Controlling a Camera on Your Phone with a Separate Gadget
Apple's 2014 patent describes how a separate device, like a remote control, can talk to a phone to take pictures and videos, and show them on the remote.
Original patent title: “Systems and methods for remote camera control”
Apple's 2014 patent describes how a separate device, like a remote control, can talk to a phone to take pictures and videos, and show them on the remote. Granted to Apple Inc in 2014 with 29 claims and 210 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent explains how a separate gadget, called an 'accessory,' can control the camera built into a 'portable media device' (like a smartphone). The accessory registers with the phone to get updates about the camera's status, such as when it's ready to take a photo or has just finished recording a video. Based on these updates, the accessory changes its own state to show if it's ready for a photo, or if a photo or video is ready to be viewed on the accessory's screen. The accessory can also send commands to the phone to change camera modes or take pictures at set intervals.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Controlling the camera directly from the portable media device itself, without an accessory.
- Accessories that cannot receive notifications about the camera's state.
- Accessories that do not automatically change their own state based on camera status.
- Controlling cameras that are not part of a portable media device.
- Methods where the accessory and the portable media device cannot control the camera at the same time.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The core innovation lies in the accessory proactively registering for camera state notifications and automatically updating its own display and functionality based on those asynchronous updates from the portable media device.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Apple's own accessories for controlling iPhone cameras.
Third-party remote camera controls for smartphones.
Smartwatch camera remote apps.
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is significant because it describes the foundational technology for remote camera control accessories, particularly for devices like iPhones. It enabled a richer ecosystem of connected gadgets that could interact with a phone's camera, enhancing user experience for photography and videography.
Filed
September 4, 2009
Granted
March 18, 2014
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Apple Inc., the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, continues to be a primary player in this space with its own accessories and integrated features. Many third-party accessory manufacturers also develop products that likely rely on the principles described in this patent for remote camera operation.
Market impact
This patent helped establish and legitimize the market for dedicated remote camera control devices and apps that interact with smartphones. It provided a clear framework for how such accessories should communicate with and be controlled by portable media devices, influencing product development across the consumer electronics industry.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent explains how a separate gadget, called an 'accessory,' can control the camera built into a 'portable media device' (like a smartphone). The accessory registers with the phone to get updates about the camera's status, such as when it's ready to take a photo or has just finished recording a video. Based on these updates, the accessory changes its own state to show if it's ready for a photo, or if a photo or video is ready to be viewed on the accessory's screen. The accessory can also send commands to the phone to change camera modes or take pictures at set intervals.
The clever bit
The core innovation lies in the accessory proactively registering for camera state notifications and automatically updating its own display and functionality based on those asynchronous updates from the portable media device.
What it does not cover
- Controlling the camera directly from the portable media device itself, without an accessory.
- Accessories that cannot receive notifications about the camera's state.
- Accessories that do not automatically change their own state based on camera status.
- Controlling cameras that are not part of a portable media device.
- Methods where the accessory and the portable media device cannot control the camera at the same time.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
High impact
Citation count
40/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
19/20
Very broad protection
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$382K – $1.2M
Midpoint $764K · 3.2 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
29 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Rempel, D. J., Rathi, S., Langenfeld, P. T., Louboutin, S. R. Y., & Bolton, L. G. (2014). Controlling a Camera on Your Phone with a Separate Gadget (U.S. Patent No. 8,675,084). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8675084/facetime-video-calling
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Controlling a Camera on Your Phone with a Separate Gadget cover?
Apple's 2014 patent describes how a separate device, like a remote control, can talk to a phone to take pictures and videos, and show them on the remote.
Who owns patent US 8675084?
Apple Inc owns this patent, granted in 2014.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on March 18, 2034, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 8675084 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 210 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is significant because it describes the foundational technology for remote camera control accessories, particularly for devices like iPhones. It enabled a richer ecosystem of connected gadgets that could interact with a phone's camera, enhancing user experience for photography and videography.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Controlling the camera directly from the portable media device itself, without an accessory.
Same assignee
More from Apple Inc
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