Networked Modular Security and Lighting Device Grids and Systems, Methods and Devices Thereof

• US 20130107041A1
• Filed: 11/01/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Totus-Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Totus-Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Steven Chien Young, Hershey, Mark Winston, Howard, Gary Ward, Norem, Glenn Allen
• Application Number:
  US13/665,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20130107041A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/59 inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19636 pertaining to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/056 with provision for distinguishing direction of travel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• 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 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

Tracking objects with a grid of modular security and lighting devices includes triggering, based on event, a first sensor to begin capturing data of an object. In one embodiment, the first sensor is a first camera included in a first modular security and lighting device. The devices within the grid analyze captured sensor data such as first images of the object, and select, based on the analyzing, another sensor such as a second camera to begin capturing data of the object. In one example, the second camera is included in a second modular security and lighting device within the grid of modular security and lighting devices and the first and second modular security and lighting devices are located in geographically distinct locations.

Claims

1. A method of tracking objects by a grid of devices, comprising:

detecting an event with a first sensor, wherein the first sensor is coupled to a first device mounted on a first pole, wherein the first device is within the grid of devices;

triggering, based on the detected event, a second sensor to sense an object within a field of detection of the second sensor, wherein the first device comprises the second sensor;

the first device collecting data from the second sensor regarding the object;

the first device analyzing the collected data on the object;

the first device determining, based on the analyzing, a second or more devices mounted on a second or more poles located in geographically distinct locations for which the object is projected to enter the second or more devices'"'"' respective fields of detection; and

the first device instructing the second or more devices to begin capturing data on the object utilizing one or more sensors included in the second or more devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructing further comprises:

wirelessly transmitting, from the first device, a capture signal to the second or more devices, the capture signal identifying the object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the triggering further comprises:

detecting one of a chemical, biological, radiation, nuclear, and explosive hazard associated with the object as the event.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing further comprises determining a direction of motion of the object and the determining further comprises determining the second device based on the direction of motion of the object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is a first camera and the first device includes a pan-tilt-zoom camera that is controlled to sense the object based on an output of the first camera.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the object is a vehicle and the pan-tilt-zoom camera collects data on the object including a license plate number of the vehicle and a facial image of a driver of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein data is collected from the first sensor and wherein data collected from the first sensor and the collected data is location, time, and date stamped.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein data is collected from the first sensor and wherein data collected from the first sensor and the collected data is stored in respective non-volatile memories of the respective first and second or more devices.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the collected data from the respective first and second or more devices to a central repository.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device includes one or more light-emitting diode panels, and wherein a view of the second sensor is substantially centered with an illumination pattern provided by the one or more light-emitting diode panels.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a desired location for one or more devices in the grid of devices and mounting the device on a pole within the vicinity of the desired location, wherein the pole is selected from a group consisting of light poles, telephone poles, and power poles.

12. A networked grid of devices, comprising:

a first device within a networked grid of devices communicatively coupled to the networked grid of devices, each mounted on respective poles located in geographically distinct locations, wherein the first device includes a first sensor that detects events and triggers a second sensor included within the first device to sense an object within a field of detection of the second sensor, analyzing data on the object collected from the second sensor, determining, based on the analyzing, one or more devices within the networked grid of devices that are, at least partially, projected to sense the object within one or more sensor'"'"'s included within the one or more devices'"'"' fields of detection, and instructing at least one of the one or more devices within the networked grid of devices to capture data on the object, identified by the first device, utilizing one or more sensors included in the at least one of the one or more devices within the networked grid of devices; and

a second device within the networked grid of devices communicatively coupled to the networked grid of devices and mounted on a respective pole located in a geographically distinct location from the first device, wherein the second device includes one or more sensors to sense an object within a field of detection of the second sensor and configured to receive instructions from the first device over the networked grid of devices to capture data on an identified object utilizing one or more sensors within the second device.

13. The networked grid of devices of claim 12, wherein:

each device within the networked grid of devices further comprising a communication device.

14. The networked grid of devices of claim 12, wherein:

each device within the networked grid of devices further comprising one or more sensors for detecting one of at least a chemical, biological, radiation, nuclear, and explosive hazard associated with an object as an event.

15. The networked grid of devices of claim 12, wherein the first device analyzes data received from at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor to determine a direction of motion of the object and determine an instruction for the second device based on the direction of motion of the object.

16. The networked grid of devices of claim 12, wherein the first sensor is a camera and the second sensor includes a pan-tilt-zoom camera that is controlled to sense the object based on an output of the camera.

17. The networked grid of devices of claim 16, wherein

each device within the networked grid of devices further comprising a communication device that wirelessly transmits a capture signal to one or more devices within the networked grid of devices instructing to sense data on an identified object.

18. The networked grid of devices of claim 12, wherein the first device location, time, and date stamps data collected from at least one of the first sensor and second sensor.

19. The networked grid of devices of claim 12, wherein the first and second devices will store data collected by respective sensors in respective non-volatile memories of the respective first and second devices.

