Method to stabilize video stream using on-device positional sensors

• US 8,542,975 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: O'Neill, Conor Michael, Popa, Raluca Alina
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier, Robert
• Application Number:
  US13/334,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20130163947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 386/227, 386/263, 386/264, 386/270, 386/277
• US Class Current: 386/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure

Abstract

A video device is provided. The video device comprises a sensor to determine an amount of movement of the video device, a memory component to store video-related information, and a processor to receive movement information from the sensor and to interrupt communication of video-related information to the memory component when the movement information indicates that acceleration of the video device exceeds a threshold.

Claims

1. A method for stabilizing a video stream being captured by a video device, comprising:

when movement of the video device is detected by a sensor on the video device to be greater than a low threshold and less than a high threshold, temporarily interrupting communication of video-related information to a memory component on the video device,

wherein, during the temporary interruption, an image that was recorded before the temporary interruption is copied into the memory component in each frame of the video stream that would have contained a live image if the temporary interruption had not occurred.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein movement equal to or less than the low threshold is substantially similar to an amount of movement that occurs when no deliberate movement of the video device is occurring and no accidental movement of the video device is occurring.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein movement equal to or greater than the high threshold is substantially similar to an amount of movement that occurs when the video device is following a moving object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the temporary interruption ends upon the occurrence of at least one of:

detecting a movement that is not greater than the low threshold;

detecting a movement that is not smaller than the high threshold;

expiration of a predetermined period of time; and

manual selection of an input mechanism.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein an indicator appears on a viewfinder on the video device indicating that the temporary interruption has occurred.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, when movement of the video device is detected by the sensor to be greater than the low threshold and less than the high threshold, display of live images on a viewfinder on the video device is temporarily interrupted.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the image that was recorded before the temporary interruption is displayed on the viewfinder during the temporary interruption.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein, when movement of the video device is detected by the sensor to be less than the low threshold or greater than the high threshold, display of live images on the viewfinder resumes, but communication of video-related information to the memory component does not resume until the video device receives a manual input.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein, when the temporary interruption can be ended by manual selection of an input mechanism, two images are displayed on a viewfinder on the video device during the temporary interruption, the first image being an image that was recorded before the temporary interruption, and the second image being a live image.

10. A video device, comprising:

a sensor to determine an amount of movement of the video device;

a memory component to store video-related information; and

a processor coupled to the sensor and the memory component, the processor configured to receive movement information from the sensor and to interrupt communication of video-related information to the memory component when the movement information indicates that acceleration of the video device exceeds a threshold,

wherein the interruption ends upon the occurrence of at least one of;

detection of acceleration that does not exceed the threshold;

expiration of a predetermined period of time; and

manual selection of an input mechanism, and

wherein, when the interruption can be ended by manual selection of an input mechanism, a first image that was recorded before the interruption and a second, live image are displayed on a viewfinder on the video device during the interruption.

11. The video device of claim 10, wherein an indicator appears on a viewfinder on the video device indicating that the interruption has occurred.

12. The video device of claim 10, wherein display of live images on the viewfinder is interrupted when the acceleration of the video device exceeds the threshold.

13. The video device of claim 12, wherein, when the acceleration of the video device no longer exceeds the threshold, display of live images on the viewfinder resumes, but communication of video-related information to the memory component does not resume until the video device receives the manual selection.

14. The video device of claim 10, wherein, during the interruption, the first image is retrieved from the memory component and placed in a video recording stored in the memory component in each frame of the video recording that would have contained a live image if the interruption had not occurred.

15. A method for managing a video recording on a video device, comprising:

interrupting communication of video-related information to a memory component on the video device when movement information provided by a sensor on the video device indicates that acceleration of the video device exceeds a threshold

wherein display of live images on a viewfinder on the video device is interrupted when the acceleration of the video device exceeds the threshold, and

wherein an image that was recorded before the interruption of communication of video-related information is displayed on the viewfinder during the interruption of communication of video-related information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the interruption ends upon the occurrence of at least one of:

detection of acceleration that does not exceed the threshold;

expiration of a predetermined period of time; and

manual selection of an input mechanism.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein an indicator appears on a viewfinder on the video device indicating that the interruption has occurred.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein, when the acceleration of the video device no longer exceeds the threshold, display of live images on the viewfinder resumes, but communication of video-related information to the memory component does not resume until the video device receives a manual input.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein, when the interruption can be ended by manual selection of an input mechanism, the image that was recorded before the interruption of communication of video-related information and a second, live image are displayed on a viewfinder on the video device during the interruption.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein, during the interruption, the image that was recorded before the interruption is retrieved from the memory component and placed in the video recording in each frame of the video recording that would have contained a live image if the interruption had not occurred.

21. A video device, comprising:

a sensor to determine an amount of movement of the video device;

a memory component to store video-related information; and

a processor coupled to the sensor and the memory component, the processor configured to receive movement information from the sensor and to interrupt communication of video-related information to the memory component when the movement information indicates that acceleration of the video device exceeds a threshold,

wherein display of live images on a viewfinder on the video device is interrupted when the acceleration of the video device exceeds the threshold, and

wherein an image that was recorded before the interruption of communication of video-related information is displayed on the viewfinder during the interruption of communication of video-related information.

22. A video device, comprising:

a sensor to determine an amount of movement of the video device;

a memory component to store video-related information; and

a processor coupled to the sensor and the memory component, the processor configured to receive movement information from the sensor and to interrupt communication of video-related information to the memory component when the movement information indicates that acceleration of the video device exceeds a threshold,

wherein display of live images on a viewfinder on the video device is interrupted when the acceleration of the video device exceeds the threshold, and

wherein, when the acceleration of the video device no longer exceeds the threshold, display of live images on the viewfinder resumes, but communication of video-related information to the memory component does not resume until the video device receives a manual input.

23. A video device, comprising:

a sensor to determine an amount of movement of the video device;

a memory component to store video-related information; and

a processor coupled to the sensor and the memory component, the processor configured to receive movement information from the sensor and to interrupt communication of video-related information to the memory component when the movement information indicates that acceleration of the video device exceeds a threshold,

wherein, during the interruption, an image that was recorded before the interruption is retrieved from the memory component and placed in a video recording stored in the memory component in each frame of the video recording that would have contained a live image if the interruption had not occurred.