Integrated internet camera system and method

• US 8,947,542 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2013
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alex is the Best LLC
• Original Assignee: Alex is the Best LLC
• Inventors: Clemente, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): EKPO, NNENNA NGOZI
• Application Number:
  US14/053,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20140040950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 725/37, 725/105, 725/109, 725/113, 725/115, 725/118, 348/14.02, 348/207.1, 709/219
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• 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 1/00217 only involving computer data transmission protocols, e.g. SMTP, WAP or HTTP communication protocol aspects and techniques in packet data networks H04L69/00; network-specific arrangements or communication protocols supporting networked applications H04L67/00
• 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 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2181 comprising remotely distributed storage units, e.g. when movies are replicated over a plurality of video servers distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2223 being a public access point, e.g. for downloading to or uploading from clients arrangements specially adapted to plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41 Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4508 Management of client data or end-user data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing 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 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• 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 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 : Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 : Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 : Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/46 : for receiving on more than one standard at will deflecting circuits of multi-standard receivers H04N3/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An Internet direct device comprises an imaging system to capture audio or video images and a microprocessor. The microprocessor transmits the captured audio or video images to another Internet direct device upon image capture and receives audio or video images from the other Internet direct device over a communications network. The Internet direct device automatically connects to the communications network on power-up using one of a plurality of available modes of connection, which is designated as a primary mode of connection. The Internet direct device automatically switches to another available mode of connection when the Internet direct device detects that the primary mode of connection to the communications network is unavailable.

Claims

1. An Internet direct device comprising an imaging system to capture audio or video images;

a microprocessor to transmit the captured audio or video images to another Internet direct device upon image capture, and receive audio or video images from the other Internet direct device over a communications network; and

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

2. The Internet direct device of claim 1, wherein the 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.

3. The internet direct device of claim 1, further comprising a storage device for locally storing captured audio or video images and the received audio or video images.

4. The Internet direct device of claim 1 is a tablet or a Smartphone with a camera comprising an optical or digital zoom lens to provide magnification for use as a binocular or microscope;

and wherein the microprocessor is operable to control the magnification of the optical or digital zooms lens.

5. The Internet direct device of claim 1, further comprising a GPS to determine a current location of the Internet direct device;

and wherein the Internet direct device is configured to communicate with a satellite to obtain live satellite image of its current location.

6. The Internet direct device of claim 5, further comprising a touch keypad to receive an input comprising a location and zooming instructions from a user;

and wherein the Internet direct device is configured to communicate with a satellite to obtain live satellite image of the location entered on the touch keypad and to adjust a magnification of the satellite image based on the zooming instructions.

7. The Internet direct device of claim 1, further comprising a white or colored LED to operate as a white or colored strobe light.

8. The Internet direct device of claim 1, further comprising a LCD display and a touch keypad to receive an input comprising magnification instructions from a user;

and

wherein the microprocessor is operable to control the LCD display to provide a magnified mirror and adjusts a magnification of the mirror based the magnification instructions.

9. The Internet direct device of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor transmits the captured audio or video images to an account associated with the Internet direct device on a website upon image capture.

10. A method for transmitting and receiving audio or video images by an Internet direct device associated with a user over a communications network, comprising the steps of:

automatically connecting the Internet direct device to the communications network on power-up using one of a plurality of available modes of connection, which is designated as a primary mode of connection;

capturing audio or video images by an image capture system of the Internet direct device;

transmitting the captured audio or video images to another Internet direct device over the communications network upon image capture by a microprocessor of the Internet direct device;

receiving audio or video images from the other Internet direct device over the communications network by the Internet direct device; and

automatically switching to another available mode of connection by the microprocessor when the Internet direct device detects that the primary mode of connection to the communications network is unavailable.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of automatically switching comprises the step of switching to one of the following available modes of connection:

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

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of locally storing the captured audio or video images in a storage device of the Internet direct device by the microprocessor when the connection to the communications network is unavailable.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the Internet direct device is a tablet or a Smartphone with a camera comprising an optical or digital zoom lens to provide magnification for use as a binocular or microscope;

and further comprising the step of controlling the magnification of the optical or digital zooms lens by the microprocessor.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of determining a current location of the Internet direct device by a GPS, and communicating with a satellite to obtain live satellite image of the current location of the Internet direct device.

15. The method of claim 14, further the steps of:

receiving an input comprising a location and zooming instructions entered on a touch keypad of the Internet direct device from a user; and

communicating with a satellite to obtain live satellite image of the location entered on the touch keypad and to adjust magnification of the satellite image based on the zooming instructions.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of controlling a white or colored LED of the Internet direct device to provide a white or colored strobe light.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

receiving an input comprising magnification instructions entered on a touch keypad of the Internet device form a user;

controlling a LCD display to provide a magnified mirror by the microprocessor; and

adjusting a magnification of the mirror based the magnification instructions by the microprocessor.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of transmitting the captured audio or video images to an account associated with the Internet direct device on a website upon image capture.

19. A non-transitory storage medium comprising a program for transmitting and receiving audio or video images over a communications network when executed by an Internet direct device associated with a user to cause the Internet direct device to:

automatically connect the Internet direct device to the communications network on power-up using one of a plurality of available modes of connection, which is designated as a primary mode of connection;

capture audio or video images by an image capture system of the Internet direct device;

transmit the captured audio or video images to another Internet direct device over the communications network upon image capture by a microprocessor of the Internet direct device;

receive audio or video images from the other Internet direct device over the communications network by the Internet direct device; and

automatically switch to another available mode of connection by the microprocessor when the Internet direct device detects that the primary mode of connection to the communications network is unavailable.

20. The storage medium of claim 19, the program when executed causes the Internet direct device to automatically switch to one of the following available modes of connection:

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

21. The storage medium of claim 19, the program when executed causes the Internet direct device to locally store the captured audio or video images in a storage device of the Internet direct device by the microprocessor when the connection to the communications network is unavailable.

22. The storage medium of claim 19, wherein the Internet direct device is a tablet or a Smartphone with a camera comprising an optical or digital zoom lens to provide magnification for use as a binocular or microscope;

and the program when executed causes the Internet direct device to control the magnification of the optical or digital zooms lens by the microprocessor.

23. The storage medium of claim 19, the program when executed causes the Internet direct device to determine a current location of the Internet direct device by a GPS, and to communicate with a satellite to obtain live satellite image of the current location of the Internet direct device.

24. The storage medium of claim 23, the program when executed causes the Internet direct device to receive an input comprising a location and zooming instructions entered on a touch keypad of the Internet direct device from a user;

and to communicate with a satellite to obtain live satellite image of the location entered on the touch keypad and to adjust magnification of the satellite image based on the zooming instructions.

25. The storage medium of claim 19, the program when executed causes the Internet direct device to control a white or colored LED of the Internet direct device to provide a white or colored strobe light.

26. The storage medium of claim 19, the program when executed causes the Internet direct device to receive an input comprising magnification instructions entered on a touch keypad of the Internet device form a user;

to control a LCD display to provide a magnified mirror by the microprocessor; and

to adjust a magnification of the mirror based the magnification instructions by the microprocessor.

27. The storage medium of claim 19, the program when executed causes the Internet direct device to transmit the captured audio or video images to an account associated with the Internet direct device on a website upon image capture.