Headset-Based Telecommunications Platform

• US 20100245585A1
• Filed: 03/01/2010
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eyeCam Inc.
• Original Assignee: Foundation Productions LLC
• Inventors: Patil, Nitin, Johnson, Daniel, Meyer, Mark Joseph, Young, Ben, Fisher, James, Bushard, Bradley Brian, FISHER, Ronald Eugene, Davis, Bryan Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 8,902,315 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/164
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/168 Feature extraction; Face representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/193 Preprocessing; Feature extraction
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0272 for a projector or beamer module assembly constructional features of projectors per se G03B21/00; constructional details of projectors using electronic spatial light modulators per se H04N9/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/531 being rotatable or detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A hands-free wireless wearable GPS enabled video camera and audio-video communications headset, mobile phone and personal media player, capable of real-time two-way and multi-feed wireless voice, data and audio-video streaming, telecommunications, and teleconferencing, coordinated applications, and shared functionality between one or more wirelessly networked headsets or other paired or networked wired or wireless devices and optimized device and data management over multiple wired and wireless network connections. The headset can operate in concert with one or more wired or wireless devices as a paired accessory, as an autonomous hands-free wide area, metro or local area and personal area wireless audio-video communications and multimedia device and/or as a wearable docking station, hot spot and wireless router supporting direct connect multi-device ad-hoc virtual private networking (VPN). The headset has built-in intelligence to choose amongst available network protocols while supporting a variety of onboard, and remote operational controls including a retractable monocular viewfinder display for real time hands-free viewing of captured or received video feed and a duplex data-streaming platform supporting multi-channel communications and optimized data management within the device, within a managed or autonomous federation of devices or other peer-to-peer network configuration.

Claims

1. A communications apparatus, comprising:

a housing comprising an attachment assembly for securely retaining said housing proximate to, and in intimate contact, with a user'"'"'s head, said housing entirely containing and having integrated therein at least;

a power source;

a video camera;

a cellular telephone;

a laser rangefinder

a standalone, hands-free headset comprising a microphone and an earphone/speaker;

a processor, communicatively coupled to said video camera, said cellular telephone, and said standalone, hands-free headset, said processor comprising software and hardware components configured to effect fully autonomous operation, alone or in any combination, of each of said video camera, said cellular telephone, and said standalone, hands-free headset as an independent, wireless networked multimedia device;

said processor further comprising software and hardware components configured to operate, alone or in any combination, of each of said video camera, said cellular telephone, and said standalone, hands-free headset to capture, record, and stream in real-time, two-way and multi-feed voice, data, and audio-video communications; and

said processor further comprising software and hardware components configured to operate, alone or in any combination, any of each of said video camera, said cellular telephone, and said standalone, hands-free headset as a transceiver via any of a plurality of wired and wireless connections.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a detachable, handheld or hands-free wireless video camera/telephone module comprising hardware and software components configured for pairing said video camera/telephone module with an independent, Bluetooth earpiece module that is associated with said housing and said attachment assembly, wherein said apparatus is configured to be worn on a user'"'"'s ear and is further configured as a central hub having attachment points operable for joining multiple associated devices that, when integrated with said housing, are worn together by said user and are configured in cooperation with said processor to operate as a single, autonomous wireless voice, data, and audio-video communications headset.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a radio area network module, configured for operation in accordance with any of a cellular, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, WiMax, or GPS protocol, said radio area network module comprising hardware and software components that are configured to cooperate with said processor to configure said apparatus to operate as an information transference device effecting an independent, long-range wireless terminal.

4. The apparatus claim 1, said processor comprising:

software and hardware components configured to establish two-way, multi-feed, multi-channel, and simultaneous multi-network real-time voice, data, and audio-video connections between said apparatus and other devices.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, said processor further comprising:

software and hardware components configured to implement a navigation system comprising GPS data and geotagging of captured, recorded, and/or transmitted data.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, said processor further comprising:

software and hardware components configured to implement a mesh network for peer-to-peer networking, and

software and hardware components configured to forward network data from devices other than said apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, said processor further comprising:

software and hardware components configured to integrate motion video with audio and still image capture, recording, and transmission.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, said processor further comprising:

software and hardware components configured to affect both local and remote wireless access to persistent storage for removal and/or replacement of files.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, said housing further comprising:

a headset form factor; and

said apparatus further comprising;

a viewfinder configured to extend and be worn over a user'"'"'s eye;

said viewfinder comprising a monocular display for real time viewing of captured or received video feeds.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, said housing further comprising integrated therein:

an imaging system that senses visible and near infrared light.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, said housing further comprising:

a wearable still image and video camera headset form factor;

said video camera further comprising;

an optical and digital zoom.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, said video camera further comprising:

a still image and motion video digital image stabilization module.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising within said housing:

a multi-purpose illumination source for aiming, range finding, and FOV illumination.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a wearable laser sight and rangefinder system for automated optical and digital zoom

