CAMERA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20150358526A1
• Filed: 02/13/2015
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grandios Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Grandios Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Cronin, John
• Granted Patent: US 9,538,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 an electronic 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 a management control function from the user through the user interface local to the electronic device, wherein the first selection associates one of the management control functions with one of the camera activities;

receiving a message over a communication network from a remote device;

verifying that the received message from the remote device is from an authorized source of management control functions;

identifying that the message includes one or more words in the message that corresponds to an event;

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

performing the camera activity that is associated with the management control function after identifying that the message includes the one or more words that correspond to the event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the management control function controls when a camera in the electronic device will turn on.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of camera activities include at least one of turning a camera on, turning the camera off, 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote device is identified as an authorized source, and the event includes the electronic device receiving at least one of:

an electronic communication from the authorized source,

a trigger event from the authorized source 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.

7. 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.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first selection enables or disables one or more applications on the electronic device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a second selection of the management control function from the user through the user interface, wherein the second selection updates authorizations or de-authorizations of a type of event.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more words identified in the message controls when a camera turns on.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the type of event is initiated by the remote device authorized by the user.

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

13. 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.

14. The method of claim 13, a 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.

15. The method of claim 13, a wherein the third party application is a backup application that copies data from the electronic device to the remote device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the third party application is at least one of video telephony, remote camera, social network, and cloud storage service.

17. 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.

18. The method of claim 9, 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.

19. A non-transitory computer readable storage 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:

displaying a user interface locally on an electronic 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 a management control function from the user, wherein the first selection associates a management control function of the plurality of management control functions with a camera activity of the plurality of camera activities;

receiving a message from a remote device;

verifying that the received message from the remote device is from an authorized source of management control functions;

identifying that the message includes one or more words in the message that corresponds to an event;

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

performing the camera activity that is associated with the management control function after identifying that the message includes the one or more words that correspond to the event.

20. A system for manipulating camera control functions on an electronic device, the system comprising an electronic device including:

a display that displays a user interface locally on an electronic device associated with a user, the user interface including a plurality of management control functions and a plurality of camera activities;

a user interface that receives a first selection of a management control function from the user, wherein the first selection associates a management control function of the plurality of management control functions with a camera activity of the plurality of camera activities;

a communication interface that receives a message over a communication network from a remote device; and

a processor that executes instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor;

verifies that the receive message from the remote device is from an authorized source of management control functions;

identifies that the message includes one or more words in the message that corresponds to an event; and

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

prepares to perform the camera activity that is associated with the management control function after identifying that the message includes the one or more words that correspond to the event.