JP2002541688A - System and method for transmitting and receiving digital photographic images from a digital camera to one or more remote devices - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract: A method and structure for transmitting digital photographic data between a digital camera having modem capabilities and a remote device via the Internet or via one or more secure communication links is presented. . Digital cameras are modified to include a modem or other communication element, firmware, and a user interface for communication between a user and the firmware of the digital camera.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to digital camera technology, in particular, can be applied to digital camera technology capable of easily transmitting digital image data between the digital camera Related systems and methods.

[0002] digital camera has been greatly popular among many users to use the camera.
A digital camera can take a digital photograph and simultaneously display the digital photograph, i.e., a digital image, on the display of the digital camera at the same time, and there is no essential requirement for a storage medium such as a film condition used in camera photography. There are several advantages, such as being able to easily manipulate and transfer digital image data. The digital image data is generally stored in a local memory of the digital camera, that is, a local flash memory after taking a picture using a digital camera. When the digital image data is stored to the full capacity of the memory, the user can transfer the digital image data stored in the memory to a digital computer such as a personal computer (PC) or a printer in order to take more digital pictures. It must be transferred to an appropriate storage device outside the camera.

[0003] Digital cameras supplement the limited storage capabilities of digital cameras by storing digital image data on a floppy disk (registered trademark) inserted into the camera. This floppy disk can store more digital image data than the local memory of the digital camera. However, the use of floppy disk drive technology is also problematic. That is, when the user wants to transfer digital image data to a floppy disk, the user must wait until the transfer of digital image data is completed before another photograph can be taken. When the floppy disk is full, the user
A new floppy disk must be inserted into the camera before taking a picture, and it takes time for the user to change the floppy disk. Moreover, floppy disk drives themselves tend to significantly increase the size and weight of the digital camera, while at the same time consuming considerable power from the digital camera's battery.

[0004] In view of the above, there is a need in the art for an alternative to floppy disk drive technology as a solution to complement the limited digital image data storage capabilities of existing digital cameras. It is clear. Such an alternative solution requires the user of the digital camera to easily and quickly transfer the digital image data stored in the digital camera's local memory, where the ease of use and weight of the digital camera And size should not be adversely affected.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention, in order to be able to perform a new photography by the user to easily transfer digital images from the local memory of the digital camera, limit of the digital camera To supplement the memory storage capacity provided.

Another object of the present invention is to allow a digital camera user to easily transmit a digital photographic image stored in the digital camera to a remote device and to easily receive the digital photographic image from the remote device. Is to make it possible.

It is yet another object of the present invention to achieve the transmission and reception of digital photographic images between a digital camera and a remote device with a minimum amount of supported hardware.

It is yet another object of the present invention to achieve the transmission of digital photographic images between a digital camera and a remote device in a secure manner as needed.

[0009] The method and structure according to the present invention provides a digital photographic image to be transmitted to the digital camera, thereby providing more room for the digital photographic image if desired. It allows the user to easily clear the image memory of the digital camera. According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a user of a digital camera can send a digital photographic image as an attachment to an email directly from the digital camera to a remote device via a server and an internet email system. It is. Conversely, the user may also receive digital photographic images from a remote device and store these images in the digital camera's local image memory. A digital camera may include communication elements such as firmware, a modem, and a user interface through which a user can communicate necessary information regarding a server and a remote device to the digital camera. different. The server can be an Internet service provider or an email server. According to a second embodiment of the present invention, a user of a digital camera can be provided between a digital camera and a remote destination device,
Similarly, digital photographic images can be transmitted and received. However, the second embodiment does not use the e-mail capabilities of the Internet, but instead uses one or more secure communication links to transmit digital images.

[0010] The invention relates to the Internet, or via one or more secure communications links, data of the digital image between the digital camera and the remote (remote) device having a modem capability And a system for transmitting the same. The present invention can be applied to digital cameras that have been improved from conventional digital cameras and further include a modem or other communication capability, firmware, and a user interface.
FIG. 1 shows an example of such a digital camera. Digital camera 10 shown in FIG.
An image memory 12 such as a flash memory, which is generally a non-volatile memory, a capacitance discharge (CCD referencing) lens 14 used for taking a picture, a central processing unit (CPU) 16, and a digital camera 10 It comprises a firmware 18, a modem 20 or a communication element for transmitting and receiving text and digital image data, which provides the user with a suitable interface, for example a graphical user interface (GUI) on the display screen of a digital camera. The digital camera 10 is different from an existing digital camera in that an interface 32, firmware 18, and a modem 20 can be additionally provided.

