Wireless Video Surveillance System and Method with Two-Way Locking of Input Capture Devices

• US 20100328461A1
• Filed: 09/02/2010
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Smartvue Corp. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: RENKIS, Martin A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,754,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19615 wherein said pattern is defined by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19621 Portable camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19663 Surveillance related processing done local to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1968 Interfaces for setting up or customising the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19682 Graphic User Interface [GUI] presenting system data to the user, e.g. information on a screen helping a user interacting with an alarm system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19691 Signalling events for better perception by user, e.g. indicating alarms by making display brighter, adding text, creating a sound
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A method for locking communication between at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) and/or another ICD, including the steps of providing base system; at least one user accessing the DIR via user interface either directly or remotely; the DIR and/or ICD searching for signal from the ICD(s) and establishing communication with them; and locking the ICDs to send wireless data exclusively to that DIR and/or ICD; and/or the DIR and/or ICD locking itself for exclusive communication with the locked ICDs, thereby providing a secure surveillance system for a target environment.

Claims

1. A method for locking communication between at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) or another ICD forming a base system, comprising the steps of:

providing the base system;

at least one user accessing the DIR via a user interface either directly or remotely;

the DIR searching for signal from the ICD(s) and establishing communication with them; and

locking communication between the ICD(s) and DIR, thereby providing a secure surveillance system for a target environment.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of locking communication between the ICD(s) and DIR further comprises the step of the DIR locking the ICDs to send wireless data exclusively to that DIR.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of locking communication between the ICD(s) and DIR further comprises the DIR locking itself for exclusive communication with the ICDs.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of locking communication between the ICD(s) and DIR further comprises the DIR locking itself for exclusive communication with the ICDs.

5. The method of claim 1, further including the step of the user renaming the ICD(s).

6. The method of claim 1, further including the step of the ICD(s) sending a still image to the DIR for display to the user for confirmation of the identity of the ICD(s).

7. The method of claim 1, further including the step of the DIR and ICD(s) optimizing the wireless signal to the DIR to ensure the greatest information throughput between the ICD(s) and the DIR.

8. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

the DIR instructing the ICD(s) to initiate encryption of the data stream according to an encryption method; and

the ICD(s) encrypting the data stream.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the encryption method is selected from the group consisting of digital signing, stream cipher encryption, block cipher encryption, public key encryption, and combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the encryption method is selected from the group consisting of WAP, 802.11i, AES, SSL and combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 1, further including the step of the DIR indicating the lock status.

12. The method of claim 11, further including the step of displaying the lock status via a lock indicator.

13. The method of claim 1, further including the step of the DIR sending a lock status signal to an entity outside the present system.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the entity outside the present system is selected from the group consisting of controller/server, alarm system, security software, and combinations thereof.

15. The method of claim 1, further including the step of the DIR refusing signals from new ICD(s) that are not locked to the DIR.

16. The method of claim 1, further including the step of the DIR accepting signals from new ICD(s) not locked to the DIR.

17. The method of claim 1, further including the step of the user instructing the DIR to search for new ICD(s).

18. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

the user instructing the DIR to removing ICD(s) from the system; and

the DIR removing the device.

19. A method for locking communication between at least two wireless input capture device ICD(s) capable of wireless cross-communication, the ICDs forming a base system, comprising the steps of:

providing the base system;

at least one user accessing the at least one ICD via a user interface;

the ICD(s) and establishing communication with each other; and

locking the communication between the ICD(s), thereby providing a secure wireless surveillance system for a target environment.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the base system further includes a wireless digital input recorder (DIR) operable for wireless communication with the ICDs.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the user is capable of accessing the ICDs via a user interface either directly or remotely;

22. A surveillance system for wireless communication between components comprising:

a base system including at least two wireless input capture devices (ICDs), the ICDs having at least one sensor and at least one input component for detecting and recording inputs, a processor, a memory, a transmitter/receiver, all constructed and configured in electronic connection;

wherein the ICDs are operable for wireless cross-communication with each other, and wherein the ICDs are further operable for locking communication with each other for providing a secure surveillance system for a target environment.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the cross-communication of ICDs includes data exchange, wherein the data exchange includes information about the surveillance environment, settings, inputs, and combinations thereof.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein the cross-communication of ICDs provides for extension of the useful range of the wireless surveillance system.