(12) United States Patent
`Anderson et al.
`
`USOO6636259B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,636,259 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Oct. 21, 2003
`
`(54) AUTOMATICALLY CONFIGURING AWEB-
`ENABLED DIGITAL CAMERATO ACCESS
`THE INTERNET
`
`(75) Inventors: Eric C. Anderson, San Jose, CA (US);
`Robert Paul Morris, Raleigh, NC (US)
`(73) Assignee: IPAC Acquisition Subsidiary I, LLC,
`Peterborough, NH (US)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 32 days.
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/625,824
`(22) Filed:
`Jul. 26, 2000
`(51) Int. Cl." ................................................ H04N 5/232
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............................... 348/2113: 348/211.12;
`348/14.04
`(58) Field of Search ........................... 348/1401, 1402,
`348/1404, 14.08, 14.09, 552, 143, 156
`s 157 211 3 31 12. 709323
`s
`•-1s
`• -u- as
`References Cited
`
`(56)
`
`6,167.469 A 12/2000 Safai et al. ................... 710/62
`6,226,752 B1 * 5/2001 Gupta et al. ................ 713/201
`6.269,481 B1 * 7/2001 Perlman et al. ............... 717/11
`6,502,195 B1 12/2002 Colvin ....................... 713/202
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner Wendy R. Garber
`Assistant Examiner Jacqueline Wilson
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Sawyer Law Group LLP
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`The present invention provides a method and System for
`automatically establishing a user account and for configur
`ing a hand-held electronic device for accessing a site on a
`public network using the user account. The method and
`System include establishing a connection to a website Server,
`which is responsible for establishing and maintaining web
`Site accounts. The presence of account information on the
`electronic device camera is then checked, and if none are
`found, it is determined that this is a first-time connection and
`information uniquely identifying the electronic device is
`Sent to the website Server So that the Server can Set-up the
`account information based on the electronic device infor
`mation. The Server then sends user account information to
`the device, including an account ID and password. The user
`account information is then Stored on electronic device for
`use the next time the electronic device accesses the website,
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,430,827 A 7/1995 Rissanen .................... 772 whereby the user does not have to enter account information
`5.737.491 A 4/1998 Allen et al. ................. 704/270
`in order to establish the ISP connection or the website
`5,905,736 A * 5/1999 Ronen et al. ............... 370/546
`account before accessing the public network.
`6,064,671. A * 5/2000 Killian .............
`... 370/389
`6,067,571 A * 5/2000 Igarashi et al. ............. 709/232
`
`22 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`User takes camera out of box
`
`OO
`
`O2
`
`User takes pictures with camera
`
`14
`
`User optionally selects images to upload
`
`108
`
`User presses "send" button on camera
`
`108
`
`110
`
`Camera displays confirmation and prompts
`User records audio
`for the images
`user to "ecord an audio annotation
`E Fl
`Camera displays "Connecting" screen
`- 114
`y
`
`
`
`11 2
`
`
`
`Camera checks for available connection options
`and if more than one, prompts user to select one
`
`Check for presence of account info on camera
`if one then 1st time connection
`
`118
`
`Establish connection with defualt ISPusing
`ISP access no, and send userID, and P.W.
`Y - 12
`O
`Connect to gateway & send unique
`camera info and for user info
`
`,
`
`Canon Exhibit 1023, Page 1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 21, 2003
`
`Sheet 1 of 6
`
`US 6,636,259 B1
`
`Camera
`Entities -
`
`
`
`
`Camera
`Manufacturer.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Entity- -
`Specific
`Cameras
`14
`
`
`
`Enabled
`Cameras
`
`Enabled
`Cameras
`
`Entity ID
`
`Entity D
`
`N
`
`Insurance
`Company
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Web
`Enabled
`Cameras
`
`28
`
`24
`
`Service Provider A
`
`Service Provider B
`
`
`
`User
`Web
`Browser
`
`1
`
`Internet
`
`Entity
`DB
`
`- 49 N -1
`- - - - - - - - - - - -
`-
`Gateway
`Server
`
`f
`
`Database 20 -
`
`- - 18
`
`Photo-Sharing
`Service
`
`
`
`
`
`22
`
`40
`
`
`
`
`
`Entity 1 photo-sharing site
`Account No. Web pages & URLs
`32
`34
`30
`Entity N photo-sharing Site
`Account No.webpages & URLs
`
`36
`
`Account No.
