Camera management system

• US 9,538,062 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2015
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grandios Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Grandios Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Cronin, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Daniels, Anthony J
• Application Number:
  US14/622,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20150358526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 34821199-21114, 34833301-33306
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for restricting and allowing the initiation of operations on an electronic device according to settings of management control functions on the electronic device. In certain instances, operations may be initiated after the electronic device determines, detects, or receives an authorized event. The initiation of operations on the electronic device may also be prevented after the electronic device determines, detects, or receives an unauthorized event. A user of an electronic device consistent with the invention may set settings that identify whether a remote electronic device or user of a remote electronic device may initiate a camera function. Preferred embodiments of the invention are implemented in part or entirely within the operating system of a smartphone, or a cellphone.

Claims

1. A method for manipulating camera control functions on an electronic device, the method comprising:

displaying a user interface locally on the display of a remote device associated with a user, the user interface including a plurality of management control functions and a plurality of camera activities;

receiving a first selection of management control functions from the user through the user interface local to the remote device, wherein the first selection of the management control functions;

associates one of the management control functions with one of the camera activities from the plurality of camera activities,

updates an authorization of a type of event,

enables or disables one or more applications on the electronic device, and

controls when a camera will turn on;

verifying that the received selection from the remote device is from an authorized source of management control functions by identifying that the received selection was sent from an authorized remote device after identifying the remote device by an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the remote device;

identifying that the selection includes a multiple word phrase that corresponds to an event;

restricting operations of the electronic device based on the first selection; and

performing a camera activity from the plurality of camera activities that is associated with a management control function after identifying that the selection includes the multiple word phrase that corresponds to the event, wherein the camera activity corresponds to the type of event and initiated according to the multiple word phrase authorized by the user according to the updated type of event authorization.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of camera activities include at least one of controlling whether a light source in the electronic device is illuminated, turning the camera on after a real-time event, setting a camera setting, and sending a real-time feed from the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the event includes identifying that at least one of:

a current time has reached a scheduled time,

a location of the electronic device is within a first distance from a first location, and

the electronic device is no longer within a second distance from a second location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the event includes the electronic device detecting at least one of:

a sound decibel level reaching a threshold level, and an acceleration level reaching a threshold level.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the event includes the electronic device receiving at least one of:

an electronic communication from the authorized remote device,

a trigger event from the authorized remote device identified as an sensor external to the electronic device,

a first word or phrase spoken by a person, and

an audio text including a second word or phrase.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second message;

identifying that the second message is from an unauthorized source; and

blocking messages from the unauthorized source.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device communicates with the remote device through the cloud.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote device includes a server hosting a third party application, and wherein the third party application uses a camera in the electronic device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the third party application is an application that shares at least one of text, pictures, audio, and video to one or more other remote devices.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the third party application is a backup application that copies data from the electronic device to the remote device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the third party application is at least one of video telephony, remote camera, social network, and cloud storage service.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device transmits an alert to the remote device when a management control function of the plurality of management control functions changes an unauthorized event to an authorized event.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program executable by a processor to perform a method for manipulating camera control functions on an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving a first selection of management control functions from a user interface including a plurality of management control functions and a plurality of camera activities, the interface displayed locally on the display of a remote device associated with a user, wherein the first selection of the management control functions;

associates one of the management control functions with one of the camera activities from the plurality of camera activities,

updates an authorization of a type of event,

enables or disables one or more applications on the electronic device, and

controls when a camera will turn on;

verifying that the received selection from the remote device is from an authorized source of management control functions by identifying that the received selection was sent from an authorized remote device after identifying the remote device by an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the remote device;

identifying that the message includes a multiple word phrase in the message that corresponds to an event;

identifying that the selection includes a multiple word phrase that corresponds to an event;

restricting operations of the electronic device based on the first selection; and

performing a camera activity from the plurality of camera activities that is associated with a management control function after identifying that the selection includes the multiple word phrase that corresponds to the event, wherein the camera activity corresponds to the type of event and initiated according to the multiple word phrase authorized by the user according to the updated type of event authorization.