Method and Apparatus for Determining Locations of Wireless Cameras

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023419534-A1
Application number	US-202318341567-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 26, 2023
Priority date	Jun 28, 2022
Publication date	Dec 28, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method is for detecting and localizing a wireless camera in an environment suspected to contain the wireless camera. The method comprises: instructing a user to perform a predetermined motion in the environment, wherein the predetermined motion is detectable within a detection range of a motion sensor of the wireless camera; scanning for and collecting a wireless traffic flow in the environment via a sniffing device; analyzing the wireless traffic flow to identify an OUI; comparing the OUI to an existing public OUI database to determine if the wireless traffic flow is generated by the wireless camera; when the wireless traffic flow is determined to have been generated by the wireless camera, concluding that the wireless camera is present in the environment; calculating a path distance of the predetermined motion when the wireless camera has been determined to be present in the environment; using a model to determine if the user performing the predetermined motion was in the detection range; and when the user is determined to have been in the detection range, determining a specific location of the wireless camera in the environment based on the path distance of the predetermined motion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for detecting and localizing a wireless camera in an environment suspected to contain the wireless camera, the method comprising:
instructing a user to perform a predetermined motion in the environment, wherein the predetermined motion is detectable within a detection range of a motion sensor of the wireless camera; scanning for and collecting a wireless traffic flow in the environment via a sniffing device; analyzing the wireless traffic flow to identify an organizationally unique identifier (OUI); comparing the OUI to an existing public OUI database to determine if the wireless traffic flow is generated by the wireless camera; when the wireless traffic flow is determined to have been generated by the wireless camera, concluding that the wireless camera is present in the environment; calculating a path distance of the predetermined motion when the wireless camera has been determined to be present in the environment; using a model to determine if the user performing the predetermined motion was in the detection range; and when the user is determined to have been in the detection range, determining a specific location of the wireless camera in the environment based on the path distance of the predetermined motion.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sniffing device is a smartphone or a computing device which runs a traffic sniffing program.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the OUI is a media access control (MAC) address.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
inputting physical parameters and measurements of the environment into the model; displaying a scanning plan; and prompting the user to perform the predetermined motion to activate the wireless camera.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the environment is an interior of a building.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the environment is an exterior of a building.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the environment comprises a plurality of wireless devices connected wirelessly, and wherein the wireless devices are secured by a password unknown to the user.

8 . A system comprising:
a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to:
instruct a user to perform a predetermined motion in an environment suspected to contain a wireless camera, wherein the predetermined motion is detectable within a detection range of a motion sensor of the wireless camera;
scan for and collect a wireless traffic flow in the environment via a sniffing device;
analyze the wireless traffic flow to identify an organizationally unique identifier (OUI);
compare the OUI to an existing public OUI database to determine if the wireless traffic flow is generated by the wireless camera;
when the wireless traffic flow is determined to have been generated by the wireless camera, conclude that the wireless camera is present in the environment;
calculate a path distance of the predetermined motion when the wireless camera has been determined to be present in the environment;
use a model to determine if the user performing the predetermined motion was in the detection range; and
when the user is determined to have been in the detection range, determine a specific location of the wireless camera in the environment based on the path distance of the predetermined motion.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the sniffing device is a smartphone or a computing device which runs a traffic sniffing program.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein a plurality of devices implements the system, and wherein the devices comprise the sniffing device.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the OUI is a media access control (MAC) address.

12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
input physical parameters and measurements of the environment into the model; display a scanning plan; and prompt the user to perform the predetermined motion to activate the wireless camera.

13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the environment is an interior of a building.

14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the environment is an exterior of a building.

15 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the environment comprises a plurality of wireless devices connected wirelessly, and wherein the wireless devices are secured by a password unknown to the user.

16 . A computer program product comprising instructions that are stored on a computer-readable medium and that, when executed by a processor, cause a system to:
instruct a user to perform a predetermined motion in an environment suspected to contain a wireless camera, wherein the predetermined motion is detectable within a detection range of a motion sensor of the wireless camera; scan for and collect a wireless traffic flow in the environment via a sniffing device; analyze the wireless traffic flow to identify an organizationally unique identifier (OUI); compare the OUI to an existing public OUI database to determine if the wireless traffic flow is generated by the wireless camera; when the wireless traffic flow is determined to have been generated by the wireless camera, conclude that the wireless camera is present in the environment; calculate a path distance of the predetermined motion when the wireless camera has been determined to be present in the environment; use a model to determine if the user performing the predetermined motion was in the detection range; and when the user is determined to have been in the detection range, determine a specific location of the wireless camera in the environment based on the path distance of the predetermined motion.

17 . The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the sniffing device is a smartphone or a computing device which runs a traffic sniffing program.

18 . The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the OUI is a media access control (MAC) address.

19 . The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the system to:
input physical parameters and measurements of the environment into the model; display a scanning plan; and prompt the user to perform the predetermined motion to activate the wireless camera.

20 . The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the environment is an interior of a building or an exterior of the building, wherein the environment comprises a plurality of wireless devices connected wirelessly, and wherein the wireless devices are secured by a password unknown to the user.

Assignees

• Univ Oklahoma

Inventors

• Fang Song
• He Yan
• He Qiuye

Classifications

• G06T7/70 Primary

  Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras (camera calibration G06T7/80) · CPC title

• G06F3/017

  Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883) · CPC title

• H04L63/0876 Primary

  based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint · CPC title

• H04N23/661

  Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet · CPC title

• H04N7/185

  from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control · CPC title