Standalone device connectible to CCTV network

• US 7,428,004 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2005
• Issued: 09/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Axis AB (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pentax of America Incorporated (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Creamer, Rob, Knapp, Walter, Koch, Mark, Araki, Yoshiyuki, Helton, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Villecco, John M
• Application Number:
  US11/041,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20050149979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.1, 348/211.3, 348/211.1, 348/211.8, 348/211.12, 348/552, 348/231.2, 348/36, 348/211.6, 348/154, 348/155, 348/158, 348/211.99, 348/211.2, 725/105
• US Class Current: 348/211.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00214 details of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00217 only involving computer data transmission protocols, e.g. SMTP, WAP or HTTP communication protocol aspects and techniques in packet data networks H04L69/00; network-specific arrangements or communication protocols supporting networked applications H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00838 Preventing unauthorised reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00854 Recognising an unauthorised user or user-associated action
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/164 Feedback from the receiver or from the transmission channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/172 the region being a picture, frame or field
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects

Abstract

A standalone device, connectible to a CCTV network, includes an analog video input connector that collects input image signals corresponding to views from outside the standalone device, and digital image signal data corresponding to the collected signals are output. The device is connectible to an the internet-protocol network, and a transport control protocol packetizes the digital image signal data and controls addressing of the packetized digital image signal data. An address setting routine sets an internet-protocol address for the standalone device itself, permitting connection to the internet-protocol network. A self-initiating transmission initiating routine self-initiates a connection with the internet-protocol network in response to a triggering signal on an alarm trigger input. An E-mail message is assembled, including report information related to the triggering signal and digital image signal data, and is transmitted to an address via the internet-protocol network.

Claims

1. A standalone device connectible to a CCTV network, comprising:

an analog video input connector that collects input image signals corresponding to views from outside the standalone device;

a compression circuit that outputs digital image signal data corresponding to the input image signals;

a plurality of input/output terminals, forming a physical interface for at least one alarm trigger input;

a network connection capable of connecting to an internet-protocol network;

a microcontroller operatively connected to the analog video input connector, the compression circuit, the input/output terminals, and the network connection;

a transport control protocol that packetizes the digital image signal data and controls addressing of the packetized digital image signal data for the internet-protocol network;

an address setting routine executable by the microcontroller, that sets an internet-protocol address for the standalone device itself, permitting connection to the internet-protocol network;

a self-initiating transmission initiating routine that self-initiates a connection with the internet-protocol network via said transport control protocol and said network connection in response to a triggering signal on said at least one alarm trigger input;

an E-mail message assembling routine executable by the microcontroller that assembles E-mail messages including report information related to the triggering signal and digital image signal data corresponding to the views from outside the standalone device; and

an E-mail transmission routine executable by the microcontroller that transmits the assembled E-mail messages to an E-mail address via the transport control protocol, the network connection, and the internet-protocol network.

2. The standalone device according to claim 1, further comprising a serial interface, separate from said network connection, that receives commands for controlling the standalone device.

3. The standalone device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one alarm trigger output connectible to a triggered device.

4. The standalone device according to claim 3, wherein the triggered device includes one of an alarm or local lighting.

5. The standalone device according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one timer; and

a timer-based image capture routine, executable by said microcontroller, for capturing images according to said timer;

said E-mail message assembling routine assembling E-mail messages including both digital image signal data taken at the time of said triggering signal on said at least one alarm trigger input and digital image signal data taken according to said timer, and the E-mail transmission routine transmitting the E-mail messages to an E-mail address.

6. The standalone device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a configuration setting routine executable by said microcontroller that sets configuration information including operational parameters of said standalone device via a serial interface from a connected setup device, the configuration information being recoverable via a password key.

7. The standalone device according to claim 1, wherein the address setting routine operates via said network connection to obtain an internet-protocol address for the standalone device itself from a device capable of assigning such addresses.

