ACCESSING WEB-BASED CAMERAS ARRANGED BY CATEGORY

• US 20110187865A1
• Filed: 02/02/2010
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: FELT, Michelle, GHARACHORLOO, Nader, MOSHREFI, Afshin
• Granted Patent: US 9,602,776 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/159
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A device receives category information associated with multiple cameras, and receives video information from the multiple cameras. The device also arranges the video information based on the category information associated with the multiple cameras and based on location information associated with a user device. The device further receives a video request from the user device, and provides, to the user device, video information from a camera, of the multiple cameras, that matches the video request.

Claims

1. A computing device-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, by the computing device, category information associated with a plurality of cameras;

receiving, by the computing device, video information from the plurality of cameras;

arranging, by the computing device, the video information based on the category information associated with the plurality of cameras and based on location information associated with a user device;

receiving, by the computing device, a video request from the user device; and

providing, by the computing device and to the user device, video information from a camera, of the plurality of cameras, that matches the video request.

2. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, where the location information includes global positioning system (GPS) coordinates associated with the user device.

3. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, where the category information includes categories associated with the plurality of cameras.

4. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, where arranging the video information includes one or more of:

arranging the video information based on camera distance from the user device,

arranging the video information based on a category associated with restaurants,

arranging the video information based on a category associated with stores,

arranging the video information based on a category associated with traffic information,

arranging the video information based on a category associated with gas stations, or

arranging the video information based on a category associated with parking lots.

5. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the user device, selection of a camera application; and

providing, to the user device and when the camera application is selected, a list of camera categories based on the arranged video information.

6. The computing device-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving, from the user device, selection of a camera category from the list of camera categories; and

providing, to the user device, a list of cameras, from the plurality of cameras, associated with the selected camera category.

7. The computing device-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving, from the user device, selection of a camera from the list of cameras; and

providing, to the user device, video information from the selected camera.

8. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining categories for the plurality of cameras based on location information associated with the plurality of cameras; and

arranging the video information based on the determined categories.

9. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, where the user device includes one or more of:

a radiotelephone, a personal communications system (PCS) terminal,

a personal digital assistant (PDA),

a portable media player,

a laptop computer,

a personal computer,

a global positioning system (GPS) navigation device,

a set-top box (STB), or

a television.

17. The device of claim 1, where, when ordering the video information, the processor is further to execute instructions in the memory to one or more of:

order the video information based on camera distance from the user device.

10. A device comprising:

a memory to store a plurality of instructions; and

a processor to execute instructions in the memory to;

receive category information associated with a plurality of cameras,

receive video information from the plurality of cameras,

order the video information based on the category information associated with the plurality of cameras and based on location information associated with a user device, and

provide, to the user device, a list of camera categories based on the ordered video information.

11. The device of claim 10, where the processor is further to execute instructions in the memory to:

receive, from the user device, selection of a camera category from the list of camera categories, and

provide, to the user device, a list of cameras, from the plurality of cameras, associated with the selected camera category.

12. The device of claim 11, where the processor is further to execute instructions in the memory to:

receive, from the user device, selection of a camera from the list of cameras, and

provide, to the user device, video information from the selected camera.

13. The device of claim 10, where the processor is further to execute instructions in the memory to:

receive a video request from the user device, and

provide, to the user device, video information from a camera, of the plurality of cameras, that matches the video request.

14. The device of claim 10, where the location information includes global positioning system (GPS) coordinates associated with the user device.

15. The device of claim 10, where the category information includes categories associated with the plurality of cameras.

16. The device of claim 15, where the categories include one or more of:

a category associated with restaurants,

a category associated with stores,

a category associated with malls,

a category associated with traffic information,

a category associated with gas stations, or

a category associated with parking lots.

18. The device of claim 10, where the processor is further to execute instructions in the memory to:

determine categories for the plurality of cameras based on location information associated with the plurality of cameras, and

order the video information based on the determined categories.

19. A device comprising:

means for receiving location information and category information associated with a plurality of cameras;

means for receiving video information from the plurality of cameras;

means for arranging the video information based on one of the location information or the category information associated with the plurality of cameras and based on location information associated with a user device;

means for receiving, from the user device, selection of a camera application;

means for providing, to the user device and when the camera application is selected, a list of camera categories based on the arranged video information;

means for receiving, from the user device, selection of a camera category from the list of camera categories;

means for providing, to the user device, a list of cameras, from the plurality of cameras, associated with the selected camera category;

means for receiving, from the user device, selection of a camera from the list of cameras; and

means for providing, to the user device, video information from the selected camera.

20. The device of claim 19, where the device includes a server device interconnected with the user device and the plurality of cameras via a network.