的存储库，并且不要求任何其他同步客户端（例如， ，PIM客户端或手持设备）连接。 GUD提供了其他客户端数据集的超集。 因此，如果用户现在包括诸如存储用户信息的服务器计算机的附加客户端，则同步系统具有用于同步新客户端所需的所有信息，而不管其他客户端当前是否可用。 因此，系统可以将信息正确传播到任何适当的客户端，而无需“返回”（即连接到）来自该数据的原始客户端。

公开(公告)号：US07103357B2

公开(公告)日：2006-09-05

申请号：US09759108

申请日：2001-01-11

申请人： Shekhar Kirani ,  Matthew H. Gerlach ,  Timothy W. Genske ,  David Vogel ,  William G. Swinton ,  Venkat V. Easwar ,  Eric O. Bodnar

发明人： Shekhar Kirani ,  Matthew H. Gerlach ,  Timothy W. Genske ,  David Vogel ,  William G. Swinton ,  Venkat V. Easwar ,  Eric O. Bodnar

IPC分类号： H04Q7/20

CPC分类号： G06T9/007 ,  H04L67/04 ,  H04L67/06 ,  H04L67/1095

摘要： A media spooler system is described that provides a methodology for efficient transmission of media content from client devices, such transmission of digital images from wireless digital cameras. The media spooler or gateway addresses wireless transmission problems by acting as a protocol gateway between a thin-client device and a target host or server (supported by a server infrastructure). More particularly, the media spooler of the present invention acts as a protocol gateway between thin-client devices (e.g., “mobile visual communicator” in the form of a wireless digital camera) and server infrastructure (e.g., server-based computer systems or “Web servers” of a photographic service provider). This task entails accepting multiple, simultaneous connections from various client devices (e.g., wireless digital cameras), extracting information from those devices (e.g., digital photographs or other media content), and then uploading that information to the target server infrastructure. In basic operation, the media spooler queries each client device for the information (e.g., media, such as pictures) the client device thinks should uploaded, and then the media spooler queries the server infrastructure for the subset of pictures that have not been already uploaded. This improved coordination or synchronization of information between a device and target host allows for efficient recovery of dropped cellular data calls by essentially allowing the media spooler to “pick up where it left off.”