8. The standalone device according to claim 7, wherein the device capable of assigning such addresses includes a DNS device.

9. The standalone device according to claim 1, wherein in response to an alarm condition, notification of the alarm condition is sent to a defined list of e-mail recipients to alert the e-mail recipients of the alarm condition.

10. The standalone device according to claim 1, wherein in response to an alarm condition, images are transmitted to a remote user to notify the remote user of the alarm condition.

11. The standalone device according to claim 1, wherein in response to an alarm condition, images are transmitted to and stored on a network device other than said standalone device.

12. The standalone device according to claim 1, wherein in response to an alarm condition, selected images are associated with selected reports including information related to the alarm condition, and stored by said standalone device.

13. The standalone device according to claim 1, further comprising a streaming routine executable by said microcontroller for continuous capture and transmission of compressed digital image signal data as streaming data, the microcontroller transferring the streaming data from the standalone device to the internet-protocol network.

14. The standalone device according to claim 1, further comprising a character generator for generating textual information overlaying said digital image signal data.

15. The standalone device according to claim 1, wherein the network connection is selected from one of a modem for public telephone networks;

an Ethernet adapter for connecting to an Ethernet LAN;

an ISDN modem;

an XDSL adapter;

a cable modem;

an ATM adapter;

a T carrier terminal adapter;

an adapter for satellite connection;

an adapter for microwave connection;

an adapter for wireless connection;

an adapter for serial transmission over a high speed external serial bus;

or an adapter for data transmission over public power lines.

16. The standalone device according to claim 1, wherein the network connection is not built-in to circuitry of the standalone device.

17. The standalone device according to claim 16, wherein the network connection is a network interface device that is installed in a slot interface of the standalone device circuitry.

18. The standalone device according to claim 1, wherein said self-initiating transmission initiating routine initiates a connection in response to a triggering signal from one of a motion sensor or trip switch.

19. The standalone device according to claim 1, further comprising an analog output connector that transmits an output video signal outside the standalone device, wherein the microcontroller is capable of (i) transferring the digital image signal data to the internet-protocol network via the network connection and of (ii) transmitting an analog video signal, corresponding to the views from outside the standalone device, via the analog output connector.

20. The standalone device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a configuration routine executable by said microcontroller that retrieves configuration information from the internet protocol network; and

a configuration setting routine executable by said microcontroller that sets operational parameters of the standalone device according to the retrieved configuration information.

21. The standalone device according to claim 1, wherein the analog video input connector collects an input image signal corresponding to the view of a camera connected to the standalone device, and wherein said standalone device receives configuration information containing pan/tilt parameters for the camera, and said microcontroller initiates panning and/or tilting directing the camera according to the received pan/tilt parameters.

22. The standalone device according to claim 1, further comprising a network authentication routine executable by said microcontroller for providing network login authentication to the internet-protocol network.

23. The standalone device according to claim 1, further comprising a password enabling routine executable by the microcontroller, that configures said standalone device to register on a local network via said network connection, in a first mode providing a password in order to register on a local network and in a second mode registering on a local network without providing a password.

24. The standalone device according to claim 1, further comprising a protocol switching routine executable by the microcontroller, that selectively switches from the transmission control protocol to a connectionless protocol, wherein the microcontroller transfers the digital image signal data to the internet protocol network employing the connectionless protocol.

25. The standalone device according to claim 24, wherein the connectionless protocol is UDP.

26. The standalone device according to claim 1, further comprising a file transfer application executable by said microcontroller, wherein the file transfer application transfers the digital image signal data, corresponding to the views from outside the standalone device, to a network device capable of serving files via the network connection, the internet-protocol network and an internet-protocol address.

27. The standalone device according to claim 1, wherein the report information related to the triggering signal includes status information for the standalone device.

