Comprehensive multi-media surveillance and response system for aircraft, operations centers, airports and other commercial transports, centers and terminals

• US 8,589,994 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2006
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: e-Watch, Inc. (Cision Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: e-Watch, Inc. (Cision Ltd.)
• Inventors: Monroe, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): AN, SHAWN S
• Application Number:
  US11/485,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20070130599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,687 Days
• Field of Search: 725/105, 725/108, 725/109, 725/118, 725/148, 348/144, 348/148, 348/152, 348/153, 348/154, 348/155, 348/156, 348/159, 340/945, 340/963, 701/14, 701/2
• US Class Current: 725/105
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19641 Multiple cameras having overlapping views on a single scene
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1965 the vehicle being an aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• 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 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18504 Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A data collection and distribution system for monitoring aircraft in flight, on the ground and at the gate or terminal for monitoring critical and catastrophic events, managing the emergency during such an event, and for investigating the event. The system generates, transmits and collects critical data generated by monitoring equipment onboard an aircraft or other commercial transport and selectively displays the data on a cockpit display console as well as for downloading, transmitting and displaying data at external monitoring and response stations, including fixed ground stations, roving ground stations and chase aircraft or vehicles. Digital surveillance information is collected, processed, dispatched, and log via remote control and access. The system includes a variety of system appliances such as surveillance cameras, sensors, detectors, and panic buttons and accommodates legacy equipment. Within the commercial transport, the system maybe hardwired or may use wireless transmission and receiving systems.

Claims

1. A surveillance system for monitoring an aircraft while in route to a destination, the system comprising:

a. a plurality of sensors mounted on the aircraft and adapted for generating data in response to conditions occurring on the aircraft, the data being generated on a near real-time basis in relation to conditions on the aircraft;

b. a remote receiving station, the remote receiving station being remote from the aircraft;

c. a wireless transmitter onboard the aircraft vehicle for transmitting data to the remote receiving station;

d. an onboard IP network, supported on the aircraft, the onboard IP network being in communication with the plurality of sensors to convey data received from the plurality of sensors;

wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is a portable wireless panic button device, the portable wireless panic button device being supported for movement in common with a person aboard the aircraft, the portable wireless panic button device being manually operable by a person aboard the aircraft to generate panic button data, the panic button data corresponding to one of a plurality of event conditions potentially existing aboard the aircraft, the panic button data identifying at the remote receiving station one of the plurality of event conditions, the wireless panic button device being in wireless communication with the IP network to provide the panic button data to the IP network, the IP network, being in communication with the wireless transmitter to provide the panic button data to the wireless transmitter; and

the wireless transmitter being operable to transmit the panic button data to the remote receiving station.

2. The system of claim 1 and further comprising:

wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one camera supported on the aircraft, the at least one camera being operable to provide visual image data of at least one monitored area onboard the aircraft;

an onboard server supported on the aircraft, the onboard server being in communication with the IP network for receiving data, the onboard server being configured to store data;

an onboard processor supported on the aircraft, the onboard processor being in communication with at least one of the following;

the IP network, the at least one camera, and the onboard server;

the onboard processor being configured to receive data generated by at least one of the following;

the IP network, the at least one camera, and the onboard server,

the onboard processor being operable to process data to provide processed data, the processed data including processed visual image data, the onboard processor being in communication with the IP network to provide to the IP network processed data;

the transmitted data including processed visual image data, the processed image data being received by the remote receiving station, when received by the remote receiving station the processed visual image data corresponding on a near real-time basis with the visual image data.

3. A surveillance system for monitoring an aircraft while in route to a destination, the surveillance system comprising:

a. a plurality of sensors mounted on the aircraft and adapted for generating data in response to conditions occurring on the aircraft, the data being generated on a near real-time basis in relation to conditions on the aircraft;

b. a remote receiving station, the remote receiving station being remote from the aircraft;

c. a wireless transmitter onboard the aircraft for transmitting data to the remote receiving station;

d. an onboard IP network supported on the aircraft, the onboard IP network being in communication with the plurality of sensors to convey data received from the plurality of sensors;

wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is a portable wireless panic button device, the portable wireless panic button device being supported for movement in common with a person aboard the aircraft, the portable wireless panic button device being manually operable by a person aboard the aircraft to generate panic button data, the panic button data corresponding to one of a plurality of event conditions potentially existing aboard the aircraft, the panic button data identifying at the remote receiving station one of the plurality of event conditions, the wireless panic button device being in wireless communication with the IP network to provide the panic button data to the IP network, the IP network being in communication with the wireless transmitter to provide the panic button data to the wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter being operable to transmit the panic button data to the remote receiving station;

wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one camera supported on the aircraft, the at least one camera being operable to provide visual image data of at least one monitored area onboard the aircraft;

e. an onboard server supported on the aircraft, the onboard server being in communication with the IP network for receiving data, the onboard server being configured to store data;

f. an onboard processor supported on the aircraft, the onboard processor being in communication with at least one of the following;

the IP network, the at least one camera and the onboard server;

the onboard processor being configured to receive data generated by at least one of the following;

the IP network, the at least one camera and the onboard server;

the onboard processor being operable to process data to provide processed data, the processed data including processed visual image data, the onboard processor being in communication with the IP network to provide to the IP network processed data; and

the transmitted data including processed visual image data;

the processed image data being received by the remote receiving station, when received by the remote receiving station the processed visual image data corresponding on a near real-time basis with the visual image data.