System and Method for Remote Data Acquisition and Distribution

Abstract

Methods and systems for remote data collection and distribution include components and operations for receiving, at a server, data transmitted by a first client device via a communication network. The method may also include selecting, by one or more client devices associated with the communication network, a second device to receive the data. The method may further include establishing a connection between the server and the selected second device via the communication network. The method may also include automatically transmitting the received data to the second device using the connection via the communication network. The method may further include causing, by the one or more client devices, the second device to execute a predefined operation.

1 . One or more computer-readable nontransitory storage media embodying software that is operable when executed to:
 receive a selection of a streamable-data source, the streamable-data source being operable to transmit streamable data;   receive streamable data from the streamable-data source;   receive a selection of one or more remote client devices to receive all or a portion of the streamable data; and   based at least in part on the selection of the streamable-data source and the selection of the one or more remote client devices, distribute or cause to be distributed all or a portion of the streamable data to one or more of the remote client devices for use at one or more of the remote client devices.   
     
     
         2 . The media of  claim 1 , wherein the streamable data comprises:
 video;   audio;   position data specifying a position of the streamable-data source; or   metadata.   
     
     
         3 . The media of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the streamable data comprises video frames;   the streamable-data source comprises a live video source; and   the streamable data is received in approximate real-time.   
     
     
         4 . The media of  claim 1 , wherein the streamable-data source comprises a still-picture camera or a video camera at a remote location. 
     
     
         5 . The media of  claim 4 , wherein the still-picture camera or the video camera is operable to pan, tilt, or zoom. 
     
     
         6 . The media of  claim 1 , wherein the streamable-data source comprises a camera integrated with or communicatively coupled to a remote client device. 
     
     
         7 . The media of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the media are physically located within a nonremote client device. 
     
     
         8 . The media of  claim 7 , wherein the nonremote client device comprises the streamable-data source. 
     
     
         9 . The media of  claim 7 , wherein the software is further operable when executed to make available or cause to be made available at the nonremote client device all or a portion of the streamable data. 
     
     
         10 . The media of  claim 1 , wherein the streamable-data source comprises a streamable-data store at a central server communicatively coupled to the one or more of the remote client devices. 
     
     
         11 . The media of  claim 1 , wherein, to distribute or cause to be distributed all or a portion of the streamable data to one or more of the remote client devices, the software is operable when executed to communicate a command to one or more of the remote client devices, the command being operable to cause each of one or more of the remote client devices to open a window for making available all or a portion of the streamable data at the remote client device automatically and without input from a user at the remote client device. 
     
     
         12 . The media of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the software is further operable to upload or cause to be uploaded all or a portion of the streamable data to a central server for storage in a streamable-data store; and   to distribute or cause to be distributed all or a portion of the streamable data to one or more of the remote client devices, the software is operable when executed to communicate a command to one or more of the remote client devices, the command being operable to cause each of one or more of the remote client devices to:
 establish a connection with the central server; and 
 retrieve all or a portion of the streamable data from the streamable-data store. 
   
     
     
         13 . The media of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the streamable-data source comprises a viewing window that overlies one or more portions of one or more display elements on a display of another remote client device or a nonremote client device, the one or more portions of the one or more display elements being viewable to a user at the other remote client device or nonremote client device through the viewing window; and   the streamable data comprises a video feed capturing the one or more portions of one or more of the display elements underneath the viewing window.   
     
     
         14 . The media of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more portions of one or more of the display elements underneath the viewing window appear, through the viewing window, to the user at the other remote client device or nonremote client device as they would appear to one or more other users at one or more of the remote client devices upon being distributed to them. 
     
     
         15 . The media of  claim 14 , wherein, upon being distributed, the one or more portions of one or more of the display elements underneath the viewing window appear to one or more other users at one or more of the remote client devices with one or more different ones of the portions of one or more different ones of the display elements having different resolutions from their native resolutions at the other remote client device or nonremote client device. 
     
     
         16 . The media of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the viewing window is movable by the user at the other remote client device or nonremote client device with respect to the display elements to overlie one or more other portions of one or more of the display elements; and   the video feed captures the one or more other portions of one or more of the display elements underneath the viewing window as it moves.   
     
     
         17 . The media of  claim 16 , wherein one or more of the display elements each comprise an application window. 
     
     
         18 . The media of  claim 17 , wherein one or more of the application windows each comprise a web-browser window or a media-player window. 
     
     
         19 . The media of  claim 13 , wherein one or more of the display elements comprise one or more portions of a virtual desktop of the other remote client device or nonremote device. 
     
