Mesh networked video and sensor surveillance system and method for wireless mesh networked sensors

• US 8,752,106 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Smartvue Corp. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Renkis, Martin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): AN, SHAWN S
• Application Number:
  US11/247,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20060064477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,164 Days
• Field of Search: 725/105, 725/114, 725/117, 725/148, 725/118, 348/158, 348/143, 348/155, 348/161, 348/14.03, 348/14.02, 348/14.05
• US Class Current: 725/105
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19615 wherein said pattern is defined by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19621 Portable camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19663 Surveillance related processing done local to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1968 Interfaces for setting up or customising the system
• 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 13/19691 Signalling events for better perception by user, e.g. indicating alarms by making display brighter, adding text, creating a sound
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A mesh network sensor and video surveillance system and method for providing communication between a base system having at least one wireless sensor capture device SCD and other SCD(s) and at least one input capture device ICD and other ICD(s), wherein the SCD(s) are capable of smart cross-communication with each other and with the ICD(s) and where the where the ICD(s) are capable of smart cross-communication with each other and offer remote access to their inputs and the SCD(s) inputs via a server computer, including the steps of providing this base system; at least one user accessing the ICD and SCD inputs remotely via a user interface through a remote server computer and/or electronic device communicating with it, for providing a secure sensor surveillance system with extended inputs range and wireless smart cross-communication for monitoring a target environment.

Claims

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

providing a base system, the base system including;

at least one sensor capture device (SCD(s));

at least one input capture device (ICD(s)); and

at least one digital input recorder (DIR(s)) or another ICD or SCD;

wherein each of the SCD(s), ICD(s) and DIR(s) is housed in separate enclosures and includes at least one processor, at least one memory and at least one wireless communication system, all constructed and configured in electronic connection;

wherein each of the SCD(s) and ICD(s) further comprises at least one sensor and at least one input component; and

wherein each of the ICD(s) further comprises at least one additional wireless communication system;

the ICD(s) and SCD(s) engaging in smart, direct communication amongst and between each other;

wherein smart communication includes exchanging data through cross-communication and direct cross-control and responding to data exchange by changing input capture settings;

wherein the direct cross-control includes the direct exchange of set triggers and trigger events, settings, inputs and combinations thereof;

wherein direct communication occurs without transmitting the communication through a communications network, the Internet, or additional devices or hardware;

at least one user interface providing access to the DIR or the ICD(s) via a remote server computer (RSC);

the SCD(s) processing inputs and sending the processed inputs to the ICD(s);

the ICD(s) further processing the processed inputs based upon predetermined settings stored in the ICD memory; and

the ICDs transmitting the processed inputs to the RSC;

thereby providing a secure, remote access surveillance system for a target environment.

2. A method for providing communication in a surveillance system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a base system, the base system including;

at least two wireless input capture devices (ICDs);

at least two wireless sensor capture devices (SCDs);

wherein each of the ICDs and SCDs is housed separately and includes at least one of each of a sensor, an input component, a memory, a processor and a wireless communication system, all constructed and configured in electronic connection;

wherein each of the ICDs further includes at least another wireless communication system;

each of the ICDs wirelessly communicating with a remote server computer (RSC);

the ICDs engaging in smart, direct, cross-control and cross-communication with each other and direct communication and direct control between any of the ICD(s) and the SCD(s) that provides for data exchange including input data relating to the environment under surveillance, control settings, and inputs captured by the SCD(s);

wherein the direct, cross-control includes the direct exchange of set triggers and trigger events, settings, inputs and combinations thereof;

wherein smart communication comprises wireless, bi-directional control and response communication exchange, including the adjustment of input capture settings;

wherein direct communication between two distinct devices consists of those devices only;

thereby creating a self-contained data control and response communication exchange between ICDs and SCDs;

at least one user interface providing access to the at least one ICD through the RSC via a user interface;

thereby providing a secure wireless surveillance system for a target environment.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the base system further includes a wireless digital input recorder (DIR) operable for wireless communication with the ICDs.

4. The method according to claim 2, further including the step of locking the communication between the ICDs and the SCDs for securing exclusive transmission between selected and/or all devices which secures exclusive communication between the devices by the initiation of security protocols on the devices.

