System and method for providing wide-area imaging and communications capability to a handheld device
This invention provides a system and method for utilizing a wireless, handheld communication device to image a scene in multiple directions, so as to include multiple parties in addition to the user, and also, optionally, to project images on a plurality of display screens. The housing of the smartphone is adapted to provide a multi-camera and multi-screen arrangement. More particularly, the housing of the smartphone is adapted to include (at least) a front-directed camera and a rear-directed camera on respective front and rear faces, and openings along the left and right side edges for small-scale cameras and associated protective windows that are directed to image the left and right areas adjacent to the phone. The side cameras can also be provided in a removable case and a hub can be used to coordinate data feeds, including those from peripheral devices.
1. A case for removable application to an exterior of a portable data communication device having a housing with a front face, a rear face, a left side edge and a right side edge, the left side edge and the right side edge separating the front face and the rear face, the housing including a front display screen relative to the front face, at least one front camera relative to the front face and at least one rear camera relative to the rear face, the case for removable application comprising:
a case body that extends along the left side edge and the right side edge and along the rear face, the case body being constructed and arranged to removably engage an edge of the portable data communication device;
at least one left camera on the case body relative to the left side edge;
at least one right camera on the case body relative to the right side edge; and
a data handling process, operating at least on a processor of the portable data communication device, that arranges image data streams from each of the front camera, the rear camera, the left camera and the right camera for storage or data transmission to a recipient device over a wireless network.
2. The case as set forth in claim 1 wherein the portable data communication device is a smartphone or a tablet and the front display is a touchscreen.
3. The case as set forth in claim 2 , further comprising a hub that interconnects to the left camera and the right camera with a port on the device and combines the image data streams for input to the data handling process.
4. The case as set forth in claim 1 wherein the left camera and the right camera are interconnected with a multi-port hub that receives and coordinates video signals therefrom and provided the video signals to the data handling process.
5. The case as set forth in claim 4 wherein the hub operates using a USB standard and the data handling process includes an application is adapted to listen on all available USB channels of the hub, and initiate bidirectional, non-proprietary communication with any connected peripheral devices.
6. The case as set forth in claim 4 wherein the data handling process operates at least one of a video imaging application and a video chat application that coordinates acquisition of subject images by at least some of the front camera, the rear camera, the left camera, and the right camera and that displays images of one or more subjects from the recipient device on at least one of the front display screen and the rear display screen.
7. The case as set forth in claim 4 wherein the front display screen displays subject images in at least one of (a) respective split screen arrangements and (b) a combined panoramic arrangement.
8. The case as set forth in claim 4 , further comprising a hub connector relative to the case body that is adapted to interconnect to at least one peripheral device and receive a respective data stream therefrom.
9. The case as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the peripheral device generates at least one of environmental data, sensor telemetry and image data.
10. The case as set forth in claim 7 wherein the peripheral device is a medical instrument.
11. The case as set forth in claim 8 wherein the hub is adapted to interconnect at least three medical devices.
12. The case as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the case body include a raised area along a rear thereof to house electronic components.
13. The case as set forth in claim 1 wherein a side of the case body includes an opening to allow access to a charging and data port on the device by a connector.
14. The case as set forth in claim 13 , further comprising, an integrated or wire-based connection that interconnects the charging and data port and the case.