Portable real-time video signal capturing, transforming and relay system for transmitting high fedelity video imagery by WiFi to portable video imaging devices

• US 8,887,208 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2013
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andrew John Zetts, David Aaron Merrit
• Original Assignee: Andrew John Zetts, David Aaron Merrit
• Inventors: Zetts, Andrew John, Merrit, David Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodarzi, Nasser
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOND, TARIQ A
• Application Number:
  US13/866,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20140313411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 725/76, 455/428, 370/316
• US Class Current: 725/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4516 involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and system for capturing analog video broadcast, converting the analog signal to a digital signal and rebroadcasting of said digital signal so that the video stream can be accessed by wireless hand-held video imaging devices. The methodology and system includes at least one video receiver connected to a signal converter and transmitter for signal demodulation, transfer and conversion of signal for rebroadcast of signal wirelessly via WiFi.

Claims

1. A signal processing system comprising:

a) a programmable video receiver (VSR) configured to receive a long-range air-to-ground radio frequency (RF) feed transmitted from an aircraft, said feed comprising a first video signal, and wherein said long-range air-to-ground feed extends from said aircraft to a distance greater than 1000 meters from said aircraft;

b) a conversion module coupled to the receiver to obtain the first video signal, the conversion module being configured to convert the first video signal into a digital signal for rebroadcasting; and

c) a transmitter configured to transmit using less than 100 mW and coupled to the conversion module to receive the digital signal and rebroadcast the digital system using a short-range communication standard.

2. A signal processing system according to claim 1, wherein the short-range communication standard is a WiFi standard.

3. A signal processing system according to any one of claims 1, and 2, further comprising a battery for powering the receiver, the conversion module, and the transmitter.

4. A signal processing system according to claim 3, further comprising a housing containing the receiver, the conversion module, the transmitter, and the battery.

5. A signal processing system according to claim 4, further comprising a receiver antenna coupled to the receiver, and a transmitter antenna coupled to the transmitter.

6. A signal processing method, the method comprising steps of:

a) receiving a long-range air-to-ground radio frequency (RF) feed transmitted from a source located on an aircraft comprising a first video signal;

wherein said first video signal can be received at a distance extending from said source on said aircraft to a distance greater than 1000 meters from said aircraft;

b) converting the first video signal into a digital signal for rebroadcasting; and

c) transmitting the digital signal using a transmitter configured to transmit using less than 100 mW and using a short-range communication standard.

7. A signal processing method according to claim 6, wherein the short-range communication standard is a WiFi standard.

8. A signal processing method according to claim 6, wherein the step of transmitting uses less than 100 mW of effective radiated power.

9. A signal processing method according to claim 6, wherein the long-range air-to-ground feed extends to at least 1000 meters.

10. A signal processing method according to any one of claim 6, 7, 8, or 9, wherein the method is performed automatically by a self-contained battery powered system.

11. An article of manufacture comprising:

a) A programmable video signal receiver (VSR) capable of receiving an analog or digital video signal generated from a source on an aircraft, wherein said video signal extends from said source to a distance greater than 1000 meters from said source;

b) An analog to digital video converter connected with said VSR, wherein said converter can process digital or analog signal for rebroadcast over a WiFi network;

c) A WiFi antenna connected with said VSR;

d) A power source in electrical communication with each of said VSR, converter, and antenna; and

e) A housing containing said power source, VSR, converter and antenna, said article of manufacture capable of wirelessly receiving an either an analog or digital signal video signal stream and rebroadcasting said signal stream by WiFi networking to a portable digital WiFi capable video imaging device.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein said video signal which said receiver is capable of receiving is selected from the group consisting of C-Band, KuBand, S-Band, L-B and UHF.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein said WiFi is networked using adhoc IEEE 802.11a to n WiFi network extensions.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein said power source is selected from a rechargeable battery selected from lithium, carbon zinc, zinc chloride and alkaline batteries.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein said power source is by alternating current through a direct current transformer, such as a plug in battery charger.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein said housing comprises an impact resistant material selected from the group consisting of metal and plastic.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 11 comprising a circuitry organization comprising an on-off switch, an on-off led, a fuse, a receiver antenna, a video signal receiver in electrical communication with a signal processor WiFi transmitter through a coaxial cable, a WiFi antenna, pin connectors and a power source in electrical communication with said on-off switch, said on-off led, said fuse, said receiver antenna, said pin connectors, said video signal receiver, said coaxial cable, WiFi antenna, and said signal processor WiFi transmitter.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 12 wherein said signal has a frequency of about between 1.625 and 15.35 GHz.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 18 wherein said signal has a frequency of about between 4,400 and 5,850 MHz.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 18, wherein said signal has a frequency of about between 1.71 and 1.85 GHz.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 18, wherein said signal has a frequency of about between 2.0 and 4.0 GHz.

