Motion and area monitoring system and method

• US 9,311,793 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2012
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: QNX Software Systems Limited (Canada) (Blackberry Limited)
• Original Assignee: QNX Software Systems Limited (Canada) (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Lohbihler, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Nwugo, Ojiako
• Application Number:
  US13/659,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20130099922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/184 using radiation reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2491 Intrusion detection systems, i.e. where the body of an intruder causes the interference with the electromagnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/26 by updating and storing reference thresholds

Abstract

Disclosed is a motion detection system for use in entryways or areas wherein a user may wish to monitor activity, comprising a wireless emitter and detector or system thereof. The emitters utilize a plurality of infrared or other media sensors to emit outgoing signals detecting an object blocking a pathway prescribed by an area between the emitter and a predetermined barrier. Reflections of the outgoing signals are received by the detector and an internal processor calculates an action based on the received input. An automatic calibration is conducted to match the physical reflectivity of the area to minimize false alarms, while the direction of a passing object is determined by a calculated reflection strength gradient and/or time-delay in signal reflectivity. The emitters may be programmed to emit certain alerts based on their input or send signals to a base station, which is communicated to via wireless transmission.

Claims

1. A method of detecting motion using a transceiver and a base station, comprising the steps of:

entering a ground state of beginning motion detection, wherein a first and second signal emitters are activated;

transmitting a first transmission signal from said first emitter and a second first transmission signal from said second emitter;

receiving a initial first set of return signals, comprising a first and second return signal with a receiver, wherein said signals are reflected from an object in front of at least one of said first or second emitter;

calculating a difference between a signal strength of said first set of return signals and second return signals against a signal strength of a first and second predetermined threshold signal;

determining whether a foreign object is present based on said difference calculation;

entering another an operational state based on said determination of the presence of said foreign object;

if said signal strength of said first set of return signals exceeds said signal strength of said first and second predetermined threshold signal,

calculating a difference between a signal strength of said first return signal of said first set of return signals and a signal strength of said second return signal of said first set of return signals;

transmitting a second transmission signal from said first emitter and a second transmission signal from said second emitter;

receiving a second set of return signals, comprising a first and second return signal with a receiver, wherein said signals are reflected from an object in front of at least one of said first or second emitter;

calculating a difference between a signal strength of a first return signal of said second set of return signals and a signal strength of a second return signal of said second set of return signals;

determining a movement of said foreign object based on comparing said signal strengths of said first set of return signals and said signal strengths of said second set of return signals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said entered operational state is a standby state, if said first and second predetermined threshold signal signals exceed said first and second return signal strengths of said first set of return signals.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

detecting a change in environmental conditions via an ambient sensor;

instructing a transmitter to enter said ground state.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

calibrating said emitters in a specific environment;

obtaining a first and second threshold signal based on said calibration.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

said entered operational state is one of a plurality of first-tier elevated operational states;

continuing to transmit said first and second transmission signals;

receiving an intermediate set of said first and second return signals;

calculating a difference between said first and second return signals of said intermediate return signal set against first and second predetermined threshold signals;

determining whether a foreign object is still present based on said difference calculation;

comparing differences between said intermediate set of return signals and said threshold signals with differences between said initial set of return signals with said threshold signals;

determining initial length of displacement of a foreign object based on said comparing of initial and intermediate return signal set differences;

entering a further second operational state based on said determination of the displacement of a foreign object.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said plurality of first-tier elevated operational state states entered is dependent on which of said first or second return signals within said initial return signal set is least like said threshold signals.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said entered further second operational state is said ground state and repeats the steps of claim 1.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

said entered further second operational state is one of a plurality of second-tier elevated operational states;

continuing to transmit said first and second transmission signals;

receiving a final set of said first and second return signals;

calculating a difference between said first and second return signals against a first and second predetermined threshold signals;

determining whether a foreign object is still present based on said difference calculation;

comparing said differences between said final set of return signals and said threshold signals with differences between said intermediate set of return signals with said threshold signals;

determining final length of displacement of a foreign object based on said comparing of final and intermediate return signal set differences;

comparing said initial length of displacement with said final length of displacement to determine said foreign object'"'"'s direction of motion.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein if no foreign object is detected a ground state is entered and the steps of claim 1 are repeated.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein in no final displacement is found a first-tier elevated level operational state is entered and the steps of claim 8 are repeated.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

initiating an alarm after a direction of motion is determined.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps:

transmitting a wireless notification to a remote computer after a direction of motion is determined.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

transmitting a notification to cell phone after a direction of motion is determined.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

automatically modifying an environmental condition after a direction of motion is determined.

15. A motion detection system comprising:

at least one transceiver comprising;

a. a microprocessor configured to calculate a difference between a signal strength of a first set of return signals and a signal strength of a first and second predetermined threshold signal;

if said signal strength of said first set of return signals exceeds said signal strength of said first and second predetermined threshold signal,

calculating a difference between a signal strength of said first return signal of said first set of return signals and a signal strength of said second return signal of said first set of return signals;

transmitting a second transmission signal from a first emitter and a second transmission signal from a second emitter;

receiving a second set of return signals, comprising a first and second return signal with a receiver, wherein said signals are reflected from an object in front of at least one of said first or second emitters;

calculating a difference between a signal strength of a first return signal of said second set of return signals and a signal strength of a second return signal of said second set of return signals;

determining a movement of said object based on comparing said signal strengths of said first set of return signals and said signal strengths of said second set of return signals;

b. a memory;

c. at least two signal emitters;

d. at least one signal receiver.

e. network connection means;

f. a power source;

g. an ambient environment sensor;

a base station in wireless communication with said transceiver and comprising;

a. a microprocessor;

b. a memory;

c. a network connection means;

d. a power source;

a network;

a remote alert receiving device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said alert receiving device is a cell phone.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said alert receiving device is a personal computing device.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said signal emitters emit signals and said receiver receives said signals after they are reflected off objects in the local environment.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein received signals are transmitted to said base station.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein said base station processes received signals via said base station microprocessor to detect motion in the local environment.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein each of said transceivers is in communication with an environmental condition trigger.

22. The system of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of aligned transceivers to detect motion over a distance.