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`e-Watch, Inc.
`EXH. 2002
`Petitioner: Apple, Inc. , et al.
`Patent Owner: e-Watch, Inc.
`IPR2015-00414
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`APPARATUS FOR CAPTURING, CONVERTING AND TRANSMITTING
`A VISUAL IMAGE SIGNAL VIA A DIGITAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM
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`[0001]
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`This application is a divisional application of_and claims priority from a non-
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`provisional United States Application entitled Apparatus For Capturing, Converting And
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`Transmitting A Visual Image Signal Via A Digital Transmission System, Serial No.
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`09/006,073, having a filing date of January 12, 1998; the specification and drawings of which
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`are hereby incorporated by reference.
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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`[0002]
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`The invention is generally related to image capture and transmission systems and is
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`specifically directed to an image capture, compression and transmission system for use in
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`connection with land line and wireless telephone systems.
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`DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART
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`[0003]
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`Industry has developed and continues to develop and enhance techniques for scanning,
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`compressing, transmitting, receiving, decompressing, viewing and printing documents. This
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`technology, encompassing the full body of facsimile transmission and reception, is currently in
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`widespread use. The current standards, CCITT Group III and Group IV, define methods to scan .
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`and transmit high quality, bi-level images with a high degree of success and has become
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`commercially acceptable throughout the world. However, gray scale documents are not easily
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`transmitted because the scanners and algorithms are not tailored to the function. Three 0
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`dimensional objects will not fit into the flat document scanners and cannot be transmitted.
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`[0004] Examples of systems that have addressed some of these issues are shown in U.S. Patent
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`No. 5,193,012 which shows a video to facsimile signal converter, and U.S. Patent No. 3,251,937
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`which discloses a system for transmitting still television pictures over a telephone line.
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`[0005] Wire photography, and its extension, radio photography, have long been used by the
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`news media. The most common form involves an input device that converts photographs into
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`encoded signals for communication over telecommunications facilities or radio. At the receiving
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`end, reproducing equipment reconverts the encoded image signals by exposing photographic
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`film or other sensitized paper. The term facsimile is often used with these products.
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`[0006] 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 television and print media,
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`although applications are expanding rapidly in such areas as insurance investigations
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`and real estate transactions. A still video camera captures a full color still video image
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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
`image, transmit/receive units are available wherein the image begins and ends as a
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`video image.
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`[0007]
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`The Photophone from Image Data Corporation is an example of a specialty’
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`product that combines a video camera, display and storage facility in a terminal
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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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`[0008] Another example of a specialty product is peripheral equipment available for
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`personal computers that enables the input/output, 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 I/0 port.
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`[0009] U.S. Patent No. 5,193,012 discloses a still—video to facsimile conversion
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`system for converting the still—video image frame into a half—tone facsimile reproduction
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`without having to store an entire intermediated gray scale image frame by repeatedly
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`transmitting the still-video image frame from a still—video source to an input circuit with
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`a virtual facsimile page synchronization module. This system permits image to
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`facsimile conversion by utilizing a half tone conversion technique.
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`[0010] 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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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`[0011]
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`The subject invention is an image capture, compression and transmission
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`system that is specifically designed to permit reliable visual image transmission over
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`land line or wireless communications using commercially available facsimile
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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
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`or may be stored in memory for later recall and transmission. The design of the
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`invention permits maximum flexibility, with the camera/converter/telephone or other
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`transmission device being designed in a modular configuration wherein any or all of the
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`devices may exist as integrated or independent units.
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`[0012]
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`The preferred embodiment permits capture ofa 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—lII facsimile to computer, or to
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`a like device at a remote location, in any protocol desired. The invention recognizes
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`that once the signal is digitized, the transmission protocols are virtually endless.
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`[0013]
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`For example, the present invention, permits a still frame visual image to be
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`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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`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—llI 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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`[0014]
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`The system of the subject invention is particularly useful for applications where
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`immediate transmission ofvisual images of scenes, people and objects is desirable and
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`sophisticated equipment is not always available for receiving the information. The
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`system also provides a unique and reliable means for transmitting visual data to and
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`from remote locations, such as, by way of example, law enforcement and emergency
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`vehicles and the like.
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`[0015]
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`In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the system includes a Video
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`camera and a11 integral cellular telephone, wherein the telephone using the standard
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`audio mode or future digital modes, can be used to transmit and receive visual image
`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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`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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`[0016]
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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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`[0017]
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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 system
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`supporting both land line and wireless transmission of image, audio and documentary
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`data at both a local and remote station.
