Nowadays, mobile devices having internet connectivity, such as smartphones, tablet computers and laptops are ubiquitous. Moreover, many people always carry their mobile device with them. This holds in particular true for smartphones. This trend is of great importance in emergency situations or safety situations, as many people can now immediately warn emergency services, e.g. call 911. Therefore, response times can be lowered.

Moreover, many mobile devices, smartphones in particular, are equipped with a camera.

This enables users to record the emergency situation, e.g. a robbery, vandalism, burglary or accidents. Many other situations, such as hostage takings, fires, assaults, rapes etc., can also be thought of in this context. The recorded video may assist the police in arresting the perpetrator or reconstructing the events. Another example of a situation wherein a user may want to record a video is in the case of police brutality.

Moreover, streaming video applications may be used for said purpose. Streaming video from a mobile device is known per se e.g. in the form of video chat applications such as Skype TM. In such video chat applications, the camera of the mobile device is used to record a video, which is then streamed to a server. The server forwards the video stream to the other user participating in the video call.

However, in order to start streaming video, the user has to unlock the mobile device, locate the video streaming application, open said video streaming application etc.. In an emergency situation the user may not be in a position to perform said actions. For example, when a user is being robbed or assaulted by a criminal, he will not be given the opportunity to perform said actions.

An object of the invention is to reduce said disadvantages and to enable quickly streaming a video using a mobile device in case of an emergency.

This object is achieved with the mobile device according to the invention. In an embodiment the mobile device comprises:

- at least one processing component;

- a memory; - a display;

- an input unit for detecting user input;

- at least one camera; and

- a wireless communication unit;

wherein the mobile device is switchable between a locked state preventing unauthorized and unintentional usage of the device and an unlocked state,

characterized in that the mobile device is configured to switch to a streaming modus upon detection of a predetermined user input by the input unit in the locked state of the mobile device, wherein the device in said streaming modus is configured to establish a communication connection with a remote server using the wireless communication unit, to activate the at least one camera and to stream video from the at least one camera to the remote server.

The mobile device may for example be a tablet computer, a laptop or a smart watch.

Preferably, the mobile device is a smartphone.

Mobile devices having a locked state and an unlocked state are known per se. For example, the mobile device may be unlocked by a user by entering a passcode, e.g. on a touch-sensitive display or a keyboard. Most functions of the mobile device are not available in the locked state. For example, a locked smartphone does not allow initiating phone calls or starting applications.

According to the embodiment above, the device is switchable to a streaming modus. In this streaming modus, video from the one or more cameras of the mobile device is streamed to a remote server. In particular, the device is configured such that it can be switched to the streaming modus when it is in the locked state. In other words, the device in its locked state can start streaming video from the camera. The device is configured to switch to said streaming modus when a

predetermined user input is received.

Therefore, the user does not have to unlock the mobile device and can immediately start starting streaming, which is of particular importance in an emergency situation. Moreover, the user does not need to manually open an application and/or select items from a menu: the video streaming is started automatically upon detecting the predetermined user input.

The streaming modus may be implemented in hardware and/or software. In an example, the memory of the device stores computer readable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, activate the streaming modus when the predetermined user input is detected.

In an embodiment, the mobile device is further configured to switch to the streaming modus upon detection of said predetermined user input by the input unit in the unlocked state of the mobile device irrespective of the current application running on said mobile device in its unlocked state.

Therefore, in addition to being able to switch the streaming modus in the locked state of the mobile device, the user may also start streaming when the device is unlocked. Therefore, also in case an emergency occurs while the user is using his mobile device, the user can immediately start streaming video by providing the predetermined user input. For example, the user may be in the middle of a call when an emergency occurs. In another example, the user may be using an application (app) when an emergency occurs. By providing the predetermined input, the user may start streaming video of the emergency, irrespective of whether the device is currently running a different application or function.

In an embodiment, the mobile device is further configured in the streaming modus to automatically call emergency services using the wireless communication unit.

This call may be accompanied by the sending of identifying information of the mobile device user.