`42
`
`ACCourt No.
`
`
`
`User Account 1
`Preferences
`44
`User ACCount N
`Preferences
`
`Action Lists
`48
`
`46
`
`Action Lists
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Canon Exhibit 1023, Page 2
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 21, 2003
`
`Sheet 2 of 6
`
`US 6,636,259 B1
`
`Provide cameras with connectivity and application
`software for communicating over the Internet
`
`
`
`Customize the Cameras for Specific entities to create
`entity-specific cameras by providing each of the cameras with at
`least one entity ID identifying the corresponding controlling entity
`
`/-so
`-
`
`
`
`- 54
`
`Create an entity-specific website on the online
`photo sharing service for each entity
`
`
`
`Transmit entity IDs when uploading
`images to the gateway sever
`
`
`
`Match the entity ID with an entity account and match
`the user entity ID with a user account in the database
`
`
`
`
`
`- 60
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`Store received images in the user account
`of the identified entity-specific site
`
`
`
`FIG. 2
`
`Canon Exhibit 1023, Page 3
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 21, 2003
`
`Sheet 3 of 6
`
`US 6,636,259 B1
`
`- 74
`
`- 70
`
`82b
`
`Communication
`Manager
`
`Operating
`System
`
`EEPROM
`
`28'
`
`Manufacturer,
`Entity ID
`
`82a
`
`Protocol Stack
`
`
`
`
`
`Communications
`Hardware
`
`
`
`Camera Hardware
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Entity DN
`
`28
`
`
`
`14
`
`Canon Exhibit 1023, Page 4
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 21, 2003
`
`Sheet 4 of 6
`
`US 6,636,259 B1
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`User takes camera out of box
`
`User takes pictures with camera
`
`user optio
`userpes
`
`User optionally selects images to upload
`
`User presses "send" button on camera
`
`100
`
`102
`
`104.
`
`106
`
`108
`
`110
`
`Camera displays confirmation and prompts
`user to record an audio annotation
`
`User records audio
`for the images
`
`112
`
`114
`
`116
`
`118
`
`120
`
`F.G. 4A
`
`
`
`
`
`Camera displays "Connecting" screen
`
`camera
`
`Camera checks for available connection options
`and if more than one, prompts user to select one
`
`
`
`
`
`Check for presence of account info on camera,
`if none, then 1st time connection
`
`Establish connection with defuait ISPusing
`ISP access no., and send user ID, and P.W.
`
`Connect to gateway & Send unique
`camera info and/or user info
`
`Canon Exhibit 1023, Page 5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 21, 2003
`
`Sheet S of 6
`
`US 6,636,259 B1
`
`
`
`? 122
`
`Setup user account on gateway
`--
`Return info packet containing new ISP info, ID
`and password, default action list, & an advertisment
`
`124
`
`126
`
`Receive info packet
`
`128
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`Write configuration file with ID, password, and default action list
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`Display action list on SCfee
`
`132
`
`Upload to
`
`Display progress bar on Screen
`
`130
`
`134
`
`136
`
`Break connection when complete
`
`FG. 4B
`
`Canon Exhibit 1023, Page 6
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 21, 2003
`
`Sheet 6 of 6
`
`US 6,636,259 B1
`
`48
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`
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`
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`
`
`
`
`ACTION LIST
`Print Images
`3x5 8X10
`4x6
`5X7
`Save in MyShoeBox
`Send to Mom
`
`
`
`O
`verlay
`O
`Menus
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Canon Exhibit 1023, Page 7
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`

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`US 6,636,259 B1
`
`1
`AUTOMATICALLY CONFIGURING AWEB
`ENABLED DIGITAL CAMERATO ACCESS
`THE INTERNET
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`The present invention is related to co-pending U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 09/625,398 entitled “Method and Sys
`tem. For Hosting Entity-Specific Photo-Sharing Websites For
`Entity-Specific Digital Cameras,”; and to co-pending U.S.
