Methods for selective geo-darkening

• US 10,051,416 B1
• Filed: 04/04/2017
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Worldwide Live Holding, LLC
• Original Assignee: Worldwide Live Holding, LLC
• Inventors: Tudor, Charles R., Sleiman, Dani R., Jones, Dennis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Application Number:
  US15/478,281
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method for selective geo-darkening of mobile electronic devices, including at least some of identifying at least one discrete geographic location; establishing a geo-fence perimeter around at least a portion of the at least one discrete geographic location; controlling each identifiable mobile electronic device within the established geo-fence perimeter to restrict at least some image and/or data exchange capabilities of the identifiable mobile electronic device located within the geo-fence perimeter; selectively controlling each identifiable mobile electronic device to upload images and/or data captured or generated by each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices for storage remote from each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices; and allowing the uploaded images and/or data captured or generated by each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices to be accessed by at least one authorized user.

Claims

1. A method for selective geo-darkening of mobile electronic devices, comprising:

identifying a discrete geographic location;

generating a map, wherein the map represents a real-world geographic area surrounding at least a portion of the discrete geographic location;

identifying each identifiable mobile electronic device within at least a portion of the area represented by the map;

determining a proximate location of each identifiable mobile electronic device;

providing a graphical representation of each identifiable mobile electronic device on the map;

establishing a geo-fence perimeter around at least a portion of the discrete geographic location;

providing a graphical representation of the geo-fence perimeter on the map, wherein the geo-fence perimeter represents a virtual perimeter or area, depicted on the map, representing a real-world geographic area;

controlling each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices to restrict at least some image and/or data exchange capabilities of each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices located within the geo-fence perimeter;

controlling each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices to upload images and/or data captured or generated by each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices for storage remote from each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices;

removing the geo-fence perimeter; and

controlling each electronic mobile device to allow unrestricted operation of the image and/or data exchange capabilities of each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing the uploaded images and/or data captured or generated by each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices to be accessed by at least one authorized user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein

controlling each electronic mobile device to allow unrestricted operation of the image and/or data exchange capabilities of each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices, comprises controlling each electronic mobile device to allow unrestricted operation of the image and/or data exchange capabilities of each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices after the geo-fence perimeter has been removed.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing, after the geo-fence perimeter has been removed, access any image and/or data that was uploaded for storage remote from each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing, after the geo-fence perimeter has been removed, each discrete, identifiable mobile electronic device to access any image and/or data that was uploaded for storage remote from that discrete, identifiable mobile electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the discrete geographic location is identified as a location of an incident.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the map is only displayed to one or more authorized users.

8. The method of claim 1, each identifiable mobile electronic device is identified utilizing GPS location information provided by the identifiable mobile electronic device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the image and/or data exchange capabilities of each identifiable mobile electronic device located within the geo-fence perimeter are controlled via software executing commands to the identifiable mobile electronic device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling each identifiable mobile electronic device to restrict at least some image and/or data exchange capabilities of the identifiable mobile electronic device located within the geo-fence perimeter further comprises controlling each identifiable mobile electronic device such that images and/or data cannot be modified, deleted, or erased from the identifiable mobile electronic device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling each identifiable mobile electronic device to restrict at least some image and/or data exchange capabilities of the identifiable mobile electronic device located within the geo-fence perimeter does not restrict the ability of the identifiable mobile electronic device to transmit geolocation data.

12. A method for selective geo-darkening of mobile electronic devices, comprising:

identifying a discrete geographic location;

establishing a geo-fence perimeter around at least a portion of the discrete geographic location;

controlling each identifiable mobile electronic device within the established geo-fence perimeter to restrict at least some image and/or data exchange capabilities of the identifiable mobile electronic device located within the geo-fence perimeter;

controlling each identifiable mobile electronic device to upload images and/or data captured or generated by each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices for storage remote from each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices;

removing the geo-fence perimeter; and

controlling each electronic mobile device to allow unrestricted operation of the image and/or data exchange capabilities of each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

allowing the uploaded images and/or data captured or generated by each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices to be accessed by at least one authorized user.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein

controlling each electronic mobile device to allow unrestricted operation of the image and/or data exchange capabilities of each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices, comprises controlling each electronic mobile device to allow unrestricted operation of the image and/or data exchange capabilities of each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices after the geo-fence perimeter has been removed.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

allowing, after the geo-fence perimeter has been removed, access any image and/or data that was uploaded for storage remote from each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the discrete geographic location is identified as a location of an incident.

17. The method of claim 12, each identifiable mobile electronic device is identified utilizing GPS location information provided by the identifiable mobile electronic device.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the image and/or data exchange capabilities of each identifiable mobile electronic device located within the geo-fence perimeter are controlled via software executing commands to the identifiable mobile electronic device.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein controlling each identifiable mobile electronic device to restrict at least some image and/or data exchange capabilities of the identifiable mobile electronic device located within the geo-fence perimeter further comprises controlling each identifiable mobile electronic device such that images and/or data cannot be modified, deleted, or erased from the identifiable mobile electronic device.

20. A method for selective geo-darkening of mobile electronic devices, comprising:

identifying at least one discrete geographic location;

establishing a geo-fence perimeter around at least a portion of the at least one discrete geographic location;

controlling each identifiable mobile electronic device within the established geo-fence perimeter to restrict at least some image and/or data exchange capabilities of the identifiable mobile electronic device located within the geo-fence perimeter;

controlling each identifiable mobile electronic device to upload images and/or data captured or generated by each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices for storage remote from each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices;

allowing the uploaded images and/or data captured or generated by each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices to be accessed by at least one authorized user;

removing the geo-fence perimeter; and

controlling each electronic mobile device to allow unrestricted operation of the image and/or data exchange capabilities of each of the identifiable mobile electronic devices.