Videophone system for scrutiny monitoring with computer control

• US 7,019,770 B1
• Filed: 03/20/1995
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telebuyer LLC
• Original Assignee: Telebuyer LLC
• Inventors: Katz, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US08/407,064
• Time in Patent Office: 4,026 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14, 348/15, 348/16, 348/13, 348/143, 348150-161, 379/102, 379/104, 379/105, 379/92, 379/96, 379/93, 379/94, 379/142, 379/202, 379/203, 379/204, 379/205, 379/38, 379/40, 379/39, 379/42, 379/43, 379/44, 379/45, 379/49, 379/88, 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/102.07
• US Class Current: 348/14.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety
• 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 13/19671 Addition of non-video data, i.e. metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19691 Signalling events for better perception by user, e.g. indicating alarms by making display brighter, adding text, creating a sound
• 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: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/432 Arrangements for calling a subscriber at a specific time, e.g. morning call service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5125 with remote located operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5158 in combination with automated outdialling systems devices for signalling identity of wanted subscriber H04M1/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/565 relating to time schedule aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 : Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

In conjunction with the dial-up public telephone system, voice quality lines carry videophone signals for monitoring a multitude of locations from at least one central station for use in a variety of applications, such as for security, surveillance, quality control and inspection, regulation of food and/or other standards in food-related and other facilities, market research, remote monitoring of deposit and withdrawal of funds at bank vaults, grocery chains, convenience stores, and the like. At the central station, telephonic interface apparatus is actuated by a control unit to selectively accomplish a telephonic connection with a remote location. Displays include the scene at the remote location and related graphic data. During routine operation, remote locations are displayed in sequence to at least one operator. Such operation may be interrupted either from a remote location or central station in the event of an urgency. In such an event, the concerned scrutiny location is displayed for further communication involving status, camera selection, camera configuration, audio, video and so on. Incoming calls from scrutiny stations imply an urgent situation for immediate display. The called number, by dialed number identification system (DNIS) may indicate the status while the calling number identifies the location by automatic number identification (ANI) signals. Alternative signalling and code techniques afford flexible operation as with respect to various graphic and status indications available for displays.

Claims

1. A system for communicating with a plurality of remote locations from a central station utilizing dial-up telephone facilities comprising:

television communication structures located at said plurality of remote locations for telephonically providing representative image television signals of said plurality of remote locations and for telephonically receiving and sending audio signals to carry voice;

a plurality of television display structures, including speaker phones, located at said central station for receiving telephonic signals and displaying said representative image television signals of said plurality of remote locations;

telephonic interface apparatus for interconnecting said television communication structures at said plurality of said remote locations with said plurality of television display structures at said central station and including at least one audio response unit at said central station; and

a control unit for controlling said telephonic interface apparatus to establish television and audio communication between a select television camera structure at one of said plurality of remote locations and one of said plurality of television display structures at said central station, with said central station receiving a remote location display and one of said plurality of remote locations receiving prompts from said at least one audio response unit for manually actuating a keypad to provide DTMF signals.

2. A system according to claim 1 further including means for controlling said plurality of television display structures in accordance with said DTMF signals.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said control unit includes television communication structure for establishing television communication in response to DTMF signals representing a personal identification number.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said telephonic interface apparatus includes means for providing “

D”

channel type signals and wherein said control unit establishes communication to a select one of said television display structures in accordance with said “

D”

channel type signals.

5. A system for communicating with a plurality of remote locations from at least one central station utilizing dial-up telephone facilities, comprising:

television camera structures positioned at said plurality of remote locations, each of said television camera structures for providing scene representative television signals and including a speaker phone and a keypad;

at least one television display structure including at least one speaker phone at said at least one central station for receiving telephonic signals and displaying said scene representative television signals;

telephone interface unit for selectively interconnecting said television camera structures and said at least one television display structure and including at least one audio response unit at said at least one central station; and

a control unit at said at least one central station including a computer for automatically controlling said telephone interface unit to provide voice prompts by said audio response unit for manual activation of a keypad to provide DTMF signals.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein said control unit controls said television display structure in accordance with said DTMF signals.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein said control unit provides graphic signals to supplement said scene representative television signals in response to said DTMF signals.

8. A system according to claim 5 further including a printer coupled to said control unit.

9. A system for monitoring a plurality of scrutiny locations from a central station using dial-up telephone facilities comprising:

television camera structures located at said plurality of scrutiny locations for providing representative dynamic image television signals representative of scenes from said plurality of scrutiny locations;

at least one television display structure located at said central station;

telephonic interface apparatus for interconnecting said television camera structures at said plurality of scrutiny locations to said at least one television display structure at said central location; and

a control unit located at said central station including a computer and a memory for storing identification designation data and graphic display data for said plurality of scrutiny locations, said control unit programmed to sequentially and automatically actuate, under control of said computer, said telephonic interface apparatus to establish television communication between said central station and said plurality of scrutiny locations to provide a sequence of remote location displays at said central station, for programmed intervals, showing a scene and graphic display data of the plurality of scrutiny locations, said control unit further including interrupt structure for receiving an interrupt signal manifesting a predetermined circumstance to interrupt said sequence of remote location displays controlled by the computer and to provide an alternate display of a scene from another of said plurality of scrutiny locations along with graphic display data.

