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`APPARATUS FOR CAPTURING, CONVERTING AND TRANSMITTING
`A VISUAL IMAGE SIGNAL VIA A DIGITAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM
`
`Inventor: David A. Monroe
`
`E-Watch, Inc.
`E-Watch, Inc.
`EXH. 2003
`EXH. 2003
`Petitioner - HTC Corporation et. al
`Petitioner - HTC Corporation et. a1
`Patent Owner - E-Watch, Inc.
`Patent Owner - E-Watch, Inc.
`IPR2014-00989
`IPR2014-00989
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`Page 1 of 83
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`Page 1 of 83
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`APPARATUS FOR CAPTURING, CONVERTING AND TRANSMITTING
`A VISUAL IMAGE SIGNAL VIA A DIGITAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`The invention is generally related to image capture and transmission systems
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`and is Specifically directed to an image capture, compression and transmission system
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`for use in connection with land line and wireless telephone systems.
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`CU I
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`Industry has developed and continues to develop and enhance techniques for
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`scanning, compressing, transmitting, receiving, decompressing, viewing and printing
`documents. This technology, encompassing the hill body offacsimile transmission and
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`reception, is currently in widespread use. The current standards, CCITT Group III and
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`Group IV, define methods to scan and transmit high quality, bi-level images with a high
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`15
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`degree of success and has become commercially acceptable throughout the world.
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`However, gray scale documents are not easily transmitted because the scanners and
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`algorithms are not tailored to the function. Three dimensional objects will not fit into
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`the flat document scanners and cannot be transmitted.
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`Examples of systems that have addressed some of these issues are shown in
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`20
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`I
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`U.S. Patent No. 5,193,012 which shows a video to facsimile signal converter, and US.
`Patent No. 3,251,937 which discloses a system for transmitting still television pictures
`
`Over a telephone line.
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`Wire photography, and its extension , radio photography, have long been used
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`by the news media. The most common form involves an input device that converts
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`25
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`photographs into encoded signals for communication over telecommunications facilities
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`or radio. At the receiving end, reproducing equipment reconverts the encoded image
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`signals by exposing photographic film or other sensitized paper. The term facsimile is
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`often use with these products.
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`Still video equipment has recently become available from vendors such as
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`Kodak, Canon and Sony, and is again primarily used by the television and print media,
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`although applications are expanding rapidly in such areas as insurance investigations
`
`and real estate transactions. A still video camera captures a full color still video image
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`5
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`that can be reproduced using a Special video printer that converts the still video image
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`data into hard copy form. For applications requiring communication of the still video
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`image, transmit’receive units are available wherein the image begins and ends as a
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`video image.
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`a:-
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`10
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`product
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`that combines a video camera, display and storage facility in a terminal
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`The Photophone from Image Data Corporation is an example of a specialty
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`::
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`55-4
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`package. One terminal can send a real time or stored still video image to another for
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`display or storage, or printing on special video printers. Again, the signal begins and
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`ends as a video image.
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`Another example of a specialty product is peripheral equipment available for
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`15
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`personal computers that enables the inputfoutput, storage and processing of still video
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`images in digitized formats. For instance, the Canon PV-540 is a floppy disk drive that
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`uses conventional still video disks, digitizing and a still video image using a
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`conventional format, and communicates with the computer through a standard
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`communications HO port.
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`20
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`US. Patent No. 5,193,012 discloses a still-video to facsimile conversion
`
`system for converting the still-video image frame into a half-tone facsimile
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`reproduction without having to store an entire intermediated gray scale image frame by
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`repeatedly transmitting the still—video image frame from a still-video source to an input
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`circuit with a virtual facsimile page synchronization module . This system permits
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`25
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`image to facsimile conversion by utilizing a half tone conversion technique.
`
`While the various prior art systems and techniques provide limited solutions
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`to the problem of transmitting visual images via a facsimile transmission system, all
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`fall short of providing a reliable and convenient method and apparatus for readily
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`capturing, storing, transmitting and printing visual images in a practical manner.
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`30
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`The subject invention is an image capture, compression and transmission
`
`system that is specifically designed to permit reliable visual image transmission over
`
`land line or wireless communications using commercially available facsimile
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`5
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`transmission techniques. The invention incorporates a camera and signal converter into
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`an integrated unit wherein the converted signal may be transmitted on a real time basis
`
`or may be stored in memory for later recall and transmission. The design of the
`
`invention permits maximum flexibility, with the carnerafconverterftelephone or other
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`transmission device being designed in a modular configuration wherein any or all ofthe
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`10
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`devices may exist as integrated or independent units.
