Enterprise video intelligence and analytics management system and method

• US 7,730,534 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2006
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Smartvue Corp. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Renkis, Martin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Parthasarathy, Pramila
• Application Number:
  US11/413,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20060192675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,494 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 726/22
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19615 wherein said pattern is defined by the user
• 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 13/19691 Signalling events for better perception by user, e.g. indicating alarms by making display brighter, adding text, creating a sound
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• 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: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A wireless surveillance system and methods of operating same including a server software application that enables automated and centralized video analytics data storage and reporting capabilities as well as digital video management and/or recording device (DVM) and camera management capabilities for multiple DVMs and digital input capture devices (ICDs) such as cameras. The system includes at least one server computer operable via user interface selections that activate corresponding functions associated with the software application and the camera(s) and DVM(s) connected and operable within the system via wireless communication with each other and the server through a network and authorized access thereto. In a method for using the system, a user adds DVMs to the system by selecting a subset or the complete group of cameras related to each DVM to be added to the server application. Then, the user selects at least one of the cameras to be managed and displayed, the selection being made by the user in the user interface.

Claims

1. A wireless surveillance system including:

at least one input capture device (ICD) having input sensors operable for capturing data input from activities within a target environment, the at least one ICD operable for direct cross-communication, including data exchange, with one or more other ICDs through a wireless communication network;

a remote server computer (RSC) with software operable thereon for providing automated functions selected from analytics, data storage, reporting, device management, control, and combinations thereof;

a digital video management and/or recording device (DVM) communicates wirelessly through the wireless communication network providing wireless communication with the at least one ICD and networked communication with the RSC;

automatically activating the system based on inputs provided through a user interface on a remote computer;

capturing data inputs via the input capture device(s);

software analyzing the captured data inputs and generating a report that is viewable by the user on a display associated with the remote computer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the RSC further includes the user interface on a display.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein a user interacts with the system via the user interface to selectively control functions of the system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the ICDs are functional and operable to capture video, audio, and/or data from sensors such as temperature and humidity data from specific geographic locations and wherein the RSC is operable to collect and analyze the data and to provide a single report relating all ICD data.

5. The system of claim 1, further includes adding at least one additional DVM to the system when the RSC receives inputs for selecting a subset or the complete group of cameras related to each DVM to be added to a server application.

6. The system of claim 5, further includes the user selecting via user interface options at least one of the ICDs to be managed and displayed.