In addition to providing video evidence of the emergency or preventing an unsafe situation, emergency service are simultaneously warned.

In an embodiment, the display is a touch-sensitive display and the input unit for detecting said predetermined user input comprises at least one input unit distinct from said touch-sensitive display. In other words, the predetermined user input is received via another input unit than the touch-sensitive display.

User interaction with a touch-sensitive display requires a user to view the screen, as the user has to touch the right areas on the screen to activate on screen buttons. However, in emergency situations, the user may not be in a position to view the screen or at least not be in a position to accurately operate a touch interface. The invention overcomes said problem by providing a user input different from the touch-sensitive screen as the predetermined input for switching to the streaming modus.

In an embodiment, the input unit comprises an accelerometer or gyroscope, i.e. a gyro sensor, wherein the input unit is configured to detect shaking of the mobile device by the user as said predetermined user input.

For example, the predetermined user input may comprise shaking the mobile phone for a predetermined time span, e.g. at least 5 seconds or at least 10 seconds. In another example, the predetermined user input comprises shaking the mobile phone according to a predetermined pattern, e.g. intermittently shaking and holding still the mobile phone with at least two repetitions.

In an embodiment, the input unit comprises a voice control unit comprising a microphone, the voice control unit being configured to detect a voice command of the user as said

predetermined user input.

For example, the predetermined user input may comprise the voice command "expose!" "start streaming!" or "emergency!". In an embodiment, the input unit comprises a button of the mobile phone, the input unit being configured to detect a pattern of repeatedly operating said button by the user within a predetermined time span as said predetermined user input.

The time span may for example be at least 5 seconds or at least 10 seconds.

In an embodiment, the input unit comprises a squeezable cover accessory of the mobile device, wherein the input unit is configured to detect squeezing of the cover accessory by the user as said predetermined user input.

For example, the predetermined input may comprise a pattern of repeatedly squeezing the squeeze cover accessory.

In an embodiment, the mobile device further comprises a bandwidth monitoring unit configured to determine the available bandwidth for streaming, wherein the mobile device is further configured to adjust the video quality according to the available bandwidth determined by the bandwidth monitoring unit.

For example, the mobile device may convert the video to black and white and/or reduce the resolution of the video if the available bandwidth is below a predetermined threshold. In situations with very low bandwidth, only intermittently taken photos may be streamed.

In an embodiment, the mobile device is further configured to store said video in its memory in addition to streaming the video to said remote server. This may also be done if an internet connection is for some reason unavailable. In such cases it is advantageous to configure the mobile device to stream the stored video to said remote server as soon as an internet connection is restored.

In an embodiment, the mobile device is further configured to stay in the streaming modus for at least a predetermined time span.

In an unsafe situation, a perpetrator may try to take the phone away from the user to stop the emergency video stream. According to the above embodiment however, the mobile device will stay in the streaming modus, i.e. is locked in the streaming modus, for at least a predetermined time span. Therefore, the perpetrator will not be able to shut down the streaming modus.

In one example, the streaming modus can only be ended if a security code is entered. In a further example, the mobile device remains in the streaming modus indefinitely, until a security code is entered. For example, the security code may be entered using a touch-sensitive display of the mobile device.

In an embodiment, the mobile device further comprises a GPS unit for determining the location coordinates of the device, wherein the mobile device is further configured to send the location coordinates determined by the GPS unit to the server using the wireless communication unit in the streaming modus. In other words, upon detecting the predetermined user input in the locked state or unlocked state, the mobile device will in addition to start streaming video send the GPS location of the mobile device to the server. This enables watchers of the video stream to view the location of the incident. For example, the GPS location may be displayed on an interactive map application of a mobile device such as a smartphone. For example, the GPS location may be displayed using Google Maps TM or Bing Maps TM.

Furthermore, emergency services are able to retrieve the location coordinates of the emergency. In another embodiment, the location coordinates are sent to the emergency services in conjunction with calling the emergency services.

