Fuente: Wipo "digitalization" A distributed image acquisition and storage system having a communication network. Digital cameras acquire digital images and transmit the digital images through a local communication channel. Storage devices connected to the communication network receive digital images from the digital cameras through the local communication channel, store the received digital images, and transmit and receive digital images over the communication network. The system is arranged so that the storage devices stores digital images received through the separate local communication channel from associated digital cameras, transmits digital images received from non-associated digital cameras through the separate local communication network to the second storage device through the communication network, and receives and stores digital images received from associated digital cameras from the storage device through the remote communication network.