Multi-functional remote monitoring system

• US 8,503,972 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digital Ally Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Digital Ally Incorporated
• Inventors: Haler, Robert D., Pingel, Leslie R., Scroggins, Yancy E., Morrey, Walter T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gao, Jing
• Application Number:
  US12/609,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20100167687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 455/420, 455/39, 455/500, 455/91, 455/95, 455/103, 348/143, 348/159, 348/207.11, 348/211.99, 348/211.1, 348/211.2
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A multi-functional remote monitoring system for use in a mobile surveillance system comprising a host controller, at least one hub transceiver, and at least one remote monitoring transmitter (“RMT”) operable to capture and transmit data, wherein the hub transceiver is operable to communicate to and receive data from the at least one RMT. The hub transceiver and the RMT are adapted for bi-directional transmission and receipt of data, including audio and data signals. The host controller is operable to control the hub transceiver and facilitate communication of the audio and data signals between the RMTs and the hub transceiver.

Claims

1. A multi-functional remote monitoring system for use in a mobile surveillance system used by law enforcement personnel, the remote monitoring system comprising:

two or more wireless hand-held, mobile remote monitoring transmitters, each having a processor, an on-board memory, a microphone, and a speaker and each sized for being worn by a user on the user'"'"'s person or clothing; and

a hub transceiver for communicating to and receiving communication from the remote monitoring transmitters, said hub transceiver having a processor and a memory,

wherein each of the remote monitoring transmitters is adapted for bi-directional transmission of audio signals to and from the other remote monitoring transmitters and to and from said hub transceiver,

wherein each of the remote monitoring transmitters is adapted to function as a node in a network comprising said hub transceiver and the remote monitoring transmitters,

wherein said hub transceiver includes a location-determining device operable to determine a location of the hub transceiver, and further wherein said location is periodically transmitted to the remote monitoring transmitters,

wherein each of the remote monitoring transmitters is operable to capture audio signals via the microphone and to transmit the captured audio signals to the hub transceiver when the hub transceiver is within a transmit range of a transmitting remote monitoring transmitter, wherein when the hub transceiver is not within a transmit range of said transmitting remote monitoring transmitter, said transmitting remote monitoring transmitter transmits the captured audio signals to another remote monitoring transmitter in the network and within range of the hub transceiver,

wherein when said transmitting remote monitoring transmitter is not within a transmit range of either the hub transceiver or another remote monitoring transmitter within range of the hub transceiver, said transmitting remote monitoring transmitter stores the captured audio signals in the transmitter'"'"'s on-board memory,

wherein upon said transmitting remote monitoring transmitter moving within the transmit range of the hub transceiver or another remote monitoring transmitter within range of the hub transceiver, said transmitting remote monitoring transmitter transmits the captured audio signals to either the another remote monitoring transmitter within range of the hub transceiver or to the hub transceiver for storage on the hub transceiver'"'"'s memory,

wherein said transmitting remote monitoring transmitter is adapted to scan all available channels to send an emergency signal to the hub transceiver or to any other hub transceiver in transmit range of said transmitting remote monitoring transmitter.

2. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, further including a second hub transceiver,

wherein each of the remote monitoring transmitters is adapted to scan all available channels for detection of and synchronization with an available hub transceiver.

3. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein each of the remote monitoring transmitters includes—

a location-determining device operable to determine a location of the remote monitoring transmitter,

a still photograph and video subsystem for capturing and storing still photographs and videos,

a biometric sensor for receiving biometric information,

a verification portion for use in verifying an authenticity of an identification card, and

a display for displaying said transmitter location, said still photographs, and said videos thereon.

4. The remote monitoring system of claim 3, wherein said location of the remote monitoring transmitters and the location of the hub transceiver is used to determine an optimum power level for operation of the remote monitoring transmitters based on a distance of the remote monitoring transmitters from said hub transceiver.

5. The remote monitoring system of claim 3, wherein said biometric sensor is a fingerprint reader and said biometric information is fingerprint data.

6. The remote monitoring system of claim 3, wherein said verification portion is selected from the group consisting of a UV light source and an IR light source.

7. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said emergency signal is sent automatically when the remote monitoring transmitters detect a predetermined condition.

8. The remote monitoring system of claim 7, wherein the remote monitoring transmitters are automatically adjusted to full transmit power prior to sending of said emergency signal to increase a transmit range of said emergency signal.