Neighborhood Security Cameras

1 . A security camera device, comprising:

a camera having a field of view, the camera being configured to record image data of the field of view;

a communication module; and

a processing module operatively connected to the camera and to the communication module, the processing module comprising

a processor; and

a camera application, wherein the camera application configures the processor to

obtain the image data from the camera; and

transmit the image data to a backend server using the communication module, such that the image data is publicly accessible via the backend server;

wherein the security camera device is configured to provide a public access identifier for accessing, using a client device, the image data recorded by the camera and transmitted to the backend server.

2 . The security camera device of claim 1 , wherein the public access identifier comprises an alphanumeric code configured to be entered into an application executing on the client device.

3 . The security camera device of claim 1 , wherein the public access identifier comprises at least one form of automatic identification and data capture (AIDC).

4 . The security camera device of claim 3 , wherein the AIDC comprises at least one of a barcode, a matrix code, and a bokode.

5 . The security camera device of claim 1 , wherein the image data publicly accessible via the backend server comprises at least one of a live video stream from the camera and one or more video files recorded by the camera.

6 . The security camera device of claim 1 , further comprising a motion sensor configured to gather information from within the field of view of the camera and generate an output signal.

7 . The security camera device of claim 6 , wherein the camera application further configures the processor to receive the output signal from the motion sensor and determine, based on the output signal from the motion sensor, whether motion is indicated within the field of view of the camera, and to activate the camera when it is determined that motion is indicated within the field of view of the camera.

8 . The security camera device of claim 1 , wherein the camera application further configures the processor to perform automatic identification and data capture (AIDC).

9 . The security camera device of claim 8 , wherein the AIDC comprises at least one of biometrics, voice recognition, facial recognition, three-dimensional facial recognition, and skin texture analysis.

10 . The security camera device of claim 8 , wherein the camera application further configures the processor to generate an alert when a person of interest is detected using the AIDC.

11 . The security camera device of claim 1 , further comprising a housing configured to contain and protect the camera, the communication module, and the processing module.

12 . The security camera device of claim 1 , further comprising a solar panel configured to provide power to the security camera device.

13 . The security camera device of claim 1 , wherein the communication module is configured to transmit and receive signals wirelessly.

14 . A method for granting access to video footage recorded by a publicly-accessible security camera device, the method comprising:

receiving, at a backend server from a client device, a request for access to the video footage recorded by the publicly-accessible security camera device, the request including a public access identifier corresponding to the publicly-accessible security camera device, wherein the public access identifier is posted adjacent the publicly-accessible security camera device in a public location; and

transmitting, by the backend server to the client device, an access grant signal with a notification of grant of access to the video footage recorded by the publicly-accessible security camera device.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising transmitting, by the backend server to the client device, a plurality of links to a plurality of video clips recorded by the publicly-accessible security camera device.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising receiving, by the backend server from the client device, a playback request to play a selected one of the plurality of video clips.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising transmitting, by the backend server to the client device, streaming video corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of video clips.

18 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising receiving, by the backend server from the client device, an alert request to receive an alert when motion is indicated within a field of view of the security camera device.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising transmitting, by the backend server to the client device, the alert when motion is indicated within the field of view of the security camera device.

20 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising receiving, by the backend server from the client device, an alert request to receive an alert when a person of interest is detected by the security camera device.

21 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising transmitting, by the backend server to the client device, the alert when the person of interest is detected by the security camera device.

22 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising receiving, by the backend server from the client device, a request to answer the alert.

23 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising transmitting, by the backend server to the client device, streaming video in response to the request to answer the alert.

24 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising receiving, by the backend server, information about the person of interest.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the information about the person of interest comprises a photograph.