Apparatus and method for operating a multi-unit storage facility

• US 7,856,643 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2005
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Katonah Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Katonah Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Machinist, Robert B., Bain, Kent S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirl; Joseph P
• Assistant Examiner(s): RABOVIANSKI, JIVKA A
• Application Number:
  US11/144,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20060007309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,027 Days
• Field of Search: 725/14
• US Class Current: 725/14
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19647 Systems specially adapted for intrusion detection in or around a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/146 where the parking area is a limited parking space, e.g. parking garage, restricted space
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A system and method of operating a multi-user storage facility is provided. For each distinct user of the storage facility, the distinct user is associated with at least one storage unit of the facility. Video monitoring of the at least one storage unit is provided producing a video output. Each distinct user is provided over a digital communication network with private access to a view of the video output associated with the user. In this manner, each of a plurality of distinct users has access to a view of the video output associated with the user.

Claims

1. A method of operating a multi-level network of a multi-user, multi-unit dedicated motor vehicle storage facility with a plurality of distinct unit users and also external users, such users collectively forming a user community, the method comprising:

(1) operating a private level network with video and sensor monitoring of the facility by a set of cameras, wherein a distinct subset of the set of cameras and sensors monitors a distinct set of dedicated motor vehicle storage units of the facility such operating including;

for each distinct user,

associating the distinct user with at least one distinct motor vehicle storage unit of the facility;

causing monitoring of the at least one distinct selected motor vehicle storage unit such video monitoring having a, the video output causing display of a motor vehicle associated with the distinct user and stored in the at least one distinct dedicated storage unit;

causing video monitoring of at least one parameter associated with the dedicated storage init selected from the group of temperature and humidity and such parameter stored in a log over a period of time; and

providing, and the log outputs to a server;

(2) operating the server with connectivity over a public level network to provide via a web site, for each distinct user, password-protected private access to the video and parameter outputs, and wherein each distinct user of the user community has the option of selecting (a) to maintain such access as private to the distinct unit user, such private access excluding other users, or (b) to cause sharing of such access in a manner determined by the distinct user;

so that each of a plurality of distinct unit users of the user community having at least one distinct dedicated motor vehicle storage unit has user-controlled password protected access to the video and parameters outputs associated with at least one distinct storage unit.

2. A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

requiring a motor vehicle destined for storage in a targeted distinct motor vehicle storage unit of the facility to pass through a reception region, the reception region fitted with a camera system for capturing images of the vehicle from a plurality of positions;

using the camera system to capture images of the vehicle from a plurality of positions prior to placement of the vehicle in the targeted distinct motor vehicle storage unit; and

storing the captured images to document physical appearance of the vehicle prior to its entry into the targeted distinct motor vehicle storage unit.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein causing sharing of private access to the video and parameter output includes:

receiving a request to share private access from a distinct user, wherein the request to share private access defines a class of persons to receive private access; and

providing private access to the video and parameter outputs to persons in the defined class.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein causing sharing of private access to the video output to a includes providing a password to the distinct user, such that the distinct user can allow one or more other distinct users to view the video and parameter outputs by providing the password to the one or more other distinct users.

5. A system for operating a multi-user, multi-unit dedicated motor vehicle storage facility, the system comprising:

(1) a private level network with video and sensor monitoring of the facility by a set of cameras and sensors wherein a distinct subset of the set of cameras and sensors are configured to monitor a distinct set of dedicated motor vehicle storage units of the facility, such that;

each distinct user is associated with at least one distinct motor vehicle storage unit of the facility;

for each distinct user, the at least one distinct motor vehicle storage unit is monitored by video monitoring having a video output, causing display of motor vehicle associated with the distinct user and stored in the at least on distinct dedicated storage unit;

for each distinct user, at least one parameter associated with the dedicated storage unit is monitored, the at least one parameter selected from the group of temperature and humidity and such parameter stored in a log over a period of time; and

(2) a server with connectivity over a public level network and configured to provide via a web site, for each distinct user of the community has the option of selecting (a) to maintain such access as private to the distinct unit user, such private access excluding other users, or (b) to cause sharing of such access in a manner determined by the distinct unit user;

wherein each of the plurality of distinct unit users of the user community having at least one distinct dedicated motor vehicle storage unit has user-controlled password-protected access to the video and parameter outputs associated with at least one distinct storage unit.

6. A system according to claim 5, the system further comprising:

a camera system for capturing images of the vehicle from a plurality of positions, the camera system mounted in a reception region through which a motor vehicle, destined for storage in a targeted distinct motor vehicle storage unit of the facility, passes;

an image storage arrangement that stores images captured by the camera system, to document physical appearance of the vehicle prior to its entry into the targeted distinct motor vehicle storage unit.

