Environmental cameras

• US 7,042,355 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2002
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Hunter, Andrew Arthur, Hall, Glenn Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US10/073,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20020149680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,548 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340/540, 340/426, 340/429, 340/937, 340/539, 340/539.17, 340/539.26, 348/143, 348/152, 348/153, 348/154, 348/155
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

An image capture detection system including a short range radio transmitter (13) and a short range radio receiver and decoder (12) installed in or on an image capture device (10). The system further comprises a remote detection unit (14) also comprising a short range radio transmitter (18) and a short range radio receiver and decoder (16). In use, the remote detection unit (14) transmits intermittent query signals (22) which are received by the receiver (12) in the image capture device (10) when the remote detection unit (14) is within a predetermined distance or range thereof. In response to receipt of the query signals (22), the transmitter (13) in the image capture device (10) is arranged to transmit an indicator signal (24) which is received by the remote detection unit (14). The remote detection unit (14) is arranged to generate a warning signal in response to receipt of the indicator signal ((24).

Claims

1. A detection system for detecting the presence of an image capture device in the vicinity of a person, the detection system comprising an indicator unit installed in or on the image capture device, the indicator unit being configured to emit an indicator signal to the person to indicate the presence of the image capture device in the vicinity of the person, whereby detection of the indicator signal by a remote detection unit causes the remote detection unit to alert the person of the presence of the image capture device.

2. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the indicator unit emits the indicator signal in response to an external stimulus.

3. The detection system of claim 2, wherein the image capture device further comprises a sensor arranged to sense the external stimulus.

4. The detection system of claim 3, wherein the sensor is an acoustic detector.

5. The detection system of claim 3, wherein the sensor is a motion detector.

6. The detection system of claim 3, further comprising the remote detection unit having a radio transmitter, wherein the sensor of the image capture device is a radio receiver arranged to receive a query signal transmitted by the radio transmitter of the remote detection unit when the remote detection unit is within a predetermined range of the image capture device.

7. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the indicator unit is a warning device and the indicator signal is an alarm signal.

8. The detection system of claim 7, wherein the alarm signal is an audible signal.

9. The detection system of claim 7, wherein the alarm signal is a visible signal.

10. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the indicator unit is a radio transmitter and the indicator signal is a radio signal.

11. The detection system of claim 10, wherein the radio transmitter is arranged to emit radio signals periodically.

12. The detection system of claim 10, wherein the radio transmitter is arranged to emit radio signals continuously.

13. The detection system of claim 10, further comprising the remote detection unit carried by the person, the remote detection unit having a radio receiver arranged to receive radio signals transmitted by the radio transmitter of the image capture device when the remote detection unit is within a predetermined range of the image capture device.

14. The detection system of claim 13, wherein the remote detection unit further comprises a warning device to indicate the presence of the image capture device in the vicinity of the person.

15. The detection system of claim 14, wherein the warning device emits an audible alarm signal.

16. The detection system of claim 14, wherein the warning device emits a visible alarm signal.

17. The detection system of claim 14, wherein the warning device emits a tactile alarm signal.

18. The detection system of claim 13, wherein the remote detection unit further comprises a display screen arranged to display information carried by the radio signal.

19. The detection system of claim 18, wherein the display screen is arranged to indicate the presence of the image capture device in the vicinity of the person.

20. The detection system of claim 18, wherein the display screen is arranged to display information indicating the capabilities of the image capture device.

21. The detection system of claim 18, wherein the display screen is arranged to display information indicating the status of the image capture device.

22. The detection system of claim 18, wherein the display screen is arranged to display information indicating details of a person or entity responsible for the image capture device.

23. The detection system of claim 18, wherein the display screen is arranged to display information indicating details of a person or groups of people authorized to access images captured by the image capture device.

24. The detection system of claim 18, wherein the display screen is arranged to display information indicating licensing details.

25. The detection system of claim 13, wherein the remote detection unit further comprises a storage device arranged to store information carried by the radio signal.

26. The detection system of claim 13, wherein the radio transmitter emits the radio signal in response to an external stimulus.

27. The detection system of claim 26, wherein the image capture device further comprises a sensor to detect the external stimulus.

28. The detection system of claim 27, wherein the sensor is a motion detector or acoustic sensor.

29. The detection system of claim 26, wherein the remote detection unit further comprises the radio transmitter, wherein the radio receiver arranged to receive a query signal transmitted by the radio transmitter of the remote detection unit when the remote detection unit is within the predetermined range of the image capture device.

30. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the indicator unit is an infrared transmitter and the indicator signal is an infrared signal.

31. The detection system of claim 30, further comprising the remote detection unit carried by the person, the remote detection unit comprising an infrared receiver arranged to receive the infrared signal transmitted by the infrared transmitter of the image capture device when the infrared receiver is in the field of view of the infrared transmitter.

32. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the image capture device is a camera.

33. The detection system of claim 32, wherein the camera is a video camera.

34. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the image capture device is located in a public area.

35. A method for detecting the presence of an image capture device in the vicinity of a person, the method comprising:

receiving a stimulus from outside the image capture device; and

emitting an indicator signal that indicates the presence of the image capture device in the vicinity of the person, whereby detection of the indicator signal by a portable remote detection unit causes the portable remote detection unit to alert the person of the presence of the image capture device.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein receiving the stimulus further comprises receiving an acoustic signal.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein receiving the stimulus further comprises detecting motion.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein receiving the stimulus further comprises receiving a query signal from the portable remote detection unit carried by the person.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein emitting the indicator signal further comprises emitting a radio signal to the portable remote detection unit in response to the query signal.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein emitting the indicator signal further comprises emitting an audible alarm.

41. The method of claim 35, wherein emitting the indicator signal further comprises emitting a visible alarm.

42. A method comprising:

transmitting a radio signal from an image capture device;

receiving the radio signal by a remote detection unit carried by a person, wherein the radio signal is received when the parson is in the vicinity of the image capture device; and

indicating the presence of the image capture device, via the remote detection unit, to the person in the vicinity of the image capture device.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein transmitting the radio signal comprises transmitting the radio signal periodically.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein indicating the presence of the image capture device further comprises emitting an audible alarm signal from the remote detection unit.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein indicating the presence of the image capture device further comprises emitting a visible alarm signal from the remote detection unit.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein indicating the presence of the image capture device further comprises vibrating the remote detection unit.

47. The method of claim 42, further comprising indicating the capabilities of the image capture device.

48. The method of claim 42, further comprising indicating the status of the image capture device.

49. The method of claim 42, further comprising indicating the details of the person or entity responsible for the image capture device.

50. The method of claim 42, further comprising indicating the details of the person or groups of people authorized to access images captured by the image capture device.

51. The method of claim 42, further comprising storing information carried by the radio signal.

52. A personal device, comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive a radio signal transmitted by a remote image capture device, the signal indicating at least presence of the image capture device; and

a warning device configured to indicate the presence of the image capture device to a person when in the vicinity of the image capture device,

wherein the personal device is carried by the person.