Apparatus for and method of collecting and distributing event data to strategic security personnel and response vehicles

• US 20030067542A1
• Filed: 11/15/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: e-Watch, Inc. (Cision Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: The Telesis Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Monroe, David A.
• Application Number:
  US10/295,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20030067542A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A security and surveillance system for aircraft on the ground incorporates a plurality of strategically spaced sensors including video imaging generators, audio sensors, motion detectors, and fire and smoke detectors for monitoring critical components and critical areas of both the interior and the exterior of the a commercial transport such as an aircraft. The system is a comprehensive multi-media safety, tracking and/or surveillance system, which provides both visual and/or audio information as well as critical data such as location, direction, intrusion, fire and/or smoke detection and/or status of environmental conditions and/or asset systems status. The collected information is analyzed and prioritized according to type of event, location and nature of required response for automatically dispatching the proper response. The captured data and images are transmitted to a ground based security station for display on a monitor and may be recorded on a “black box” recorder as well as on a ground based recording system.

Claims

1. A surveillance system, comprising:

a first communication system adapted to provide a signal depicting an exterior transport event;

a second communication system adapted to provide a signal depicting an interior transport event; and

a third communication system adapted to receive the signals.

2. A surveillance system, comprising:

at least one camera adapted to provide a signal depicting an exterior transport event;

at least one transceiver adapted to receive a signal depicting an interior transport event; and

a communication system adapted to receive the tracking camera signal and the ground based transceiver signal.

3. A surveillance system, comprising:

at least one tracking camera adapted to provide a signal depicting an exterior transport event, and a signal indicating a location of the event;

at least one ground based transceiver adapted to receive a signal depicting an interior transport event, and a signal indicating a type of the transport event; and

a communication system adapted to receive the tracking camera signals and the ground based transceiver signals.

4. A surveillance system, comprising:

at least one tracking camera adapted to provide at least one of a following signal;

a visual signal depicting a transport event; and

a signal indicating a location of the event;

at least one ground based transceiver adapted to receive a signal regarding the event from the transport, wherein the signal is at least one of a following signal;

a data signal indicating a type of the event;

a visual signal depicting the transport event, wherein the transport based visual signal depicts at least one of a following event;

an interior transport event; and

an exterior transport event; and

a location signal indicating at least one of a following location;

a location of the transport;

a location of the interior transport event; and

a location of the exterior transport event;

a communication system adapted to receive the tracking camera signals and the ground based transceiver signals.

5. A surveillance system, comprising:

at least one tracking camera adapted to provide at least one of a following signal;

a visual signal depicting a transport event; and

a signal indicating a location of the event;

at least one ground based transceiver adapted to receive a signal regarding the event from the transport, wherein the signal is at least one of a following signal;

a data signal indicating a type of the event;

a visual signal depicting the transport event, wherein the transport based visual signal depicts at least one of a following event;

an interior transport event; and

an exterior transport event;

a location signal indicating at least one of a following location;

a location of the transport;

a location of the interior transport event; and

a location of the exterior transport event;

a communication system adapted to receive the tracking camera signals and the ground based transceiver signals, wherein the communication system is at least one of a following;

a router;

a client; and

a server; and

wherein the communication system is located at least at one of a following location;

a ground control tower;

an airport fire station;

an operator control center;

a security center; and

a maintenance center.

6. A transport based surveillance system, comprising:

a communication system adapted to;

produce a first data signal indicating a type of transport event;

produce a visual signal depicting the transport event, wherein the event is at least one of a following event;

an interior transport event; and

an exterior transport event; and

produce a second data signal indicating a location of the event, wherein the location is at least one of a following location;

a location of the transport;

a location of the interior transport event; and

a location of the exterior transport event.

7. A transport based surveillance system, comprising:

a communication system adapted to;

produce a first data signal indicating a type of transport event;

produce a visual signal depicting the transport event, wherein the event is at least one of a following event;

an interior transport event; and

an exterior transport event; and

produce a second data signal indicating a location of the event, wherein the location is at least one of a following location;

a location of the transport;

a location of the interior transport event; and

a location of the exterior transport event; and

produce a voice data signal representing conversation in proximity to at least one of the locations.

8. A ground based surveillance system, comprising:

a communication system adapted to;

produce a visual signal depicting an exterior transport event;

produce a signal indicating a location of the exterior event;

produce a signal indicating a location of the transport; and

produce a signal indicating a type of the event.

9. A ground based surveillance system, comprising:

a communication system adapted to;

produce a visual signal depicting an exterior transport event;

produce a signal indicating a location of the exterior event;

produce a signal indicating a location of the transport;

produce a signal indicating a type of the event;

receive a visual signal depicting an interior transport event; and

receive a signal indicating a location of the interior transport event.

10. A camera, comprising:

a mounting bracket;

a pan mount, coupled to the mounting bracket, adapted to pan the camera in an x-axis;

a tilt mount, coupled to the pan mount, adapted to tilt the camera in a y-axis;

a body coupled to the tilt mount;

a zoom lens, coupled to the body, adapted to provide a visual signal in at least one of a following axis;

an x-axis;

a y-axis; and

a z-axis;

an audio sensor, coupled to the body, adapted to perform at least one of a following function;

collect audio information; and

activate the camera;

a motion sensor, coupled to the body, adapted to perform at least one of a following function;

collect motion information; and

activate the camera;

an infrared illuminator, coupled to the body, adapted to permit surveillance during at least one of a following condition;

a low light condition; and

a no light condition;

an integrated GPS receiver adapted to generate location information;

a range finder, coupled to the body, adapted to measure a distance to an object; and

an integrated processor adapted to detect an emergency condition based on at least one of a following information;

the visual signal, wherein the visual signal may be enhanced by the infrared illuminator;

the collected audio information;

the collected motion information;

the location information; and

the distance to the object.

