Communication system including a portable device for capturing images and comparing the images to a database of characteristics

• US 8,564,678 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mason Ricardo Storm
• Original Assignee: Mason Ricardo Storm
• Inventors: Storm, Mason Ricardo
• Primary Examiner(s): VILLECCO, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US12/195,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20090079838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,888 Days
• Field of Search: 348/77, 348/78, 348/159
• US Class Current: 348/211.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5838 using colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5866 using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, manually generated location and time information
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/12 Fingerprints or palmprints
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19621 Portable camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19658 Telephone systems used to communicate with a camera, e.g. PSTN, GSM, POTS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/442 using a biometric data reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A torch casing 10 with a reflector 46 and a bulb 44 incorporates camera 48 50 52 taking pictures through front face 64 and employs flash tube 58 behind the camera chip 50 reflecting off reflector 46 and reflected onto reflector 46 by mirrored surface 60 on the back of camera chip 50. Captured images, still or video, are exported by radio frequency unit 22 to, for example, secure and supervised store 124. Ultraviolet unit 65 causes fluorescence which is photographed by camera 48 50 52. Display screen 70 shows camera 48 50 52 images or received images. The apparatus continuously sends its position determined by GPS navigation. Sounds can be recorded, sent and received. Iris patterns and fingerprints can be recognized from an updated store.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

i) a plurality of hand-held mobile communication units, said units comprising a camera means configured to capture an image of a human identification characteristic, and a transmission means for transmitting image data representing said captured image, and including a time and date stamp data associated with said image data, to a secure remote receiving station; and

a display for displaying an image obtained by the camera means;

ii) a receiving means, located at the receiving station, provided to receive image data from at least one of said plurality of hand-held mobile communication units, the image data is time and date stamped upon receipt of the image data at the receiving station;

iii) an identification means, operative automatically to recognize human identification characteristics from said captured image data;

iv) an identification memory located at said remote receiving station that is operative to store a plurality of human identification characteristics;

v) a comparison means is operative to compare the captured image data with each of said plurality of said human identification characteristics so as to indicate a match therebetween; and

vi) a transmitter at the receiving station for transmitting information indicative of said match, to at least said mobile communication unit which captured said image.

2. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein said human identification characteristics comprise human eye iris patterns.

3. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein said human identification characteristics comprise human fingerprint patterns.

4. A communication system according to claim 1, further comprising an intermediate station operative to relay signals to and from said transmission means.

5. A communication system according to claim 4, wherein said intermediate station is housed within a motorized vehicle.

6. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein said location specific data comprises a reading from a global positioning system indicating the location of a respective mobile communication unit.

7. A communication system comprising:

i) a plurality of mobile communication units, said units being configured to obtain image data and transmit said image data to a data receiving station;

ii) a memory means located at said remote receiving station that is operative to store a plurality of human identification characteristics;

iii) a comparison means operative to compare received image data with each of said plurality of said human identification characteristics and indicate any match between said received image data and said plurality of said human identification characteristics; and

iv) a transmitter located at said remote receiving station for transmitting information, indicative of said match, to at least said mobile unit which obtained said image data;

wherein said plurality of mobile communication units each comprise;

a torch said torch having bulb,

a reflector for directing light from said bulb;

a transparent front face, through which said bulb provides illumination;

a camera unit including a camera chip wherein said camera chip is situated between said front face and said bulb; and

capable of capturing images through said front face; and

a transmission means connected to said camera chip and configured to transmit images, captured by said camera chip, to a remote recipient.

8. A communication system according to claim 7, further comprising means for indicating a location of the torch.

9. A communication system according to claim 7, wherein each of said plurality of mobile communication units comprises a transmitter capable of transmitting a current position of said unit.

10. A communication system according to claim 9, further comprising satellite position determination means operative to interpret signals to determine a geographical position of said unit.

11. A communication system according to claim 7, further comprising an intermediate station operative to relay signals to and from said transmission means.

12. A communication system according to claim 11, wherein said intermediate station is housed within a motorized vehicle.

13. A communication system according to claim 7, further comprising a viewing screen, operative to view images captured by said camera means.