`patent application Ser. No. 09/626,418 entitled “Method
`And System For Selecting Actions To Be Taken By A Server
`When Uploading Images,” which are assigned to the
`assignee of the present application and filed on the same date
`as the present application.
`
`15
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to a method and System for
`customizing digital cameras to upload images to an entity
`Specific photo-sharing websites, and more particularly to
`automatically configuring a web-enabled digital camera to
`access the Internet.
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`BACKGROUND
`AS the popularity of digital cameras grows, the desire of
`digital camera users to share their images with others will
`also continue to grow. New digital camera owners typically
`try to share their images based on the paradigm of film
`cameras, in which images are printed on paper and then
`placed into a photo album. The most Straightforward
`approach to do this with a digital camera is to connect the
`digital camera directly to a printer to create the prints, and
`then manually insert the images into a photo album. Users
`often find this proceSS Somewhat complicated and restrictive
`because Standard printers can only print images in limited
`sizes and requires particular types of paper. And even after
`the photo album has been assembled, the printed images are
`not easily shared with many people.
`The best approaches to photo-Sharing take advantage of
`the Internet. One Such approach is for users to Store the
`digital images on a PC and then Send the images to others
`using email. Several Internet companies now offer an even
`more convenient approach by providing photo-sharing web
`45
`Sites that allow users to Store their images for free and to
`arrange the images into web-based photo albums. Once
`posted on a photo-Sharing website, others may view the
`images over the Internet.
`While convenient for Storing digital images, getting the
`images to the photo-Sharing websites can be challenging for
`users. Most commonly, users must upload their images from
`the digital camera to a PC using a cable or IrDA, or by
`inserting the camera's flash card into the PC. From the PC,
`the user logs onto the Internet and uploads the images to a
`photo-sharing website. After uploading the images, the user
`Works on the website to arrange the images into web albums
`and to add any textual information.
`Although today's approach for Storing images from a
`digital camera onto a web photo-sharing website and for
`creating web photo albums works reasonably well, two
`problems remain that hinder the mainstream adoption of
`web-based photo-sharing. One problem is that this approach
`requires the use of a PC, notebook computer, or PDA. While
`many digital camera users today have PCs, most of those
`users are early adopters of technology. There are many other
`consumers who would purchase a digital camera, but are
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`2
`reluctant to do so because they do not yet own a PC or are
`intimidated by them.
`In an effort to address this problem, the assignee of the
`present application developed an approach to uploading
`images to the web that doesn't require the use of a PC. In this
`approach, an email Software application is loaded into a
`digital camera capable of running Software that allows the
`user to e-mail the images directly from the camera. The user
`Simply connects his or her digital camera to a cellphone or
`modem, runs the e-mail application, and Selects the desired
`images and the email recipients. The Selected images are
`then Sent to the recipients as e-mail attachments.
`Although emailing photos directly from the camera
`allows users who do not own a PC to share images over the
`Internet, these users must still establish accounts with both
`an Internet service provider (ISP) and the photo-sharing
`website before being able to post their imageS. These
`accounts must also be set-up by PC users as well. For techno
`Savvy users who use a PC to upload the images to the
`photo-sharing website, establishing the accounts may not be
`a bother, but even these users may not always have their PCs
`handy, Such as when on vacation, for instance. And for
`non-PC users, establishing the accounts by entering account
`information on the digital camera itself may prove to be a
`cumberSome, if not a daunting, task.
`Accordingly, what is needed is an improved method for
`uploading images from a digital camera to a photo-Sharing
`website on the Internet. In order for online photo-Sharing to
`become more mainstream, an approach that doesn’t require
`a PC or PC expertise and that reduces complexity for the
`user is required. The present invention addresses Such a
`need.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention provides a method and System for
`automatically establishing a user account and for configur
`ing a hand-held electronic device for accessing a site on a
`public network using the user account. The method and
`System include establishing a connection to a website Server,
`which is responsible for establishing and maintaining web
`Site accounts. The presence of account information on the
`electronic device camera is then checked, and if none are
`found, it is determined that this is a first-time connection and
`information uniquely identifying the electronic device is
`Sent to the website Server So that the Server can Set-up the
`account information based on the electronic device infor
`mation. The Server then sends user account information to
`the device, including an account ID and password. The user
`account information is then Stored on electronic device for
`use the next time the electronic device accesses the website,
`whereby the user does not have to enter account information
`in order to establish the ISP connection or the website
`account before accessing the public network.
