Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 88
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
An image capture unit for use in an endoscopy system, the image capture unit comprising: input means for receiving video generated by an endoscopic camera; storage means for recording the video within the image capture unit; communication means for causing the video to be transmitted to a remote processing system over a network; means for causing the video to be recorded on the remote processing system via the network; capture means for capturing still images from the video; printer interface means for communicating with a printer; and printer control means for causing captured still images to be printed automatically by the printer after the capture of every N still images, where N is a predetermined number.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
An image capture unit for use in an endoscopy system, the image capture unit comprising: input means for receiving video generated by an endoscopic camera; storage means for recording the video within the image capture unit; communication means for causing the video to be transmitted to a remote processing system over a network; means for causing the video to be recorded on the remote processing system via the network; capture means for capturing still images from the video; printer interface means for communicating with a printer; and printer control means for causing captured still images to be printed automatically by the printer after the capture of every N still images, where N is a predetermined number.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 1 , wherein the storage means comprises means for recording the video within the image capture unit prior to transmitting the video to the remote processing system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 1 , wherein the video is transmitted to the remote processing system in real-time in response to the video being generated by the endoscopic camera.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
98 words
An image capture unit for use in an endoscopy system, the image capture unit comprising: input means for receiving video generated by an endoscopic camera; storage means for recording the video within the image capture unit; means for multicasting the video to a plurality of remote processing systems over the network; capture means for capturing still images from the video; printer interface means for communicating with a printer; and printer control means for causing captured still images to be printed automatically by the printer after the capture of every N still images, where N is a predetermined number.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
98 words
An image capture unit for use in an endoscopy system, the image capture unit comprising: input means for receiving video generated by an endoscopic camera; storage means for recording the video within the image capture unit; means for multicasting the video to a plurality of remote processing systems over the network; capture means for capturing still images from the video; printer interface means for communicating with a printer; and printer control means for causing captured still images to be printed automatically by the printer after the capture of every N still images, where N is a predetermined number.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
151 words
An image capture unit for use in an endoscopy system, the image capture unit comprising: input means for receiving video generated by an endoscopic camera; storage means for recording the video within the image capture unit; communication means for causing the video to be transmitted to a remote processing system over a network; means for causing the video to be recorded on the remote processing system in response to a user command by automatically establishing a communication link with the remote processing system and causing the video to be recorded on the remote processing system, without any additional user input after the user command; capture means for capturing still images from the video; printer interface means for communicating with a printer; and printer control means for causing captured still images to be printed automatically by the printer after the capture of every N still images, where N is a predetermined number.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
151 words
An image capture unit for use in an endoscopy system, the image capture unit comprising: input means for receiving video generated by an endoscopic camera; storage means for recording the video within the image capture unit; communication means for causing the video to be transmitted to a remote processing system over a network; means for causing the video to be recorded on the remote processing system in response to a user command by automatically establishing a communication link with the remote processing system and causing the video to be recorded on the remote processing system, without any additional user input after the user command; capture means for capturing still images from the video; printer interface means for communicating with a printer; and printer control means for causing captured still images to be printed automatically by the printer after the capture of every N still images, where N is a predetermined number.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 1 , wherein the storage means comprises: buffer means for buffering the video prior to the video being recorded, and a first non-volatile mass storage device for recording the video.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 6 , wherein the buffer means comprises a second non-volatile mass storage device having a write-response time faster than a write-response time of the first non-volatile mass storage device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 7 , wherein the first non-volatile mass storage device is an optical disk based storage device, and the second mass storage device is a magnetic disk based storage device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 1 , further comprising compression means for compressing the video prior to recording the video.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 9 , wherein the compression means compresses the video according to an MPEG based compression format.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 12 , wherein the compression means compresses the video according to a wavelet based compression format.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 1 , further comprising video output means for providing video signals to an external monitor, for causing the monitor to display images representing any of the video from the endoscopic camera, the recorded video, or the still images.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 12 , further comprising video switching means for causing video received by the input means to be automatically routed to the external monitor in response to a predetermined condition of the image capture unit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 13 , wherein the predetermined condition is a loss of power to the image capture unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 1 , further comprising: a display device; and means for generating a graphical user interface on the display device to allow a user to control the image capture unit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 15 , wherein the display device comprises touch-screen input means for receiving user inputs.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
166 words
An image capture unit for use in an endoscopy system, the image capture unit comprising: input means for receiving live video generated by an endoscopic camera; capture means for capturing still images of the live video; storage means for storing recorded video and still images based on the live video; video output means for providing video signals to a monitor for causing the monitor to display images representing any of the live video, the recorded video, or the still images; network communication means for causing the video to be transmitted to a remote processing system over a network; recording means for causing the recorded video and the captured still images to be recorded on the remote processing system via the network in response to a single user input; printer interface means for communicating with a printer; and printer control means for causing captured still images to be printed automatically by the printer after the capture of every N still images, where N is a predetermined number.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
166 words
