Surveillance system, method of remotely controlling sensor apparatus, and surveillance remote controller

• US 6,950,020 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2003
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Otsuki, Yoshiyuki, Shimamoto, Hiroshi, Oyagi, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US10/446,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20030222787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.16, 340/425.5, 340/426.1, 340/426.13, 340/426.15, 340/426.16, 340/426.18, 340/426.21, 340/539.11, 340/539.1
• US Class Current: 340/539.16
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle surveillance system includes a vehicle-installed sensor apparatus for transmitting by radio, sensor information acquired by a sensor, a communication adapter for receiving by radio the sensor information from the vehicle-installed sensor apparatus and transmitting the received sensor information onto a public network, and a surveillance server for receiving the sensor information from the communication adapter. The vehicle surveillance system further includes at least one portable surveillance remote for relaying transmission of the sensor information from the vehicle-installed sensor apparatus to the communication adapter.

Claims

1. A surveillance system comprising:

a sensor apparatus including a sensor, for transmitting by radio, sensor information acquired by the sensor;

a communication adapter for receiving by radio the sensor information from said sensor apparatus and transmitting the received sensor information onto a public network;

a surveillance server for receiving the sensor information from said communication adapter; and

at least one portable information relay for relaying transmission of the sensor information from said sensor apparatus to said communication adapter wherein said at least one portable information relay does not include an image capture device.

2. The surveillance system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor apparatus, said at least one information relay, and said communication adapter form a radio LAN.

3. The surveillance system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information relay is a surveillance remote controller for providing a user with information based on the sensor information received by radio from said sensor apparatus and remotely controlling said sensor apparatus.

4. The surveillance system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said information relay is a surveillance remote controller for providing a user with information based on the sensor information received by radio from said sensor apparatus and remotely controlling said sensor apparatus.

5. The surveillance system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor apparatus is a vehicle-installed sensor apparatus being attached to a vehicle for placing the vehicle under surveillance.

6. The surveillance system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said sensor apparatus is a vehicle-installed sensor apparatus being attached to a vehicle for placing the vehicle under surveillance.

7. The surveillance system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said sensor apparatus is a vehicle-installed sensor apparatus being attached to a vehicle for placing the vehicle under surveillance.

8. The surveillance system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said sensor apparatus is a vehicle-installed sensor apparatus being attached to a vehicle for placing the vehicle under surveillance.

9. The surveillance system of claim 1, wherein said at least one portable information relay does not include a motion detector and is held and used outside of a vehicle in which said sensor apparatus is installed.

10. A method of remotely controlling a sensor apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving by radio, at at least one portable information relay, sensor information from the sensor apparatus, said sensor information not including information of a location of said sensor apparatus;

providing said at least one portable information relay with information based on the received sensor information;

transmitting by radio, from said at least one portable information relay, control information for remotely controlling the sensor apparatus; and

transmitting by radio, from said at least one portable information relay, the received sensor information.

11. The method of remotely controlling a sensor apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein radio transmission and reception of information are executed through a radio LAN.

12. A surveillance remote controller comprising:

a radio transmission section for receiving by radio, sensor information from a sensor apparatus, said sensor information not including information of a location of said sensor apparatus and transmitting by radio, control information for remotely controlling the sensor apparatus; and

a notification section for providing a user with information based on the received sensor information,

wherein the radio transmission section transmits by radio, the received sensor information.

13. The surveillance remote controller as claimed in claim 12, wherein said radio transmission section has a network I/F corresponding to a radio LAN.

14. A vehicle surveillance system, comprising:

a vehicle-installed sensor apparatus including a sensor for transmitting, by radio, sensor information acquired by the sensor;

at least one portable information relay for receiving, by radio, said sensor information and for transmitting, by radio, said sensor information, said at least one portable information relay not including an image capture device;

a communication adapter for receiving, by radio, said sensor information from said portable information relay and for transmitting said received sensor information onto a public network; and

a surveillance server for receiving said sensor information from said public network.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said at least one portable information relay transmits instruction information to said vehicle-installed sensor apparatus.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said instruction information comprises at least one of a warning signal and an intimidation signal.

17. The vehicle surveillance system of claim 14, wherein said at least one portable information relay does not include a motion detector and is held and used outside of a vehicle in which said sensor apparatus is installed.

18. A method for operating a vehicle surveillance system, the method comprising:

transmitting, by radio, sensor information acquired by a sensor of a vehicle-installed sensor apparatus, said sensor information not including information of a location of said vehicle;

receiving, by radio, at at least one portable information relay, said sensor information;

transmitting, by radio, from said at least one portable information relay, said sensor information;

receiving, by radio, at a communication adapter, said sensor information;

transmitting said sensor information from said communication adapter onto a public network; and

receiving at a surveillance sensor said sensor information from said public network.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

transmitting, from said at least one portable information relay, instruction information; and

receiving said instruction information at said vehicle-installed sensor apparatus.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said act of transmitting from said at least one portable information relay further comprises:

transmitting at least one of a warning signal and an intimidation signal.