Interactive surveillance network and method

• US 20060220843A1
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aceinna Transducer Systems Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Memsic Transducer Systems Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Xu, Ning, Turon, Martin Albert, Kapur, Rahul, Broad, Alan, Prabhu, Jaidev
• Granted Patent: US 7,760,109 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.230
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/188 Data fusion; cooperative systems, e.g. voting among different detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A plurality of modules interact to form an adaptive network in which each module transmits and receives data signals indicative of proximity of objects. A central computer accumulates the data produced or received and relayed by each module for analyzing proximity responses to transmit through the adaptive network control signals to a selectively-addressed module to respond to computer analyzes of the data accumulated from modules forming the adaptive network. Interactions of local processors in modules that sense an intrusion determine the location and path of movements of the intruding object and control cameras in the modules to retrieve video images of the intruding object. Multiple operational frequencies in adaptive networks permit expansions by additional networks that each operate at separate radio frequencies to avoid overlapping interaction. Additional modules may be introduced into operating networks without knowing the operating frequency at the time of introduction. New programs are distributed to all or selected modules under control of the base station.

Claims

1. A module for operation in communication with a plurality of such modules forming an adaptive network thereof, each of the modules comprising:

a unique identification code;

a transceiver disposed to transmit and receive data signals on a selected frequency of electromagnetic energy;

at least one sensor disposed to detect proximity of an object; and

a processor coupled to the transceiver and the sensor for forming a data signal representative of sensed proximity of an object for transmission with the identification code via the transceiver.

2. The module according to claim 1 in which the processor is operable to produce for transmission by the transceiver a data signal representative of a request to operate in a network of modules.

3. The module according to claim 2 in which the transceiver is operable to receive a data signal representative of a request for enabling within the module formation of a data signal indicative of receipt of a data signal representative of a request for transmission via the transceiver as an acknowledgment of receipt of a data signal representative of a request.

4. The module according to claim 3 in which the transceiver delays transmitting the data signal indicative of receipt for an interval following receipt of a data signal representative of a request.

5. The module according to claim 4 in which the interval is of random duration.

6. The module according to claim 4 in which the transceiver is operable to transmit a data signal representative of a request with the identification code.

7. The module according to claim 6 in which the processor forms said data signal representative of a request with the identification code and also with an assigned designation code representative of a network address for transmission via the transceiver.

8. A network including a plurality of modules according to claim 7 and a base station disposed at spaced locations in range of electromagnetic energy communications among the base station and at least two such modules, the base station including a computer coupled to a memory for storing identification codes as designation codes, and operable with the network to receive a data signal representative of a request for processing an identification code associated therewith relative to identification codes stored in memory for producing a reply signal indicative of the resultant comparison.

9. A network according to claim 8 in which the reply signal indicates rejection as an unfavorable resultant comparison.

10. A network according to claim 9 in which the reply signal incorporates the identification code and designation code for transmission through the network.

11. A network according to claim 8 in which the reply signal indicates acceptance as a favorable comparison.

12. A network according to claim 11 in which the reply signal incorporates the identification code and designation code and includes a new designation code for the module that has the identification code and that transmitted a data signal representative of a request.

13. A network according to claim 8 in which the electromagnetic energy communications operate on one of a plurality of different radio frequencies.

14. A network according to claim 13 in which the computer selectively alters the radio frequencies at which the communications operate.

15. A network according to claim 14 in which the computer recurringly alters the radio frequencies through a sequence of different radio frequencies.

16. A system including a plurality of networks according to claim 13 in which each network of the plurality of network operates at a different one of the radio frequencies during successive intervals.

17. A system according to claim 16 including a communication link coupled to the plurality of base stations for synchronizing operations of the plural networks on different ones of the plurality of radio frequencies during the successive intervals.

18. A method for operating a network including a base station and a plurality of modules in communication via electromagnetic energy, in which each module includes a sensor for transmitting a data signal representative of proximity of an object, the method comprising:

selectively altering radio frequencies of the electromagnetic energy during successive operating intervals.

19. The method according to claim 18 in which the radio frequencies are altered in a selected sequence of different radio frequencies during successive operating intervals.

20. A method for operating a system including a plurality of networks operating according to the method of claim 18, including:

linking the base stations of the networks for signal communications therebetween; and

,

synchronizing the operating radio frequencies of the networks via signal communications therebetween to different ones of a set of different radio frequencies during successive operating intervals.