In an embodiment, the wireless communication unit is suitable for receiving a stream notification message from a server, said stream notification message announcing a video stream originating from another mobile device, wherein the mobile device is configured in both the locked stated and unlocked state to display a notification interface on the display of the mobile device upon receipt of a stream notification message by the wireless communication unit and to start playout of said video stream upon selection of a user selectable item of said notification interface by the user.

For example, the notification interface may be a pop-up screen displayed on the touchscreen of the mobile device. In particular, the pop-up screen is displayed irrespective of whether the mobile device is locked or unlocked. Even in the locked state of the mobile device, the user may select a user selectable item to start playout of the corresponding video stream. The user selectable item is for example a link, a button, a clickable image or the like.

In a further embodiment, the stream notification message includes a location coordinate of said other mobile device, the mobile device being configured in both the locked stated and unlocked state to display said notification interface if the location coordinate of said other mobile device is within a predetermined range of the location coordinate of the mobile device as determined by the GPS unit.

In other words, a first mobile device receives a stream notification message originating from a second mobile device. The stream notification message includes a GPS coordinate of the second mobile device. Moreover, the first mobile device determines its own GPS coordinate using its GPS unit. The first mobile device compares the GPS location of the first mobile device with the GPS location of the second mobile device. If the locations are within a predetermined range, the notification interface is displayed on the first mobile device. If the distance between the locations exceeds the predetermined range, no notification interface is displayed.

Therefore, when a user streams a video of an incident, all mobile devices embodying the invention which are within range receive a notification of said video stream. Therefore, users of mobile devices nearby become aware of the incident and may act in order to deescalate the emergency or safety situation.

Preferably, the predetermined range is adjustable. For example, the user of the first mobile device may configure the range using a settings menu.

In an embodiment, the mobile device is further configured to send to the server identification data for identifying the user in the streaming modus. In other words, upon detecting the predetermined user input, the mobile device initiates the video stream and sends the identification data and/or GPS location. In particular, the notification message send by the server to other mobile devices may include said identification data. Therefore, the identity of the user of the mobile device is shown to users of said other mobile devices.

In a further embodiment, the mobile device is configured to receive a notification message including identification data and/or GPS location, wherein the notification interface is only displayed if the GPS location is within a predetermined range as described above or the identification data corresponds to identification data in an adjustable contact list stored on the mobile device.

Therefore, the user may specify from which contacts he wishes to display notification messages in case of a video stream notification message, irrespective of the location of said contact. Notification messages corresponding to video streams of a person not included in the contact list only result in a notification if said person is within the predetermined range.

The invention further relates to a method for initiating a video stream from a mobile device, wherein the mobile device is switchable between a locked state preventing unauthorized and unintentional usage of the device and an unlocked state.

In an embodiment, the method comprises automatically switching the device to a streaming modus if a predetermined user input is detected in the locked state of the mobile device, wherein in the streaming modus the following steps are executed by the mobile device:

- establishing a communication connection from the mobile device to a remote server;

- activating at least one camera of the mobile device; and

- streaming video captured by said at least one camera to the remote server.

The invention further relates to a server for forwarding a video stream. In an embodiment the server comprises:

- a communication unit; and

- a processing component connected to the communication unit,

wherein the communication unit is configured to receive, from at least one first mobile device, location coordinates of said at least one first mobile device and a video stream, and to receive, from at least one second mobile device, location coordinates of said at least one second mobile device, the processing component being configured to forward the video stream of said at least one first mobile device to said at least one second mobile device if the location coordinates of said at least one first mobile device is within a predetermined distance of the location coordinates of said at least one second mobile device.

The server may further be configured to store the video of the video stream in a memory of the server in addition to forwarding the video stream.

For example, a user of a first mobile device may open a user account, wherein all videos stored on the server from said first mobile device are associated with said user account. The user may then log in to a web service running on the server, to be able to view the videos associated with his user account.