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`[0018]
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`The subject invention also permits digitized collection of audio signals through
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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 outj ack
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`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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`[0019]
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`The digitized image and audio capture features permit association of audio
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`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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`[0020]
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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 and/or 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
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`capability of the system permits transmission of captured data to a standard bi-level
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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 vaiiety of formats and protocols including JPEG, FAX, wavelets, emerging imagery
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`formats, FAX and computer data protocols. The invention is adapted to operate in
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`multiple modes, with a unitary capture and send mode or separate capture and store, and
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`send modes.
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`[0021]
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`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.
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`[0022]
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`It is contemplated that the system of the invention would be self—eontained with
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`an integral power unit such as a disposable battery, rechargeable battery source or the
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`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
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`transmission devices and other high drain components may be isolated and only
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`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
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`components. The processor clock rate may also be slowed down during idle mode to
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`further conserve power.
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`[0023] Where desired, the system also includes camera operation control capability
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`through the use of digital/analog circuits for converting digital commands to analog
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`signals for controlling the gain, pedestal, setup, white clip, lens focus, white balance,
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`lcns iris, lens zoom and other functions of the camera from a local input device, a
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`remote device or as automatic or programmed functions. The central processor may
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`also be used to control camera shutter rate. Other camera features and parameters
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`which may be controlled in this manner are compressor resolution ( such as high,
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`medium, low user settings) corresponding to compression rate parameters, field/frame
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`mode, color or monochrome, image spatial resolution (640x420 pixels, 320x240 pixels,
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`for example), lens and camera adjustments, input selection where multiple cameras or
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`video sources are used and the like.
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`[0024] When an integrated communications device is used, such as by way of
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`example, a cellular telephone, the telephone can be isolated from the rest of the system
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`to permit independent use, and independent power up and power off and other cellular
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`phone functions.
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`[0025]
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`In operation, the system permits not only the manual capture, dial (select) and
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`send of images, but may also be fully automated to capture, dial and send, for example,
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`on a timed sequence or in response to a sensor such as a motion sensor, video motion
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`detection, or from a remote trigger device. The remote trigger also may be activated by
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`an incoming telephone signal, for example.
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`[0026]
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`The remote device may also be used for remote loading and downloading of
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`firmware, and for setting of the programmable parameters such as to provide remote
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`configuration of sampling modes during capture, compression rates, triggering methods
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`and the like.
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`[0027] The triggering function permits a multitude of sampling schemes for a simple
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`triggered activation for capturing an image upon initiation to a trigger signal to more
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`complicated schemes for capturing 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
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`sample and number of sample basis, or time per sample and total sample time basis, or
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`number of samples and total time basis. Depending on application, the trigger can
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`sample in a prior to and after signal mode, using in combination the time per sample
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`and number of samples prior and after signal basis, a total time basis, a percent prior
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`versus percent after trigger basis, time per sample basis, time prior to and time after
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`trigger basis, and other combination. For example, if the image capture device is
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`positioned to monitor traffic accidents at a specific location, and an audio signal sensor
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`identifying a crash were used as the trigger, it would be desirable to collect image
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`sample both prior to and after the trigger signal. The number of samples, total sample
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`time, and percentage of samples prior to and after trigger would be controlled by the
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`specific application.
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`[0028] Circular sampling techniques are supported by the data capture system of the
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`present invention. This is particularly useful when triggering events are used to initiate
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`transmission of collected image data over the communications system. For example, if a
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`triggering event is motion detected at a motion sensor, it may be useful to look at the images
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`captured for a period of time both prior to and after the actual event. The circuitry of the
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`subject invention permits any circular sampling technique to be utilized depending upon
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`application, such as prior to an after trigger, only after trigger or only before trigger or prior
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`to and after the trigger point. Again, as an example, it may be desirable to look primarily at
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`images captured before a triggering event if the event is a catastrophic event such as an
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`explosion or the like. Other circular sampling techniques may be employed, as well,
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`incorporating multiple cameras, for example, wherein different fields are sampled
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`depending upon the time frame in a sequence of events.
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`[0029]
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`[It is, therefore, an object and feature of the invention to provide an apparatus
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`0 for capturing, converting and transmitting a visual image via standard facsimile
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`transmissions systems.
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`[0030]
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`It is another obj ect and feature of the invention to provide an apparatus for
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`compressing the visual image data in order to minimize the capacity requirements of the
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`data capture and storage system.
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`[0031]
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`It is an additional object and feature of the invention to provide an apparatus
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`for capturing and storing a visual image for later recall and review and/or transmission.
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`[0032]
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`It is yet another obj ect and feature of the invention to provide an apparatus for
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`storing a captured video image in digital format on a portable storage medium.
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`[0033]
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`It is an additional object and feature of the invention to provide an apparatus
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`capable of sending and receiving telephonic audio messages, facsimile documents and
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`captured visual images to and from standard, readily available remote stations.
