Multimedia network appliances for security and surveillance applications
DCFirst Claim
1. An appliance for a network based security system, the network operating according to a packet switching protocol, comprising:
- a sensor component adapted for generating a signal in response to a condition present at the sensor component;
a processor for generating a digital output signal corresponding to the sensor component signal;
a network interface for transmitting the digital output signal via a digital network, wherein the sensor is a video sensor and the signal comprises a video signal, the appliance further comprising;
an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog video signal to a digital signal;
a motion video buffer;
an mpeg compressor associated with the motion video compressor;
a still frame buffer;
a jpeg compressor associated with the still frame buffer;
a multiplexer for combining the output of the mpeg compressor and the jpeg compressor for generating a combined output signal to the processorfor distribution via the network interface over the network, wherein there is further comprising;
an audio sensor component;
an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog audio signal to a digital signal;
an audio compressor associated with the audio sensor component for introducing a signal to the multiplexer, whereby the multiplexer produces a combined digital signal comprising a video and an audio component for distribution via the network interface over the network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Network appliances for use in combination with a network based full service, multi-media surveillance system provide a wide range of monitoring techniques utilizing digital network architecture. The appliances may be connected to the surveillance system for transmitting event data, video and/or image monitoring information, audio signals and other data over significant distances using digital data transmission over networks such as a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network such as the Internet for other networks, permitting remote manual and/or automatic assessment and response. The wireless LAN connectivity permits local distribution of audio, video and image data with relatively high bandwidth without requirement of a license and without relying on a common carrier and the fees associated therewith. The surveillance system may be interfaced with a WAN (wide area network) such as frame relay or the Internet for providing a worldwide, low cost surveillance system with virtually unlimited geographic application. Multiple sensors and appliances may be accommodated, as required. The topology of the network will be established by the geographic situation of the specific installation. Appropriate firewalls may be set up as desired to protect unauthorized access to the system or collected data. The server based system permits a security provider to have access to the appliance, related sensor and surveillance data or to configure or reconfigure the system from any station on the Intranet or Internet.
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Citations
69 Claims
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1. An appliance for a network based security system, the network operating according to a packet switching protocol, comprising:
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a sensor component adapted for generating a signal in response to a condition present at the sensor component; a processor for generating a digital output signal corresponding to the sensor component signal; a network interface for transmitting the digital output signal via a digital network, wherein the sensor is a video sensor and the signal comprises a video signal, the appliance further comprising; an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog video signal to a digital signal; a motion video buffer; an mpeg compressor associated with the motion video compressor; a still frame buffer; a jpeg compressor associated with the still frame buffer; a multiplexer for combining the output of the mpeg compressor and the jpeg compressor for generating a combined output signal to the processor for distribution via the network interface over the network, wherein there is further comprising; an audio sensor component; an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog audio signal to a digital signal; an audio compressor associated with the audio sensor component for introducing a signal to the multiplexer, whereby the multiplexer produces a combined digital signal comprising a video and an audio component for distribution via the network interface over the network.
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2. A device adapted to be connected to an internet protocol network, the device comprising:
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a housing; at least one sensor supported by the housing, the at least one sensor providing digital sensor data, the digital sensor data relating to at least one condition of an environment external of the housing, the at least one sensor including a camera, the camera being configured to provide digital image data; at least one digital processor supported by the housing, the at least one digital processor being in communication with the at least one sensor for receiving the digital sensor data; at least two compressors supported by the housing, the at least two compressors being configured to congress digital image data according to respective of at least two compression protocols, the at least two compressors providing respective of at least two differentiated sets of compressed digital image data; and a network interface supported by the housing, the network interface being in communication with the at least two compressors for receiving the at least two differentiated sets of compressed digital image data, the network interface being adapted to be connected to the internet protocol network for communicating to the internet protocol network the at least two differentiated sets of compressed digital image data in internet protocol format. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A device adapted to be connected to an internet protocol network, the device comprising:
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a housing; at least one camera supported by the housing, the at least one camera providing sensor data, the sensor data relating to at least one field of view of an environment external of the housing; at least one analog to digital converter supported by the housing, the at least one analog to digital converter being connected to the camera to receive the sensor data, the at least one analog to digital converter digitizing the sensor data, the at least one analog to digital converter providing digital sensor data; at least one digital processor supported by the housing, the at least one digital processor being in communication with the at least one analog to digital converter for receiving the digital sensor data; and a network interface supported by the housing, the network interface being in communication with the at least one digital processor for receiving the digital sensor data, the network interface being adapted to be connected to the internet protocol network for communicating to the internet protocol network the digital sensor data in internet protocol format. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A device adapted to be connected to an internet protocol network, the device comprising:
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a housing; at least one camera supported by the housing, the at least one camera providing digital sensor data, the digital sensor data relating to at least one field of view, the digital sensor data including a still image in digital format and video in digital format; at least one still image encoder for compressing according to at least one still image compression protocol the still image in digital format, the at least one still image encoder providing compressed still image data; at least one video encoder for compressing according to at least one video compression protocol the video in digital format, the at least one video encoder providing compressed video data; at least one digital processor supported by the housing, the at least one digital processor being in communication with the at least one still image encoder for receiving the compressed still image data, the at least one digital processor being in communication with the at least one still image encoder for receiving the compressed video data; a network interface supported by the housing, the network interface being in communication with the at least one digital processor for receiving the compressed still image data and the compressed video data, the network interface being adapted to be connected to the internet protocol network for communicating to the internet protocol network the compressed still image data and the compressed video data in internet protocol format, the compressed still image data and the compressed video data when communicated to the internet protocol network being contained in at least one sequence of data packets, the at least one sequence of data packets including the compressed still image data and the compressed video data; and at least one multiplexer in communication with the network interface, the at least one multiplexer being adapted to provide to the network interface at least one sequence of data including the compressed still image data and the compressed video data, the at least one sequence of data packets communicated to the internet protocol network from the network interface including the at least one sequence of data. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A device adapted to be connected to an internet protocol network, the device comprising:
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a housing; at least one camera supported by the housing, the at least one camera providing digital sensor data, the digital sensor data relating to at least one field of view, at least one digital processor supported by the housing, the at least one digital processor being in communication with the at least one camera for receiving the digital sensor data; a location signal source in communication with the at least one digital processor for providing to the digital processor a location signal, the location signal corresponding to a location; a panic switch in communication with the at least one digital processor, operation of the panic switch by an operator providing to the digital processor a panic signal, the panic signal corresponding to a request for assistance by personnel; and a network interface supported by the housing, the network interface being in communication with the at least one digital processor for receiving the digital sensor data, the network interface being in communication with the at least one digital processor for receiving the signal, the network interface being adapted to be connected to the internet protocol network for communicating to the internet protocol network the digital sensor data, the location signal, and the panic signal. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. An appliance adapted for connection to a security system the security system including an internet protocol network, the appliance comprising:
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a sensor component, the sensor component including a video sensor component adapted for generating a video signal in response to a condition present at the video sensor component; an analog-to-digital converter for converting the video signal from analog format to digital format, the analog-to-digital converter thus producing a digital video signal; a motion video buffer; an mpeg compressor associated with the motion video buffer, the mpeg compressor producing compressed mpeg output; a still frame buffer; a jpeg compressor associated with the still frame buffer, the jpeg compressor producing compressed jpeg output; a multiplexer for combining the compressed mpeg output and the compressed jpeg output for generating a combined output signal, the combined output signal being communicated to the processor; a processor for generating a digital output signal corresponding to the combined output signal; and a network interface for transmitting the digital output signal to the internet protocol network. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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Specification