Wireless video surveillance system and method with two-way locking of input capture devices

• US 7,821,533 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2004
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Smartvue Corp. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Renkis, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): AN, SHAWN S
• Application Number:
  US10/948,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20060072013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,224 Days
• Field of Search: 348/156, 348/143, 348/152, 348/158, 348/159, 348/153, 725/102, 725/88
• US Class Current: 348/156
• 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: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A method for locking 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 locking the ICDs to send wireless data exclusively to that DIR and/or ICD; and/or the DIR and/or ICD locking itself for exclusive communication with the locked ICDs, thereby providing a secure surveillance system for a target environment.

Claims

1. A method for locking communication between at least one wireless digital input capture device (ICD(s)) and a corresponding wireless digital input recorder (DIR) 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 direct 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), wherein the inputs and data exchanged through direct cross-communication of ICD(s) include data about the environment, control settings, and ICD settings;

b) providing a user interface with the DIR and for establishing or for adjusting settings;

c) the DIR searching for signal from at least one selected ICD;

d) the DIR establishing communication with the selected ICD(s);

e) the DIR creating a named representation of each of the selected ICD(s) identified;

f) the DIR validating the device approval status for communication with each selected ICD;

g) the DIR locking the selected ICD(s) to only send wireless data to the DIR;

h) the DIR confirming detection of signals from the ICD(s);

i) the DIR confirming the establishment of communication with each detected capture device;

j) the DIR locking itself to communicate exclusively with the found devices; and

k) the DIR refusing signals from new ICD(s) that are not locked to the DIR, thereby providing a method for secure communication in the surveillance system between at least one ICD and corresponding DIR.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of the DIR receiving input from the user interface instructing the DIR to search for new ICD(s).

3. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

the DIR receiving input from the user interface user instructing the DIR to remove ICD(s) from the system; and

the DIR removing the device.

4. A method for locking communication between at least one wireless digital input capture device (ICD(s)) and a corresponding wireless digital input recorder (DIR) 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 direct 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), wherein the inputs and data exchanged through direct cross-communication of ICD(s) include data about the environment, control settings, and ICD settings;

b) providing a user interface operable with the DIR and for receiving inputs for automatically establishing or adjusting settings;

c) the DIR searching for signal from at least one selected ICD;

d) the DIR establishing communication with the selected ICD(s);

e) the DIR creating a named representation of each of the selected ICD(s) identified;

f) the DIR validating the device approval status for communication with each selected ICD;

g) the DIR locking the selected ICD(s) to only send wireless data to the DIR;

h) the DIR confirming detection of signals from the ICD(s);

i) the DIR confirming the establishment of communication with each detected capture device;

j) the DIR locking itself to communicate exclusively with the found devices; and

k) the DIR accepting signals from new ICD(s) not locked to the DIR, thereby providing a method for secure communication in the surveillance system between at least one ICD and corresponding DIR.

5. The method of claim 4, further including the step of the DIR receiving input from the user interface instructing the DIR to search for new ICD(s).

6. The method of claim 4, further including the steps of:

the DIR receiving input from the user interface instructing the DIR to remove ICD(s) from the system; and

the DIR removing the device.