Abstract: A photographic and data communication system includes a camera used with a magnetic communication system in which information is stored on a magnetic medium external to the camera. The camera includes means for capturing an image, a magnetic read section for reading a magnetic signal from the magnetic medium, and a recording section for storing the magnetic signal in association with the image. More specifically, the camera is capable of receiving digital data through a magnetic recording head and saving received data along with the captured image. In case of a digital camera this extra information is stored in solid state memory on the camera. In case of a camera utilizing a film with magnetic tracks or regions, the received data is stored on the magnetic portion of the film. In case of a camera using regular film, the received information is stored on the camera in solid state memory to be downloaded later on.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating a receiver from a micro-fluidic contact print head after ink image pixels have been printed by the print head on the receiver, including a print head having a plurality of ink channels for delivering ink to the receiver when the receiver is in ink transfer contact with the print head; air plenums which are associated with each ink channel and a member defining an air channel for conducting air to the air plenum; and the apparatus is effective after the ink has been transferred from the plurality of ink channels to the receiver for causing air to be delivered from the air channel into the air plenum to exert a pressure which causes the separation of the receiver from the print head.

Abstract: Printhead container and method. The container comprises an enclosure surrounding a printhead body having an ink channel terminating in a nozzle orifice. The ink channel has ink therein. The enclosure is capable of being pressurized to a predetermined internal pressure. The internal pressure acts on the ink to retain the ink in the channel, so that the ink is prevented from flowing along the channel and through the orifice. A one-way valve is in communication with the interior of the enclosure for ingress of a pressurizing medium into the interior of the enclosure, while avoiding reverse flow through the valve in order to allow sustained pressurization of the enclosure. Moreover, a support frame disposed in the enclosure may be provided, the frame defining a well sized to matingly receive the printhead body for constraining movement of the printhead body during transport of the enclosure.

Abstract: A system method for digital image capture and transmission includes an image fulfillment server, having a transceiver for sending and receiving channel assessment signals and receiving a digital image file and a memory for storing the received digital image file.

Abstract: A photographic system includes photographic film having a photographic image and digital information stored on a magnetic storage media on the film related to the processing of a digital image to be generated by scanning the film; a scanner for scanning the photographic film to produce a digital image; means for reading the digital information on the magnetic storage media; and a computer having an application program for processing the digital image according to the digital information.

Abstract: A public key encryption system for authenticating an image includes a digital camera having embedded therein a private key unique to the digital camera. A known public key uniquely based upon the private key is used to decrypt digital data encrypted with the private key to establish authenticity of the image. The encryption system further comprises means for generating one or more patterns each composed of at least one individual area that is visible together with the image of the object, means for designating at least one individual area as an active area of the image suitable for authentication and for generating location data identifying the active area, and means for calculating image hash from image data of the active area of the image using a predetermined hash algorithm.

Abstract: A secure photographic system includes: a photographic film bearing an image and indicia representing a desired digital image security feature relating to the image; a scanner for scanning the image on the film to generate a digital image; means for detecting the indicia on the film to generate a security feature control signal; and digital image processing means responsive to the security feature control signal and the digital image for applying the desired digital image security feature to the digital image.

Abstract: An automated film processing system, comprising: a film having at least one recordable section for storing at least one customer selected electronic address; a film finishing system for reading the electronic addresses recorded on said film, developing said film, digitizing the images developed on said film, and for transmitting the digitized images to the customer selected electronic addresses; and at least one customer station, remotely located from said film finishing system, said station electronically connected to said film finishing system for receiving and displaying the digitized images when addressed by said film finishing system. Photographs taken by a photojournalist are automatically communicated to a remotely located news agency by recording a telecommunication address for the remote location on the film. The data can be prerecorded on the film or recorded by the photographer before dispatching the film to a processor.

Abstract: In a photographic and data transmission system utilizing a wireless communication system, a camera used with the wireless system includes film or electronic sensor for capturing an image, a receiver for receiving a wireless signal from the wireless communication system, a decoder for decoding the wireless signal obtained by the receiver and magnetic layer on film or electronic storage device for storing the decoded wireless signal and the image. A trigger signal from the camera can be used to initiate transmission of the wireless signal from the wireless communication system. Moreover, the wireless signal preferably contains an internet address for accessing further information about an item being photographed. Such a camera is of particular use in a tradeshow for conveying information between a wireless communication system in a display booth and a camera brought to the booth by a tradeshow visitor.

Abstract: A system for digital image capture and transmission, includes a digital camera that has an electronic image sensor for sensing an image and producing a digital image; a memory for storing digital images produced by the image sensor in digital image files, the digital image files having associated information for controlling a remote image fulfillment server; a voice recorder for digitizing voice commands relating to control of the image fulfillment server; and a transmitter for transmitting the digital image file to the image fulfillment server. Either the camera or the fulfillment server includes a voice recognition module responsive to the digitized voice commands for producing control signals for the image fulfillment server. The image fulfillment server includes a receiver for receiving the digital image file and control signals; a memory for storing the received digital image file; and a file manager for managing the digital image file in response to the control signals.

Abstract: A camera includes an image receiver for capturing an image of an object, an optical section for directing image light from the object to the image receiver, and a viewfinder for viewing the object prior to capture together with a tile pattern for specifying active "hot spot" areas in the viewed image. The tile pattern in the viewfinder is composed of a plurality of individual tile areas that are visible through the viewfinder together with the image of the object. The camera further includes means for designating one or more individual tile areas as active areas of the image, and means for recording a location of the active areas in a memory location accessible to apparatus external to the camera. The camera is part of a system in which the apparatus external to the camera is a computer. A program in the computer is responsive to the recorded locations for enabling one or more specific actions to be assigned to the active areas of the recorded image when the image is accessed by the computer.

Abstract: An electronic camera useful with a peripheral processor comprises an image sensor for producing image data, an output storage section, an electronic control processor for transferring the image data to the storage section, and a mode selector for indicating whether the camera is used for normal format pictures or for panoramic pictures. When the mode selector is set for panoramic pictures, the electronic control processor includes a panoramic mode indicator in a header with the image data. The peripheral processor keys on the mode indicator to process the tagged images into a panoramic picture. By further including alignment indicia in a view finder in the camera to aid the user in aligning adjacent images, the peripheral processor utilizes image addresses corresponding to the indicia locations to process the tagged images.