Abstract:
A system and method are described for providing improved bird feeders, especially self-contained bird feeders capable of providing streaming video. The system and method employ a novel design offering a streaming video from a self-contained feeding platform, described in the drawings and the detailed description.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES 
       [0005]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0006]    A system and method are described for providing improved bird feeders, especially self-contained bird feeders capable of providing streaming video. The system and method employ a novel design offering a streaming video from a self-contained feeding platform, described in the drawings and the detailed description below. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is a bird feeder with built in camera, computer controller, and Internet connection. The invention enables a user at a remote computer to control the computer over the Internet or over the local network hosting the bird feeder, to take still pictures of feeding birds or other animals, to take videos of feeding birds, to transmit pictures or videos over the Internet to remote computers, and to transmit “live” streaming video over the Internet to remote computers. The invention is described in further detail in the drawings and the detailed description below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the self-contained bird feeder of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the perch and viewing port of the self-contained bird feeder of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the feeder portion of the self-contained bird feeder of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of the self-contained bird feeder of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the circuit board as appearing in the bird feeder of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The present invention offers improved viewing and of birds at a feeder. In particular, the present invention incorporates a camera and electronics to provide a streaming video feed, including a power source and a controller. As a result, the present invention offers a self-contained platform for providing streaming video that may be broadcast over the Internet. The mobility, versatility, and economy of the present invention offer a substantial improvement in its field. 
         [0014]    A representative feeder of the present invention is illustrated in FIG.  1 . This view of a feeder of the present invention shows a feeder as assembled and in use. Toward the top of the feeder, a shield  2  may be used to protect against squirrels or other unwanted animals. The shield  2  may have a hook  1  that may attach to the feeder top  3 . Below the feeder top  3  is the feeder housing  5 . 
         [0015]    The feeder housing  5  may contain many of the functional components of the present invention, including a computer  20 , preferably with a WiFi adapter or WiFi dongle, an internal power source such as a battery  22 , a feed compartment  6  and a feed compartment separator  7 . A power connector wire  23  connects the computer  20  to the battery  22 . A camera cable  21  may connect a camera  10  to the computer  20 . The feeder housing may be opaque or clear, and in a preferred embodiment is clear to enable visual inspection of the level of bird feed in the feeder compartment  6 . 
         [0016]    In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the power source, battery  22 , may be augmented by or replaced with one or more other internal power sources, for example solar energy panels. In a preferred embodiment, a solar energy panel can provide sufficient power to operate the computer and camera. For example, one or more solar panels may be mounted on the shield  2  or a canopy. It is also contemplated under the present invention to arrange a solar power source such that it recharges a battery  22 . Thus, the present invention may include a combination of solar power and a battery to ensure smooth computer start-up, operation, and shutdown. 
         [0017]    Feed may be fed by gravity from the feeder compartment  6  through the feeder housing  5  to the feeder bottom  14 , and to a feed port  11  located on the feeder bottom  14 . A camera  10  may be aligned with the feed port  11 . In this way, a bird may land on a perch  12  located just below the feed port  11 , in accessing feed, and be filmed by the camera  10 , located near the feed port. In an alternate embodiment, a sensor may be mounted near the camera to activate the camera when a bird is in range of the camera. Examples of suitable sensors include motion detectors and infrared sensors. 
         [0018]    The arrangement of the feeder bottom  14  is illustrated in greater detail in  FIG. 2 . The feeder bottom  14  may be a separate component of the bird feeder that attaches to the feeder housing  5 , or the feeder bottom  14  may be a section of the feeder housing  5  itself, for example a section of the feeder housing located at an end of the feeder housing  5 . 
         [0019]    While a preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplates a feeder specifically for birds, it is within the invention to apply the same elements of the invention to other feeders. 