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`The preferred embodiment permits capture of a video image using a digital
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`camera, an analog camera, or a video camera such as a camcorder. The captured video
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`image is then converted into still frame digitized format for transmission over any of
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`a variety of transmission systems ranging from Group-III facsimile to computer, or to
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`IS
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`a like device at a remote location, in any protocol desired. The invention recognizes
`
`that once the signal is digitized, the transmission protocols are virtually endless.
`
`For example, the present invention, permits a still frame visual image to be
`
`captured at a remote location and sent immediately, over wireless communication
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`systems, to a remote location such as, by way of example, a computer system wherein
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`20
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`the image could be merged directly into newsprint. The image may also be sent to and
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`printed as a hard copy using any Group—III facsimile machine, anywhere in the world.
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`Where desired, the images may be stored in memory for later recall, and may be
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`archived on a portable medium such as a memory card or the like.
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`The system of the subject invention is particularly useful for applications
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`25
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`where immediate transmission of visual images of scenes, peeple and objects is
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`desirable and sophisticated equipment is not always available for receiving the
`
`information. The system also provides a unique and reliable means for transmitting
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`visual data to and flour remote locations, such as, by way ofexample, law enforcement
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`and emergency vehicles and the like.
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`30
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`In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the system includes a video
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`camera and an integral cellular telephone, wherein the telephone using the standard
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`audio mode or firture digital modes, can be used to transmit and receive visual image
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`signals. A desk model is also disclosed and permits connection to a standard land line
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`telephonic system. A mobile console model is disclosed for use in law enforcement
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`5
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`vehicles, and the like. Other communication systems are also supported by the subject
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`invention, including hardwired networks, radio and satellite transmission and the like.
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`A local facsimile machine may be incorporated with the unit and can serve as
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`a printer for providing hard copy of the captured image at the point of capture, as well
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`as being adapted for receiving facsimile transmissions in the standard fashion.
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`10
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`The circuitry is disclosed for supporting any of the preferred configurations
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`from a basic real time transmission system via Group-III fax to a comprehensive
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`system supporting both land line and wireless transmission of image, audio and
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`documentary data at both a local and remote station.
`
`The subject invention also permits digitized collection of audio signals through
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`Is
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`the use of an internal microphone, and external input device, a cellular telephone, land
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`line telephone, wireless radio or other communication system, and digitized audio
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`playback, as well. The playback can be via an internal speaker, out an external outjack
`
`to a remote device or via a cellular telephone, land line telephone, wireless radio or
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`other communication system.
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`20
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`The digitized image and audio capture features permit association of audio
`
`with an image, as well as data with the image. Useful data associated with the image
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`includes GPS from either internal or external GPS devices, range information from
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`ranging devices, date and time, and text which may be input from an integrated
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`keyboard or from a remote device.
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`25
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`It is an important feature of the invention that the system supports storage of
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`images in an interim storage format including raw video, compressed video, interim
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`gray scale format andfor half tone format. The image can also be stored in the selected
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`output mode, such as by way of example, a Group III facsimile mode. The versatile
`
`capability of the system permits transmission of captured data to a standard bi—level
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`30
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`facsimile machine such as Group III, to gray scale facsimile systems or full color
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`facsimile systems, as well as to other remote receiving devices such as, by way of
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`example, personal computers and network servers. The data may be transferred in any
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`of a variety of formats and protocols including JPEG, FAX, wavelets, emerging
`
`imagery formats, FAX and computer data protocols. The invention is adapted to
`
`operate in multiple modes, with a unitary capture and send mode or separate capture
`
`and store, and send modes.
`
`In the preferred embodiment, the system is adapted for tagging a collected
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`image, video, audio, and other data such as a GPS information, with geospatial
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`information and real time clock and added text. This permits the complete historical
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`data to be transmitted simultaneously with the image signal.
`
`It is contemplated that the system of the invention would be self-contained
`
`with an integral power unit such as a disposable battery, rechargeable battery source or
`
`the like. Therefore, the system is adapted to power up when in use and power down or
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`“sleep” when not activated, preserving power during idle time. The power systems for
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`the video camera, the video input circuits and converters, the modem or other
`
`transmission devices and other high drain components may be isolated and only
`
`powered when needed. This also permits use of ancillary functions, such as use as a
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`cellular telephone, to proceed without draining the power source by powering idle
`
`components. The processor clock rate may also be slowed down during idle mode to
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`further conserve power.