10. A system according to claim 9 further including sensor units at said plurality of scrutiny locations for providing said interrupt signal to said control unit.

11. A system according to claim 9 wherein said control unit includes means for providing graphic displays on said remote location displays.

12. A system according to claim 9 further including operator control structure at said central station to provide said interrupt signal.

13. A system according to claim 9 wherein said television camera structures for at least one of said plurality of scrutiny locations includes a processor for interfacing said control unit at said central station to control said television communication between said central station and said one of said plurality of scrutiny locations.

14. A system according to claim 13 wherein a television camera structure for said one of said plurality of scrutiny locations includes a plurality of sensor units located at said one of said plurality of scrutiny locations for providing interrupt signals to said control unit.

15. A system for communicating with a plurality of remote locations from a central station utilizing dial-up telephone facilities comprising:

television communication structures at said plurality of remote locations for telephonically providing representative dynamic image television signals and for telephonically receiving and sending audio signals to carry voice;

a plurality of television display structures at said central station for providing a display from said representative image television signals and for providing and manifesting audio signals;

telephonic interface apparatus for interconnecting said television communication structures at said plurality of remote locations and said central station to provide two-way audio and at least one-way video communications;

a memory unit for storing identification designation data, time sequence data and remote location data on said plurality of remote locations; and

a control computer coupled to said memory unit and said telephonic interface apparatus and programmed to sequentially and automatically actuate, said telephonic interface apparatus, under control of said computer in accordance with said identification designation data and said time sequence data to selectively communicate from said plurality of remote locations to one of said plurality of television display structures.

16. A system according to claim 15 wherein said remote location data includes identification data relating to said plurality of remote locations.

17. A system according to claim 15 wherein said control computer couples a specific one of said television display structures for interconnection to a select television display structure under control of “

D”

channel type signals provided by said telephonic interface apparatus.

18. A system according to claim 15 further including a billing data memory section for storing billing time as related to monitored remote locations.

19. A system according to claim 15 wherein said telephone interface provides “

D”

channel type signals and said control computer addresses said memory units in accordance with said “

D”

channel type signals.

20. A system according to claim 15 wherein the computer controlled selection of sites is sequential.

21. A system according to claim 15 wherein the computer controlled selection of sites is random.

22. A system according to claim 15 wherein the computer controlled selection of sites is predetermined.

23. A system according to claim 15 wherein the computer controlled system accommodates intervals of display.

24. A system according to claim 23 wherein the intervals of display include variable observation times.

25. A system according to claim 15 wherein at least certain of the remote location include video phones.

26. A system according to claim 15 wherein at least certain of the remote location include speaker phones.

27. A system according to claim 15 wherein at least certain of the remote location include regular telephones.

28. A system according to claim 27 wherein the regular telephones support two-way communication.

29. The system according to claim 27 wherein the telephones support communication from the central unit to the remote locations.

30. A system according to claim 15 wherein at least certain of the remote locations include sensors.

31. The system according to claim 30 wherein the sensors include motion detectors.

32. The system according to claim 31 wherein the motion detectors provide an indication of the need for scrutiny at a location.

33. A system according to claim 15 wherein at least certain of the remote locations include autodialers.

34. A system according to claim 15 wherein at least certain of the remote locations include computer memory.

35. A system according to claim 15 wherein the graphic display data includes floor plan data.

36. A system according to claim 15 further including memory for storing scrutiny location graphic display data.

37. A system according to claim 36 wherein the graphic display data includes street data.

38. A system according to claim 36 wherein the graphic display data includes telephone number information.

39. The system according to claim 15 including a plurality of control units, the control units including capability to route calls to each other.

40. The system according to claim 15 wherein the control unit permits camera selection at the scrutiny locations.

41. The system according to claim 15 further including a clock operatively connected to said control unit.

42. The system according to claim 41 wherein the clock coupled to said control unit defines selected intervals of time for observation of the scrutiny locations.

43. The system according to claim 15 further including a detector for detecting an inoperative camera.

44. The system according to claim 43 wherein the detector detects that the lens of the camera is covered.

45. A system for communicating with a plurality of remote locations from a central station utilizing dial-up telephone facilities comprising:

television communication structures at said plurality of remote locations for telephonically providing representative image television signals and for telephonically receiving and sending audio signals to carry voice;

a plurality of television display structures at said central station for providing a display from said representative image television signals for providing and manifesting audio signals;

telephonic interface apparatus for interconnecting said television communication structures at said plurality of remote locations and said central station to Provide two-way audio and at least one-way video communications;

a memory unit for storing time sequence data and remote location data on said remote locations;

a voice generator and wherein said memory unit stores an audio dictionary for driving said voice generator to provide said audio signals; and

a control computer coupled to said memory unit and said telephonic interface apparatus for actuating said telephonic interface apparatus to selectively communicate from said plurality of remote location to one of said plurality of television display structures in accordance with said time sequence data and to control the display of said television display structures.