An image capture unit for use in an endoscopy system, the image capture unit comprising: input means for receiving live video generated by an endoscopic camera; capture means for capturing still images of the live video; storage means for storing recorded video and still images based on the live video; video output means for providing video signals to a monitor for causing the monitor to display images representing any of the live video, the recorded video, or the still images; network communication means for causing the video to be transmitted to a remote processing system over a network; recording means for causing the recorded video and the captured still images to be recorded on the remote processing system via the network in response to a single user input; printer interface means for communicating with a printer; and printer control means for causing captured still images to be printed automatically by the printer after the capture of every N still images, where N is a predetermined number.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 17 , wherein the storage means comprises: buffer means for buffering the live video, and a first non-volatile mass storage device for long term storage of the recorded video and the still images.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 18 , wherein the buffer means comprises a second non-volatile mass storage device having a write-response time faster than a write-response time of the first non-volatile mass storage device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 19 , wherein the first non-volatile mass storage device is an optical disk based storage device, and the second mass storage device is a magnetic disk based storage device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 17 , wherein the network communication means comprises means for causing the live video or the recorded video to be transmitted in real-time to a remote processing system coupled to the image capture unit on a network.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 21 , wherein the network communication comprises means for multicasting the live video, the recorded video, or the still images to a plurality of remote processing systems over the network.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
48 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 17 , wherein the recording means comprises means for responding to a user command by automatically establishing a communication link with the remote processing system and writing the recorded video to the remote processing system, without any additional user input.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 17 , further comprising compression means for compressing the live video prior to recording the live video.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 24 , wherein the compression means compresses the live video according to an MPEG based compression format.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 24 , wherein the compression means compresses the live video according to a wavelet based compression format.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 17 , further comprising: a display device; and means for generating a graphical user interface on the display device to allow a user to control the integrated image capture unit.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 27 , wherein the display device comprises touch-screen input means for receiving user inputs.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
43 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 17 , further comprising video switching means for causing live video received by the input means to be automatically routed to the monitor in response to a loss of power to the image capture unit.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
120 words
An image capture unit for use in an endoscopy system, the image capture unit comprising: a video input interface configured to receive live video generated by an endoscopy camera; a capture unit configured to capture still images from the live video, a first storage device; a network interface; and a processor configured to cause live video received via the video input to be recorded in the first storage device, and further configured to cause the recorded video to be written via the network interface to a remote processing system over a network, and to cause the captured still images to be printed automatically by a printer after the capture of every N still images, where N is a predetermined number.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
120 words
An image capture unit for use in an endoscopy system, the image capture unit comprising: a video input interface configured to receive live video generated by an endoscopy camera; a capture unit configured to capture still images from the live video, a first storage device; a network interface; and a processor configured to cause live video received via the video input to be recorded in the first storage device, and further configured to cause the recorded video to be written via the network interface to a remote processing system over a network, and to cause the captured still images to be printed automatically by a printer after the capture of every N still images, where N is a predetermined number.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 30 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the live video to be transmitted in real-time to the remote processing system over the network.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 30 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the recorded video to be multicast to a plurality of remote processing systems over the network.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
36 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 30 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the live video to be multicast in real-time to a plurality of remote processing systems over the network.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
47 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 30 , wherein the processor is configured cause a communication link with the remote processing system to be established and the recorded video to be written to the remote processing system automatically in response to a single user input.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
42 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 30 , further comprising a second storage device, wherein the processor is further configured to buffer the live video in the second storage device prior to recording the video in the first storage device.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
49 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 35 , wherein the first storage device and the second storage device each are a non-volatile mass storage device, and wherein the second storage device has a write-response time that is substantially less than that of the first mass storage device.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 36 , wherein the first non-volatile mass storage device is an optical disk based storage device, and the second mass storage device is a magnetic disk based storage device.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 30 , wherein the processor is further configured to compress the live video prior to recording the live video.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 38 , wherein the processor is further configured to compress the live video according to an MPEG based compression format.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 38 , wherein the processor is further configured to compress the live video according to a wavelet based compression format.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
48 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 30 , further comprising a video output interface for connection to an external monitor, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the monitor to display images representing any of the live video, the recorded video, or the still images.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
45 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 41 , further comprising a video switch configured to cause live video received by the video input interface to be automatically routed to the external monitor in response to power to the image capture unit being terminated.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
41 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 30 , further comprising a display device, wherein the processor is further configured to generate a graphical user interface on the display device to allow a user to control the image capture unit.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
20 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 43 , wherein the display device is touch-sensitive for receiving user inputs.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
