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.

What it 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.

What it doesn't 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.

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.

Why it matters

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.

Real-world examples

• 1.Apple's own accessories for controlling iPhone cameras.
• 2.Third-party remote camera controls for smartphones.
• 3.Smartwatch camera remote apps.