Narrow bandwidth, high resolution video surveillance system and frequency hopped, spread spectrum transmission method

• US 20030189638A1
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Terry L. Fry
• Original Assignee: Terry L. Fry
• Inventors: Fry, Terry L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,035,313 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/154
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/713 using frequency hopping
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/71365 using continuous tuning of a single frequency source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/40 Modulation circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

A video surveillance system includes a video surveillance camera and a frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) transmitter for efficiently and economically transmitting high resolution video signals from the video signal source in the license-free ISM bands (e.g., at 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, or 5.2 GHz) to a FHSS receiver adapted to receive and demodulate the FHSS signal and generate a complete, intact composite analog video signal directly therefrom. Complete and intact means that all of the composite analog video signal is transmitted and received, including the original line sync and frame sync signals, without requiring any further processing. The FHSS hop duration (or dwell time) and tuning frequency of each frequency hop are selected to permit sensing and modulation of the complete, intact composite analog video signal directly from the analog video signal source, whereupon that complete, intact composite analog video signal is transmitted, hop by hop, to a FHSS receiver, preferably using only the vestigial side band portion of the complete, intact composite analog video signal, to provide a high-resolution, narrow-bandwidth video surveillance system.

Claims

1. A video surveillance system, comprising:

(a) a first video surveillance camera adapted to generate a first analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses;

(b) a first frequency-hopped spread spectrum transmitter having a programmable processor, memory, and an input circuit connected to said first video surveillance camera and adapted to sense said first analog composite video signal including said frame synchronization pulses and said line synchronization pulses,

(c) said first frequency-hopped spread spectrum transmitter being programmed to select a first hop tuning frequency from a plurality of pre-assigned selected frequency band hop frequencies stored in said transmitter memory;

(d) said first frequency-hopped spread spectrum transmitter having a first tunable oscillator tunable to any of said plurality of pre-assigned selected frequency band frequencies;

(e) said first frequency-hopped spread spectrum transmitter input circuit being configured to detect said first analog composite video signal frame synchronization pulses,

(f) said first frequency-hopped spread spectrum transmitter being programmed to synchronize transmitter frequency hop timing in response to detection of said first analog composite video signal frame synchronization pulses and modulate said first analog composite video signal including said first analog composite video signal frame synchronization pulses and said line synchronization pulses onto a carrier at said first selected hop frequency for a selected hop frequency dwell time; and

(g) a frequency-hopped spread spectrum receiver programmed to demodulate said modulated first analog composite video signal including said frame synchronization pulses and said line synchronization pulses at said first transmitter first selected hop frequency and generate a first baseband composite analog video signal in response thereto.

2. The video surveillance system of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) a second video surveillance camera adapted to generate a second analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses;

(b) a second frequency-hopped spread spectrum transmitter having a programmable processor, memory, and an input circuit connected to said second video surveillance camera and adapted to sense said second analog composite video signal including said frame synchronization pulses and said line synchronization pulses;

(c) said second frequency-hopped spread spectrum transmitter being programmed to select a first hop tuning frequency from a plurality of pre-assigned selected frequency band hop frequencies stored in said transmitter memory;

(d) said second frequency-hopped spread spectrum transmitter having a first tunable oscillator tunable to any of said plurality of pre-assigned selected frequency band hop frequencies;

(e) said second frequency-hopped spread spectrum transmitter input circuit being configured to detect said second analog composite video signal frame synchronization pulses;

(f) said second frequency-hopped spread spectrum transmitter being programmed to synchronize transmitter frequency hop timing in response to detection of said second analog composite video signal frame synchronization pulses and modulate said second analog composite video signal including said second analog composite video signal frame synchronization pulses and said line synchronization pulses onto a carrier at said first selected hop frequency; and

(g) said frequency-hopped spread spectrum receiver being programmed to demodulate said modulated second analog composite video signal including said frame synchronization pulses and said line synchronization pulses at said second transmitter first selected hop frequency and generate a second baseband composite analog video signal in response thereto.

3. The video surveillance system of claim 1, wherein said pre-assigned selected frequency band hop frequencies are pre-assigned ISM frequency band hop frequencies.

4. The video surveillance system of claim 1, wherein said first analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses is an NTSC standard analog composite video signal.

5. The video surveillance system of claim 4, wherein said first transmitter selected hop frequency dwell time is greater than one-sixtieth of a second, thereby permitting transmission of a complete NTSC interlaced frame scan in each hop.

6. The video surveillance system of claim 1, wherein said first analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses is a PAL standard analog composite video signal.

7. The video surveillance system of claim 4, wherein said first transmitter selected hop frequency dwell time is greater than one-fiftieth of a second, thereby permitting transmission of a complete PAL interlaced frame scan in each hop.