`According to the method and System disclosed herein, a
`user does not have to enter account information in order to
`establish the ISP connection or the website account before
`accessing the public network with the electronic device.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an online photo
`Sharing System in accordance with a preferred embodiment
`of the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a business method for
`hosting entity-Specific photo-sharing websites for entity
`Specific image capture devices in accordance with a pre
`ferred embodiment of the present invention.
`
`Canon Exhibit 1023, Page 8
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`

`

`US 6,636,259 B1
`
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`3
`FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a preferred embodiment of
`the connectivity and application Software of the camera.
`FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a flow chart of a process for
`automatically configuring a web-enabled digital camera to
`access the Internet in a preferred embodiment of the present
`invention.
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example action
`list 48 displayed on the LCD screen of the camera.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`The present invention relates to an automatic System for
`uploading images from a digital camera to entity-Specific
`photo-sharing websites and for automatically establishing
`accounts. The following description is presented to enable
`one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention
`and is provided in the context of a patent application and its
`requirements. Various modifications to the preferred
`embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the
`art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other
`embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to
`be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded
`the widest Scope consistent with the principles and features
`described herein.
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an online photo
`Sharing System 10 in accordance with a preferred embodi
`ment of the present invention. The System includes a plu
`rality of camera controlling entities 12 that produce, own, or
`otherwise control a set of digital cameras 14, and an online
`photo-sharing Service 16. The online photo-Sharing Service
`16 includes a gateway Server 18 and an entity/account
`database 20. The various camera controlling entities 12
`contract with the photo-Sharing Service 16 to transparently
`host customized photo-Sharing websites 22 for each entity,
`which are referred to herein as entity-specific photo-Sharing
`websites 22. The entity-Specific photo-sharing websites 22
`are each accessible to the user through the entity's existing
`Internet site (not shown), and thus appear to users as though
`the entity-Specific photo-sharing websites 22 are hosted by
`the corresponding entity. According to a preferred embodi
`ment of the present invention, the cameras 14 for a particular
`entity are customized for that entity to create entity-Specific
`cameras 14, Such that when the cameras 14 connect to the
`Internet, the cameras 14 automatically upload their images
`to the photo-Sharing website of the corresponding entity. In
`a further aspect of the present invention, the photo-Sharing
`Service 16 automatically Stores the images in a web album,
`which is viewable over the Internet by a user's web browser
`24.
`AS used herein, a camera controlling entity 12 is any
`entity that makes, owns, Sells, or controls digital cameras 14,
`and therefore includes, camera manufactures, companies,
`retailers, and end-users. One or more combination of these
`entities 12 may either contract with the photo-Sharing Ser
`vice 16 to provide entity-specific websites 22 for their
`cameras 14, or have entity information transmitted to the
`photo-sharing Service 16 from the cameras 14. Therefore, a
`camera controlling entity 12 may include a single entity 12
`or a hierarchal relationship of entities 12.
`An example of a Single entity 12 includes an insurance
`company that contracts with the photo-sharing Service 16 to
`have all digital cameras 14 used by their agents to transmit
`their images to a customized insurance photo-sharing web
`Site. Examples of a hierarchal relationships of entities 12
`includes a camera manufacturer, Such as Nikon, that con
`tracts with the photo-sharing service 16 to have all Nikon
`digital cameras 14 transmit their images to the customized
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`Nikon photo-sharing website. Since the images of different
`users must be distinguished, each user of a Nikon camera 14
`would also constitute an entity within the Nikon website so
`that the images from different users can be distinguished.
`Other examples of hierarchal entity relationships include a
`retailer and its consumers, a real estate agency and its agents,
`community groupS and its members, and government agen
`cies and its employees, for instance.