46. A system for communicating with a plurality of remote locations from a central station utilizing dial-up telephone facilities comprising:

television communication structures at said plurality of remote locations for telephonically providing representative dynamic image television signals and for telephonically providing audio signals to carry voice;

a plurality of television display structures at said central station for providing a display from said representative image television signals;

telephonic interface apparatus for interconnecting said television communication structures at said plurality of remote locations and said central station to provide at least one-way audio and at least one-way video communications;

a memory unit for storing programmed operations for sequential remote location communication including identification designation data relating to the plurality of remote locations; and

a control computer coupled to said memory unit and said telephonic interface apparatus for sequentially actuating in accordance with said programmed operations said telephonic interface apparatus to selectively communicate in sequence from said plurality of remote locations to at least one of said plurality of television display structures to control the display of said television display structures.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein the sequential remote location communication is predetermined.

48. The system of claim 46 wherein the sequential remote location communication is random.

49. The system of claim 46 wherein the programmed operation includes programmed intervals of display.

50. The system of claim 46 wherein the programmed operation includes variable observation time.

51. The system of claim 46 wherein the audio communications includes audio from the central station to the remote location.

52. The system of claim 46 wherein the audio communication includes two-way audio between the central station and the remote locations.

53. The system claim 46 wherein at least certain of the television communication structure may be controlled for pan by the central station.

54. The system of claim 46 wherein at least certain of the television communication structure may be controlled for pan by the central station.

55. The system of claim 46 wherein at least certain of the television communication structure may be controlled for tilt by the central station.

56. The system of claim 46 wherein the display structures may display freeze frames.

57. The system of claim 46 wherein the display structures may display high resolution images.

58. The system of claim 46 wherein the system further includes image enhancement capability.

59. The system of claim 46 wherein the system includes D-channel or in-band signaling apparatus.

60. The system of claim 59 wherein the D-channel or in-band signaling apparatus includes ANI.

61. The system of claim 59 wherein the D-channel or in-band signaling apparatus includes DNIS.

62. The system of claim 46 further including a memory for storing graphical display on at least certain of the remote locations.

63. The system of claim 62 wherein the graphical display data includes a floor plan of the remote location.

64. The system of claim 62 wherein the graphical display data includes a telephone number.

65. The system of claim 64 wherein the graphical display data includes a telephone number wherein the telephone number is associated with the remote locations.

66. The system of claim 64 wherein the graphical display data includes a telephone number wherein the telephone number is associated with security personnel associated with the remote location.

67. The system of claim 46 further including interrupt structure coupled to the control computer for receiving an interrupt signal.

68. The system of claim 67 wherein the interrupt signal is initiated at the remote location.

69. The system of claim 67 wherein the interrupt signal is initiated at the central station.

70. The system of claim 67 wherein the response to the interrupt signal is automatic.

71. The system of claim 67 wherein the response to the interrupt signal is manually required.

72. A system for enabling video communications with a plurality of remote locations from a central station utilizing dial-up telephone facilities comprising:

video communication structures at said plurality of remote locations for telephonically providing representative dynamic video images;

a plurality of video display structures at said central station for providing a display from said representative image video signals;

telephonic interface apparatus for interconnecting said video communication structures at said plurality of remote locations and said central station to provide at least one-way video communications;

a memory unit for storing programmed operations for sequential remote location communication; and

a control computer coupled to said memory unit and said telephonic interface apparatus for actuating said telephonic interface apparatus to selectively communicate in sequence, from said plurality of remote locations to at least one of said plurality of video display structures in accordance with said programmed operation to control the display of said video display structures.

73. The system of claim 72 wherein the sequential remote location communication is predetermined.

74. The system of claim 72 wherein the sequential remote location communication is random.

75. The system of claim 72 wherein the programmed operation includes programmed intervals of display.

76. The system of claim 72 wherein the programmed operation includes variable observation time.

77. The system of claim 72 wherein said telephonic interface apparatus includes at least one way audio.

78. The system of claim 77 wherein the audio communications includes audio from the central station to the remote location.

79. The system of claim 77 wherein the audio communication includes two-way audio between the central station and the remote locations.

80. The system of claim 72 wherein the system includes D-channel or in-band signaling apparatus.

81. The system of claim 80 wherein the D-channel or in-band signaling apparatus includes ANI.

82. The system of claim 80 wherein the D-channel or in-band signaling apparatus includes DNIS.

83. The system of claim 72 further including a memory for storing graphical display on at least certain of the remote locations.

84. The system of claim 72 further including interrupt structure coupled to the control computer for receiving an interrupt signal.