         [0020]    An opening may be machined in the feeder bottom  14  to allow the camera  10  to be mounted in close proximity to the feed port  11 , preferably just above the feed port  11 . One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the various arrangements of the perch  12 , feed port  11 , and camera  10  such that the spacing is optimized to correspond to video of certain angles of birds, or to birds of a certain size range. Various shields, barriers, and other features may be used near the feeder bottom  14  both to protect the feed port and offer improved filming by the camera  10 . 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the bird feeder of the present invention may have a feed compartment  6  located in the feeder housing  5 . The feeder top  3  may be removed to allow filling the feed compartment  6  with feed or accessing electronic or other components as needed. A feed compartment separator  7  may be employed to physically separate the feed from an open space in the feeder housing that may be used for various components, especially the electronic components of the present invention, such as a power supply, a computer, and electronics to implement an Internet connection. The feed compartment separator  7  may be any suitable material, such as foamboard, wood, plexiglass, etc. and placed in the feeder housing  5  in a suitable fashion such that feed is kept apart from the electronic components. 
         [0022]    The feeder and method of the present invention are further illustrated in a block diagram of electronic components in  FIG. 4 . The invention includes:
       A Camera that is mounted to the bird feeder and is aligned with a feeding station to allow photographic observation of feeding birds;   A programmable computer controller that is mounted to the bird feeder (e.g., Raspberry Pi B+);   A means of providing electrical power, electrical controls, and means of retrieving photographic images from the camera controlled by the computer controller (e.g., 15 wire camera cable);   Computer software that runs the computer controller and controls camera functions and data retrieval, including video and still images (e.g., software included in Raspbian Linux distribution);   An Internet connection (e.g. Ethernet connection to WiFi router) for the computer controller;   Internet connection hardware (e.g., WiFi transmitter and receiver, WiFi adapter, or WiFi dongle) attached to the computer controller;   Software running on the computer controller to manage and maintain the Internet connection (e.g., included in Raspbian Linux distribution);   Multimode camera capability via programmable computer controller that enables still photography, video capture, and/or live streaming video;   Software that enables the computer controller to act as server for streaming video over the Internet (e.g., VLC) via connection to router;   Software that enables the computer controller to act as a server for interactive control from remote computer over the Internet (e.g., unix/Linux server SSH);   Software that enables monitoring of streaming video from the computer controller from remote computers (e.g., VLC);   Electrical power to run the computer controller (e.g., 5 VDC from battery), and   Autonomous operation capability without connection to external power supply or wired connection.       
 
         [0036]    Thus, a method may be provided under the present invention for transmitting images from a bird feeder, or other feeder comprising: equipping a feeder housing with a camera in close proximity to a feed port; providing a source of electrical power for a computer disposed within the bird feeder; configuring a computer disposed in the bird feeder to control the camera; operating the camera to capture images; and transmitting images to a WiFi network. 
         [0037]    A computer controller that may be employed in the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . A processor  32 , for example a Broadcom BCM 2835 with 512 MB RAM, is mounted on a circuit board; and a header  31 , for example a 40 pin GPIO header, is located at the top of the circuit board. A display connector  33  may be mounted on the circuit board. A 5V micro USB socket  34  is shown located on the lower left corner of the circuit board. A multi-media interface  35 , for example a HDMI port, is situated next to camera connector  36 , and audio/video jack  37 , in this case a 4-pole 3.5 mm stereo audio and composite video jack. An ethernet socket  38  provides access to an internet connection. One or more USB ports  39  may be mounted on the circuit board in a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         [0038]    A battery  22  is connected to the Raspberry Pi to provide 5 VDC electrical power. Both the battery and the Raspberry Pi subassembly may be mounted via Velcro to an aluminum alloy strip that allows insertion and removal from the bird feeder. 