In an embodiment, the server is configured to receive from said at least one first mobile device identification data for identifying the user, e.g. a unique user name or number. The server may store a contact list associated with said identification data and be configured to forward said video stream received from said at least one first mobile device to selected contacts of said contact list associated with said identification data. In other words, the server forwards the video stream to the contacts associated with the user.

The invention further relates to a method for forwarding a video stream using a server. In an embodiment the method comprises the following steps executed by the server:

- receiving location coordinates from at least one first mobile device;

- receiving location coordinates from at least one second mobile device; and

- forwarding a video stream received from said at least one first mobile device to said at least one further mobile device if the location coordinates of said first mobile device are within a predetermined distance of the location coordinates of said at least one second mobile device.

The invention further relates to a system comprising the server as described above and the mobile device as described above.

Finally, the invention relates to a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions which when executed by an electronic device, execute the steps of any of the methods described above.

The same effects and advantages apply to the method, server and system according to the invention as described above for the mobile device according to the invention. Moreover, features of the mobile device, method, server and system may be combined.

Further details, effects and advantages of the invention will be elucidated on the basis of exemplary embodiments thereof, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings.

- Figure 1 shows a mobile device according to an embodiment of the invention; - Figure 2 shows schematically an architecture of the mobile device of figure 1 ; - Figure 3 shows schematically a network including the mobile device of figures 1 and 2;

- Figure 4 shows a block diagram of a method for initiating a video stream from a mobile device according to an embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 5 shows a block diagram of a method for forwarding a video stream by a server according to an embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 6 shows substeps of the last step of the method of figure 5; and

- Figure 7 shows a block diagram of a method for receiving a video stream by a mobile device according to an embodiment of the invention.

The mobile device according to the embodiment of figure 1 is a smartphone 2 having a touch-sensitive display 4, i.e. a touch screen 4. The smartphone may further comprise one or more physical buttons 6.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the mobile device 2 comprises a central processing unit, CPU, 8 (figure 2). Optionally, the mobile device 2 may comprise a graphics processing unit, GPU, in addition to a CPU. The mobile device 2 further comprises a bus 10, a GPS unit 12, a memory 14, a camera 16, a communication interface 18 for wireless

communication, e.g. for internet access, and one or more input units 20, e.g. including sensors such as a gyro sensor 22 and accelerometer 24 and/or buttons, such as button 6. The CPU 8, touch screen 4, GPS unit 12, memory 14, camera 16, communication interface 18 and input units 20 are all connected to bus 10, directly or via an appropriate interface. The bus 10 enables communication between the components connected thereto.

The mobile device 2 may connect to a network 26, such as the internet, using the communication interface 18 (figure 3). In particular, the mobile device 2 may establish a communication connection with a server 28 for streaming video to said server 28. The server 28 may forward the video stream to other mobile devices, such as smartphones 30 or tablets 32.

An embodiment of a method performed by mobile device 2 is illustrated in figure 4. The mobile device 2 will be in its locked state SI 00 when not used by a user. In the locked state SI 00, usage of the mobile device 2 is restricted. Typically, a user has to enter a passcode to unlock the mobile device, i.e. to switch the device from the locked state S100 to an unlocked state.

In the locked state S100 of mobile device 2, the CPU 2 of mobile device 2 checks whether a predetermined input is received via input units 20 in step S102. If no input is detected or detected input does not correspond to the predetermined input, the mobile device 2 remains in the locked state S100. If the CPU 2 determines that input has been received from the input units 20 and that said input corresponds to the predetermined input, the mobile device switches to the streaming modus in step SI 04. Optionally, the mobile device 2 also communicates with emergency services in step S104, e.g. by initiating a call to an emergency service or sending data to an emergency service.

In particular, the predetermined input may be defined as shaking of the mobile device 2 as detected using gyro sensor 22 and/or accelerometer 24. For example, the CPU 2 may detect a pattern in the sensor output of the gyro sensor 22 corresponding to shaking mobile device 2 as the predetermined input.

