Videophone system for scrutiny monitoring with computer control
First Claim
1. A system for communicating with a plurality of remote locations from a central station utilizing telephonic communication facilities for surveillance purposes, comprising:
- video communication structures located at the plurality of remote locations for providing representative image signals of scenes at the plurality of remote locations and for receiving and sending audio signals to carry voice over the telephonic communication facilities;
a plurality of video display structures, including audio capability, located at the central station for receiving and displaying the representative image video signals of the plurality of remote locations;
telephonic interface apparatus for interconnecting the video communication structures at the plurality of the remote locations with the plurality of the video display structures at the central station and including two way audio communication capability at the central station; and
a control unit located at the central station for controlling the telephonic interface apparatus to establish video and audio communication between a select video camera structure at a select one of the plurality of remote locations and one of the plurality of video display structures at the central station, with the central station receiving a display of a scene from the select one of the plurality of remote locations and the same select one of the plurality of remote locations receiving audio communication from the central station via the telephonic interface apparatus, the control unit providing scenes from the plurality of remote locations in sequence, in programmed intervals, the control unit further including an interrupt structure for receiving an interrupt indication from any particular one of the plurality of remote locations at which a particular circumstance to cause an alert occurs, the interrupt indication configured to interrupt the sequence of scenes displayed in order to provide an alternate display of a scene where the particular circumstance to cause the alert occurs rather than the next one in the sequence.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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 signaling and code techniques afford flexible operation as with respect to various graphic and status indications available for displays.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A system for communicating with a plurality of remote locations from a central station utilizing telephonic communication facilities for surveillance purposes, comprising:
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video communication structures located at the plurality of remote locations for providing representative image signals of scenes at the plurality of remote locations and for receiving and sending audio signals to carry voice over the telephonic communication facilities; a plurality of video display structures, including audio capability, located at the central station for receiving and displaying the representative image video signals of the plurality of remote locations; telephonic interface apparatus for interconnecting the video communication structures at the plurality of the remote locations with the plurality of the video display structures at the central station and including two way audio communication capability at the central station; and a control unit located at the central station for controlling the telephonic interface apparatus to establish video and audio communication between a select video camera structure at a select one of the plurality of remote locations and one of the plurality of video display structures at the central station, with the central station receiving a display of a scene from the select one of the plurality of remote locations and the same select one of the plurality of remote locations receiving audio communication from the central station via the telephonic interface apparatus, the control unit providing scenes from the plurality of remote locations in sequence, in programmed intervals, the control unit further including an interrupt structure for receiving an interrupt indication from any particular one of the plurality of remote locations at which a particular circumstance to cause an alert occurs, the interrupt indication configured to interrupt the sequence of scenes displayed in order to provide an alternate display of a scene where the particular circumstance to cause the alert occurs rather than the next one in the sequence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A system for monitoring a plurality of scrutiny locations from a central station using telephonic communication facilities comprising:
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video camera structures located at the plurality of scrutiny locations for providing representative dynamic image signals representative of scenes from the plurality of scrutiny locations wherein the dynamic image signals include audio signals; at least one video display structure located at the central station; telephonic interface apparatus for interconnecting the video camera structures at the plurality of scrutiny locations to the at least one video display structure at the central location; and a control unit located at the central station including a computer and a memory for storing identification designation data and graphic display data for the plurality of scrutiny locations, the control unit programmed to sequentially and automatically actuates under control of the computer, the telephonic interface apparatus to establish video communication between the central station and the plurality of scrutiny locations to provide a sequence of remote location displays of scenes occurring at the remote locations to the central station, in programmed intervals, the displays showing a scene and graphic display data representative of each of the plurality of scrutiny locations, the control unit further including interrupt structure for receiving an interrupt signal manifesting a predetermined circumstance to interrupt the sequence of remote location displays controlled by the computer and to provide an alternate display of a scene from another of the plurality of scrutiny locations along with graphic display data and to allow two way communication between the central unit and the other of the plurality of scrutiny locations. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification