Commandable covert surveillance system

• US 20040075547A1
• Filed: 07/15/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Charles B. Cooperman, Daniel J. Decicco, George L. Vojtech
• Original Assignee: Charles B. Cooperman, Daniel J. Decicco, George L. Vojtech
• Inventors: Vojtech, George L., Cooperman, Charles B., DeCicco, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US10/466,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20040075547A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/500
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19634 Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/001 Concealed systems, e.g. disguised alarm systems to make covert systems

Abstract

A general purpose surveillance system for remote surveillance applications. The system is comprised of one or more audio (e.g., microphone) or video (e.g., camera) surveillance devices that are wirelessly coupled with triggering devices. The system is capable of transmitting audio, video and still pictures via wireless transmission links. The wireless transmission links can be radio frequency (RF) links such as satellite up/down links and commercial cellular networks. Or, the wireless transmission links can be direct line of sight wireless communications such as infrared (IR). The system can be triggered to transmit audio and/or video data either remotely or internally. A variety of sensor types, including but not limited to, infrared sensors, motion sensors, acoustic sensors, magnetic sensors, or electric field sensors can act as a triggering mechanism.

Claims

1. A method of surveillance comprising:

detecting when a sensor has been triggered by an external event;

sending a first wireless signal from a transmitter device that is coupled with said sensor after said sensor has detected said external event;

receiving said first wireless signal in a receiver device;

activating a surveillance device that is coupled with said receiver device as a result of receiving said first wireless signal;

establishing connection between said surveillance device and a remote computer via a second wireless signal upon activation of said surveillance device; and

wirelessly sending surveillance data observed by said surveillance device to said remote computer via the connection between said surveillance device and said remote computer.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

encoding said first wireless signal before sending; and

activating said surveillance device only when said first wireless signal has been successfully decoded.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first wireless signal is encoded and decoded using a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) coding scheme.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing observed surveillance data within said surveillance device.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending a command from said remote computer to said surveillance device, said command for manipulating said surveillance device;

receiving said command in said surveillance device for manipulating said surveillance device; and

manipulating said surveillance device according to the command.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

sending a command from said remote computer to said surveillance device, said command for erasing said stored surveillance data within said surveillance device upon said remote computer receiving said surveillance data from said surveillance device;

receiving said command in said surveillance device for erasing said stored surveillance data within said surveillance device; and

erasing said stored surveillance data within said surveillance device.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending a command from said remote computer to said surveillance device, said command for adjusting the parameters of said surveillance device;

receiving said command in said surveillance device for adjusting the parameters of said surveillance device; and

adjusting the parameters of said surveillance device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said parameters of said surveillance device include microphone sensitivity.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said parameters of said surveillance device include image size.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said parameters of said surveillance device include image compression ratio.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein said parameters of said surveillance device include image pan.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein said parameters of said surveillance device include image tilt.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein said parameters of said surveillance device include image zoom.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

terminating the connection between said surveillance device and said remote computer;

resetting connection parameters between said surveillance device and said remote computer upon termination of said connection; and

resetting surveillance device parameters upon termination of said connection.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising placing said surveillance device into a low-power sleep state until it is activated again.

16. A surveillance system comprising:

a sensor;

a wireless transmitter device coupled with said sensor;

a receiver device;

a surveillance device interface coupled with said receiver;

a surveillance device coupled with said surveillance device interface; and

a remote surveillance connection device coupled with said surveillance device interface,

wherein when said sensor is triggered a first wireless signal is sent from said wireless transmitter device to said receiver device causing a second signal to be sent to said surveillance device interface, said second signal for activating said surveillance device and also for causing said remote surveillance connection device to establish a wireless connection with a remote computer such that surveillance data observed by said surveillance device is sent, via said wireless connection, to said remote computer via said surveillance device interface and said remote surveillance connection device.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the wireless transmitter device encodes the first wireless signal prior to sending and said receiver device includes a decoder for decoding the encoded first wireless signal.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the encoding and decoding of the first wireless signal is achieved using a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) scheme.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein said sensor is a motion detector.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein said sensor is an acoustic sensor.

21. The system of claim 16 wherein said sensor is an optical trip-wire.

22. The system of claim 16 wherein said surveillance device is an audio only device.

23. The system of claim 16 wherein said surveillance device is a video only device.

24. The system of claim 16 wherein said surveillance device is a combination audio and video device.

25. The system of claim 16 wherein said surveillance device further comprises a GPS device such that the position of said surveillance device can be remotely tracked via a GPS tracking device.

26. The system of claim 16 wherein said wireless transmitter device is energized via an output relay from said sensor wherein said output relay is an electromechanical relay.

27. The system of claim 16 wherein said wireless transmitter device is energized via an output relay from said sensor wherein said output relay is a semiconductor relay.

28. The system of claim 16 wherein said surveillance device stores surveillance data internally.

29. The system of claim 16 wherein said remote surveillance connection device receives commands from said remote computer for the purpose of manipulating said surveillance device.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein said commands to manipulate said surveillance device include erasing stored surveillance data on said surveillance device.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein said commands to manipulate said surveillance device include the ability to configure the parameters of said surveillance device.

32. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

terminating the connection between said surveillance device interface and said remote computer;

resetting connection parameters between said surveillance device interface and said remote computer upon termination of said connection; and

resetting surveillance device parameters upon termination of said connection.

33. The system of claim 32 further comprising placing said surveillance device and said surveillance device interface into a low-power sleep state until the next activation.

34. A system for surveillance comprising:

means for detecting when a sensor has been triggered;

means for sending a first wireless signal from a transmitter device that is coupled with said sensor after said sensor has been triggered;

means for receiving said first wireless signal in a receiver device;

means for activating a surveillance device that is coupled with said receiver device as a result of receiving said first wireless signal;

means for establishing a bidirectional connection between said surveillance device and a remote computer via a second wireless signal upon activation of said surveillance device; and

means for wirelessly sending surveillance data observed by said surveillance device to said remote computer via the connection between said surveillance device and said remote computer.

35. The system of claim 34 further comprising:

means for encoding said first wireless signal before sending; and

means for activating said surveillance device only when said first wireless signal has been successfully decoded.

36. The system of claim 34 wherein the first wireless signal is encoded and decoded using a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) coding scheme.

37. The system of claim 34 further comprising means for storing observed surveillance data within said surveillance device.

38. The system of claim 34 further comprising:

means for sending a command from said remote computer to said surveillance device, said command for manipulating said surveillance device;

means for receiving said command in said surveillance device for manipulating said surveillance device; and

means for manipulating said surveillance device according to the command.

39. The system of claim 34 further comprising:

means for sending a command from said remote computer to said surveillance device, said command for erasing said stored surveillance data within said surveillance device upon said remote computer receiving said surveillance data from said surveillance device;

means for receiving said command in said surveillance device for erasing said stored surveillance data within said surveillance device; and

means for erasing said stored surveillance data within said surveillance device.

40. The system of claim 34 further comprising:

means for sending a command from said remote computer to said surveillance device, said command for adjusting the parameters of said surveillance device;

means for receiving said command in said surveillance device for adjusting the parameters of said surveillance device; and

means for adjusting the parameters of said surveillance device.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein said parameters of said surveillance device include microphone sensitivity.

42. The system of claim 40 wherein said parameters of said surveillance device include image size.

43. The system of claim 40 wherein said parameters of said surveillance device include image compression ratio.

44. The system of claim 40 wherein said parameters of said surveillance device include image pan.

45. The system of claim 40 wherein said parameters of said surveillance device include image tilt.

46. The system of claim 40 wherein said parameters of said surveillance device include image zoom.

47. The system of claim 34 further comprising:

means for terminating the connection between said surveillance device and said remote computer;

means for resetting connection parameters between said surveillance device and said remote computer upon termination of said connection; and

resetting surveillance device parameters upon termination of said connection.

48. The system of claim 47 further comprising means for placing said surveillance device into a low-power sleep state until it is activated again.