8. A method for transmitting an analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses with frequency-hopping spread spectrum signals, comprising:

(a) selecting a frequency-hopping spread spectrum transmitter first hop tuning frequency from a plurality of pre-assigned selected frequency band hop frequencies stored in a frequency-hopping spread spectrum transmitter memory;

(b) sensing an analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses;

(c) synchronizing a frequency-hopping spread spectrum transmitter frequency-hopping hop rate and selected hop frequency dwell time to one of said analog composite video signal synchronization pulses;

wherein said transmitter frequency hops are triggered by detection of said analog composite video signal synchronization pulses; and

(d) modulating said analog video signal onto a carrier tuned to said first hop tuning frequency for said selected hop frequency dwell time.

9. The method for transmitting an analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses with frequency-hopping spread spectrum signals of claim 8, further comprising:

(e) selecting a frequency-hopping spread spectrum transmitter second hop tuning frequency from said plurality of pre-assigned selected frequency band hop frequencies stored in a frequency-hopping spread spectrum transmitter memory; and

(f) modulating said analog video signal onto a carrier tuned to said second hop tuning frequency for said selected hop frequency dwell time.

10. The method for transmitting an analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses with frequency-hopping spread spectrum signals of claim 8, wherein said pre-assigned selected frequency band hop frequencies are pre-assigned ISM frequency band hop frequencies.

11. The method for transmitting an analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses with frequency-hopping spread spectrum signals of claim 8, wherein said analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses is an NTSC standard analog composite video signal.

12. The method for transmitting an analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses with frequency-hopping spread spectrum signals of claim 11, wherein said selected hop frequency dwell time is greater than one-sixtieth of a second, thereby permitting transmission of a complete NTSC interlaced frame scan in each hop.

13. The method for transmitting an analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses with frequency-hopping spread spectrum signals of claim 8, wherein said analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses is a PAL standard analog composite video signal.

14. The method for transmitting an analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses with frequency-hopping spread spectrum signals of claim 13, wherein said selected hop frequency dwell time is greater than one-fiftieth of a second, thereby permitting transmission of a complete PAL interlaced frame scan in each hop.

15. The method for transmitting an analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses with frequency-hopping spread spectrum signals of claim 8, wherein method step (c) comprises synchronizing said transmitter hop rate and selected hop frequency dwell time to a vertical synchronization pulse;

wherein said transmitter frequency hops are triggered by detection of said analog composite video signal vertical synchronization pulses.

16. A method for transmitting an analog composite video signal including periodic frame synchronization pulses and periodic line synchronization pulses using a frequency-hopping spread spectrum transmitter, comprising:

(a) sensing an analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses;

(b) selecting a frequency-hopping spread spectrum transmitter first hop tuning frequency from a plurality of pre-assigned selected frequency band hop frequencies stored in a frequency-hopping spread spectrum transmitter memory;

(c) detecting a selected analog composite video signal periodic synchronization pulse and synchronizing a frequency-hopping spread spectrum transmitter frequency-hopping hop rate to said selected analog composite video signal synchronization pulses, wherein said transmitter frequency hop is triggered by detection of said selected analog composite video signal synchronization pulses; and

(d) modulating said analog video signal onto a carrier tuned to said first hop tuning frequency until a subsequent selected analog composite video signal synchronization pulse is detected.

17. The method for transmitting an analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses using a frequency-hopping spread spectrum transmitter of claim 16, further comprising:

(e) selecting a frequency-hopping spread spectrum transmitter second hop tuning frequency from said plurality of pre-assigned selected frequency band hop frequencies stored in a frequency-hopping spread spectrum transmitter memory; and

(f) modulating said analog video signal onto a carrier tuned to said second hop tuning frequency until a subsequent selected analog composite video signal synchronization pulse is detected.

18. The method for transmitting an analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses using a frequency-hopping spread spectrum transmitter of claim 16, wherein the selected analog composite video signal synchronization pulse recited in method steps (c) and (d) is a vertical synchronization pulse.

19. The method for transmitting an analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses using a frequency-hopping spread spectrum transmitter of claim 16, wherein said analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses is an NTSC standard analog composite video signal.

20. The method for transmitting an analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses using a frequency-hopping spread spectrum transmitter of claim 16, wherein said analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses is a PAL standard analog composite video signal.

21. A method for transmitting an analog composite video signal including periodic frame synchronization pulses and periodic line synchronization pulses using a frequency-hopping spread spectrum transmitter, comprising:

(a) sensing an analog composite video signal including frame synchronization pulses and line synchronization pulses;

(b) selecting a frequency-hopping spread spectrum transmitter first hop tuning frequency;

(c) modulating said analog composite video signal onto a carrier tuned to said first hop tuning frequency

(d) selecting a frequency-hopping spread spectrum transmitter second hop tuning frequency; and

(e) modulating said analog composite video signal onto a carrier tuned to said second hop tuning frequency.