METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING WIFI CAMERAS

1 . A method for detecting a freeze frame condition in a WiFi camera, the method comprising:

using the WiFi camera to capture a plurality of images;

comparing one of the images to another one of the images; and

detecting the freeze frame condition as a result of determining that a level of similarity between the two captured images exceeds a threshold level.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the camera includes a lens, an image digital signal processor, a video encoder, a video decode engine, and a video processing engine pipeline.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the comparing step is performed by use of a display screen.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the detecting step is performed by use of a display screen.

5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising sending a notification of the freeze frame condition to a human user via a video overlay.

6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising sending a notification of the freeze frame condition to a human user over WiFi/Bluetooth.

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the comparing step includes a pixel-to-pixel comparison of the two images.

8 . The method of claim 7 wherein the detecting of the freeze frame condition is a result of determining that more than a threshold number or percentage of pixels are identical in the two images.

9 . A WiFi camera freeze frame detection arrangement, comprising:

a WiFi camera configured to capture a plurality of images; and

an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the WiFi camera and configured to:

compare one of the images to another one of the images; and

detect a freeze frame condition as a result of determining that a level of similarity between the two captured images exceeds a threshold level.

10 . The arrangement of claim 9 wherein the WiFi camera includes a lens, an image digital signal processor, a video encoder, a video decode engine, and a video processing engine pipeline.

11 . The arrangement of claim 9 further comprising a display screen communicatively coupled to the electronic processor, the comparing step including using the display screen.

12 . The arrangement of claim 9 further comprising a display screen communicatively coupled to the electronic processor, the detecting step including using the display screen.

13 . The arrangement of claim 9 wherein the electronic processor is configured to send a notification of the freeze frame condition to a human user via a video overlay.

14 . The arrangement of claim 9 wherein the electronic processor is configured to send a notification of the freeze frame condition to a human user over WiFi/Bluetooth.

15 . The arrangement of claim 9 wherein the electronic processor is configured to compare one of the images to another one of the images by performing a pixel-to-pixel comparison of the two images.

16 . The arrangement of claim 15 wherein the electronic processor is configured to detect a freeze frame condition as a result of determining that more than a threshold number or percentage of pixels are identical in the two images.

17 . A method for detecting a freeze frame condition in a camera, the method comprising:

using the camera to capture a plurality of images;

comparing one of the images to another one of the images by performing a pixel-to-pixel comparison of the two images; and

detecting the freeze frame condition as a result of determining that more than a threshold number or percentage of pixels are identical in the two images.

18 . The method of claim 17 wherein the camera includes a lens, an image digital signal processor, a video encoder, a video decode engine, and a video processing engine pipeline.

19 . The method of claim 17 further comprising sending a notification of the freeze frame condition to a human user via a video overlay.

20 . The method of claim 17 further comprising sending a notification of the freeze frame condition to a human user over WiFi/Bluetooth.