Lamp monitoring and control system and method

• US 6,384,722 B1
• Filed: 08/14/2000
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lightronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: A.L. Air Data, Inc.
• Inventors: Williams, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/637,916
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 702/188, 702/57, 315/129, 315/133, 315/134, 315/149, 340/870.01, 340/870.07, 340/870.16, 340/825.06, 455/422, 455/403, 455/427, 455/73
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/22 with communication between the lamps and a central unit

Abstract

A system and method for remotely monitoring and/or controlling an apparatus and specifically for remotely monitoring and/or controlling an alarm. The alarm monitoring and control system comprises alarm units for detecting an associated alarm condition; at least one monitoring and control unit, coupled to a group of the alarm units, for receiving alarm information; and a base station, coupled via an IVDS link to the at least one monitoring and control unit, for receiving alarm data from said at least one monitoring and control unit.

The present invention allows the combination of alarm and lamp monitoring and control functions in a single monitoring and control unit. Furthermore, it allows image data to be collected at either the alarm unit or the monitoring and control unit when an alarm condition is detected. Additionally in accordance with another embodiment, it allows the alarm condition to be generated by a panic button.

Claims

1. An alarm monitoring and control system comprising:

a plurality of alarm units for detecting an associated alarm condition;

at least one monitoring and control unit, coupled to a group of said plurality of alarm units, for receiving alarm information; and

a base station, coupled via an WDS link to said at least one monitoring and control unit, for receiving alarm data from said at least one monitoring and control unit.

2. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of alarm units comprises:

an alarm detection unit for detecting the associated alarm condition; and

a transmit unit, coupled to said alarm detection unit, for transmitting alarm information related to the associated alarm condition.

3. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of alarm units comprises:

an alarm detection unit for detecting the associated alarm condition;

a processing unit, coupled to said alarm detection unit, for receiving the associated alarm condition;

an imaging unit, coupled to said processing unit, for producing image data; and

a transmit unit, coupled to said processing unit, for transmitting alarm information related to the associated alarm condition.

4. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 3, wherein each of said plurality of alarm units further comprises:

a memory, coupled to said processing unit, for storing at least one of the associated alarm condition and the image data; and

an interface, coupled to said processing unit, for retrieving at least one of the associated alarm condition and the image data.

5. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one monitoring and control unit comprises:

a receive unit for receiving the alarm information from said plurality of alarm units;

a processing unit, coupled to said receive unit, for processing the alarm information; and

a transmit unit, coupled to said processing unit, for transmitting the alarm data to said base station.

6. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 5, wherein each of said at least one monitoring and control unit further comprises:

a further receive unit, coupled to said processing unit, for receiving control information from said base station.

7. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 5, wherein each of said at least one monitoring and control unit further comprises:

a sensing unit, coupled to said processing unit, for sensing local data; and

a remote device, coupled to said processing unit, for control by said processing unit.

8. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 7, wherein said remote device is a street lamp.

9. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 5, wherein each of said at least one monitoring and control unit further comprises:

an imaging unit, coupled to said processing unit, for producing image data.

10. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 9, wherein said imaging unit includes a wide field of view lens.

11. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 9, wherein said imaging unit includes a pointing device.

12. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 9, wherein said imaging unit is a video camera.

13. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 9, wherein said video camera produces image data including audio data.

14. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 5, wherein each of said at least one monitoring and control unit further comprises:

a plurality of imaging, units, coupled to said processing unit, for producing image data.

15. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 9, wherein each of said at least one monitoring and control unit further comprises:

a sensing unit, coupled to said processing unit, for sensing local data; and

a remote device, coupled to said processing unit, for control by said processing unit.

16. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 15, wherein said remote device is a street lamp.

17. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 1, further comprising:

an interrogation unit, coupled to said at least one monitoring and control unit, for receiving the alarm data.

18. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 17, wherein said interrogation unit comprises:

an interface for receiving the alarm data;

a processing unit, coupled to said interface, for controlling said interface; and

a storage unit, coupled to said processing unit, for storing said alarm data.

19. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of alarm units includes a panic button.

20. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 19, wherein said panic button is an automobile panic button.

21. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 19, wherein said panic button is a public panic button.

22. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 19, wherein said panic button is a street lamp panic button.

23. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 19, wherein said panic button is a building panic button.

24. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of alarm units is coupled to a building alarm system.

25. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 1, further comprising a main station, coupled to said base station, for receiving the alarm data from said base station.

26. The alarm monitoring and control system of claim 25, wherein said main station includes a database for analyzing the alarm data.