Digital security multimedia sensor

• US 7,733,371 B1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: e-Watch, Inc. (Cision Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: e-Watch, Inc. (Cision Ltd.)
• Inventors: Monroe, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): AN, SHAWN S
• Application Number:
  US11/272,647
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• Field of Search: 348/153, 348/169, 348/154, 348/155, 348/143, 348/159, 348/152, 375/240, 375/240.25, 375/240.26, 375/240.01, 382/232, 382/233
• US Class Current: 348/153
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19628 of wide angled cameras and camera groups, e.g. omni-directional cameras, fish eye, single units having multiple cameras achieving a wide angle view
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19641 Multiple cameras having overlapping views on a single scene
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19667 Details realated to data compression, encryption or encoding, e.g. resolution modes for reducing data volume to lower transmission bandwidth or memory requirements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19693 using multiple video sources viewed on a single or compound screen
• 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: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A fully digital camera system provides high-resolution still image and streaming video signals via a network to a centralized, server supported security and surveillance system. The digital camera for collects an image from one or more image transducers, compressing the image and sending the compressed digital image signal to a receiving station over a digital network. A plurality of image transducers or sensors may be included in a single camera unit, providing array imaging such as full 360 degree panoramic imaging, universal or spherical imaging and field imaging by stacking or arranging the sensors in an array. The multiple images are then compressed and merged at the camera in the desired format to permit transmission of the least amount of data to accomplish the desired image transmission. The camera also employs, or connects to, a variety of sensors other than the traditional image sensor. Sensors for fire, smoke, sound, glass breakage, motion, panic buttons, and the like, may be embedded in or connected to the camera. Data captured by these sensors may be digitized, compressed, and networked to detect notable conditions. An internal microphone and associated signal processing system may be equipped with suitable signal processing algorithms for the purpose of detecting suitable acoustic events and their location. In addition, the camera is equipped with a pair of externally accessible terminals where an external sensor may be connected. In addition, the camera may be equipped with a short-range receiver that may detect the activation of a wireless ‘panic button’ carried by facility personnel. This ‘panic button’ may employ infrared, radio frequency (RF), ultrasonic, or other suitable methods to activate the camera'"'"'s receiver.

Claims

1. Apparatus for surveillance of an area, the area, including at least one monitored zone, said apparatus being configured for communication with an internet protocol network, the internet protocol network being configured for communication with at least one monitoring station configured for displaying compressed digital image data transmitted from the apparatus over the internet protocol network to the monitoring station, said apparatus comprising:

a video camera positioned to collect image data of a monitored zone;

said video camera including an analog to digital converter operable to provide digital image data, the digital image data corresponding to collected image data;

said video camera including a compressor in communication with the analog to digital converter to receive digital image data, said compressor being operable to compress the digital image data to provide compressed digital image data;

said video camera including digital storage in communication with at least one of said analog to digital converter and said compressor to receive the compressed digital image data, said digital storage being configured for retrieval from said digital storage a retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data, the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data being retrieved upon occurrence of a triggering event, the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data having a retrieved image resolution;

said video camera being configured for communication with the internet protocol network, said video camera being configured to transmit to the internet protocol network the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data, said video camera being configured to transmit to the internet protocol network other of the compressed digital image data, the other of the compressed digital image data being transmitted to the internet protocol network without being retrieved from said digital storage, the other of the compressed digital image data being transmitted to the internet protocol network upon occurrence of the triggering event, the other of the compressed digital image data upon being transmitted to the internet protocol network on a near real-time basis, the other of the compressed digital image data having a respective other image resolution, the respective other image resolution being less than the retrieved image resolution;

whereby transmission of both the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data and the other of the compressed digital image data provides for display at the at least one monitoring station both of the following;

for display on a near real-time basis the other of the compressed digital image data, and

for display on a time-delayed basis the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data, the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data originating before termination of one of the following;

transmission of the other of the compressed digital image data, and

the triggering event.

