Method and apparatus for hosting a network camera with image degradation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for displaying an image from a camera on a user'"'"'s system, the method comprising:
- executing, by a processor, at a site remote from the user'"'"'s system, the steps of;
sending the image to the user'"'"'s system via a network;
refreshing the image periodically according to a refresh frequency rate;
maintaining a counter of a number of refreshes that have occurred and a timer of a refresh time since the last image refresh, the refresh frequency rate being evaluated based on the counter and the timer;
determining whether the user is inactive, and whether to refresh the image based on a value of the timer and the refresh frequency rate, and incrementing the counter when the image is refreshed;
adjusting image parameters over a period of time to produce a degraded image in response to a determination that the user is inactive;
periodically sending the degraded image, during the period of time, to the user'"'"'s system via the network when the refresh frequency indicates a time for an image refresh;
re-evaluating the refresh frequency rate when the counter reaches a preset threshold value, wherein the re-evaluation of the refresh frequency rate causes the rate to increase, decrease, or completely stop refreshing of the image; and
increasing quality of the degraded image upon receiving a user request to improve the quality of the degraded image.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing an improved Internet camera is described. The method of keeping a refreshed image from a camera on a user'"'"'s system comprises sending the image to the user'"'"'s system and refreshing the image periodically. The method further comprises after a period of time, degrading the image.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method for displaying an image from a camera on a user'"'"'s system, the method comprising:
-
executing, by a processor, at a site remote from the user'"'"'s system, the steps of; sending the image to the user'"'"'s system via a network; refreshing the image periodically according to a refresh frequency rate; maintaining a counter of a number of refreshes that have occurred and a timer of a refresh time since the last image refresh, the refresh frequency rate being evaluated based on the counter and the timer; determining whether the user is inactive, and whether to refresh the image based on a value of the timer and the refresh frequency rate, and incrementing the counter when the image is refreshed; adjusting image parameters over a period of time to produce a degraded image in response to a determination that the user is inactive; periodically sending the degraded image, during the period of time, to the user'"'"'s system via the network when the refresh frequency indicates a time for an image refresh; re-evaluating the refresh frequency rate when the counter reaches a preset threshold value, wherein the re-evaluation of the refresh frequency rate causes the rate to increase, decrease, or completely stop refreshing of the image; and increasing quality of the degraded image upon receiving a user request to improve the quality of the degraded image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method for displaying an image from a camera on a user'"'"'s system, the method of comprising:
-
sending the image to the user'"'"'s system via a network; refreshing the image periodically according to a refresh frequency rate; maintaining a counter of a number of refreshes that have occurred and a timer of a refresh time since the last image refresh, the refresh frequency rate being evaluated based on the counter and the timer; determining whether the user is inactive, and whether to refresh the image based on a value of the timer and the refresh frequency rate, and incrementing the counter when the image is refreshed; adjusting image parameters over a period of time to produce a degraded image in response to a determination that the user is inactive; periodically sending the degraded image, during the period of time, to the user'"'"'s system via the network when the refresh frequency indicates a time for an image refresh; re-evaluating the refresh frequency rate when the counter reaches a preset threshold value, wherein the re-evaluation of the refresh frequency rate causes the rate to increase, decrease, or completely stop refreshing of the image; and increasing quality of the degraded image upon receiving a user request to improve the quality of the degraded image.
-
Specification