Mobile device management system

• US 20040252197A1
• Filed: 05/05/2003
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pluto Technologies International (Avid Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: News IQ Inc.
• Inventors: Fraley, James J., Chen, Ning Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US10/430,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20040252197A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/00 Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units interface circuits for specific input/output devices G06F3/00 ; multiprogram control therefor G06F9/46; multiprocessor systems G06F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42202 environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/632 using a connection between clients on a wide area network, e.g. setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet for retrieving video segments from the hard-disk of other client devices broadcast-related systems characterised by transmission among terminal devices H04H60/80; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A mobile device management system including a method for monitoring a remote video camera and event scheduling, synchronization and modification using location information. Video from a remote camera is encoded by a computer and streamed in real time over a network to a mobile device for decoding and display. The computer encoder and mobile device decoder are software-based. Event calendar and schedule information is incorporated, shared and automatically updated among multiple mobile devices. Location information, such as from a locator network or a satellite-based global positioning system, is used to provide real time updates to a mobile device calendar or event schedule. A map or other indicia of the location of other mobile devices may be provided.

Claims

1. A wireless video monitoring system comprising:

a camera for capturing a live video image;

a computer coupled to the camera and comprising a software-based video encoder for encoding and streaming the video image; and

a mobile device comprising a software-based video decoder for receiving, decoding and displaying the video image.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile device further comprises a software-based video encoder for encoding and transmitting control information to the camera.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control information controls basic camera functions.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the video images are encoded by the computer as multi-packet MPEG frames and streamed sequentially to the mobile device, and wherein the mobile device completes assembly of each received frame before signaling the computer to send the next frame.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a display configured to best take advantage of the available storage capacity of the mobile device.

16. A system as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising a network of fixed location, short-range wireless devices for storing and tracking the location of the second mobile device when the second mobile device is not within the range of a conventional cellular or satellite communications network.

6. A method for wireless monitoring on a mobile device comprising:

receiving an encoded video stream from a remote camera;

decoding and displaying the video stream on the mobile device.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, and further comprising:

encoding control signals and transmitting the encoded control signals from the mobile device to the camera to control basic camera functions.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the encoded video stream comprises a real-time video feed.

9. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the encoded video stream comprises a summary file of images containing significant activity.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the summary file contains images in which motion was detected.

11. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the encoded video stream is received only when significant activity occurs and is accompanied by an alert to the user of the mobile device.

12. An event management system for a mobile device comprising:

a calendar query module for obtaining calendar information from a second mobile device;

a location query module for obtaining location information from the second mobile device; and

an event scheduler for scheduling an event based on the location and calendar information obtained from the second mobile device.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the location query module comprises a GPS receiver.

14. A system as claimed in claim 12, and further comprising a display for displaying the relative proximity of the second mobile device.

15. A system as claimed in claim 12, and further comprising an alert system for alerting a user of the mobile device when the second mobile device enters or leaves a pre-defined geographical area.

17. A method for mobile device event management comprising:

obtaining calendar information with a first mobile device from a second mobile device;

obtaining location information with the first mobile device from the second mobile device; and

managing an event between the first and second mobile devices based on the obtained location and calendar information.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the managing step comprises:

scheduling an event with the first mobile device when the obtained location and calendar information indicates that the second mobile device is available for the event.

19. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the managing step comprises:

analyzing the obtained location and calendar information to determine whether the second mobile device will be on time for an event scheduled with the first mobile device.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the relative proximity of the second mobile device is displayed on the first mobile device.

21. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein an alert is issued on the first mobile device if it is determined that the second mobile device will not be on time for the scheduled event.

22. A mobile device management system comprising:

a wireless monitoring system for monitoring video feed from a remote camera, the monitoring system comprising means for receiving, decoding and displaying video feed from the remote camera; and

an event management system for managing events with other mobile devices, comprising means for obtaining calendar and location information from the other mobile devices.