FotoNation Inc. Announces New Technology Patent on Key Step Toward Internet Consumer Level Wireless Digital Photography

MILLBRAE, Calif.--Dec. 2, 1999--FotoNation Inc., the leader in digital camera connectivity, announced today that the U.S. Patent Office will grant patent protection on their critical technology that will enable users to connect digital cameras to the Internet via telephones, and in particular in the cellular telephone domain.

The patent covers three aspects of breakthrough technology that will eventually allow all camera owners to capture digital images and then send them through the Internet, using a totally wireless connection. The patent to be issued will cover FotoNation's unique:

1. "... method of configuring a digital camera ... through an external device and associating image information with digital images from the camera ..."
2. "... downloading to the camera configuration data, by way of connection to and transmission through a telephone network, to add functionality to said camera."
3. "... transferring the associated selected image data and digital image from the camera for external processing."

Using the innovative technology covered by this patent, a digital camera will be able to be programmed to accept information, via modem or landline phone, of any kind, such as camera behavioral parameters, image related database information and freestyle image commentary, attach it to images just taken and stored in the camera, and then to send the image and attached data over phone lines to the Internet.