Method and apparatus for cooperative recording

• US 20050193421A1
• Filed: 02/26/2004
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cragun, Brian John
• Granted Patent: US 9,148,585 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• 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 25/71 Charge-coupled device [CCD] sensors; Charge-transfer registers specially adapted for CCD sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A method, system, and article of manufacture that allows amateur camera operators to share video and audio with other amateur camera operators at the same event over a cooperative, ad hoc network. One embodiment of the present invention comprises forming an ad hoc network comprising a plurality of recording devices, and communicating audiovisual signals between the plurality of recording devices in the ad hoc network. In some embodiments, this method may further comprise transmitting a replay request to the plurality of recording devices and receiving an audiovisual signal corresponding to the replay request, transmitting a push request to the plurality of recording devices, and/or transmitting a message to at least one of the plurality of recording devices.

Claims

1. A method of recording events, comprising:

forming an ad hoc network comprising a plurality of recording devices; and

communicating audiovisual signals between the plurality of recording devices in the ad hoc network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a replay request to the plurality of recording devices;

and receiving an audiovisual signal corresponding to the replay request

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a push request to the plurality of recording devices.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a message to at least one of the plurality of recording devices.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording a primary audiovisual signal and a secondary audiovisual signal onto a storage medium.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the secondary audiovisual is received from one of the plurality of recording devices in the ad hoc network.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising selecting the secondary audiovisual signal from a plurality of audiovisual signals available on the ad hoc network.

8. The method of claim 5:

wherein the primary audiovisual signal comprises a primary video signal and a primary audio signal;

wherein the secondary audiovisual signal comprises a secondary video signal and a secondary audio signal; and

further comprising selecting an audio signal to record with the primary video signal and the secondary video signal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the audio signal recorded with the primary video signal and the secondary video signal comprises a composite audio signal.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising configuring a recording device in the plurality of recording devices to select a secondary audiovisual source.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the recording device is configured to select an audiovisual signal chosen from the group consisting of an audiovisual signal having a widest zoom, an audiovisual signal having a complementary zoom, a most popular audiovisual signal, an audiovisual signal showing a camera operator, an audiovisual signal created by a specific individual.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the ad hoc network further comprises an event site audiovisual source.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording a primary audiovisual signal using a video capture device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating a descriptor packet between the plurality of recording devices, the descriptor packet describing an audiovisual scene.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the recording devices comprise video cameras.

16. A method of sharing information between portable electronic devices, comprising:

detecting a plurality of portable electronic devices at an event site;

forming an ad hoc network comprising the plurality of portable electronic devices; and

wirelessly transmitting information between the portable electronic devices.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising

receiving a request to join the ad hoc network from a new portable electronic device;

and

wirelessly transmitting an encryption key to the new portable electronic device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the information comprises an audiovisual signal.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the portable electronic devices comprise video cameras.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising identifying one portable electronic device as a network master.

21. A camera, comprising:

an audiovisual recording device that generates an audiovisual signal; and

a wireless network interface coupled to the audiovisual recording device and adapted to communicate the audiovisual signal to a plurality of other audiovisual recording devices.

22. The camera of claim 21, further comprising a peer-to-peer network manager coupled to the wireless network interface, wherein the peer-to-peer network manager cooperates with the wireless network interface to communicate with an ad hoc network of audiovisual recording devices.

23. The camera of claim 21, wherein the audiovisual recording device comprises a charge-coupled device array.

24. The camera of claim 21, wherein the audiovisual signal comprises a video signal and an audio signal.

25. The camera of claim 21, wherein the audiovisual signal consists essentially of photographs.

26. A computer program product, comprising:

(a) a program configured to perform a method of recording events, comprising;

forming an ad hoc network comprising a plurality of cameras; and

communicating audiovisual signals between the plurality of cameras in the ad hoc network; and

(b) a signal bearing media bearing the program.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the signal bearing media is chosen from the group consisting of information permanently stored on non-writable storage media;

alterable information stored on writable storage media; and

information conveyed to a computer by a communications medium.

28. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the signal bearing comprises a memory of a video camera.

29. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the ad hoc network comprises at least one recording device provided by an event site.

30. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the program further comprises a peer-to-peer module that manages the communication of the audiovisual signals.

31. A method of charging for usage of services that are accessed via an ad hoc network of providers, the method comprising:

receiving a request for services;

in response to the request, searching the ad hoc network for an provider of services responsive to the request; and

crediting an account associated with the provider.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the account is maintained by a third party facilitator.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of requests for services, wherein each of the plurality of requests is associated with a bid; and

selecting from among the plurality of requests.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the account comprises an indebtedness indicator.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the services comprise audiovisual recording services.

36. A method for real time pricing of audiovisual recording services, comprising:

periodically determining real time pricing for an audiovisual recording resource utilizing an ad hoc computing network; and

scheduling local utilization of the audiovisual recording resource by a user in response to variations in said real time pricing.