The digital photographic image data is transmitted to the modem 2 under the control of the firmware 18.
0 to the digital camera 10 via the communication link 24 and / or received. The phone jack 22 is a means for connecting the digital camera 10 and the communication link 24. The phone jack 22 indicates what type of telephone communication link the communication link 24 is, for example, a land line or a wireless link. However, since the digital camera 10 can be connected to the communication link 24 via any kind of means, including a long-distance wireless line, it is understood that the phone jack 22 should be formed as an essential component. You. Accordingly, the digital camera 10 can transmit and / or receive digital photographic data to a remote device (not shown) via the modem 20. As shown in the following description, the digital camera according to the present invention is capable of transmitting and receiving digital photographic images to and from a remote device via either a secure communication link or a link utilizing the Internet.

The digital camera 10, which has the ability to easily and immediately transfer or receive digital photographic image data, has significant advantages over conventional digital cameras. First, the digital camera 10 according to the present invention supplements the limited photographic storage capabilities of existing digital cameras. The user of the digital camera 10 is not limited to the limited number of digital photographs that the digital camera 10 can store, and stores digital photograph image data captured by the digital camera 10. By downloading to a remote device at any time and deleting the data stored in the image memory (storage device) 12, the digital photograph can be downloaded without being restricted by the limited size (capacity) of the image memory 12. Shooting can be continued. Second, this ability to easily and instantly download digital photographic image data to a remote storage location for later capture of the digital photographic image data as needed provides the camera with a floppy disk drive to enhance storage capabilities. Eliminates the need to use As discussed above, the use of a floppy disk drive significantly increases the size and weight of a digital camera. Such a floppy disk drive needs to be replaced when the capacity of the floppy disk drive is full, and it takes much time at this time. Third, the use of a floppy disk drive in a digital camera consumes the battery power of the digital camera quite severely. On the other hand, according to the present invention, the battery power of the digital camera can be significantly extended.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, sending and receiving e-mails with digital images via the Internet allows the photographic image data to be transferred to a digital camera and a remote computer such as a computer, laptop server, etc. It can be transmitted between devices. Next, a system 30 for transmitting and receiving digital photographic image data according to the first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. The digital camera 10 is an improvement of the conventional digital camera as described above, and includes a modem 20, firmware 18, and an interface 32. The user of the digital camera 10 can provide remote device address information 31 to the digital camera 10 via the interface 32. The remote device address information 31 contains information needed to transmit digital image data from the digital camera 10 to a remote device 42 having a modem 44, a CPU 46, and a memory or other storage unit 48. And the server 36. Data transmission between the digital camera 10 and the server 36 is accomplished by the first communication link 34 and the server 36 and the remote device 42
Data transmission between is accomplished by a second communication link 38 through the Internet 40. Second communication link 38 forms a data transmission path between server 36 and remote device 42.

The particular type of remote device address information 31 that a user provides to interface 32 of digital camera 10 is determined by the configuration of server 36 used in system 30 to send electronic mail or e-mail. If the server 36 is an Internet service provider (ISP), the remote device address information 31 provided by the user may include information required by the ISP, such as user passwords, login information, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers. Having.
However, when the server 36 is configured as a server having a mail function,
The remote device address information 31 has only the electronic mail address of the remote device 42. It is understood that the remote device information 31 provided by the user may be a multiple e-mail address transmitted by the photographic image data from the digital camera 10.

The remote device address information 31 is transmitted to the digital camera 1 via the interface 32.
In addition to being provided at 0, the digital camera 10 includes firmware 18 and a modem 20, which differs from conventional digital cameras in that the modem 20 interfaces with the digital camera 10. Although the modem 20 is represented as a unit within the digital camera 10, it can be understood that the modem 20 itself may be physically present inside or outside the digital camera 10. Firmware 18 is interfaced with CPU 16 and operates such that remote device address information 31 such as, for example, ISP information and e-mail address information can control modem 20. For example, if the server 36 is configured as an ISP, the code in the firmware 18 will connect to the ISP, generate a dummy email memo, attach a photo to the email, and transfer the email and attached photo image to the server 36. Waiting for an acknowledgment of the completion of the transfer of the e-mail and attached picture image to the remote device 42 via the Internet, and then deleting the transmitted picture from the image memory in order to free up more picture memory Control the modem 20 to perform the prompting of the user.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the configuration of the server 36 shown in FIG. 2 more clearly.
First, as shown in FIG. 3, the server represented by the system 50 is the ISP 54.
As is known in the art, the ISP 54 operates to transmit electronic mail provided by the modem 20 from the digital camera 10 to a remote device 42 via a communication link 38 through the Internet, Alternatively, the ISP via a communication link 38 through the Internet 40 by a remote device 42
The electronic mail provided to 54 can be operable to be transmitted to the modem 20 of the digital camera 10. When the user of the digital camera 10 wishes to send digital photographic image data to the ISP 54 via the modem 20 and the communication link 34, and ultimately to the remote device 42 via the Internet 40, the user must enter the user interface Certain ISP information 52 must be provided to digital camera 10 via 32. In this environment, the ISP information is expected to include one or more e-mail addresses to which the ISP's telephone number, password information, login information, and digital photograph information are transmitted.

