Wireless video surveillance system & method with input capture and data transmission prioritization and adjustment

• US 7,728,871 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• 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): Vo, Tung
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holder, Anner
• Application Number:
  US10/955,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20060071779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,070 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 348/153
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19621 Portable camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19663 Surveillance related processing done local to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1968 Interfaces for setting up or customising the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19682 Graphic User Interface [GUI] presenting system data to the user, e.g. information on a screen helping a user interacting with an alarm system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A surveillance system and method with 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 the 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 system providing for input capture and data transmission prioritization, thereby providing a secure surveillance system having wireless communication for monitoring a target environment with prioritization capabilities.

Claims

1. A method for prioritizing communication between at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) or another ICD forming a base system, comprising the steps of:

providing the base system;

wherein the ICD(s) are operable for wireless cross-communication with other ICD(s), including communication for adjustment of ICD settings and controls, without coupling through a remote server computer following initial set-up;

at least one user accessing the DIR via a user interface either directly or remotely for establishing priority settings of the system without coupling through a remote server computer;

ICD(s) detecting inputs; and

the system automatically prioritizing inputs or data communication between the ICD(s) and DIR, based upon the priority settings, and the ICD(s) wireless communication bandwidth being automatically increased for the ICD(s) that experienced an event associated with the priority settings, thereby providing a secure surveillance system for a target environment with prioritized data transmission.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the priority settings include a trigger event.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the trigger event includes change detection by the at least one ICD, such as audio, motion, or any other detectable inputs change and/or detection.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the inputs change or detection are above a predetermined limit or base measure, and combinations thereof.

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

a base system including at least one wireless input capture device (ICD), the ICD(s) 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; and

a digital input recorder (DIR);

wherein the ICDs are operable for wireless cross-communication with the DIR and/or each other, including communication for adjustment of ICD settings and controls, without coupling through a remote server computer following initial set-up;

wherein an authorized user provides prioritization settings for the system, such that inputs to the ICDs and communication thereof within the system are prioritized according to the settings, including the system automatically increasing wireless communication bandwidth to the ICD(s) that experience an event that corresponds to the prioritization settings.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the cross-communication of ICDs and/or DIR includes data exchange, wherein the data exchange includes information about the surveillance environment, settings, inputs, and combinations thereof.

7. The surveillance system of claim 5, wherein the priority settings include a trigger event.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the trigger event includes change detection by the at least one ICD, such as audio, motion, or any other detectable inputs change and/or detection.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the inputs change or detection are above a predetermined limit or base measure, and combinations thereof.