28. A standalone device connectible to a CCTV network, comprising:

an analog video input connector that collects input image signals corresponding to views from outside the standalone device;

a compression circuit that outputs digital image signal data corresponding to the input image signals;

a plurality of input/output terminals, forming a physical interface for at least one alarm trigger input;

a network connection capable of connecting to an internet-protocol network;

a microcontroller operatively connected to the analog video input connector, the compression circuit, the input/output terminals, and the network connection;

an address seffing routine executable by the microcontroller, that sets an internet-protocol address for the standalone device itself, permiffing connection to the internet-protocol network;

a transport control protocol that packetizes the digital image signal data and controls addressing of the packetized digital images signal data for the internet-protocol network;

a self-initiating transmission initiating routine executable by the microcontroller that self-initiates a connection with the internet-protocol network via said transport control protocol and said network connection in response to a detected signal;

a protocol switching routine executable by the microcontroller, that selectively switches from the transport control protocol to a transport protocol that does not retransmit erroneous data; and

a streaming routine executable by said microcontroller for continuous capture and transmission of digital image signal data as streaming data, the microcontroller transferring the streaming data from the internet protocol address of the standalone device itself to the internet-protocol network upon receipt of a triggering signal on at the least one alarm trigger input, and the microcontroller transfers the digital image signal data to the internet protocol network employing the protocol that does not retransmit erroneous data.

29. The standalone device according to claim 28, wherein the protocol that does not retransmit data is UDP.

30. The standalone device according to claim 28, said detected signal comprising one of an event signal, a timer expiration signal, or a command signal.

31. The standalone device according to claim 28, further comprising a serial interface, separate from said network connection, that receives commands for controlling the standalone device.

32. The standalone device according to claim 28, further comprising at least one alarm trigger output connectible to a triggered device.

33. The standalone device according to claim 32, wherein the triggered device includes one of an alarm or local lighting.

34. The standalone device according to claim 28, further comprising:

a configuration setting routine executable by said microcontroller that sets configuration information including operational parameters of said standalone device via a serial interface from a connected setup device, the configuration information being recoverable via a password key.

35. The standalone device according to claim 28, wherein the address setting routine operates via said network connection to obtain an internet-protocol address for the standalone device itself from a device capable of assigning such addresses.

36. The standalone device according to claim 35, wherein the device capable of assigning such addresses includes a DNS device.

37. The standalone device according to claim 28, wherein said triggering signal is an alarm signal, and in response to the alarm signal, images are transmitted to a remote user to notify the remote user of the alarm condition.

38. The standalone device according to claim 28, wherein said triggering signal is an alarm signal, wherein in response to the alarm signal, images are transmitted to and stored on a network device other than said standalone device.

39. The standalone device according to claim 28, wherein said triggering signal is an alarm signal, and wherein in response to the alarm signal, selected images are associated with selected reports including information related to the alarm signal, and stored by said standalone device.

40. The standalone device according to claim 28, said standalone device further comprising a character generator for generating textual information overlaying said digital image signal data.

41. The standalone device according to claim 28, wherein the network connection is selected from one of a modem for public telephone networks;

an Ethernet adapter for connecting to an Ethernet LAN;

an ISDN modem;

an XDSL adapter;

a cable modem;

an ATM adapter;

a T carrier tenninal adapter;

an adapter for satellite connection;

an adapter for microwave connection;

an adapter for wireless connection;

an adapter for serial transmission over a high speed external serial bus;

or an adapter for data transmission over public power lines.

42. The standalone device according to claim 28, wherein the network connection is not built-in to circuitry of the standalone device.

43. The standalone device according to claim 42, wherein the network connection is a network interface device that is installed in a slot interface of the standalone device circuitry.

44. The standalone device according to claim 28, wherein said self-initiating transmission initiating routine initiates a connection in response to a detected signal from one of a motion sensor or trip switch.

45. The standalone device according to claim 28, further comprising an analog output connector that transmits an output video signal outside the standalone device, wherein the microcontroller is capable of (i) transferring the digital image signal data to the internet-protocol network via the network connection and (ii) transmitting an analog video signal, corresponding to the views from outside the standalone device, via the analog output connector.

