Wireless video surveillance system and method with two-way locking of input capture devices

• US 8,754,946 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2010
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Smartvue Corp. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Renkis, Martin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): AN, SHAWN S
• Application Number:
  US12/874,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20100328461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 348/156, 348/143, 348/152, 348/158, 348/159, 348/153, 725/102, 725/88
• US Class Current: 348/156
• 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: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A method for locking communication between at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) and/or another ICD, 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; and locking the ICDs to send wireless data exclusively to that DIR and/or ICD; and/or the DIR and/or ICD locking itself for exclusive communication with the locked ICDs, thereby providing a secure surveillance system for a target environment.

Claims

1. A method for locking communication within a base system, comprising the steps of:

providing the base system, the base system including at least one input capture device (ICD) and a at least one corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) or another ICD;

providing a user interface for accessing the DIR either directly or remotely;

the DIR searching for a signal from the at least one ICD and establishing direct communication with them;

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;

the DIR locking communication between the ICD(s) and DIR, wherein the ICD(s) send wireless data exclusively to the DIR; and

the DIR refusing signals from ICD(s) that are not locked to the DIR;

thereby providing a secure surveillance system for a target environment.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of locking communication between the ICD(s) and DIR further comprises the DIR locking itself for exclusive communication with the ICDs.

3. The method of claim 1, further including the step renaming the ICD(s).

4. The method of claim 1, further including the step of the ICD(s) sending a still image to the DIR for display to the user for confirmation of the identity of the ICD(s).

5. The method of claim 1, further including the step of the DIR and ICD(s) optimizing the wireless signal to the DIR to ensure the greatest information throughput between the ICD(s) and the DIR.

6. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

the DIR instructing the ICD(s) to initiate encryption of the data stream according to an encryption method; and

the ICD(s) encrypting the data stream.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the encryption method is selected from the group consisting of digital signing, stream cipher encryption, block cipher encryption, public key encryption, and combinations thereof

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the encryption method is selected from the group consisting of WAP, 802.11i, AES, SSL and combinations thereof

9. The method of claim 1, further including the step of the DIR indicating the lock status.

10. The method of claim 9, further including the step of displaying the lock status via a lock indicator.

11. The method of claim 1, further including the step of the DIR sending a lock status signal to an entity outside the present system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the entity outside the present system is selected from the group consisting of controller/server, alarm system, security software, and combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 1, further including the step of the DIR accepting signals from new ICD(s) not locked to the DIR.

14. The method of claim 1, further including the step of the user instructing the DIR to search for new ICD(s).

15. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

the DIR receiving instructions for removing ICD(s) from the system; and

the DIR removing the device.

16. A system for secure wireless surveillance comprising:

at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) or another ICD forming a base system,

the system further comprising a user interface for providing access to the DIR directly or remotely,

wherein the DIR searches for a signal from the ICD(s) and establishes direct communication with them;

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; and

the DIR locks communication between the ICD(s) and DIR,

wherein the locked DIR refuses signals from ICD(s) that are not locked to the DIR and wherein the ICD(s) send wireless data exclusively to that corresponding DIR;

thereby providing a secure surveillance system for a target environment.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the DIR further locks itself for exclusive communication with the ICDs.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the DIR further sends a lock status signal to an entity outside the present system.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein a user instructs the DIR to search for new ICD(s).