     
         20 . The media of  claim 13 , wherein one or more of the display elements each comprise an icon appearing on a virtual desktop of the other remote client device or nonremote device. 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a nonremote client device, a selection of streamable-data source, the streamable-data source being operable to transmit streamable data;   receiving, by the nonremote client device, streamable data from the streamable-data source;   receiving, by the nonremote client device, a selection of one or more remote client devices to receive all or a portion of the streamable data; and   based at least in part on the selection of the streamable-data source and the selection of the one or more remote client devices, distributing or causing to be distributed, by the nonremote client device, all or a portion of the streamable data to one or more of the remote client devices for use at one or more the remote client devices.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the nonremote client device comprises the streamable-data source. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the streamable data comprises:
 video;   audio;   position data specifying a position of the streamable-data source; or   metadata.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the streamable data comprise video frames;   the streamable-data source comprises a live video source; and   the streamable data are received in approximate real-time.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the streamable-data source comprises a still-picture camera or a video camera at a remote location. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the still-picture camera or the video camera is operable to pan, tilt, or zoom. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the streamable-data source comprises a camera integrated with or communicatively coupled to a remote client device. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising making available or causing to be made available at the nonremote client device all or a portion of the streamable data. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the streamable-data source comprises a streamable-data store at a central server communicatively coupled to the one or more of the remote client devices. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein distributing or causing to be distributed all or a portion of the streamable data to one or more of the remote client devices comprises communicating a command to one or more of the remote client devices, the command being operable to cause each of one or more of the remote client devices to open a window for making available all or a portion of the streamable data at the remote client device automatically and without input from a user at the remote client device. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein:
 the method further comprises uploading or causing to be uploaded all or a portion of the streamable data to a central server for storage in a streamable-data store; and   distributing or causing to be distributed all or a portion of the streamable data to one or more of the remote client devices comprises communicating a command to one or more of the remote client devices, the command being operable to cause each of one or more of the remote client devices to:
 establish a connection with the central server; and 
 retrieve all or a portion of the streamable data from the streamable-data store. 
   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the streamable-data source comprises a viewing window that overlies one or more portions of one or more display elements on a display of another remote client device or a nonremote client device, the one or more portions of the one or more display elements being viewable to a user at the other remote client device or nonremote client device through the viewing window; and   the streamable data comprises a video feed capturing the one or more portions of one or more of the display elements underneath the viewing window.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the one or more portions of one or more of the display elements underneath the viewing window appear through the viewing window to the user at the other remote client device or nonremote client device as they would appear to one or more other users at one or more of the remote client devices upon being distributed to them. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein, upon being distributed, the one or more portions of one or more of the display elements underneath the viewing window appear to one or more other users at one or more of the remote client devices with one or more different ones of the portions of one or more different ones of the display elements having different resolutions from their native resolutions at the other remote client device or nonremote client device. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the viewing window is movable by the user at the other remote client device or nonremote client device with respect to the display elements to overlie one or more other portions of one or more of the display elements; and   the video feed captures the one or more other portions of one or more of the display elements underneath the viewing window as it moves.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein one or more of the display elements each comprise an application window. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein one or more of the application windows each comprise a web-browser window or a media-player window. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein one or more of the display elements comprise one or more portions of a virtual desktop of the other remote client device or nonremote device. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein one or more of the display elements each comprise an icon appearing on a virtual desktop of the other remote client device or nonremote device. 
     
     
         40 . One or more computer-readable nontransitory storage media embodying software that, when executed, is operable to:
 receive streamable data from one or more streamable-data sources;   receive a first selection from a client application, the first selection specifying a particular one of the streamable-data sources;   receive a second selection from the client application, the second selection specifying one or more remote client devices; and   based at least in part on the first and second selections, distribute or cause to be distributed all or a portion of the streamable data from the particular one of the streamable-data sources to one or more of the remote client devices for use at one or more of the remote client devices.   
     
     
         41 . The media of  claim 40 , wherein one or more of the media are physically located within a central server. 
     
     
         42 . The media of  claim 40 , wherein the client application resides at a client device that comprises the particular one of the streamable-data sources. 
     
     
         43 . The media of  claim 40 , wherein the streamable data comprises:
 video;   audio;   position data specifying a position of the streamable-data source; or   metadata.   
     
     
         44 . The media of  claim 40 , wherein:
 the streamable data comprise video frames;   the streamable-data source comprises a live video source; and   the streamable data are received in approximate real-time.   
     
     
         45 . The media of  claim 40 , wherein the streamable-data source comprises a still-picture camera or a video camera at a remote location. 
     
     
         46 . The media of  claim 45 , wherein the still-picture camera or the video camera is operable to pan, tilt, or zoom. 
     
     
         47 . The media of  claim 40 , wherein the streamable-data source comprises a camera integrated with or communicatively coupled to a remote client device. 
     
     
         48 . The media of  claim 40 , wherein the client application resides at a remote client device. 
     
     
         49 . The media of  claim 40 , wherein, to distribute or cause to be distributed all or a portion of the streamable data to one or more of the remote client devices, the software is operable when executed to communicate a command to one or more of the remote client devices, the command being operable to cause each of one or more of the remote client devices to open a window for making available all or a portion of the streamable data at the remote client device automatically and without input from a user at the remote client device. 
     
     
         50 . The media of  claim 49 , wherein:
 the software is further operable to upload or cause to be uploaded all or a portion of the streamable data to a central server for storage in a streamable-data store; and   to distribute or cause to be distributed all or a portion of the streamable data to one or more of the remote client devices, the software is operable when executed to communicate a command to one or more of the remote client devices, the command being operable to cause each of one or more of the remote client devices to:
 establish a connection with the central server; and 
 retrieve all or a portion of the streamable data from the streamable-data store. 
   
