Early warning real-time security system

• US 6,559,769 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2001
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eric Anthony, Joseph Phillips
• Original Assignee: Eric Anthony, Joseph Phillips
• Inventors: Anthony, Eric, Phillips, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, BENJAMIN C
• Application Number:
  US10/007,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20030063004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340/576, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/517, 340/521, 340/531, 340/522, 340/999, 340/506, 340/574, 340/426, 348/152, 348/153, 348/148, 348/156, 348/154, 348/159, 348/161, 348/143, 348/135, 348/151, 89/610.5, 367/93, 706/933, 382/115, 382/118, 382/100, 382/103
• US Class Current: 340/574
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/302 Airplanes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• 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: B64D 45/0053 using visual equipment, e.g. cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0059 by communicating emergency situations to ground control or between crew members
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19626 optical details, e.g. lenses, mirrors or multiple lenses
• 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 13/1965 the vehicle being an aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range

Abstract

An early-warning security system for monitoring and tracking in real-time the activities and movements associated with prescribed personnel, personal property, mobile vehicles, and buildings. The system comprises a plurality of in situ local controllers having a microprocessor and a coordinated plurality of conspicuous and clandestine digital video cameras for continuously producing digital audio and visual signals, uplinking such signals via a suitable wireless telecommunications device to a satellite, general packet radio service, the Internet, intranet or extranet, and then downlinking these signals to a plurality of control centers for recording and analysis thereof. Uplinking of these digital signals may occur continuously or may be activated by a manual or predefined trigger event. Preventative or remedial action is immediately taken when perturbations from normal behavior or activities are observed in the recorded audio and visual signals.

Claims

1. A real-time early-warning security system for monitoring in real-time with a plurality of remotely operated microcomputers the movement of a plurality of individuals relative to environing premises or to associated vehicular travel by accessing a security database containing audio and visual streaming information, said real-time early-warning security system comprising:

a plurality of data collection devices disposed in and upon strategic locations proximal to said plurality of individuals, for recording a continuous stream of audio and visual information in real-time responsive to the relationship of said plurality of individuals to said environing premises or to associated vehicular travel;

a plurality of control devices disposed in and proximal to said plurality of individuals and said environing premises or associated vehicular travel, for generating and receiving control signals responsive to the relationship of said plurality of individuals to said environing premises or associated vehicular travel, for controlling local interaction between said plurality of individuals and said environing premises or associated vehicular travel for establishing mode of operation of said plurality of data collection devices;

microprocessor means for controlling which data collection devices of said plurality of data collection devices are active and operational for recording said collected information, and for coordinating said mode of operation of said plurality of data collection devices;

first communications means for transmitting and uploading a continuous stream of said collected information in real-time from said plurality of data collection devices to a second communications means disposed remotely of said first communications means;

said first communications means also transmitting and uploading said control signals in real-time from said plurality of data collection devices to said second communications means;

said second communications means transmitting and downloading said continuous stream of collected information and said control signals received from said first communications means to a plurality of data/control centers;

a streaming information collection database for storing said downloaded continuous stream of collected information for analysis and reconciliation with a reference database for identifying incipient or existing troublesome or dangerous situations involving said plurality of individuals and said environing premises or associated vehicular travel; and

trigger means for alerting enforcement personnel to take immediate remedial action and for generating appropriate control signals responsive to said identification of incipient or existing troublesome or dangerous situations and for transmitting and downloading said appropriate control signals by third communications means from said plurality of data/control centers to said plurality of control devices to modify said interaction of said plurality of individuals with said environing premises or associated vehicular travel.

2. The early-warning security system recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of data collection devices comprises a first plurality of data collection devices that are disposed conspicuously.

3. The early-warning security system recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of data collection devices comprises a second plurality of data collection devices that are disposed clandestinely.

4. The early-warning security system recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of data collection devices comprises a third plurality of digital video cameras.

5. The early-warning security system recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of data collection devices comprises a fourth plurality of audio recording devices.

