Surveillance systems

• US 20090244279A1
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stratos Offshore Services Company (Inmarsat PLC)
• Original Assignee: Stratos Offshore Services Company (Inmarsat PLC)
• Inventors: Walsh, Jeffrey Thomas
• Application Number:
  US12/079,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20090244279A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/008 Adjustable or movable supports
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19632 Camera support structures, e.g. attachment means, poles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19636 pertaining to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19647 Systems specially adapted for intrusion detection in or around a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for surveillance including surveillance units which, in certain aspects, include a first unit for surveillance at a site, the first unit having a first base, a first local archiver, first surveillance apparatus on the base including at least one first surveillance component, the at least one first surveillance component for producing first surveillance signals, first transmitting apparatus for transmitting the first surveillance signals from the first surveillance component to the first local archiver, the local archiver including processing apparatus for processing the first surveillance signals to produce a first record of the surveilling of the site, and the local archiver including connection apparatus for making the first record available by remote access. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).

Claims

1. A method for surveilling a site, the method comprising

locating a first unit for surveillance at a site, the first unit including a first base, a first local archiver, and first surveillance apparatus on the base for surveilling the site with at least one first surveillance component,

producing first surveillance signals with the at least one first surveillance component,

transmitting the first surveillance signals from the at least one first surveillance component to the first local archiver,

processing the first surveillance signals in the local archiver to produce a first record of the surveilling of the site, and

making the first record available by remote access.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one first surveillance component includes a first video camera and the first record is a video record.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one first surveillance component is one of still camera, video camera, PTZ camera, and sensor.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the sensor is one of motion sensor, gas sensor, temperature sensor, humidity sensor, electrical sensor, chemical agent sensor, and biological agent sensor.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising

sending sensor signals from the sensor to the first local archiver, said sensor signals indicative of a parameter sensed by the sensor.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising

remotely accessing the first local archiver, and

reviewing the first record.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said remotely accessing is done wirelessly via one of or both network connection and satellite system.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the network connection is provided by one of an internet and a virtual private network.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein said remotely accessing is done in communication with a central server in communication with the first local archiver.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising

processing the first surveillance signals with the local archiver to produce a first viewable version of the first surveillance signals,

remotely accessing the local archiver, and

viewing the first viewable version in real time.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said remotely accessing is done wirelessly via one of network connection and satellite system.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising

locating a second unit for surveillance spaced-apart from the first unit, each of the first unit and the second unit having a mesh radio system,

the second unit including a second base, a second surveillance apparatus for surveilling an area adjacent the second unit and including at least one second surveillance component, said at least one second surveillance component for producing second surveillance signals,

transmitting the second surveillance signals from the second unit to the first unit via the mesh radio systems,

processing the second surveillance signals from the second surveillance apparatus in the first local archiver to produce a second record of the surveillance of the area adjacent the second unit, and

making the second record available by remote access.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the at least one second surveillance component includes a second video camera and second record is a video record.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one second surveillance component is one of still camera, video camera, PTZ camera, and sensor.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the sensor is one of motion sensor, gas sensor, electrical sensor, chemical agent sensor, and biological agent sensor.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising

remotely accessing the first local archiver, and

reviewing the second record.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said remotely accessing is done wirelessly via one of network connection and satellite system.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising

processing the second surveillance signals with the first local archiver to produce a second viewable version which is a viewable version of the second surveillance signals,

remotely accessing the first local archiver, and

viewing the second viewable version in real time.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said remotely accessing is done in communication with a central server in communication with the first local archiver.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the second surveillance unit includes a second local archiver, and the method further comprising

processing the second surveillance signals with the second local archiver to produce a second viewable version which is a viewable version of the second surveillance signals,

remotely accessing the second local archiver, and

viewing the second viewable version in real time.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein said remotely accessing is done wirelessly via one of network connection and satellite system.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the network connection is provided by one of an internet and a virtual private network.

23. A method for surveilling a site, the method comprising

locating a first unit for surveillance at a site, the first unit including a first base, a first local archiver, and first surveillance apparatus on the base for surveilling the site with at least one first surveillance component,

producing first surveillance signals with the at least one first surveillance component,

transmitting the first surveillance signals from the at least one first surveillance component to the first local archiver,

processing the first surveillance signals in the local archiver to produce a first record of the surveilling of the site,

making the first record available by remote access,

locating a second unit for surveillance spaced-apart from the first unit,

the second unit including a second base, a second local archiver, a second surveillance apparatus for surveilling an area adjacent the second unit and including at least one second surveillance component, said at least one second surveillance component for producing second surveillance signals,

transmitting the second surveillance signals from the second unit to the second local archiver,

processing the second surveillance signals from the second surveillance apparatus in the second local archiver to produce a second record of the surveillance of the area adjacent the second unit, and

making the first record and the second record each available by remotely accessing a central server, the central server in communication with the first local archiver and with the second local archiver.

24. A system for surveilling a site, the system comprising

a first unit for surveillance at a site, the first unit including

a first base,

a first local archiver,

first surveillance apparatus on the base including at least one first surveillance component,

the at least one first surveillance component for producing first surveillance signals,

first transmitting apparatus for transmitting the first surveillance signals from the at least one first surveillance component to the first local archiver,

the local archiver processing apparatus for processing the first surveillance signals to produce a first record of the surveilling of the site, and

the local archiver including connection apparatus for making the first record available by remote access.

25. The system of claim 24

wherein the at least one first surveillance component is one of still camera, video camera, PTZ camera, and sensor,

wherein the sensor is at least one of motion sensor, gas sensor, temperature sensor, humidity sensor, electrical sensor, chemical agent sensor, and biological agent sensor, and

the first local archiver includes apparatus for sending sensor signals from the sensor to the first local archiver, said sensor signals indicative of a parameter sensed by the sensor.

26. The system of claim 24 further comprising

a second unit for surveillance spaced-apart from the first unit,

each of the first unit and the second unit having a mesh radio system,

the second unit including a second base, a second surveillance apparatus for surveilling an area adjacent the second unit and including at least one second surveillance component, said at least one second surveillance component for producing second surveillance signals,

second transmitting apparatus for transmitting the second surveillance signals from the second unit to the first unit via the mesh radio systems,

the first local archiver including processing apparatus for processing the second surveillance signals from the second surveillance apparatus in the first local archiver to produce a second record of the surveillance of the area adjacent the second unit, and

the first local archiver connection apparatus also for making the second record available by remote access.

27. The system of claim 26 further comprising

the second unit including a second local archiver, and transmitting apparatus for transmitting the second surveillance signals from the second unit to the second local archiver,

the second local archiver including processing apparatus for processing the second surveillance signals from the second surveillance apparatus to produce a second record of the surveillance of the area adjacent the second unit, and

a central server in communication with the first local archiver and with the second local archiver so that the first record and the second record are each available by remote access via the central server.