Safety monitoring system

• US 20040021772A1
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ethel L. Mitchell
• Original Assignee: Ethel L. Mitchell
• Inventors: Mitchell, Ethel L.
• Application Number:
  US10/208,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20040021772A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Vehicle safety monitoring utilizes a wireless connection for transmitting signals collected in a controlled site in real time to a display in a control station. The wireless connection operates via an Earth-orbiting satellite and utilizes computers for processing the collected signals and converting them first into a wireless signal and then to an audio/video signal suitable for receiving by a television, video-recording unit or a computer monitor. The controlled vehicle is equipped with a plurality of detecting cameras mounted inside and outside of the vehicle to provide real-time information about activities taking place in and around the vehicle.

Claims

1. A monitoring system for vehicles, comprising:

a plurality of detecting means mounted on a body of a vehicle for collecting real-time data on activity in and around a vehicle;

a means for converting signals detected by said detecting means to a wireless signal and forwarding said signal to an Earth-orbiting satellite;

a means for receiving the wireless signal and converting the wireless signals to audio/video signals; and

a means for displaying the audio/video signals on a display unit in a remote control location.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said detecting means are cameras mounted inside and outside of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for converting the signals to a wireless signal comprise a computer mounted in the vehicle and operationally connected to the vehicle power source.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for converting the wireless signal is a computer unit positioned in a control location, said computer unit being capable of receiving the wireless signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said display means is a television unit positioned in the control location.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said display means is a computer monitor positioned in the control location.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises a recording device positioned in the control location for recording the audio/video signals processed by said means for processing the wireless signal.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for converting said signals into a wireless signal comprise a cellular telephone connection line.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle is a land-based, aircraft or a watercraft vehicle.

10. A method of monitoring activity in and around a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of detecting means for detecting activity in and around the vehicle;

converting signals detected by said detecting means to a wireless signal and transmitting said wireless signal, via an Earth-orbiting satellite, to a processing means;

processing said wireless signal and converting said wireless signal to audio/video signals; and

displaying said audio/video signals in real time in a display means positioned in a remote control station.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of converting the signals comprises providing a cellular telephone line connection.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of converting the signal comprises providing a computer unit positioned in said vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said computer unit is powered by a battery operating said vehicle.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of processing the wireless signal comprises a step of providing a computer and positioning said computer in the remote control location.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of displaying said audio/video signals comprises a step of providing a recording means for recording said audio/video signals in the remote control location.