2. Apparatus for surveillance of an area according to claim 1 and further comprising:

wherein the area includes a plurality of monitored zones;

a plurality of said video cameras, each positioned to collect image data of a corresponding one of the monitored zones.

3. Apparatus for surveillance of an area according to claim 1 and further comprising:

said video camera being configured to transmit the other of the compressed digital image data to the internet protocol network on a near real time basis, the other of the compressed digital image data being transmitted to the internet protocol network subsequent to transmission of the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data.

4. Apparatus for surveillance of an area according to claim 1 and further comprising:

whereby transmission of both the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data and the other of the compressed digital image data provides for display at the at least one monitoring station both of the following;

for display on a near real-time basis the other of the compressed digital image data, and

for display on a time-delayed basis the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data, the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data originating before termination of transmission of the other of the compressed digital image data.

5. Apparatus for surveillance of an area according to claim 1 and further comprising:

whereby transmission of both the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data and the other of the compressed digital image data provides for display at the at least one monitoring station both of the following;

for display on a near real-time basis the other of the compressed digital image data of the zone, and

for display on a time-delayed basis the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data of the zone, the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data originating before termination of the triggering event.

6. Apparatus for surveillance of an area, the area including a plurality of monitored zones, said apparatus being configured for communication with an internet protocol network to enable display of compressed digital image data transmitted from the apparatus over the internet protocol network to a monitoring station, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of video cameras positioned to collect image data, each video camera corresponding to a respective monitored zone;

each video camera including an analog to digital converter operable to provide digital image data, the digital image data corresponding to collected image data;

each video camera including a compressor in communication with the analog to digital converter to receive digital image data, said compressor being operable to compress the digital image data to provide compressed digital image data;

each video camera including digital storage in communication with at least one of said analog to digital converter and said compressor to receive the compressed digital image data, said digital storage being configured for retrieval from said digital storage a retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data, the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data being retrieved upon occurrence of a triggering event in the area, the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data having a retrieved image resolution;

each video camera being configured for communication with the internet protocol network, each video camera being configured to transmit to the internet protocol network the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data, each said video camera being configured to transmit to the internet protocol network other of the compressed digital image data, the other of the compressed digital image data being transmitted to the internet protocol network without being retrieved from said digital storage, the other of the compressed digital image data being transmitted to the internet protocol network upon occurrence of the triggering event, the other of the compressed digital image data upon being transmitted to the internet protocol network on a near real-time basis, the other of the compressed digital image data having a respective other image resolution, the respective other image resolution being less than the retrieved image resolution;

whereby transmission of both the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data and the other of the compressed digital image data provides for display at the at least one monitoring station both of the following;

for display on a near real-time basis the other of the compressed digital image data of the zone, and

for display on a time-delayed basis the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data of the zone, the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data originating before termination of one of the following;

transmission of the other of the compressed digital image data, and

the triggering event.

7. Apparatus for surveillance of an area according to claim 6 and further comprising:

a plurality of said video cameras, each positioned to collect image data of a corresponding one of the monitored zones.

8. Apparatus for surveillance of an area according to claim 6 and further comprising:

said video camera being configured to transmit the other of the compressed digital image data of the zone to the internet protocol network on a near real time basis, the other of the compressed digital image data of the zone being transmitted to the internet protocol network subsequent to transmission of the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data of the zone.

9. Apparatus for surveillance of an area according to claim 6 and further comprising:

whereby transmission of both the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data and the other of the compressed digital image data provides for display at the at least one monitoring station both of the following;

for display on a near real-time basis the other of the compressed digital image data of the zone, and

for display on a time-delayed basis the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data of the zone, the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data originating before termination of transmission of the other of the compressed digital image data.

10. Apparatus for surveillance of an area according to claim 6 and further comprising:

whereby transmission of both the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data and the other of the compressed digital image data provides for display at the at least one monitoring station both of the following;

for display on a near real-time basis the other of the compressed digital image data of the zone, and

for display on a time-delayed basis the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data of the zone, the retrieved selection of the compressed digital image data originating before termination of the triggering event.