Wireless Network Camera Systems

• US 20120147184A1
• Filed: 02/16/2012
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MicroPower Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MicroPower Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Siann, Jon, Espey, Dennis James
• Application Number:
  US13/397,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20120147184A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• 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 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00315 with a radio transmission apparatus with a cordless telephone H04N1/00305; systems or arrangements for the transmission of a picture signal specially adapted for transmission via radio H04N1/00103; H04N1/00307 takes precedence; radio transmission systems H04B7/00; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

Apparatus, systems and techniques associated with battery powered wireless camera systems. One aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a system that includes a battery powered wireless camera including an internal battery to provide energy and a burst transmission unit to transmit information during burst periods. The system includes a base station, separated from the battery powered wireless camera, in wireless communication with the battery powered wireless camera to receive information from the battery powered wireless camera. The base station is configured to process the received information and includes a web server to transmit the processed information to a client. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products.

Claims

1. A wireless camera system comprising:

a wireless camera; and

a base station, separated from the wireless camera, in wireless communication with the wireless camera and configured to receive information from the wireless camera, the base station further configured to process the received information and including a web server to transmit the processed information to a client.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the received information is video data from the wireless camera.

3. The system of claim 1 comprising a network connecting the base station and the client, the client including a video surveillance application to display video images.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitted information comprises compressed video signals.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless camera is configured to be powered up or to obtain information in response to a trigger event caused by one of a sound detection, an infrared motion detection, an ultrasonic detection, a video processing based movement detection, a relay switch, a micro switch, and a radio signaling circuitry.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless camera is solar powered.

7. The system of claim 1, where the wireless camera is a network camera comprising:

an internal battery;

a networking module configured to communicate with a network;

an image capturing module configured to capture images; and

an image compression circuit configured to compress the captured images.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless camera includes a privacy lens cap configured to enhance privacy and prevent the image capturing module from capturing images.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the received information is transmitted to the base station during burst periods.

10. A wireless camera system comprising:

a wireless camera; and

a computer running a software application that analyzes and stores information from the wireless camera for a security or surveillance purpose;

wherein the computer is located away from the wireless camera.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer is located at a remote client site or a base station.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a burst transmission unit to transmit information during burst periods; and

a base station, separated from the wireless camera, in wireless communication with the wireless camera and configured to receive the information from the wireless camera;

wherein the base station is configured to process the information; and

wherein the burst periods are determined based on at least one of a wireless link channel average bandwidth capacity, a fidelity of images transmitted, and a latency of establishing and terminating a wireless connection between the wireless camera and the base station.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein a first wireless link is configured to connect the wireless camera and a base station.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein a base station is configured to receive the information from the wireless camera to perform operations comprising:

scanning one or more communication channels for channel availability between the base station and the one or more wireless cameras;

obtaining an available channel for data transmission based on the scanning of channel availability; and

associating the available channel with the wireless camera.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the associating comprises:

reserving the available channel for a predetermined period of time; and

assigning the reserved available channel to the wireless camera.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein during the predetermined period of time, the available channel appears to other wireless cameras as unavailable for wireless communication.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless camera includes an uncompressed image capture module configured to operate based on periods that are different from the burst periods.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless camera includes a compression module configured to operate based on periods that are different from the burst periods.

19. The system of claim 10, further comprising an internal battery, wherein an output voltage of the internal battery is boosted or regulated by an active power management circuitry.

20. The system of claim 10, further comprising;

an internal battery coupled to the wireless camera and providing power to the wireless camera; and

a solar panel coupled to the internal battery and configured to recharge the internal battery.