Wireless environmental data capture system and method for mesh networking

• US 10,504,347 B1
• Filed: 04/29/2019
• Issued: 12/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Renkis, Martin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perez-Fuentes, Luis
• Application Number:
  US16/398,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20190378387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 225 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/246 using feature-based methods, e.g. the tracking of corners or segments
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19641 Multiple cameras having overlapping views on a single scene
• 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 13/19669 Event triggers storage or change of storage policy
• 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 13/19693 using multiple video sources viewed on a single or compound screen
• 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: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 : of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 : Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 : Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20145 : Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20172 : Fan mounting or fan specifications
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20209 : Thermal management, e.g. fan control

Abstract

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

Claims

1. A control device for controlling one or more electronic devices, the control device comprising:

one or more environment sensors configured to acquire environment data from a target environment, wherein the environment data includes temperature data;

one or more input capture sensors configured to acquire event trigger input that includes at least one of motion or a physical presence of at least one person at the target environment;

one or more processors electrically connected to the one or more environment sensors and the one or more input capture sensors and in communication with a user interface configured to receive user input for controlling one or more settings or functionalities of the control device; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the control device to;

detect an event based, at least in part, on the event trigger input acquired by the one or more input capture sensors;

configure at least a first setting or functionality of the control device based, at least in part, on the detected event;

send instructions for delivery to a first electronic device including a cooling system, wherein the first electronic device is associated with the target environment, and wherein sending the instructions is based, at least in part, on at least the first setting or functionality;

wirelessly transmit, via an encrypted first communication channel, at least a portion of the environment data, acquired by the one or more environment sensors, for viewing of at least a portion of a representation of the environment data on a remote control device;

wirelessly receive, via the first communication network channel, at least one operational command from the remote control device;

configure at least a second setting of the control device based, at least in part, on the received at least one operational command, wherein the at least second setting includes a temperature setting;

receive a user input via the user interface;

configure at least a third setting of the control device based, at least in part, on the received user input; and

wirelessly receive, via a second communication channel, from a second electronic device associated with the target environment, at least an instruction, a status, a setting, and/or environment data for controlling one or more settings or functionalities of the control device.

2. The control device of claim 1, wherein execution of the content further causes the control device to wirelessly transmit, via the second communication channel, for delivery to the second electronic device one or more instructions, statuses, or settings for controlling one or more settings or functionalities of the second electronic device.

3. The control device of claim 1, wherein the first communication channel uses a first protocol and the second communication channel uses a second protocol that is different from the first protocol.

4. The control device of claim 1, wherein the second communication channel is encrypted.

5. The control device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the environment data acquired by the one or more environment sensors is wirelessly transmitted, via a remote access device, to enable viewing of the representation of the environment data via the remote control device.

6. The control device of claim 5, wherein the remote access device provides the remote control device access to the at least portion of the environment data acquired by the one or more environment sensors.

7. The control device of claim 1, wherein the remote control device is a mobile phone, PDA, or laptop computer.

8. The control device of claim 1, wherein the cooling system includes a fan.

9. The control device of claim 1, wherein detection of the event is further based on the environment data acquired by the one or more environment sensors.

10. The control device of claim 1, wherein wirelessly transmitting the at least portion of the environment data acquired by the one or more environment sensors is in response to the detecting of the event.

11. A method, comprising:

acquiring, via one or more environment sensors, environment data from a target environment, wherein the environment data includes temperature data;

acquiring, via one or more input capture sensors, event trigger input that includes at least one of motion or a physical presence of at least one person at the target environment;

detecting an event based, at least in part, on the event trigger input acquired by the one or more input capture sensors;

configuring at least a first setting or functionality of a control device based, at least in part, on the detected event;

sending instructions for delivery to a first electronic device including a cooling system, wherein the first electronic device is associated with the target environment, and wherein sending the instructions is based, at least in part, on at least the first setting or functionality;

