Wireless video surveillance system and method with security key

• US 8,199,195 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Smartvue Corp. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Renkis, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wright, Bryan
• Application Number:
  US10/955,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20060075235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,812 Days
• Field of Search: 348/272, 340/500, 340/539.19, 386/125, 725/105, 713/171
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19621 Portable camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19641 Multiple cameras having overlapping views on a single scene
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• 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 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19693 using multiple video sources viewed on a single or compound screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices

Abstract

A surveillance system and method having at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) and/or another ICD, and a security key for ensuring or denying access, 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, permitting or prohibiting data transmission and/or access if the security key is connected to the system components, thereby providing a secure surveillance system having wireless communication for monitoring a target environment.

Claims

1. A method for activating communication in a surveillance system, comprising the steps of:

providing a base system for digital video surveillance of a target environment, including visual input and recording;

the base system comprising at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) that each directly cross-control each other'"'"'s surveillance settings and directly cross-communicate with a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) or another ICD;

each ICD encased by a housing and each ICD includes at least one sensor and at least one input component for detecting and recording inputs, a processor, a memory, a power source, a power converter;

and a transmitter/receiver, all constructed and configured in electronic connection;

providing a security key and connecting it to at least one of the system components;

at least one user accessing the DIR via a user interface either directly or remotely;

the DIR searching for signal from the ICD(s) and establishing direct communication with them; and

activating direct cross-communication between at least one of the cross-communicating ICD(s) that provides for data exchange including input data relating to the environment under surveillance and direct communication between any of the ICD(s) and the DIR that includes data exchange including input data relating to the environment under surveillance, settings, and inputs captured by the ICD(s) for providing a network of ICD(s) that directly exchange video information relating to the target environment and for providing an extended range of surveillance, thereby providing a secure surveillance system for a target environment.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of removing the security key to prevent unauthorized access to the system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one input component is a camera.

3. A method for activating communication in a surveillance system, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a wireless surveillance system the surveillance system comprising a series of ICD(s) and a wireless digital input recorder (DIR), each ICD encased by a housing and each ICD includes at least one sensor and at least one input component for detecting and recording inputs, a processor, a memory, a power source, a power converter; and

a transmitter/receiver, all constructed and configured in electronic connection;

the ICD(s) each capable of direct cross-control of each other'"'"'s surveillance settings and direct communication between any of the ICD(s) that includes data exchange including input data relating to the environment under surveillance, control settings, and inputs captured by the ICD(s) and direct communication between any of the ICD(s) and the (DIR);

the surveillance system for digital video surveillance of a target environment, including visual input and recording having at least one ICD constructed and configured for wireless digital communication with a corresponding wireless DIR, wherein the DIR has a memory and a data processor for running software for transmitting instructions to and receiving and recording data inputs from all ICD(s) via cross-communication with the ICD(s) which the DIR is in direct communication with;

b) providing a security key and connecting it to at least one of the system components;

c) at least one user interfacing with the DIR and establishing or adjusting settings;

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

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

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

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

h) the DIR activating the selected ICD(s) to only send wireless data to the DIR;

i) the DIR confirming detection of signals from the ICD(s) and providing a network of ICD(s) that directly exchange video information relating to the target environment and for providing an extended range of surveillance, wherein the ICD(s) directly communicate with the DIR for providing video inputs relating to the target environment;

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

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

thereby providing a method for secure communication in the surveillance system between at least one ICD and corresponding DIR.

4. The method of claim 3, further including the step of removing the security key to prevent unauthorized access to the system.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one input component is a camera.

5. A method for activating communication in a surveillance system comprising the steps of:

providing a base system for digital video surveillance of a target environment, including visual input and recording;

the base system comprising at least two wireless input capture device ICD(s) each in direct wireless cross-control of each other'"'"'s surveillance settings and direct wireless cross-communication with each other;

each ICD encased by a housing and each ICD includes at least one sensor and at least one input component for detecting and recording inputs, a processor, a memory, a power source, a power converter; and

a transmitter/receiver, all constructed and configured in electronic connection;

providing at least one security key and connecting it to a corresponding at least one of the ICDs;

at least one user accessing the at least one ICD via a user interface;

the ICD(s) and establishing communication with each other and providing a network of ICD(s) that directly exchange video information relating to the target environment and for providing an extended range of surveillance, wherein the ICD(s) directly communicate with one another and at least one ICD directly communicates with the DIR for providing video inputs relating to the target environment; and

locking the communication between the ICD(s), thereby providing a secure wireless surveillance system for a target environment.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the base system further includes a wireless digital input recorder (DIR) for wireless communication directly with the ICDs.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the user is capable of accessing the ICDs via a user interface either directly or remotely.

8. The method of claim 5, further including the step of removing the security key to prevent unauthorized access to the system.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one input component is a camera.

9. A surveillance system for wireless communication between components comprising:

a base system for digital video surveillance of a target environment, including visual input and recording including at least two wireless input capture devices (ICDs) each in direct cross-control of each other'"'"'s surveillance settings and direct cross-communication with each other, the communication including information about the surveillance environment, settings, inputs, and combinations thereof, the ICDs having at least one sensor and at least one input component for detecting and recording inputs, a processor, a memory, a transmitter/receiver, all constructed and configured in electronic connection;

each ICD encased by a housing and each ICD includes at least one sensor and at least one input component for detecting and recording inputs, a processor, a memory, a power source, a power converter; and

a transmitter/receiver, all constructed and configured in electronic connection;

wherein the ICDs wirelessly direct cross-control, direct cross-communicate and data transfer directly with each other when at least one security key is provided and connected to at least one of the system components and providing a network of ICD(s) that directly exchange video information relating to the target environment and for providing an extended range of surveillance, wherein at least one of the cross-communicating ICD(s) directly communicate with the DIR for providing video inputs relating to the target environment.

10. The method of claim 9, further including the step of removing the security key to prevent unauthorized access to the system.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one input component is a camera.