1. Patent Liability
Team KANG
Group 1

2. Overview “Camera tracking moveable transmitter apparatus”
“Sentry robot”
“Automatic tracking camera control system”

3. Similar Product/Patent
“Camera tracking moveable transmitter apparatus”
US Patent 4,905,315; filed 30 June 1988
Summary:
An apparatus for mounting and positioning an associated device
Method: array of IR sensors at equal angular positions about an axis
Sensors receive signal from transponder
Info is used to extrapolate angular displacement/position

4. Claims Possible conflicting claims: Claims 1 and 5 Similar Different
Deal with using IR sensors to position camera
Similar
Motion sensors position camera platform in general area
Different
Motion sensors are ancillary, not main method of detection

5. Course of Action Term of patent expires in a few months
Can wait to submit the patent to avoid infringement claims

6. Similar Product/Patent
“Sentry robot”
Patent application ; Filed 27 Feb 2007
Designed by Samsung to patrol border between N. and S. Korea
Summary
This ->
Moving background algorithm
Video targeting

7. Claims Possible conflicts: Similarity Difference
Body pivoting about main base
Camera moves independently of main body
Gun on main body following where camera looks
Optically track and follow a target w/ gun
Similarity
Overall structure and method
Difference
Specific structure of body
Targeting algorithm

8. Course of Action Clever wording of patent application
What to do in case of conflict with a patent application?
Patent for using a sentry gun or just one specific application?
Pay licensing/royalty fees

9. Similar Product/Patent
“Automatic tracking camera control system”
US Patent 5,434,617; filed 7 Dec 1994
Summary:
Uses differences between two frames to track a target
Two cameras:
Main camera
Second camera acting as ancillary sensor

10. Claims Possible conflicts: Similarity Difference
Use of “current image”
Use of “previous image”
Use of threshold box to reduce noise
Use of pixel differences
Similarity
More or less the same algorithm
Difference
Method of using ancillary sensors
Specifics: probably a moving background algorithm

11. Course of Action Free video algorithms found online
Fair use under open-source license?
May have to change video algorithm
Evaluate probability of litigation/infringement claims

12. Questions?