Mesh communication wireless camera system and method

• US 20080240696A1
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Kucharyson, Richard P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,840,130 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A system includes a camera and a monitoring system that are capable of wireless communication. The camera is operable to send a message to the monitoring system via a plurality of wireless communication paths. The message includes information relating to an operational status of the camera. The camera may generate and analyze a video signal and the message may include information relating to the analysis of the video signal. The camera may be one of a plurality of cameras capable of generating video signals. The system may further include an intermediate node capable of wireless communication with the cameras and the monitoring system. The intermediate node may multiplex the video signals from the cameras to the monitoring system.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a camera; and

a monitoring system;

wherein;

the camera and the monitoring system are capable of communicating wirelessly; and

the camera is operable to send a message to the monitoring system via a plurality of wireless communication paths.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring system is a process controller and the message is an alarm message.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera and the monitoring system are further operable to exchange wireless messages to determine the plurality of wireless communication paths.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera is one of a plurality of cameras capable of generating video signals, the system further comprising an intermediate node capable of communicating wirelessly with the monitoring system and the plurality of cameras, wherein the intermediate node is operable to multiplex the video signals from the plurality of cameras to the monitoring system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera is operable to generate a video signal and to analyze the video signal and wherein the message comprises information relating to the analysis of the video signal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the message comprises information relating to an operational status of the camera.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the camera is powered by a battery and the information relating to the operational status of the camera comprises information relating to a charge level of the battery.

8. A camera, comprising:

a controller; and

a wireless interface,

wherein;

the controller is operable to send a message via the wireless interface to a monitoring system via a plurality of wireless communication paths.

9. The camera of claim 8, wherein the monitoring system is a process controller and the message is an alarm message.

10. The camera of claim 8, wherein the controller is further operable to exchange wireless messages with the monitoring system via the wireless interface to determine the plurality of wireless communication paths.

11. The camera of claim 8, wherein the controller is operable to send the message to the monitoring system via a plurality of intermediate nodes.

12. The camera of claim 8, wherein:

the camera is operable to generate a video signal; and

the controller is operable to analyze the video signal,

wherein the message comprises information relating to the analysis of the video signal.

13. The camera of claim 8, wherein the message comprises information relating to an operational status of the camera.

14. The camera of claim 13, wherein the camera is powered by a battery and the information relating to the operational status of the camera comprises information relating to a charge level of the battery.

15. A method, comprising:

providing a camera capable of wireless communication; and

sending a message from the camera to a monitoring system via a plurality of wireless communication paths.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the monitoring system is a process controller and the message is an alarm message.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising exchanging wireless messages between the camera and the monitoring system to determine the plurality of wireless communication paths.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the camera is one of a plurality of cameras, the method further comprising:

generating a video signal in each of the plurality of cameras;

sending the video signals from the plurality of cameras to the monitoring system via an intermediate node capable of communicating wirelessly with the monitoring system and the plurality of cameras; and

multiplexing the video signals from the plurality of cameras to the monitoring system in the intermediate node.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

generating a video signal in the camera; and

analyzing the video signal in the camera,

wherein the message comprises information relating to the analysis of the video signal.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the message comprises information relating to an operational status of the camera.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the camera is powered by a battery and the information relating to the operational status of the camera comprises information relating to a charge level of the battery.