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising within said housing:

software and hardware components configured to implement voice command, display, keyboard, motion gesture recognition, eye and facial movement recognition, and network user interfaces.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a voice interface comprising a voice activation, voice recognition, and voice command system.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising within said housing:

a motion sensor and accelerometer for programmable, automated, event based, and contextual device and camera response and control.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising within said housing:

an optical day and near IR sensor for monitoring eye and facial movements, and for providing customizable eye-to-camera automated coordination and control.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an expansion channel comprising a peripheral electronic interface.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, said processor further comprising:

a hardware assisted graphics module; and

an integrated DSP application processor;

wherein said hardware assisted graphics module and said integrated DSP application processor are configured to process audio and video analysis, compression, and decompression.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising within said housing:

a plurality of audio sources, and earpiece and camera phone speakers that cooperate with said processor to effect direction control, noise reduction, and private and speakerphone functions.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, said processor further comprising:

hardware and software components configured for application specific configurability through electronic and software form/fit/function adaptations.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of storage interfaces for embedded and removable memory and expansion.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, said processor further comprising:

hardware and software components configured for a plurality of operating systems.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, said processor further comprising:

hardware and software components configured for locally or remotely controllable, system wide data and power management.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising within said housing:

a power port for external power source and host or peripheral connection.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a behind-the-ear removable/rechargeable power module configured as a rapidly swappable tethered or tether-less power source; and

said power module comprising a form factor configured as a counterbalance adjunct to said housing.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a removable/rechargeable adjustable neckpiece headset power module configured as a rapidly swappable tethered or tether-less power source and physical connector for left and right Bluetooth Headphone modules; and

said power module having a form factor configured as a counterbalance adjunct to either of a single unit video camera headset with paired left Headphone module form factor of said housing or a modular Headphone and detachable video camera headset form factor of said housing.

29. The apparatus of either of claims 27 and 28, further comprising:

a detachable, rapidly swappable power source; and

a power management module configured to allow battery replacement while continuing operation of said apparatus.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising associated with said housing:

a hands-free wireless Bluetooth Headphone module with microphone and speaker; and

a high speed USB and a multimedia port configured to join multiple devices to a central hub

31. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a Bluetooth earpiece Headphone module comprising dual external battery ports configured to attach external power modules to either end of said Headphone module to effect reversible device operations on either of a user'"'"'s right or left ear.

32. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a Bluetooth earpiece Headphone module with removable flash memory storage and configured as either of a paired voice communicator comprising an external wired or wireless networked terminal and an autonomous hands-free wireless personal media player configured to store and play media files locally on removable flash storage with or without a wired or wireless connection to an external media player.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first Bluetooth Headphone module configured to directly link with a second matching Headphone module that is worn on an opposite ear of that upon which said first Headphone module is worn;

at least one of said first and second Headphone modules further comprising;

a removable/rechargeable adjustable neckpiece headset power module that comprises hardware and software components which are configured to wirelessly pair with a matching Headphone module via a Bluetooth Network link to provide high fidelity surround stereo audio and expanded media storage.

34. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising housing:

a Bluetooth Headphone;

a hands-free wireless communicator; and

a standalone wireless multi-media player comprising high-speed USB and multimedia ports;

said processor further comprising;

hardware and software components configured to join said Headphone with said apparatus or other long range wireless terminal to effect a direct, hands-free wireless connection to the Internet to receive wireless audio-video streaming media content from an Internet radio or other Internet media hub, or for long range direct peer-to-peer device networking to and from other wireless devices for media sharing and communications.

39. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a docking station configured to receive said housing and further configured to provide external power accessory battery charging, a host connection, and peripheral expansion.

35. An apparatus, comprising:

a pair of sunglasses having integrated therein;

a processor comprising hardware and software components configured to provide Bluetooth multimedia functions;

OLED or micro-projector lenses comprising displays for binocular, embedded, see-through media display of left and right digital zoom cameras;

a microphone;

embedded and removable flash storage;

a flash Wi-Fi expansion card comprising hardware and software components configured for any of local area networking, interactive real-time VoIP, data and audio-video streaming, and telecommunications via the Internet; and

left and right eye sensors configured to monitor eye and facial movements for eye-to-camera synced automated zoom and hands-free camera control.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising:

dual micro USB and/or Multimedia expansion ports configured to provide a wired connection with any of Bluetooth hands-free wireless headphones, earphones, or earphone audio speakers; and

said dual micro expansion ports further configured to port and pair with a video camera headset or other long range wireless terminal for binocular viewing of captured video and long range two-way, multi-feed, multi-channel and multi-network real-time mobile telecommunications and active video and meta data display on said lenses.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, said sunglasses further comprising:

left and right optical scanning lenses configured for eye and facial movement monitoring for active, hands free automated eye-to-camera control of an external video camera headset unit via a joint networked connection with a Bluetooth Headphone wearable device port; and

said lenses further configured for day and near infrared binocular visual display of captured video content from said external hands-free wireless video camera headset on said left and right lenses.

38. The apparatus of claims 35, further comprising:

embedded power storage; and

dual micro USB ports configured to connect with left and right matching Bluetooth earpiece Headphone wearable multimedia device port systems for access to external and removable tethered power storage and extended runtime capabilities.

40. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising:

a docking station comprising a host connection for a Web cam, file access, remote control, and wired and wireless network access.