Method and apparatus for managing a camera network

• US 10,554,872 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2015
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fan, James, Barrett, Thomas, Lam, Jennifer K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Christopher S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Picon-Feliciano, Ana
• Application Number:
  US14/866,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20160014324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 348159, 348 E7085
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0214 Referral reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21805 enabling multiple viewpoints, e.g. using a plurality of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4415 using biometric characteristics of the user, e.g. by voice recognition or fingerprint scanning cryptography using biological data H04L9/3231; authentication in networks using biometric H04L63/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• 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 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/80 Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving location information associated with a mobile communication device, determining a first location of the mobile communication device based on the location information, selecting a first camera from a group of cameras based on the determined first location, receiving at least one first image from the selected first camera that captures at least a portion of the first location, performing image recognition on at least one second image to identify a user associated with the mobile communication device, selecting another camera from the group of cameras based on a determined position of the identified user, and receiving at least another image from the selected other camera. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A server comprising:

a memory that stores executable instructions; and

a processing system including a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processing system, responsive to executing the executable instructions, facilitates performance of operations comprising;

receiving location information from a mobile communication device;

determining a location of the mobile communication device based on the location information;

selecting a camera from a group of cameras at the location of the mobile communication device in accordance with a selection of the location by a user of the mobile communication device and in accordance with a user subscription to a networked service to obtain an image of at least a portion of the selected location, wherein the subscription comprises an ordering transaction received by the server;

receiving the image from the camera;

receiving audio content regarding content of the image from the mobile communication device;

analyzing the audio content for assignment to the image;

monitoring access to the image by viewers to collect demographic information, wherein the monitoring access results in collected demographic information of the viewers;

performing image recognition on the image to identify a plurality of product images present in the image;

identifying a first product image from the plurality of product images according to the collected demographic information associated with the viewers, wherein the first product image depicts a product of a commercial entity;

modifying the first product image, based on information provided by the commercial entity, to depict a current model of the product, and by generating a selectable product image comprising an associated website link, wherein the modifying comprises removing an image of an obsolete model of the product and substituting an image of the current model of the product;

transmitting the image to a media device for presentation at the media device;

receiving, from the media device, a selection of the selectable product image from the image being presented at the media device; and

transmitting the associated website link to the media device responsive to receiving the selection.

2. The server of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a plurality of processors operating in a distributed processing environment and the operations further comprise:

receiving a request from the mobile communication device to share the image with a second mobile communication device; and

streaming the image to the second mobile communication device responsive to the request.

3. The server of claim 1, wherein the location information comprises radio frequency identification signals that are received from a radio frequency transmitter device that is separate from the mobile communication device and that is associated with an identified user of the mobile communication device.

4. The server of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise providing a platform to facilitate an exchange of communication comprising control signals between the camera and the mobile communication device, wherein the control signals enable control by the mobile communication device over the camera, wherein the control includes a viewing angle or a zoom function.

5. The server of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

generating personal content that includes the audio content, the image, or a combination thereof; and

enabling access to the personal content.

6. The server of claim 5, wherein the audio content is received from a second mobile communication device present at the location with the mobile communication device.

7. The server of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a second image from a second camera of the group of cameras; and

performing second image recognition on the second image to determine an identified user of the mobile communication device.

8. The server of claim 1, wherein the user of the mobile communication device is different from a subscriber in possession of the mobile communication device, and wherein the operations further comprise enabling the subscriber to access the image.

9. The server of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

obtaining permission from a subscriber associated with the mobile communication device to modify the first product image.

10. The server of claim 9, wherein the obtaining the permission from the subscriber is based on a stored profile associated with the subscriber.

11. The server of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving marketing information from an entity;

obtaining authorization, to alter the image, from a subscriber that is associated with the mobile communication device; and

adjusting the image to add an object that is depicted as being present at the location, wherein the object is generated based on the marketing information, and wherein the object includes marketing content associated with the entity.

12. The server of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

generating personal content that includes the image;

monitoring access to the personal content;

determining demographic information representative of the personal content; and

selecting the marketing content based on the access to the personal content that is monitored and the demographic information.

13. The server of claim 12,

wherein the personal content includes the audio content, and wherein the selecting of the marketing content is based in part on a subject matter of the audio content determined from voice recognition analysis.

14. The server of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

generating personal content that includes the image, wherein the personal content is associated with a first subscriber of the mobile communication device;

providing an offer to share a portion of the personal content with a second subscriber in exchange for an incentive for the first subscriber;

receiving an acceptance of the offer; and

enabling the second subscriber to gain access to the portion of the personal content responsive to the acceptance.

15. The server of claim 1, wherein the server is operated by a service provider, wherein the camera is operated by a second entity different from the service provider, and wherein the image is received from the camera in exchange for an incentive provided to the second entity.

20. The server of claim 1, wherein the modifying is based on authorization provided in accordance with the user subscription.

16. A mobile communication device comprising:

a processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations comprising;

transmitting location information to a server device, wherein a camera of a group of cameras at a location is selected by the server device for capturing an image of a portion of the location, wherein the camera is selected in accordance with a selection of the location by a user of mobile communication device and in accordance with a user subscription to a networked service, wherein the subscription comprises an ordering transaction received by the server device;

transmitting audio content regarding content of the image to the server device, wherein the server device analyzes the audio content for assignment to the image;

accessing the image, wherein the accessing of the image by a viewer associated with the mobile communication device is monitored by the server device to gather demographic information of the viewer, resulting in gathered demographic information, wherein a plurality of product images is recognized by the server device, wherein a first product image is selected from the plurality of product images according to the gathered demographic information, wherein the first product image depicts a product of a commercial entity, and wherein the first product image is modified by the server device, based on information provided to the server device by the commercial entity, to remove an image of an obsolete model of the product and substitute an image of a current model of the product, and by generating a selectable product image comprising an associated website link in the image for presentation at a media device; and

transmitting a request to the server device to share the image with a second mobile communication device, wherein the server device streams the image to the second mobile communication device responsive to the request.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 16, wherein the processor comprises a plurality of processors operating in a distributed processing environment, and wherein the media device receives a selection of the selectable product image in the image that is presented at the media device, and wherein the server device transmits a website link to the media device responsive to the selection of the selectable product image.

18. A method, comprising:

selecting, by a processing system comprising a processor, a camera from a group of cameras at a location of a mobile communication device in accordance with a selection of the location by a user of the mobile communication device and in accordance with a user subscription to a networked service to obtain an image of at least a portion of the selected location, wherein the subscription comprises an ordering transaction received by the processing system;

receiving, by the processing system, the image from the camera;

receiving, by the processing system, audio content regarding content of the image from the mobile communication device;

analyzing, by the processing system, the audio content for assignment to the image;

monitoring, by the processing system, access to the image by viewers to gather demographic information of the viewers that results in gathered demographic information;

performing, by the processing system, image recognition on the image to identify a plurality of product images present in the image;

identifying, by the processing system, a first product image from the plurality of product images according to the gathered demographic information of the viewers, wherein the first product image depicts a product of a commercial entity;

modifying, by the processing system based on information provided by the commercial entity, the first product image to depict a current model of the product and by generating a selectable product image comprising a website link, wherein the modifying comprises removing an image of an obsolete model of the product and substituting an image of the current model of the product;

transmitting, by the processing system, the image to a media device for presentation at the media device;

receiving, by the processing system, a selection from the media device of the selectable product image from the image being presented at the media device; and

transmitting, by the processing system, the website link to the media device responsive to receiving the selection.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

generating, by the processing system, personal content that includes the audio content, the image, or a combination thereof; and

enabling, by the processing system, access to the personal content.