The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 06, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 07, 1995
Douglas A Dwyer, Brea, CA (US);
James E Handy, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
Paul E Curry, Placentia, CA (US);
Rick E Pflugshaupt, Fullerton, CA (US);
Kevin B Grant, Anaheim, CA (US);
Hughes Electronics, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
A system 10 and methods for acquiring and archiving images derived from multiple sources with minimal operator interaction and understanding of the archiving computer 11. The system 10 and methods provide for reception of digitized images via modem 24 from a remote source, and the input of images from local sources including a digital photographic image source 25 such as a digital camera or 35 millimeter digitizing camera data back, an optical scanner 23, and digitized images previously stored on magneto-optical disk or digital audio tape. The system 10 also archives and distributes image and document data to multiple destinations, including a magneto-optical drive 22, digital or hard disk drive 15, and to laser or photographic quality continuous tone printers 26, 27. One key aspect of the system 10 and methods is that the operator is not given access to the operating system of the computer 11 and can only perform a predetermined set of functions that correspond to graphical icons 30 disposed on the computer desktop 17 (monitor 12). Each of the icons 30 launches a set of linked macro functions that initialize the modem 24, control data transfer, format the received image data into a predetermined format, attach textual data to the image files, and automatically archive or print the files. Submenus are provided during operation that permit certain selected actions related to the macro that is being run.