Real-Time Remote-Viewing Digital Compass

• US 20110122244A1
• Filed: 09/25/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ErgonoTech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kyu Hwang Cho
• Inventors: Cho, Kyu Hwang
• Granted Patent: US 8,643,715 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/113
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

Vehicle-mounted video cameras, if and when wirelessly connected via a hybrid transceiver of satellite and terrestrial links and either through a randomly-formed vehicle-to-vehicle network, or via mobile web links, may enable motorists behind the wheel to remotely see either on a navigator screen, or on a screen of mobile equipment, inclusive of handsets and tablet PCs, any real-time video images of traffic and/or street scenes, far beyond physical limits of human eyesight. In pursuing the said peer-to-peer advantages, the real-time street views targeted in any directions can be picked at the discretion of motorists, by transmitting the location-based inquiry to the targeted on-vehicle cameras, by tapping on an in-vehicle touchscreen or a mobile device screen and also by activating voice commands, if necessary. The viewable range and directions are only affected or limited by the signal strength based on the density of moving vehicles in between and the availability of interconnected roadside stationary surveillance fixtures as well as the availability of target vehicles equipped with video cameras.

Claims

1. A mobile stationary device, powered by 12-volt vehicle battery and built into the center of vehicular dashboard, the system comprising:

a hybrid transceiver enabled for both satellite and terrestrial telecommunications plus GPS (Global Position System) tracking technology;

a haptic display screen measuring 10″

(W)×

7.5″

(L) minimum for interacting with a user and a Base Station using a plurality of modalities;

a processor with random access memory and flash memory with the following coupled hereto and correspondingly configured;

a haptic capture system to capture finger action;

more than one video camera reinforced with IR illuminators, configured to capture video images day and night in any weather conditions, transmit real-time video captures and installed at a height of 12″

max. on the rooftop of a vehicle, with a competent graphics accelerator card coupled hereto;

an onboard memory to store the captured touch or captured audio data responsive to the processor identifying the input;

the said display system to output display data stored in the onboard memory responsive to the processor identifying an output associated with the captured haptic data or with the captured audio data or with the captured data signal;

an audio output system to play stored audio data responsive to the processor identifying an output associated with the captured haptic data or with the captured audio data or with the captured data signal;

an audio input system or microphone to capture audio data and execute voice commands to determine target distances of 5 to 50 miles responsive to the processor identifying an input associated with the location data in terms of latitude, longitude and altitude;

and a wireless broadband system comprising a modem, a router, a SIM card, and appurtenances thereof;

and computer program code stored on a memory and configured to be executed by the processor, the computer program code including instructions for identifying an input associated with the captured haptic data or with the captured audio data or with the captured data signal, and instructions for providing an output as display data to the display system or audio data to the audio output system.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the compass dial with a set of four concentric circles intended for haptic selection of target distances and directions up to 50 miles maximum by finger touch plus voice commands, comprises the steps of:

selecting an initially targeted distance, if desired within 4 miles, by tapping one of the said circles with a finger and then dragging the said finger toward a desired direction across the said dial surface in a beeline to choose from the 16 indicated directions or more;

adjusting the initially-selected distance by a fraction of 1-to-15 16^th of one mile to finalize the targeted distance by continued finger action, of which clockwise or counter clockwise move on the dial surface will determine whether to adjust the initially-selected distance downward or upward;

enabling the selection of target distances exceeding 4 miles to be executed by voice commands, which can be activated by pressing with a fingertip the outermost circle(reading 4 miles) where it is the closest to the desired direction and by continuing to drag the said fingertip enough to cross the border of said circle;

and calculating and converting a finalized target distance into targeted geographic coordinates in terms of latitude and longitude.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein a hybrid type of telecommunications system of both satellite and terrestrial links, enables real-time viewing on a touchscreen installed at a viewer vehicle of the video images of traffic scenes and/or street scenes, captured by more than one targeted vehicle, comprising;

steps of providing multiple choices of targeted video data events, either live or archived, in the Multipup array;

and steps of choosing an option to use cloud-based images instead if and when it is not possible to either capture real-time video images or identify any target vehicles equipped with a video camera compatible with vehicle-to-vehicle data transmission.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein on-vehicle positions of video cameras to be mounted on a vehicle rooftop and the desirable length of the lens-supporting pole are so arranged as to install eight video cameras on said vehicle rooftop.

5. A combination of methods enabling real-time video captures to be propagated through either vehicle-to-vehicle network or mobile web network in order to be delivered to a remote viewer on a touchscreen, comprising:

transmitting location-based inquiries to a target zone via satellite in search for target vehicles and receiving metadata feedback from said target vehicles or alternative sources via satellite to facilitate tracking of video data;

utilizing terrestrial networks to transmit bandwidth-heavy video data events to a viewer fast and clear;

seeking for video captures executed by roadside CCTV cameras In the event of no target vehicle equipped with a camcorder available;

and seeking for cloud-based data in the event of non-availability of live video captures from both roadside CCTV cameras and vehicle-mounted camcorders in the target zone.

6. A combination of methods providing a direct access to on-screen menu options of Remote-view, Tap-View and Self-view on a navigator screen, the steps comprising:

pressing and holding a target spot on the navigation map of said screen_to transmit a location inquiry to a satellite network by skipping the process of converting a target distance into geographical coordinates.