Methods and apparatus for controlling a networked camera

• US 10,560,621 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2010
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Rao, Mahesh Vittal, Angadi, Sateesh Veerabhadrappa, Babu, Saravana, Kumar, Ajith, Mangeshwar, Vikram B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Czekaj, Dave
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abimbola, Kehinde
• Application Number:
  US12/949,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20120127319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,371 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data
• 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 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling a remote camera is described. The apparatus includes a housing and a processor positioned within the housing. A transceiver coupled to the processor communicates with a remote server. The remote server is coupled to the remote camera. A motion tracking component is mechanically coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the processor. The motion tracking component generates a motion signal. The remote server controls a parameter of the remote camera in response to the motion signal. A display is coupled to the processor for displaying the output signal from the remote camera. The output signal is associated with the parameter of the remote camera.

Claims

1. A mobile device for controlling a remote camera, comprising:

a housing;

a processor located within the housing;

a transceiver coupled to the processor for communicating with a remote server, the remote server being coupled to the remote camera;

a motion tracking component mechanically coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the processor for generating a motion signal based on a motion of the mobile device as a whole in a space relative to a user, the remote server controlling a parameter of the remote camera in response to the motion signal based on the motion of the mobile device, the motion tracking component comprising an accelerometer; and

a display coupled to the processor for displaying an output signal from the remote camera, the output signal being associated with the parameter of the remote camera,

wherein when the accelerometer detects a movement of the mobile device away from or towards the user, the parameter comprises a zoom and the transceiver transmits a respective zoom control command to the remote server for zooming the remote camera.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the parameter further comprises one of a pan, a tilt and a focus.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the remote camera comprises a webcam.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver comprises a cellular radio.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the motion tracking component further comprises at least one of a gyroscope, a global positioning system (GPS) module, a magnetometer, and a digital compass.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising a face detection module coupled to the processor, the face detection module controlling a parameter of the remote camera in response to a detection of a face.

18. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein when the accelerometer detects a movement of the mobile device left, right, up or down, relative to the user, the parameter comprises a pan and the transceiver transmits a respective zoom control command to the remote server for panning the remote camera in a direction corresponding to the movement of the mobile device.

7. A system comprising:

a mobile device having a motion tracking component for generating a motion signal based on a motion of the mobile device as a whole in a space relative to a user, the motion tracking component comprising an accelerometer;

a remote server in communication with the mobile device, the remote server receiving the motion signal; and

a remote camera in communication with the remote server, the remote server controlling a parameter of the remote camera in response to the motion signal based on the motion of the mobile device,

wherein when the accelerometer detects a movement of the mobile device away from or towards the user, the parameter comprises a zoom and the mobile device transmits a respective zoom control command to the remote server for zooming the remote camera.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the mobile device comprises a transceiver for communicating with the remote server.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the transceiver comprises a cellular radio.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the remote server and the remote camera are integrated into a single remote unit.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the mobile device further comprises a display for displaying an output signal from the remote camera, the output signal being associated with the parameter of the remote camera.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the parameter further comprises one of a pan, a tilt, and a focus.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the parameter further comprises a selection of a portion of an image captured by the remote camera.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the remote camera comprises a webcam.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein the motion tracking component further comprises at least one of a gyroscope, a global positioning system (GPS) module, a magnetometer, and a digital compass.

16. The system of claim 7, wherein the mobile device further comprises a face detection module, the face detection module controlling a parameter of the remote camera in response to a detection of a face.

19. The system of claim 7, wherein when the accelerometer detects a movement of the mobile device left, right, up or down, relative to the user, the parameter comprises a pan and the mobile device transmits a respective zoom control command to the remote server for panning the remote camera in a direction corresponding to the movement of the mobile device.

17. A system comprising:

a remote camera comprising;

an optical controller including a focussing lens, a focusing sensor and firmware for focussing the focussing lens and processing video signals; and

a mechanical controller including drivers and mechanics for adjusting the focussing lens, adjusting a zoom lens, and controlling movements of the remote camera;

a remote server in communication with the remote camera, the remote server configured to receive a motion signal and to control a parameter of the remote camera in response to the motion signal; and

a mobile device configured to generate the motion signal based on a motion of the mobile device and to send the motion signal to the remote server wirelessly, the mobile device comprising;

a unitary housing;

a processor located within the unitary housing;

an antenna configured to transmit the motion signal;

a transceiver including transmitter circuitry and receiver circuitry, the transceiver being coupled to the processor and the antenna and being configured to communicate wirelessly with the remote server via the antenna;

a motion tracking component mechanically coupled to the unitary housing and electrically coupled to the processor for generating the motion signal based on the motion of the mobile device as a whole in a space relative to a user, the remote server controlling the parameter of the remote camera in response to the motion signal based on the motion of the mobile device, the motion tracking component comprising an accelerometer and at least one of;

a gyroscope;

a global positioning system (GPS) module;

a magnetometer; and

a digital compass;

a face detection module coupled to the processor, the face detection module configured to detect and track a face of the user for controlling the parameter of the remote camera; and

a display coupled to the processor for displaying an output signal from the remote camera, the output signal being associated with the parameter of the remote camera,

wherein when the accelerometer detects a movement of the mobile device away from or towards the user, the parameter comprises a zoom and the transceiver transmits a respective zoom control command to the remote server for zooming the remote camera.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein when the accelerometer detects a movement of the mobile device left, right, up or down, relative to the user, the parameter comprises a pan and the transceiver transmits a respective zoom control command to the remote server for panning the remote camera in a direction corresponding to the movement of the mobile device.