Abstract: An asset management system is described that tracks in real-time any metric that a carrier requires pertaining to media assets within a network. In addition to tracking per-asset information relating to usage and air time, the system tracks information pertaining to individual object types (e.g., document, digital image, audio file, streaming media, or the like) as well as specific objects themselves (e.g., individual documents, photos, and the like, on a per-file or named basis). This information can be tracked against the various users and their individual devices (used to access a network). In this manner, the system can provide metrics relating to not only data size and air time, but also metrics about object types (e.g., digital image type) and specific objects (e.g., specific file transferred) that have passed through the network.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An asset management system is described that tracks in real-time any metric that a carrier requires pertaining to media assets within a network. In addition to tracking per-asset information relating to usage and air time, the system tracks information pertaining to individual object types (e.g., document, digital image, audio file, streaming media, or the like) as well as specific objects themselves (e.g., individual documents, photos, and the like, on a per-file or named basis). This information can be tracked against the various users and their individual devices (used to access a network). In this manner, the system can provide metrics relating to not only data size and air time, but also metrics about object types (e.g., digital image type) and specific objects (e.g., specific file transferred) that have passed through the network.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An improved Internet delivery system for digitized photographs is described. The system embodies methodologies that speed the delivery of digitized images from photographic film scan centers to consumers across the Internet with high reliability. By delivering all the digital images to a more powerful centralized server infrastructure prior to the consumer's earliest opportunity to view them on-line, these images or pictures can be downloaded to a viewer of interest (e.g., user or family member) quickly enough to provide an appropriate Web response. Optimizations are also described that streamline the throughput with load balancing and provide virtually guaranteed uniform service with fail-over. In this manner, the system provides improved access, storage, and on-line availability of digital images.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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).

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An imaging system is described that automatically identifies where images are captured. The system includes the following components: an imaging device for capturing images; a GPS (Global Positioning System) module providing location information; a host device (e.g., local host) that is at least occasionally connected to the imaging device, and application logic for querying the GPS module for determining location information and for associating each captured image with a location identifier indicating where each image was captured.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An online media delivery system incorporating combining on-the-fly media reformatting with advanced client detection capabilities enabling delivery of appropriate media content to connected client devices is described. The system receives requests from client devices for media documents or objects, identifies the client device requesting particular media objects from an HTTP request, determines the media output capabilities of the client device, reformats the source media according to those capabilities and delivers the reformatted media to the client device. The system provides access to media content for multiple disparate client devices of varying hardware and software capabilities. The system enables delivery of appropriate media content to practically any device with connectivity capability.