Wearable Camera Offloading Cellular Connectivity to Mobile Hotspot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless camera systems for wearable configurations are either heavy due to built-in cellular connectivity or limited in live streaming capabilities, as they typically require a dedicated computing device for Internet connectivity and can interrupt streaming if the mobile application is closed or the screen is locked.
Innovation Solution
A system that wirelessly couples a media capturing device, such as a wearable camera, with a mobile computing device to access its hotspot for Internet connectivity, allowing the camera to connect to a streaming server and generate a URL for live streaming, enabling continuous streaming even when the mobile application is not in focus or the screen is locked.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wireless cameras have built-in cellular connectivity to enable live streaming, then live streaming capability is improved, but device weight and footprint increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cellular connectivity function from the camera device and relocates it to the mobile computing device. The camera only retains lightweight wireless communication components for direct connection to the mobile device, while the mobile device provides Internet access through its own cellular connection. This separation eliminates the need for the camera to have built-in cellular hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile computing device acts as an intermediary between the camera and the Internet. It receives video streams from the camera via wireless connection and relays them to remote viewers through its cellular connection. This intermediary approach allows the camera to remain lightweight while still achieving live streaming capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If wireless cameras connect to computing devices for Internet access, then live streaming capability is improved, but device footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the cellular connectivity components from the camera, extracting only the essential wireless communication functionality needed for direct connection to the mobile device. This extraction significantly reduces the camera's footprint while maintaining live streaming capability through the mobile device's connection.
3Device complexity
If wireless cameras stream directly to a single computing device, then connectivity simplicity is improved, but live streaming versatility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the mobile computing device serve multiple functions: it acts as both the receiving device for the camera stream and the relaying device to the Internet. By utilizing the mobile device's existing Internet connectivity and display capabilities, the system enables universal access to the stream through various devices (smartphones, tablets, computers) without requiring dedicated infrastructure.
4Ease of operation
If mobile applications manage camera connectivity, then ease of operation is improved, but streaming reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a persistent wireless connection between the camera and mobile device that maintains streaming capability even when the mobile application is not actively running. The system uses the mobile device's operating system to maintain the connection and relay streams, ensuring continuous operation regardless of application state or screen lock status.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments can cause a media capturing device and a carrier device to establish a communication session there between so that the media capturing device can receive hotspot credentials and connect to a hotspot of the carrier device for Internet connectivity. The media capturing device can then connect to a remote streaming server via the hotspot, causing the creation of a media stream associated with a unique identifier of the media capturing device at a streaming server. The streaming server can return a URL associated with the media stream of the media capturing device to the carrier device, so that the carrier device can access, view, control, or share the media stream with other computing devices.