`In a preferred embodiment, the cameras 14 are custom
`ized for their respective entities 12 by providing the cameras
`14 with software for transmitting entity ID information 28
`identifying its controlling entity 12 to the photo-Sharing
`service 16. The photo-sharing service 16 in conjunction with
`the gateway server 18 and the entity/account database 20
`hosts the entity-Specific photo-sharing websites 22. Each
`entity-specific website 22 is identified in the database 20 by
`an entity account number 30 and includes the web pages and
`URLS 32 comprising the website, the images and web
`albums 34 stored on the website, and the user account
`numbers 36 of authorized users. The database 20 also
`includes user accounts 40, each of which comprises a user
`account number 42, user preferences 44, the user's images
`46, and action lists 48, explained further below.
`The gateway server 18, which communicates with the
`cameras 14 during image uploading, receives one or more
`entity IDs 28 from each camera 14 and matches the entity ID
`28 with an entity account 30 in the database 20. The images
`are then automatically associated with the photo-Sharing
`website 22 of the identified entity 12 and/or the identified
`USC.
`After the images are uploaded, a user of the camera 14
`may visit the online photo-sharing website 22 over the
`Internet to view the images via a web browser 24. Since the
`photo-sharing websites 22 are transparently hosted by the
`photo-sharing Service 16, each photo-Sharing website 22
`appears as though it is hosted by the entity itself, rather than
`the third party Service.
`In one embodiment, the cameras 14 may connect to the
`Internet via a Service provider 26, which may include a
`wireless carrier and/or an Internet service provider (ISP) that
`is capable of Servicing many devices Simultaneously. In a
`preferred embodiment, each of the cameras 14 is provided
`with wireleSS connectivity for connecting to the Internet, and
`are therefore so called “web-enabled” devices, although a
`wired connection method may also be used.
`The cameras 14 may be provided with wireless connec
`tivity using anyone of a variety of methods. For example, a
`cellphone may be used to provide the digital camera 14 with
`wireleSS capability, where the camera 14 is connected to the
`cellphone via a cable or Some Short-range wireleSS
`communication, Such as Bluetooth. Alternatively, the cam
`era 14 could be provided with built-in cellphone-like wire
`leSS communication. In an alternative embodiment, the
`digital camera 14 is not wireless, but instead uses a modem
`for Internet connectivity. The modem could be external or
`internal. If external, the camera 14 could be coupled to
`modem via any of Several communications means (e.g.,
`USB, IEEE1394, infrared link, etc.). An internal modem
`could be implemented directly within the electronics of
`camera 14 (e.g., via a modem ASIC), or alternatively, as a
`Software only modem executing on a processor within
`camera. AS Such, it should be appreciated that, at the
`hardware connectivity level, the Internet connection can
`take Several forms. Hence, it should be appreciated that the
`present invention is not limited to any particular method of
`accessing the Internet.
`
`Canon Exhibit 1023, Page 9
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`In a preferred embodiment, the entity-Specific websites 22
`are customized to Seamlessly integrate into the entity's
`existing website by following the look and feel of the
`entity's existing website. The entity-Specific websites 22 are
`hosted on the photo-sharing Service 16, but a link to the
`entity-specific websites 22 may be provided on the home
`page of the corresponding entity's existing website. Thus, in
`order to view a web album on an entity-Specific website 22,
`the user must visit the entity's existing website and click the
`link to the entity-specific website 22, where the user's
`browser 24 will be transparently directed to the photo
`sharing service 16 and be provided with the web pages 32 of
`the entity-Specific website 22.
`AS an example of the operation of the photo Sharing
`System 10, consider the following Scenario. ASSume that
`Minolta and Nikon are entities 12 that have contracted with
`the photo-sharing Service 16, and that the photo-Sharing
`service 16 hosts a photo-sharing website 22 for Minolta and
`a photo-sharing website 22 Nikon. The Minolta cameras 14
`would be provided the entity ID 28 for Minolta and the
`Nikon cameras 14 would be provided the entity ID 28 for
`Nikon. When the Minolta and the Nikon cameras 14 send
`Sets of images to the photo-sharing Service 16, the gateway
`server 18 would distinguish the cameras 14 by the entity IDs
`28 and would direct the set of images received from Minolta
`cameras 14 to Minolta's photo-sharing website, and would
`direct the images from Nikon cameras 14 to Nikon's photo
`Sharing website. To View the images, the owners of the
`cameras 14 would use a browser 24 on their PC or PDA to
`visit the URL of the Minolta or Nikon photo-sharing web
`Sites 22. In one preferred embodiment, the photo-Sharing
`service 16 sends the URL of the entity-specific website 22
`directly to the camera 14 for display to inform the user of the
`address.