185 words
An image capture unit for use in an endoscopy system, the image capture unit comprising: input means for receiving live video generated by an endoscopic camera; recording means for recording the live video within the image capture unit; capture means for capturing still images from the live video; communication means for causing the recorded video or the still images to be transmitted to a remote processing system over a network; means for causing the recorded video or the still images to be recorded on the remote processing system via the network; video output means for providing video signals to an external monitor, for causing the external monitor to display images representing any of the live video, the recorded video, or the still images; a display device; means for generating a graphical user interface on the display device to allow a user to control the image capture unit; printer interface means for communicating with a printer; and printer control means for causing captured still images to be printed automatically by the printer after the capture of every N still images, where N is a predetermined number.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
185 words
An image capture unit for use in an endoscopy system, the image capture unit comprising: input means for receiving live video generated by an endoscopic camera; recording means for recording the live video within the image capture unit; capture means for capturing still images from the live video; communication means for causing the recorded video or the still images to be transmitted to a remote processing system over a network; means for causing the recorded video or the still images to be recorded on the remote processing system via the network; video output means for providing video signals to an external monitor, for causing the external monitor to display images representing any of the live video, the recorded video, or the still images; a display device; means for generating a graphical user interface on the display device to allow a user to control the image capture unit; printer interface means for communicating with a printer; and printer control means for causing captured still images to be printed automatically by the printer after the capture of every N still images, where N is a predetermined number.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
32 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 45 , wherein the communication comprises means for multicasting video from the endoscopic camera to a plurality of remote processing systems over the network.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
57 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 45 , wherein the communication comprises means for responding to a user command to record the live video on the remote processing system by automatically establishing a communication link with the remote processing system and recording the live video on the remote processing system, without any additional user input.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
41 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 45 , wherein the recording means comprises: buffer means for buffering the live video prior to the live video being recorded, and a first non-volatile mass storage device for recording the live video.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 48 , wherein the buffer means comprises a second non-volatile mass storage device having a write-response time faster than a write-response time of the first non-volatile mass storage device.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 49 , wherein the first nonvolatile mass storage device is an optical disk based storage device, and the second mass storage device is a magnetic disk based storage device.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 45 , further comprising compression means for compressing the live video prior to recording the live video.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 51 , wherein the compression means compresses the live video according to an MPEG based compression format.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 45 , wherein the compression means compresses the live video according to a wavelet based compression format.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
45 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 45 , further comprising video switching means for causing live video received by the input means to be automatically routed directly to the external monitor in response to a loss of power to the image capture unit.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image capture unit as recited in claim 45 , wherein the display device comprises touch-screen input means for receiving user inputs.
Claim 62
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of acquiring and storing images in an endoscopic camera system, the method comprising: receiving live video generated by an endoscopic camera; buffering the live video in a first non-volatile storage device; recording the buffered video in a second non-volatile storage device; capturing still images based on the live video; causing the captured still images to be printed automatically by a printer after the capture of every N still images, where N is a predetermined number; and transmitting video, based on the live video generated by the endoscopic camera, to a remote processing system over a network.
Claim 63
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of acquiring and storing images in an endoscopic camera system, the method comprising: receiving live video generated by an endoscopic camera; buffering the live video in a first non-volatile storage device; recording the buffered video in a second non-volatile storage device; capturing still images based on the live video; causing the captured still images to be printed automatically by a printer after the capture of every N still images, where N is a predetermined number; and transmitting video, based on the live video generated by the endoscopic camera, to a remote processing system over a network.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 56 , wherein all of said receiving, said buffering, said recording, said capturing, and said transmitting are performed by a single, self-contained image capture device.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as recited in claim 56 , further comprising causing the recorded video to be transmitted to, and recorded in, the remote processing system via the network.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as recited in claim 56 , further comprising causing the live video to be transmitted to, and recorded in, the remote processing system via the network.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as recited in claim 56 , further comprising causing the still images to be transmitted to, and recorded in, the remote processing system over a network.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as recited in claim 56 , further comprising multicasting the live video in real-time to a plurality of remote processing systems over the network.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as recited in claim 56 , further comprising automatically establishing a communication link with the remote processing system over the network and writing the recorded video to the remote processing system in response to a single user input.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 56 , further comprising compressing the live video prior to recording the live video.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 63 , wherein said compressing comprises compressing the live video according to an MPEG based compression format.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 63 , wherein said compressing comprises compressing the live video according to a wavelet based compression format.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as recited in claim 56 , further comprising providing video signals to an external monitor, for causing the monitor to display images representing of the live video, the recorded video, or the still images.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as recited in claim 56 , further comprising automatically routing the received live video to the external monitor in response to a loss of power.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as recited in claim 56 , further comprising generating a graphical user interface using a display device, to allow a user to control said recording, said capturing, and said transmitting.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 68 , further comprising responding to touch-screen user inputs applied to the display device.
