Adaptive surveillance network and method

• US 20100013933A1
• Filed: 06/13/2005
• Published: 01/21/2010
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 8,144,197 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/159
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/003 Address allocation methods and details
• 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

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. 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.

Claims

1. A communication module comprising:

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

a plurality of proximity sensors disposed to sense proximity of an object within substantial contiguous sensing field of view about the module; and

a processor coupled to the transceiver and to the sensors for forming data signals indicative of sensed proximity of an object within a sensing field of view for transmission by the transceiver.

2. A communication module according to claim 1 comprising:

a video camera connected to the processor for forming image data signals of objects within a sensing field of view in response to sensing of proximity of an object therein for transmission by the transceiver.

3. A communication module according to claim 2 comprising a housing including a peripheral boundary and supporting the proximity sensors therein about the peripheral boundary for forming the sensor fields of view substantially entirely around the peripheral boundary.

4. The communication module according to claim 3 including the video camera mounted within the housing for forming image data signals of an object within a sensor field of view.

5. Communication module according to claim 3 in which the housing includes an upper surface within the peripheral boundary supporting photovoltaic cells thereon, and including a battery within the housing connected to the cells and to the processor and transceiver and sensors and video camera for powering operations thereof.

6. A network of a plurality of modules according to claim 1 disposed at spaced locations in range of electromagnetic energy communications among at least two such modules, with the processors and associated transceivers in said at least two modules in communication for transmitting and receiving data signals therebetween indicative of at least sensor data signals to cooperationally analyze sensor data signals for determining presence of an object within sensor fields of view of the at least two modules.

7. The network of a plurality of modules according to claim 6 in which a processor in one of the at least two modules activates a video camera in response to determination of presence of an object for forming video image data signals of the object to transmit via the associated transceiver.

8. The network of a plurality of modules according to claim 7 including a central computer communicating with at least one module in the network, and disposed to receive data signals transmitted from one of the at least two modules for analyzing the data signals to verify the presence of an object.

9. The network according to claim 8, in which the central computer includes a database of image data representative of background image in the absence of an object within a field of view from a location of one of the at least two modules for comparison thereof with data signals transmitted to the central computer for analyses to verify the presence of an object.

10. The communication module according to claim 2 in which the processor is operable in one mode of low power-consuming operation and is responsive to a proximity sensor sensing an object for switching to another fully operational mode to control sensors and transceiver and video camera connected thereto.

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

transmitting between at least one of the plurality of modules and another of the plurality of modules electromagnetic signals indicative of proximity of an object to said one and said another modules for cooperational analyses of the electromagnetic signals to verify the presence of an object.

12. The method according to claim 11 in which one of the at least one and another modules includes a video camera for forming image data signals of objects within a field of view thereof, the method including:

activating the video camera to produce video image data signals in response to verified analysis of presence of an object; and

transmitting the video image data signals to the network of modules.

13. The method according to claim 12 in which the network includes a central computer, and the method comprises:

communicating to the central computer via the network the video image data signals for analyses thereof to verify presence of an object.

14. The method according to claim 13 in which the central computer includes a database of stored video image data representative of background images viewed by a video camera in the absence of an object, the method in which the analyses include comparing video image data signals communicated to the central computer with stored video image data for verifying presence of an object.

15. The method according to claim 14 in which the central computer transmits a command to the network in the absence of an object for activating video cameras in a plurality of modules of the network to produce video image data signals for transmission to the central computer for storage thereof in the database as representative of background images viewed by each video camera.

16. The method according to claim 14 including transmitting to the network in response to verifying presence of an object command signals for controlling fields of view of video cameras in modules in the vicinity of the objects;

and

receiving video image data signals from modules representative of the object in the vicinity thereof for storage in the database of the central computer.

17. A method of operating a network of a plurality of individual modules, each including a processor and a proximity sensor and a transceiver connected thereto and disposed at spaced locations in communication via electromagnetic signals therebetween, the method comprising:

communicating electromagnetic signals indicative of sensed proximity of an object between a set of modules of the network in the vicinity of an object for cooperationally analyzing within the associated processors the signals communicated therebetween for determining presence of an object and the positional coordinates thereof.

18. The method according to claim 17 in which each of a plurality of the modules includes a video camera for generating video image data signals of objects within a field of view, the method comprising:

in response to determining presence of an object, activating the video camera in at least one of the set of modules to produce video image data signals of the field of view including said positional coordinates within the vicinity of the at least one of the set of modules.

19. The method according to claim 17 including communicating electromagnetic signals to modules in the network in the absence of sensed proximity of an object for establishing reference time in each such module for comparison thereof with occurrence of sensed proximity of an object.

20. A surveillance network comprising:

a plurality of individual modules including proximity sensors disposed at spaced locations and adapted for electromagnetic communications therebetween;

video means associated with individual modules for selectively producing data signals representative of a video image; and

controller means communicating with modules and video means for actuating the video means to produce video image data signals in response to proximity sensing of an object.

21. The surveillance network of claim 20 including means for establishing electromagnetic communications among sensor means in response to controller means for transmitting video image data signals among modules.