Picture Transfer Protocol

Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP), is a widely-supported protocol developed by the International Imaging Industry Association to allow the transfer of images from digital cameras to computers and other peripheral devices without the need of additional device drivers. The protocol has been standardised as ISO 15740.

A number of protocols have been developed that extend PTP. PTP/IP, developed by FotoNation allows data transfer over a wireless network. Media Transfer Protocol, developed by Microsoft, allows for transfer over wireless or wired networks based in part on FotoNation's PTP/IP, but also allows users to transfer other media aside from pictures.

Both Microsoft and Apple include PTP support in their operating systems, from Windows ME onwards on the Microsoft side and Mac OS X 10.1 onwards on the Apple side. PTP on Linux, and other open source operating systems, is supported by a number of libraries and applications, such as gPhoto.

External links

• New Protocol "PTPIP" for Image Data Transfer from a Digital Camera via wireless LAN - from FotoNation's website
• Microsoft and FotoNation Team to Support the Media Transfer Protocol For Wireless Digital Still Cameras - from Microsoft's PressPass website