In an ISP environment where it is desired to transmit digital photographic image data stored in image memory 12 to remote device 42, digital camera 10 is selected upon receipt of ISP information 52 from a digital camera user. It is necessary to have an e-mail capability to generate an e-mail with digital photographic image data as an adjunct, generally in the form of an e-mail program residing in the firmware 18. Therefore, when the ISP 54 is used, an electronic mail program exists in the digital camera 10.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which the server 36 of FIG. 2 functions as a server that provides both ISP and e-mail functions. In contrast to FIG. 3, server 64 has e-mail transmission capabilities and operates to generate e-mail upon receiving a transmission from digital camera 10 via communication link 34. Therefore, in this case, the user is only required to provide the digital camera 10 with the electronic mail address information 62 via the interface 32. The modem 18 transmits the digital photographic image data and the e-mail address 62 entered by the user via the communication link 34 to the server 6.
4 only. As shown in FIG. 4, the user is only required to provide one or more e-mail addresses to which the digital photographic information is transmitted to the digital camera 10, so that the digital camera using the system of FIG. The camera is easier to implement than a digital camera using the system of FIG. The user does not need to input the ISP information 52 and does not need to have the e-mail transmission capability in the digital camera 10. The server 64 composes the email, attaches the digital photographic image received from the modem 18 to the created email, and via a communication link 35 through the Internet 40, the remote where the email is to be received and stored. To the device 42.

FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively, illustrate a digital camera 10 utilizing electronic mail transmission capabilities.
Flowcharts 70 and 90 for transmitting a digital photographic image between a remote device 42 and the Internet 42 are shown. Flow chart 70 illustrates the various steps of transmitting digital photographic image data from digital camera 10 to remote device 42 via the Internet through a server. First, in step 72, the user connects the first modem of the digital camera 10 to the first communication link.

As described above, the first modem is connected to communication link 34 by plugging digital camera 10 into phone jack 22. Once the connection with the first communication link 34 has been made, the user can enter the digital camera 10
The digital photos transmitted from the digital camera 10 to the remote device 42
Select from the data stored in. The image data of the selected digital photograph is attached as a file to an e-mail message sent to the remote device 42. This selection process is performed by the digital camera 10 via the user interface 32.
This is achieved by connecting with an interface. When the user selects a digital photo to send, the selected photo is converted to a digital format suitable for transmission, as shown in step 76, and stored in a temporary memory of digital camera 10. Format conversion includes GIF, JPEG or CMP, etc.
It is not limited to these format conversions. Note that the format conversion of step 76 is preferably an encrypted format conversion that requires the entry of a password when the digital photographic image data is received at the remote device 42. In step 78, the user enters the firmware 18 of the digital camera 10.
Must control the modem 20, where remote device address information 31 called e-mail information must be provided. As described with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4, the type of email information entered by the user via interface 32 depends on whether ISP server 54 or server 64 with email sending capabilities is used. If an ISP server 54 is used, the ISP information 52 must be entered by the user via the user interface 32.
However, if a server 64 is used, the user may have a 1 representing the remote device 42.
Only one or more email addresses need to be entered via the user interface 32. Further, after step 76, step 78 need not be performed, but instead step 78 can be performed prior to the selecting step and the converting step of the selected digital photograph.

Next, the selected and converted digital photograph in a predetermined format is transmitted from the modem 20 of the digital camera 10 to the modem 44 of the remote device 42. This transmitting step controls the modem 20 of the digital camera 10 to transmit the selected picture stored in the image memory 12 to the server 36 via the first communication link 34, as shown in step 80. Achieved by firmware 18. The server 36 then transmits the resulting e-mail attached as a photographic image file to the modem 44 of the remote device 42 via the second communication link 38 through the Internet 40. As described above, whether an e-mail is generated by the mail program in the digital camera 10 or the server 36 depends on the function of the server 36.

