Autonomous Recall Device

• US 20100157053A1
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Helmes, John
• Application Number:
  US12/343,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20100157053A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/196 using television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19608 Tracking movement of a target, e.g. by detecting an object predefined as a target, using target direction and or velocity to predict its new position
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/001 Concealed systems, e.g. disguised alarm systems to make covert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/02 with smoke, gas, or coloured or odorous powder or liquid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42202 environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

An autonomous recall device is described. A camera is movably mounted in a housing so that the camera, in some embodiments, may automatically pan and tilt. One or more environmental sensors are incorporated, such as microphones in some embodiments. In other embodiments sensors are provided physically separate from the recall device but in communication with the recall device. At least one processor in the device controls the movement and actuation of the camera according to conditions monitored by the sensor(s). Also an attention device is provided in the recall device and is controlled by the microprocessor. In an embodiment the attention device comprises light emitting diodes, actuation of the pan and tilt mechanisms, and optionally opening and closing of a cover concealing the camera. The recall device may be perceived as having its own “character”. Captured content may be retrieved via a web service in some embodiments.

Claims

1. An autonomous recall device configured to operate in an environment, the device comprising:

at least one processor;

a camera movably mounted in a housing;

at least one environmental sensor arranged to monitor conditions in the environment;

at least one attention device for getting the attention of entities in the environment;

wherein the at least one processor is arranged to control the movement and actuation of the camera according to conditions monitored by the sensor in order to capture one or more images; and

wherein the at least one processor is arranged to control the attention getting device according to specified criteria and without the need for user input.

2. A recall device as claimed in claim 1 which is configured to stand on a surface.

3. A recall device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one processor is arranged to control the attention getting device according to specified criteria in order to provide a sense of presence in the environment.

4. A recall device as claimed in claim 1 which is a dedicated recall device.

5. A recall device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one environmental sensor comprises a first microphone laterally spaced from a second microphone and wherein the processor is arranged to pan the camera according to sound detected at the microphones.

6. A recall device as claimed in claim 1 comprising at least one microphone and wherein the recall device is arranged to capture any of video with sound, images without sound and images with sound.

7. A recall device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the attention device comprises one or more light sources.

8. A recall device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a retractable cover configured to cover the camera when closed and to reveal the camera when opened and wherein the at least one processor is arranged to trigger a capture process according to conditions monitored by the sensor, that capture process comprising automatically opening the housing, actuating the camera, operating the attention device and closing the housing.

9. A recall device as claimed in claim 1 comprising a wireless transceiver and wherein the at least one environmental sensor is separate from the recall device and is arranged to communicate with the recall device using the wireless transceiver.

10. A recall device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one processor is arranged to control the camera to capture one or more images in the event that no images have been captured for a specified period of time.

11. A recall device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the at least one processor is arranged to carry out an auto-calibration process by monitoring the microphones for a specified period of time.

12. An autonomous portable recall device configured to operate in an environment, the device comprising:

at least one processor;

a camera movably mounted in a housing;

a pair of microphones, laterally spaced apart and arranged to monitor sound conditions in the environment;

at least one attention device for getting the attention of entities in the environment;

wherein the at least one processor is arranged to pan the camera towards the microphone which monitors the loudest sound;

wherein the at least one processor is arranged to actuate the camera according to monitored sound conditions;

wherein the at least one processor is arranged to control the attention getting device according to specified criteria and without the need for user input.

13. A recall device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the at least one processor is also arranged to actuate the camera in the event that the camera has not been actuated for a specified period of time.

14. A recall device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the camera is movably mounted in the housing such that the tilt of the camera is adjustable automatically.

15. A recall device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the attention devices comprise an array of light emitting diodes.

16. A recall device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the attention devices comprise colored light emitting diodes.

17. A recall device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the attention devices comprise an automatically retractable cover incorporated as part of the housing and configured to cover and reveal the camera.

18. A method of retrieving content captured by a recall device comprising:

at a web server, receiving items of content captured by a recall device together with an identity of the recall device and metadata about the content;

storing the received items of content, identity and metadata at a memory associated with the web server;

automatically generating at least one cue for each item of content;

generating and sending a message to a user associated with the recall device to indicate that items of content have been received;

providing the generated cues for display at a web browser;

receiving user input selecting at least one cue and providing the associated item of content for display at the web browser.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the cues comprise words.

20. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the generated cues are provided in chronological order according to capture time of the items of content.