Offloading processing of images from a portable digital camera

Abstract

Images are offloaded from a portable camera automatically to a network server at the time the images are taken, transparently to a user of the camera. The server executes processing functions on the images and returns the output of the processing over the network to the camera and/or other user-defined destination device to thereby relieve the camera processor of potentially complex processing chores.

1 . Imaging device comprising:
 imager;   processor receiving image signals generated by the imager;   communication interface communicating with the processor, wherein the processor automatically sends, via the interface, the image signals to at least one network server, wherein the device comprises a visual display communicating with the processor, such that a user of the imaging device can employ at least one destination device to receive, from the server, information derived from the image signals, the destination device being different from the imaging device and sharing an account with the imaging device.   
     
     
         2 . Device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor receives back from the server processed information derived from the image signals for display and/or storage thereof on the device. 
     
     
         3 . Device of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a visual display communicating with the processor, the processor causing a list of processing functions to be presented on the display such that a user may select at least one function from the list for execution of the at least one function by a server receiving the image signals. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . Device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor enables a user to define which information derived from the image signals is to be sent to the imaging device and to the destination device. 
     
     
         6 . Device of  claim 5 , wherein the processor causes a list of processing functions to be presented on the display such that a user may select at least one function from the list for execution of the at least one function by a server receiving the image signals. 
     
     
         7 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . Network server, comprising:
 at least one processor;   at least one computer readable storage medium accessible to the processor and bearing image processing functions and respective imaging device identifications such that the processor can ascertain which image processing functions to execute on an image from an imaging device, the at least one computer readable storage medium further bearing instructions to cause the processor to execute logic comprising:
 receiving image signals from an imaging device over a network; 
 receiving an identification of the imaging device; 
   correlating the identification to at least one image processing function contained on the at least one computer readable storage medium;   executing the image processing function to generate a processing output;   correlating the identification to at least one return address; and   sending the processing output to the return address over the network.