Wireless video surveillance system and method with single click-select actions

• US 20060075065A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Smartvue Corp. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Renkis, Martin A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,784,080 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19621 Portable camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19663 Surveillance related processing done local to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1968 Interfaces for setting up or customising the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19682 Graphic User Interface [GUI] presenting system data to the user, e.g. information on a screen helping a user interacting with an alarm system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A surveillance system and method performing actions and interacting with a base system including at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) and/or another ICD, and, optionally a remote server computer (RSC), including the steps of providing base system; at least one user accessing the DIR via user interface either directly or remotely; activities and functions within the system and methods of set-up and operation capable of being performed via single click-select interaction or one-click action by the at least one user through a user interface or directly on components in the base system (ICD(s), DIR, and/or RSC), which correspond to underlying preprogrammed actions or steps performed automatically by the system following the single click-select action of the user, thereby providing a secure surveillance system having wireless communication for monitoring a target environment with single click-select actions by the user.

Claims

1. A method for activating communication between at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) or another ICD forming a base system, comprising the steps of:

providing the base system;

at least one user accessing the DIR via a user interface either directly or remotely and making a single click-select action, which automatically activates predetermined actions within the system, including the DIR searching for signal from the ICD(s) and establishing communication with them; and

activating communication between the ICD(s) and DIR, without requiring further interaction with the system by the user following the click-select action, thereby providing a secure surveillance system for a target environment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the system is operable to perform a multiplicity of steps by the single click-select of the user, depending on which of at least one option is selected by the user, wherein each of the at least one option corresponds to a predetermined system function.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined system functions include:

set-up and connection(s);

ICD(s) setup;

RSC connection and/or setup;

alarm connection and/or activation;

user(s) access for viewing inputs and data;

setup and connection for user remote viewing and/or local viewing;

emergency access enabling and/or viewing of inputs/data;

data storage;

transfer of stored data to a removable, portable storage medium, such as a USB removable storage device;

control functions; and

combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 6, further including a payment function wherein the user makes a payment that corresponds to any of the functions.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the payment is required in advance of the user having access to the function being performed by the system.

2. A method for operating a surveillance system capable of wireless communication between at least one wireless digital input capture device (ICD(s)) and a corresponding wireless digital input recorder (DIR), together forming a base system comprising the steps of:

a) providing the base system having at least one ICD constructed and configured for wireless digital communication with a corresponding wireless DIR, wherein the DIR has a memory and a data processor for running software is operable for transmitting instructions to and receiving and recording data inputs from the ICD(s);

b) at least one user interfacing with the DIR and establishing or adjusting settings via a single click-select action by the user in the user inteface;

c) the DIR searching for signal from at least one selected ICD;

d) the DIR establishing communication with the selected ICD(s);

e) the DIR creating a named representation of each of the selected ICD(s) identified;

f) the DIR validating the device approval status for communication with each selected ICD;

g) the DIR activating the selected ICD(s) to only send wireless data to the DIR;

h) the DIR confirming detection of signals from the ICD(s);

i) the DIR confirming the establishment of communication with each detected capture device;

j) the DIR locking itself to communicate exclusively with the found devices;

all without requiring additional action by the user following the single click-select action, thereby providing a method for secure communication in the surveillance system between at least one ICD and corresponding DIR with a single click-select by the user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the base system further includes a remote server computer (RSC).

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the user accesses the system remotely via a remote viewing device (RVD) in communication with the RSC.

9. A method for activating communication between at least two wireless input capture device ICD(s) capable of wireless cross-communication, the ICDs forming a base system, comprising the steps of:

providing the base system;

at least one user accessing the at least one ICD via a user interface via a single click-select action in the user interface;

the ICD(s) and establishing communication with each other; and

locking the communication between the ICD(s), thereby providing a secure wireless surveillance system for a target environment.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the base system further includes a wireless digital input recorder (DIR) operable for wireless communication with the ICDs.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the user is capable of accessing the ICDs via a user interface either directly or remotely.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the system is operable to perform a multiplicity of steps by the single click-select of the user, depending on which of at least one option is selected by the user, wherein each of the at least one option corresponds to a predetermined system function.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined system functions include:

set-up and connection(s);

ICD(s) setup;

RSC connection and/or setup;

alarm connection and/or activation;

user(s) access for viewing inputs and data;

setup and connection for user remote viewing and/or local viewing;

emergency access enabling and/or viewing of inputs/data;

data storage;

transfer of stored data to a removable, portable storage medium, such as a USB removable storage device;

control functions; and

combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 13, further including a payment function wherein the user makes a payment that corresponds to any of the functions.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the payment is required in advance of the user having access to the function being performed by the system.

16. A surveillance system for wireless communication between components comprising:

a base system including at least two wireless input capture devices (ICDs), the ICDs having at least one sensor and at least one input component for detecting and recording inputs, a processor, a memory, a transmitter/receiver, all constructed and configured in electronic connection;

wherein the ICDs are operable for wireless cross-communication with each other, following a single click-select action by a user on a user interface with the system.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the cross-communication of ICDs includes data exchange, wherein the data exchange includes information about the surveillance environment, settings, inputs, and combinations thereof.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the system is operable to perform a multiplicity of steps by the single click-select of the user, depending on which of at least one option is selected by the user, wherein each of the at least one option corresponds to a predetermined system function.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the predetermined system functions include:

set-up and connection(s);

ICD(s) setup;

RSC connection and/or setup;

alarm connection and/or activation;

user(s) access for viewing inputs and data;

setup and connection for user remote viewing and/or local viewing;

emergency access enabling and/or viewing of inputs/data;

data storage;

transfer of stored data to a removable, portable storage medium, such as a USB removable storage device;

control functions; and

combinations thereof.

20. The system of claim 19, further including a payment function wherein the user makes a payment that corresponds to any of the functions.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the payment is required in advance of the user having access to the function being performed by the system.