System, method and apparatus for adaptive video surveillance over power lines

• US 20060050642A1
• Filed: 09/08/2004
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Certaintypoint Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: VisualGate Systems, Inc. (BlueRush, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yekutiel, Ron, Kerzner, David, Chini, Ahmad
• Granted Patent: US 7,466,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks

Abstract

Video surveillance systems have special requirements with respect to networking and remote access functionality. Conventional communication links do not necessarily meet these requirements. Power line channels, accessible via power line modems, do, in some cases, meet the requirements of video surveillance systems where conventional communication links do not. The present invention provides a flexible and reliable video surveillance system that includes networking and remote access capabilities employing power line communication channels.

Claims

1. A surveillance network node comprising:

(a) a power line modem;

(b) a second modem;

(c) a switching means for selecting one of the power line modem and the second modem for a transmission of surveillance information; and

(d) a computer usable medium having computer readable code means embodied therein for signalling the switching means to select one of the power line modem and the second modem for transmission of surveillance information.

2. A surveillance network node according to claim 1, wherein the surveillance information includes at least one of video information, audio information, and motion information.

3. A surveillance network node according to claim 1, wherein the computer readable code means comprises instructions for:

(e) measuring respective parameters corresponding to the power line modem and the second modem; and

(f) choosing to use one of the power line modem and the second modem based on the respective measured parameters.

4. A surveillance network node according to claim 1, wherein the computer readable code means comprises instructions for adaptively changing operating parameters of the surveillance network node based on at least one of surveillance source information, channel information and client preferences.

5. A surveillance network node according to claim 4, wherein the operating parameters include at least one of the number of Frames Per Second (FPS) transmitted, image Quality (Q), resolution, and encoding type.

6. A surveillance network node according to claim 1, wherein the computer readable code means comprises instructions for adaptively changing the operation of the surveillance network node based on measured communication link conditions related to one of the power line modem and the second modem.

7. A surveillance network node according to claim 6, wherein the communication link conditions include available bit rate in a channel, delay, congestion, and any other parameter that suitably provides an indication of the quality of the communication link.

8. A surveillance network node according to claim 1 further adapted to function as surveillance camera operable to transmit video information.

9. A surveillance network node according to claim 1 further adapted to function as a local access node operable to co-ordinate one of the operation and access to a number of other surveillance network nodes.

10. A method of operating a surveillance network node comprising:

(a) measuring a parameter related to one of surveillance source information, channel information and client preferences; and

(b) changing an operating parameter of the surveillance network node based on the measured parameter.

11. A method according to claim 10 further comprising:

(c) measuring at least two different parameters related to one of surveillance source information, channel information and client preferences; and

(d) changing at least one operating parameter of the surveillance network node based on the at least two different measured parameters.

13. A method according to claim 10 wherein the operating parameter is one of the number of Frames Per Second (FPS) transmitted, image Quality (Q), resolution, and encoding type.

14. A networked surveillance system comprising:

(a) a plurality of surveillance network nodes each having a power line modem, a second modem, a switching means for selecting one of the power line modem and the second modem for a transmission of surveillance information and a controller for signalling the switching means to select one of the power line modem and the second modem; and

(b) a client device configured to access surveillance information collected and transmitted by at least one of the surveillance network nodes.

15. A networked surveillance system according to claim 14 further comprising a local access node connectable between the client device and at least one of the surveillance network nodes.

16. A networked surveillance system according to claim 15, wherein the local access node is connectable to one of an internet, a private network and a virtual private network.