After digital camera 10 transmits the selected visual image to remote device 42,
As shown in steps 82 and 84, the user can delete the transmitted photographic image data from the image memory 12 of the digital camera 10. When the user decides to delete the photo image data, the deletion of the photo image data is actually performed under the control of the firmware 18. Finally, at step 86, the user disconnects the digital camera 10 from the first communication link 34.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that what is performed in steps 74, 76 and 80 and steps 82 and 84 can be performed individually and in chronological order for each digital photograph. For example, one single digital photo stored in memory can be selected in step 74, and the selected digital photo is then format converted in step 76 and another digital photo is processed through this process. Before the repetition, it is attached to the e-mail and transmitted to the remote device 42. Similarly, the transmitted pictures can be sequentially selected and deleted at steps 82 and 84.

The present invention allows the digital camera 10 to transmit digital photographic image data from the remote device 42 while transmitting digital photographic image data from the digital camera 10 to the remote device 42. The flowchart 90 shown in FIG.
2 illustrates the process by which the digital camera 10 receives digital photographic image data from a remote device 42. First, in step 92, the modem 2 of the digital camera 10
0 is connected to the communication link 34. Next, in decision step 94, the digital camera 10 determines whether the remote device 42 has sent an e-mail. This determination is generally made by the user selecting the e-mail program check function of the digital camera 10. In step 96, the digital camera 10 is connected to the server via the communication link. The user inputs necessary remote device address information 31 via the user interface 32 to the digital camera 10.
input. The server receives the e-mail sent from the remote device 42.
In step 98, the email is downloaded from the server to the modem 20 of the digital camera 10. At step 100, the digital photographic image data attached to the email is format converted to be suitable for use by digital camera 10. In step 102, the digital photographic image data that has undergone format conversion is downloaded to a temporary memory of the digital camera 10.
Temporary memory is represented by image memory 12, which is interpreted as meaning both temporary and permanent digital camera memory.

In step 104, the digital image attached to the e-mail is downloaded to the digital camera 10 and displayed to the user. In step 106, the user visually looks at these displayed digital photographic images, and selects digital photographs to be stored in the image memory 12 of the digital camera 10 and photographs not to be stored. After storing the data of the desired digital photographic image in the image memory 12, at step 108 the downloaded and temporarily stored temporary memory is used to make room in the memory 12 for the next digital photograph to be taken. Delete digital photo image data. Alternatively, as shown in step 78 of the flowchart of FIG.
The received image data can be stored in a remote device. Although only one remote device 42 is shown in the figure, the user can enter the appropriate remote device address information 31 from the interface 32 to convert the digital photographic image data to a plurality of remote devices. 42. Finally, the modem 20 of the digital camera 10 is disconnected from the first communication link 34.

The use of the e-mail transmission capability via the Internet shown in the first embodiment of the present invention broadens the application range of the digital camera and makes it easier for the user to use. If the digital camera user has access to a telephone line or other communication link to the Internet, digital photographic image data can be sent and received from any number of remote devices capable of receiving e-mail over the Internet. For example, the system 120 of FIG. 7 illustrates one example of a method for transmitting digital photographic image data between the digital camera 10 and the home email 124. When the digital camera is full of image data of the digital photos taken, the user connects the digital camera to, for example, a phone jack in a hotel room and sends the image data of those digital photos by home e-mail to clear the image memory (Delete the data). This allows the user to continue taking pictures. In this example, before transmitting the image data of the digital photograph via the Internet 40 by the home e-mail 124, the user can use the interface 32 of the digital camera 10.
, Enter home email address information 122. Whether the user is on vacation, a photojournalist at the scene, an insurance agent taking a picture of the accident site, or a real estate agent taking a picture of the house, the digital camera 10 Quickly transmit digital photo image data via home e-mail 124 and then take more photos compared to conventional digital cameras by deleting the data in image memory 12 for further photography be able to.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, digital photographic image data is transmitted to a digital camera via one or more secured communication links that are less likely to be intercepted by a third party. It is transmitted between 10 and the destination device. The second embodiment can be used when there is no e-mail transmission capability, that is, when there is no Internet service provider, or in an environment in which the information transmitted or received is kept secret.

