Embedded appliance for multimedia capture

• US 8,503,716 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2011
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Echo360, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Echo360, Incorporated
• Inventors: Allen, Geoffrey Benjamin, Geyer, Steven Lee, McElrath, Rodney Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): STREGE, JOHN B
• Application Number:
  US13/305,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20120069207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 348/211.99, 348/211.11
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1059 End-user terminal functionalities specially adapted for real-time communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• 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 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42692 for reading from or writing on a volatile storage medium, e.g. Random Access Memory [RAM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 of multiple content streams on the same device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• 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 2201/3261 : of multimedia information, e.g. a sound signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 : of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 : Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/4448 : for frame-grabbing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0102 : involving the resampling of the incoming video signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 : Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence

Abstract

A multimedia device includes input ports dedicated to receiving a real-time media signal and a processor system dedicated to capturing the real-time media signal. The processor system defines an embedded environment. The input ports and the processor system are integrated into the multimedia capture device. The input ports include an audio input port and at least one of a visual-capture input port or a digital-image input port.

Claims

1. A non-transitory processor-readable medium storing code representing instructions to be executed by a processor system within an embedded environment, the code comprising code to cause the processor system to:

receive a first direct control signal representing a start indicator and in response to a first selection by a user of an embedded appliance that includes the processor system, the start indicator configured to trigger capture of an audio signal and at least one of a visual-capture signal or a digital-image signal;

receive, from a control device separate from the embedded appliance, schedule information associated with the capture the audio signal and the at least one visual-capture signal or the digital-image signal;

capture the audio signal and the at least one of the visual-capture signal or the digital-image signal based on the start indicator to produce a captured signal;

receive a second direct control signal representing a send indicator and in response to a second selection by the user, the send indicator configured to trigger to captured signal to be sent; and

send the captured signal after the captured signal is produced such that the captured signal is formatted in accordance with the schedule information.

2. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the second direct control signal is received in response to a selection by a user of an embedded appliance that includes the processor system.

3. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the second direct control signal is received in response to selection of a button of an embedded appliance that includes the processor system.

4. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the second direct control signal is received when a defined condition is satisfied.

5. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the second direct control signal is received when the control device is not operatively available, the capture signal being sent to the control device when the control device is operatively available.

6. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 1, wherein:

the first direct control signal received in response to a first selection by a user of an embedded appliance that includes the processor system; and

the a second direct control signal received in response to a second selection by the user.

7. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 1, wherein:

the first direct control signal received in response to selection of a first button of an embedded appliance that includes the processor system; and

the second direct control signal received in response to selection of a second button of the embedded appliance.

8. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 1, wherein:

the first direct control signal is received when a first defined condition is satisfied

the second direct control signal is received when a second defined condition is satisfied.

9. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 1, wherein:

the start indicator is a first start indicator received at a first time, the send indicator is a first send indicator received at a second time after the first time,

the schedule information includes at least one of a second start indicator or a second send indicator, the schedule information is received at a third time before the first time and before the third time,

the at least one of the second start indicator or the second send indicator replaced by the first start indicator or the first send indicator, respectively.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving a first direct control signal representing a start indicator and in response to a first selection by a user of an embedded appliance that includes the processor system, the start indicator configured to trigger capture of an audio signal and at least one of a visual-capture signal or a digital-image signal;

receiving, from a control device separate from the embedded appliance, schedule information associated with the capture the audio signal and the at least one visual-capture signal or the digital-image signal;

capturing the audio signal and the at least one of the visual-capture signal or the digital-image signal based on the start indicator to produce a captured signal;

receiving a second direct control signal representing a send indicator and in response to a second selection by the user, the send indicator configured to trigger to captured signal to be sent; and

sending the captured signal after the captured signal is produced such that the captured signal is formatted in accordance with the schedule information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second direct control signal is received in response to a selection by a user of an embedded appliance that includes the processor system.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the second direct control signal is received in response to selection of a button of an embedded appliance that includes the processor system.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the second direct control signal is received when a defined condition is satisfied.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the second direct control signal is received when the control device is not operatively available, the capture signal being sent to the control device when the control device is operatively available.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the first direct control signal received in response to a first selection by a user of an embedded appliance that includes the processor system; and

the a second direct control signal received in response to a second selection by the user.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the first direct control signal received in response to selection of a first button of an embedded appliance that includes the processor system; and

the second direct control signal received in response to selection of a second button of the embedded appliance.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the first direct control signal is received when a first defined condition is satisfied

the second direct control signal is received when a second defined condition is satisfied.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the start indicator is a first start indicator received at a first time, the send indicator is a first send indicator received at a second time after the first time,

the schedule information includes at least one of a second start indicator or a second send indicator, the schedule information is received at a third time before the first time and before the third time,

the at least one of the second start indicator or the second send indicator replaced by the first start indicator or the first send indicator, respectively.