IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,423,856
Granted Patent B2
US 12,423,856 · App. 18/341,567 · Granted Sep 23, 2025

Method and apparatus for determining locations of wireless cameras

Inventors: Song Fang (Norman, OK); Yan He (Norman, OK); Qiuye He (Norman, OK)
Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
G06T7/70G06F3/017H04L63/0876
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,423,856
App. No.
18/341,567
Granted
Sep 23, 2025
Kind
B2
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.

Claims (55)

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.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Apr 23, 2025
From: UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
To: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 071017/0039 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2024
From: FANG, SONG; HE, YAN; HE, QIUYE
To: THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
Reel/Frame 067235/0334 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63356211 · Jun 28, 2022
Related Publication 20230419534A1 · Dec 28, 2023
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