When the mobile device 2 enters the streaming modus in step SI 04, a communication connection is established with server 28 via the network 26 using the communication interface 18. Moreover, the camera 16 of the mobile device 2 is activated and the video captured by the camera 16 is streamed to server 28. Note that the "streaming mode" may also consist of taking still pictures with the camera, or even just a single still picture with the camera. These may be streamed to the server, and may additionally or alternately also be stored on the mobile device. In this way, activating the streaming mode may also function as a quick access to the camera mode.

Optionally, the CPU 2 may check whether the streaming modus has been active for a predetermined time span in step SI 06. For example, a timer is started when the mobile device 2 enters the streaming modus. The CPU 2 then checks whether the timer has expired in step S106. If the timer has not yet expired, the mobile device remains in the streaming modus and keeps streaming video in step SI 04. However, if the timer has expired, the user may exit the streaming modus, i.e. stop streaming video to server 28.

In step S108, after the optional steps 106, or directly after step S104, the CPU 2 may optionally check whether a passcode has been entered by the user. The passcode used in step SI 08 may be identical the passcode used for switching the mobile device 2 from the locked state to the unlocked state, or the passcode in step SI 08 may be different. If no passcode is entered, the mobile device 2 remains in the streaming modus and the method continues from step SI 04. If however a passcode is entered in step SI 08, the mobile device 2 enables stopping the video stream in step

SI 10. For example, in step SI 10 the video stream may be stopped automatically upon entering the passcode. Alternatively, in step SI 10 an on-screen button is display on touch screen 4, activation of which stops the video stream.

An embodiment of a method performed by server 28 is illustrated in figure 5. When a first mobile device 2 enters the streaming modus, a connection request is send to server 28. The server receives said connection request in step S200. Upon receiving said connection request, a connection is established between the server 28 and the first mobile device 2 in step S202. The server 28 receives the location coordinates of the first mobile device 2 in step S204 and further receives the video stream of the first mobile device 2 in step S206. The video stream is forwarded to second mobile devices in step S208. Step S208 will be further elucidated with reference to figure 6. In an embodiment, step S208 comprises receiving location coordinates of a second mobile device, e.g. mobile device 30 or 32 in step S210 (figure 6). In this embodiment, the server 28 calculates the distance between the first mobile device and the second device on the basis of the coordinates of the first mobile device received in step S204 and the coordinates of the second mobile device received in step S210. The server 28 then checks whether the distance calculated is smaller than a predetermined threshold, i.e. a predetermined range. If the distance between the devices is smaller than the predetermined range, the video stream of the first mobile device is forwarded to the second mobile device 30 or 32 in step S216.

Forwarding the video stream to a second device 30 or 32 may comprise sending a stream notification message from the server 28 to said second device 30 or 32. The second device 30 or 32 may be configured to display a notification interface on its display allowing the user to accept or decline the video stream. If the video stream is accepted by the second device 30 or 32, said second device sends a corresponding message to server 28, which subsequently starts forwarding the video stream to said second mobile device 30, 32.

In an alternative embodiment, the server 28 does not make a selection based on the GPS coordinates and broadcasts a stream notification message to all second mobile devices 30, 32. In such an embodiment, the second mobile devices may execute the method of figure 7. In particular, a second mobile device 30, 32 may receive said stream notification message in step S300 (figure 7). The stream notification message may include the GPS coordinate of the first mobile device 2 from which the video stream originates. In step S302 the second mobile device 30, 32 may extract the location coordinate of the first mobile device from the stream notification message. In step S304 the second mobile device 30, 32 may determine its own location coordinates using its GPS unit. It is noted that step S304 may alternatively precede step S302. The second mobile device 30, 32 then calculates the distance to the second mobile device on the basis of the location coordinates of the first mobile device extracted in step S302 and its own location coordinates, in step S306. The second mobile device 30, 32 checks in step S308 whether the calculated distance is smaller than a predetermined threshold, i.e. a predetermined range. This predetermined threshold is preferably adjustable by the user, e.g. via a settings menu. If the first and second mobile devices are within the predetermined range, the second mobile device 30, 32 request the server 28 to forward the video stream of the first mobile device 2 in step S310. The server 28 responds by sending the video stream which is received by mobile device 2 in step S312. If the condition of step S308 does not apply, no further actions are performed (step S314).

