Comprehensive multi-media surveillance and response system for aircraft, operations centers, airports and other commercial transports, centers and terminals

• US 7,131,136 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2002
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: e-Watch, Inc. (Cision Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: e-Watch, Inc. (Cision Ltd.)
• Inventors: Monroe, David
• Primary Examiner(s): An, Shawn S.
• Application Number:
  US10/192,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20040008253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,574 Days
• Field of Search: 725/105, 348/143, 348/144, 348/148, 348/152, 348/153, 348/154, 348/155, 348/156, 348/159, 701/14, 340/945
• US Class Current: 725/105
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19641 Multiple cameras having overlapping views on a single scene
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1965 the vehicle being an aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19682 Graphic User Interface [GUI] presenting system data to the user, e.g. information on a screen helping a user interacting with an alarm system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18504 Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A data collection and distribution system for monitoring aircraft in flight, on the ground and at the gate or terminal for monitoring critical and catastrophic events, managing the emergency during such an event, and for investigating the event. The system generates, transmits and collects critical data generated by monitoring equipment onboard an aircraft or other commercial transport and selectively displays the data on a cockpit display console as well as for downloading, transmitting and displaying data at external monitoring and response stations, including fixed ground stations, roving ground stations and chase aircraft or vehicles. Digital surveillance information is collected, processed, dispatched, and log via remote control and access. The system includes a variety of system appliances such as surveillance cameras, sensors, detectors, and panic buttons and accommodates legacy equipment. Within the commercial transport, the system maybe hardwired or may use wireless transmission and receiving systems.

Claims

1. A data system for providing in flight monitoring, collection, display, and recording of video data generated onboard an aircraft, the system comprising:

A plurality of cameras strategically placed throughout an aircraft;

An IP encoder for encoding the data signal produced by the cameras;

A transmitter for receiving the IP data signal from the cameras;

A communications link associated with the transmitter for transmitting the IP data signal off board;

manually operated switches for activating transmission of the data to the off board station, wherein the manually operated switch is the panic button controlled by a crewmember; and

A panic button including selective signal generators for identifying a type of condition onboard the aircraft at a time of activation.

2. The data system of claim 1, wherein the communications link may be any of a plurality of commercially available links.

3. The data system of claim 1, wherein the communications link is a communications satellite.

4. The data system of claim 1, wherein the communications link is a military radio.

5. The data system of claim 1, wherein the communications link is a cellular telephone.

6. The data system of claim 1, further including signal generating legacy instruments and sensors in communication with the cameras and transmitter.

7. The data system of claim 6, further including a converter for converting the legacy signal into an IP signal.

8. The data system of claim 6, wherein the legacy signal is used to trigger the off board transmission of the data signal.

9. The data system of claim 1, wherein the off board station is a ground station adapted for receiving the IP signal and transmitting over an IP network.

10. The data system of claim 1, wherein the off board station is a chase aircraft.

11. The data system of claim 1, wherein the panic button is wireless.

12. The data system of claim 1, wherein one camera is an analog camera and there is further included an encoder for digitizing the data signal into a digital IP data signal.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the panic button includes an audio transmission capability, whereby the crewmember can communicate directly with the remote station.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the panic button includes an audio receiver, whereby the remote station can communicate directly with the crewmember.

15. The system of claim 1 the panic button including a unique identification signal for identifying the crewmember activating the panic button.

16. The system of claim 1 the panic button including a unique identification for identifying the location of the panic button when activated.

17. A comprehensive situational awareness system for monitoring real time situations onboard an aircraft, transmitting data to remote station, and providing real time response, the system comprising:

condition detectors strategically placed onboard the aircraft the sensors generating data for monitoring the real-time conditions onboard the aircraft;

a data collection network for collecting the data generated by the detectors;

a remote station off board the aircraft for receiving the data;

an aircraft-to-remote link for transmitting collected data corresponding to a predefined event on board the aircraft in real-time;

a response generator associated with the remote station for generating an appropriate response based on the transmitted data; and

a blocking function generator permitting a cockpit crew to block transmission of the data to a remote location under predefined conditions.

18. The system of claim 17, further including a recorder onboard the aircraft for collecting the data generated onboard the aircraft.

19. The system of claim 18, including means for transmitting the collected data to the remote station when the predefined condition is detected.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein one of the detectors is a panic button that may be manually activated by authorized personnel.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said panic button is wireless and there is further included a wireless transmitter/receiver system for transmitting a signal generated by the panic button to the collecting network.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the panic button is strategically placed on the aircraft and is hardwired to the collection network.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the detectors include a camera for collecting full motion video.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the detectors include a camera for collecting still images.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the detectors include legacy sensors onboard the aircraft.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein the detectors include environmental condition detectors onboard the aircraft.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein transmission to a remote station is automatically activated in response to the occurrence of a pre-defined event.

28. The system of claim 17, the remote station response generator further including means for transmitting confirmation data to the aircraft when transmitted data is received from the aircraft.

29. The system of claim 17, wherein the remote station is a ground based station.

30. The system of claim 17, wherein the remote station is a response ground vehicle.

31. The system of claim 17, wherein the remote station is an intercept aircraft.

32. The system of claim 17, wherein the remote station is a handheld wireless device.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the handheld wireless device is a PDA.

34. The system of claim 17, wherein the response generator is adapted for generating a specific response responsive to a specific predetermined condition onboard the aircraft.

35. The system of claim 17, further including detectors for monitoring situational conditions around the exterior of the aircraft.

36. The system of claim 35, said detectors adapted for monitoring a breach of access to the aircraft while the aircraft is unattended on the ground.

37. The system of claim 17, further including a geo-location generator for-generating a data signal giving the location of the aircraft while it is on the ground, whereby event response personnel can track the location of the aircraft while in port.

38. The system of claim 17, including sensors for generating data relating to airframe events.

39. The system of claim 17, including sensors for generating data relating to engine performance events.

40. The system of claim 17, including sensors for generating data relating to a change in course from a predetermined flight plan.

41. The system of claim 40, including means for modifying the course of the aircraft when a crewmember is non-responsive.

42. The system of claim 17, including a wireless remote station suitable for use by roving personnel.