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein the server is configured to:

receive a request to share private access from a distinct user, wherein the request to share private access defines a class of persons to receive private access; and

provide private access to the video and parameter outputs to persons in the defined class.

8. A system according to claim 5, wherein the server is configured to provide a password to a distinct user, such that the distinct user can allow one or more other distinct users to view the video and parameter outputs by providing the password to the one or more other distinct users.

9. A method of operating a multi-level network of a multi-user multi-unit dedicated motor vehicle storage facility with a plurality of distinct unit users and also external users, such users collectively forming a user community, the method comprising:

(1) operating a private level network with video and sensor monitoring of the facility by a set of cameras and sensors wherein a distinct subset of the set of cameras and sensors are configured to monitor a distinct set of dedicated motor vehicle storage units of the facility, such operating including;

for each distinct user,

associating the distinct user with at least one distinct motor vehicle storage unit of the facility;

causing video monitoring of the at least one distinct motor vehicle storage unit is monitored by video monitoring having a video output, causing display of motor vehicle associated with the distinct user and stored in the at least on distinct dedicated storage unit;

causing monitoring of at least one parameter associated with the dedicated storage unit is monitored, the at least one parameter selected from the group of temperature and humidity and such parameter stored in a log over a period of time; and

providing the video and log outputs to a server;

(2) operating the server with connectivity over a public level network and configured to provide via a web site, for each distinct user of the community has the option of selecting (a) to maintain such access as private to the distinct unit user, such private access excluding other users, or (b) to cause sharing of such access in a manner determined by the distinct unit user;

so that each of the plurality of distinct unit users of the user community having at least one distinct dedicated motor vehicle storage unit has user-controlled password-protected access to the defined view of the video and to the parameter outputs associated with at least one distinct storage unit.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein each distinct motor vehicle storage unit is dimensioned for storage of at least one motor vehicle, the method further comprising:

requiring a motor vehicle destined for storage in a distinct storage unit of the facility to pass through a reception region, the reception region fitted with a camera system for capturing images of the vehicle from a plurality of positions;

using the camera system to capture images of the vehicle from a plurality of positions prior to placement of the vehicle in the distinct distinct motor vehicle storage unit; and

storing the captured images to document physical appearance of the vehicle prior to its entry into the distinct distinct motor vehicle storage unit.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein causing sharing of private access to the and the parameter output to a distinct user includes:

receiving a request to share private access from the distinct user, wherein the request to share private access defines a class of persons to receive private access; and

providing private access to the defined view and the parameter output to persons in the defined class.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein causing sharing private access to the defined view and the parameter output to a distinct user includes providing a password to the distinct user, such that the distinct user can allow one or more other distinct users to view the defined view and the parameter output by providing the password to the one or more other distinct users.

13. A system for operating a multi-user multi-unit dedicated motor vehicle storage facility, the system comprising:

(1) a private level network with video and sensor monitoring of the facility by a set of cameras and sensors wherein a distinct subset of the set of cameras and sensors are configured to monitor a distinct set of dedicated motor vehicle storage units of the facility, such that;

each distinct user is associated with at least one distinct motor vehicle storage unit of the facility;

for each distinct user, the at least one distinct motor vehicle storage unit is monitored by video monitoring having a video output, causing display of motor vehicle associated with the distinct user and stored in the at least on distinct dedicated storage unit;

for each distinct user, at least one parameter associated with the dedicated storage unit is monitored, the at least one parameter selected from the group of temperature and humidity and such parameter stored in a log over a period of time; and

(2) a server with connectivity over a public level network and configured to provide via a web site, for each distinct user of the community has the option of selecting (a) to maintain such access as private to the distinct unit user, such private access excluding other users, or (b) to cause sharing of such access in a manner determined by the distinct unit user;

wherein each of the plurality of distinct unit users of the user community having at least one distinct dedicated motor vehicle storage unit has user-controlled password-protected access to the defined view of the video and to the parameter outputs associated with at least one distinct storage unit.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein each distinct motor vehicle storage unit is dimensioned for storage of a plurality of motor vehicles, the system further comprising:

a camera system for capturing images of each vehicle from a plurality of positions, the camera system mounted in a reception region through which a motor vehicle, destined for storage in a targeted distinct motor vehicle storage unit of the facility, passes;

an image storage arrangement that stores images captured by the camera system, to document physical appearance of the vehicle prior to its entry into the targeted distinct motor vehicle storage unit.

15. A system according to claim 13, wherein the server is configured to:

receive a request to share private access from a distinct user, wherein the request to share private access defines a class of persons to receive private access; and

provide private access to the video and parameter outputs to persons in the defined class.

16. A system according to claim 13, wherein the server is configured to provide a password to a distinct user, such that the distinct user can allow one or more other distinct users to view the video and parameter outputs by providing the password to the one or more other distinct users.