21. A method of operating a module in a network including a base station and a plurality of such modules that each include an identification code and that each transmit and receive electromagnetic signals, the method comprising:

responding to an electromagnetic signal received from another module representative of a request for operational access to the network;

delaying for an interval transmission of an acknowledgment signal indicative of receipt of the signal representative of a request;

sensing during the interval transmission of an acknowledgment signal from another module in the network, and a);

in the presence of an acknowledgment signal from another module, not transmitting an acknowledgment signal, or b);

in the absence of an acknowledgment signal from another module, transmitting an acknowledgment and re-transmitting the signal representative of the request.

22. The method according to claim 21 in which the interval of delay is random.

23. The method according to claim 21 in which the identification code of the module transmitting the signal representative of a request is included in the re-transmitted signal.

24. The method according to claim 23 in which a coded signal associated with the identification code of the module re-transmitting the signal is included in the re-transmitted signal.

25. The method according to claim 23 in which the re-transmitted signal is transmitted on a radio frequency signal having one of a set of a plurality of different frequencies.

26. The method according to claim 24 including responding to a reply signal transmitted through the network including the coded signal and indicative of a response to the signal representative of a request for re-transmitting the reply signal to the module transmitting the signal representative of a request.

27. The method according to claim 26 in which the reply signal includes either a):

a signal indicative of a rejection of the request or b);

a signal indicative of acceptance of the request and including a new coded signal associated with the identification code of the module transmitting the signal representative of the request.

28. The method according to claim 27 including

assigning a unique network address as the new coded signal.

29. A method for operating a module to access an operating network of a plurality of such modules that each include an identification code and that each transmit and receive electromagnetic signals, the method comprising:

initiating transmission of a signal representative of a request for operational access to the networks;

detecting for an interval receipt of a signal from the network indicative of acknowledgment of the transmission of the signal representative of the request;

after the interval a);

in the absence of detecting a signal indicative of acknowledgment, re-transmitting a signal representative of a request for operational access to the network, or b);

upon detecting a signal indicative of acknowledgment, initiating a delay interval within which to receive from the network a transmitted signal indicative of rejection or of a signal indicating acceptance of the request with an associated coded signal;

in response to receiving a signal indicative of acceptance of the request, installing the coded signal as a network address for operational access within the network.

30. The method according to claim 29 in which retransmitting a signal representative of a request includes altering transmission on a different one of a set of a plurality of different radio frequencies.

31. A method of operating a base station including a computer and memory operably coupled thereto in a network of a plurality of modules that each include an identification code and that each transmit and receive electro-magnetic signals for communicating within the network, the method comprising:

receiving a signal representative of a request from a module for operational access to the network and including an identification code;

comparing the identification code with a database of such identification codes stored in the memory; and

,

transmitting a signal identification of rejection of the request upon unfavorable comparison, or transmitting a signal indicative of acceptance of the request and, including a coded signal representative of a network address.

32. The method according to claim 31 in which transmitting includes a signal representative of the identification code of the module transmitting the request.

33. The method according to claim 31 in which including a coded signal derives from available network addresses for modules operating within the network and stored within a database of such addresses in the memory.

34. The method according to claim 33 including

designating network addresses stored in the memory as associated with inoperable modules;

and

transmitting a coded signal representative of a network address selected from the network addresses stored in memory designating inoperable modules as the network address for the module transmitting the signal representative of the request.

35. A method of operating a network including a base station and a plurality of modules that can each receive and transmit electromagnetic signals between modules and between a module and the base station, the method comprising:

operating a network of a plurality of the modules in electromagnetic signal communication directly or via intermediate modules with the base station;

storing in each module a program for modifying operation of the module incident to receiving transmission of software;

operating the base station to activate the program stored in a module;

segmenting in the base station a plurality of code capsules of the software to be supplied to the modules, for electromagnetic signal transmission to a module via one or more intermediate modules;

storing the code capsules in modules also receiving the electromagnetic signal transmission of code capsules;

polling the modules for indication of which code capsules not received by a specific module; and

transmitting from the base station to the specific module either directly or through one or more intermediate modules the code capsule not received by the specific module.

36. The method according to claim 35 in which each module includes operational memory and auxiliary memory, and including:

storing the program in auxiliary memory in each module; and

initiating from the base station a command to transfer in a module the program stored in auxiliary memory to the operational memory.

37. The method according to claim 35 in which the base station transmits the modules of the network either directly or through one or more intermediate modules a command for executing a reboot of the modules on the software supplied thereto, the command including a delay of the execution by a specific modules associated with a number of intermediate modules transmitting the command to the specific module.