Method and apparatus for managing a camera network

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving location information associated with a mobile communication device, determining a first location of the mobile communication device based on the location information, selecting a first camera from a group of cameras based on the determined first location, receiving at least one first image from the selected first camera that captures at least a portion of the first location, performing image recognition on at least one second image to identify a user associated with the mobile communication device, selecting another camera from the group of cameras based on a determined position of the identified user, and receiving at least another image from the selected other camera. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A server comprising:
 a processing system including a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations comprising:
 receiving a subscription request for a networked camera service providing image capturing in a region from a mobile device, wherein the subscription request identifies a recipient communication device; 
 receiving location information from the mobile device; 
 determining that a first location of the mobile device is within the region based on the location information; 
 responsive to determining that the first location is within the region, storing a plurality of images from one or more cameras of the networked camera service covering the region; 
 receiving and storing audio data from the mobile device recorded while the mobile device is at the first location; and 
 providing the recipient communication device with access to the plurality of images and audio data. 
   
     
     
         2 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise enabling control by the mobile device over the one or more cameras, wherein the control includes a viewing angle or a zoom function. 
     
     
         3 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 generating personal content from the plurality of images and audio content; and   enable access to the personal content.   
     
     
         4 . The server of  claim 3 , wherein the audio content is received from another mobile device present at the first location with the mobile device. 
     
     
         5 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein an identified user that is associated with the mobile device is different from a subscriber in possession of the mobile device, and wherein the operations further comprise enabling the subscriber to access the plurality of images and audio data that are stored. 
     
     
         6 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 performing image recognition on the plurality of images to identify marketing material present at the first location;   obtaining permission from a subscriber associated with the mobile device to alter the marketing material; and   adjusting the marketing material according to the permission that is obtained.   
     
     
         7 . The server of  claim 6 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving marketing information provided by an entity associated with the marketing material;   obtaining the permission from the subscriber based on a stored profile associated with the subscriber; and   adjusting the marketing material based on the marketing information.   
     
     
         8 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving marketing information from an entity;   obtaining authorization to alter a first image from a subscriber associated with the mobile device; and   adjusting the first image to add a second object depicted as being present at the first location, wherein the second object is generated based on the marketing information, and wherein the second object includes marketing content associated with the entity.   
     
     
         9 . The server of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 generating personal content that includes the plurality of images;   monitoring access to the personal content;   determining demographic information representative of the personal content; and   selecting the marketing content based on the access that is monitored and the demographic information.   
     
     
         10 . The server of  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving audio content associated with the plurality of images, wherein the personal content includes the audio content, and wherein the selecting of the marketing content is based in part on a subject matter of the audio content determined from voice recognition analysis.   
     
     
         11 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 generating personal content that includes the plurality of images, the personal content being associated with a first subscriber that is associated with the mobile device;   providing an offer to share a portion of the personal content with a second subscriber in exchange for an incentive for the first subscriber;   receiving an acceptance of the offer; and   enabling the second subscriber to gain access to the portion of the personal content responsive to the acceptance.   
     
     
         12 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the server is operated by a service provider, wherein a first cameras of the one or more cameras is operated by a second entity different from the service provider, and wherein a first image is received from a first camera of the one or more cameras in exchange for an incentive provided to the second entity. 
     
     
         13 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the processing system comprises a plurality of processors in a distributed network environment. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a processing system comprising a processor, a subscription request for a networked camera service providing image capturing in a region from a mobile device, wherein the subscription request identifies a recipient communication device;   receiving, by the processing system, location information from the mobile device;   determining, by the processing system, that a first location of the mobile device is within the region based on the location information;   storing, by the processing system, a plurality of images from one or more cameras of the networked camera service covering the region responsive to determining that the first location is within the region;   receiving and storing, by the processing system, audio data from the mobile device recorded while the mobile device is at the first location; and   providing, by the processing system, the recipient communication device with access to the plurality of images and audio data.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a plurality of product images present in the plurality of images are identified by performing image recognition on the image. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising: performing, by the processing system, image recognition on the plurality of images to determine an identified user of the mobile device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the processing system, marketing information from a commercial entity; and   adjusting, by the processing system, the plurality of images to add an object that is depicted as being present at the first location, wherein the object is generated based on the marketing information, and wherein the object includes marketing content associated with the commercial entity.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising monitoring, by the processing system, access to the plurality of images by viewers to gather demographic information of the viewers that results in gathered demographic information. 
     
     
         19 . A machine-readable medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations comprising:
 receiving a subscription request from a mobile device to a networked camera service providing image capturing in a region, wherein the subscription request identifies a recipient communication device;   receiving location information from the mobile device;   determining that a first location of the mobile device is within the region based on the location information;   responsive to determining that the first location is within the region, storing a plurality of images from one or more cameras of the networked camera service covering the region;   receiving and storing audio data from the mobile device recorded while the mobile device is at the first location; and   providing the recipient communication device with access to the plurality of images and audio data.   
     
     
         20 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving marketing information from a commercial entity; and   adjusting the plurality of images to add an object that is depicted as being present at the first location, wherein the object is generated based on the marketing information, and wherein the object includes marketing content associated with the commercial entity.