5. The method according to claim 2, further including the step of the SCDs directly transmitting inputs from one SCD to another SCD forming a mesh network of SCDs configured and operable to independently communicate with each other to provide a maximum extended range of a sensor surveillance area.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the ICDs and SCDs are accessible via a user interface either directly or remotely through the RSC(s).

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

a base system including;

at least two input capture devices (ICDs); and

at least two sensor capture devices (SCDs);

a remote server computer (RSC) operable to transmit and receive information with the base system;

wherein each of the ICDs and SCDs is housed separately and includes at least one of each of a sensor, an input component, a microprocessor, a memory and a wireless communication system, all constructed and configured in electronic connection;

wherein the ICDs are further comprised of at least another wireless communication system;

wherein the ICDs and SCDs are operable for smart, direct, wireless cross-control and cross-communication of data including input data relating to the environment under surveillance, control settings, and inputs captured by the ICDs and SCDs with each other independent of the RSC for forming a mesh network of ICDs and SCDs operable to provide secure surveillance of a target environment;

wherein the direct, cross-control includes the direct exchange of set triggers and trigger events, settings, inputs and combinations thereof;

wherein smart communication comprises data exchange and alteration of input capture settings based upon applying predetermined rules to received data;

wherein direct communication occurs wirelessly between ICD(s) and SCD(s) without transmitting the communications through a communications network, the Internet, nor additional devices or hardware;

thereby creating a self-reliant data control and response communication exchange between ICDs and SCDs.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the SCDs are operable to directly transmit inputs from one SCD to other SCDs forming a mesh network of SCDs, which are configured and operable to independently communicate with each other to provide a maximum extended range of a surveillance area.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the range is between about 100 to about 3000 meters.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the ICDs are operable to compare inputs from SCDs to reference data for labeling a sensed object for further identification by the system.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein the SCDs further include a cellular phone transmitter or wide band cellular card for providing cellular transmission by each SCD, to provide each SCD with standalone capability to cross-communicate with each other to extend the effective surveillance are and/or to communicate with each other to transmit and receive information that is further transmitted via the Internet to the RSC.

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

a base system including;

at least two wireless input capture devices (ICDs);

at least two sensor capture devices (SCDs) operable to transmit and receive information with the ICDs and SCDs;

wherein the ICDs and SCDs are housed separately and include at least one of each of a sensor, an input component, a microprocessor, a memory and a wireless communication system, all constructed and configured in electronic connection;

wherein the ICDs further include at least another wireless communication system;

wherein the ICDs and SCDs are operable for smart, direct wireless cross-control and cross-communication with each other of data including input data relating to the environment under surveillance, control settings, and inputs captured by the ICDs and SCDs, and comprising responses to said inputs including changes to device settings, for forming a mesh network of ICDs and SCDs operable to provide secure surveillance of a target environment;

wherein the direct, cross-control includes the direct exchange of set triggers and trigger events, settings, inputs and combinations thereof;

wherein smart communication comprises data exchange and alteration of input capture settings based upon applying predetermined rules to received data; and

wherein direct communication occurs wirelessly between ICD(s) and SCD(s) without transmitting the communications through a communications network, the Internet, nor additional devices or hardware.

13. The system of claim 12, further including a remote server computer (RSC) for permitting user(s) to access the system remotely for reviewing data, modifying controls, and adjusting settings.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the SCDs are operable to directly transmit inputs from one SCD to other SCDs forming a mesh network of SCDs, which are configured and operable to independently communicate with each other to provide a maximum extended range of a surveillance area.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the range is between about 100 to about 3000 meters.

16. The system according to claim 12, wherein the ICDs are operable to compare inputs from SCDs to reference data for labeling a sensed object for further identification by the system.

17. The system according to claim 12, wherein the SCDs further include a cellular phone transmitter or wide band cellular card for providing cellular transmission by each SCD, to provide each SCD with standalone capability to cross-communication with each other to extend the effective surveillance area and/or to communicate with each other to transmit and receive information.

18. The system of claim 17, further including a RSC in communication with the ICDs and SCDs via a network, wherein the information is further transmitted from the ICDs and/or SCDs via the Internet to the RSC.