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`[0034]
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`It is a further obj ect and feature of the invention to provide the means and
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`method for capturing images prior to, prior to and after, or after a triggering event.
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`[0035]
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`lt is also an obj ect and feature of the invention to provide for multiple triggering
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`events and/or optional viewing or review of the captured images prior to printing or
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`transmission.
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`[0036]
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`It is another obj ect and feature of the invention to provide an apparatus which may be
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`activated from a remote location for initiating the capture of images by the device.
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`[0037]
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`Other objects and features will be readily apparent from the drawings and detailed
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`description.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`[0038]
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`Fig. 1. is a block diagram of a basic facsimile camera configuration for capturing
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`an image via a camera and transmitting it via Group 111 facsimile transmission to a
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`. standard hard copy medium.
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`[0039]
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`Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1, but incorporates a memory storage capability,
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`permitting storage and optional review or viewing of the image prior to transmission.
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`[0040]
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`Fig. 3 is similar to Figs. I and 2, but incorporates a data compression scheme
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`for increasing the capacity of the memory and for increasing efficiency of transmission.
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`[0041] 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, modem, parallel and serial transmission schemes.
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`[0042]
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`Fig. 5 is an exemplary schematic diagram supporting the configurations shown
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`in each of Figs. 1-4.
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`[0043]
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`Figs. 6A, 6B, and 6C, are block diagrams of the physical components of
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`desktop, portable and comprehensive console embodiments of the invention,
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`respectively.
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`[0044]
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`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
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`replace Frassinito design.
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`[0045]
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`Figs. 8A-8L (Formerly Fig. 12) comprises a schematic diagram for an exemplary
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`embodiment of the circuit for supporting the subject invention.
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`[0046]
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`Fig. 9 is a diagram of the various triggering sequence options.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
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`[0047]
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`The image capture and transmission system of the subject invention is suited for
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`capturing one or more single frame analog image or a digital image data signal and
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`transmitting the captured signal via any of a plurality of transmission schemes to a
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`remote receiving station where the image is downloaded in a suitable format for
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`viewing and printing on hard paper copy, a CRT screen image, or other medium. The
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`system is particularly well suited for sending and/or receiving images via a standard
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`Group III facsimile transmission system and permits capture of the image at a remote
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`location using an analog or digital camera. Two generic configurations are shown and
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`described, the first, where each image is transmitted as it is captured, and the second,
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`which permits capture, storage, and selective recall of captured images for transmission.
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`The invention also contemplates a portable storage medium, wherein the captured
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`stored medium may be removed from the capture device and archived for later use.
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`While a system for black and white (gray tones) for Group—III facsimile transmission
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`is described in detail herein, the invention could be readily adapted to transmission of
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`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
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`desktop, units are described. The circuitry utilized for both configurations is
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`identical , but stationary configurations do not need a battery.
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`[0048]
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`Figs. 1-5 are circuit configuration diagrams for the various capture, storage and
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`transmission schemes. The physical embodiments utilized to employ the teachings of
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`the schemes taught in Figs. 1-5 are not limited. Figs. 6-10 are exemplary physical
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`embodiments of the subj ect invention.
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`[0049]
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`Turning now to Fig. 1, the simplest embodiment of the invention incorporates
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`a standard analog or digital camera device 10 for capturing a visual image in the typical
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`fashion. The camera 10 may be operator activated as indicated at 12, or may be
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`programmed to be activated at selected intervals or in response to certain conditions.
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`For example, a motion detector may be utilized to activate the camera 10 in a
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`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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`embodiment, the captured image is then transmitted to a gray scale bit map memory
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`device 16, from 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 for
`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
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`generating an output signal at 26 which is introduced into a Group III protocol
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`transmission device 28. The output at 30 of the transmission device 28 is then
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`transmitted into any standard transmission interface such as, by way of example, hard
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`line telephonic transmission, cellular transmission, radio signal, satellite transmission
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`or other transmission system 32 via a modem or similar device, as needed(as
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`diagrammatically illustrated at 29), to be received via a compatible interface by a
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`remote Group—III receiving system 34. The Group III receiving system 34 is a typical
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`Group—III facsimile system comprising a Group—lll receiver 36, decoder and
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`decompressor 38 and binary bit map 40, from which a facsimile hard copy such as plain
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`paper copy 42 may be generated.
