Method of using mobile communications devices for monitoring purposes and a system for implementation thereof

• US 7,885,681 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wohlstadter, Gil, Landschaft, Assaf, Wohlstadter, Gal
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN HOANG
• Application Number:
  US11/246,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20070082700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,950 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/68, 455/70, 455/95, 455/510
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Introduced is a method for using mobile communications devices for monitoring purposes. In one embodiment the method includes (1) a first mobile communications device to transmit a control signal to a second mobile communications device directing the second mobile communications device to capture an image with its camera and transmit the image to the first mobile communications device; and (2) displaying the image on a screen on the first mobile communications device.

Claims

1. A method for using mobile communications devices for monitoring purposes, comprising:

causing a first mobile communications device to remotely configure a second mobile communications device by transmitting a control signal directing said second mobile communications device to capture an image with its camera and transmit said image to said first mobile communications device; and

displaying said image on a screen on said first mobile communications device,

wherein said control signal directs said second mobile communications device to capture a single image or a video sequence, or to start a continuous capturing process, or for specific on-demand capturing of a single image or video sequence.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said control signal is transmitted by a mobile message system.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein said mobile message system is an SMS (Short Message Service) system.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein said control signal further directs said second mobile communications device to detect a time interval and to periodically capture and transmit an image at said time interval.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said control signal includes at least one parameter for configuring said second mobile communications device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said control signal is a trigger signal and said second mobile communications device captures an image in response to said trigger signal.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein transmitting said image is via a transmission medium selected from e-mail, multimedia message according to MMS (Multimedia Messaging System) standards and a video stream.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising compressing said image.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said control signal includes an identification code.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein said identification code is a telephone number of a cellular telephone.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising said second mobile communications device capturing audio data and transmitting said audio data to said first mobile communications device.

12. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising said second communications device detecting movement in the field of view of its camera and capturing an image in response to said movement.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first mobile communications device and said second mobile communications device are cellular telephones.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first mobile communications device transmits said control signal via a cellular communication network.

15. A monitoring system utilizing mobile communication devices, comprising:

a first mobile communications device having a means for transmitting a control signal; and

a second mobile communications device having a means to receive said control signal and a camera for capturing an image in response to said control signal, said second mobile communications device transmitting said image to said first communications device,

wherein said first communications device, by transmitting said control signal, remotely configures said second communications device, and wherein said control signal directs said second mobile communications device to capture a single image or a video sequence, or to start a continuous capturing process, or for specific on-demand capturing of a single image or video sequence.

16. The monitoring system as recited in claim 15 wherein said means for receiving control signals is adapted to receive control signals by means of a mobile messaging system.

17. The monitoring system as recited in claim 16 wherein said mobile messaging system is an SMS system.

18. The monitoring system as recited in claim 15 wherein said control signal is a trigger signal and said image constitutes either a single image or a video sequence transmitted in response to said trigger signal.

19. The monitoring system as recited in claim 15 wherein said control signal constitutes control parameters for said second mobile communications device system to automatically capture and transmit a single image or a video sequence.

20. The monitoring system as recited in claim 15 wherein said second mobile communications device is configured to detect movement in the field of view of its camera and to automatically capture and transmit a single image or a video sequence to said first communications device.

21. The monitoring system as recited in claim 15 further comprising a microphone associated with said second mobile communications device, said microphone capturing audio data for transmission to said first mobile communications device.

22. The monitoring system as recited in claim 15 wherein said image is transmitted via an e-mail or via a multimedia message in accordance with MMS (Multimedia Messaging System) standards.

23. A first mobile communications device adapted to control a second mobile communications device, comprising:

a controller for generating control signals;

a transmitter for transmitting said control signals to said second mobile communications device to remotely configure said second communications device;

a receiver for receiving an image captured by said second mobile communication device; and

a display for displaying said image,

wherein said control signal directs said second mobile communications device to capture a single image or a video sequence, or to start a continuous capturing process, or for specific on-demand capturing of a single image or video sequence.

24. A first mobile communications device as recited in claim 23 wherein said controller is adapted to generate a trigger signal to trigger the capture of an image by said second mobile communications device.

25. A first mobile communications device as recited in claim 23 wherein said controller is adapted to generate at least one configuration parameter for configuring said second mobile communications device.

26. A first mobile communications device as recited in claim 23 further comprising a means for receiving and outputting audio data captured by said second mobile communication device.

27. A first mobile communications device as recited in claim 23 wherein said first mobile communications device is adapted to transmit said control signals by a mobile messaging system.

28. A first mobile communications device as recited in claim 23 wherein said image is received via an e-mail, multimedia message service or a video stream.

29. A non-transitory digital storage medium, comprising:

electronically readable control instructions for controlling a controlled mobile communications device, said control instructions causing said controlled mobile communications device to;

capture an image in response to a control signal from a controlling mobile communications device, wherein said controlling mobile communications device configures said controlled mobile communications device to capture an image with its camera and transmit said image to said first mobile communications device; and

transmit said image to said controlling mobile communications device wherein said control signal directs said second mobile communications device to capture a single image or a video sequence, or to start a continuous capturing process, or for specific on demand capturing of a single image or video sequence.

30. A non-transitory digital storage medium as recited in claim 29 wherein said digital storage medium is a microchip.

31. A non-transitory digital storage medium, comprising:

electronically readable control instructions for controlling a first mobile communications device, said control instructions directing said first mobile communications device to;

transmit control signals to a second mobile communication device wherein said first mobile communications device configures said controlled mobile communications device to capture an image with its camera and transmit said image to said first mobile communications device, and wherein said control signal directs said second mobile communications device to capture a single image or a video sequence, or to start a continuous capturing process, or for specific on-demand capturing of a single image or video sequence; and

receive and display an image captured by said second mobile communication device.

32. A non-transitory digital storage medium as recited in claim 31 wherein said digital storage medium is a microchip.