HEADSET-BASED TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLATFORM

• US 20150085059A1
• Filed: 12/01/2014
• Published: 03/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eyeCam Inc.
• Original Assignee: Foundation Productions LLC
• Inventors: FISHER, Ronald Eugene, DAVIS, Bryan Jonathan, FISHER, James, PATIL, Nitin, BUSHARD, Bradley Brian, MEYER, Mark Joseph, YOUNG, Ben, JOHNSON, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,860,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.02
• 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. An apparatus, comprising:

an earpiece module including a microphone, an earphone, an antenna, a microprocessor, a memory, a data port, and a mechanism for receiving power from a battery associated therewith; and

a camera phone (CP) module including a processor, a memory storage, a camera, a data port, and a mechanism for receiving power from any of an onboard or external power source;

wherein the earpiece module and the CP module each include a complementary connector with which the CP module and the earpiece module are configured to be electrically and mechanically engaged;

wherein when the earpiece module and the CP module are disengaged, the earpiece module and the CP module are each configured to exhibit independent functionality, and when the earpiece module and the CP module are engaged, the earpiece module and the CP module operate interdependently as a unified apparatus;

wherein when the CP module and the earpiece module are disengaged;

the earpiece module is independently operable as any of a standalone media player and a wireless communications device for communication with any of the detached CP module or another wireless device over a network; and

the CP module is independently operable as a phone; and

wherein when the CP module and the earpiece module are engaged;

the attached CP module and earpiece module operate as a unified video camera and telecommunications headset having a form factor that is wearable by a user hands-free with the earphone positioned in the user'"'"'s ear.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the CP module and the earpiece module are engaged with each other, the weight of the attached CP module extends in front of the user'"'"'s ear and is counter-balanced by the weight of the battery associated with the earpiece module behind the user'"'"'s ear.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the battery associated with the earpiece module includes any of an internal battery, and a removable and rechargeable external earpiece battery.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the CP module includes a hand-held, GPS enabled, wide, local, and personal area network phone.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a flip out display on the CP module which, when the CP module is engaged with the earpiece module and worn as a headset, the flip out display is extendable to be worn over the user'"'"'s eye as a monocular viewfinder display.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

an optical sensor;

wherein when the flip out display is extended in front of the user'"'"'s eye as the monocular viewfinder display, the optical sensor is configured to monitor any of eye and facial motion of the user for active, hands-free control.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the active, hands-free control is associated with the camera.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to input a hand gesture command through any of a laser range finder, a camera, and a motion sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second earpiece module that when paired wirelessly or engaged with the earpiece module, the apparatus is configured to operate as any of a unified hands-free media player and set of stereo headphones.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a second camera phone (CP) module that is paired wirelessly or engaged with a second earpiece module and the CP module and worn as a headset on the user'"'"'s other ear; and

an adjustable neckpiece battery module for interconnecting the earpiece module, the second earpiece module, the CP module and the second CP module for at least one of;

stereo sound;

expanded networking;

media functionality;

memory;

power; and

operation as a unified dual camera;

operation as binocular display telecommunications headset.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

multimedia display glasses module operable as a single unified binocular display telecommunications headset when paired wirelessly or engaged with in combination the earpiece module and the CP module; and

a modular device, data, and network management system and gateway for establishing a communications network with the earpiece module and with the CP module.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the modular device, data, and network management system and gateway is adapted to perform at least one of:

configuring the earpiece module and the CP module for engagement and disengagement, or for wireless pairing, and autonomous or unified operation; and

expanding to engage/disengage at least one of the earpiece module and the CP module in any of a synchronized, ad-hoc or coordinated, hierarchical, or managed network organizational model to effect a standard modular device and data management system.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the CP module further comprises:

a CP module housing physically containing any of;

a GPS enabled wide, local, and personal area network telephone, including a microphone and a speaker;

a laser range finder and light, motion and orientation sensors;

an optical and/or digital zoom and autofocusing system; and

a retractable and extendable tilting viewfinder screen.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the camera is configured for any of daylight, low light, near-infrared and infrared conditions.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising within the CP module housing at least one of:

