Method and system for transmission of images from a monitored area

• US 20080062258A1
• Filed: 09/07/2006
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pima Electronic Systems Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Pima Electronic Systems Ltd.
• Inventors: Borovitz, Moshe, Bentkovski, Yakov
• Granted Patent: US 8,374,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/50
• 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 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• 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 21/42202 environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A system and method including one or more cameras or other sensors to monitor an area, and to transmit such images or sensory data to a local hub that may include a cellular modem. The hub may transmit images or data to a remote cellular handset, where a user may view the images or data, and may transmit a signal back to the hub to take in action in or relating to the area being monitored or relating to the camera or sensor monitoring the area.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of cameras, to capture images of an area and wirelessly transmit said images;

a central communication device in communication with said plurality of cameras, said central communication device

to wirelessly receive said images,

to transmit said images over a cellular network to a remote cellular device; and

to receive a signal from said remote cellular device, said signal including an instruction to at least one camera of said plurality of cameras.

2. The system as in claim 1, wherein a camera of said plurality of said cameras is housed in a unit, said unit comprising a sensor selected from the group consisting of a motion detector, microphone, smoke detector, temperature change detector, carbon monoxide detector, flame detector, glass breakage detector and personal identification sensor.

3. The system as in claim 2, wherein said communication device is further to transmit to said remote cellular device non-image sensory data collected by said sensor of said group of sensors.

4. The system as in claim 3, wherein said non-image sensory data comprises sound data collected by said microphone.

5. The system as in claim 1, wherein said central communication device is to receive from said remote cellular device an instruction selecting for viewing at said remote cellular device at least one view of a camera of said plurality of cameras.

6. The system as in claim 1, comprising a processor to receive a unique identifier from said remote cellular device and to confirm authorization based on said unique identifier.

7. The system as in claim 1, comprising a memory to store identification data of a plurality of said remote cellular devices, and wherein said central communication device is to transmit said image to said plurality of said remote cellular devices and to activate a communication channel among said plurality of said remote cellular devices.

8. The system as in claim 1, comprising a memory to record for each of said plurality of cameras a plurality of criteria, and a processor to select said remote cellular device for transmitting thereto based on said criteria.

9. The system as in claim 8, wherein said criteria are selected from the group consisting of a time of day, a day of week, a security level associated with said remote cellular device, and a location of an area appearing in said images.

10. The system as in claim 1, comprising a counter to count a number of said images transmitted to said cellular communication device.

11. The system as in claim 1, wherein said communication system comprises a communication device to transmit said images over a wired network.

12. The system as in claim 1, comprising a processor to issue a second signal in response to said signal, said second signal to activate a device to take an action in response to an element in said image.

13. The system as in claim 12, wherein said action is selected from the group consisting of sounding an alarm, turning on a light, and activating a fire fighting device.

14. The system as in claim 1, comprising a memory to store said image.

15. The system as in claim 1, wherein said communication device is to issue a second signal to alter a setting of a camera of said plurality of said cameras in response to said signal from said remote cellular device.

16. The system as in claim 1, wherein said communication device comprises a cellular modem.

17. The system as in claim 1, wherein said central communication device is to transmit an identifier to said remote cellular device, said identifier to appear on a screen of said remote cellular device.

18. The system as in claim 1, wherein said central communication device is to receive a signal from said remote cellular device, said signal including an instruction to a security system in said area.

19. The system as in claim 1, wherein said central communication device is to receive a signal from said remote cellular device, said signal including an instruction to activate a camera of said plurality of cameras.

20. A method comprising:

receiving at a wireless communication device an image from at least one camera of a plurality of cameras; and

transmitting said image from said communication device to a remote cellular device.

21. The method as in claim 20, further comprising transmitting said image based on an alarm signal from said at least one camera.

22. The method as in claim 20, comprising transmitting to said remote cellular device non-image sensory data collected in an area displayed in said image.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising receiving a command signal from said remote cellular device to be executed by said at least one of said plurality of cameras.

24. The method as in claim 23, comprising selecting said at least one camera of said plurality of cameras in response to said command signal from said remote cellular device.

25. The method as in claim 23, comprising confirming a unique identifier transmitted from said remote cellular device as associated with a user authorized to issue said command signal.

26. The method as in claim 23, comprising altering a setting of said at least one camera of said plurality of cameras in response to said command signal from said remote cellular device.

27. The method as in claim 20, wherein transmitting said image from said communication device to said remote cellular device comprises sending said image via a cellular modem included in said communication device.

28. The method as in claim 20, wherein transmitting said image from said communication device to said remote cellular device comprises sending said image via a wired telephone connection.

29. The method as in claim 20, wherein transmitting said image from said communication device to said remote cellular device comprises sending said image via an IP network.