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GoogleGranted patentCameras & imagingInterest 6/10

Google patents camera logic that saves battery by checking motion before connecting

This patent describes a method for smart cameras to save energy by keeping their wireless radio off while they watch for movement. The device takes pictures to identify if a person, animal, or vehicle is present and only turns on the wireless connection to send data if the battery level allows it.

Why it mattersThis approach could help security cameras and other smart devices last longer on battery power by avoiding unnecessary data transmission.

In the filing’s own words

The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for power-management on camera devices. In one aspect, a method is performed at a camera device having memory, one or more processors, and an image sensor. The method includes: (1) while a wireless communication component of the camera device is deactivated: (a) capturing a plurality of images containing a motion event; (b) characterizing the motion event; and (c) determining, based on the characterization of the motion event, whether to send video data to a remote computing system; and (2) in accordance with a determination to send video data to the remote computing system: (i) activating the wireless communication component of the camera device; (ii) establishing a wireless connection to the remote computing system via the wireless communication component; and (iii) sending video information to the remote computing system via the established wireless connection.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An electronic device comprising: a wireless communication component; one or more sensors, the one or more sensors comprising an image sensor; one or more processors; and memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising instructions for: detecting, while the wireless communication component of the electronic device is in a low-power state, motion within a field of view of at least one sensor of the one or more sensors; capturing, with the image sensor, a plurality of images containing a motion event; characterizing the motion event sufficient to determine that the motion event involved at least one of a person, an animal, or a vehicle; determining, based on the characterization of the motion event and one or more power parameters, to send: based on the one or more power parameters including a first measure of remaining battery power for the electronic device, one or more of the plurality of images to a remote computing system; or based on the one or more power parameters including a second measure of remaining battery power for the electronic device, the second measure of remaining battery power for the electronic device being lower than the first measure of remaining battery power for the electronic device, fewer than the one or more of the plurality of images to the remote computing system; responsive to the determination to send the one or more of the plurality of images or the fewer than the one or more of the plurality of images to the remote computing system: elevating a power state of the wireless communication component to a high-power state; and sending data relating to the one or more of the plurality of images or the fewer than the one or more of the plurality of images to the remote computing system via the wireless communication component.

Facts

Company
Google (Google LLC)
Official title
Systems and methods of power-management on smart devices
Patent number
US12764418B2
Application number
18743741
Filed
Jun 14, 2024
Granted
Oct 13, 2026
Inventors
5
Claims
24

Classified under

H04N 23/651 Electricity & electronicsG06V 20/52 Physics & computingH04N 23/66 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.