Apparatus for capturing, converting and transmitting a visual image signal via a digital transmission system

Abstract

An image capture, conversion, compression, storage and transmission system provides a data signal representing the image in a format and protocol capable of being transmitted over any of a plurality of readily available transmission systems and received by readily available, standard equipment receiving stations. In its most comprehensive form, the system is capable of sending and receiving audio, documentary and visual image data to and from standard remote stations readily available throughout the world.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A self-contained image processing system for capturing a visual image and transmitting it to a remote receiving station, the image processing system comprising: 
 a. An image capture device;    b. A processor for generating a data signal representing the image;    c. A communications device adapted for transmitting the data signal to the remote receiving station;    d. A wireless transmission system between the communications device and the compatible receiving station.    
     
     
         2 . The image processing system of  claim 1 , further including a memory for receiving and storing the data signal, and wherein the communications device is adapted for recalling the stored data signal from memory.  
     
     
         3 . The image processing system of  claim 1 , wherein said memory is a removable random access medium and wherein the system is adapted for selectively charging and discharging the memory.  
     
     
         4 . The image processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the image capture device is an analog camera for generating an analog image signal and there is further included an analog to digital converter for converting the analog image signal to a digital signal.  
     
     
         5 . The image processing system of  claim 1 , further including a subprocessor for generating a Group-III facsimile compatible signal representing the digital signal.  
     
     
         6 . The image processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the subprocessor comprises: 
 a. A gray scale bit map;    b. A half tone converter; and    c. A binary bit map.    
     
     
         7 . The image processing system of  claim 1 , wherein there is further included an integrated wireless telephone associated with the communications device.  
     
     
         8 . The image processing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing for housing all of the elements of the system in an integrated body.  
     
     
         9 . The image processing system of  claim 1 , wherein said image capture device is a digital camera.  
     
     
         10 . The image processing system of  claim 2 , further including a view screen for viewing the captured and stored image.  
     
     
         11 . The image processing system of  claim 5 , further including a facsimile receiving device associated locally with the system for providing a local printer for reproducing the captured image in hard copy.  
     
     
         12 . The image processing system of  claim 1  wherein the processor is adapted for generating a signal in any of a plurality of selected protocols and wherein the communications device is adapted for transmitting the signal in the proper protocol to a remote, compatible receiving station.  
     
     
         13 . The image processing system of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a. The image capture device is an analog video camera for generating a video signal;    b. The processor further comprises: 
 i. An analog to digital converter;  
 ii. A sync detector and a video address generator for synchronizing the digital signal with the analog signal for defining the beginning and end of the signal to define a still frame;  
 iii. A random access memory for receiving and storing the converted, synchronized signal frame-by-frame;  
 iv. A processor routine for converting the signals stored in the memory to a protocol adapted for transmission to a remote, compatible protocol receiving station;  
   c. A communications device for transmitting the signal in the proper protocol to the compatible receiving station.    
     
     
         14 . The image processing system of  claim 13 , wherein the processor routine converts the signals to a Group-III facsimile protocol, the system further including a facsimile modem for accepting the signal and transmitting to the compatible receiving station.  
     
     
         15 . The image processing system of  claim 13 , further including a hardwired transmission system and a wireless transmission system associated with the modem and a switching device for selecting in the alternative either the hardwired or the wireless transmission system.  
     
     
         16 . The image processing system of  claim 13 , further including a local facsimile receiving system associated with the modem for providing local hard copy of the stored image signals in the memory.  
     
     
         17 . The image processing system of  claim 16 , further including a switching device for selectively activating and deactivating the local facsimile receiving system.  
     
     
         18 . The image processing system of  claim 13 , further including an integral viewer for viewing the images stored in the memory.  
     
     
         19 . The image processing system of  claim 13 , wherein the memory is a removable memory medium which may be selectively removed from the system.  
     
     
         20 . The image processing system of  claim 19 , wherein the removable memory medium comprises a PCMCIA card memory.  
     
     
         21 . The image processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is of modular construction, and the camera, the processor and the communications device are each independent, functional units which may be coupled to one another for defining the assembled system.  
     
     
         22 . The image processing system of  claim 1 , further comprising an audio signal capture device adapted for capturing an audio signal in correlation with the captured video signal.  
     
     
         23 . The image processing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a data processor for creating a text data signal associated with said image data signal.  
     
     
         24 . The image processing system of  claim 23 , further including an input device for providing text data to the data processor.  
     
     
         25 . The image processing system of  claim 24 , wherein said input device is user controlled.  
     
     
         26 . The image processing system of  claim 25 , wherein said user controlled input device is an integral keyboard.  
     
     
         27 . The image processing system of  claim 24 , said input device comprising a real time clock.  
     
     
         28 . The image processing system of  claim 24 , said input device comprising a global positioning system.  
     
     
         29 . The image processing system of  claim 2 , wherein said image data signal is stored in a raw video format.  
     
     
         30 . The image processing system of  claim 2 , wherein said image data signal is stored in a compressed format.  
     
     
         31 . The image processing system of  claim 2 , wherein said image data signal is stored in a half-tone format.  
     
     
         32 . The image processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote receiving station is a standard bi-level facsimile machine and the image data signal is generated in a standard bi-level facsimile machine format and protocol.  
     
     
         33 . The image processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote receiving station is a gray-scale facsimile machine and the image data signal is generated in a gray-scale format and protocol.  
     
     
         34 . The image processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote receiving station is a color facsimile machine and the image data signal is generated in a full color format and protocol.  
     
     
         35 . The image processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote receiving station is a digital device and the image data is digital.  
     
     
         36 . The image processing system of  claim 1 , further comprising an self contained power source for powering the system.  
     
     
         37 . The image processing system of  claim 36 , wherein said communications device is adapted to be used independently of the image capture device and the processor, and wherein the power supply is adapted for isolating the power to the communications device from the power to the image capture device and processor.  
     
     
         38 . The image processing system of  claim 37 , further including a power initiation device associated with the image capture device and the processor, wherein the power to the image capture device and the processor is off when the initiation device is not activated.  
     
     
         39 . The image processing system of  claim 38 , wherein the power initiation device is user controlled.  
     
     
         40 . The image processing system of  claim 38 , further including a trigger device for activating the power initiation device.  
     
     
         41 . The image processing system of claim  40 , wherein the trigger device is a timer.  
     
     
         42 . The image processing system of claim  40 , wherein the trigger device is triggered by the presence of an image to be captured.