         [0039]    Example 1 below provides additional details of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       Example 1 
       [0040]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a Squirrel Buster Plus bird feeder from Brome Bird care, 331 Knowlton Road, Knowlton, Quebec is converted into the present invention. A viewing port is machined into the bird feeder. The viewing port is aligned with the feed port to provide an optical path from an internally mounted camera to the area in front of the feed port. A digital camera is mounted in the bird feeder. The camera is aligned with the viewing port so that it can observe feeding birds. In this example, the camera was manufactured by Nanjing Paichi. The camera is mounted on a printed circuit board that includes a 15 wire ribbon cable terminal. The camera is attached to the feeder by four bolts that extend from the feeder shell to beyond the back surface of the camera board. There may be nylon spacers between the feeder shell and the camera board to provide proper mounting distance. There is a protective shield placed over that back of the camera board to protect the electrical contacts. There are four nuts, one for each bolt, attached to the bolts such that they secure both the protective shield to the back of the camera board and secure the camera to feeder shell. 
         [0041]    The camera is connected to a Raspberry Pi B+ computer by a 1 meter long 15 wire ribbon cable that is connected to the terminal on the camera board and to the Raspberry Pi. The Raspberry Pi is mounted in a plastic case. The Raspberry Pi includes at least one USB port. A WiFi adapter (dongle) is connected to a USB port. A battery is connected to the Raspberry Pi to provide 5 VDC electrical power. The battery and the Raspberry Pi subassembly are mounted via Velcro to an aluminum alloy strip that allows insertion and removal from the bird feeder. A foamboard strip separates the electronics from the feed reservoir. 
         [0042]    The Raspbian Linux distribution (available from http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/) containing the software that runs the Raspberry Pi, that enables camera support, manages Ethernet and internet connectivity, secure shell server (SSH), and enables other essential functions was installed on an 8 GB micro SD memory board that was then loaded into the Raspberry Pi and run. Camera support and SSH were enabled for the Raspberry Pi during setup. Using software included in the Raspbian distribution and a WiFi dongle inserted into a USB socket, WiFi connection was enabled and a WiFi router selected. This enables feeder communication with the Internet for remote feeder control and producing streaming video. VLC server software was also loaded onto the Micro SD card to enable streaming video by executing the command “sudo apt-get install vlc” (see for example http://www.videolan.org/doc/vlc-user-guide/en/ch01.html). 
         [0043]    After configuration as described above, the Raspberry Pi and battery were connected to an aluminum strip and inserted into the bird feeder. The foamboard strip was inserted into the reservoir to separate the feed from the electronics. 
         [0044]    The feeder was then hung from a tree outside and within range of connection to a WiFi router. 
         [0045]    Logging into the feeder&#39;s Raspberry Pi enabled SSH server provides remote control over all computer functions, including the camera. Software that provides remote control of the Raspberry Pi and the connected camera may be written in Python and stored on the Micro SD memory card, or commands executed over the SSH connection. 
         [0046]    Python support is included in the Raspbian distribution. Using SSH and executing the desired program allows on-demand capture of still pictures and/or videos using the camera. 
       Example Programming Commands: 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
             To take a still picture, using SSH from a remote computer execute the script “raspistill -o example.jpg” to take a full frame Jpeg formatted still image and store it on the SD memory card as ‘example.jpg’. 
             To take a video, using SSH from a remote computer, execute the script “raspivid -o example.h264 -t 10000” to create a 10 second long h264 formatted vide0 and store it on the SD memory card. 
             To initiate live streaming video, execute the script “raspivid -o - -t 0 -n -w 600 -h 400 -fps 12 | cvlc -vvv stream:///dev/stdin --sout ‘#rtp{sdp=rtsp://:8554/}’:demux=h264” over SSH. 
             Alternatively, camera control commands including live streaming implementation may be included in a stored computer program on the Raspberry Pi SD memory card such as raspiVidController.py and executed by using SSH and entering “python raspiVidController.py” from a remote computer. 
             Alternatively, programming commands such as raspivid.py can be stored on the SD memory card and executed at startup by the computer controller as another way of executing programmed code. 
           
         
       
     
         [0052]    The resultant still pictures and/or movies stored on the SD card that is connected to the Raspberry Pi may be transmitted to a remote computer over WiFi using operating system (such as Linux) commands. Streaming video is transmitted directly to the internet or intranet. 
