Sonic detection system and method of using the same

• US 20030214405A1
• Filed: 05/15/2003
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosum Corporation (Liberty Broadband Corp.), Traptec Corporation
• Original Assignee: Traptec Corporation
• Inventors: Roberts, Donald L., Devine, Arthur J., Lerg, George H.
• Granted Patent: US 6,961,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/565
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/06 Signalling devices actuated by deformation of the tyre , e.g. tyre mounted deformation sensors or indirect determination of tyre deformation based on wheel speed, wheel-centre to ground distance or inclination of wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/063 Generating directly an audible signal by deformation of the tyre by touching the ground B60C23/085
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1672 using sonic detecting means, e.g. a microphone operating in the audio frequency range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/00 Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons

Abstract

A method of sonically detecting a sonic act such as a graffiti-making act or firearm shot includes providing a sonic act detection system to sonically detect a sonic act and a camera to take an image of a perpetrator of the sonic act; locating the sonic act detection system and the camera near a location where the sonic act is prone to occur; sonically detecting with said sonic act detection system a sonic act; obtaining one or more images of the perpetrator of the sonic act with the camera; communicating to one or more entities that sonic act has been detected.

Claims

1. A method of detecting a graffiti-making act, comprising:

providing a graffiti-making act detection system to sonically detect a graffiti-making act and a camera to take an image of a perpetrator of the graffiti-making act;

locating the graffiti-making act detection system and the camera near a structure prone to receiving graffiti;

sonically detecting with said graffiti-making act detection system a graffiti-making act;

obtaining one or more images of the perpetrator of the graffiti-making act with the camera;

communicating to one or more entities that a graffiti-making act has been detected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating to one or more entities includes communicating to at least one of police, a police dispatcher, one or more police officers on patrol in a general area of the graffiti-making act, an owner of a property where the graffiti-making act took place, and a security system center.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating to one or more entities further includes communicating at least one of the location of the graffiti-marking act, the type of graffiti-marking act, the time the graffiti marking act took place, one or more images of the perpetrator, and a camera website address to view the perpetrator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera is an all-in-one camera server including an internet server, a CCD module, digital image compressor, network electronics, and a homepage on the Internet for the camera.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein communicating to one or more entities further includes communicating to one or more entities one or more images of the perpetrator of the graffiti-making act through one or more email communications.

6. The method of claim 4, further including-.accessing the home page on the Internet for the camera using a web browser, and observing a perpetrator of the graffiti-making act in real-time with the camera using the web browser.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera includes an image signal receiver, an image signal decoder, an image signal compressor, and a storage device, and the step of obtaining one or more images of the perpetrator of the graffiti-making act with the camera includes converting image signals of the perpetrator into electrical image signals with the image signal receiver, converting the electrical image signals into digital image signals with the image signal decoder, compressing the digital image signals with the image signal compressor, storing the compressed image signals with the storage device, and communicating the compressed image signals to the one or more entities using the communication device.

8. The method of claim 7, further including a motion sensor, and causing the camera to obtain one or more images of the perpetrator of the graffiti-making act when the motion sensor detects motion of the perpetrator.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more images of the perpetrator of the graffiti-making act are one or more wavelet images.

10. A method of detecting a firearm shot, comprising:

providing a firearm shot detection system to sonically detect a firearm shot and a camera to take an image of a perpetrator of the firearm shot;

locating the firearm shot detection system and the camera in a location prone to fire arm shots occurring;

sonically detecting with said firearm shot detection system a firearm shot;

obtaining one or more images of the perpetrator of the firearm shot with the camera;

communicating to one or more entities that a firearm shot has been detected.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein communicating to one or more entities includes communicating to at least one of police, a police dispatcher, one or more police officers on patrol in a general area of the firearm shot, an owner of a property where the firearm shot took place, and a security system center.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein communicating to one or more entities further includes communicating at least one of the location of the firearm shot, the type of firearm shot, the time the firearm shot took place, one or more images of the perpetrator, and a camera website address to view the perpetrator.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the camera is an all-in-one camera server including an internet server, a CCD module, digital image compressor, network electronics, and a homepage on the Internet for the camera.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein communicating to one or more entities further includes communicating to one or more entities one or more images of the perpetrator of the firearm shot through one or more email communications.

15. The method of claim 13, further including accessing the home page on the Internet for the camera using a web browser, and observing a perpetrator of the firearm shot in real-time with the camera using the web browser.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the camera includes an image signal receiver, an image signal decoder, an image signal compressor, and a storage device, and the step of obtaining one or more images of the perpetrator of the firearm shot with the camera includes converting image signals of the perpetrator into electrical image signals with the image signal receiver, converting the electrical image signals into digital image signals with the image signal decoder, compressing the digital image signals with the image signal compressor, storing the compressed image signals with the storage device, and communicating the compressed image signals to the one or more entities using the communication device.

17. The method of claim 16, further including a motion sensor, and causing the camera to obtain one or more images of the perpetrator of the firearm shot when the motion sensor detects motion of the perpetrator.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more images of the perpetrator of the firearm shot are one or more wavelet images.

19. A method of detecting a firearm shot, comprising:

providing a firearm shot detection system to sonically detect one or more firearm shots, the firearm shot detection system including one or more sonic sensors to sonically sense a characteristic frequency or frequencies representative of the one or more firearm shots and transmit a signal or signals in response to the one or more firearm shots;

electronics to process the signal or signals; and

a communication device to communicate to one or more entities information on the one or more firearm shots;

fixedly locating the firearm shot detection system on a fixed structure in an area where firearm shots are prone to occur;

sonically sensing with said one or more sensors a characteristic frequency or frequencies representative of the one or more firearm shots and transmitting a signal or signals in response to the one or more firearm shots to the electronics;

processing the signal or signals in response to the one or more firearm shots with the electronics to determine one or more firearm shots occurred, the number of firearm shots that occurred, and the type or types of the one or more firearm shots that occurred;

wirelessly communicating to one or more entities using said communication device all of the following;

that one or more firearm shots occurred, the number of firearm shots that occurred, and the type or types of the one or more firearm shots that occurred.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the firearm shot detection system includes a GPS device, and wirelessly communicating further includes wirelessly communicating to one or more entities the location of the one or more firearm shots.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein communicating to one or more entities includes communicating to a police dispatcher.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein communicating to one or more entities includes communicating to one or more police officers in an area near where the firearm shot occurred.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein communicating to one or more entities includes communicating to a security system center.