6. The early-warning security system recited in claim 1, wherein said reference database includes a behavioral pattern database.

7. The early-warning security system recited in claim 6, wherein said reference database includes a GPS database.

8. The early-warning security system recited in claim 6, wherein said reference database includes biometrics information about personnel authorized to function as said plurality of individuals.

9. The early-warning security system recited in claim 6, wherein said reference database includes biometrics information about suspicious or terrorist personnel who are being sought by law enforcement personnel.

10. The early-warning security system recited in claim 1, wherein said first communications means comprises cellular communications.

11. The early-warning security system recited in claim 1, wherein said first communications means also comprises satellite communications.

12. The early-warning security system recited in claim 1, wherein said second communications means comprises cellular communications.

13. The early-warning security system recited in claim 12, wherein said second communications means also comprises satellite communications.

14. The early-warning security system recited in claim 1, wherein said third communications means comprises broadband networked communications.

15. The early-warning security system recited in claim 14, wherein said first communications means also comprises satellite communications.

16. The early-warning security system recited in claim 1, wherein said downloaded collected information stored in said collection database is migrated to said reference database responsive to said analysis and reconciliation.

17. The early-warning security system recited in claim 1, wherein said mode of operation of said plurality of data collection devices comprises a first mode wherein power is conserved and said system is in a stand-by or snooze mode until an activation signal is received from said plurality of control/data centers.

18. The early-warning security system recited in claim 1, wherein said mode of operation of said plurality of data collection devices comprises a second mode wherein said system is in an active mode recording said information in real-time responsive to the relationship of said plurality of individuals to said environing premises or associated vehicular travel until an alarm signal or stand-by signal is received from said plurality of control/data centers.

19. The early-warning security system recited in claim 1, wherein said mode of operation of said plurality of data collection devices comprises a third mode wherein said system is in an alarm mode effecting immediate remedial action corresponding to said triggering means.

20. The early-warning security system recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of remotely operated microcomputers comprise a plurality of suitably configured desktop devices.

21. The early-warning security system recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of remotely operated microcomputers comprise a plurality of suitably configured notebook devices.

22. The early-warning security system recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of remotely operated microcomputers comprise a plurality of suitably configured handheld devices.

23. The early-warning security system recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of remotely operated microcomputers comprise a plurality of suitably configured land-line telephones.

24. The early-warning security system recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of remotely operated microcomputers comprise a plurality of suitably configured wireless telephones.

25. In a mobile vehicle having a driver and a plurality of passengers, a real-time early-warning security system comprising:

a plurality of data collection devices disposed in and upon strategic locations of said vehicle, for recording a continuous stream of audio and visual information in real-time responsive to the relationship of said driver and said plurality of passengers to said mobile vehicle;

a plurality of control devices disposed in and proximal to said mobile vehicle, for generating and receiving control signals responsive to the relationship of said driver and said plurality of passengers to said mobile vehicle, for controlling local operation of said mobile vehicle and for establishing mode of operation of said plurality of data collection devices;

microprocessor means for controlling which data collection devices of said plurality of data collection devices are active and operational for recording said collected information in and upon strategic locations of said vehicle, and for coordinating said mode of operation of said plurality of data collection devices;

first communications means for transmitting and uploading a continuous stream of said collected information in real-time from said plurality of data collection devices to a second communications means disposed remotely of said first communications means;

said first communications means also transmitting and uploading said control signals in real-time from said plurality of data collection devices to said second communications means;

said second communications means transmitting and downloading said continuous stream of collected information and said control signals received from said first communications means to a plurality of data/control centers;

a streaming information collection database for storing said downloaded continuous stream of collected information for analysis and reconciliation with a reference database for identifying incipient or existing troublesome or dangerous situations involving said mobile vehicle and said driver and said plurality of passengers; and

trigger means for alerting enforcement personnel to take immediate remedial action and for generating appropriate control signals responsive to said identification of incipient or existing troublesome or dangerous situations and for transmitting and downloading said appropriate control signals by third communications means from said plurality of data/control centers to said plurality of control devices to modify said operation of said mobile vehicle.