Next, referring to FIG. 8, the simplest form of communication between digital cameras in the destination device will be described. A system 130 for transmitting and receiving digital photographic image data includes:
It has a digital camera 10, a destination device 136 and a secured communication link 134 connecting these devices. The digital camera 10 is similar to the digital camera of the first embodiment in that the digital camera 10 is improved to have a user interface 32, firmware 18 and a modem 20. However, since the e-mail transmission capability of the Internet is not used, the destination device information 132 provided to the digital camera 10 is not an e-mail address. Destination device information 132 provides information used by firmware 18 to control modem 20 to send and receive digital photographic images to and from destination device 136 via secured communication link 134. One or more destination devices 136 are devices or systems that can send and receive and store digital photographic information. For example, one or more destination devices 136 are computers, laptops, or storage devices.

The system 130 shown in FIG. 8 offers the advantage that no additional server is required when communicating between the digital camera 10 and the destination device. There are many applications that may be characterized by the desire of the user to minimize the amount of equipment required to transmit or receive digital photographic information from the digital camera 10. For example, a user taking photos with a digital camera during a vacation would not want to carry a server for downloading photos from the image memory 12 to the destination device, even if it is a laptop. .

The system 150 for sending and receiving digital photographic image data of FIG. 9 uses a server 154 to facilitate digital photographic image transmission between the digital camera 10 and the destination device 136. Server 154 may generally be a computer or a device having computing capabilities. The firmware 18 of the digital camera 10 controls the modem 20 for transmitting the digital photographic image to the server 154 along with the destination device information 132 via the secured communication link 152, and subsequently, the server 154 Destination device 13 via the second communication link 156
6 transmits the digital photographic image to the modem 142.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show potential flowcharts for sending digital photographic images from the digital camera 10 to the destination device 136. FIG. 10 shows a flowchart 160 for transmitting a digital photographic image from the digital camera 10 to the destination device 136. In step 162, one or more digital photos, ie, photos taken by digital camera 10, are stored in temporary memory in memory 12. In step 164, the modem 20 of the digital camera 10 is connected to a secure communication link. This link is shown as secure communication link 134 in FIG. 8 and secure communication link 152 in FIG. This could include a user connecting a digital camera to a phone jack. Next, at step 166, a digital photograph stored in temporary memory and transmitted to the destination device is selected. The selection of the digital photo is performed by the user via the user interface 32.
The selected digital photo is converted at step 168 to a format suitable for transmission, as described above. At step 170, the selected digital photo is converted from the digital camera modem 20 to the destination device modem 14 in the converted format.
Sent to 2. Here, the digital photographic image data that is selected and format-converted and transmitted to the destination device 136 is temporarily selected and format-converted and transmitted as shown in steps 186, 188 and 190 of the flowchart 180 in FIG. Digital photograph image data may be used.

Next, the user creates a free space for taking a new photograph in the memory by using the destination device 1.
Select a digital photo to delete the photo that has been transmitted to 36. In step 172, the user is inquired about the photo to be deleted, and the selected photo is actually deleted in step 174. Finally, the digital camera is disconnected at step 176 from the secure communication link.

The method of the present invention for receiving digital photographic images over one or more secure communication links is similar to flowchart 90 shown in FIG. However, a major difference is that the method according to the second embodiment of the present invention has no standard regarding the e-mail transmission technology. The reason is that email is not available in this embodiment. Thus, for example, the query in step 94 is not whether the email was sent to the digital camera 10 but rather whether the destination device 136 is transmitting digital photographic information to the digital camera 10.
Similarly, step 100 has no description for the photo attached to the email.

The present invention can be used for various applications when the capacity of a local image memory of a digital camera is limited. Some examples of applications in which the present invention is particularly effectively utilized are described below. When a digital camera user sends a digital photographic image directly to a digital photographic print service company for printing, the present invention can be used to allow recently photographed photos to be developed in the correct manner. When the digital camera memory is full, a vacationer can take as many photos as he wants by simply stopping shooting when sending digital photos by home email. The present invention can also be used to send e-mail postcards or e-mail birthday cards with digital photographic images. Also, a photojournalist can use the present invention with respect to an assignment to transmit pictures taken directly from a story scene into a newsroom. Real estate agents take pictures of houses and transmit those pictures to potential buyers in the suburbs, or download them to potential buyers who are currently viewing a particular property to show photos of another house The invention can be used for: The insurer takes pictures of the car involved in the crash at the crash site and uploads these pictures to the insurance computer to enable new pictures to be taken when the digital camera memory is full. The invention can be used. Those users who are concerned with security or do not have access to an Internet e-mail connection can use the secure communication link of the second embodiment to send and receive digital photographic images. All that is required of these users in these examples is that the user connects the digital camera to a communication link suitable for sending and receiving digital photographic images, and then interacts with the digital camera's user interface to complete the required task. All you have to do is.

