SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN INFRARED CAMERA USING A MOBILE PHONE

• US 20130072120A1
• Filed: 08/28/2012
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guangzhou Sat Infrared Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Guangzhou Sat Infrared Technology Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Wu, Jiping
• Granted Patent: US 8,903,317 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop

Abstract

The present application provides a system and method for controlling an infrared camera by using a mobile phone. The system includes a client and an infrared camera used as a server and connected to the client through a communication network. The infrared camera is mounted in a location to perform infrared measuring and/or monitoring, so as to provide infrared image videos of a monitored object and temperature data of the points contained in an infrared image. The client is mounted in a position far away from the location of the infrared camera to provide a remote control for the infrared camera. The present application allows monitoring personnel or a user to remotely monitor and control an infrared camera by using a mobile phone.

Claims

1. A system for controlling an infrared camera using a mobile phone, the system comprising:

a client; and

an infrared camera used as a server and connected to the client through a communication network, wherein the infrared camera is mounted in a location where infrared measuring and/or monitoring is performed, so as to provide infrared image videos of a monitored object and temperature data of the points contained in an infrared image, wherein

the client is located remotely from the location of the infrared camera to provide a remote control for the infrared camera.

2. The system for controlling an infrared camera by using a mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein the client is a mobile phone comprising a display screen, and the remote control for the infrared camera comprises:

controlling movement orientations, oblique angles, rotation angles and image capture actions of a camera head in the infrared camera;

intercepting and transmitting the infrared image videos captured by the infrared camera, and displaying the obtained results on the display screen of the mobile phone; and

transmitting the sound information coming from the mobile phone to the infrared camera to record and/or play, and transmitting the sound information coming from the infrared camera to the mobile phone to record and/or play.

3. The system for controlling an infrared camera by using a mobile phone according to claim 2, wherein the mobile phone comprises:

a keyboard for generating and transmitting control commands;

an image analysis and treatment module for receiving infrared image data signals sent from the infrared camera, and extracting temperature information and forming an image browser;

a sound record and play module for sending real-time sound data generated by the mobile phone or stored sound data to the infrared camera, and receiving, recording and/or playing sound data coming from the infrared camera; and

a mobile phone communication interface connected respectively with the keyboard, the image analysis and treatment module and the sound record and play module, wherein the mobile phone communication interface is used for transmitting and receiving signals coming from and/or going to the infrared camera, and the signals comprise control command signals, sound data signals and image data signals; and

wherein the display screen is for displaying image and data information generated by the image analysis and treatment module.

4. The system for controlling an infrared camera by using a mobile phone according to claim 2, wherein the infrared camera comprises a built-in platform and a camera head, and wherein the built-in platform includes thereon:

a control module for receiving and identifying control commands coming from the mobile phone and for transforming the control commands into operation commands respectively corresponding to action controlling, image intercepting, and sound recording and playing;

an image interception and buffer module for intercepting, buffering and transmitting infrared image videos captured by the camera head;

a sound reading and writing module for receiving and recording sound data coming from the mobile phone, and transmitting the sound data generated by the infrared camera to the mobile phone; and

a camera communication interface for transmitting and receiving signals coming from and/or going to the mobile phone, wherein the signals comprise the control command signals, the sound data signals and the image data signals.

5. The system for controlling an infrared camera by using a mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein the infrared camera comprises a built-in platform and a camera head, and wherein the built-in platform includes thereon:

a control module for receiving and identifying control commands coming from the mobile phone and for transforming the control commands into operation commands respectively corresponding to action controlling, image intercepting, and sound recording and playing;

an image interception and buffer module for intercepting, buffering and transmitting infrared image videos captured by the camera head;

a sound reading and writing module for receiving and recording sound data coming from the mobile phone, and transmitting the sound data generated by the infrared camera to the mobile phone; and

a camera communication interface for transmitting and receiving signals coming from and/or going to the mobile phone, wherein the signals comprise the control command signals, the sound data signals and the image data signals.

6. A method for controlling an infrared camera using a mobile phone, the method comprising:

providing a remote control for the infrared camera using a client located remote from the infrared camera; and

providing infrared image videos of a monitored object and temperature data of the points included in an infrared image by an infrared camera mounted in a location so as to perform infrared measuring and/or monitoring.

7. The method for controlling an infrared camera by using a mobile phone according to claim 6, wherein the client is a mobile phone, and wherein providing the remote control for the infrared camera comprises:

controlling movement orientations, oblique angles and rotation angles, and image capture actions of a camera head in the infrared camera;

intercepting, buffering, analyzing and transmitting the infrared image videos captured by the infrared camera, and displaying the obtained results on a display screen of the mobile phone; and

transmitting sound information coming from the mobile phone to the infrared camera to record and/or play, and transmitting sound information coming from the infrared camera to the mobile phone to record and/or play.

8. The method for controlling an infrared camera by using a mobile phone according to claim 7, wherein providing the remote control further comprises:

realizing communication of signals between the mobile phone and the infrared camera through a mobile phone communication interface and a camera communication interface respectively set on the mobile phone and the infrared camera, wherein the signals comprise control command signals, sound data signals and image data signals to be transmitted therebetween.

9. The method for controlling an infrared camera by using a mobile phone according to claim 8, wherein the mobile phone communication interface and the camera communication interface carry out wireless communication therebetween under Bluetooth communication protocols.

10. The method for controlling an infrared camera by using a mobile phone according to claim 8, wherein the mobile phone communication interface and the camera communication interface communicate with each other under WiFi-based LAN communication protocols, wherein the mobile phone and the infrared camera are each connected to a network by way of a wireless access point (AP).

11. The method for controlling an infrared camera by using a mobile phone according to claim 8, wherein the mobile phone communication interface and the camera communication interface communicate with each other under WiFi-based LAN communication protocols, wherein the mobile phone is connected to a network by way of a wireless access point (AP), and the infrared camera is directly connected to the network via a network data interface.

12. The method for controlling an infrared camera by using a mobile phone according to claim 8, wherein the mobile phone communication interface and the camera communication interface carry out wireless communication therebetween under WiFi-based ad-hoc network communication protocols.