`According to the present invention, the photo-Sharing
`Service 16 provides business-to-busineSS and business-to
`consumer busineSS models. The Service is business-to
`busineSS because the Service provides companies, Such as
`camera manufactures, with a complete end-to-end Solution
`for their cameras 14. The Solution includes customized
`Software for their cameras 14 for Sending images over the
`internet, and an internet website for Storing images from
`those cameras 14 on a branded website that appears to be
`hosted by the company. The Service is business-to-consumer
`because it allows users of digital cameras 14 with an
`automatic Solution for uploading captured images from a
`digital camera 14 to an online photo-Sharing website, with
`out a PC.
`According to one preferred embodiment of the present
`invention, the photo-sharing Service 16 provides a method of
`doing busineSS whereby the photo-Sharing Service 16 shares
`revenue based on the hierarchal relationship of the entities
`12. For example, if the photo sharing Service 16 charges a
`fee for receiving and/or Storing the imageS received from the
`entity-specific cameras 14, then the photo Sharing Service 16
`may share a portion of the fee with the manufacturer and/or
`third party Supplier of the camera 14 that uploaded the
`images, for instance. Revenue may also be shared with the
`wireleSS Service provider providing the connection with the
`photo sharing Service 16.
`FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a business method for
`hosting entity-specific photo-sharing websites for entity
`Specific image capture devices, Such a digital cameras, in
`accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
`invention. First, the cameras 14 are provided with connec
`tivity and application Software for communicating over the
`Internet in step 50. In a preferred embodiment, this step is
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`performed during camera 14 manufacturing to provide off
`the-shelf web enabled cameras 14. The cameras 14 are also
`customized for Specific entities 12 to create entity-specific
`cameras 14 by providing each of the cameras 14 with at least
`one entity ID 28 identifying the corresponding controlling
`entity in step 52.
`Referring now to FIG. 3, a diagram Showing the preferred
`embodiment of the connectivity and application Software of
`the camera 14 and the entity ID 28 information is shown.
`Preferably, the camera 14 includes a microprocessor-based
`architecture that runs an operating System 70 for controlling
`camera hardware 72 and overall functionality of the camera
`14 (e.g., taking pictures, Storing pictures, and the like). An
`example of such an operating system 70 is the DigitaTM
`Operating Environment developed by the assignee of the
`present application. The camera 14 also includes commu
`nication manager 74 software, and a TCP-IP protocol stack
`76, that enables communication via the internet, as is
`well-known in the art. The entity ID information 28 and
`captured images may be stored in one or more types of
`memories 82.
`For hierarchal entity relationships, the cameras 14 are
`provided with hierarchal entity IDs 28; one entity ID 28
`identifying the entity, and a second entity ID 28 identifying
`the end-user. Whether there are one or more entity IDs 28,
`the entity ID 28' of the camera manufacturer may always be
`provided. Camera 14 customization may occur either during
`manufacture or anytime thereafter. In a preferred
`embodiment, the manufacturer entity ID 28' is provided at
`the time of manufacturing and is stored in an EEPROM 82b,
`while the entity IDs 28 for other entities 12, such as
`companies and end-users, are loaded into the camera 14
`Subsequent to manufacturing and are stored in flash memory
`82a or the EEPROM 82b.
`Customization that occurs Subsequent to manufacture
`may be implemented using Several methods. The first
`method is to manufacture the cameras 14 with an application
`programming interface (not shown) for accepting a Subse
`quently loaded Software application that Specifies the entity
`ID's 28. The application may come preloaded on a flash
`card, which is then inserted into the camera 14 by the user
`and Stored in flash memory 82a. The application may also be
`wirelessly beamed into the camera. When executed in the
`camera, the Software application transmits the appropriate
`entity IDs 28 to the gateway server 18.
