Control of video camera with privacy feedback

• US 9,179,105 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2014
• 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, Taylor, Peter, Saangloef, Paer, Honda, Dale, Lane, Steve, August, Joseph, Glidden, Matt, Seil, Oliver Duncan, Wick, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): ELAHI, SHAN E
• Application Number:
  US14/487,018
• Time in Patent Office: 414 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 for controlling a network video camera with physical privacy feedback are provided. 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 an occurrence of an event, and activating the one or more blocking mechanisms to block the one or more lenses from capturing video images, wherein the one or more blocking mechanisms are activated to block the one or more lenses when the occurrence of the event is detected.

Claims

1. A network video capture device in an environment, 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 from capturing video images;

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 the environment for one or more events;

receiving data indicating an occurrence of an event; and

activating the controlling device to move the one or more blocking mechanisms from a first position to a second position when the data is received, wherein the one or more blocking mechanisms physically block the one or more lenses from capturing video images when the one or more blocking mechanisms are in the second position, wherein a 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 activation of the controlling device, or wherein the blocking mechanism and the recording state of the network video capture device operate independently so an input other than activation of the controlling mechanism causes the network video capture device to record.

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 cause the network video capture device to stop recording.

3. The network video capture device of claim 1, wherein when the one or more lenses are blocked by the one or more blocking mechanisms, the network video capture device operates as a motion sensor.

4. The network video capture device of claim 1, wherein when the one or more lenses are blocked by the one or more blocking mechanisms, the network video capture device records audio.

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

generating a command for causing a blocking mechanism of another network video capture device to block a lens of the other network video capture device; and

causing the transmitter to transmit the command.

6. The network video capture device of claim 1, wherein the event includes a presence of a predefined person, a sound, a time of day, a command received from a network device, a command received from an access device, or a light level going above a light threshold.

7. The network video capture device of claim 6, wherein the occurrence of the presence of the predefined person is detected by performing face recognition on a face of the predefined person.

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 perform operations including:

receiving additional data indicating an occurrence of an additional event; and

activating the controlling device to move the one or more blocking mechanisms from the second position to the first position when the additional data is received, wherein the one or more lenses capture video images when the one or more blocking mechanisms are in the first position.

9. The network video capture device of claim 8, further comprising a storage device, wherein the instructions, when executed on the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to record a predefined time period of video images in the storage device, wherein the predefined time period of video images is recorded when the additional data is received.

10. The network video capture device of claim 8, wherein the additional event includes a presence of a predefined person, a presence of an unauthorized person, a broken window, a sound, a vibration, a time of day, a command received from a network device, a command received from an access device, or a light level going below a threshold.

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

activating the controlling device to move the one or more blocking mechanisms from the second position to the first position to temporarily allow the one or more lenses to capture video images for a period of time; and

activating the controlling device to move the one or more blocking mechanisms from the first position to the second position to block the one or more lenses when the period of time expires.

12. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

monitoring, using a network video capture device, an environment for one or more events, 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 from capturing video images;

receiving data indicating an occurrence of an event; and

activating the controlling device to move the one or more blocking mechanisms from a first position to a second position when the data is received, wherein the one or more blocking mechanisms physically block the one or more lenses from capturing video images when the one or more blocking mechanisms are in the second position, wherein a 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 activation of the controlling device, or wherein the blocking mechanism and the recording state of the network video capture device operate independently so an input other than activation of the controlling mechanism causes the network video capture device to record.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising causing the network video capture device to stop recording.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein when the one or more lenses are blocked by the one or more blocking mechanisms, the network video capture device operates as a motion sensor.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein when the one or more lenses are blocked by the one or more blocking mechanisms, the network video capture device records audio.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

generating a command for causing a blocking mechanism of another network video capture device to block a lens of the other network video capture device; and

causing a transmitter to transmit the command.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the event includes a presence of a predefined person, a sound, a time of day, a command received from a network device, a command received from an access device, or a light level going above a light threshold.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the occurrence of the presence of the predefined person is detected by performing face recognition on a face of the predefined person.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving additional data indicating an occurrence of an additional event; and

activating the controlling device to move the one or more blocking mechanisms from the second position to the first position when the additional data is received, wherein the one or more lenses capture video images when the one or more blocking mechanisms are in the first position.

20. 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 an environment for one or more events, 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 from capturing video images;

receive data indicating an occurrence of an event; and

activate the controlling device to move the one or more blocking mechanisms from a first position to a second position when the data is received, wherein the one or more blocking mechanisms physically block the one or more lenses from capturing video images when the one or more blocking mechanisms are in the second position, wherein a 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 activation of the controlling device, or wherein the blocking mechanism and the recording state of the network video capture device operate independently so an input other than activation of the controlling mechanism causes the network video capture device to record.