Disablement of camera functionality for a portable device

• US 7,414,529 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2006
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Boss, Gregory J., Waters, Timothy M., Hamilton, Rick A. II, Gontkof, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeff
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SIGMUND N
• Application Number:
  US11/462,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20080030588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/540, 340/506, 340/539.13, 340/988, 455/456.1, 455/401.4, 455/414.1, 455/411, 455/410, 455/420, 348/162, 348/207.99, 348/211.99, 348/211.1, 348/211.2, 709/223
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure

Abstract

Systems, methods, media, and apparatuses for disabling camera functionality in a portable device are disclosed. Embodiments of the method may include establishing a connection with a camera-enabled portable device and transmitting to the portable device a request for permission to disable camera functionality. Embodiments of the method may also include receiving a response from the portable device relating to permission to disable camera functionality. Further embodiments of the method may include, in response to receiving permission to disable camera functionality, transmitting to the portable device a command to disable camera functionality or, in response to receiving an indication that the user refused permission, displaying a notification message. The command to disable camera functionality may include a command to disable camera functionality for a prescribed period, while the portable device is located within a secure geographical location, partially or fully disable camera functionality, and/or other methodology.

Claims

1. A method for disabling camera functionality of a portable device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with a camera-enabled portable device;

transmitting to the portable device a request for permission to disable camera functionality; and

receiving a response from the portable device relating to permission to disable camera functionality, the received response providing an indication of whether a user of the portable device granted permission to disable camera functionality.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising in response to the received response indicating the user granted permission to disable camera functionality, transmitting to the portable device a command to disable camera functionality.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein transmitting to the portable device a command to disable camera functionality comprises transmitting to the portable device one or more of a command to disable camera functionality for a prescribed period, a command to disable camera functionality while the portable device is located within a secure geographical location, a command to partially disable camera functionality, or a command to fully disable camera functionality.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising in response to the received response indicating that the user refused permission to disable camera functionality, displaying a notification message.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising in response to determining that camera functionality should be enabled, transmitting to the portable device a request to enable camera functionality.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing information relating to camera disablement for the portable device in a log.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the received response comprises one or more of confirmation of disablement of camera functionality, an indication that the user granted permission to fully disable camera functionality, an indication that the user granted permission to partially disable camera functionality, or an indication that user refused permission to dissable camera functionality.

8. A camera disablement module apparatus for a security computer system, comprising:

a camera-enabled portable device interface to facilitate communication to and from a camera-enabled portable device;

a user permission module in communication with the camera-enabled portable device interface to request permission from a user of the portable device to disable camera functionality; and

a disablement command generator in communication with the camera-enabled portable device interface to generate and transmit a command to disable camera functionality of the portable device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a security alert module in communication with the user permission module to notify security personnel in response to the user refusing permission to disable camera functionality.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the disablement command generator transmits a command to disable camera functionality of the portable device in response to receiving from the user permission module an indication that the user granted permission to disable camera functionality.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the disablement command generator generates and transmits a command to enable camera functionality to the portable device in response to determining that camera functionality should be enabled.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the command to disable camera functionality of the portable device comprises one or more of a command to disable camera functionality for a prescribed period, a command to disable camera functionality while the portable device is located within a secure geographical location, a command to partially disable camera functionality, or a command to fully disable camera functionality.

13. A method for disabling camera functionality of a portable device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with a security computer system;

receiving from the security computer system a request for permission to disable camera functionality;

querying a user for permission to disable camera functionality of the portable device;

receiving a response to the query from the user, the user response comprising an indication of whether the user granted or refused permission to allow disablement of camera functionality of the portable device; and

in response to the user granting permission to allow disablement of camera functionality, disabling at least part of the camera functionality of the portable device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising in response to the user refusing permission to allow disablement of camera functionality, transmitting an indication of the user response to the security computer system.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting confirmation of camera functionality disablement to the security computer system.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising enabling camera functionality in response to completion of a prescribed period.