wirelessly transmitting, via an encrypted first communication channel, at least a portion of the environment data, acquired via the one or more environment sensors, for viewing of at least a portion of a representation of the environment data on a remote control device;

wirelessly receiving, via the first communication network channel, at least one operational command from the remote control device;

configuring at least a second setting of the control device based, at least in part, on the received at least one operational command, wherein the at least second setting includes a temperature setting;

receiving a user input via a user interface;

configuring at least a third setting of the control device based, at least in part, on the received user input; and

wirelessly receiving, via a second communication channel, from a second electronic device associated with the target environment, at least an instruction, a status, a setting, and/or environment data for controlling one or more settings or functionalities of the control device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising wirelessly transmitting, via the second communication channel, for delivery to the second electronic device one or more instructions, statuses, or settings for controlling one or more settings or functionalities of the second electronic device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first communication channel uses a first protocol and the second communication channel uses a second protocol that is different from the first protocol.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the second communication channel is encrypted.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the environment data acquired via the one or more environment sensors is wirelessly transmitted, via a remote access device, to enable viewing of the representation of the environment data via the remote control device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the remote access device provides the remote control device access to the at least portion of the environment data acquired via the one or more environment sensors.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the remote control device is a mobile phone, PDA, or laptop computer.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the cooling system includes a fan.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting the event is further based on the environment data acquired via the one or more environment sensors.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein wirelessly transmitting the at least portion of the environment data acquired via the one or more environment sensors is in response to the detecting of the event.

21. A computer-readable storage device storing content that, when executed by a computing system including at least one processor, causes the computing system to perform actions including:

acquiring, via one or more environment sensors, environment data from a target environment, wherein the environment data includes temperature data;

acquiring, via one or more input capture sensors, event trigger input that includes at least one of motion or a physical presence of at least one object at the target environment;

detecting an event based, at least in part, on the event trigger input acquired by the one or more input capture sensors;

configuring at least a first setting or functionality of a control device based, at least in part, on the detected event;

sending instructions for delivery to a first electronic device including a temperature control system, wherein the first electronic device is associated with the target environment, and wherein sending the instructions is based, at least in part, on at least the first setting or functionality;

transmitting, via a first communication channel, at least a portion of the environment data, acquired via the one or more environment sensors, for viewing of at least a portion of a representation of the environment data on a remote control device;

receiving, via the first communication network channel, at least one operational command from the remote control device;

configuring at least a second setting of the control device based, at least in part, on the received at least one operational command, wherein the at least second setting includes a temperature setting;

receiving a user input via a user interface;

configuring at least a third setting of the control device based, at least in part, on the received user input; and

receiving, via a second communication channel, from a second electronic device associated with the target environment, at least an instruction, a status, a setting, and/or environment data for controlling one or more settings or functionalities of the control device.

22. The computer-readable storage device of claim 21, wherein the actions further include transmitting, via the second communication channel, for delivery to the second electronic device one or more instructions, statuses, or settings for controlling one or more settings or functionalities of the second electronic device.

23. The computer-readable storage device of claim 21, wherein the first communication channel uses a first protocol and the second communication channel uses a second protocol that is different from the first protocol.

24. The computer-readable storage device of claim 21, wherein the first and/or the second communication channel is encrypted.

25. The computer-readable storage device of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the environment data acquired via the one or more environment sensors is transmitted, via a remote access device, to enable viewing of the representation of the environment data via the remote control device.

26. The computer-readable storage device of claim 25, wherein the remote access device provides the remote control device access to the at least portion of the environment data acquired via the one or more environment sensors.

27. The computer-readable storage device of claim 21, wherein the remote control device is a mobile phone, FDA, or laptop computer.

28. The computer-readable storage device of claim 21, wherein the temperature control system includes a fan.

29. The computer-readable storage device of claim 21, wherein detecting the event is further based on the environment data acquired via the one or more environment sensors.

30. The computer-readable storage device of claim 21, wherein transmitting the at least portion of the environment data acquired via the one or more environment sensors is in response to the detecting of the event.