`
`Where desired, the system also includes camera operation control capability
`
`through the use of a digitalfanalog circuits for converting digital commands to analog
`
`signals for controlling the gain, pedestal, setup, white clip, lens focus, white balance,
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`lens iris, lens zoom and other functions of the camera from a local input device, a
`
`remote device or as automatic or programmed finictions. The central processor may
`
`also be used to control camera shutter rate. Other camera features and parameters
`
`which may be controlled in this manner are compressor resolution ( such as high,
`
`medium, low user settings) corresponding to compression rate parameters, fieldJfi-arne
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`mode, color or monochrome, image spatial resolution (640x420 pixels, 320x240 pixels,
`
`for example), lens and camera adjustments, input selection where multiple cameras or
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`video sources are used and the like.
`
`When an integrated communications device is used, such as by way of
`
`example, a cellular telephone, the telephone can be isolated from the rest of the system
`
`to permit independent use, and independent power up and power off and other cellular
`
`phone functions.
`
`In Operation, the system permits not only the manual capture, dial (select) and
`
`send of images, but may also be fully automated to capture, dial and send, for example,
`
`on a timed sequence or in response to a sensor such as a motion sensor, video motion
`
`detection, or from a remote trigger device. The remote trigger also may be activated by
`
`an incoming telephone signal, for example.
`
`The remote device may also be use for remote loading and downloading of
`
`firmware, and for setting of the programnable parameters such as to provide remote
`
`configuration of sampling modes during capture, compression rates, triggering methods
`and the like.
`
`The triggering function permits a multitude of sampling schemes for a simple
`
`triggered activation for capturing an image upon initiation to a trigger signal to more
`
`complicated schemes for 08thng and transmitting images prior to and after receipt of
`
`the trigger signal. The trigger function can be set to operate, for example, on a time per
`
`sample and number of sample basis, or time per sample and total sample time basis, 0r
`
`number of samples and total time basis. Depending on application, the trigger can
`
`sample in a prior to and after signal mode, using in combination the time per sample
`
`and number of samples prior and after signal basis, a total time basis, a percent prior
`
`versus percent after trigger basis, time per sample basis, time prior to and time after
`
`trigger basis, and other combination. For example, if the image capture device is
`
`positioned to monitor traffic accidents at a specific location, and an audio signal sensor
`
`identifying a crash were used as the trigger, it would be desirable to collect image
`
`sample both prior to and after the trigger signal. The number of samples, total sample
`
`time, and percentage of samples prior to and afier trigger would be controlled by the
`
`specific application.
`
`Circular sampling techniques are supported by the data capture system of the
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`10
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`present invention. This is particularly useful when triggering events are used to initiate
`
`transmission of collected image data over the communications system. For example,
`
`if a triggering event is motion detected at a motion sensor, it may be useful to look at
`
`the images captured for a period of time both prior to and after the actual event. The
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`5
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`circuitry of the subject invention permits any circular sampling technique to be utilized
`
`depending upon application, such as prior to an after trigger, only after trigger or only
`
`before trigger or prior to and after the trigger point. Again, as an example, it may
`
`desirable to look primarily at images captured before a triggering event if the event is
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`a catastrophic event such as an explosion or the like. Other circular sampling
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`Io
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`techniques may be employed, as well, incorporating multiple cameras, for example,
`
`wherein different fields are sampled depending upon the time frame in a sequence of
`events.
`
`It is, therefore, an object and feature of the invention to provide an apparatus
`
`for captruing, converting and transmitting a visual image via standard facsimile
`
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`transmissions systems.
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`It is another object and feature of the invention to provide an apparatus for
`
`compressing the visual image data in order to minimize the capacity requirements of
`
`the data capture and storage system.
`
`It is an additional object and feature of the invention to provide an apparatus
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`20
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`for capturing and storing a visual image for later recall and review andfor transmission.
`
`It is yet another object and feature of the invention to provide an apparatus for
`
`storing a captured video image in digital format on a portable storage medium.
`
`It is an additional object and feature of the invention to provide an apparatus
`
`capable of sending and receiving telephonic audio messages, facsimile documents and
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`25
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`captured visual images to and flora standard, readily available remote stations.
`
`It is a further object and feature of the invention to provide the means and
`
`method for capturing images prior to, prior to and after, or after a triggering event.
