Modification of camera functionality based on orientation

1. A method of using a monitoring system comprising:

identifying an orientation of an imaging device as either a landscape orientation or a portrait orientation;

tailoring operation of the imaging device to tailor a size and/or shape of a monitored activity zone to the identified orientation;

in response to detection of activity in the activity zone, capturing media using the imaging device; and

displaying images on a user device with one or more aspects of a display being dependent on the identified orientation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the orientation comprises automatically detecting the orientation of the imaging device.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the orientation is detected using a gyroscope and/or an accelerometer.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the orientation of the imaging device is determined by comparing incoming media to a database of orientation identifiers.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the orientation of the imaging device is set manually.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tailoring includes using data from a first sensor when the imaging device is in a first orientation thereof and from a second sensor when the imaging device is in a second orientation thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying images includes using an aspect ratio that depends upon the identified orientation of the imaging device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying images includes using a compression algorithm tailored to the identified orientation of the imaging device.

9. A monitoring system comprising:

an imaging device configured to capture and transmit images, the image device being capable of selectively operating in a landscape mode and in a portrait mode and to capture images in either a landscape orientation or a portrait orientation; and

a controller in communication with the imaging device, the controller configured to execute a program stored in a non-transitory memory to:

identify an orientation of the imaging device as either a landscape orientation or a portrait orientation;

tailor the size and/or shape of a monitored activity zone based on the identified orientation;

in response to detection of activity in the activity zone:

capture media using the imaging device, and

process media captured by the imaging device in a manner that is dependent on the identified orientation; and

using the processed media, cause an image to be displayed on a user device with one or more aspects of the displayed image being dependent on the identified orientation.

10. The monitoring system of claim 9 , wherein the controller includes:

a memory communicably coupled to the imaging device and storing a database of orientation identifiers;

an orientation module including instructions that, when executed, compare an image captured by the imaging device to the database of orientation identifiers in an attempt to identify the orientation of the imaging device; and

a trigger module including instructions that, when executed, execute a task that is dependent on the identified orientation.

11. The monitoring system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the system to use data from a first sensor when the imaging device is in a first orientation thereof and from a second sensor when the imaging device is in a second orientation thereof.

12. The monitoring system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the display of an image using an aspect ratio that depends upon the identified orientation of the imaging device.

13. The monitoring system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the display of an image generated using a compression algorithm tailored to the identified orientation of the imaging device.

14. The monitoring system of claim 9 , further comprising a base station that hosts a wireless local access network (WLAN), that is in wireless communication with the imaging device, and that is in wireless communication with an external server via a wide area network (WAN).

15. A monitoring system comprising:

a plurality of imaging devices, each including a camera and a processor;

a base station that hosts a wireless local access network (WLAN) and that is in wireless communication with the imaging devices and is in wireless communication with an external server via a wide area network (WAN); and

a controller that is in communication with the imaging devices and the base station and that is configured to execute a program stored in non-transitory memory to:

identify an orientation of at least one of the imaging devices as either a landscape orientation or a portrait orientation; and, for each imaging device for the orientation of which is detected;

cause the system to use data from a first sensor when the imaging device is in a first orientation thereof and from a second sensor when the imaging device is in a second orientation thereof to tailor a size and/or shape of a monitored activity zone to the identified orientation; and

in response to detection of activity in the activity zone capture media using the imaging device,

process media captured by the imaging device in a manner that is dependent on the identified orientation, and

process media captured by the imaging device within the monitored activity zone; and

using the processed media, causing an image to be displayed on a user device with an aspect ratio of the displayed image being dependent on the identified orientation.