Smartphone monopod with use restriction enforcement

{
  "publication_number": "US10415742B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Smartphone monopod with use restriction enforcement",
  "abstract": "A photographic monopod includes an extendable shaft, a bracket for fixing a photographic device at a first end of the extendable shaft, and a grip at a second end of the extendable shaft. The grip is opposite to the first end of the extendable shaft. The photo graphic monopod further includes a shutter control switch for controlling a shutter of the photographic device, and a shaft extension sensor for sensing a degree to which the extendable shaft is extended. The photographic monopod additionally includes a logic circuit for receiving the degree to which the extendable shaft is extended from the shaft extension sensor and disabling a connection between the shutter control switch and the photographic device when the degree to which the extendable shaft is extended exceeds a threshold.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A photographic monopod, comprising: an extendable shaft; a bracket for fixing a photographic device at a first end of the extendable shaft; a grip at a second end of the extendable shaft, opposite to the first end of the extendable shaft; a shutter control switch for controlling a shutter of the photographic device; a shaft extension sensor for sensing a degree to which the extendable shaft is extended; and a logic circuit for receiving the degree to which the extendable shaft is extended from the shaft extension sensor and disabling a connection between the shutter control switch and the photographic device when the degree to which the extendable shaft is extended exceeds a threshold.",
    "2. The photographic monopod of claim 1, wherein the shutter control switch is disposed on the grip.",
    "3. The photographic monopod of claim 1, further including a proximity sensor configured to measure a density of individuals proximate to the photographic monopod and to transmit the measured density to the logic circuit, wherein the logic circuit is further configured to disable the connection between the shutter control switch and the photographic device when the measured density exceeds a predetermined crowd pressure threshold.",
    "4. The photographic monopod of claim 1, wherein the shaft extension sensor includes a potentiometer.",
    "5. The photographic monopod of claim 1, wherein the shutter control switch is paired to the photographic device via a wireless connection and the shutter control switch controls the shutter of the photographic device via the wireless connection.",
    "6. The photographic monopod of claim 5, wherein the wireless connection is a Bluetooth connection.",
    "7. The photographic monopod of claim 5, wherein the logic circuit disables the connection between the shutter control switch and the photographic device by deactivating the wireless connection.",
    "8. The photographic monopod of claim 1, wherein the threshold is received by the logic circuit over a wireless connection.",
    "9. The photographic monopod of claim 8, wherein the threshold is transmitted by a facility within which the photographic monopod is located.",
    "10. The photographic monopod of claim 1, wherein the threshold is received by the logic circuit from the photographic device.",
    "11. The photographic monopod of claim 1, wherein the threshold is received by the logic circuit from a device installed within a facility that the photographic monopod is operated within.",
    "12. The photographic monopod of claim 1, wherein the photographic device is a smartphone.",
    "13. The photographic monopod of claim 1, further comprising a geolocation device for determining a present geolocation of the monopod, wherein the logic circuit selects the threshold based on the present geolocation of the monopod as determined by the geolocation device.",
    "14. The photographic monopod of claim 13, wherein the geolocation device is disposed within the photographic device.",
    "15. A photographic monopod, comprising: an extendable shaft; a bracket for fixing a photographic device at a first end of the extendable shaft; a grip at a second end of the extendable shaft, opposite to the first end of the extendable shaft; a shaft extension sensor for sensing a degree to which the extendable shaft is extended; and a logic circuit for receiving a threshold value, receiving the degree to which the extendable shaft is extended from the shaft extension sensor, and generating an alert when the degree to which the extendable shaft is extended exceeds the received threshold value.",
    "16. The photographic monopod of claim 15, wherein the logic circuit receives the threshold value over a wireless connection.",
    "17. The photographic monopod of claim 15, wherein the logic circuit receives the threshold value via a manual input.",
    "18. The photographic monopod of claim 15, wherein the logic circuit receives the threshold value based on a present geolocation of the photographic monopod.",
    "19. The photographic monopod of claim 15, wherein the logic circuit additionally locks the extendable shaft from extending further when the degree to which the extendable shaft is extended exceeds the received threshold value.",
    "20. The photographic monopod of claim 15, wherein the logic circuit additionally prevents the photographic device from capturing an image when the degree to which the extendable shaft is extended exceeds the received threshold value.",
    "21. A method for controlling a camera function within a smartphone, comprising: mounting the smartphone to an end of an extendable shaft; sensing an extent to which the extendable shaft has been extended; transmitting an indication of the extent to which the extendable shaft has been extended to a logic circuit of the extendable shaft; and preventing the smartphone from capturing an image when it is determined, by the logic circuit, that the extent to which the extendable shaft has been extended exceeds a threshold."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates to a smartphone monopod and, more specifically, to a smartphone monopod capable of enforcing restrictions on use.\n\nA selfie stick is monopod used by a user to take a picture of oneself (e.g., a “selfie”) by positioning a smartphone or camera beyond the average range of an arm. The monopod typically will have a metal rod that is usually extendable, with a handle at one end and an adjustable clamp at the other end to hold a user's phone in place. Many selfie sticks have a remote or Bluetooth controls to enable a user to take a picture. As selfie sticks became more and more popular, safety concerns and inconveniences of the product towards others resulted in their being banned in many venues.\n\nMany of these venues are places where guests often like to take pictures of the venue itself and take pictures of themselves. Due to the selfie stick bans and restrictions the related safety issues and inconveniences are eliminated. However, visitors are unable to take selfies with a selfie stick while in these restricted venues.\n\nAccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, a photographic monopod is provided. The photographic monopod includes an extendable shaft, a bracket for fixing a photographic device at a first end of the extendable shaft, and a grip at a second end of the extendable shaft. The grip is opposite to the first end of the extendable shaft. The photo graphic monopod further includes a shutter control switch for controlling a shutter of the photographic device, and a shaft extension sensor for sensing a degree to which the extendable shaft is extended.",
  "cpc": [
    "F16M 11/28",
    "F16M 11/041",
    "F16M 13/04",
    "G03B 17/38",
    "G03B 17/561",
    "G03B 17/563",
    "G03B 7/00",
    "H04W 4/021",
    "H04W 4/70",
    "H04W 4/80"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "H04W 4/00",
    "F16M 11/28",
    "G03B 17/38",
    "G03B 17/56",
    "G03B 7/00",
    "H04W 4/021",
    "F16M 11/00",
    "H04W 4/70",
    "H04W 4/80"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "International Business Machines Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Ashish Kundu",
    "Amit A. Nanavati",
    "Clifford A. Pickover",
    "Komminist Weldemariam"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2017-11-30",
  "publication_date": "2019-09-17",
  "grant_date": "2019-09-17",
  "priority_date": "2017-11-30",
  "application_number": "US-201715826960-A",
  "family_id": "66632217",
  "cited_by_count": 4,
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}