Apparatus and method for operating a multi-unit storage facility

• US 20060007309A1
• Filed: 06/03/2005
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Katonah Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Katonah Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Machinist, Robert B., Bain, Kent S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,856,643 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19647 Systems specially adapted for intrusion detection in or around a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/146 where the parking area is a limited parking space, e.g. parking garage, restricted space
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A system and method of operating a multi-user storage facility is provided. For each distinct user of the storage facility, the distinct user is associated with at least one storage unit of the facility. Video monitoring of the at least one storage unit is provided producing a video output. Each distinct user is provided over a digital communication network with private access to a view of the video output associated with the user. In this manner, each of a plurality of distinct users has access to a view of the video output associated with the user.

Claims

1. A method of operating a multi-user, multi-unit storage facility, the method comprising:

for each distinct user,

associating the distinct user with at least one distinct unit of the facility,

causing video monitoring of the at least one distinct unit, such video monitoring having a video output, and

providing, to the distinct user, private access over a digital communication network to the video output;

so that each of a plurality of distinct users has at least one distinct unit and private access to video output associated with video monitoring thereof.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the digital communications network includes the internet, the private access is provided over the internet, and the access is shareable by the distinct user.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein providing to the distinct user includes making available to the distinct user a web page from which access to video monitoring can be selected.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

for each distinct user,

monitoring at least one parameter associated with the at least one storage unit and providing a parameter output reporting on the at least one parameter, and

providing, to the distinct user, private access over the digital communications network to the parameter output.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

for each distinct user,

storing a log of the at least one parameter maintained over a period of time, and providing, to the distinct user, private access to the log of the at least one parameter.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the at least one parameter is selected from the group consisting of temperature and humidity of the at least one unit.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the at least one parameter is selected from the group consisting of temperature and humidity of the at least one unit.

8. A method according to claim 4, wherein providing to access to the parameter output includes making available to the distinct user a web page from which access to parameter monitoring can be selected.

9. A method according to claim 5, wherein providing to access to the log includes making available to the distinct user a web page from which access to the log can be selected.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein each storage unit is dimensioned for storage of a motor vehicle, the method further comprising:

requiring a motor vehicle destined for storage in a targeted unit of the facility to pass through a reception region, the reception region fitted with a camera system for capturing images of the vehicle from a plurality of positions;

using the camera system to capture images of the vehicle from a plurality of positions prior to placement of the vehicle in the targeted unit; and

storing the captured images to document physical appearance of the vehicle prior to its entry into the targeted unit.

10. A method of operating a multi-user, multi-unit storage facility, the method comprising:

for each distinct user,

associating the distinct user with at least one distinct unit of the facility, causing (i) video monitoring of the at least one distinct unit, such video monitoring having a video output, and (ii) monitoring of at least one parameter associated with the at least one storage unit, the at least one parameter being selected from the group consisting of temperature and humidity of the at least one unit, and storing a log of the at least one parameter maintained over a period of time,

providing, to the distinct user, private access over a digital communications network to the video output and to the log,

so that each of a plurality of distinct users has at least one distinct unit and private access to both the video output associated with video monitoring thereof and to the log.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein providing to the distinct user includes making available to the distinct user a web page from which access to video monitoring and to the log can be selected.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein each storage unit is dimensioned for storage of a motor vehicle, the method further comprising:

requiring a motor vehicle destined for storage in a targeted unit of the facility to pass through a reception region, the reception region fitted with a camera system for capturing images of the vehicle from a plurality of positions;

using the camera system to capture images of the vehicle from a plurality of positions prior to placement of the vehicle in the targeted unit; and

storing the captured images to document physical appearance of the vehicle prior to its entry into the targeted unit.

14. A system for operating a multi-user, multi-unit storage facility, the system comprising:

a video camera associated with each distinct unit of the facility and providing a video output that monitors the distinct unit;

a server, in communication with the video output of each video camera, coupled to a digital communication network;

wherein the server is configured to provide, to each distinct user, private access over the digital communications network to the video output for a distinct unit that is associated with the distinct user.

15. A system according to claim 14, further comprising:

at least one sensor associated with each distinct unit of the facility, the at least one sensor providing an output monitoring at least one of temperature and humidity of the distinct unit and in communication with the server;

wherein the server is configured to provide, to each distinct user, private access over the digital communications network to a quantity related to sensor output for a distinct unit that is associated with the distinct user.

16. A system according to claim 14, further comprising:

at least one sensor associated with each distinct unit of the facility, the at least one sensor providing an output monitoring at least one of temperature and humidity of the distinct unit and in communication with the server;

for each of the at least one sensor, a process for storing a log of the at least one sensor output, maintained over a period of time, the process in communication with the server;

wherein the server is configured to provide, to each distinct user, private access over the digital communications network to the log for a distinct unit that is associated with the distinct user.

