WIRELESS SENSOR BASED CAMERA LOCATION AND ORIENTATION

• US 20100081452A1
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magnolia Licensing LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Mathur, Saurabh, Ramaswamy, Kumar, Guo, Yang
• Granted Patent: US 8,694,020 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/54 where broadcast information is generated

Abstract

An apparatus a receiver for a camera for signal communication with transmitters in known locations for determining location of the camera, a compass for the camera for determining orientation of the camera, and a device for determining time associated with the determined camera location and orientation.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

determining camera location and orientation information;

determining time coincident with the camera orientation and location information; and

gathering the determined camera location information, camera orientation and time for wireless transmission.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining camera location further comprises receiving signals from transmitters around the camera.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining camera location comprises determining the location by a receiver associated with the camera communicating with transmitters positioned at known locations.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining camera orientation comprises determining camera heading information from a compass associated with the camera.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining camera location comprises calculating distance estimates between a receiver mounted on the camera and nearby beacons that are part of a Cricket location system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising wirelessly transmitting the gathered location, orientation and time information associated with the camera to a server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining time comprises determining time information from communication with one of a global position system and cellular network.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver for a camera for signal communication with transmitters in known locations for determining location of the camera;

a compass for the camera for determining orientation of the camera; and

a device for determining time associated with the determined camera location and orientation.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the receiver, compass and device for determining time are responsive to movement by the camera to provide the camera'"'"'s moving trajectory and which direction the camera is moving.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting at least one of the determined location, orientation and time for the camera.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the receiver is a component of a Cricket location system.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the compass is a digital compass.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the receiver is responsive to signals from beacons at known locations.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the device for determining time communicates with one of a cellular network and a Global Positioning System.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the changes in the determined location, orientation and time for movement of the camera to a remote location for determining a moving trajectory and direction of the camera.