Surveillance system and method

• US 20060229086A1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aceinna Transducer Systems Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Memsic Transducer Systems Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Broad, Alan S., Horton, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,705,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• 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: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor 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 analyses of the data accumulated from modules forming the adaptive network.

Claims

1. A communication module comprising:

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

a proximity sensor; and

a processor coupled to the proximity sensor and to the transceiver for forming data signals indicative of sensed proximity of an object for transmission by the transceiver.

2. A communication module according to claim 1 in which the proximity sensor includes a thermal detector.

3. A communication module according to claim 1 in which the proximity sensor includes a magnetic detector.

4. A network of a plurality of modules according to claim 1, each including a transceiver disposed to receive and transmit data signals between other of the plurality of modules;

and

a computer disposed to receive data signals from at least one of the plurality of modules.

5. A network of a plurality of modules according to claim 4 in which each of the transceivers is disposed to receive and transmit data signals between other of the plurality of modules, and including different identification codes for each of the plurality of modules;

and

a computer disposed to transmit and receive data signals including identification codes between the computer and at least one of the plurality of modules having an identification code included within a data signal transmitted by the computer.

6. A network according to claim 5 in which the computer is disposed to transmit command signals to at least one of the plurality of modules.

7. A network according to claim 6 in which each of the plurality of modules includes a different identification code;

and

the computer transmits a command signal including a selected identification code.

8. A network according to claim 6 in which the computer transmits a command signal to at least one of the plurality of modules to sense proximity of objects.

9. A network according to claim 6 in which a command signal transmitted by the computer includes an identification code corresponding to at least one of the plurality of modules for actuating a response from the one module.

10. A network according to claim 9 in which the command signals control a camera at the one of the plurality of nodules.

11. A method for computer-implementing a network of a plurality of modules that each transmit and receive electromagnetic signals containing proximity data, the method comprising:

transmitting from at least one of the plurality of modules signals containing proximity data for receipt by other of the plurality of modules to form a network of interactive modules that implements computer collection of the proximity data.

12. A method according to claim 11 in which each of the plurality of modules is disposed to sense change in proximity data, the method comprising:

transmitting from at least one of the plurality of modules signals containing data indicative of change in proximity data sensed by the at least one module.

13. A method according to claim 11, comprising:

computer-implementing transmission to at least one of the plurality of modules a signal representative of command to sense proximity of objects adjacent to one module.