`
`It is also an object and feature ofthe invention to provide for multiple triggering
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`30
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`events andfor optional viewing or review of the captured images prior to printing or
`transmission.
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`It is another object and feature of the invention to provide an apparatus which
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`may be activated from a remote location for initiating the capture of images by the
`device.
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`Other objects and features will be readily apparent from the drawings and
`
`detailed description.
`
`Wiles
`
`Fig. 1 is a block diagram ofa basic facsimile camera configuration for capturing
`
`an image via a camera and transmitting it via Group-III facsimile transmission to a
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`standard hard copy medium.
`
`Fig. 2 is similar to Fig.
`
`l, but incorporates a memory storage capability,
`
`permitting storage and optional review or viewing of the image prior to transmission.
`
`Fig. 3 is similar to Figs. 1 and 2, but incorporates a data compression scheme
`
`for increasing the capacity ofthe memory and for increasing efficiency oftransmission.
`
`Fig. 4 includes the capture and transmission configuration of Fig. 2, with
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`multiple transmission format capability including Group-III facsimile, personal
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`computer, modern, parallel and serial transmission schemes.
`
`Fig. 5 is an exemplary schematic diagram supporting the configurations shown
`
`in each of Figs. 1-4.
`
`Figs. 6A, 613, and 60, are block diagrams of the physical components of
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`desktop, portable and comprehensive console embodiments of the invention,
`
`respectively.
`
`Fig. 7A and 7B are perspective drawings of a hand held device for capturing,
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`storing and transmitting an image in accordance with the invention (new drawings to
`
`replace Frassinito design.
`
`Figs. 8A-8L (Formerly Fig. 12) comprises a schematic diagram for an
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`exemplary embodiment of the circuit for supporting the subject invention.
`
`Fig. 9 is a diagram of the various triggering sequence options.
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`W T
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`he image capture and transmission system ofthe subject invention is suited for
`
`capturing one or more single fi'ame analog image or a digital image data signal and
`transmitting the captured signal via any of a plurality of transmission schemes to a
`
`remote receiving station where the image is downloaded in a suitable format for
`
`viewing and printing on hard paper copy, a CRT screen image, or other medium. The
`
`system is particularly well suited for sending andx’or receiving images via a standard
`Group III facsimile transmission system and permits capture ofthe image at a remote
`location using an analog or digital camera. Two generic configurations are shown and
`described, the first, where each image is transmitted as it is captured, and the second,
`
`which pemu'ts capture, storage, and selective recall ofcaptured images for transmission.
`The invention also contemplates a portable storage medium, wherein the captured
`stored medium may be removed from the capture device and archived for later use.
`
`While a system for black and white (gray tones) for Group-III facsimile transmission
`
`is described in detail herein, the invention could be readily adapted to transmission of
`
`color images utilizing the teachings of the present invention using industry standard
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`color video standards and circuits. Both portable, or hand held, and stationary, or
`desktop, units are described. The circuitry utilized for both is configurations is
`identical , but stationary configurations do not need a battery.
`
`Figs. 1-5 are circuit configuration diagrams for the various capture, storage and
`
`transmission schemes. The physical embodiments utilized to employ the teachings of
`
`the schemes taught in Figs. 1-5 are not limited. Figs. 6‘10 are exemplary physical
`embodiments of the subject invention.
`
`Turning now to Fig. 1, the simplest embodiment of the invention incorporates
`
`a standard analog or digital camera device 10 for capturing a visual image in the typical
`fashion. The camera 10 may be operator activated as indicated at 12, or may be
`
`programmed to be activated at selected intervals or in response to certain conditions.
`
`For example, a motion detector may be utilized to activate the camera 10 in a
`
`surveillance installation. Once activated, the camera 10 captures a visual image in
`typical fashion through a lens (see lens 192, for example, in Fig. 7A). In the illustrated
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`10
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`Page 10 of 83
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`-10-
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`embodiment, the captured image is then transmitted to a gray scale bit map memory
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`device 16, them which it is output to a half-tone conversion scheme 18 to be input into
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`a binary bit map 20 for formatting the captured image in a configuration suitable f0r
`
`transmission via a Group-III facsimile system. The signal generated at 22 by the binary
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`bit map 20 is input into a Group-III encoding and compression network 24 for
`
`generating an output signal at 26 which is introduced into a Group—III protocol
`
`transmission device 28. The output at 30 of the transmission device 28 is then
`
`transmitted into any standard transmission interface such as, by way of example, hard
`
`line telephonic transmission, cellular transmission, radio signal, satellite transmission
`
`10
`
`or other transmission system 32 via a modem or similar device, as needed(as
`
`diagrammatically illustrated at 29), to be received via a compatible interface by a
`
`remote Group-1H receiving system 34. The Group-III receiving system 34 is a typical
`
`Group-III
`
`facsimile system comprising a Group-III receiver 36, decoder and
`
`decompressor 38 and binary bit map 40, from which a facsimile hard c0py such as plain
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`paper com 42 may be generated.
