Autonomous camera having exchangable behaviours

• US 20050012830A1
• Filed: 06/15/2004
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Pilu, Maurizio
• Granted Patent: US 7,742,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/231.990
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/617 Upgrading or updating of programs or applications for camera control

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment is a camera that includes a behaviour controller which controls the output of behaviours from the camera and the input of behaviours into the camera.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

a behaviour memory that stores at least one behaviour controlling automated image analysis and capture of images by the camera; and

a behaviour controller that controls output of behaviours from the behaviour memory.

2. The camera as claimed in claim 1, in which the camera uploads at least one behaviour to a behaviour library.

3. The camera as claimed in claim 1, in which the behaviour controller is adapted to upload at least one behaviour to another camera having another behaviour memory.

4. The camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the behaviour controller also controls input of at least one behaviour to the behaviour memory.

5. The camera according to claim 4, wherein the behaviour controller is adapted to control at least one input of a behaviour from a source external of the camera.

6. The camera according to claim 5, wherein the behaviour controller is adapted to input the behaviour from the source external of the camera by obtaining data from the source external to modify the behaviour within the behaviour memory.

7. The camera as claimed in claim 5, wherein the behaviour controller is adapted to input the behaviour from another camera having another behaviour memory.

8. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the behaviour controller is adapted to modify a behaviour within the behaviour memory using a learning process involving a user.

9. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the behaviour memory is removable.

10. The camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the behaviour controller is responsive to indications of geographical position.

11. The camera as claimed in claim 10, wherein the behaviour controller is responsive to beacons placed at events or places to indicate that the camera is at an event.

12. The camera as claimed in claim 10, wherein the behaviour controller is responsive to beacons placed at events or places to indicate that the camera is at a specific place.

13. The camera as claimed in claim 11, in which the behaviour controller downloads a behaviour from the beacons.

14. The camera as claimed in claim 13, in which prior to implementing a behaviour, the behaviour controller checks with one of the user and a download rule base.

15. The camera as claimed in claim 13, in which prior to downloading a behaviour, the behaviour controller checks with one of the user and a download rule base.

16. The camera as claimed in claim 10, in which the behaviour controller is responsive to a GPS positioning system and wherein behaviours can be invoked in response to the position of the camera.

17. The camera as claimed in claim 4, in which the camera downloads behaviours from a behaviour library.

18. The camera as claimed in claim 17, in which the behaviour library requires registration and the camera must authenticate with a library access control prior to being able to obtain behaviours from the library.

19. The camera as claimed in claim 17, in which the behaviour library requires payment and the camera must authenticate with a library access control prior to being able to obtain behaviours from the library.

20. The camera as claimed in claim 1, in which the camera includes a behaviour interpreter.

21. The camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the behaviour controller includes a security system that prevents unauthorised export of behaviours.

22. The camera as claimed in claim 21, in which the security system requires a user to identify themselves by revealing a shared secret to the security system in order to initiate export of the behaviour.

23. The camera as claimed in claim 21, in which the security system is responsive to biometric data of a user.

24. The camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the behaviour controller includes a security system preventing unauthorised initiation of behaviours.

25. The camera as claimed in claim 24, in which the security system requires a user to identify themselves by revealing a shared secret to the security system in order to initiate use of a behaviour.

26. The camera as claimed in claim 24, in which the security system is responsive to biometric data of a user.

27. The camera as claimed in claim 1, further including an image processor that analyses scenes viewed by the camera in accordance with instructions contained in the behaviour and on the basis of the analysing whether to capture the scene.

28. The camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the camera is portable.

29. The camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the camera is wearable.

30. The camera as claimed in claim 1, further including a telecommunications device that exchanges data with one of a local beacon and a remote computing device.

31. The camera as claimed in claim 1, in which the camera is capable of modifying its behaviour, and associating a confidence value with the behaviour, and in which the camera outputs the confidence value with the behaviour.

32. The camera as claimed in claim 31, in which output of the behaviour is inhibited if the confidence value is below a predetermined threshold.

33. The camera as claimed in claim 31, which output of the behaviour requires user intervention if the confidence value is below a predetermined threshold.

34. A camera comprising:

a behaviour memory that stores at least one behaviour that controls automated image analysis and capture of images by the camera; and

a behaviour controller that controls input and output of behaviours between the behaviour memory and another camera having another behaviour memory.

35. A behaviour server that stores a plurality of camera behaviours, wherein the behaviour server is arranged to establish a communications channel with a camera, and a user can upload a camera behaviour to the behaviour server.

36. The behaviour server as claimed in claim 35, which allows a camera user to select the camera behaviour for download to the camera.

37. A method of modifying operation of a camera having a behaviour memory, the method comprising;

monitoring a position of the camera; and

in response to reaching a predetermined geographical position, implementing a new behaviour.

38. A method of modifying operation of a camera having a behaviour memory, the method comprising;

monitoring a position of the camera; and

in response to reaching a predetermined geographical position, alerting a user to the option of implementing a new behaviour.

39. A camera comprising a behaviour memory storing at least one behaviour that controls at least automated image analysis and capture of images by the camera, wherein the camera is responsive to geographical position, and in response to reaching a predetermined geographical position, the camera implements a new behaviour.

40. A camera comprising a behaviour memory storing at least one behaviour that controls at least automated image analysis and capture of images by the camera, wherein the camera is responsive to geographical position, and in response to reaching a predetermined geographical position, the camera alerts a user to the option of implementing a new behaviour.

41. A method of modifying operation of a camera having a behaviour memory, the method comprising:

monitoring presence of at least one beacon; and

in response to being in the presence of the beacon, implementing a new behaviour.

42. The method as claimed in claim 41, in which the new behaviour is downloaded from the beacon.

43. A method of modifying operation of a camera having a behaviour memory, the method comprising:

monitoring presence of at least one beacon; and

in response to being in the presence of the beacon, alerting a user to the option of implementing a new behaviour.

44. A camera having a behaviour memory that stores at least one behaviour controlling automated image analysis and capture of images by the camera, wherein the camera is responsive to at least one beacon, and in response to being in the presence of the beacon, the camera implements a new behaviour.

45. The camera as claimed in claim 44, wherein the new behaviour is downloaded from the beacon.

46. A camera having a behaviour memory that stores at least one behaviour controlling automated image analysis and capture of images by the camera, wherein the camera is responsive to at least one beacon, and in response to being in the presence of the beacon, the camera alerts a user to the option of implementing a new behaviour.

47. A behaviour beacon arranged to transmit a signal that can be received and interpreted by suitably configured mobile devices for invoking a change in operation of an image capture device.

48. The behaviour beacon as claimed in claim 47, in which suitably configured mobile devices include a behaviour memory.

49. A mobile device comprising:

a behaviour memory that stores at least one behaviour for controlling automated image analysis and capture of images by the mobile device; and

a behaviour exchange controller that controls the exchange of behaviours with the behaviour memory, including output of behaviours from the behaviour memory.

50. A system of modifying operation of a camera having a behaviour memory, comprising:

means for monitoring presence of at least one beacon; and

in response to being in the presence of the beacon, means for implementing a new behaviour.

51. The system as claimed in claim 50, further comprising means for downloading from the beacon the new behaviour.

52. The system as claimed in claim 50, further comprising means for alerting a user to the option of implementing the new behaviour.