46. The standalone device according to claim 28, further comprising:

a configuration routine executable by said microcontroller that retrieves configuration information from the internet protocol network; and

a configuration setting routine executable by said microcontroller that sets operational parameters of the standalone device according to the retrieved configuration information.

47. The standalone device according to claim 46, wherein the analog video input connector collects an input image signal corresponding to the view of a camera connected to the standalone device, and wherein said standalone device receives configuration information containing pan/tilt parameters for the camera, and said microcontroller initiates panning and/or tilting directing the camera according to the received pan/tilt parameters.

48. The standalone device according to claim 28, further comprising a network authentication routine executable by said microcontroller for providing network login authentication to the internet-protocol network.

49. The standalone device according to claim 28, further comprising a password enabling routine executable by the microcontroller, that configures said standalone device to register on a local network via said network connection, in a first mode providing a password in order to register on a local network and in a second mode registering on a local network without providing a password.

50. The standalone device according to claim 28, further comprising a file transfer application executable by said microcontroller, wherein the file transfer application transfers the digital image signal data, corresponding to the views from outside the standalone device, to a network device capable of serving files via the network connection, the internet-protocol network and an internet-protocol address.

51. The standalone device according to claim 28, further comprising

an E-mail message assembling routine executable by the microcontroller that assembles E-mail messages including digital image signal data corresponding to the views from outside the standalone device;

and

an E-mail transmission routine executable by the microcontroller that transmits the assembled E-mail messages to an E-mail address via the transport control protocol, the network connection, and the internet-protocol network.

52. The standalone device according to claim 51, wherein said E-mail message assembling routine further assembles E-mail messages including report information related to the detected event, the report information related to the detected event including status information for the standalone device.

53. The standalone device according to claim 51, further comprising:

at least one timer;

a timer-based image capture routine, executable by said microcontroller, that captures images according to said timer, said E-mail message assembling routine assembling E-mail messages including both digital image signal data taken at the time of said triggering signal on the at least one alarm trigger input and digital image signal data taken according to the timer, and the E-mail transmission routine transmitting said E-mail messages to the E-mail address.

54. The standalone device according to claim 51, wherein in response to the detected signal, notification of the detected signal is sent to at least one defined e-mail recipient to alert the e-mail recipient of the detected signal.

55. A standalone device connectible to a CCTV network, comprising:

an analog video input connector that collects input image signals corresponding to views from outside the standalone device;

a compression circuit that outputs digital image signal data corresponding to the input image signals;

a network connection capable of connecting to an internet-protocol network;

a microcontroller operatively connected to the analog video input connector, the compression circuit, and the network connection;

a trigger-based image capture routine, executable by said microcontroller, that records digital image signal data of said input image signals according to a triggering signal on at least one alarm trigger input;

a timer-based image capture routine, executable by said microcontroller, that records digital image signal data of said input image signals according to a timer;

a transport control protocol that packetizes the digital image signal data and controls addressing of the packetized digital images signal data for the internet-protocol network;

an address setting routine executable by the microcontroller, that sets an internet-protocol address for the standalone device itself, permitting connection to the internet-protocol network;

a self-initiating transmission initiating routine that self-initiates a connection with the internet-protocol network via said transport control protocol and said network connection in response to the triggering signal;

an E-mail message assembling routine executable by the microcontroller that assembles E-mail messages including digital image signal data taken at the time of said triggering signal and digital image signal data taken according to said timer, and

an E-mail transmission routine executable by the microcontroller that transmits the assembled E-mail messages to an E-mail address via the transport control protocol, the network connection, and the internet-protocol network.

56. The standalone device according to claim 55, further comprising a serial interface, separate from said network connection, that receives commands for controlling the standalone device.

57. The standalone device according to claim 55, further comprising at least one alarm trigger output connectible to a triggered device.

58. The standalone device according to claim 57, wherein the triggered device includes one of an alarm or local lighting.

