Systems and methods for mobile security and monitoring

• US 7,423,529 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2004
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OBS, Inc.
• Original Assignee: OBS, Inc.
• Inventors: Jones, Kevin, Singer, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/541,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20070001836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,698 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/541, 340/545.2, 340/547, 340/542, 340/545.7, 340/568.8, 340/571, 340/565, 340/572.1, 348/143, 348/152, 348/155, 348/64, 348/61, 348/739, 348/207.9, 378/98, 378/98.12
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0866 the electronic data carrier being a digital video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19634 Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1965 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 13/19669 Event triggers storage or change of storage policy
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19676 Temporary storage, e.g. cyclic memory, buffer storage on pre-alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/001 Concealed systems, e.g. disguised alarm systems to make covert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

Systems and methods for surveillance in a mobile environment. In some cases, the systems and methods utilize a variety of image and/or audio sensors to record activity ongoing in a mobile environment. In one particular embodiment, the activity is temporarily recorded in a first tier memory implemented as a volatile FIFO. Where a trigger input is detected, the activity is recorded in a second tier memory that can be configured as a non-volatile memory. Further, in some cases the recorded activity can be transmitted wirelessly to a remote location.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a mobile environment over a period of time that the mobile environment is not receiving power, the system comprising:

a sensor;

a system controller, wherein the system controller is communicably coupled to the sensor, and wherein the system controller provides an information stream derived from the sensor;

a trigger input;

a receiving system, wherein the receiving system is operable to operate on the information stream upon activation of the trigger input; and

a mode detection system, wherein the mode detection system is operable to select between at least a continuous mode, a low power mode and a standby mode, wherein the continuous mode includes a continuous capture of the information stream by the system controller, wherein the low power mode includes a limited capture of the information stream by the system controller, and wherein the standby mode includes a limited capture of the information stream by the system controller.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving system is selected from a group consisting of:

a memory system and a wireless link system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the memory system includes a flash memory card.

4. The surveillance system of claim 2, wherein the trigger input includes a first trigger input and a second trigger input, wherein the memory system is operable to store the information stream upon activation of the first trigger input;

and wherein the wireless communication link is operable to transmit the information stream upon activation of the second trigger input.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the trigger input includes one or more triggers selected from a group consisting of:

an alarm signal, a door lock signal, a door open signal, an acceleration signal, a panic signal, and a geographic boundary signal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the information stream includes one or more sets of data associated therewith, the one or more sets of data selected from the group consisting of:

time stamp data, speed sensor data, fuel status data, global positioning system data, and battery status data.

7. A method for performing surveillance in a mobile environment, the method comprising:

providing an image sensor;

providing a tiered memory, wherein the tiered memory includes a first tier memory and a second tier memory;

receiving an image signal from the image sensor;

storing a derivative of the image signal to the first tier memory;

receiving a trigger input;

based at least in part upon the trigger input, storing the derivative of the image signal to the second tier memory;

monitoring a power source, wherein a power source level is detected; and

limiting storage of the derivative of the image signal to the first tier memory based on the power source level.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further includes:

charging a power supply maintained in association with the system.

9. The method of claim 7, the method further including:

providing a wireless communication link; and

based at least in part upon the trigger input, transmitting the derivative of the image signal via the wireless communication link.

10. The method of claim 7, the method further including:

associating a time stamp with the derivative of the image signal stored in the second tier memory.

11. The method of claim 7, the method further comprising:

providing an audio sensor;

receiving an audio signal from the audio sensor;

storing a derivative of the audio signal to the first tier memory; and

based at least in part upon the trigger input, storing the derivative of the audio signal to the second tier memory.

12. A surveillance system associated with a mobile environment, the system comprising:

a first image sensor, wherein the first image sensor is oriented to acquire a first image relative to the mobile environment;

a second image sensor, wherein the second image sensor is oriented to acquire a second image relative to the mobile environment;

a system controller, wherein the system controller is communicably coupled to the first image sensor and the second image sensor;

a tiered memory system, wherein the tiered memory system includes a first tier memory and a second tier memory, wherein the tiered memory system is electrically coupled to the system controller, and wherein at least one of the first image and the second image is stored to the first tier memory;

a trigger input, wherein upon activation of the trigger input at least one of the first image and the second image is stored to the second tier memory;

monitoring a power source, wherein a power source level is detected; and

limiting storage of at least one of the first image and the second image to the first tier memory based on the power source level.