22. The article of manufacture of claim 18, wherein said signal has a frequency of about between 14.4 and 15.35 GHz.

23. A portable video signal capture, signal conversion, and video signal rebroadcast device comprising:

a) A programmable video signal receiver (VSR) for receiving a video signal transmitted from a source located on an aircraft, said video signal transmitted from an aircraft selected from the group consisting of an analog and a digital signal; and

wherein said transmitted video signal can be received by said VSR at a distance extending from adjacent said source on said aircraft to a distance greater than 1000 meters from said aircraft;

b) An analog to digital video converter in electronic communication with said VSR, wherein said converter can process digital or analog signal for rebroadcast over a WiFi network;

c) A WiFi antenna in electronic communication with said VSR;

d) A power source in electrical communication with each of said VSR, converter, and antenna; and

e) A housing containing said power source, VSR, converter and antenna, said article of manufacture capable of wirelessly receiving an analog or digital signal video signal stream and rebroadcasting said signal stream by WiFi networking to a portable digital WiFi capable video imaging device.

24. The video system of claim 23, wherein said handheld video imaging device is selected from the group consisting of WiFi capable telephone, iPhone, and iPad.

25. A method for receiving WiFi video stream in a cockpit of an aircraft from an external analog or digital video streaming source comprising:

a) employing a programmable video signal receiver (VSR) located either internal or external to said cockpit, to receive said external analog or digital signal sourced from a video camera system mounted to said aircraft outside of said cockpit that is configured for transmitting analog or digital video signal of imagery remote from said aircraft; and

wherein said transmitted video signal can be received by said VSR at a distance extending from adjacent said source on said aircraft to a distance greater than 1000 meters from said aircraft;

b) using an analog to digital converter to convert the analog or digital signal received by the VSR into a digital WiFi signal capable of being transmitted by WiFi, said VSR and digital converter positioned either in a compartment outside said cockpit or within said cockpit; and

c) streaming said digital signal by WiFi to a handheld video imaging device within said cockpit, said device capable of receiving said digital WiFi signal and displaying said video imagery in real time.

26. A video system for wirelessly transmitting video images to a display in an aircraft cockpit comprising:

a) An analog or digital video stream receiver for receiving an analog or digital video imagery broadcast signal sourced from a video imaging system mounted to said aircraft outside of said cockpit, said imaging system configured for transmitting analog or digital video signal of imagery remote from said aircraft, said imagery broadcast signal further capable of being received by said receiver from a location within said aircraft to a distance greater than 1000 meters from said aircraft;

b) a receiver/transmitter disposed within a compartment within said aircraft or within said cockpit, said receiver/transmitter capable of receiving said analog or digital video signal from said imaging system, converting said analog or digital signal to a digital WiFi signal, said receiver/transmitter further including a power source; and

c) A handheld video imaging device capable of receiving said digital WiFi signal and displaying said video imagery in real time.

27. A video system for wirelessly transmitting video images to a video image display device comprising:

a) An analog or digital video stream receiver for receiving an analog or digital video imagery broadcast signal sourced from a video imaging system mounted remotely from said image display device, said imaging system configured for transmitting from an aircraft an analog or digital video signal of imagery to said remotely located display device, said video stream receiver further capable of receiving said video imagery broadcast signal from said imagery broadcast signal'"'"'s source to a distance greater than 1000 meters from said broadcast signal source;

b) a receiver/transmitter capable of receiving said analog or digital video signal from said imaging system, converting said analog or digital signal to a digital WiFi signal, said receiver/transmitter further including a power source; and

c) A handheld video imaging device capable of receiving said digital WiFi signal and displaying said video imagery in real time.