59. The standalone device according to claim 55, further comprising:

a configuration setting routine executable by said microcontroller that sets configuration information including operational parameters of said standalone device via a serial interface from a connected setup device, the configuration information being recoverable via a password key.

60. The standalone device according to claim 55, wherein the address setting routine operates via said network connection to obtain an internet-protocol address for the standalone device itself from a device capable of assigning such addresses.

61. The standalone device according to claim 60, wherein the device capable of assigning such addresses includes a DNS device.

62. The standalone device according to claim 55, wherein the triggering signal is an alarm signal, wherein in response to the alarm signal, images are transmitted to a remote user to notify the remote user of the alarm signal.

63. The standalone device according to claim 55, wherein said triggering signal is an alarm signal, wherein in response to the alarm signal, images are transmitted to and stored on a network device other than said standalone device.

64. The standalone device according to claim 55, wherein said triggering signal is an alarm signal, wherein in response to the alarm signal, selected images are associated with selected reports including information related to the alarm signal, and stored by said standalone device.

65. The standalone device according to claim 55, said standalone device further comprising a character generator for generating textual information overlaying said digital image signal data.

66. The standalone device according to claim 55, wherein the network connection is selected from one of a modem for public telephone networks;

an Ethernet adapter for connecting to an Ethernet LAN;

an ISDN modem;

an XDSL adapter;

a cable modem;

an ATM adapter;

a T carrier terminal adapter;

an adapter for satellite connection;

an adapter for microwave connection;

an adapter for wireless connection;

an adapter for serial transmission over a high speed external serial bus;

or an adapter for data transmission over public power lines.

67. The standalone device according to claim 55, wherein the network connection is not built-in to circuitry of the standalone device.

68. The standalone device according to claim 67, wherein the network connection is a connection of a network interface device that is installed in a slot interface of the standalone device circuitry.

69. The standalone device according to claim 55, wherein said self-initiating transmission initiating routine initiates a connection in response to a detected signal from one of a motion sensor or trip switch.

70. The standalone device according to claim 55, further comprising an analog output connector that transmits an output video signal outside the standalone device, wherein the microcontroller is capable of (i) transferring the digital image signal data to the internet-protocol network via the network connection and (ii) transmitting an analog video signal, corresponding to the views from outside the standalone device, via the analog output connector.

71. The standalone device according to claim 55, further comprising:

a configuration routine executable by said microcontroller that retrieves configuration information from the internet protocol network; and

a configuration setting routine executable by said microcontroller that sets operational parameters of the standalone device according to the retrieved configuration information.

72. The standalone device according to claim 55, wherein the analog video input connector collects an input image signal corresponding to the view of a camera connected to the standalone device, and wherein said standalone device receives configuration information containing pan/tilt parameters for the camera, and said microcontroller initiates panning and/or tilting directing the camera according to the received pan/tilt parameters.

73. The standalone device according to claim 55, further comprising a network authentication routine executable by said microcontroller for providing network login authentication to the internet-protocol network.

74. The standalone device according to claim 73, further comprising a password enabling routine executable by the microcontroller, that configures said standalone device to register on a local network via said network connection, in a first mode providing a password in order to register on a local network and in a second mode registering on a local network without providing a password.

75. The standalone device according to claim 55, further comprising a file transfer application executable by said microcontroller, wherein the file transfer application transfers the digital image signal data, corresponding to the views from outside the standalone device, to a network device capable of serving files via the network connection, the internet-protocol network and an internet-protocol address.

76. The standalone device according to claim 55, wherein said E-mail message assembling routine further assembles E-mail messages including report information related to the triggering signal, the report information related to the triggering signal including status information for the standalone device.

77. The standalone device according to claim 55, wherein the triggering signal is an alarm signal, and in response to the triggering signal, notification of the alarm signal is sent to a defined list of e-mail recipients to alert the e-mail recipients of the alarm signal.