Ball with camera for reconnaissance or recreation and network for operating the same

An image capture apparatus comprising:

• a substantially spherical housing suitable for being projected into an airborne trajectory;
• at least one camera positioned in the housing having at least a partial view to the exterior environment;
• at least one orientation sensor positioned in the housing that determines an orientation of the image capture apparatus with respect to ground;
• a processing unit having inputs electrically connected to the at least one camera and the at least one orientation sensor;
• and
• a transmitter for sending an image wirelessly;
• wherein
• a captured image and the orientation of the image capture apparatus with respect to ground at the time of the image capture are transmitted to a ground-based user.

An image capture system comprising:

• a first substantially spherical housing suitable for being projected into an airborne trajectory comprising a first camera, a first orientation sensor that determines an orientation of the first substantially spherical housing with respect to ground, and a first network interface for wirelessly transmitting a first captured image and first orientation data, wherein the first orientation data indicates the orientation of the first substantially spherical housing at substantially the same time as the capture of the first image;
• a second substantially spherical housing suitable for being projected into an airborne trajectory comprising a second camera, a second orientation sensor that determines an orientation of the second substantially spherical housing with respect to ground, and a second network interface for wirelessly transmitting a second captured image and second orientation data, wherein the second orientation data indicates the orientation of the second substantially spherical housing at substantially the same time as the capture of the second image;
• a client device comprising a memory, a third network interface which is wirelessly connected to the first network interface and the second network interface, and an image processor, wherein:
• the client device receives the first image, the first orientation data, the second image, and the second orientation data, and
• the image processor rotates the first image in response to the first orientation data, and stitches the rotated first image and the second image together.

An image capture system comprising:

• a first substantially spherical housing suitable for being projected into an airborne trajectory comprising a first camera, a first orientation sensor that determines an orientation of the first substantially spherical housing with respect to ground, a first position sensor that determines a position of the first substantially spherical housing along its trajectory, and a first network interface for wirelessly transmitting a first captured image, first orientation data, and first position data, wherein the first orientation data and the first position data indicate the orientation and position of the first substantially spherical housing at substantially the same time as the capture of the first image;
• a second substantially spherical housing suitable for being projected into an airborne trajectory comprising a second camera, a second orientation sensor that determines an orientation of the second substantially spherical housing with respect to ground, a second position sensor that determines a position of the second substantially spherical housing along its trajectory, and a second network interface for wirelessly transmitting a second captured image, second orientation data, and second position data, wherein the second orientation data and the second position data indicate the orientation and position of the second substantially spherical housing at substantially the same time as the capture of the second image;
• and
• a client device comprising a third network interface and an image processor, wherein:
• the third network interface is wirelessly connected to the first network interface and the second network interface,
• the client device receives the first image, the first orientation data, the first position data, the second image, the second position data, and the second orientation data, and
• the image processor compiles the first image and the second image into a video in response to the first position data and the second position data.

An image capture system comprising:

• an image capture apparatus comprising a substantially spherical housing suitable for being projected into an airborne trajectory;
• the image capture apparatus comprising at least one camera positioned in the housing having at least a partial view to the exterior environment;
• the image capture apparatus comprising at least one orientation sensor positioned in the housing that determines an orientation of the image capture apparatus with respect to ground;
• the image capture apparatus wirelessly connected to a network;
• and
• a client device wirelessly connected to the image capture apparatus on the network;
• wherein
• the image capture apparatus provides the client device with a captured image and the orientation of the image capture apparatus with respect to ground at the time of the image capture;
• and wherein
• the client device comprises a processor that rotates the image using the orientation of the image capture apparatus at the time of the image capture.

An image capture system comprising:

• an image capture apparatus comprising a substantially spherical housing suitable for being projected into an airborne trajectory;
• the image capture apparatus comprising at least one camera positioned in the housing, the at least one camera having at least a partial view to the exterior environment;
• the image capture apparatus comprising at least one orientation sensor positioned in the housing that determines an orientation of the image capture apparatus with respect to ground;
• the image capture apparatus comprising a processor positioned in the housing having inputs electrically connected to the at least one camera and the at least one orientation sensor;
• the processor obtaining first orientation data in response to a signal from the at least one orientation sensor, the first orientation data representing the orientation of the image capture apparatus with respect to ground at substantially the same time as an image capture of a first image by the at least one camera;
• the processor obtaining second orientation data in response to a signal from the at least one orientation sensor, the second orientation data representing the orientation of the image capture apparatus with respect to ground at substantially the same time as an image capture of a second image by the at least one camera;
• the image capture apparatus wirelessly connected to a network;
• and
• a client device wirelessly connected to the network;
• wherein
• the image capture apparatus wirelessly transmits the first image, the first orientation data, the second image, and the second orientation data to the client device on the network.

A method implemented by an image camera apparatus suitable for being projected into an airborne trajectory, the method comprising:

• capturing a first image using a camera at a first time;
• determining, using an orientation sensor, a first orientation of the image camera apparatus with respect to ground at substantially the first time;
• determining a first direction the camera is facing using the first orientation of the image camera apparatus with respect to ground;
• capturing a second image using the camera at a second time;
• determining, using the orientation sensor, a second orientation of the image camera apparatus with respect to ground at substantially the second time;
• determining a second direction the camera is facing using the second orientation of the image camera apparatus with respect to ground;
• generating a video comprising the first image followed by the second image.