17. A system according to claim 14, wherein each storage unit is dimensioned for storage of a motor vehicle, the system further comprising:

a camera system for capturing images of the vehicle from a plurality of positions, the camera system mounted in a reception region through which a motor vehicle, destined for storage in a targeted unit of the facility, passes;

an image storage arrangement that stores images captured by the camera system, to document physical appearance of the vehicle prior to its entry into the targeted unit.

18. A system according to claim 16, wherein each storage unit is dimensioned for storage of a motor vehicle, the system further comprising:

a camera system for capturing images of the vehicle from a plurality of positions, the camera system mounted in a reception region through which a motor vehicle, destined for storage in a targeted unit of the facility, passes;

an image storage arrangement that stores images captured by the camera system, to document physical appearance of the vehicle prior to its entry into the targeted unit.

19. A method of operating a multi-user storage facility, the method comprising:

for each distinct user,

associating the distinct user with at least one storage unit of the facility,

causing video monitoring of the at least one storage unit, such video monitoring having a video output, and

providing, to the distinct user, private access over a digital communication network to a defined view associated with the user of the video output;

so that each of a plurality of distinct users has private access to the defined view of the video output associated with the user.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the digital communications network includes the internet, the private access is provided over the internet, and the access is shareable by the distinct user.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein providing to the distinct user includes making available to the distinct user a web page from which access to video monitoring can be selected.

23. A method according to claim 19, further comprising:

for each distinct user,

monitoring at least one parameter associated with the at least one storage unit and providing a parameter output reporting on the at least one parameter, and providing, to the distinct user, private access over the digital communications network to the parameter output.

24. A method according to claim 19, further comprising:

for each distinct user,

storing a log of at least one parameter maintained over a period of time, and providing, to the distinct user, private access to the log of the at least one parameter.

25. A method according to claim 23, wherein the at least one parameter is selected from the group consisting of temperature and humidity of the at least one unit.

26. A method according to claim 24, wherein the at least one parameter is selected from the group consisting of temperature and humidity of the at least one unit.

27. A method according to claim 23, wherein providing to access to the parameter output includes making available to the distinct user a web page from which access to parameter monitoring can be selected.

28. A method according to claim 24, wherein providing to access to the log includes making available to the distinct user a web page from which access to the log can be selected.

29. A method according to claim 19, wherein each storage unit is dimensioned for storage of at least one motor vehicle, the method further comprising:

requiring a motor vehicle destined for storage in a storage unit of the facility to pass through a reception region, the reception region fitted with a camera system for capturing images of the vehicle from a plurality of positions;

using the camera system to capture images of the vehicle from a plurality of positions prior to placement of the vehicle in the storage unit; and

storing the captured images to document physical appearance of the vehicle prior to its entry into the storage unit.

30. A system for operating a multi-user storage facility, the system comprising:

a video camera associated with each distinct unit of the facility and providing a video output that monitors the distinct unit;

a server, in communication with the video output of each video camera, coupled to a digital communication network;

wherein the server is configured to provide, to each distinct user, private access over the digital communications network to the video output of a view that is associated with the distinct user.

31. A system according to claim 30, further comprising:

at least one sensor associated with each distinct unit of the facility, the at least one sensor providing an output monitoring at least one of temperature and humidity of the distinct unit and in communication with the server;

wherein the server is configured to provide, to each distinct user, private access over the digital communications network to a quantity related to sensor output for the distinct unit.

32. A system according to claim 30, further comprising:

at least one sensor associated with each distinct unit of the facility, the at least one sensor providing an output monitoring at least one of temperature and humidity of the distinct unit and in communication with the server;

for each of the at least one sensor, a process for storing a log of the at least one sensor output, maintained over a period of time, the process in communication with the server;

wherein the server is configured to provide, to each distinct user, private access over the digital communications network to the log for a distinct unit that is associated with the distinct user.

33. A system according to claim 30, wherein each storage unit is dimensioned for storage of a plurality of motor vehicles, the system further comprising:

a camera system for capturing images of each vehicle from a plurality of positions, the camera system mounted in a reception region through which a motor vehicle, destined for storage in a targeted unit of the facility, passes;

an image storage arrangement that stores images captured by the camera system, to document physical appearance of the vehicle prior to its entry into the targeted unit.

34. A system according to claim 32, wherein each storage unit is dimensioned for storage of a plurality of motor vehicles, the system further comprising:

a camera system for capturing images of each vehicle from a plurality of positions, the camera system mounted in a reception region through which a motor vehicle, destined for storage in a targeted unit of the facility, passes;

an image storage arrangement that stores images captured by the camera system, to document physical appearance of the vehicle prior to its entry into the targeted unit.