a module for automatically zooming and focusing on people and objects in the camera'"'"'s field of view by using the laser range finder and IR light and motion sensor to identify the distance to objects in the camera'"'"'s field of view, and for automatically selecting an optimum optical zoom and focal distance to one or more objects;

a module for detecting eye and facial movement to identify objects of interest and interpretation of the eye and facial movement for hands-free control of the camera and automation of camera optical and/or digital zoom and auto focusing system;

a module for capturing audio input;

a module for capturing voice input and interpreting the voice input as any of a voice command, voice activation, and speaker authentication; and

a module for detecting motion and orientation as an event for triggering action of one or more devices contained within the camera phone housing module.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor performing power management tasks of a power management subsystem that optimize use of power, including automatically determining, based on power availability, at least one of;

which communication protocol to use;

whether to use a camera light or not; and

which recording options to use.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the earpiece module further comprises at least one of:

a slot for plugging in a removable storage device;

a power and data port for an external removable battery module or neckpiece battery;

a high speed power and data port for connecting the earpiece module with the camera phone module; and

at least one button for control.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein when the camera phone module is engaged with the earpiece module, the apparatus is enabled to perform at least one of the following:

a microphone contained within a camera phone module is selectively disabled or used in coordination with a corresponding earpiece module microphone for selective noise cancelation or selective voice recognition and audio recording, wherein the earpiece module is operable to provide voice input commands to each of the earpiece module and camera phone module;

a speaker contained within a camera phone module is selectively disabled, and a corresponding headphone speaker contained within the earpiece module is operable to provide output from the camera phone module; and

the camera phone module is operable to store media or data to, or retrieve media or data from, the removable storage device contained within the earpiece module.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a docking station configured to receive the earpiece module and is further configured to provide external power accessory battery charging, a host connection, and peripheral expansion to the earpiece module and the CP module.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of sunglasses having integrated therein;

an eyeglass frame holding two lenses comprising displays that provide a binocular see-through media display;

the eyeglass frame comprising right and left arm supports, each arm support including any of an optical and/or digital zoom camera and supporting an earpiece headphone;

the eyeglass frame further comprising an optical sensor for tracking any of eye or facial movement; and

a module for providing devices attached to the eyeglass frame access to a wireless network.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus is further configured for at least one of:

monitoring any of eye and facial movements with the optical sensor, and controlling the camera with the eye and facial movement information received over the wireless network;

wherein the two lenses comprise left and right lenses further configured for any of daylight, lowlight, near infrared and infrared binocular visual display of captured video content from a video camera;

wherein the wireless network is operable to transfer multimedia data to and from a device that is not attached to the apparatus; and

wherein the wireless network is operable to transfer audio data between the apparatus and a mobile telephone that is not attached to the apparatus.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a docking station configured to receive the earpiece module and further configured to provide any of external power, accessory battery charging, a host connection, and peripheral expansion.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one function of the apparatus is manually controllable through any of a button or a touch screen array.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the CP module is enabled for real-time viewing of any of captured video and data on the flip out monocular viewfinder display.

25. A method of operation for an apparatus comprising an earpiece module comprising a microphone, an earphone, an antenna, a microprocessor, a memory, a data port, and a battery associated therewith, and a camera phone (CP) module comprising a processor, a memory storage, a data port, and a battery associated therewith, wherein the earpiece module and the CP module each include a complementary connector with which the CP module and the earpiece module are configured to be electrically and mechanically engaged, wherein the method comprises:

operating the earpiece module and the CP module with independent functionality when the earpiece module and the CP module are disengaged from each other; and

operating the earpiece module and the CP module as a unified apparatus when the earpiece module and the CP module are engaged with each other;

wherein when the CP module and the earpiece module are disengaged from each other;

the earpiece module operates independently as any of a standalone media player and a wireless communications device to communicate with any of the detached CP module or another wireless device over a network; and

the CP module operates independently as a phone; and

wherein when the CP module and the earpiece module are engaged with each other;

the attached CP module and earpiece module operate as a unified video camera and telecommunications headset having a form factor that is wearable by a user hands-free with the earphone positioned in the user'"'"'s ear.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein when the CP module and the earpiece module are engaged with each other, the weight of the attached CP module extends in front of the user'"'"'s ear and is counter-balanced by the weight of the battery associated with the earpiece module behind the user'"'"'s ear.