14. A method of communicating image data obtained by at least one of a plurality of mobile communication units, said mobile communication units comprising a camera means configured to capture an image of a human identification characteristic, a transmission means for transmitting said image data, said image data representing an image of a human identification characteristic, the method comprising the steps of:

capturing said image data via said camera unit;

including with said image data a time and date stamp;

transmitting said image data with the time and date stamp, to a secure remote receiving station;

receiving said image data at the receiving station and stamping the image data with a time and date stamp on receipt at the receiving station;

providing an identification memory at said remote receiving station that is operative to store a plurality of human identification characteristics;

storing a plurality of human identification characteristics in said identification memory;

operating an identification unit to automatically recognize human identification characteristics from said captured image data;

comparing said captured image data comprising said recognized human identification characteristics from said image data with each of said plurality of human identification characteristics stored in said database and indicating a match therebetween;

transmitting from a transmitter at the receiving station, information indicative of a match to at least said mobile unit which obtained said image data, said information indicative of said match is capable of being viewed on the display for displaying an image obtained by the camera means.

15. A method of communicating data according to claim 14, wherein data is communicated via a radio link.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said radio link comprises a cellular telephone means operating in co-operation with a cellular telephone network.

17. A method of communicating data obtained by one of a plurality of mobile communication units, said mobile communication unit comprising a camera unit for capturing image data and a transmission means for transmitting said image data, comprising the steps of:

capturing said image data via said camera unit;

transmitting said image data to a receiving station;

storing said image data in a secure memory at the receiving station; and

transmitting information from the receiving station responsive to evaluation of said image data;

providing said mobile communication unit with;

a torch, said torch having bulb;

a reflector for directing light from said bulb;

a transparent front face, through which said bulb provides illumination;

a camera unit including camera chip wherein said camera chip is situated between said front face and said bulb; and

capable of capturing images through said front face; and

a transmission means connected to said camera chip and configured to transmit images, captured by said camera chip, to a remote recipient, and wherein said step of capturing said image data comprises taking video or still pictures using said camera unit.

18. A communication system comprising:

a camera torch configured to gather data, the camera torch including

said camera torch having bulb;

a reflector for directing light from said bulb;

a transparent front face, through which said bulb provides illumination;

a camera unit including camera chip wherein said camera chip is situated between said front face and said bulb, and capable of capturing images through said front face, and

a transmission means for transmitting gathered data to a receiving station; and

a means to relay information from the receiving station.

19. A communication system according to claim 18, further comprising a means is provided to assess the data at the receiving station.

20. A communication system according to claim 18, further comprising a secure memory located at the receiving station.

21. A communication system according to claim 18, further comprising:

identification memory means, operative to store a plurality of human identification characteristics; and

comparison means, operative to compare a captured image with each of said plurality of said human identification characteristics and to indicate any match.

22. A communication system according to claim 21, further comprising identification data reception means, operative to receive human identification characteristics data records and to store said human identification characteristics data records in said identification memory means.

23. A communication system according to claim 22, wherein said human identification characteristic comprises human eye iris patterns.

24. A communication system according to claim 22, wherein said human identification characteristic comprises human fingerprint patterns.

25. A communication system according to claim 18, further comprising means for indicating the location of the torch camera.

26. A communication system according to claim 25, further comprising satellite position determination means, operative to interpret satellite signals to determine the position, on the surface of the earth, of said torch camera, said transmission means being further operative to transmit an indication of said position of said torch camera.

27. A communication system according to claim 18, wherein the torch camera is adapted to transmit a signal indicating its position.

28. A communication system according to claim 18, further comprising an intermediate station operative to relay signals to and from said transmission means.

29. A communication system according to claim 28, wherein said intermediate station is housed within a motorized vehicle.

30. A communication system according to claim 18, further comprising a viewing screen operative to view images captured by said camera means.

31. A communication system comprising:

a plurality of hand-held mobile communication units, said units comprising a camera configured to capture an image of a human identification characteristic, and a transmission means for transmitting captured image data representing said captured image, with a time and date stamp data, to a remote data receiving station; and

a display for displaying an image obtained by the camera;

a means to receive the captured image data located at the receiving station and to time and date stamp the captured image data on receipt at the receiving station;

an identification means is operative automatically to recognize human identification characteristics from said captured image data;

a secure memory located at said remote receiving station that is operative to store a database comprising a plurality of human identification characteristics;

a comparison means operative to compare the captured image data with each of said plurality of said human identification characteristics stored in said database, and to indicate any match therebetween;

a transmitter at said remote receiving station for transmitting information, indicative of said match, to at least said mobile communication unit from which said captured image data was obtained and one additional mobile communication unit; and

a means for indicating location of the mobile communication unit and applying data indicating said location to the transmitted image data,

wherein the information indicative of said match is capable of being viewed on the display by at least said mobile communication unit from which said image data was obtained.