Remote view and controller for a camera

• US 8,078,045 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Forever Ventures LLC
• Original Assignee: Forever Ventures LLC
• Inventors: Marcus, Brian I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laballe, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fenwick, Warren
• Application Number:
  US12/125,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20080240697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 396/56, 396/58, 348/211.8, 348/211.13
• US Class Current: 396/56
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/38 Releasing-devices separate from shutter integral with shutter G03B9/08
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/56 Accessories carrying-cases A45C11/38
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

A device operable with a camera is disclosed which includes a display screen, remote from the camera, and a processor for receiving an image signal of the field of view of the camera and for displaying an image of the field of view of the camera on the display screen. The device communicates with and controls certain camera functions to allow a photographic or video image to be framed and taken from a location remote from the camera.

Claims

1. A method implemented on a hand-held mobile device for controlling a camera, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving, via a short range wireless signal, an image signal from the camera relating to an image received within a lens of the camera;

(b) communicating, via a short range wireless signal, a first instruction to the camera to change an image generated by the camera; and

(c) communicating, via a short range wireless signal, a second instruction to the camera to store an image displayed on a display of the hand-held mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (a) comprises the step of receiving the image signal via one of the Bluetooth, Wireless USB, 802.11, short range radio frequency and infrared wireless protocols.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (b) comprises the step of communicating an instruction to the camera to pan left, right, up or down.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (b) comprises the step of communicating an instruction to the camera to zoom in or out.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the hand-held mobile device is a mobile telephone, the method further comprising the step of assigning a function to one or more of the keys of the phone for the one or more keys of the phone to perform one of steps (b) or (c) when actuated.

6. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors of a hand-held mobile device to perform a method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving, via a short range wireless signal, an image signal from a camera relating to an image received within a lens of the camera;

(b) communicating, via a short range wireless signal, a first instruction to the camera to change an image generated by the camera; and

(c) communicating, via a short range wireless signal, a second instruction to the camera to capture an image displayed on a display of the hand-held mobile device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said steps (b) and (c) comprise the steps of communicating via one of the Bluetooth, Wireless USB, 802.11, short range radio frequency and infrared wireless protocols.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said step (b) comprises the step of communicating an instruction to the camera to pan left, right, up or down.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said step (b) comprises the step of communicating an instruction to the camera to zoom in or out.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the hand-held mobile device is a mobile telephone, the method further comprising the step of assigning a function to one or more of the keys of the phone for the one or more keys of the phone to perform one of steps (b) or (c) when actuated.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the hand-held mobile device is a mobile telephone, the method further comprising the step of assigning a function to one or more of the keys of the phone for the one or more keys of the phone to perform one of steps (c) or (d) when actuated.

12. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors of a hand-held mobile device to perform a method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving, via a short range wireless signal, an image signal from a camera relating to an image received within a lens of the camera;

(b) displaying an image generated from the image signal on a display of the hand-held mobile device;

(c) communicating, via a short range wireless signal, an instruction to the camera to perform at least one of the steps of panning left, right, up or down and zooming in or out, based on the image displayed in said step (b) on the display of the hand-held mobile device; and

(d) communicating, via a short range wireless signal, a second instruction to the camera to store an image displayed on a display of the hand-held mobile device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said step (a) comprises the step of receiving a video signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said step (b) comprises displaying on the display of the hand-held mobile device a video representing what is received within the lens of the camera.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said steps (c) and (d) comprise the steps of communicating via one of the Bluetooth, Wireless USB, 802.11, short range radio frequency and infrared wireless protocols.