     
     
         51 . The media of  claim 40 , wherein:
 the streamable-data source comprises a viewing window that overlies one or more portions of one or more display elements on a display of another remote client device or a nonremote client device, the one or more portions of the one or more display elements being viewable to a user at the other remote client device or nonremote client device through the viewing window; and   the streamable data comprises a video feed capturing the one or more portions of one or more of the display elements underneath the viewing window.   
     
     
         52 . The media of  claim 51 , wherein the one or more portions of one or more of the display elements underneath the viewing window appear through the viewing window to the user at the other remote client device or nonremote client device as they would appear to one or more other users at one or more of the remote client devices upon being distributed to them. 
     
     
         53 . The media of  claim 52 , wherein, upon being distributed, the one or more portions of one or more of the display elements underneath the viewing window appear to one or more other users at one or more of the remote client devices with one or more different ones of the portions of one or more different ones of the display elements having different resolutions from their native resolutions at the other remote client device or nonremote client device. 
     
     
         54 . The media of  claim 51 , wherein:
 the viewing window is movable by the user at the other remote client device or nonremote client device with respect to the display elements to overlie one or more other portions of one or more of the display elements; and   the video feed captures the one or more other portions of one or more of the display elements underneath the viewing window as it moves.   
     
     
         55 . The media of  claim 54 , wherein one or more of the display elements each comprise an application window. 
     
     
         56 . The media of  claim 55 , wherein one or more of the application windows each comprise a web-browser window or a media-player window. 
     
     
         57 . The media of  claim 51 , wherein one or more of the display elements comprise one or more portions of a virtual desktop of the other remote client device or nonremote device. 
     
     
         58 . The media of  claim 51 , wherein one or more of the display elements each comprise an icon appearing on a virtual desktop of the other remote client device or nonremote device. 
     
     
         59 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by one or more central servers, streamable data from one or more streamable-data sources;   receiving, by one or more central servers, a first selection from a client application, the first selection specifying a particular one of the streamable-data sources;   receiving, by one or more central servers, a second selection from the client application, the second selection specifying one or more remote client devices; and   based at least in part on the first and second selections, distributing or causing to be distributing, by one or more central servers, all or a portion of the streamable data from the particular one of the streamable-data sources to one or more of the remote client devices for use at one or more of the remote client devices.   
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the client application resides at a client device that comprises the particular one of the streamable-data sources. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the streamable data comprises:
 video;   audio;   position data specifying a position of the streamable-data source; or   metadata.   
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein:
 the streamable data comprise video frames;   the streamable-data source comprises a live video source; and   the streamable data are received in approximate real-time.   
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the streamable-data source comprises a still-picture camera or a video camera at a remote location. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the still-picture camera or the video camera is operable to pan, tilt, or zoom. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the streamable-data source comprises a camera integrated with or communicatively coupled to a remote client device. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the client application resides at a remote client device. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein, to distribute or cause to be distributed all or a portion of the streamable data to one or more of the remote client devices, the software is operable when executed to communicate a command to one or more of the remote client devices, the command being operable to cause each of one or more of the remote client devices to open a window for making available all or a portion of the streamable data at the remote client device automatically and without input from a user at the remote client device. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein:
 the software is further operable to upload or cause to be uploaded all or a portion of the streamable data to a central server for storage in a streamable-data store; and   to distribute or cause to be distributed all or a portion of the streamable data to one or more of the remote client devices, the software is operable when executed to communicate a command to one or more of the remote client devices, the command being operable to cause each of one or more of the remote client devices to:
 establish a connection with the central server; and 
 retrieve all or a portion of the streamable data from the streamable-data store. 
   
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein:
 the streamable-data source comprises a viewing window that overlies one or more portions of one or more display elements on a display of another remote client device or a nonremote client device, the one or more portions of the one or more display elements being viewable to a user at the other remote client device or nonremote client device through the viewing window; and   the streamable data comprises a video feed capturing the one or more portions of one or more of the display elements underneath the viewing window.   
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the one or more portions of one or more of the display elements underneath the viewing window appear through the viewing window to the user at the other remote client device or nonremote client device as they would appear to one or more other users at one or more of the remote client devices upon being distributed to them. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein, upon being distributed, the one or more portions of one or more of the display elements underneath the viewing window appear to one or more other users at one or more of the remote client devices with one or more different ones of the portions of one or more different ones of the display elements having different resolutions from their native resolutions at the other remote client device or nonremote client device. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein:
 the viewing window is movable by the user at the other remote client device or nonremote client device with respect to the display elements to overlie one or more other portions of one or more of the display elements; and   the video feed captures the one or more other portions of one or more of the display elements underneath the viewing window as it moves.   
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein one or more of the display elements each comprise an application window. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein one or more of the application windows each comprise a web-browser window or a media-player window. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein one or more of the display elements comprise one or more portions of a virtual desktop of the other remote client device or nonremote device. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein one or more of the display elements each comprise an icon appearing on a virtual desktop of the other remote client device or nonremote device.