US20030169342A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for controlled camera useability
Assignee: FOTOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES LLC
•
Filing: 2003-01-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2023-01-15
Abstract
Abstract A programmable digital camera requiring a programming password to be entered to access the camera's programmability. The camera further includes programming so as to allow the camera to be operated only for a specified time interval, after which the camera becomes inoperable until the programming password is again entered and the camera is programmed to operate for another interval of time. An alternate embodiment of the invention includes a programmable digital camera as above described wherein the camera is programmed to only capture a set number of images, at which point the programming password must again be entered and the camera reset for another quantity of images. A further alternate embodiment includes a camera system with a separate transmitter for radiating a signal designed to cover a designated area, the signal being modulated with a camera operational code. The camera is equipped with a corresponding receiver and demodulator to receive the operational code. The camera is programmed to check for the operational code periodically, and if the code is not received, the camera automatically shuts down, thereby limiting operation of the camera to the designated area.
Inventors
- 👤 Eran Steinberg
- 👤 Yury Prilutsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:04
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00912; H04N1/00925; H04N1/00962; H04N1/0097; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/0008; H04N2201/0074
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
1 . A digital camera system comprising: camera means including (a) image capture means for converting a light image to digital image data; (b) computer means including i) permit means for providing allowance of operation of said camera and said permit means including a condition of expiration of said allowance; and ii) disabling means for disabling said camera means upon said condition of expiration of said allowance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
1 . A digital camera system comprising: camera means including (a) image capture means for converting a light image to digital image data; (b) computer means including i) permit means for providing allowance of operation of said camera and said permit means including a condition of expiration of said allowance; and ii) disabling means for disabling said camera means upon said condition of expiration of said allowance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
2 . A digital camera system as recited in claim 1 wherein said condition of expiration occurs at a completion of a predetermined length of time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
3 . A digital camera system as recited in claim 1 wherein said condition of expiration occurs at a completion of capture of a predetermined number of images.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
4 . A digital camera system as recited in claim 1 wherein said digital camera is a video camera and said condition of expiration occurs at the completion of a predetermined amount of recording time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
5 . A digital camera system as recited in claim 1 wherein said computer means further includes (a) card means programmed to implement said permit means; and (b) card receptacle means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
87 words
6 . A digital camera system as recited in claim 1 wherein (a) said camera means further includes receiver means for receiving a radiated signal carrying an operational code; (b) wherein said permit means includes means responsive to reception of said operational code to provide said allowance; (c) wherein said computer means further includes means for checking if said operational code is received in a predetermined time interval; and (d) wherein said condition of expiration occurs when said expiration code is not received in said time interval.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
7 . A digital camera system a recited in claim 6 further comprising transmitter means for radiating said signal carrying said operational code in said predetermined time interval.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
8 . A digital camera system as recited in claim 1 wherein said computer means further includes means for programming said condition of expiration of said allowance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
9 . A digital camera system as recited in claim 1 wherein said computer means further includes first password means for requiring a user to enter a password to operate said camera means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
10 . A digital camera system as recited in claim 1 wherein said computer means further includes means for programming said permit means and said disabling means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
11 . A digital camera system as recited in claim 10 wherein said computer means further includes second password means for requiring entry of a password to access said means for programming.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
12 . A method of operation of a programmable digital camera comprising: (a) providing an allowance of operation of said camera and providing a condition of expiration of said allowance; (b) converting a light image to digital image data; and (c) disabling said camera upon said condition of expiration of said allowance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
12 . A method of operation of a programmable digital camera comprising: (a) providing an allowance of operation of said camera and providing a condition of expiration of said allowance; (b) converting a light image to digital image data; and (c) disabling said camera upon said condition of expiration of said allowance.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
13 . A method as recited in claim 12 wherein said condition of expiration occurs at a completion of a predetermined length of time.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
14 . A method as recited in claim 12 wherein said condition of expiration occurs at a completion of capture of a predetermined number of images.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
15 . A method as recited in claim 12 wherein said digital camera is a video camera and said condition of expiration occurs at the completion of a predetermined amount of recording time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
16 . A method as recited in claim 12 further comprising entering a first password to gain access to set said condition of expiration.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
17 . A method as recited in claim 12 further comprising entering a second password to enable said operation of said camera.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
18 . A digital camera system as recited in claim 1 wherein said digital image data is encrypted data, whereby a user can not view a likeness of said light image from said digital image data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
19 . A digital camera system as recited in claim 18 further comprising decryption means for decrypting said encrypted data to form unencrypted digital image data whereby a user can view a likeness of said light image through use of said unencrypted digital image data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
20 . A method as recited in claim 12 wherein said digital image data is encrypted data, whereby a user can not view a likeness of said light image from said digital image data.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
21 . A method as recited in claim 20 further comprising decryption means for decrypting said encrypted data to from unencrypted digital image data whereby a user can view a likeness of said light image through use of said unencrypted digital image data.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
22 . A digital camera system as recited in claim 1 wherein said computer means further includes display means for providing a visual indication of a state of said allowance.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
23 . A method as recited in claim 12 further comprising displaying a visual indication of a state of said allowance.
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