Abstract: A method for configuring a first electronic device that includes first and second wireless communication systems. A first wireless connection is established between the first electronic device and a second electronic device using the first wireless communication system. Configuration information pertaining to the second wireless communication system is transmitted from the first electronic device to the second electronic device using the first wireless connection. Configuration instructions are transmitted from the second electronic device to the first electronic device over the first wireless connection. The configuration instructions are used to configure the first electronic device to communicate using the second wireless communication system, and the first wireless connection can then be terminated.

Abstract: A security camera system, comprising wireless communication components for communicating over first and second wireless communications, and a digital camera system. A data processing system implements a method for providing digital images to an image receiving system. The method includes: establishing a first wireless connection between the security camera system and an external electronic device using the first wireless communication system. Configuration information pertaining to the second wireless communication system is transmitted from the security camera system to the external electronic device using the first wireless connection. Instructions for configuring the security camera system to communicate using the second wireless communication system are transmitted by the external electronic device to the security camera system over the first wireless connection. Captured digital images are then transmitted to the image receiving system over the second wireless communication system.

Abstract: A digital image display device for displaying a collection of digital images, comprising: a display screen; a processor; a real-time clock; an image memory for storing a plurality of digital images; and a processor-accessible program memory. The program memory stores executable instructions for causing the processor to execute the steps of: initiating a sequential display of a sequence of digital images on the display screen at an initial time, the sequence of digital images including at least a subset of the stored digital images, each digital image being displayed for an image display duration, the image display duration being set to an initial image display duration at the initial time; and modifying the image display duration during the display of the sequence of digital images.

Abstract: Controlling a head-mounted display includes providing a head-mounted display, the head-mounted display includes a switchable viewing area that is switched between a transparent viewing state and an information viewing state. The transparent viewing state is transparent with respect to the viewing area and enables a user of the head-mounted display to view the scene outside the head-mounted display in the user's line of sight. The information viewing state is opaque with respect to the viewing area and displays information in the switchable viewing area visible to a user of the head-mounted display. An external environmental state detector provides an external stimulus notification in response to a detected change in the external environment and causes the viewing state to automatically switch in response to the external stimulus notification.

Abstract: A security camera system, comprising wireless communication components for communicating over first and second wireless communications, and a digital camera system. A data processing system implements a method for providing digital images to an image receiving system. The method includes: establishing a first wireless connection between the security camera system and an external electronic device using the first wireless communication system. Configuration information pertaining to the second wireless communication system is transmitted from the security camera system to the external electronic device using the first wireless connection. Instructions for configuring the security camera system to communicate using the second wireless communication system are transmitted by the external electronic device to the security camera system over the first wireless connection. Captured digital images are then transmitted to the image receiving system over the second wireless communication system.

Abstract: A method for configuring a first electronic device that includes first and second wireless communication systems. A first wireless connection is established between the first electronic device and a second electronic device using the first wireless communication system. Configuration information pertaining to the second wireless communication system is transmitted from the first electronic device to the second electronic device using the first wireless connection. Configuration instructions are transmitted from the second electronic device to the first electronic device over the first wireless connection. The configuration instructions are used to configure the first electronic device to communicate using the second wireless communication system, and the first wireless connection can then be terminated.

Abstract: A digital image display device for displaying a collection of digital media assets, comprising: a display screen; a processor; a network connection for communicating with a network; an image memory; and a processor-accessible program memory. The processor-accessible memory stores executable instructions for causing the processor to execute the steps of: receiving a plurality of digital media assets using one or more different origins; determining an importance value for each of the received digital media assets responsive to an associated sharing breadth; and performing an operation using at least one of the received digital media assets responsive to the determined importance value.

Abstract: A digital image display device for displaying a collection of digital images, comprising: a display screen; a processor; a power control circuit for enabling an active display mode for displaying digital images on the display screen and a reduced power mode wherein the display screen does not display digital images; a network interface for communicating with a network; an image memory for storing digital images; and a processor-accessible program memory. The program memory stores executable instructions for causing the processor to execute the steps of: receiving one or more digital images from a network server using the network interface; storing the received digital images in the image memory; if the power control circuit is in the reduced power mode when the digital images are received setting it to operate in the active display mode; and displaying the stored received digital images on the display screen.

Abstract: A method for providing specified digital image content to a digital image display device, the digital image display device being adapted to receive digital image content from a network, comprising: providing a unique device identifier for the digital image display device, the unique device identifier to be made available to a purchaser of the image display device without requiring the purchaser to have physical access to the digital image display device; enabling a content supplier to specify digital image content to be transferred over the network to the digital image display device associated with the unique device identifier; detecting when the digital image display device is connected to the network by receiving at a network server connected to the network an indication of the unique device identifier from the digital image display device; and transferring the specified digital image content to the detected digital image display device over the network.

Abstract: A digital image display device for displaying a collection of digital images, comprising: a display screen; a processor; a real-time clock; an image memory for storing a plurality of digital images; and a processor-accessible program memory. The program memory stores executable instructions for causing the processor to execute the steps of: initiating a sequential display of a sequence of digital images on the display screen at an initial time, the sequence of digital images including at least a subset of the stored digital images, each digital image being displayed for an image display duration, the image display duration being set to an initial image display duration at the initial time; and modifying the image display duration during the display of the sequence of digital images.

