Method and mechanism for performing cloud image display and capture with mobile devices

• US 8,499,038 B1
• Filed: 05/06/2011
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enconcert Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Enconcert Incorporated
• Inventors: Vucurevich, Ted
• Primary Examiner(s): SHINGLES, KRISTIE D
• Application Number:
  US13/102,806
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/248
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/17306 Intercommunication techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2356/00 Detection of the display position w.r.t. other display screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/04 Exchange of auxiliary data, i.e. other than image data, between monitor and graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/12 Synchronisation between the display unit and other units, e.g. other display units, video-disc players
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• 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 21/41415 involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4305 Synchronising client clock from received content stream, e.g. locking decoder clock with encoder clock, extraction of the PCR packets arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter by comparing receiver clock with transmitter clock H04L7/0012; arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter wherein the receiver takes measures against momentary loss of synchronisation H04L7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/41 Extracting pixel data from a plurality of image sensors simultaneously picking up an image, e.g. for increasing the field of view by combining the outputs of a plurality of sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 : Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 : User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 : for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 : Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits

Abstract

Disclosed is an improved approach for implementing participatory interaction at events using mobile devices. One approach is to utilize distributed display screens for the mobile devices in an audience to display a much larger collective image. Another approach is to utilize the distributed cameras of mobile devices in an audience to form a massive capture device from the different locations and perspectives of the audience members. Yet another approach is directed to the use of mobile devices in the audience to capture motion events among the audience, which are then used to synthesize new media items and types for the event.

Claims

1. A method for implementing participation at a spectator event using mobile devices, comprising:

registering a mobile device at a spectator event;

synchronizing the mobile device at the spectator event by performing clock calibration to synchronize the mobile device to a common clock shared by devices at the spectator event, wherein the mobile device is clock synchronized by detecting a broadcast signal and phase locking a local clock at the mobile device to the broadcast signal;

sending participation data to the mobile device; and

utilizing the participation data at the mobile device to allow the mobile device to participate in the spectator event.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the mobile device participates in the spectator event by sharing captured multimedia data.

3. The method of claim 2 in which the captured multimedia data comprises video, pictures, or sound.

4. The method of claim 3 in which the captured multimedia data is used to render new media types that are shared with other mobile devices.

5. The method of claim 1 in which a location is tracked for the mobile device to facilitate participation by the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the mobile device is synchronized for at least one of location and orientation.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the mobile device is a mobile telephone.

8. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer usable medium, computer usable medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor causes the processor to execute a method for implementing participation at a spectator event using mobile devices, the method comprising:

registering a mobile device at a spectator event;

synchronizing the mobile device at the spectator event by performing clock calibration to synchronize the mobile device to a common clock shared by devices at the spectator event, wherein the mobile device is clock synchronized by detecting a broadcast signal and phase locking a local clock at the mobile device to the broadcast signal;

sending participation data to the mobile device; and

utilizing the participation data at the mobile device to allow the mobile device to participate in the spectator event.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 in which the mobile device participates in the spectator event by sharing captured multimedia data.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 in which the captured multimedia data is used to render new media types that are shared with other mobile devices.

11. The computer program product of claim 8 in which a location is tracked for the mobile device to facilitate participation by the mobile device.

12. The computer program product of claim 8 in which the mobile device is synchronized for at least one of location and orientation.

13. The computer program product of claim 8 in which the mobile device is a mobile telephone.

14. A system for implementing participation at a spectator event using mobile devices, comprising:

a processor;

a memory for holding programmable code; and

wherein the programmable code includes instructions for registering a mobile device at a spectator event;

synchronizing the mobile device at the event by performing clock calibration to synchronize the mobile device to a common clock shared by devices at the spectator event, wherein the mobile device is clock synchronized by detecting a broadcast signal and phase locking a local clock at the mobile device to the broadcast signal;

sending participation data to the mobile device; and

utilizing the participation data at the mobile device to allow the mobile device to participate in the spectator event.

15. The system of claim 14 in which the mobile device participates in the spectator event by sharing captured multimedia data.

16. The system of claim 15 in which the captured multimedia data is used to render new media types that are shared with other mobile devices.

17. The system of claim 14 in which a location is tracked for the mobile device to facilitate participation by the mobile device.

18. The system of claim 14 in which the mobile device is synchronized for at least one of location and orientation.