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`This configuration is particularly Well suited where real near time transmission
`
`is desired, for example when the system is operator controlled and a “real time" image
`
`is desired at a remote location. An example of such a system may be a photo-
`
`identification confirmation of an apprehended suspect in law enforcement use, or
`
`transmission of images of damaged assets for insurance purposes, or transmission of
`
`images of construction job site conditions. This configuration is also well suited for use
`
`in those applications where a sensor activates the system and real time transmission of
`
`the sensed condition is desired. An example of such a system would be a motion
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`activated camera in a surveillance location, where the image is immediately transmitted
`
`to a remote monitoring station. Of course, it will be readily understood by those who
`
`are skilled in the art that tagging a transmitted image with information such as, by way
`
`ofexample, date, time and location, can be incorporated in the transmitted signal so that
`
`a receiving station could monitor a plurality of remote image data capture systems.
`
`This is also useful for reviewing a body of previously stored or printed images to
`
`determine the time and location of such image.
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`The embodiment of Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1, but incorporates a memory and
`
`optional operator viewer system. The image is captured by the camera 10 and
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`conditioned by the gray scale bit map 16, as in Fig. 1. In this embodiment, the output
`
`44 ofthe bit map 16 is input into a standard digital memory device 46 for later recall.
`
`This configuration is particularly well suited for applications where near real time
`
`transmission of the image either is not required or is not desirable. It will be noted that
`
`with the exception of the insertion of the memory device 46 and the optional viewer
`
`device 48, the capture and transmission system of Fig. 2 is identical to that shown and
`
`described in Fig. 1. Once the image is captured by the camera 10 and is presented at
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`44 to the memory device 46, it is stored for later recall and transmission. The specific
`
`type of memory device is optional and may include, for example, an SRAM device, a
`
`DRAM, Flash RAM, hard drive, floppy disk, PCMCIA format removable memory (see,
`for example, the PCMCIA cardlfi'tl in Fig. 7A), miteable optical media or other storage
`device. The memory may seiectively capture images, as indicated by the operator
`
`interfacer’capmre interface 52, or may be programmed to selectively capture periodic
`
`images or all images.
`
`In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, an Optional viewer device
`
`48 is provided. This permits the operator to recall and view all or selective images
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`before transmission, as indicated by the operator interfaceirecall interface 54. This
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`permits the operator to review all images retained in the memory 46 and transmit
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`selective images, as desired, to the Group—III transmission system. The remainder of
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`the system of Fig. 2 operates in the same manner as the configuration shown and
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`described in Fig. l.
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`The configuration ofFig. 3 incorporates all ofthe features of Figs. 1 and 2, and
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`additionally, includes an interim data compression and decompression scheme to permit
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`increased utilization of the memory or storage medium 46. As shown in Fig. 3, an
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`interim format compressor 56 is inserted between the gray scale bit map 16 and the
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`memory device 46. This permits compression and reduction of the data required to
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`store the image, effectively increasing the capacity of the storage device. It is an
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`objective of the storage device to preserve the gray scale quality of the image for
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`viewing at the location of capture. An interim format decompression device 58 is
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`inserted between the output of the memory device 46 and the rest of the system,
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`whether the Optional viewer 48 is utilized, or the output is entered directly into the half-
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`tone converter 18. The interim compressionfdecompression scheme is particularly
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`useful when all of the image data is to be permanently archived, or when limited
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`capacity portable media are used, such as, by way ofexample, floppy disks or a portable
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`PCMCIA card.
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`It will be noted that the remainder of the system shown in Fig. 3 is
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`identical to the system shown and described in Fig. 2.
