Vehicle camera security system

• US 20080204556A1
• Filed: 02/23/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Federico Thoth Jorge De Miranda, Patricio Jorge
• Original Assignee: Federico Thoth Jorge De Miranda, Patricio Jorge
• Inventors: Jorge, Patricio, de Miranda, Federico Thoth Jorge
• Application Number:
  US11/710,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20080204556A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• 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 25/302 using recording means, e.g. black box
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19647 Systems specially adapted for intrusion detection in or around a vehicle
• 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 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence

Abstract

An automotive vehicle anti-theft, anti-vandalism and anti-carjacking system utilizing a visual monitoring system for reducing the incidence of theft or vandalism of an automotive vehicle and an emergency notification system is disclosed. The monitoring system comprises a plurality of video cameras mounted interior and exterior to the vehicle and interfacing electronics within the vehicle adapted for detecting motion exterior to the vehicle and video recording in the direction of the detected motion. The system comprises interior RF video cameras positioned adjacent to the interior front and rear windshields and exterior video cameras placed within the left and right side mirrors. The system is capable of providing visual monitoring data to a mobile communications device via a wireless internet connection or to a wireless dedicated monitor via a Radio Frequency (RF) link.

Claims

1. In combination with a motor vehicle, said vehicle having an exterior surface, an interior compartment, a front, and a rear, said vehicle having a front and rear window, a front and rear bumper, and left and right side mirrors, said left and right side mirrors each having a removable outer casing and accessible internal space, said side mirrors each having an internal light source and translucent outer casing, a security system comprising:

a plurality of cameras mounted in conjunction with said vehicle, at least one of said plurality of cameras positioned within said internal space of said left side mirror and said right side mirror, at least one of said plurality of cameras positioned at said front and said rear of said vehicle, said plurality of cameras each having a first analog output signal, said output signal generated upon at least one of said plurality of cameras detecting movement around said vehicle, said plurality of cameras each recording audio and video data upon detection of movement around said vehicle and transmitting said data as said plurality of first analog output signals;

signal processing means positioned within said vehicle interior compartment, said signal processing means for receiving and storing said plurality of first analog output signals digitally, said signal processing means including first conversion means for converting said plurality of first analog output signals to a plurality of digital output signals, said signal processing means further including controller means for directing said plurality of digital output signals to segmented storage space, said signal processing means further including second conversion means for converting said plurality of digital output signals to a plurality of second analog output signals, said signal processing means further including wireless transmit means for transmitting said plurality of second analog output signals; and

monitor means for receiving, processing and displaying said plurality of second analog output signals.

2. A security system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one of said plurality of cameras positioned at said front and said rear of said vehicle are positioned on said front and rear window.

3. A security system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one of said plurality of cameras positioned at said front and said rear of said vehicle are positioned on said front and said rear bumper.

4. A security system as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of cameras further comprise transmit means, receiver means, and motion detection means, said transmit means for transmitting said first analog output signals, said receiver means for receiving an enable command from said controller.

5. A security system as in claim 4, wherein said transmit means is wireless.

6. A security system as in claim 4, wherein said plurality of cameras record both video and audio.

7. A security system as in claim 1, wherein said monitor means is a handheld portable monitor.

8. A security system as in claim 7, wherein said monitor means is selected from the group consisting of cell phones and PDA devices.

9. A security system as in claim 1, wherein said first conversion means further includes image processor means for compressing said plurality of digital output signals prior to said segmented data storage.

10. A security system as in claim 1, wherein said first and second side mirror outer casing further includes at least one lense, said at least one lense coinciding with the focal position of said at least one of said plurality of cameras positioned within said internal space of said left side mirror and said right side mirror.

11. A security system as in claim 1, wherein said controller means further includes camera enable means, said camera enable means for generating an enable command to said plurality of cameras, said enable command for activating said plurality of cameras to record audio and video data upon detection of movement around said vehicle.

12. A security system as in claim 11, wherein said camera enable means further includes wireless transmit means for generating said enable command.

13. A method of providing realtime audio and video from a vehicle alarm system, said vehicle alarm system having a plurality of cameras positioned in the front and rear, and in the left and right side mirrors, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting motion at least one of said plurality of motion sensors contained within at least one of said plurality of cameras;

transmitting first analog audio/video data from said at least one of said plurality of cameras with detected motion to processing hardware located within the vehicle;

converting said first analog audio/video data from said at least one of said plurality of cameras with detected motion to a digital format;

storing said digital formatted data sequentially from at least one of said plurality of cameras with detected motion into a storage location within said processing hardware matched to each of said plurality of cameras;

converting said digitally formatted sequentially stored audio/video data from each of said matched storage locations to a second analog audio/video data;

transmitting said second analog audio/video data converted from said each of said matched storage locations to a remote monitor.

14. The method of providing realtime audio and video from a vehicle alarm system as in claim 13, wherein the step of Converting said first analog audio/video data further includes the step of setting an alarm bit within said digitally formatted data.

15. The method of providing realtime audio and video from a vehicle alarm system as in claim 14, wherein the step of transmitting said second analog data further includes the step of generating an alarm at said remote monitor to notify the user that data is available.

16. The method of providing realtime audio and video from a vehicle alarm system as in claim 13, wherein the step of converting said sequentially stored digitally formatted audio/video data from each of said matched storage locations to a second analog audio/video data for transmission to a remote monitor, further includes the steps of:

sequentially parsing through said matched storage locations from beginning to end continuously;

timing the output of the data within each of said sequentially parsed matched storage locations to be transmitted to said remote monitor;

saving the last position of said timed output whereby upon returning to said matched storage location during said continuous parsing the timed output begins where it left off;

skipping said matched storage locations that contain no data.

19. The method of providing realtime audio and video from a vehicle alarm system as in claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

setting the monitoring function mode of said vehicle alarm system for recording during vehicle motion or recording when the vehicle is parked;

generating an enable command from said processing hardware within said vehicle to activate said plurality of motion sensors contained within at least one of said plurality of cameras.

20. The method of providing realtime audio and video from a vehicle alarm system as in claim 19, further comprising the step of delaying the generation of said enable command to allow the occupants of the vehicle to exit the vehicle beyond the range of motion detection, said step of delaying performed when said monitoring function mode is set to record when said vehicle is parked.

17. A method of providing realtime audio and video from a vehicle alarm system, said vehicle alarm system having a plurality of cameras positioned in the front and rear, and in the left and right side mirrors, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting motion at least one of said plurality of motion sensors contained within at least one of said plurality of cameras;

transmitting first analog audio/video data from said at least one of said plurality of cameras with detected motion to processing hardware located within the vehicle;

converting said first analog audio/video data from said at least one of said plurality of cameras with detected motion to a digital format;

storing said digital formatted data from at least one of said plurality of cameras with detected motion into a storage location within said processing hardware matched to each of said plurality of cameras; and

uploading said stored digital formatted data to an ISP server.

18. A method of providing realtime audio and video from a vehicle alarm system as in claim 17, wherein the step of uploading of said stored digital formatted data to an ISP server further includes the steps of:

sequentially parsing through said matched storage locations from beginning to end continuously;

timing the output of the data within each of said sequentially parsed matched storage locations to be uploaded to said ISP server;

saving the last position of said timed output whereby upon returning to said matched storage location during said continuous parsing the timed output begins where it left off;

skipping said matched storage locations that contain no data.