Although the present invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It should be understood that

[Brief description of the drawings]

The novel features believed to be characteristic of the invention are set forth in the following claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, and further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the detailed description of illustrative embodiments and by reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a general system capable of transmitting digital photographic images to a digital camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention using e-mail via the Internet.

FIG. 3 illustrates a system capable of transmitting digital photographic images to a digital camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention using electronic mail via the Internet via an Internet service provider. .

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a system capable of transmitting a digital photographic image to a digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention using mail via the Internet via an electronic mail server.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for digital photo transmission from a digital camera to a remote device according to a first embodiment of the present invention using e-mail capability over the Internet.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for receiving a digital photo sent to a digital camera by a remote device according to a second embodiment of the present invention using e-mail capability via the Internet.

FIG. 7 illustrates a typical use of the first embodiment of the present invention in a pure e-mail environment.

FIG. 8 illustrates a system according to a second embodiment of the present invention capable of transmitting digital photographic images between a digital camera and a remote device via a secure communication link.

FIG. 9 illustrates a system according to a second embodiment of the present invention capable of transmitting digital photographic images between a digital camera and a remote device via a secure communication link via a server.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart relating to transmission of a digital photographic image from a digital camera to a destination device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for receiving a digital photographic image sent from a destination device to a digital camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

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Claims (38)