11. A camera, comprising:

a body adapted to be positioned in at least one of a following axis;

an x-axis;

a y-axis; and

a z-axis;

p1 a zoom lens, coupled to the body, adapted to provide a visual signal in the at least one of the axes;

an audio sensor, coupled to the body, adapted to perform at least one of a following function;

collect audio information; and

activate the camera;

a motion sensor, coupled to the body, adapted to perform at least one of a following function;

collect motion information; and

activate the camera;

an integrated processor adapted to detect an emergency condition based on at least one of a following;

the collected audio information; and

the collected motion information;

an infrared illuminator, coupled to the body, adapted to permit surveillance during at least one of a following condition;

a low light condition; and

a no light condition;

an integrated GPS receiver adapted to generate location information;

a range finder, coupled to the body, adapted to measure a distance to an object;

the integrated processor adapted to;

receive GPS signals from a moving transport; and

track the transport based on the received signals;

wherein output received from at least two of the following camera components are combined by the processor;

the zoom lens;

the audio sensor;

the motion sensor;

the integrated processor;

the infrared illuminator;

the integrated GPS receiver; and

the range finder; and

wherein the combination is used by the processor to determine whether an alarm condition is present.

12. The camera of claim 11, wherein the combination is received by a network component adapted to determine whether an alarm condition is present.

13. The camera of claim 11, wherein the output received from at least one of the camera components is received by a network component adapted to determine whether an alarm condition is present.

14. A camera, comprising:

a body adapted to be positioned in a plurality of axes;

a zoom lens, coupled to the body, adapted to provide a visual signal in the plurality of axes;

an audio sensor, coupled to the body, adapted to collect audio information;

a motion sensor, coupled to the body, adapted to collect motion information;

an infrared illuminator, coupled to the body, adapted to permit surveillance during a low light condition;

a range finder, coupled to the body, adapted to measure a distance to an object;

an integrated GPS receiver adapted to generate location information;

an integrated processor;

wherein output received from at least two of the following camera components are combined by the processor;

the zoom lens;

the audio sensor;

the motion sensor;

the infrared illuminator;

the range finder; and

the integrated GPS receiver; and

wherein the combination is used by the processor to determine whether an alarm condition is present.

15. A camera, comprising:

a plurality of components, including;

a zoom lens;

an audio sensor;

a motion sensor;

an infrared illuminator;

a range finder;

a GPS receiver; and

a processor;

wherein output from at least two of the components are combined by the processor;

wherein the combination is used by the processor to determine whether an alarm condition is present.

16. A camera, comprising:

a plurality of components, including;

a zoom lens;

an audio sensor;

a motion sensor;

a GPS receiver;

a processor;

wherein output from at least two of the components are combined by the processor;

wherein the combination is used by the processor to determine whether an alarm condition is present.

17. A camera, comprising:

a plurality of components, including;

a zoom lens;

a GPS receiver;

a processor;

wherein output from at least two of the components are combined by the processor;

wherein the combination is used by a communication system to determine whether an alarm condition is present.

18. A camera, comprising:

a plurality of components;

wherein output from at least two of the components are combined;

wherein the combination is used by a communication system to determine whether an alarm condition is present.

19. A camera, comprising:

a body adapted to be positioned in a plurality of axes;

a zoom lens, coupled to the body, adapted to provide a visual signal of a moving transport in the plurality of axes;

an integrated GPS receiver adapted to generate location information;

an integrated processor;

if the moving transport comprises a GPS system at a front of the transport and a GPS system at a rear of the transport, the integrated processor, utilizing the location information and the visual signal, and in combination with the transport GPS systems, adapted to determine at least one of a following item;

a size of the transport;

a location of the transport;

a heading of the transport;

a distance from the integrated GPS receiver to the transport; and

a portion of the transport to monitor.

20. A camera, comprising:

a body adapted to be positioned in a plurality of axes;

a zoom lens, coupled to the body, adapted to provide a visual signal of a moving transport in the plurality of axes;

an integrated GPS receiver adapted to generate location information;

an integrated processor; and

a receiver;

if the moving transport comprises a GPS system, sensors, and an interface adapted to communicate with the receiver, the integrated processor, utilizing the visual signal and the location information, and in combination with the transport GPS system, the sensors, and the interface, adapted to determine at least one of a following item;

a size of the transport;

a location of the transport;

a heading of the transport;

a distance from the integrated GPS receiver to the transport; and

a portion of the transport to monitor, wherein the portion comprises at least one of a following portion;

an interior transport portion; and

an exterior transport portion.

21. A camera, comprising:

a body adapted to be positioned in a plurality of axes;

a zoom lens, coupled to the body, adapted to provide a visual signal of a moving transport in the plurality of axes;

an integrated GPS receiver adapted to generate location information;

an integrated processor; and

a receiver;

if the moving transport comprises a GPS system, sensors, cameras, and an interface adapted to communicate with the receiver, the integrated processor, utilizing the visual signal and the location information, and in combination with the transport GPS system, the sensors, the cameras, and the interface, adapted to determine at least one of a following item;

a size of the transport;

a location of the transport;

a heading of the transport;

a distance from the integrated GPS receiver to the transport;

a visual representation of at least one of a following portion;

an interior transport portion; and

an exterior transport portion; and

a portion of the transport to monitor, wherein the portion comprises at least one of a following portion;

an interior transport portion; and

an exterior transport portion.