Control of video camera with privacy feedback to capture images of a scene

• US 9,179,058 B1
• Filed: 11/07/2014
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Zeira, Ohad, Neu, Thorben, Plummer, Jon, Honda, Dale, Lane, Steve, Wick, Michael, Taylor, Peter, Saangloef, Paer, August, Joseph, Glidden, Matt, Seil, Oliver Duncan
• Primary Examiner(s): ELAHI, SHAN E
• Application Number:
  US14/536,164
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19626 optical details, e.g. lenses, mirrors or multiple lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19669 Event triggers storage or change of storage policy
• 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: G08B 29/046 prevention of tampering with detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones
• 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

Abstract

Techniques and systems are provided for controlling a network video camera with physical privacy feedback to capture one or more images of a scene. For example, computing device, a method, and a computer-program product may be provided. The computing device may include one or more lenses and one or more blocking mechanisms, wherein the one or more blocking mechanisms are configured to selectively block the one or more lenses from capturing video images, and wherein the one or more blocking mechanisms include a physical body that provides visible feedback that the one or more lenses are blocked. The computing device, method, and computer-program product may include detecting movement of a blocking mechanism from a first position in which a lens is exposed to a second position in which the lens is blocked, and capturing one or more images of a scene, wherein the one or more images of the scene are captured when the movement of the blocking mechanism is detected.

Claims

1. A network video capture device, comprising:

one or more lenses;

one or more blocking mechanisms, wherein the one or more blocking mechanisms include a physical body that is controllable to cover the one or more lenses to provide visible feedback that the one or more lenses are blocked;

a controlling device for controlling the one or more blocking mechanisms, wherein the controlling device moves the one or more blocking mechanisms to physically block the one or more lenses;

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions, which when executed on the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including;

monitoring movement of the one or more blocking mechanisms;

receiving data indicating movement of a blocking mechanism from a first position in which a lens is exposed to a second position in which the lens is blocked; and

capturing one or more images of a scene, wherein the one or more images of the scene are captured when the data indicating movement of the blocking mechanism is received, and wherein the blocking mechanism and a recording state of the network video capture device operate dependently to cause the network video capture device to record based on movement of the blocking mechanism from the first position to the second position.

2. The network video capture device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed on the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to receive additional data indicating the network video capture device is caused to stop recording.

3. The network video capture device of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter, and wherein the instructions, when executed on the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to cause a transmitter to transmit an alert to a user.

4. The network video capture device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed on the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

determining whether the movement of the blocking mechanism is performed by an unauthorized user; and

causing a transmitter to transmit an alert to a user, wherein the alert is transmitted to the user when movement of the blocking is performed by the unauthorized user.

5. The network video capture device of claim 1, wherein capturing one or more images of the scene includes capturing a single image of the scene.

6. The network video capture device of claim 1, wherein capturing one or more images of the scene includes capturing a video of the scene.

7. The network video capture device of claim 6, wherein the video of the scene includes a period of time prior to the movement of the blocking mechanism.

8. The network video capture device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed on the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to store a timestamp, wherein the timestamp records a time of day in which the data indicating movement of the blocking mechanism is received.

9. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

monitoring, using a network video capture device, movement of the one or more blocking mechanisms, wherein the network video capture device includes one or more lenses, one or more blocking mechanisms including a physical body that is controllable to cover the one or more lenses to provide visible feedback that the one or more lenses are blocked, and a controlling device for controlling the one or more blocking mechanisms, wherein the controlling device moves the one or more blocking mechanisms to physically block the one or more lenses;

receiving data indicating movement of a blocking mechanism from a first position in which a lens is exposed to a second position in which the lens is blocked; and

capturing one or more images of a scene, wherein the one or more images of the scene are captured when the data indicating movement of the blocking mechanism is received, and wherein the blocking mechanism and a recording state of the network video capture device operate dependently to cause the network video capture device to record based on movement of the blocking mechanism from the first position to the second position.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising receive additional data indicating the network video capture device is caused to stop recording.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising causing a transmitter to transmit an alert to a user.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining whether the movement of the blocking mechanism is performed by an unauthorized user; and

causing a transmitter to transmit an alert to a user, wherein the alert is transmitted to the user when movement of the blocking is performed by the unauthorized user.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein capturing one or more images of the scene includes capturing a single image of the scene.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein capturing one or more images of the scene includes capturing a video of the scene.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the video of the scene includes a period of time prior to the movement of the blocking mechanism.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising storing a timestamp, wherein the timestamp records a time of day in which the data indicating movement of the blocking mechanism is received.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program of a network video capture device, including instructions for causing one or more data processors to:

monitor movement of the one or more blocking mechanisms, wherein the network video capture device includes one or more lenses, one or more blocking mechanisms including a physical body that is controllable to cover the one or more lenses to provide visible feedback that the one or more lenses are blocked, and a controlling device for controlling the one or more blocking mechanisms, wherein the controlling device moves the one or more blocking mechanisms to physically block the one or more lenses;

receive data indicating movement of a blocking mechanism from a first position in which a lens is exposed to a second position in which the lens is blocked; and

capture one or more images of a scene, wherein the one or more images of the scene are captured when the data indicating movement of the blocking mechanism is received, and wherein the blocking mechanism and a recording state of the network video capture device operate dependently to cause the network video capture device to record based on movement of the blocking mechanism from the first position to the second position.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions for causing the one or more data processors to:

receive additional data indicating the network video capture device is caused to stop recording.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising causing a transmitter to transmit an alert to a user.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions for causing the one or more data processors to:

determine whether the movement of the blocking mechanism is performed by an unauthorized user; and

cause a transmitter to transmit an alert to a user, wherein the alert is transmitted to the user when movement of the blocking is performed by the unauthorized user.