`The second method is to load a small file in the camera 14
`specifying the entity IDs 28 from a removable memory or
`from a PC, and storing the file in a system folder within the
`camera's flash memory 82a. The camera 14 then accesses
`the file when an Internet connection is established. In a
`preferred embodiment, the communication manager 74
`automatically extracts the manufacturing ID 28' and the
`entity ID 28 and transmits them to the gateway server 18. In
`this embodiment, the entity ID 28 is also stored in the
`EEPROM 82b and is factory set to Zero (empty). Thus,
`unless the entity ID 28 is set, the manufacturing ID 28' may
`default as the highest controlling entity.
`If, for example, a third party developer X contracts to
`provide custom camera Software for camera manufacturer Z,
`then a custom entity ID will be issued for developer X and
`developer X will place the custom entity ID into the
`EEPROM 82b. Developer X is now a controlling entity 12,
`and may specify to the photo-Sharing Service 16 that a
`developer X entity-specific photo-Sharing site 22 or devel
`oper X's own website be the destination for the uploaded
`images.
`
`Canon Exhibit 1023, Page 10
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`

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`US 6,636,259 B1
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`The protocol stack 76, under direction of the communi
`cations manager interfaces with the communications hard
`ware 78 of camera. The protocol stack 76 includes software
`APIs and protocol libraries that interface with the commu
`nication manager 74, and communication hardware interface
`drivers that interfaces directly with the various communi
`cations hardware 72 the camera 14 must function with (e.g.,
`a Bluetooth transceiver, etc.). The communication manager
`74 communicates with operating system 70 and the IP
`protocol Stack 76 to establish an Internet connection ant to
`transmit the entity ID 28 information and images from the
`memories 82a and 82b to the photo-sharing service 16.
`In an alternative embodiment, rather than loading entity
`ID's 28 into the camera, a combination of the camera's serial
`number and the make and model number of the camera may
`be used as the entity ID 28. Entity specific cameras 14 may
`then be distinguished by providing a mapping of the camera
`Serial numbers and product IDs to Specific entities 12 in the
`database 20.
`Although the camera 14 has been described in terms of a
`Software-based customization Solution, those with ordinary
`skill in the art will readily recognize that the camera 14 may
`also be provided with a hardware-based solution.
`Referring again to FIG. 2, before or after camera
`customization, the entity-Specific websites 22 are created for
`each entity contracting with the photo-Sharing Service 16 in
`Step 54. Customization requires Storage of entity informa
`tion in the entity/account database 20 and creating and
`Storing web page elements comprising the entity-Specific
`photo-sharing website in the database 20. The entity-specific
`information stored in the database 20 may also include
`Service levels, and enabled features for the entity-Specific
`website 22. Features are components or Services that may be
`provided on websites by the photo-Sharing Service 16, Such
`as Search functions, and online printing, for instance, but
`may be selectable by each entity for its own website. As an
`example, company X may provide customized cameras 14
`for its employees, but may not wish to allow employees to
`print images from the company Xphoto website for Security
`reasons. If So desired, company X may have the photo
`service disable this feature from their particular website.
`In a preferred embodiment, the entity-Specific websites 22
`are not created from Scratch, but are created by modifying a
`preexisting template. The template may include Several
`different Sections, Such as A, B, C and D, for instance.
`ASSuming for example that the template used to create a
`website for Nikon, and Section A is used to Specify the name
`of the entity then the name Nikon would be inserted into that
`section. Other entity-specific content would be used to fill
`out the remaining Sections. The Web pages comprising the
`Nikon Specific photo-sharing website would then be pro
`vided with URL's unique to that website. The entity's
`regular website would be modified to include a link to the
`entity's photo-Sharing website 22. In addition, the entity
`Specific photo-Sharing website would include a link back to
`the entity's website. Entities 12 may have entity photo
`Sharing websites 22 created for them in one of two ways,
`automatically by logging into the photo-sharing Service 16
`and manually customizing the templates, or by having the
`entity photo-Sharing website created for them.
`Referring still to FIG. 2, when a camera 14 establishes an
`internet connection with the gateway Server 18, the camera
`14 transmits its entity IDs 28 and/or user entity ID 28 when
`uploading