Intelligent multi-access system

• US 6,271,752 B1
• Filed: 10/02/1998
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Vaios, Christos I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/165,915
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340/531, 340/505, 340/825.06, 340/825.07, 340/539, 340/525, 379/37, 379/38, 348/143, 348/152, 348/153, 348/155, 348/169, 370/901, 370/913
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19608 Tracking movement of a target, e.g. by detecting an object predefined as a target, using target direction and or velocity to predict its new position
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19658 Telephone systems used to communicate with a camera, e.g. PSTN, GSM, POTS
• 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 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A multi-access remote system having a security surveillance area, a plurality of end user locations, and a communications network such that one or more of the end user locations can establish a connection with the security surveillance area, and vice versa, using a communications protocol via the communications network. The security surveillance area is comprised of a local computer system, a camera with motion sensor, and a network interface. When the motion sensor detects an obstruction the camera starts recording and the local computer system notifies a remote individual of the alarm via a communications device, such as a beeper, telephone, or e-mail. Using an end user location, having a remote computer system, a network interface, and one or more communications devices, the remote individual can logon to the local computer system via the communications network and obtain additional information, control the video camera remotely, or view video images. Access to the security surveillance area, control of the video camera, and viewing of the video data is accomplished advantageously over the Internet with application specific browser software, plugins, APIs, and other protocols.

Claims

1. A multi-access remote system, comprising:

a monitoring area having at least one monitoring device connected to a corresponding monitoring computer system, said monitoring computer system configured to receive a plurality of independent connections from a plurality of end user locations each having a corresponding end user computer system, wherein said monitoring device automatically tracks a moving object detected in said monitoring area;

a communications linking means for establishing said independent connections and exchanging data between each one of said end user computer systems and said monitoring computer system;

a controller module accessible by each one of said end user locations configured to cause transmission of control signals for remotely controlling the operation of said monitoring device;

a sensor device configured to provided a triggering signal to said monitoring computer system when said moving object is detected in said monitoring area, so that said monitoring device tracks said detected moving object such that said monitoring device follows the location of said moving object; and

a user interface unit coupled to said controller module for providing visual display to each one of said users, said user interface comprising a plurality of control icons, said control icons configured to activate one or more of a plurality of functions via said controller module.

2. The multi-access remote system of claim 1 configured to operate as an intelligent multi-access remote security platform.

3. The multi-access remote system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor connected to said monitoring device for triggering an alarm at predetermined instances.

4. The multi-access remote system of claim 3, whereas said alarm causes said monitoring computer system to notify a remote individual, so that said remote individual may logon to said monitoring computer system from said end user location.

5. The multi-access remote system of claim 3, wherein said sensor comprises a motion detector and a heat dissipation device.

6. The multi-access remote system of claim 1, wherein said monitoring device is a video camera.

7. The multi-access remote system of claim 1, wherein said end user location comprises a plurality of communicative devices.

8. The multi-access remote system of claim 7, wherein said plurality of communicative devices comprise a computer system, a telephone, a beeper, and e-mail.

9. The multi-access remote system of claim 1, wherein said communications linking means includes the Internet.

10. The multi-access remote system of claim 1, wherein said controller module further comprises a browser software for interfacing said controller module with an end-user at said end-user location, said browser software further providing, said user interface.

11. The multi-access remote system of claim 1, wherein said control icons comprise one or more of a window view icon, a door view icon, a focus image icon, a rotate image icon, a dim light icon, a peak down icon, a peak up icon, a rotate camera icon, a volume icon, a play icon, a stop icon, a record icon, a rewind icon, an instant replay icon and a fast forward icon.

12. The multi-access remote system of claim 1, wherein upon said triggering of said sensor device said monitoring device initiates recording and a remote individual is notified.

13. The multi-access remote system of claim 12, wherein said notified remote individual is provided with a video snapshot from said monitoring device.

14. The multi-access remote system of claim 12, wherein said remote individual is provided with a video recording of said detected moving object.

15. The multi-access remote system of claim 1, wherein said controller module responds to a plurality of said control signals from said end user locations via a queuing socket.

16. The multi-access remote system of claim 1, wherein said sensor device is one of a motion sensor device, a heat sensor device, a light sensor device.

17. A method for operating a multi-access remote system having a monitoring area with one or more monitoring devices connected to a corresponding monitoring computer system, said monitoring computer system configured to receive a plurality of independent connections from one or more end user locations each having a corresponding end user computer system, a communications network, and a controller module accessible by each one of said end user locations , and wherein a sensor is further coupled to said monitoring computer system to detect an obstruction, comprising the steps of:

establishing a plurality of independent connections between one or more of said end user computer systems and said monitoring computer system via said communications network;

transmitting one of more control signals from said end user locations to said monitoring area via said controller module in order to control the operation of said monitoring devices;

triggering an alarm upon activation of said sensor;

automatically tracking the movement of said obstruction so that said monitoring computer system follows the location of said obstruction; and

notifying a remote individual via a communications device in response to said alarm so as to make available to said remote individual a view of said obstruction causing said alarm trigger.

