Camera security system and methods associated therewith

• US 20030151510A1
• Filed: 02/08/2002
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Ziemkowski, Theodore B., Quintana, Angelica
• Application Number:
  US10/071,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20030151510A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1445 with detection of interference with a cable tethering an article, e.g. alarm activated by detecting detachment of article, breaking or stretching of cable furniture, e.g. shelves for displaying merchandise, incorporating tethers to prevent theft A47F7/024, A47F5/0861

Abstract

Disclosed herein are various embodiments of a camera and methods associated therewith for notifying a user upon separation of the camera from a parent object.

Claims

1. A camera security system comprising:

a camera housing;

a receptacle formed in said camera housing; and

a strap electrically interfaced with said receptacle.

2. The camera security system of claim 1 and further comprising:

a photodetector array disposed within said camera housing.

3. The camera security system of claim 1 wherein said strap comprises:

a connector comprising at least one conductor.

4. The camera security system of claim 1 wherein an eyelet is formed in said strap.

5. The camera security system of claim 1 and further comprising:

a microprocessor disposed within said camera housing; and

wherein said strap is in electrical communication with said microprocessor.

6. The camera security system of claim 3 wherein said connector is a universal serial bus connector.

7. The camera security system of claim 1 and further comprising:

a security mode.

8. The camera security system of claim 1 and further comprising:

a torsionally biased spool attached to said strap.

9. The camera security system of claim 1 and further comprising:

a wire formed within said strap.

10. A method of securing a camera comprising:

capturing, at least partially, a parent object with a strap;

connecting said strap to said camera; and

invoking a security mode provided with said camera.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said connecting said strap to said camera comprises connecting a connector formed in said strap into a receptacle formed in said camera.

12. The method of claim 10 and further comprising:

notifying upon disruption of said connection between said strap and said camera.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said notifying comprises activating at least one notification device selected from a group of notification devices consisting of:

a speaker, a piezoelectric element, a strobe and a mechanical buzzer.

14. The method of claim 10 and further comprising:

deactivating said security mode.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said deactivating said security mode comprises pushing at least one button.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said at least one button is operatively associated with a lock algorithm.

17. A method of manufacturing a camera comprising:

providing a camera housing;

providing a microprocessor within said camera housing; and

associating, operatively, a security system algorithm with said microprocessor.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said security system algorithm is operatively associated with a receptacle formed within said camera housing.

19. The method of claim 17 and further comprising:

providing a strap.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said associating said security system algorithm comprises associating firmware with said microprocessor.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein said associating said security system algorithm comprises associating a lock algorithm.

22. A camera comprising:

means for attaching said camera to a parent object; and

means for notifying upon detachment of said camera from said parent object.

23. The camera of claim 22 and further comprising:

means for activating said means for notifying.