Ground based security surveillance system for aircraft and other commercial vehicles

• US 7,049,953 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2002
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: e-Watch, Inc. (Cision Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: e-Watch, Inc. (Cision Ltd.)
• Inventors: Monroe, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US10/320,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20030169335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 340/521, 340/937, 340/506, 340/539.1, 340/541, 340/533, 340/3.1, 340/988, 348/148, 348/152, 348/153
• US Class Current: 340/521
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0053 using visual equipment, e.g. cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0059 by communicating emergency situations to ground control or between crew members
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19621 Portable camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1965 the vehicle being an aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves

Abstract

A security and surveillance system for aircraft on the ground incorporates a plurality of strategically spaced sensors including video imaging generators, audio sensors, motion detectors, and fire and smoke detectors for monitoring critical components and critical areas of both the interior and the exterior of the a commercial transport such as an aircraft. The captured data and images are transmitted to a ground based security station for display on a monitor and may be recorded on a “black box” recorder as well as on a ground based recording system. The multiple audio and image signals are multiplexed and sequenced utilizing split screen technology in order to minimize the recording and monitoring hardware required to process the images.

Claims

1. A security system for on-ground monitoring the condition of a commercial transport, the security system comprising:

a. a ground based monitoring station for monitoring the conditions relating to a commercial transport;

b. a network of ground based, remote discrete image and video collection devices each generating a unique data signal;

c. a collector for collecting the plurality of unique data signals and generating therefrom a combined signal incorporating each of the plurality of unique data signals; and

d. a destination device for receiving the combined signal and reconstructing from the combined signal each of the unique data signals at the ground based monitoring station.

2. The security system as called for in claim 1, further including a processor whereby all of the data signals from the network of sensors is combined in order to derive all monitored conditions relative to the commercial transport being monitored.

3. The security system as called for in claim 1, wherein each of the network sensors includes a transmitter adapted for wireless transmission of the unique output signal to the collector.

4. A method for collecting and distributing unique data signals from a plurality of ground based sensors for monitoring the condition of a commercial transport, the method comprising the steps of:

a. placing a network of ground based, remote discrete image and video collection devices each generating a unique data signal in locations and zones wherein the commercial transport will be present as it moves through a terminal or port;

b. monitoring the condition of the commercial transport as it moves through the zone, each of the devices generating a unique signal defining a unique condition related to the commercial transport;

c. collecting the plurality of unique data signals and generating therefrom a combined signal incorporating each of the plurality of unique data signals; and

d. managing the collected signals at a ground station.