METHOD FOR MONITORING AND CONTROLLING PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN IN A PROPRIETARY AREA

• US 20080055408A1
• Filed: 09/01/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Wun, Archer
• Granted Patent: US 8,218,015 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/122
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00103 specially adapted for radio transmission, e.g. via satellites H04N1/00098 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00925 Inhibiting an operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4406 Restricting access, e.g. according to user identity mechanisms actuated y cards, PIN or the like in apparatus for dispensing G07F7/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/444 to a particular document or image or part thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera

Abstract

Method for avoiding unauthorized images of a proprietor'"'"'s information from being transmitted outside the proprietor'"'"'s control. A photographic image captured with a camera incorporated upon the wireless handheld communication device is wirelessly transmitted to a proprietor'"'"'s server. The image is stored on the server after capture and transmission, preferably while the device is still in the photography-restricted geographical area that is under the control of the proprietor of the server. Once at the server, the photographic image is analyzed to determine whether or not the image is authorized for dissemination outside the proprietor'"'"'s control. Local storage of the photographic image can be prevented on the device which assures that the transmission and storage of the photographic image on the proprietor'"'"'s server is exclusive.

Claims

1. A method for avoiding unauthorized images of a proprietor'"'"'s information being transmitted outside the proprietor'"'"'s control, said method comprising:

wirelessly transmitting a photographic image captured with a camera incorporated upon a wireless handheld communication device to a proprietor'"'"'s server and storing the image on the server when the image has been captured while the device is in a photography-restricted geographical area under the control of the proprietor of the server; and

analyzing said photographic image and determining whether the image is authorized for dissemination outside the proprietor'"'"'s control.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

preventing local storage of said photographic image on the device and thereby assuring that said transmission and storage of said photographic image on the proprietor'"'"'s server is exclusive.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

matching said stored photographic image with information identifying the device with which the image was captured.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

matching said stored photographic image with information identifying a probable operator of the identified device with which the image was captured.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

determining release conditions of said stored photographic image based upon the identity of the probable operator.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

matching said stored photographic image with operator-designated destination information, and based upon a determination that said photographic image is authorized for dissemination outside the proprietor'"'"'s control, forwarding said photographic image to the operator designated destination.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

wirelessly transmitting said stored photographic image to an operator-designated destination substantially simultaneously with transmission of said photographic image to the proprietor'"'"'s server thereby enabling the proprietor to monitor photographic images being sent outside in the proprietor'"'"'s control on a substantially real-time basis.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein control over photographic functionalities of said communication device is wirelessly affected by the provider of wireless communication services to the device as an accommodation to the proprietor of the photography-restricted geographical area.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein control over photographic functionalities of said communication device is wirelessly affected as an administrative policy by the proprietor of the photography-restricted geographical area.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said wireless handheld communication device transmits data to, and receives data from a communication network utilizing radio frequency signals and the data transmitted between said wireless handheld communication device and the communication network supports voice communication and textual messaging.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

disabling said camera upon entering said photography-restricted geographical area.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

assuring said camera is disabled upon entering said photography-restricted geographical area based on a wirelessly transmitted query to the device upon approach to said area.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

disabling said camera if, based upon said query, it is determined that said camera is enabled.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

utilizing a voice communication function of said device to establish duplex communication with said server; and

enabling said camera while said established duplex communication is maintained.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

transmitting all images captured with said camera while said duplex communication is maintained to said proprietor'"'"'s server via said established duplex communication.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

sending camera functionality control parameters to said device via said established duplex communication.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said wireless handheld communication device comprises a lighted display located above a keyboard suitable for accommodating textual input to the wireless handheld communication device when said device is in an operable configuration and an auxiliary user input that is located essentially between the display and keyboard in the operable configuration.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, said keyboard comprising a plurality of keys with which alphabetic letters are associated, one letter per key, and said alphabetic letters are configured in one of a QWERTY, QWERTZ, and AZERTY layout.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, said keyboard comprising a plurality of keys with which alphabetic letters are associated and wherein at least a portion of the individual keys have multiple letters associated therewith, and said alphabetic letters are configured in one of a QWERTY, QWERTZ, and AZERTY layout.

20. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein said auxiliary user input is a trackball.