System and method for remotely monitoring and/or viewing images from a camera or video device

• US 8,068,642 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2009
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm Atheros Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ORB Networks Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Le Nerriec, Johan, Julia, Luc, Serghine, Maklouf
• Primary Examiner(s): Tabatabai; Abolfazl
• Application Number:
  US12/614,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20100110186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 382/103, 382/106, 348/143, 348/154, 348/155, 348/169, 348/180, 348/184, 348/185, 348/211.8, 709/203, 709/223, 709/231, 709/238, 725/9, 725/10, 725/14, 725/62, 725/74, 725/135, 714/22, 714/39
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/196 using television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/147 Scene change detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A system and method are provided for remotely monitoring images from an image capturing device. Image data from an image capturing component is received where image data represents images of a scene in a field of view of the image capturing component. The image data may be analyzed to determine that the scene has changed. A determination may be made that the scene has changed. In response to this determination being made, a communication may be transmitted to a designated device, recipient or network location. The communication may be informative that a scene change or event occurred. The communication may be in the form of a notification or an actual image or series of images of the scene after the change or event.

Claims

1. A method for remotely viewing of a monitored scene from an image capturing device, the method being implemented using one or more processors and comprising:

generating a message notification for the monitored scene, in which the message notification includes a link that is selectable from a receiving device to enable an operator of the receiving device to view a video of the monitored scene, wherein generating the message notification includes;

receiving image data from an image capturing device on a terminal, wherein the image data represents one or more images of the monitored scene;

transmitting the message notification with the link to the receiving device in order to enable the operator of the receiving device to use the link in remotely accessing terminal to view additional images of the monitored scene;

responsive to a user of the receiving device selecting the link, determining one or more capabilities or characteristics for processing streaming video on the receiving device; and

streaming the video of the monitored scene to the receiving device in a manner that accommodates the one or more capabilities or characteristics of the receiving device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving image data includes receiving video data of the monitored scene, and

and wherein transmitting the message notification includes sending video data that includes one or more images of a scene change.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing the image data to identify a scene change.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the message notification and streaming the video of the monitored scene includes sending a notification to the receiving device using one or more data networks.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising recording the image data that includes one or more images of the monitored scene change for subsequent retrieval.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving device is a wireless device, and wherein the one or more networks include a cellular network.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of recording the image data that includes one or more images of the monitored scene in a file that is accessible from a network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein sending video data includes identifying a capability of the receiving device to receive video data, and then configuring the video data based on the identified capability.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein configuring the video data based on the identified capability includes reducing a video stream received from the image capturing device for transport to the receiving device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the message notification is performed in response to determining that the scene has changed.

11. A method for remotely monitoring images from an image capturing device, the method being implemented using one or more processors and comprising:

generating a message notification of a monitored scene, in which the message notification includes a link that is selectable from a receiving device to enable an operator of the receiving device to view additional images of the monitored scene, wherein generating the message notification includes;

analyzing image data from the image capturing device in order to determine that the monitored scene has changed;

responsive to determining that the scene has changed, causing the message notification with the link to be transmitted over a network to the receiving device in order to enable the operator of the receiving device to use the link in remotely accessing the and viewing additional images of the monitored scene.