SECURE AIRCRAFT CAMERA MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20180013985A1
• Filed: 07/11/2016
• Published: 01/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Lee, Donald B., Hood, John M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,404,949 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00103 specially adapted for radio transmission, e.g. via satellites H04N1/00098 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00172 directly from a still digital camera or from a storage medium mounted in a still digital camera H04N1/0018 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/21 Intermediate information storage H04N1/387, H04N1/41 take precedence ; for control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32358; indexing, editing G11B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4486 using digital data encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3281 Encryption; Ciphering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for capturing images of an area of interest proximate to an aircraft, and securely transmitting the images as data files over an encrypted communication network associated with the aircraft. In one example, a system includes an image capture device configured to be secured to an aircraft to capture a plurality of images of a field of view of an area of interest proximate to the aircraft. The system also includes a processor configured to receive the plurality of captured images and convert the captured images to a plurality of data files. The system further includes a memory configured to store the data files, and a communication interface configured to connect to an encrypted communication network associated with the aircraft, wherein the communication interface is configured to securely transmit the data files over the encrypted communication network.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an image capture device configured to be secured to an aircraft to capture a plurality of images of a field of view of an area of interest proximate to the aircraft;

a processor configured to receive the plurality of captured images and convert the captured images to a plurality of data files;

a memory configured to store the data files; and

a communication interface configured to connect to an encrypted communication network associated with the aircraft, wherein the communication interface is configured to securely transmit the data files over the encrypted communication network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the image capture device, the processor, the memory, and the communication interface are implemented in a camera configured to be deployed on the aircraft.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the camera is configured to be selectively and removably secured to the aircraft to monitor activity local to the aircraft.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the camera is configured to be fixably installed within a portion of the aircraft to covertly monitor activity local to the aircraft.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the camera is a first camera configured to communicate with a second camera to form a mesh communication network.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first camera is configured to transmit the data files to the second camera over the mesh communication network to provide redundant storage of the data files.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is configured to transmit the data files over the encrypted communication network in response to a change in luminance detected by the image capture device.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a luminance sensor in communication with the processor, wherein the processor is configured to turn on the image capture device in response to a change in luminance detected by the sensor.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an infrared light emitting diode (LED) configured to illuminate the area of interest proximate the aircraft.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is implemented as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) selectively configurable to change operations performed by the processor.

11. An aircraft comprising the system of claim 1.

12. A method comprising:

securing an image capture device to an aircraft;

capturing, by the image capture device, a plurality of images of a field of view of an area of interest proximate to the aircraft;

converting, by a processor, the captured images to a plurality of data files;

storing, by a memory, the data files; and

securely transmitting, by a communication interface connected to an encrypted communication network associated with the aircraft, the data files over the encrypted communication network.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the image capture device, the processor, the memory, and the communication interface are implemented in a camera configured to be deployed on the aircraft.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the securing comprises temporarily securing the camera to the aircraft to monitor activity local to the aircraft.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the securing comprises fixably installing the camera within a portion of the aircraft to covertly monitor activity local to the aircraft.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the camera is a first camera configured to communicate with a second camera to form a mesh communication network.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting, by the first camera, the data files to the second camera over the mesh communication network to provide redundant storage of the data files.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting, by the communication interface, data files over the encrypted communication network in response to a change in luminance detected by the image capture device.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising turning on, by the processor in communication with a luminance sensor, the image capture device in response to a change in luminance detected by the sensor.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising illuminating, by an infrared light emitting diode (LED), the area of interest proximate the aircraft.