26. The early-warning security system recited in claim 25, wherein said plurality of data collection devices comprises a first plurality of data collection devices that are disposed conspicuously.

27. The early-warning security system recited in claim 25, wherein said plurality of data collection devices comprises a second plurality of data collection devices that are disposed clandestinely.

28. The early-warning security system recited in claim 25, wherein said plurality of data collection devices comprises a third plurality of digital video cameras.

29. The early-warning security system recited in claim 25, wherein said plurality of data collection devices comprises a fourth plurality of audio recording devices.

30. The early-warning security system recited in claim 25, wherein said reference database includes a behavioral pattern database.

31. The early-warning security system recited in claim 30, wherein said reference database includes a GPS database.

32. The early-warning security system recited in claim 30, wherein said reference database includes biometrics information about personnel authorized to function as said driver and said plurality of passengers.

33. The early-warning security system recited in claim 30, wherein said reference database includes biometrics information about suspicious or terrorist personnel who are being sought by law enforcement personnel.

34. The early-warning security system recited in claim 25, in wherein said first communications means comprises cellular communications.

35. The early-warning security system recited in claim 34, wherein said first communications means also comprises satellite communications.

36. The early-warning security system recited in claim 25, wherein said second communications means comprises cellular communications.

37. The early-warning security system recited in claim 36, wherein said second communications means also comprises satellite communications.

38. The early-warning security system recited in claim 25, wherein said third communications means comprises broadband networked communications.

39. The early-warning security system recited in claim 38, wherein said first communications means also comprises satellite communications.

40. The early-warning security system recited in claim 25, wherein said downloaded collected information stored in said collection database is migrated to said reference database responsive to said analysis and reconciliation.

41. The early-warning security system recited in claim 25, wherein said mode of operation of said plurality of data collection devices comprises a first mode wherein power is conserved and said system is in a stand-by or snooze mode until an activation signal is received from said plurality of control/data centers.

42. The early-warning security system recited in claim 25, wherein said mode of operation of said plurality of data collection devices comprises a second mode wherein said system is in an active mode recording said information in real-time responsive to the relationship of said driver and said plurality of passengers to said motor vehicle until an alarm signal or stand-by signal is received from said plurality of control/data centers.

43. The early-warning security system recited in claim 25, wherein said mode of operation of said plurality of data collection devices comprises a third mode wherein said system is in an alarm mode effecting immediate remedial action corresponding to said triggering means.

44. The early-warning security system recited in claim 25, wherein said plurality of data/control centers includes a plurality of authorized devices adapted for remotely accessing said streaming information collection database.

45. The early-warning security system recited in claim 44, wherein said plurality of remote authorized devices comprise a plurality of suitably configured microcomputers.

46. The early-warning security system recited in claim 44, wherein said plurality of remote authorized devices comprise a plurality of suitably configured hand-held devices.

47. The early-warning security system recited in claim 44, wherein said plurality of remote authorized devices comprise a plurality of suitably configured land-line telephones.

48. The early-warning security system recited in claim 44, wherein said plurality of remote authorized devices comprise a plurality of suitably configured wireless telephones.

49. In a premises having a plurality of occupants, a real-time early-warning security system comprising:

a plurality of data collection devices disposed in and upon strategic locations of said premises, for recording a continuous stream of audio and visual information in real-time responsive to the relationship of said plurality of occupants to said premises;

a plurality of control devices disposed in and proximal to said premises, for generating and receiving control signals responsive to the relationship of said plurality of occupants to said premises, for controlling local operation of said premises and for establishing mode of operation of said plurality of data collection devices;

microprocessor means for controlling which data collection devices of said plurality of data collection devices are active and operational for recording said collected information in and upon strategic locations of said premises, and for coordinating said mode of operation of said plurality of data collection devices;