Claim 77
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of operating an image capture unit for use in an endoscopic camera system, the image capture unit including a display device, the method comprising: receiving live video generated by an endoscopic camera; capturing still images based on the live video; causing the captured still images to be printed automatically by the printer after the capture of every N still images, where N is a predetermined number; recording the still images and the live video in the image capture unit; generating a graphical user interface via the display device of the image capture unit, for allowing a user to control the image capture unit; and in response to a single user input, automatically establishing a communication link with a remote processing system over a network, and causing at least one of the recorded video and the still images to be recorded on the remote processing system.
Claim 78
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of operating an image capture unit for use in an endoscopic camera system, the image capture unit including a display device, the method comprising: receiving live video generated by an endoscopic camera; capturing still images based on the live video; causing the captured still images to be printed automatically by the printer after the capture of every N still images, where N is a predetermined number; recording the still images and the live video in the image capture unit; generating a graphical user interface via the display device of the image capture unit, for allowing a user to control the image capture unit; and in response to a single user input, automatically establishing a communication link with a remote processing system over a network, and causing at least one of the recorded video and the still images to be recorded on the remote processing system.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as recited in claim 70 , wherein said generating the graphical user interface comprises receiving user inputs applied to a touch-sensitive screen of the display device.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as recited in claim 71 , wherein said generating the graphical user interface further comprises: receiving user inputs forming writing at the touch-sensitive screen; and performing character recognition of the user inputs to recognize the writing.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method as recited in claim 70 , wherein said generating the graphical user interface comprises: displaying a plurality of reduced-size versions of the captured still images; and in response to a user input selecting one of the reduced-size versions, causing the captured still image represented by the selected reduced-size version to be displayed on an external monitor at full size.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method as recited in claim 70 , wherein said generating the graphical user interface comprises generating an album display mode, the album display mode characterized by a plurality of user-selectable, overlapping display areas displayed on the display device, each capable of containing a plurality of reduced-size versions of the captured still images, such that the user can select any of the display areas for display.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as recited in claim 74 , wherein each of the user-selectable, overlapping display areas includes a tab portion, such that the user can select any of the display areas for display by selecting the tab portion of the selected display area.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as recited in claim 74 , wherein said generating the graphical user interface further comprises: receiving a user input selecting one of the reduced-size versions of the captured still images; and in response to the user input, causing the full-sized version of said one of the captured still images to be displayed.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
179 words
An image capture unit for use in an endoscopic camera system, the image capture unit comprising: a display device; means for receiving live video generated by an endoscopic camera; means for capturing still images based on the live video; means for causing the captured still images to be printed automatically by the printer after the capture of every N still images, where N is a predetermined number; means for recording the still images and the live video in the image capture unit; means for transmitting video, based on the video generated by the endoscopic camera, to a remote processing system coupled to the image capture unit on a network; means for generating a graphical user interface via the display device of the image capture unit, for allowing a user to control the image capture unit; and means for responding to a single user input by automatically establishing a communication link with a remote processing system over a network and causing at least one of the recorded video and the still images to be recorded on the remote processing system.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
179 words
An image capture unit for use in an endoscopic camera system, the image capture unit comprising: a display device; means for receiving live video generated by an endoscopic camera; means for capturing still images based on the live video; means for causing the captured still images to be printed automatically by the printer after the capture of every N still images, where N is a predetermined number; means for recording the still images and the live video in the image capture unit; means for transmitting video, based on the video generated by the endoscopic camera, to a remote processing system coupled to the image capture unit on a network; means for generating a graphical user interface via the display device of the image capture unit, for allowing a user to control the image capture unit; and means for responding to a single user input by automatically establishing a communication link with a remote processing system over a network and causing at least one of the recorded video and the still images to be recorded on the remote processing system.
Claim 87
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of operating an image capture unit for use in an endoscopic camera system, the method comprising: receiving, at the image capture unit, video generated by an endoscopic camera; capturing a plurality of still images in the image capture unit, based on the received video; determining, in the image capture unit, when a predetermined number of said still images have been captured; and in response to determining that the predetermined number of said still images having been captured, causing a printer to print the predetermined number of said still images.
Claim 88
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of operating an image capture unit for use in an endoscopic camera system, the method comprising: receiving, at the image capture unit, video generated by an endoscopic camera; capturing a plurality of still images in the image capture unit, based on the received video; determining, in the image capture unit, when a predetermined number of said still images have been captured; and in response to determining that the predetermined number of said still images having been captured, causing a printer to print the predetermined number of said still images.