Automotive surveillance system

• US 8,451,331 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2007
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher L. Hughes
• Original Assignee: Christopher L. Hughes
• Inventors: Hughes, Christopher L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ibrahim, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US11/695,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20080204555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,248 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148, 348152-154, 340/541
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/302 using recording means, e.g. black box
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19647 Systems specially adapted for intrusion detection in or around a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

A motor vehicle monitoring system comprises controller 100, processor 110, memory 120, wireless transceiver 200, audio recording device 300, video recording device 400, information storage device 500, vehicle tracking device 600, video display device 700, and stimulus sensing device 800.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle monitoring system comprising:

a system controller interfacing with a wireless transceiver, an audio recording device, a video recording device, an information storage device, a vehicle tracking device, a video display device, and a stimulus sensing device;

a computer processor and computer memory including software instructions that cause said monitoring system to perform the steps of,

detecting an event according to predetermined instructions and storing information in the information storage device according to said predetermined instructions;

said predetermined instructions being selectively chosen from one or more profiles, each profile being specifically tailored to a particular environment;

notifying a user of said event by sending electronic information through a wireless communication channel;

enabling a user to monitor any of said recording devices;

enabling a user to remotely control said monitoring system;

enabling a user to monitor said motor vehicle in real time or with pre-recorded data;

wherein said system controller compresses all information before storage;

wherein said system controller compresses all information before transmission;

wherein said system being capable of being remotely controlled;

said video recording device having automatic mechanical cleaning means;

said video recording device being capable of adjusting automatically for ambient light conditions;

said audio recording device being capable of automatic enablement upon movement detection;

said video recording device being capable of automatic enablement upon movement detection;

said video recording device being capable of panning;

said video recording device being capable of panning automatically to track movement;

said video recording device being capable of panning manually to track movement;

said video recording device being capable of remote control by a user;

said video recording device being capable of automatically defrosting;

said video recording device being mounted to optimize viewing and recording of automobile license plates and pedestrians;

said information storage device being capable of storing information in electronic form;

whereby a motor vehicle may be remotely monitored.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

said automatic mechanical cleaning means comprises a mechanical wiper.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

said automatic mechanical cleaning means comprises utilizing pressurized air.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

said automatic mechanical cleaning means comprises utilizing pressurized liquid.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising said video display device being mounted in said vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising said video display device being hand held.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising said information storage device being located in said vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising said information storage device being located remote to said vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

said vehicle tracking device comprises the existing navigation system of said vehicle.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

said vehicle tracking device comprises a GPS system.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

said vehicle tracking device comprises utilizing cellular tower triangulation.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

said stimulus sensors of said monitoring device comprise motion sensors.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

said stimulus sensors of said monitoring device comprise vibration sensors.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

said stimulus sensors of said monitoring device comprise perimeter intrusion sensors.

15. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

said audio recording device comprises a plurality of audio recording devices;

said video recording device comprises a plurality of video recording devices;

said stimulus sensing device comprises a plurality of stimulus sensing devices;

said audio recording devices are placed to maximize the audio recording field;

said video recording devices are placed to maximize the video recording field.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

said system controller being capable of entering a dormant mode during periods of inactivity.

17. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

said audio recording device being mounted on the exterior of said vehicle.

18. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

said audio recording device being mounted on the interior of said vehicle.

19. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

said video recording device being mounted on the exterior of said vehicle.

20. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

said video recording device being mounted on the interior of said vehicle.