System, Method, and Apparatus for Monitoring and Alerting

• US 20160321887A1
• Filed: 04/28/2016
• Published: 11/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interact Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Interact Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Pulliam, Haywood
• Granted Patent: US 10,210,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19665 Details related to the storage of video surveillance data television signal recording H04N5/76
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19689 Remote control of cameras, e.g. remote orientation or image zooming control for a PTZ camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence

Abstract

An alert system includes a computer system and several transmitting devices wirelessly connected to the computer system such that operation of a switch on any one of the transmitting devices transmits a signal to the computer system. There is at least one video camera coupled to the computer system. Software running on the computer system initiates capture of video from at least one of the video cameras responsive to detecting receipt of the signal from the any one of the transmitting devices.

Claims

1. An alert system comprising:

a computer system;

a plurality of wireless transceivers interfaced to the computer system, each of the wireless transceivers located associated with a location of a facility;

a plurality of transmitting devices wirelessly connected to the computer system such that operation of a momentary-contact switch of any one of the transmitting devices transmits a wireless signal;

at least one video camera operatively coupled to the computer system; and

software running on the computer system, the software monitoring the plurality of wireless transceivers waiting for reception of the wireless signal from any of the wireless transceivers, the software initiating capture of video from at least one of the at least one video camera responsive to the software detecting receipt of the signal from one of the transmitting devices by one of the wireless transceivers.

2. The alert system of claim 1, wherein the software, responsive to detecting a second of the wireless signals from the any one of the transmitting devices stops capture of the video from the at least one of the at least one video camera and the software processes and stores the video in storage of the computer system.

3. The alert system of claim 1, wherein the software signals an alarm responsive to detecting continuous repetitions of the wireless signal.

4. The alert system of claim 3, wherein the alarm includes sending a notification to a law enforcement agency.

5. The alert system of claim 3, wherein the alarm includes making a phone call from the server to a law enforcement emergency number and after a connection is made, playing of a prerecorded message over the connection.

6. The alert system of claim 3, wherein the alarm includes making a phone call from the server to a law enforcement emergency number and after a connection is made, converting a text message into voice and emitting the voice over the connection.

7. The alert system of claim 3, wherein the alarm includes sending a notification to an administrative staff.

8. The alert system of claim 1, whereas the software determines a location of the transmitting device by determining which of the wireless transceivers received the wireless signal.

9. An alert system comprising:

a computer system having a wireless receiver;

a transmitting device having a momentary-contact switch for controlling when the transmitting device emits a wireless signal;

at least one video camera operatively coupled to the computer system; and

software running on the computer system, the software initiating capture of video from at least one of the at least one video camera responsive to the software detecting receipt of the wireless signal from the transmitting device.

10. The alert system of claim 9, wherein the software, responsive to detecting a second of the wireless signal from the transmitting device, stops capture of the video from the at least one of the at least one video camera and the software processes and stores the video in storage of the computer system.

11. The alert system of claim 9, wherein the software signals an alarm responsive to detecting the wireless signal for a period of time that is greater than a pre-determined threshold.

12. The alert system of claim 11, wherein the alarm includes sending a notification to a law enforcement agency.

13. The alert system of claim 10, wherein the alarm includes making a phone call from the server to a law enforcement emergency number and after a connection is made, playing of a prerecorded message over the connection.

14. The alert system of claim 10, wherein the alarm includes making a phone call from the server to a law enforcement emergency number and after a connection is made, converting a text message into voice and emitting the voice over the connection.

15. The alert system of claim 10, wherein the alarm includes sending a notification to an administrative staff.

16. The alert system of claim 10, wherein the alarm includes initiating an audio and/or visual building alarm.

17. A method of alerting, the method comprising:

transmitting a wireless signal by activating a momentary-contact switch of a transmitting device for a period of time;

upon receiving and detecting the wireless signal, initiating capture of video from at least one video camera associated with a location of the transmitting device; and

if the period of time is greater than a predetermined threshold, signaling of an alarm.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising stopping the capture of the video upon detecting an absence of the wireless signal followed by a second receiving and detecting of the wireless signal.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of signaling the alarm includes making a phone call from a computer to a law enforcement emergency number and after connecting to the law enforcement emergency number, playing of a prerecorded message to an operator at the law enforcement emergency number.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of signaling the alarm includes making a phone call from a computer to a law enforcement emergency number and after connecting to the law enforcement emergency number, converting a text message into a voice message and playing of the voice message to an operator at the law enforcement emergency number.