Methods and systems for networked camera control

• US 9,232,239 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2011
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smiths Detection (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Detection (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mottur, Peter A., Zimmer, Ethan Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rao, Andy
• Application Number:
  US13/182,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20120007998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,637 Days
• Field of Search: 348143-160, 725 50- 60, 37524025-24026
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21 Server components or server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23 Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/632 for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing fluid real-time camera control of at least one camera to at least one network user via a network including the internet. A control pad or area can be provided to camera users via an application or applet that can be calibrated to provide fluid camera control. Compressed or uncompressed analog, digital, or streaming video and audio data can also be provided to the users to allow real-time low latency continuous audio/visual feedback. Multiple camera users can obtain control of a camera using a dynamic queuing technique that can allow single user camera control for certain time intervals. An administrator can establish user camera control parameters including camera control intervals for subscriber users versus non-subscriber users, camera usurping by an administrator, elimination of camera control privileges for a user, and denial of camera control requests by a user.

Claims

1. A method for providing control of a multimedia source, the method comprising:

receiving a request for control of the multimedia source from a user;

placing the user in a queue;

administering control of at least one aspect of the multimedia source to the user when the user reaches a predetermined position in the queue; and

providing multimedia generated by the multimedia source to users other than the controlling user, wherein content of said multimedia provided to the other users is based at least on the control of the at least one aspect by the controlling user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the multimedia source comprises a camera that includes at least one function that can be controlled.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising usurping control of the multimedia source from the controlling user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising wirelessly communicating the multimedia to at least one of a personal digital assistant and a cell phone associated with the controlling user.

5. The method of claim 1, the multimedia is provided to a browser on a device of the other users.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a control interval of the controlling user is based on at least one of a subscriber status of the user, a number of requests for control of the multimedia source, and a subscriber fee.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a queue order to the user.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon expiration of a control interval, administering control of the at least one aspect of the multimedia source to a second user; and

providing multimedia generated by the multimedia source to users other than the second controlling user, wherein content of said multimedia provided to the other users is based at least on the control of the at least one aspect by the second controlling user.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein a position of the user in the queue is based at least on a subscriber status of the user.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the multimedia source is a camera.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one aspect of the multimedia source is at least one of a pan and a tilt of the camera.

9. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media encoded with a computer program that, when executed by a computing system, causes the computing system to:

receive a request for control of the multimedia source from a user;

place the user in a queue;

administer control of at least one aspect of the multimedia source to the user when the user reaches a predetermined position in the queue; and

provide multimedia generated by the multimedia source to users other than the controlling user, wherein content of said multimedia provided to the other users is based at least on the control of the at least one aspect by the controlling user.

10. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein the camera is accessible via the Internet.

11. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein output from the camera is provided for display in a browser.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the computing system to provide data from other users in said queue with the video.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein the instruction are further configured to queue a user request upon expiry of the user'"'"'s control of the camera.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein a position of the user in the queue is based at least on a subscriber status of the user.

22. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein the multimedia source is a camera.

25. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the at least one aspect of the multimedia source is at least one of a pan and a tilt of the camera.

14. A server comprising;

means for receiving a request for control of the multimedia source from a user;

means for placing the user in a queue;

means for administering control of at least one aspect of the multimedia source to the user when the user reaches a predetermined position in the queue; and

means for providing multimedia generated by the multimedia source to users other than the controlling user, wherein content of said multimedia provided to the other users is based at least on the control of the at least one aspect by the controlling user.

15. The server of claim 14, wherein the providing means provides the GUI in a browser.

16. The server of claim 14, wherein the GUI is operable to control the camera based on cursor direction received from the user.

17. The server of claim 14, wherein the providing means is operable to calibrate the GUI based on a maximum control command for the camera.

20. The server of claim 14, wherein a position of the user in the queue is based at least on a subscriber status of the user.

23. The server of claim 14, wherein the multimedia source is a camera.

26. The server of claim 20, wherein the at least one aspect of the multimedia source is at least one of a pan and a tilt of the camera.