Home intrusion confrontation avoidance system

• US 7,253,732 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2004
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Strategic Design Federation W, LLC
• Original Assignee: Robert Osann Jr
• Inventors: Osann, Robert Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labbees; Edny
• Application Number:
  US11/006,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20050184867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.25, 340/539.16, 340/539.18, 340/539.14, 340/541, 348/143, 348/152, 348/153, 348/154, 348/155
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/45 Utility meters networked together within a single building
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/00 Arrangements for measuring time integral of electric power or current, e.g. electricity meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/06 by electronic methods
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/00 Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19634 Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions
• 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 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19693 using multiple video sources viewed on a single or compound screen
• 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: G08B 15/001 Concealed systems, e.g. disguised alarm systems to make covert systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/108 the cable being constituted by a pair of wires
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 : Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 : Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 : Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

A system is described that enables the user to deal with an intrusion into their home without having to personally confront the intruder. Given the night-time nature of many intruder events, a display and control unit is disclosed that is suitable for residing on a bedside table, typically in the Master Bedroom, performing a remote viewing and control function. Various locations within the particular home are represented by buttons such that the user can easily choose the location(s) to be viewed and can verify, among other things, the presence of an intruder. Motion detection is various rooms may be included and viewing can be enhanced by lights controlled from this unit. User interface features are included that are simple to operate when the user is half-awake. Surveillance and control features may be combined with common bedside appliance functions including a clock-radio, a television, or a telephone.

Claims

1. A compact display and control console suitable for use on a bedside table in a bedroom including:

a display for displaying video images sent from video cameras located in a plurality of rooms in a home, where said video cameras are capable of capturing said video images under both low lighting and bright lighting conditions; and

split screen capability for viewing one or more images from multiple rooms at the same time in different portions of the display area, and where the choice of which images to display is automatically made according to motion detectors located in the rooms;

buttons for remotely controlling lights in corresponding rooms such that said lights may initially be off and then may be remotely turned on by the user in order to frighten an intruder or obtain a better view of an intruder; and

motion indicators for informing the user which rooms in the home contain a potential intruder; and

at least one direct access button enabling the user to signal the police or a security company that an intruder has been detected.

2. The display and control console of claim 1, also including a alarm clock function that when displayed, occupies either the full screen or one of the portions of the split screen.

3. The display and control console of claim 1, also including a radio function.

4. The display and control console of claim 1, also including a TV function.

5. A compact display and control console suitable for use on a bedside table in a bedroom including:

a display for displaying video images sent from video cameras located in a plurality of rooms in a home where said video cameras are capable of capturing said video images under both low lighting and bright lighting conditions; and

split screen capability for viewing one or more images from multiple rooms at the same time in different portions of the display area, and where the choice of which images to display is automatically made according to motion detectors located in the rooms; and

buttons for remotely controlling lights in corresponding rooms such that said lights may initially be off and then may be remotely turned on by the user in order to frighten an intruder or obtain a better view of an intruder; and

motion indicators for informing the user which rooms in the home contain a potential intruder; and

at least one direct access button enabling the user to signal the police or a security company that an intruder has been detected; and

an alarm clock function that when displayed, occupies either the full screen or one of the portions of the split screen; and

a radio function.

6. The display and control console of claim 5, also including a TV function.

7. A compact display and control console suitable for use on a bedside table in a bedroom including:

a display for displaying video images sent from video cameras located in a plurality of rooms in a home, where said video cameras are capable of capturing said video images under both low lighting and bright lighting conditions, and where the choice of which images to display may optionally be automatically made according to motion detectors located in the rooms;

buttons for remotely controlling lights in corresponding rooms such that said lights may initially be off and then may be remotely turned on by the user in order to frighten an intruder or obtain a better view of an intruder; and

at least one direct access button enabling the user to signal the police or a security company that an intruder has been detected;

an alarm clock function; and

a radio function.

8. The display and control console of claim 7, also including a TV function.

9. The display and control console of claim 7, also including optional split screen capability for viewing one or more images from multiple rooms at the same time in different portions of the display area.

10. A video surveillance, communications, and control system for the home comprising:

A plurality of video cameras located in a plurality of rooms in a home, where said video cameras are capable of capturing video images under both low lighting and bright lighting conditions; and

A plurality of motion detectors in different rooms in a home for sensing which rooms contain a potential intruder; and

A plurality of lights in different rooms in a home, said lights being remotely controllable; and

A compact display and control console suitable for use on a bedside table in a bedroom wherein said console displays video images sent from said video cameras and where said console includes;

split screen capability for viewing one or more images from multiple rooms at the same time in different portions of the display area, and where the choice of which images to display may optionally be automatically made according to motion detectors located in the rooms;

buttons for remotely controlling lights in corresponding rooms such that said lights may initially be off and then may be remotely turned on by the user in order to frighten an intruder or obtain a better view of an intruder; and

motion indicators for informing the user which rooms in the home contain a potential intruder; and

at least one direct access button enabling the user to silently signal the police or security company that an intruder has been detected.

11. The display and control console of claim 10, also including an alarm clock function that when displayed, occupies either the full screen or one of the portions of the split screen.

12. The display and control console of claim 10, also including a radio function.

13. A method for interacting with a home intruder, a security service, and law enforcement officials comprising the steps of:

observing the presence and behavior of a potential home intruder on a compact display and control console suitable for use on a bedside table in a home bedroom, said console including a display for displaying video images sent from video cameras located in a plurality of rooms in a home, where said video cameras are capable of capturing said video images under both low lighting and bright lighting conditions; and

passively discerning, by the user, the presence of an intruder in low lighting conditions; and

generating a silent alarm message by pressing at least one direct access button on said console, by the user, said alarm message being sent to a security service or law enforcement officials; and

pressing at least one of a plurality of buttons on said console, by the user, for remotely controlling lights in corresponding rooms such that said lights may initially be off and then may be remotely turned on by the user in order to frighten an intruder or obtain a better view of an intruder.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said console also includes optional split screen capability for viewing one or more images from multiple rooms at the same time in different portions of the display area.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said console also includes motion indicators for informing the user which rooms in the home contain a potential intruder.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein motion detectors in the rooms are used to determine which rooms are viewed on the split screen in the different portions of the display area on said console.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said console also includes an alarm clock function that when displayed, occupies either the full screen or one of the portions of the split screen.