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`Fig. 4 illustrates the use of the image capture andfor retention configured in
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`any ofthe optional embodiments ofFigs. 1—3 and adapted for use in combination with
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`any of a variety oftransmitting and receiving schemes such as, by way of example, the
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`Group-III system shown in Figs. 1-3, a modem, direct connection to a personal
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`computer, serial or parallel
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`transmission, or any selected transmitting/receiving
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`protocol. This illustration demonstrates the versatility of the system once the image has
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`been captured, converted and conditioned by the image capture device of the subject
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`invention. Specifically, once the image is captured by the camera 10 and conditioned
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`by the gray scale bit map 16, it may be stored and transmitted, or transmitted "real time“
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`via any transmitting and receiving scheme. As shown in Fig. 4 the image capture
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`device includes the memory device 46 and the optional viewer 48 for incorporating
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`maximum capability. However, any of the schemes of Figs. 1-3 would be suitable for
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`producing a transmittable signal. In the embodiment shown, a format select interface
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`switch 60 is positioned to receive the fully conditioned signal on line 59. This would
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`permit either automated or manual selection of the transmitting protocol, including the
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`Group-III facsimile system previously described in connection with Figs. 1-3, as
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`indicated by selecting format select switch 60 position A; or PC modem protocol as
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`illustrated by the JPEG compressor 62 and protocol generator 64, as indicated by
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`selecting format select switch position B; or the wavelet compressor and PC modem
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`protocol, as illustrated by the wavelet compressor 66 and PC modem protocol generator
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`68 by selecting switch position C; or any selected conversion network 65, (if needed)
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`with a compatible compressor 67 (if needed) and compatible protocol generator 75 (if
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`needed), as indicated by switch position D; or a serial protocol scheme 77, with serial
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`.rawi:"'ll
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`drivers 79 directly to a hardwired personal computer 81 by selecting switch position E.
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`Of course, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that one or a plurality
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`of transmitting protocols may be simultaneously selected. Depending on the protocol
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`selected, the signal output is generated at the selected output module and introduced to
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`5
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`a communications interface module 83 via a modem or other device, as needed, for
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`transmission via a transmission system to a compatible receiving station such as the
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`Group-III facsimile device 34, the personal computer 85, the video telephone 89, andfor
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`other server or receiving device 91 for distribution.
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`An exemplary circuit supporting the configurations of Figs. 1-4 is shown in
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`Fig. 5. With specific reference to Fig. 5, an analog camera is indicated by the " video
`in“ signal at 70. Typically, the video signal is a composite videor'sync signal. The
`diagram shows all ofthe signal processing necessary to sync up to an NTSC signal 70
`coming out ofthe analog camera and processed for introduction into an integral RAM
`memory '11 andfor a portable RAM memory via interface 73. An analog to digital
`(AD) converter 74 converts the video portion of the analog signal from the camera and
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`produces the digital signal for output at line 76. The digital output data on path 76 is
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`introduced into a data multiplexer circuit 81 and into the RAM memory unit(s) 71, 72.
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`In the exemplary embodiment, the portable RAM memory 72 is an image card such as,
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`by way ofexample, a PCMCIA SRAM card or a PCMCIA Flash RAM card. However,
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`it will be readily understood that any suitable RAM memory configuration can be used
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`within the teachings ofthe invention. It is desirable to store compressed rather than raw
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`data in card 3'2 because of Space and transmission speed factors.
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`As the signal at 70 is introduced into the circuit, the sync detector 78 strips the
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`sync signal portion oil“ of the video signal. The sync signal drives the video address
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`25
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`generator 80 for providing a signal used to generate an address signal at the address
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`multiplexer circuit 82 for synchronizing the scanned in video signal with the locations
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`in RAM to define each frame to be captured.
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`'I'he readfwrite control 34 controls the
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`coordination of the sync signal 83 with the video signal to define a full name.
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`Basically, when the camera is activated either by the operator or by automation, the
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`30
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`system processor 86 detects the initiation ofthe camera and capture sequence and sends
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`a signal via line 88 to the readfwrite control 34. The readfwrite control then monitors
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`the incoming video signal 83 to find the horizontal and vertical sync pulse to identify
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`the beginning of a frame. The readfwrite control then initiates writing to memory at the
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`RAM devices to initiate capture of the frame. The readfwrite control continues to
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`"write" to memory until the appropriate sync signal is received, indicating the end of
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`the frame. At this point a single frame is captured in RAM 71 andfor on the portable
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`medium RAM 72.
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`This frame may now be output from the system via any of the available
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`transmitting schemes.
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`In the exemplary embodiment, the processor 86 may be any
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`processor or such as a microprocessoror DSP, with sufficient capability to perform the
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`described functions. The processor bus is indicated at 87. The circuitry support