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`[0050]
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`This configuration is particularly well suited where real near time transmission
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`is desired, for example when the system is operator controlled and a “real time” image
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`is desired at a remote location. An example of such a system may be a photo
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`identification confirmation of an apprehended suspect in law enforcement use, or
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`transmission of images of damaged assets for insurance purposes, or transmission of
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`images of construction job site conditions. This configuration is also well suited for use
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`in those applications where a sensor activates the system and real time transmission of
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`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
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`to a remote monitoring station. Of course, it will be readily understood by those who
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`are skilled in the art that tagging a transmitted image with information such as, by way
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`of example, date, time and location, can be incorporated in the transmitted signal so that
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`a receiving station could monitor a plurality of remote image data capture systems. This
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`is also useful for reviewing a body of previously stored or printed images to determine
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`the time and location of such image.
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`[0051
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`The embodiment of Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1, but incorporates a memory and
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`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
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`44 of the bit map 16 is input into a standard digital memory device 46 for later recall.
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`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
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`with the exception of the insertion of the memory device 46 and the optional viewer
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`device 48, the capture and transmission system of Fig. 2 is identical to that shown and
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`described in Fig. 1. Once the image is captured by the camera 10 and is presented at 44
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`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
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`DRAM, Flash RAM, hard drive, floppy disk, PCMCLA format removable memory (see,
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`for example, the PCMCIA card 50 in Fig. 7A), writeable optical media or other storage
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`device. The memory may selectively capture images, as indicated by the operator
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`interface/capture interface 52, or may be programmed to selectively capture periodic
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`images or all images. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, an optional viewer device 48
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`is provided. This permits the operator to recall and view all or selective images before
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`transmission, as indicated by the operator interface/recall interface 54. This permits the
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`operator to. review all images retained in the memory 46 and transmit selective images,
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`as desired, to the Group-HI transmission system. The remainder of the system of Fig.
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`2 operates in the same manner as the configuration shown and described in Fig. l.
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`[0052]
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`The configuration of Fig. 3 incorporates all of the features of Figs. I 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, whether
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`the optional viewer 48 is utilized, or the output is entered directly into the half-tone
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`converter 18. The interim compression/decompression scheme is particularly useful
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`when all of the image data is to be permanently archived, or when limited capacity
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`portable media are used, such as, by way of example, floppy disks or a portable
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`PCMCIA card. 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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`[0053]
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`Fig. 4 illustrates the use of the image capture and/or retention configured in any
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`of the optional embodiments of Figs. l—3 and adapted for use in combination with any
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`of a variety of transmitting and receiving schemes such as, by way of example, the
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`Group—llI system shown in Figs. 1-3, a modem, direct connection to a personal
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`computer, serial or parallel 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
`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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`14
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`14
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`14
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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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`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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`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, and/or
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`other server or receiving device 91 for distribution.
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`[0054] An exemplary circuit supporting the configurations of Figs. 1-4 is shown in
`
`Fig. 5. With specific reference to Fig. 5, an analog camera is indicated by the “video
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`in” signal at 70. Typically, the video signal is a composite video/sync signal. The ‘
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`diagram shows all of the signal processing necessary to sync up to an NTSC signal 70
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`coming out of the analog camera and processed for introduction into an integral RAM
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`memory 71 and/or a portable RAM memory via interface 73. An analog to digital
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`(A/D) 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 8land 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 of example, a PCMCLA 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 of the invention. It is desirable to store compressed rather than raw
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`data in card 72 because of space and transmission speed factors.
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`[0055]
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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 off of the video signal. The sync signal drives the video address
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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. The read/write control 84 controls the
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`coordination of the sync signal 93 with the video signal to define a full frame.
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`15
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`15
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`15
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`Basically, when the camera is activated either by the operator or by automation, the
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`system processor 86 detects the initiation of the camera and capture sequence and sends
`a signal via line 88 to the read/write control 84. The read/write 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 read/write control then initiates writing to memory at the
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`RAM devices to initiate capture of the frame. The read/write control continues to
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`“write” to memory until the appropriate sync signal is received, indicating the end of the
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`frame. At this point a single frame is captured in RAM 71 and/or on the portable
`medium RAM 72.
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`[0056]
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`This frame may now be output from the system via any of the available
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`transmitting schemes. In the exemplary embodiment, the processor 86 may be any
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`processor or such as a microprocessor or DSP, with sufficient capability to perform the
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`described functions. The processor bus is indicated at 87. The circuitry supporting the
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`processor comprises the processor chip 86 and the control store memory (ROM, Flash
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`RAM, PROM, EPROM or the like) 92 for storing the software program executed by
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`the processor. It will be understood that other memory devices could be utilized
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`without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, a Flash RAM would
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`permit flexibility and replacement of the program for upgrades and enhancements. The
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`user interface commands are generated and interpreted by the software that is being
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`executed by the processor 86.
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`[0057]
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`The display unit 94 is connected through a typical interface 96, and provides
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`visual user interface at the camera body to give the operator a visual read-out of the
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`status of the collection and transmission of a selected frame. In the exemplary
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`embo