18. A method for operating a multi-access remote system via the Internet having a monitoring area with one or more monitoring devices connected to a corresponding monitoring computer system, comprising the steps of:

(a) generating an alarm indication via a communication network, upon detecting a triggering event in said monitoring area;

(b) at least one of said monitoring devices automatically tracking one or more moving objects in response to detection of said triggering event via a sensor device;

(c) providing access to said monitoring devices via the Internet in response to a request from an end user computer system; and

(d) responding at said monitoring computer system to one or more Internet protocol signals generated via a user interface accessible by said end user computer system so as to control the operation of said monitoring devices, said user interface configured to provide a visual display and comprises a plurality of control icons, said control icons configured to activate one or more of a plurality of functions.

19. The method in accordance with claim 18, wherein said Internet protocol signals are generated by an application specific browser software.

20. The method in accordance with claim 18 wherein said step of responding further comprises the step of controlling the view of said monitoring area by remotely manipulating said monitoring devices.

21. The method in accordance with claim 20, wherein said Internet protocol signals comprise application programming interface (APIs).

22. The method in accordance with claim 18, wherein said generating step comprises the step of providing an indication signal via a pager system.

23. The method in accordance with claim 18, wherein said generating step comprises the step of providing an indication signal via an e-mail message.

24. The multi-access remote system of claim 18, wherein said visual display comprises one or more control icons for controlling said monitoring computer system via said Internet Protocol signals.

25. A user interface unit coupled to a controller module for providing visual display to plurality of users of a multi-access remote monitoring system, said monitoring system comprising a monitoring device for tracking and recording images, said user interface comprising:

a video portion for displaying video output from said monitoring device, wherein said monitoring device automatically tracks a moving object such that signals relating to said moving object remain within said video output;

a plurality of video camera control icons, said video camera control icons configured to activated one or more of a plurality of video camera functions via said controller module;

a plurality of display control icons for manipulating appearance of said video portion; and

a plurality of recording control icons for instructing said controller module to perform at least one of a plurality of video recording functions.

26. The user interface of claim 25, wherein said video camera control icons comprise a window view icon, a door view icon, an image focus icon, a rotate image icon, a dim image icon, a peak camera icon, and a rotate camera icon.

27. The user interface of claim 25, wherein said recording control icons comprise a play icon, a stop icon, a record icon, a rewind icon, an instant replay icon, a fast forward icon, and a volume control icon.

28. A multi-access remote system, comprising:

a plurality of monitoring areas, each area having at least one monitoring device connected to a monitoring computer system, said monitoring computer system configured to receive a plurality of independent connections from a plurality of end user locations each having a corresponding end user computer system, wherein each of said monitoring devices automatically tracks a moving object detected in a corresponding monitoring area;

a communications linking means for establishing said independent connections and exchanging data between each one of said end user computer system and said monitoring computer system;

a controller module accessible by each one of said end user location configured to cause transmission of control signals for remotely controlling the operation of any one of said monitoring devices;

a sensor device configured to provide a triggering signal to said monitoring computer system when said moving object is detected in one of said monitoring areas, so that a corresponding monitoring device automatically tracks said detected moving objects such that said moving object remains within view of said monitoring computer system; and

a user interface unit coupled to said controller module for providing visual display to each one of said users, said user interface comprising a plurality of control icons, said control icons configured to activate one or more of a plurality of functions via said controller module.

29. A multiaccess remote control system in accordance with claim 28, wherein said controller module further comprises a queuing module that schedules multiple requests to access any one of said monitoring devices.

30. A multiaccess remote control system in accordance with claim 29 further comprising a network of controller modules each controller module coupled to a plurality of corresponding monitoring devices each of said controller moduled including a proxing module configured to identify and direct a request from any one of said end users to a desired monitoring device.

31. A multiaccess remote control system in accordance with claim 29, wherein said controller module further comprises a storage means for storing compressed audio and video signals received from said monitoring devices containing video representation of movement of said moving objects, so as to transmit said compressed signals to said end users.

32. A multiaccess remote control system in accordance with claim 31 wherein said compressed signals are sent to said users in accordance to a schedule.

33. A multi-access remote system, comprising:

a monitoring area having at least one monitoring device coupled to a communication network, said monitoring device configured to communicate with a plurality of end user locations each having a corresponding end user computer system;

each of said end user computer systems further comprising a controller module for transmitting via said communications network, control signals for remotely controlling the operation of said monitoring device;

at least one of said controller modules further comprising a queuing module that schedules multiple requests to access any one of said monitoring devices; and

a user interface unit coupled to said controller module for providing visual display to each one of said users, said user interface comprising a plurality of control icons, said control icons configured to activate one or more of a plurality of functions via said controller module.

34. A multi-access remote system in accordance with claim 33, further comprising a sensor device configured to provide a triggering signal when a moving object is detected in one of said monitoring areas, so that said monitoring device automatically tracks said detected moving objects so as to follow the location of said moving object.

35. A multi-access remote system in accordance with claim 34 further comprising a video storage system coupled to said monitoring device to store video images of said detected moving object for later transmittal to any one of said end user locations.

36. A multi-access remote system in accordance with claim 35 wherein said video images are stored in a compressed format.

37. A multi-access remote system in accordance with claim 36 further comprises a notification means configured to send a notification message to any of said end users after said video images have been stored.

38. A multi-access remote system in accordance with claim 37 wherein said controller module receives said notification message and in response thereto notifies any one of said end users via a predetermined communication device.

39. A multi-access remote system in accordance with claim 38, wherein said predetermined communication device is an e-mail.