first communications means for transmitting and uploading a continuous stream of said collected information in real-time from said plurality of data collection devices to a second communications means disposed remotely of said first communications means;

said first communications means also transmitting and uploading said control signals in real-time from said plurality of data collection devices to said second communications means;

said second communications means transmitting and downloading said continuous stream of collected information and said control signals received from said first communications means to a plurality of data/control centers;

a streaming information collection database for storing said downloaded continuous stream of collected information for analysis and reconciliation with a reference database for identifying incipient or existing troublesome or dangerous situations involving said premises and said plurality of occupants; and

trigger means for alerting enforcement personnel to take immediate remedial action and for generating appropriate control signals responsive to said identification of incipient or existing troublesome or dangerous situations and for transmitting and downloading said appropriate control signals by third communications means from said plurality of data/control centers to said plurality of control devices to modify said operation of said premises.

50. The early-warning security system recited in claim 49, wherein said plurality of data collection devices comprises a first plurality of data collection devices that are disposed conspicuously.

51. The early-warning security system recited in claim 49, wherein said plurality of data collection devices comprises a second plurality of data collection devices that are disposed clandestinely.

52. The early-warning security system recited in claim 49, wherein said plurality of data collection devices comprises a third plurality of digital video cameras.

53. The early-warning security system recited in claim 49, wherein said plurality of data collection devices comprises a fourth plurality of audio recording devices.

54. The early-warning security system recited in claim 49, wherein said reference database includes a behavioral pattern database.

55. The early-warning security system recited in claim 54, wherein said reference database includes a GPS database.

56. The early-warning security system recited in claim 54, wherein said reference database includes biometrics information about personnel authorized to function as said plurality of occupants.

57. The early-warning security system recited in claim 54, wherein said reference database includes biometrics information about suspicious or terrorist personnel who are being sought by law enforcement personnel.

58. The early-warning security system recited in claim 49, wherein said first communications means comprises cellular communications.

59. The early-warning security system recited in claim 58, wherein said first communications means also comprises satellite communications.

60. The early-warning security system recited in claim 49, wherein said second communications means comprises cellular communications.

61. The early-warning security system recited in claim 60, wherein said second communications means also comprises satellite communications.

62. The early-warning security system recited in claim 49, wherein said third communications means comprises broadband networked communications.

63. The early-warning security system recited in claim 62, wherein said first communications means also comprises satellite communications.

64. The early-warning security system recited in claim 49, wherein said downloaded collected information stored in said collection database is migrated to said reference database responsive to said analysis and reconciliation.

65. The early-warning security system recited in claim 49, wherein said mode of operation of said plurality of data collection devices comprises a first mode wherein power is conserved and said system is in a stand-by or snooze mode until an activation signal is received from said plurality of control/data centers.

66. The early-warning security system recited in claim 49, wherein said mode of operation of said plurality of data collection devices comprises a second mode wherein said system is in an active mode recording said information in real-time responsive to the relationship of said plurality of occupants to said premises until an alarm signal or stand-by signal is received from said plurality of control/data centers.

67. The early-warning security system recited in claim 49, wherein said mode of operation of said plurality of data collection devices comprises a third mode wherein said system is in an alarm mode effecting immediate remedial action corresponding to said triggering means.

68. The early-warning security system recited in claim 49, wherein said plurality of data/control centers includes a plurality of authorized devices adapted for remotely accessing said streaming information collection database.

69. The early-warning security system recited in claim 68, wherein said plurality of remote authorized devices comprise a plurality of suitably configured microcomputers.

70. The early-warning security system recited in claim 68, wherein said plurality of remote authorized devices comprise a plurality of suitably configured hand-held devices.

71. The early-warning security system recited in claim 68, wherein said plurality of remote authorized devices comprise a plurality of suitably configured land-line telephones.

72. The early-warning security system recited in claim 68, wherein said plurality of remote authorized devices comprise a plurality of suitably configured wireless telephones.