20. The networked grid of devices of claim 12, further comprising:

each device within the networked grid of devices further comprising a communication device and wherein data collected from respective sensors by the respective first and second devices are transmitted to a central repository.

21. The networked grid of devices of claim 12, wherein the first and second devices include one or more light-emitting diode panels, and wherein a respective view of at least one respective sensor on each respective first and second devices is substantially centered with an illumination pattern provided by the one or more light-emitting diode panels.

22. The networked grid of devices of claim 12, further wherein each device of the networked grid of devices is located in a geographically distinct location on a distinct pole, wherein each respective distinct pole is selected from a group consisting of light poles, telephone poles, and power poles.

23. A method of tracking objects with a grid of modular security and lighting devices, comprising:

triggering, based on an event, a first camera to begin capturing first images of an object, wherein the first camera is included in a first modular security and lighting device;

analyzing the captured first images of the object;

selecting, based on the analyzing, a second camera to begin capturing second images of the object, wherein the second camera is included in a second modular security and lighting device and the first and second modular security and lighting devices are located in geographically distinct locations.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the selecting further comprises:

transmitting, from the first modular security and lighting device, a capture signal to the second modular security and lighting device, the capture signal identifying the object.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the triggering, based on the event, further comprises:

detecting one of a chemical, biological, radiation, nuclear, and explosive hazard associated with the object; and

triggering the first camera to begin capturing the first images of the object based on the detecting.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the analyzing further comprises determining a direction of the object and the selecting further comprises selecting the second camera based on the direction of the object.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the first camera is a fisheye camera and the first modular security and lighting device further includes a pan-tilt-zoom camera that is controlled to obtain additional details on the object based on an output of the fisheye camera.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the object is a vehicle and the additional details include a license plate number of the vehicle and a facial image of a driver of the vehicle.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the first and second images are location, time, and date stamped.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein the first and second images are stored in respective non-volatile memories of the respective first and second modular security and lighting devices.

31. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

transmitting the stored first and second images from the respective first and second modular security and lighting devices to a central repository.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein the first modular security and lighting device includes one or more light-emitting diode panels, and wherein a view of the first camera is substantially centered with an illumination pattern provided by the one or more light-emitting diode panels.

33. A modular security and lighting device grid, comprising:

a first modular security and lighting device including a first camera that is triggered, based on an event, to capture first images of an object, wherein the first modular security and lighting device is configured to analyze the captured first images of the object; and

a second modular security and lighting device in communication with the first modular security and lighting device, wherein the second modular security and lighting device includes a second camera, and wherein the first modular security and lighting device selects the second camera to capture second images of the object based on the analysis of the captured first images, where the first and second modular security and lighting devices are located in geographically distinct locations.

34. The grid of claim 33, wherein the first modular security and lighting device further comprises:

a communication device configured to transmit a capture signal to the second modular security and lighting device, wherein the capture signal identifies the object.

35. The grid of claim 33, wherein the first modular security and lighting device further comprises:

a sensor device configured to detect one of a chemical, biological, radiation, nuclear, and explosive hazard associated with the object, wherein the first camera is triggered to begin capturing the first images of the object in response to the sensor device detecting one of the chemical, biological, radiation, nuclear, and explosive hazard associated with the object.

36. The grid of claim 33, wherein the second camera is selected based on a direction of the object.

37. The grid of claim 33, wherein the first camera is a fisheye camera and the first modular security and lighting device further includes a pan-tilt-zoom camera that is controlled to obtain additional details on the object based on an output of the fisheye camera.

38. The grid of claim 37, wherein the object is a vehicle and the additional details include at least one of a license plate number of the vehicle and a facial image of a driver of the vehicle.

39. The grid of claim 33, wherein the first and second images are location, time, and date stamped.

40. The grid of claim 33, wherein the first and second images are stored in respective non-volatile memories of the respective first and second modular security and lighting devices.

41. The grid of claim 33, wherein the first modular security and lighting device further comprises a second transmitter configured to transmit the stored first and second images from the respective first and second modular security and lighting devices to a central repository.

42. The grid of claim 33, wherein the first modular security and lighting device further comprises:

one or more light-emitting diode panels, wherein a view of the first camera is substantially centered with an illumination pattern provided by the one or more light-emitting diode panels.

43. A modular security and lighting device, comprising:

a tenon mount arranged and configured to receive a support tenon, wherein the tenon mount is configured to receive a fisheye camera;

an elongated fuselage coupled to the tenon mount, wherein the elongated fuselage includes a T-rail integrated into at least one external surface of the elongated fuselage;

a pan-tilt-zoom camera mounted to the T-rail;

a lighting element coupled to the fuselage and configured to illuminate an area; and

a control unit configured to control the lighting element, wherein the control unit is also configured to control the pan-tilt-zoom camera based on output from the fisheye camera.

44. A modular communication and lighting device, comprising:

an elongated fuselage;

a lighting element coupled to the fuselage and configured to illuminate an area;

a control unit configured to control the lighting element; and

a communication device, wherein the communication device forms one of a microcell, a picocell, and a femtocell of a mobile phone network.