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

• US 8,363,898 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2011
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm Atheros Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ORB Networks Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Julia, Luc, Serghine, Maklouf, Le Nerriec, Johan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tabatabai, Abolfazl
• Application Number:
  US13/281,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20120039510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 382/103, 382/106, 348/143, 348/154, 348/15, 348/169, 348/180, 348/184, 348/185, 348/211.8, 348/239, 348/333.1, 348/385.1, 348/460, 348/471, 348/515, 348/575, 348/739, 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 monitoring images, the method being implemented using one or more processors and comprising:

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

analyzing the image data on the computing device to determine a plurality of changes to the monitored scene;

identifying a specific change among the plurality of changes to the monitored scene, wherein the specific change is associated with a triggering event; and

responsive to the triggering event, sending a communication that pertains to the image data over a network to inform a designated person or end device of the specific change to the monitored scene.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the image data includes comparing image data of a past instance with image data of a current instance to determine the plurality of changes from the past instance to the current instance.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein sending a communication that pertains to the image data over a network comprises:

generating a message notification of 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 additional images of the monitored scene; and

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 computing device to view additional images of the monitored scene.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

receiving image data includes receiving video data; and

responsive to receiving selection input for the link, the method further comprises sending video data that includes one or more images of the monitored scene to the receiving device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein sending video data includes identifying a capability of the end device to receive video data, and then configuring the video data based on the identified capability.

6. The method of claim 5, 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 wireless end device.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

responsive to the operator of the receiving device selecting the link, transmitting from the computing device one or more images of the monitored scene at a rate and/or resolution that is based at least in part on a network bandwidth of the receiving device.

8. A method for remotely monitoring images, 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;

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

responsive to a scheduled event, 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 computing device to view additional images of the monitored scene.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

receiving image data includes receiving video data; and

responsive to receiving selection input for the link, the method further comprises sending video data that includes one or more images of the monitored scene to the receiving device.

10. The method of claim 9, 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.

11. The method of claim 10, 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 wireless end device.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

responsive to the operator of the receiving device selecting the link, transmitting from the computing device one or more images of the monitored scene at a rate and/or resolution that is based at least in part on a network bandwidth of the receiving device.

13. A system for remotely monitoring images from an image capturing device, the system comprising:

a receiving module that is coupleable to an image capturing device to receive image data of a monitored scene;

an analysis module configured to use the image data to determine a plurality of changes to the monitored scene over a duration of time, and to identify a specific change among the plurality of changes, wherein the specific change is associated with a triggering event; and

a communication module that sends a communication to a computing device or person using one or more networks in response to the triggering event, wherein the communication indicates the specific change to the monitored scene.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the analysis module compares image data of a past instance with image data of a current instance to determine the plurality of changes from the past instance to the current instance.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the communication module is configured to:

send a notification to an end device using one or more networks;

receive a response from the end device that corresponds to the end device requesting to receive one or more images of the monitored scene; and

after receiving the response, automatically send image data that includes the one or more images of the monitored scene in the duration of time to the end device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the communication module is configured to send image data that includes one or more images of the monitored scene in the duration of time to the end device automatically in response to the triggering event.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the image data received by the receiving module includes video data, and wherein the communication module is configured to identify a capability of the end device to receive video.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the communication module is configured to configure the video data for the end device based on a capability of the end device to receive the video data.

19. The system of claim 13, further comprising a memory medium, and wherein the receiving module is configured to store image data of the monitored scene in the duration of time in the memory medium.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the receiving module is configured to store image data of the monitored scene in the duration of time at a location in the memory medium that is accessible for remote retrieval over a network.