Multimedia network appliances for security and surveillance applications

• US 20080016366A1
• Filed: 11/22/2006
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e-Watch, Inc. (Cision Ltd.), The Telesis Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: e-Watch, Inc. (Cision Ltd.)
• Inventors: Monroe, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,859,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/182
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/085 using central distribution transmission lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2823 Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• 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]

Abstract

Network appliances for use in combination with a network based full service, multi-media surveillance system provide a wide range of monitoring techniques utilizing digital network architecture. The appliances may be connected to the surveillance system for transmitting event data, video and/or image monitoring information, audio signals and other data over significant distances using digital data transmission over networks such as a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network such as the Internet for other networks, permitting remote manual and/or automatic assessment and response. The wireless LAN connectivity permits local distribution of audio, video and image data with relatively high bandwidth without requirement of a license and without relying on a common carrier and the fees associated therewith. The surveillance system may be interfaced with a WAN (wide area network) such as frame relay or the Internet for providing a worldwide, low cost surveillance system with virtually unlimited geographic application. Multiple sensors and appliances may be accommodated, as required. The topology of the network will be established by the geographic situation of the specific installation. Appropriate firewalls may be set up as desired to protect unauthorized access to the system or collected data. The server based system permits a security provider to have access to the appliance, related sensor and surveillance data or to configure or reconfigure the system from any station on the Intranet or Internet.

Claims

1. An appliance for a network based security system, comprising:

a. a sensor component adapted for generating a signal in response to a condition present at the sensor component;

b. a processor for generating a digital output signal corresponding to the sensor component signal;

c. a network interface for transmitting the digital output signal via a digital network, wherein the sensor is a video sensor and the signal comprises a video signal, the appliance further comprising;

i. an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog video signal to a digital signal;

ii. a motion video buffer;

iii. an mpeg compressor associated with the motion video compressor;

iv. a still frame buffer;

v. a jpeg compressor associated with the still frame buffer;

vi. a multiplexer for combining the output of the mpeg compressor and the jpeg compressor for generating a combined output signal to the processor for distribution via the network interface over the network, wherein there is further comprising;

a. an audio sensor component;

b. an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog audio signal to a digital signal;

c. an audio compressor associated with the audio sensor component for introducing a signal to the multiplexer, whereby the multiplexer produces a combined digital signal comprising a video and an audio component for distribution via the network interface over the network.

2-76. -76. (canceled)