Integrated internet camera system

• US 7,907,172 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2009
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alex is the Best LLC
• Original Assignee: Frank Clemente
• Inventors: Clemente, Frank, Feaser, Ted
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Quang V
• Application Number:
  US12/637,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20100091115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.1, 348/14.02, 725/105, 709/219
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

An integrated Internet camera system comprises a website archive and review center (WSARC) for storing and managing images and an Internet direct camera (IDC) for capturing an image, automatically transmitting the image to an account associated with said IDC on the WSARC upon image capture and receiving stored image from the WSARC. The IDC comprises a display for displaying the captured image and the received image. The IDC automatically connects to the WSARC over an Internet connection on power-up.

Claims

1. An Internet direct device comprising an imaging system to capture a still or video image;

and a microprocessor to transmit said captured still or video image to an account associated with the Internet direct device on a website archive and review center (WSARC) upon image capture, and receive still or video image from said WSARC; and

wherein the Internet direct device automatically connects to said WSARC over an Internet connection on power-up using one of a plurality of available modes of connection, which is designated as a primary mode of communication, and wherein the Internet direct device automatically switches to another available mode of communication when the Internet direct device detects that said primary mode of communication to said WSARC is unavailable.

2. The Internet direct device of claim 1, further comprising a storage device for locally storing captured still or video image and said received still or video image.

3. The Internet direct device of claim 2, wherein said storage device stores said captured still or video image only when the Internet direct device loses said connection with said WSARC and transmits said stored still or video image to said WSARC when the Internet direct device re-establishes said connection with said WSARC.

4. The Internet direct device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of available modes of connection is selected from a group consisting of:

a land line, DSL, cable, satellite, wireless network, cellular, Wi-Fi, and Wi-Max.

5. The Internet direct device of claim 1, wherein said primary mode of communication can be changed to another available modes of communication by an operator of the Internet direct device.

6. The Internet direct device of claim 1, wherein said primary mode of communication can be changed to another available modes of communication from said WSARC by a registered user of WSARC associated with the Internet direct device.

7. The Internet direct device of claim 1, further comprising a SIM card associated with a registered user of said WSARC.

8. The Internet direct device of claim 1, further comprising a web browser.

9. The Internet direct device of claim 8, wherein said microprocessor is operable to download live or recorded audio or video images from a website using the web browser over said connection.

10. The Internet direct device of claim 1, further comprising an infrared or UV sensor to record infrared or UV still or video images.

11. The Internet direct device of claim 1, further comprising a scope-shaped attachment to provide specialized lighting to record fine cracks and crevices in a machine or a building.

12. The Internet direct device of claim 1, wherein said imaging system further comprises an image pickup, an optical module for forming an image on the image pickup, and an image capturing module for capturing digital still or video images from said image pickup.

13. The Internet direct device of claim 12, wherein said optical module comprises an auto-focus optical system.

14. The Internet direct device of claim 1 is a portable camera or a cell phone with a camera.

15. The Internet direct device of claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying said captured still or video image and said received still or video image.

16. The Internet direct device of claim 15, wherein said display of the Internet direct device comprises a touch pad for entering a command, a text or labeling images.

17. The Internet direct device of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is operable to connect the Internet direct device to other Internet direct devices over said connection.

18. The Internet direct device of claim 17 is operable to support voice over IP over said connection.

19. The Internet direct device of claim 17, further comprising a display for displaying images received from said other Internet direct devices over said connection.

20. The Internet direct device of claim 17, wherein said microprocessor is operable to receive from and transmit to other Internet direct devices still or video images over said connection.

21. The Internet direct device of claim 20, wherein said microprocessor is operable to receive from and transmit to said other Internet direct devices audio over said connection.

22. The Internet direct device of claim 1, further comprising an image compression module for compressing said captured image.

23. An Internet direct device comprising an imaging system to capture a still or video image;

a microprocessor to transmit said captured still or video image to another Internet direct device or an account associated with the Internet direct device on a website archive and review center (WSARC) upon image capture, and receive still or video image from said other Internet direct device or said WSARC; and

wherein the Internet direct device automatically connects to said WSARC over an Internet connection on power-up using one of a plurality of available modes of connection, which is designated as a primary mode of communication, and wherein the Internet direct device automatically switches to another available mode of communication when the Internet direct device detects that said primary mode of communication to said WSARC is unavailable.

24. The Internet direct device of claim 23, wherein said microprocessor is operable to receive from and transmit to said other Internet direct devices audio over said connection.

25. The Internet direct device of claim 23, further comprising a storage device for locally storing captured still or video image and said received still or video image.

26. The Internet direct device of claim 23, further comprising a web browser;

and wherein said microprocessor is operable to download live or recorded audio or video images from a website using the web browser over said connection.