         [0053]    The memory contents on the Raspberry Pi can also be controlled, such as deleting the photographs after transmission to the remote computer, by executing standard Linux commands over SSH from a remote computer. 
         [0054]    Live streaming video via VLC is streamed to the Internet on a particular communications port and specified format. The port that is used by VLC server for streaming can be selected during setup. The default port is 8554. The following discussion of viewing assumes that the default VLC port was enabled during streaming initiation. For example, by executing the script “raspivid -o - -t 0 -n -w 300 -h 200 -fps 12 | cvlc -vvv stream:///dev/stdin --sout ‘#rtp{sdp=rtsp://:8554/}’:demux=h264:”, the computer will produce a 300 pixel wide×200 pixel high streaming video using the specified protocol ‘asp’ formatted per h264, and transmit it over specified port ‘8554’. (To alternatively create a live stream using HTTP protocol and h264 format, the live stream would be initiated by executing the command ““raspivid -o - -t 0 -n -w 300 -h 200 -fps 12 | cvlc -vvv stream:///dev/stdin --sout ‘#rtp{sdp=http://:8554/}’:demux=h264) The compatible viewer in a remote computer must also specify port ‘8554’ when connecting to the live video feed. (If a different port was enabled during setup then the viewing options would have to select that different port. Similarly, if a different protocol such as http were specified instead of rtsp, then the viewer would have to specify protocol ‘http’ to view the video.) Alternatively, web server software (such as Flask) may be implemented on the Raspberry Pi, and used to host the bird feeder video images and/or streaming video so that the remote user can access the images or video stream by using standard web browsers (such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or others). 
         [0055]    To view the streaming video in the preferred implementation, VLC viewer is installed at a remote location (http://www.videolan.org/doc/vlc-user-guide/en/ch01.html). While running VLC, the user selects the streaming video option and enters the IP address and port of the VLC server (e.g., rtsp://192.168.0.190:8554/). The streaming video is then presented on the remote computer screen. Another step is required to also allow viewing over the world wide web via Internet. The additional required step required is to open the WiFi port allocated for the networked feeder producing the streaming video to the Internet by the WiFi router and redirect port  8554  to the bird feeder IP address. Assuming that the router IP address is 123.123.123.123, then the remote viewer would use a compatible viewer such as VLC and implement streaming video, by specifying the appropriate protocols and the router&#39;s IP address. If using RTSP protocol, the viewer would specify rtsp://123.123.123.123:8554/. (If alternatively using HTTP protocol for the live stream, the viewer would instead specify http://123.123.123.123:8554/ in the VLC instantiation.) Then the streaming video will appear, preferably over the internet on the remote computer screen, which is not then required to be connected to the same local network as the feeder producing the video. VLC viewer is (and alternative web browsers that support viewing images are) available for all major operating systems, including Windows, OS X, Linux, IOS and Android, so the streaming video can be viewed on mobile platforms such as iPhone as well as laptop and desktop computers. (Alternatively, observing world wide web conventions, the user could instead configure the WiFi router that hosts the feeder to redirect port  80  or port  8080  to the bird feeder while using a web server on the feeder to serve the images and/or streaming video to the internet. Internet viewers could then view the images using standard web browsers by connecting to the router IP address at designated port  80  or  8080 .) A video stream can continue indefinitely, allowing viewers to monitor feeder activity. 
         [0056]    Use of VLC for creating or viewing the live streaming video is not required. Many other programs can generate live streaming video in a variety of formats and communication protocols. It is required that the viewer and the live video use compatible (usually the same) protocols such as RTSP or HTTP, and be able to use the video format (e.g., h264 or mpeg) but many different applications including standard web browsers use these protocols and support the formats. 
         [0057]    The many features and advantages of the present invention are apparent from the written description and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation as illustrated and described. Hence, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be included as falling within the scope of the invention.