Wireless video surveillance system and method with DVR-based querying

• US 7,508,418 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Smartvue Corp. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Renkis, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannett, James M
• Application Number:
  US10/949,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20060066729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 348/211.2
• US Class Current: 348/211.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8227 the additional signal being at least another television signal

Abstract

A surveillance system and method for activating communication between at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) and/or another ICD, including the steps of providing base system; at least one user accessing the DIR via user interface either directly or remotely; the DIR and/or ICD searching for signal from the ICD(s) and establishing communication with them, and the DIR polling for information posted by a remote server computer (RSC) based upon user inputs thereto, for providing a secure surveillance system having wireless communication for monitoring a target environment.

Claims

1. A method for activating communication between at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s), a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR), and a remote server computer (RSC), all configured and operable for communication on a network connection, together forming a base system, comprising the steps of:

providing the base system;

a remote user accessing the DIR via a user interface through the network connection with the RSC;

the DIR searching for signal from the ICD(s) and establishing communication with them;

activating direct cross-communication between the ICD(s) that provides for data exchange including input data relating to the environment under surveillance and direct communication between any of the ICD(s) and the DIR that includes data exchange including input data relating to the environment under surveillance, settings, and inputs captured by the ICD(s);

the DIR polling for instruction posted by the RSC, wherein the information is provided by user inputs that a remote user provides to the RSC via communication transmitted on a network connection;

thereby providing a secure surveillance system with wireless input capture from a target environment.

2. A method for accessing inputs from at least one wireless digital input capture device (ICD(s)) and a corresponding wireless digital input recorder (DIR) via a network connection with a remote server computer (RSC), the ICDs, DIR, and RSC with their network connection forming a wireless surveillance system comprising the steps of:

a) providing the wireless surveillance system having at least one ICD constructed and configured for wireless digital cross-communication with a corresponding wireless DIR, wherein the DIR has a memory and a data processor for running software is operable for transmitting instructions to and receiving and recording data inputs from the ICD(s), and is operable for polling the RSC;

b) at least one user interfacing with the RSC and providing user instructions for establishing or adjusting settings of the DIR, and/or viewing inputs from the ICDs including direct cross-communication between ICDs;

c) the RSC posting the user instructions as RSC postings;

d) the DIR polling the RSC at predetermined intervals for checking RSC postings;

e) the DIR responding to the postings and searching for signals from at least one ICD;

f) the DIR establishing communication with the ICD(s);

g) the DIR transmitting inputs from each of the ICD(s) identified according to the RSC postings;

thereby providing a method for secure wireless communication in the surveillance system between at least one ICD and corresponding DIR based upon user inputs to the RSC.

3. The method according to claim 2, further including the step of:

the DIR creating a named representation of each of the ICD(s) identified.

4. The method according to claim 2, further including the step of:

the DIR validating the approval status for communication with each ICD.

5. The method according to claim 2, further including the step of:

the DIR confirming the establishment of communication with each detected ICD.

6. The method according to claim 2, further including the step of:

the DIR confirming the establishment of communication with each detected ICD.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein the steps are repeated at the predetermined intervals.

8. A surveillance system for wireless communication between components comprising:

a base system including at least one wireless input capture devices (ICDs), a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR), and a remote server computer (RSC), all configured and operable for communication on a network connection, together forming a base system, wherein the ICDs having at least one sensor and at least one input component for detecting and recording inputs, a processor, a memory, a transmitter/receiver, all constructed and configured in electronic connection;

wherein the ICDs are operable for wireless direct cross-communication with each other including transmission and exchange of data, inputs captured, and settings from any of the ICDs;

and wherein the system is operable to permit a remote user to access the DIR via a user interface through the network connection with the RSC;

wherein the DIR is operable for searching for signal from the ICD(s) and establishing communication with them, and for activating communication between the ICD(s) and DIR;

wherein the DIR is farther operable for polling for instruction posted by the RSC, wherein the information is provided by user inputs that a remote user provides to the RSC via communication transmitted on a network connection;

for providing a secure surveillance system with wireless input capture from a target environment.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the direct cross-communication of ICDs with each other includes data exchange, wherein the data exchange includes information about the surveillance environment, settings, inputs, and combinations thereof, and operational information including dates and times of input capture associated with each ICD.