Optical Device Including a Network Transceiver

Abstract

A rifle scope includes a housing configured to mount to a rifle. The rifle scope further includes a network transceiver within the housing and configured to communicate bi-directionally with at least one of a network and an electronic device configurable to communicate with to the network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An optical scope comprising:
 a network interface configured to couple to a network;   a display;   one or more optical sensors configured to capture image data associated with a view area;   a processor coupled to the network interface, to the display, and to the one or more optical sensors; and   a memory accessible to the processor and configured to store the image data, the memory including instructions that, when executed cause the processor to:
 selectively provide at least a portion of the image data to the display; and 
 send media content including the image data to a destination device through the network. 
   
     
     
         2 . The optical scope of  claim 1 , wherein the destination device comprises a second optical scope. 
     
     
         3 . The optical scope of  claim 1 , wherein the destination device comprises a portable computing device. 
     
     
         4 . The optical scope of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a microphone coupled to the processor and configured to capture audio data; and   wherein the media content includes the image data and the audio data.   
     
     
         5 . The optical scope of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to send the captured audio data to the destination device through the network and to receive second audio data from the destination device to facilitate bi-directional audio communications. 
     
     
         6 . The optical scope of  claim 1 , wherein the network interface comprises a wireless transceiver. 
     
     
         7 . The optical scope of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further includes instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
 receive second media content from the destination device; and   provide image data from the second media content to the display.   
     
     
         8 . The optical scope of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further includes a stored video; and
 wherein the processor is configured to:
 retrieve the stored video from the memory; and 
 provide the stored video to the display. 
   
     
     
         9 . A firearm system comprising:
 a gun; and   an optical scope coupled to the gun, the optical scope including:
 a network interface configured to couple to a network; 
 a microphone to configured to capture audio data; 
 a speaker configured to produce sounds; 
 a processor coupled to the network interface, to the microphone, and to the speaker; and 
 a memory accessible to the processor and configured to store instructions that, when executed cause the processor to:
 receive audio data from the microphone; 
 send the audio data to a destination device through the network; and 
 receive second audio data from the destination device through the network to facilitate bi-directional communications. 
 
   
     
     
         10 . The firearm system of  claim 9 , wherein the optical device further includes one or more optical sensors coupled to the processor and configured to capture image data associated with a view area of the optical device. 
     
     
         11 . The firearm system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a display coupled to the processor; and   wherein the memory further includes instructions that, when executed cause the processor to:
 selectively provide at least a portion of the image data to the display; and 
 send media content including the image data to the destination device through the network, the media content including the image data and the audio data. 
   
     
     
         12 . The firearm system of  claim 9 , wherein the destination device comprises a second optical scope. 
     
     
         13 . The firearm system of  claim 9 , wherein the destination device comprises a portable computing device. 
     
     
         14 . The firearm system of  claim 9 , wherein the network interface comprises a wireless transceiver. 
     
     
         15 . An optical scope comprising:
 a network interface configured to couple to a network;   a display;   an optical sensor configured to capture image data associated with a view area;   a processor coupled to the network interface, to the display, and to the optical sensor; and   a memory accessible to the processor and configured to store the image data, the memory including instructions that, when executed cause the processor to:
 provide at least a portion of the image data to the display; and 
 selectively transmit the image data to a destination device through the network. 
   
     
     
         16 . The optical scope of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a microphone coupled to the processor and configured to capture audio data; and   wherein the processor is further configured to transmit media content including the image data and the audio data to the destination device.   
     
     
         17 . The optical scope of  claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to send the captured audio data to the destination device through the network and to receive second audio data from the destination device to facilitate bi-directional audio communications. 
     
     
         18 . The optical scope of  claim 15 , wherein the network interface comprises a wireless transceiver. 
     
     
         19 . The optical scope of  claim 15 , wherein the memory further includes instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
 receive second media content from the destination device; and   provide image data from the second media content to the display.   
     
     
         20 . The optical scope of  claim 15 , wherein the memory further includes a stored video; and
 wherein the processor is configured to:
 retrieve the stored video from the memory; and 
 provide the stored video to the display.