[Claims] 1. A system capable of transmitting digital image data between a digital camera and a device having a storage function, wherein the system comprises a digital camera, wherein the camera comprises: a central processing unit; A user interface coupled to the processing device for receiving e-mail information from a user of the digital camera, whereby the digital camera communicates with the user; and a user interface coupled to the central processing unit, for the user of the digital camera. A lens element for taking a digital picture when controlling to operate; a first storage element of the digital camera coupled to the central processing unit for storing the digital picture taken by the lens element; A first communication element coupled to the device; A programming element coupled to a central processing unit and including code for controlling the first communication element according to the destination device address information provided to the digital camera by the user, wherein the program element Using the destination device address information provided by the user to control the first communication element to selectively transmit or receive digital image information, creating an email including digital image data An electronic mail program capable of transmitting and receiving, a server element including a second communication element and a second storage element, capable of receiving and sending an electronic mail including digital image data, a third communication element and a third storage A remote device with an element; A first communication link from one communication element to the second communication element of the server element; and a third communication element of the remote device from the second communication element of the server element via the Internet. A second communication link, wherein upon receiving e-mail information provided by the user of the system to the user interface of the digital camera, the e-mail program and the server element Via the first and second communication links through the Internet, one or more selected digital images stored in the first storage element of the digital camera selected by the user; One or more selections in the third storage element of the remote device A system for transmitting the selected digital image to the remote device for storage. 2. The one or more ones transmitted by the electronic mail program and the server element from the third storage element of the remote device through the Internet via the first and second communication links. The first communication is performed upon receipt of an email generated by the email program having a remote digital image as an attachment by the first communication element of the digital camera. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is received by an element and stored in the first storage element of the digital camera. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said programming element is firmware. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital image data is an attachment to the email. 5. The electronic mail program is included in the digital camera, the server element is an Internet service provider, and the electronic mail information is logged to an electronic mail address of the remote device and an Internet service provider. The system of claim 1 having required login information. 6. The electronic mail program included in the server element, wherein the server element operates as a mail server and an Internet service provider, and the electronic mail information includes an electronic mail address of the remote device. System. 7. The server element, upon receiving the email address from the first modem of the digital camera, creates an email with one or more of the selected digital images as an attachment. The system according to claim 6. 8. A method for transmitting digital image data from a digital camera to a remote device via the Internet through a server element, comprising: a) connecting a first modem of the digital camera to a first communication link. B) selecting one or more selected images stored in a memory element of the digital camera for transmission as an e-mail generated by an e-mail program from the digital camera to the remote device. C) converting one or more selected images into a digital image data format suitable for transmission as an e-mail; and d) a user of the digital camera including an e-mail address of a remote device. Provide e-mail information to the interface by the digital camera user E) transferring one or more of the selected images in a digital image data format from the first modem of the digital camera via the first communication link and then to a second communication link According to the e-mail address of the remote device to a second modem of the server element transmitting one or more of the selected images from the second modem to a third modem of the remote device via the second modem Transmitting over the Internet. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein one or more of the selected images is an attachment to the email. 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of: g) disconnecting the digital camera from the first communication link to the first modem. 11. After transmitting one or more of the selected images to the remote device, further comprising: (g) transferring one or more of the one or more selected images to the digital camera. 9. The method of claim 8, comprising deleting from the first storage element. 12. The electronic mail program included in the digital camera, wherein the server element is an Internet service provider, and wherein the electronic mail information logs to the electronic mail address of the remote device and the Internet service provider. 9. The method according to claim 8, including login information required for: 13. The electronic mail program included in the server element, the server element operating as a mail server and an Internet service provider, and the electronic mail information includes an electronic mail address of the remote device. The method described in. 14. The digital camera according to claim 14, wherein the server element is a first digital camera.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein upon receipt of the e-mail address from the modem, an e-mail is created with one or more of the selected images as an attachment. 15. A method for a digital camera to receive digital image data from a remote device via the Internet through a server element, comprising: connecting a first modem of the digital camera to a first communication link; The remote device transmits an e-mail message addressed to the digital camera via the Internet via a second communication link between a second modem of the server element and a third modem of the remote device. Determining if the communication has been completed; and if the remote device has completed the loss of the e-mail message addressed to the digital camera, the second modem of the server element transmits the digital camera to the digital camera. Downloading the electronic message to the first modem via the first communication link Converting the e-mail message into one or more digital images having a digital image data format suitable for use by the digital camera; and converting one or more of the digital images to the digital camera. Temporarily storing in a temporary memory; displaying one or more of the digital images to a user of the digital camera; one or more selected digital images of one or more of the digital images And storing the one or more selected digital images in an image memory of the digital camera. 16. The digital camera of claim 15, wherein the step of determining whether the transmission of the e-mail message addressed to the digital camera is complete is determined by a user of the digital camera interfacing with the digital camera's e-mail program. The described method. 17. A method in which the user of the digital camera checks the e-mail message according to the following steps: selecting a check mail function of the e-mail program, if requested by the e-mail program Providing login information to the e-mail program; establishing the e-mail program to connect to the server element from the first modem via the first communication link; Checking for the e-mail message addressed to a camera. 18. The method of claim 16, comprising, after storing one or more of the selected digital images, deleting one or more of the digital images from a temporary memory of the digital camera. . 19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of: g) disconnecting the first modem of the digital camera from the first communication link. 20. The method of claim 16, wherein said server element is an Internet service provider, and further comprising the step of requesting an email address of said server element from said user of said digital camera. 21. A system capable of transmitting digital image data between a digital camera and a device having a storage function, wherein the system includes a digital camera, wherein the camera includes: a central processing unit; A user interface coupled to the processing device for receiving destination device address information from a user of the digital camera, whereby the digital camera communicates with the user; and A lens element for taking a digital picture when controlling to do so; a first storage element of the digital camera coupled to the central processing unit for storing the digital picture taken by the lens element; A first communication element coupled to the processing device; And a programming element coupled to the central processing unit and including code for controlling the first communication element according to the destination device address information provided to the digital camera by the user. , Said program element using said destination device address information provided by said user to control said first communication element to selectively transmit or receive digital image information; And a secure communication link over which digital image information is transmitted between the first communication element and the second communication element of the digital camera. Exchanged, wherein the program element stores the digital camera and the destination device. A system for controlling a first communication element according to the destination device address information provided by the user to the user interface to selectively transmit or receive digital image information between the second communication elements. . 