Optionally, in step S310, the second mobile device 2 may first request confirmation by the user before requesting forwarding of the video stream. For example, the second mobile device may display a notification interface indicating to the user that a video stream is broadcasted within the predetermined range. If the user accepts the video stream, the method continues to step S310. However, if the user declines the broadcasting in step S308, the method proceeds to step S314 and no video is forwarded to the second mobile device 30, 32.

Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary interface displayed on the touch-screen of a mobile device in the streaming modus. The interface may optionally display an indication 34 of the time left according to the timer of step SI 06 in figure 4. Further optionally, the touch-screen may include a series of buttons 36, including an SOS button 38, a public button 40, a followers button 42, a private button 44 and a settings button 46. These buttons 38, 40, 42, 44, 46 correspond to different submodi in the streaming modus.

The SOS submodus has been described above. In particular, in the SOS submodus the video stream may be forwarded to other mobile device within a predetermined range from the mobile device recording the videos stream. Preferably, the emergency service may be contacted automatically in the SOS submodus. Identification data for identifying the user of the mobile device and/or a GPS location of the mobile device may also be sent to the emergency service.

Furthermore, a video forward in the SOS submodus may be indicated as such on displays of second mobile devices. In particular, the first mobile device may send to the server 28 an indication that the video stream is recorded in an SOS submodus. When the server 28 sends a stream notification message to other mobile devices, the server may include in said message that the video stream is an "SOS stream". Mobile devices receiving the stream notification message may indicate that the available video stream is an "SOS stream". For example, the notification interface may have a red color.

The contacting of the emergency services may be prompted by a user of a mobile device receiving the stream indicating that the available video stream is an "SOS stream". In this manner, a user may activate the streaming mode as a precaution when entering a potentially dangerous situation, and a user of another mobile device following the stream may activate the SOS submodus and/or prompt the forwarding of the stream to emergency services if the potentially dangerous situation turns into a actually dangerous situation, even if the user of the first mobile device is unable to activate the SOS submodus, for instance due to being (temporarily) incapacitated.

In the public submodus, like in the SOS submodus, the stream is accessible by anybody. Furthermore, other mobile phones within a predetermined of the first mobile device may receive a notification that the video stream is available. However, in the public submodus the mobile device does not contact the emergency services. Moreover, mobile devices receiving a stream notification message corresponding to the public submodus may indicate that the available stream is a public stream. For example, the notification interface may have a blue color.

In the followers submodus, only selected contacts of the user of the first mobile device receive a notification that a video stream is available. Moreover, the video stream is only accessible by the selected contacts. As in the public submodus, the mobile device does not contact emergency services. Mobile device receiving a stream notification message corresponding to the followers submodus may indicate that the available stream is a followers stream. For example, the notification interface may have a green color.

In the private submodus, the video stream is not forward to other mobile devices, but stored on the server for later use by the user. The video may be played back later by the user, after logging onto the server e.g. using a web service.

In any submodus, the notification interface announcing an available video stream may indicate a user ID corresponding to the user of the mobile device recording said video stream.

The user of mobile device 2 may set the desired submodus to be used when entering the streaming modus. For example, the user may control settings of the streaming modus such that the SOS submodus is started if the device enters the streaming modus. In another example, the user may select that the public submodus is used when entering the streaming modus.

However, when the mobile device 2 is in the streaming modus, the user may switch between the different submodi by operating the corresponding button 38, 40, 42, 44. However, if the mobile device is in the SOS submodus, the device can only be switched to any of the other submodi by entering a passcode, as in step SI 08 of figure 4.

If the on-screen button 46 is activated, a settings menu is shown. For example, the settings menu allows the user to select which submodi is started when entering the streaming modus.

The present invention is by no means limited to the above described preferred embodiments thereof. The rights sought are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged.