Method and apparatus for capturing events having an indeterminate start time

• US 20060007314A1
• Filed: 07/10/2004
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kendall Fong
• Original Assignee: Kendall Fong
• Inventors: Fong, Kendall
• Application Number:
  US10/888,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20060007314A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.990
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0208 Combination with audio or video communication, e.g. combination with "baby phone" function
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure

Abstract

A method and apparatus for capturing a desired event having an indeterminate start time is disclosed. The method includes capturing data during a first and second capture interval, where each capture interval has a start time and an end time. The desired event begins at an indeterminate time during the first capture interval. The second capture interval is initiated after the desired event begins, so the first interval provides a means for capturing desired event information that occurs prior to the initiation of the second capture interval. The desired event is processed for further distribution by appending the data captured during the first capture interval to the data captured during the second capture interval and storing the result. The event data is captured using a device having audio and/or video capture and data storage capability. Data capture can be performed simultaneously with distribution of previously captured data, for example, a user can email previously captured events while simultaneously capturing additional events occurring in the present time.

Claims

1. A method for capturing a desired event having an indeterminate start time, comprising:

capturing event data occurring during a first capture interval having a start time and an end time, wherein the first capture interval start time occurs at a predetermined time period prior to the first capture interval end time;

capturing event data occurring during a second capture interval having a second capture interval start time and a second capture interval end time; and

processing a desired event, the desired event having a desired event start time occurring within the first capture interval and a desired event end time occurring within the second capture interval, by appending the event data captured during the first capture interval to the event data captured during the second capture interval.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first capture interval end time is triggered by detection of the desired event.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second capture interval start time is triggered by detection of the desired event.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising distributing the desired event data.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising distributing an application module for capturing a desired event having an indeterminate start time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing the data is recording audio information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing the data is recording video information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing the event data is performed using a portable electronic device, the portable device including nonvolatile memory and a microphone.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the microphone is internal to the portable electronic device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the microphone is external to the portable electronic device.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein distributing the desired event data in accordance with predetermined distribution criteria happens substantially simultaneously with capturing new event data.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising, starting a video during the first capture interval, wherein the video includes content that is intended to elicit the starting of a desired event.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined distribution criteria includes emailing the desired event data to a recipient.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein emailing the desired event data to a recipient is performed by selecting a picture icon associated with the recipient.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the second capture interval is predetermined length of time.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the video content shows children saying their first words to elicit a child viewer to initiate the desired event.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time period is dynamically adjustable in accordance with availability of system resources.

16. The method of 2, wherein the detection of the desired event is in response to predetermined audio criteria.

17. The method of 2, wherein the detection of the desired event is in response to predetermined visual criteria.

18. The method of 2, wherein the detection of the desired event is in response to predetermined tactile criteria.

20. An apparatus for capturing data associated with a plurality of events, the events having an indeterminate start time, comprising:

a recording module for recording data during a first time interval and a second time interval, wherein the recorded data includes a desired event having a start time within the first time interval and an end time within a second time interval;

a storage module for storing the recorded data;

a processing module for appending the data recorded during the first time interval to the data recorded during the second time interval.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a distribution module for distributing the appended data.