Abstract: A digital image display device for displaying a collection of digital images, comprising: a display screen; a processor; a user interface including one or more user interface elements for enabling a user to control the behavior of the digital image display device; a network interface for communicating with a network; an image memory for storing digital images; and a processor-accessible program memory. The program memory stores executable instructions for causing the processor to execute the steps of: receiving user interface control information from a network server via the network interface; disabling at least a portion of the user interface elements responsive to the received user interface control information to selectively disabled at least a portion of the user interface elements of the digital image display device; and displaying stored digital images on the display screen.

Abstract: A method for remotely viewing digital images provided to a digital image display device, the digital image display device including an image memory for storing a plurality of digital images, a display screen, and a network interface for communicating with a network, the method comprising: providing a remote viewing interface for the digital image display device, the remote viewing interface being accessible over the network from a location remote from the digital image display device; displaying one of the plurality of stored digital images on the display screen; and simultaneously displaying, on the remote viewing interface, information indicating which of the plurality of stored digital images is currently displayed on the display screen.

Abstract: A digital image display device for displaying a collection of digital media assets, comprising a display screen; a processor; a network connection for receiving digital media assets provided by a plurality of individuals; an image memory for storing the received digital media assets together with associated metadata; and a user interface. A program memory stores instructions for causing the processor to execute the steps of: displaying identifiers on the display screen for a plurality of individuals who have provided digital media assets; receiving input from a user of the digital image display device identifying a particular individual; selecting digital media assets provided by the identified individual responsive to the metadata; and displaying the selected digital media assets on the display screen.

Abstract: A head-mounted display apparatus includes a head-mounted display, the head-mounted display including a viewing area that displays information to a user of the head-mounted display and including a display wireless communication circuit for receiving wireless control signals and a controller including a controller wireless communication circuit, wherein the controller controls the information displayed in the head-mounted display by communicating the wireless control signals to the display wireless communication circuit with the controller wireless communication circuit and wherein the controller is physically separate from the head-mounted display. A distance-monitoring circuit in the controller or the head-mounted display monitors the distance between the controller and the head-mounted display and, when the distance between the controller and the head-mounted display is greater than a pre-determined distance, initiating a range signal to the user.

Abstract: A digital picture frame includes a near-touch user interface component that senses when an object is within a predetermined spatial region of the digital picture frame; a true-touch user interface component that senses physical contact with the digital picture frame; and a processor that receives input signals from the near-touch user interface component and the true-touch user interface component and executes device controls based on inputs from both user interface components.

Abstract: Control of a head-mounted display includes providing a head-mounted display, the head-mounted display includes a switchable viewing area that is switched between a transparent viewing state and an information viewing state. The transparent viewing state is transparent with respect to the viewing area and enables a user of the head-mounted display to view the scene outside the head-mounted display in the user's line of sight. The information viewing state is opaque with respect to the viewing area and displays information in the switchable viewing area visible to a user of the head-mounted display. A user-eye detector provides an external stimulus notification in response to a detected change in the state of the eye of the user; and causes the viewing state to automatically switch in response to the external stimulus notification.

Abstract: Controlling a head-mounted display includes providing a head-mounted display, the head-mounted display includes a switchable viewing area that is switched between a transparent viewing state and an information viewing state. The transparent viewing state is transparent with respect to the viewing area and enables a user of the head-mounted display to view the scene outside the head-mounted display in the user's line of sight. The information viewing state is opaque with respect to the viewing area and displays information in the switchable viewing area visible to a user of the head-mounted display. An external environmental state detector provides an external stimulus notification in response to a detected change in the external environment and causes the viewing state to automatically switch in response to the external stimulus notification.

Abstract: Control of a head-mounted display includes providing a head-mounted display, the head-mounted display includes a switchable viewing area that is switched between a transparent viewing state and an information viewing state. The transparent viewing state is transparent with respect to the viewing area and enables a user of the head-mounted display to view the scene outside the head-mounted display in the user's line of sight. The information viewing state is opaque with respect to the viewing area and displays information in the switchable viewing area visible to a user of the head-mounted display. The viewing state automatically switches in response to an external stimulus notification.

Abstract: Control of a head-mounted display includes providing a head-mounted display, the head-mounted display includes a switchable viewing area that is switched between a transparent viewing state and an information viewing state. The transparent viewing state is transparent with respect to the viewing area and enables a user of the head-mounted display to view the scene outside the head-mounted display in the user's line of sight. The information viewing state is opaque with respect to the viewing area and displays information in the switchable viewing area visible to a user of the head-mounted display. A user-state detector provides an external stimulus notification in response to a detected change in the biological state of the user and causes the viewing state to automatically switch in response to the external stimulus notification.

Abstract: A removable storage device (204) includes a memory and management software that includes prioritization criteria for determining which files stored in the memory should be transferred to an external device such as a digital picture frame (206). In another embodiment, a system for media collection management includes a computer having a storage area for storing media files, and first and second display devices in communication with the computer. Media management software stored in the storage area includes prioritization criteria for determining which of the media files need to be transferred to the first and second display devices.