Credential transfer management camera system

• US 10,194,069 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2017
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Inventors: Brockway, III, Richard T., Youel, Jeffrey S., Chen, John S., Barbier, Fabrice
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnael, Paulos M
• Application Number:
  US15/681,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20170374267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 348148
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/617 Upgrading or updating of programs or applications for camera control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A camera detects devices, such as other cameras, smart devices, and access points, with which the camera may communicate. The camera may alternate between operating as a wireless station and a wireless access point. The camera may connect to and receive credentials from a device for another device to which it is not connected. In one embodiment, the camera is configured to operate as a wireless access point, and is configured to receive credentials from a smart device operating as a wireless station. The camera may then transfer the credentials to additional cameras, each configured to operate as wireless stations. The camera and additional cameras may connect to a smart device directly or indirectly (for instance, through an access point), and the smart device may change the camera mode of the cameras. The initial modes of the cameras may be preserved and restored by the smart device upon disconnection.

Claims

1. A camera comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the camera to:

configure the camera to operate as a wireless access point;

connect to a smart device configured to operate as a wireless station, wherein the smart device is a separate device from the camera;

request from the smart device a wireless credential to connect to a communication device configured to operate as a wireless access point;

receive from the smart device the wireless credential for the communication device; and

in response to reception of the wireless credential from the smart device;

switch the operation of the camera as a wireless access point to a wireless station; and

connect the camera to the communication device using the received wireless credential.

2. The camera of claim 1, wherein the smart device includes a mobile phone, a computer, a tablet, or a remote control.

3. The camera of claim 1, wherein the communication device includes a router, a cell phone tower, a computer, or a mobile phone.

4. The camera of claim 1, wherein switching of the operation as a wireless access point to a wireless station improves power efficiency of the camera.

5. The camera of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the camera to provide the received wireless credential to another camera.

6. The camera of claim 1, wherein the smart device provides an interface for controlling one or more functionalities of the camera.

7. The camera of claim 1, wherein the smart device provides a view of a video or an image taken by the camera.

8. The camera of claim 1, wherein the smart device is configured to connect to the communication device.

9. The camera of claim 8, wherein the smart device connects to the communication device and indirectly connects to the camera via the communication device.

10. The camera of claim 9, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the camera to communicate with the smart device via the communication device, wherein:

communications from the camera to the smart device are sent from the camera to the communication device and forwarded from the communication device to the smart device; and

communications from the smart device to the camera are sent from the smart device to the communication device and forwarded from the communication device to the camera.

11. A method for operating a camera, comprising:

operating the camera as a wireless access point;

connecting the camera to a smart device configured to operate as a wireless station, wherein the smart device is a separate device from the camera;

sending a request from the camera to the smart device for a wireless credential to connect to a communication device configured to operate as a wireless access point;

receiving at the camera the wireless credential for the communication device from the smart device; and

in response to reception of the wireless credential from the smart device by the camera;

switching the operation of the camera as a wireless access point to a wireless station; and

connecting the camera to the communication device using the received wireless credential.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the smart device includes a mobile phone, a computer, a tablet, or a remote control.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the communication device includes a router, a cell phone tower, a computer, or a mobile phone.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein switching the operation of the camera as a wireless access point to a wireless station improves power efficiency of the camera.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising causing the camera to provide the received wireless credential to another camera.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the smart device provides an interface for controlling one or more functionalities of the camera.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the smart device provides a view of a video or an image taken by the camera.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the smart device is configured to connect to the communication device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the smart device connects to the communication device and indirectly connects to the camera via the communication device.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising causing the camera to communicate with the smart device via the communication device, wherein:

communications from the camera to the smart device are sent from the camera to the communication device and forwarded from the communication device to the smart device; and

communications from the smart device to the camera are sent from the smart device to the communication device and forwarded from the communication device to the camera.