22. A first storage element stored in said first storage element transmitted from said first communication element of said digital camera to said second communication element of said destination device via said secure communication link. Of digital image data is stored in the second storage element of the device and transmitted from the second communication element of the digital camera to the first communication element of the destination device via the secure communication link. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein second digital image data stored in the second storage element is stored in the first storage element of the device. 23. The system according to claim 21, wherein said programming element is firmware. 24. A system capable of transmitting digital image data between a digital camera and a device having a storage function, wherein the system includes a digital camera, wherein the camera includes: a central processing unit; A user interface coupled to the processing device for receiving destination device address information from a user of the digital camera, whereby the digital camera communicates with the user; and a user interface coupled to the central processing unit for providing the digital camera with the user of the digital camera. A lens element for taking a digital picture when controlling to do so; a first storage element of the digital camera coupled to the central processing unit for storing the digital picture taken by the lens element; A first communication element coupled to the processing device; A programming element coupled to the central processing unit and including code for controlling the first communication element according to the destination device address information provided to the digital camera by the user. , Said program element using said destination device address information provided by said user to control said first communication element to selectively transmit or receive digital image information; And a destination device with a second storage element, a server element capable of receiving data and transmitting digital image information, and a first secure communication link between the digital camera and the server element. Via the link to the first communication element of the digital camera Digital image information is transmitted, and a second secure communication link is provided between the digital camera and the server element, wherein digital image information is transmitted to the second communication element of the digital camera via the link. Wherein the program element is provided by the user to the user interface to selectively transmit or receive digital image information between the digital camera and the second communication element of the destination device. A system for controlling a first communication element by said server element via a first secure communication link and a second secure communication link according to said destination device address information. 25. The first communication element transmitted from the first communication element of the digital camera to the second communication element of the destination device by the server element via the first and second secure communication links. The first digital image data stored in the storage element of the digital camera is stored in the second storage element of the device, and the first digital image data of the digital camera is stored by the server element via the first and second secure communication links. The second digital image data stored in the second storage element transmitted from the second communication element to the first communication element of the destination device is stored in the first storage element of the device. The system according to claim 24. 26. The system of claim 24, wherein said programming element is firmware. 27. A method of transmitting digital image data from a digital camera to a destination device device having a storage function, comprising: a) storing at least temporarily one or more digital images in a storage element of the digital camera. B) connecting a first communication element of the digital camera to a secure communication link; c) selecting each digital image of one or more of the digital images to be transmitted from the digital camera to the destination device. And thereby defining one or more selected digital images; d) a digital image data format suitable for transmitting one or more of said selected digital images over said secure communication link E) one or more of the digital image data formats Method comprising the steps of: transmitting a plurality of selected digital image to the second communication element of the destination device from the first communication element of the digital camera. 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of: f) disconnecting the first communication element of the digital camera from the secure communication link. 29. After transmitting one or more of the selected digital images from the digital camera to the destination device, further comprising: g) transferring one or more of the one or more digital images to the digital camera. 28. The method of claim 27, comprising the step of removing from the storage element. 30) c) selecting one digital image from the one or more digital images for transmission from the digital camera to the destination device; and d) selecting the digital image via the secure communication link. Converting the digital image in the digital image data format from the first communication element of the digital camera via the secure communication link to the destination device via the secure communication link. Transmitting to the second communication element; and f) repeating steps c) to e) for each digital image of the one or more digital images transmitted from the digital camera to the destination device. A method according to claim 27. 31. A method of transmitting digital image data from a digital camera to a destination device having storage capabilities via a server element, comprising: a) transferring one or more digital images to a storage element of the digital camera. At least temporarily storing; b) connecting a first communication element of the digital camera to a secure communication link; c) one or more of the digital images to be transmitted from the digital camera to the destination device. D) defining one or more selected digital images, and d) transmitting one or more of the selected digital images over the secure communication link. Converting to a suitable digital image data format; e) said first secure communication link; Transferring one or more of the selected digital images in the digital image data format from the first communication element of the digital camera to one or more of the digital image data formats via a second secure communication link. Transmitting the selected digital image from the second communication element to a third communication element of the destination device to a second communication element of the server element. 32. The method according to claim 31, comprising providing identification information suitable for identifying a destination device to the server element prior to step e). 33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the identification information is an identification name or an identification number of the destination device. 34. The method of claim 31, further comprising: f) disconnecting the first communication element of the digital camera from the first secure communication link.
The method described in. 35. After transmitting one or more of the selected digital images from the digital camera to the destination device, f) transferring one or more of the one or more digital images to the digital camera. 32. The method of claim 31, comprising deleting from a storage element. 36) c) selecting one digital image from the one or more digital images for transmission from the digital camera to the destination device; d) a digital image suitable for transmission of the digital image Converting the digital image in the digital image data format from the first communication element of the digital camera to the second communication element of the server element via the first secure communication link. Transmitting to
The server element then transmits the digital image from the second communication element to a third communication element of the destination device via a second secure communication link; g) transmitting from the digital camera to the destination device Repeating steps c) to e) for each digital image of the one or more digital images. 37. A digital camera, a central processing unit, and a user interface coupled to the central processing unit for receiving destination device address information from a user of the digital camera, whereby the digital camera communicates with the user. A lens element coupled to the central processing unit for taking digital pictures when controlled by the user of the digital camera to do so; coupled to the central processing unit and photographed by the lens element An image memory of the digital camera for storing a digital photograph; a communication device coupled to the central processing unit; and the destination device address information coupled to the central processing unit and provided to the digital camera by the user. Controlling the first communication element according to A programming element comprising code, wherein the program element is provided by the user to control the first communication element to selectively transmit or receive digital image information. A digital camera that uses device address information. 38. The camera according to claim 37, wherein said programming element is firmware.