13. The surveillance system of claim 12, wherein the first tier memory is a first in, first out memory.

14. The surveillance system of claim 13, wherein the first in, first out memory is a volatile memory.

15. The surveillance system of claim 12, wherein the second tier memory is a non-volatile memory.

16. The surveillance system of claim 12, wherein the second tier memory is a flash memory card.

17. A surveillance system for disposition in a mobile environment;

the system comprising;

an image sensor, wherein the image sensor provides an image output;

a controller, wherein the controller is communicably coupled to the image sensor;

a power sensing element, wherein the power sensing element determines a status of a power source;

a trigger input communicably coupled to the controller; and

a tiered memory, wherein the tiered memory includes a first tier memory and a second tier memory, and wherein a derivative of the image output is stored to the first tier memory based at least in part on the status of the power source, and wherein the derivative of the image output is stored to the second tier memory based at least in part on the trigger input.

18. A security system capable of monitoring a mobile environment over a period of time that the mobile environment is not receiving power, the system comprising:

a sensor;

a system controller, wherein the system controller is communicably coupled to the sensor, and wherein the system controller provides an information stream derived from the sensor;

a trigger input;

a memory system including a first tier memory and a second tier memory, wherein the second tier memory is operable to operate on the information stream upon activation of the trigger input;

a mode detection system, wherein the mode detection system is operable to select between at least a continuous mode, a low power mode and a standby mode, wherein the continuous mode includes a continuous capture of the information stream by the first tier memory, the low power mode includes a limited capture of the information stream by the first tier memory, and wherein the standby mode includes a limited capture of the information stream by the first tier memory.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the standby mode includes no capture of the information stream by the first tier memory.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the memory system includes a flash memory.

21. The surveillance system of claim 18, further comprising a wireless communication link, wherein the trigger input includes a first trigger input and a second trigger input, wherein the memory system is operable to store the information stream upon activation of the first trigger input;

and wherein the wireless communication link is operable to transmit the information stream upon activation of the second trigger input.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the trigger input includes one or more triggers selected from a group consisting of:

an alarm signal, a door lock signal, a door open signal, an acceleration signal, a panic signal, and a geographic boundary signal.

23. A system capable of monitoring a mobile environment, the system comprising:

a sensor;

a system controller, wherein the system controller is communicably coupled to the sensor, and wherein the system controller provides an information stream derived from the sensor;

a trigger input;

a receiving system, wherein the receiving system is operable to operate on the information stream upon activation of the trigger input;

a mode detection system, wherein the mode detection system is operable to select between at least a continuous mode and a low power mode, wherein the continuous mode includes a continuous capture of the information stream by the system controller, and wherein the low power mode includes a limited capture of the information stream by the system controller.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the receiving system is selected from a group consisting of a memory system and a wireless link system.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the memory system includes a flash memory card.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the trigger input includes a first trigger input and a second trigger input, wherein the memory system is operable to store the information stream upon activation of the first trigger input;

and wherein the wireless communication link is operable to transmit the information stream upon activation of the second trigger input.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the trigger input includes one or more triggers selected from a group consisting of:

an alarm signal, a door lock signal, a door open signal, an acceleration signal, a panic signal, and a geographic boundary signal.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the limited capture of the information stream is a capture of the information stream upon activation of the trigger input.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the information stream includes one or more sets of data associated therewith, the one or more sets of data selected from the group consisting of:

time stamp data, speed sensor data, fuel status data, global positioning system data, and battery status data.

30. A method for performing monitoring in a mobile environment, the method comprising:

providing an image sensor;

providing a memory;

receiving an image signal from the image sensor;

storing a derivative of the image signal to the memory;

receiving a trigger input; and

monitoring a power source, wherein a power source level is detected;

wherein storing the derivative of the image signal to the memory is continuous when the power source level is an adequate power source level, and wherein storing the derivative of the image signal to the memory is responsive to the trigger input when the power source level is a low power source level.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the method further includes:

charging a power supply maintained in association with the system.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the trigger input includes one or more triggers selected from a group consisting of:

an alarm signal, a door lock signal, a door open signal, an acceleration signal, a panic signal, and a geographic boundary signal.

33. The method of claim 30, the method further including:

providing a wireless communication link; and

based at least in part upon the trigger input, transmitting the derivative of the image signal via the wireless communication link.

34. The method of claim 30, the method further including:

associating a time stamp with the derivative of the image signal stored in the memory.

35. The method of claim 30, the method further comprising:

providing an audio sensor;

receiving an audio signal from the audio sensor; and

storing a derivative of the audio signal to the memory based at least in part upon the trigger input and the power source level.

36. The method of claim 30, the method further including:

associating one or more sets of data with the derivative of the image signal stored in the memory, the one or more sets of data selected from the group consisting of;

speed sensor data, fuel status data, global positioning system data, and battery status data.