METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A NETWORKED CAMERA

• US 20120127319A1
• Filed: 11/19/2010
• Published: 05/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Rao, Mahesh Vittal, Angadi, Sateesh Veerabhadrappa, Babu, Saravana, Kumar, Ajith, Mangeshwar, Vikram B.
• Granted Patent: US 10,560,621 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/169
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• 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 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling a remote camera is described. The apparatus includes a housing and a processor positioned within the housing. A transceiver coupled to the processor communicates with a remote server. The remote server is coupled to the remote camera. A motion tracking component is mechanically coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the processor. The motion tracking component generates a motion signal. The remote server controls a parameter of the remote camera in response to the motion signal. A display is coupled to the processor for displaying the output signal from the remote camera. The output signal is associated with the parameter of the remote camera.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a remote camera, comprising:

a housing;

a processor located within the housing;

a transceiver coupled to the processor for communicating with a remote server, the remote server being coupled to the remote camera;

a motion tracking component mechanically coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the processor for generating a motion signal, the remote server controlling a parameter of the remote camera in response to the motion signal; and

a display coupled to the processor for displaying an output signal from the remote camera, the output signal being associated with the parameter of the remote camera.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the parameter comprises one of a pan, a tilt, a zoom, and a focus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remote camera comprises a webcam.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output signal comprises a video signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transceiver comprises a cellular radio.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touch screen display.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motion tracking component comprises at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a global positioning system (GPS) module, a magnetometer, and a digital compass.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a face detection module coupled to the processor, the face detection module controlling a parameter of the remote camera in response to a detection of a face.

9. A system comprising:

a mobile device having a motion tracking component for generating a motion signal based on a motion of the mobile device;

a remote server in communication with the mobile device, the remote server receiving the motion signal; and

a remote camera in communication with the remote server, the remote server controlling a parameter of the remote camera in response to the motion signal.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the mobile device comprises a transceiver for communicating with the remote server.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the transceiver comprises a cellular radio.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the remote server and the remote camera are integrated into a single remote unit.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the mobile device further comprises a display for displaying an output signal from the remote camera, the output signal being associated with the parameter of the remote camera.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the output signal comprises a video signal.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the parameter comprises one of a pan, a tilt, a zoom, and a focus.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the parameter comprises a selection of a portion of an image captured by the camera.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the remote camera comprises a webcam.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein the motion tracking component comprises at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a global positioning system (GPS) module, a magnetometer, and a digital compass.

19. The system of claim 9, wherein the mobile device further comprises a face detection module, the face detection module controlling a parameter of the remote camera in response to a detection of a face.

20. An apparatus for controlling a remote camera, comprising:

a housing;

a processing means located within the housing;

a means for communicating with a remote server, the remote server being coupled to the remote camera;

a means for generating a motion signal related to a motion of the housing, the remote server controlling a parameter of the remote camera in response to the motion signal; and

a means for displaying an output signal from the remote camera, the output signal being associated with the parameter of the remote camera.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for generating the motion signal comprises mechanically coupling a motion tracking component to the housing.