Wireless video surveillance system and method with remote viewing

• US 7,954,129 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Smartvue Corp. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Renkis, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): SENFI, BEHROOZ M
• Application Number:
  US10/950,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20060070107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,440 Days
• Field of Search: 348/272, 348/143, 348/148, 348/211.99, 348/211.14, 348/211.1, 348/211.3, 348/211.12, 348/152, 348/153, 348/154, 348/155, 348/699, 348/700, 348/701, 348/702, 348/159, 348/373, 340/500, 340/539, 340/539.19, 340/937, 340/908, 340/531, 340/5.53, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.12, 340/539.13, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 386/125, 386/105, 709/318, 709/231, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 725/105, 725/133
• US Class Current: 725/105
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19621 Portable camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19663 Surveillance related processing done local to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1968 Interfaces for setting up or customising the system
• 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: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A surveillance system and method for remote viewing of inputs associated with at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) monitoring a target environment, and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) and/or another ICD, including the steps of providing base system and at least one user accessing the DIR or ICD(s) via user interface remotely from a remote viewing device.

Claims

1. A method for remote viewing of inputs to a surveillance system having communication between at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) or another ICD, together forming a base system, comprising the steps of:

providing the base system having at least one ICD constructed and configured for wireless digital direct communication with a corresponding wireless DIR or ICD(s) without requiring interaction with a remote server computer for operation, wherein the DIR or ICD(s) has a memory and a data processor for running software and is operable for transmitting instructions to and receiving and recording data inputs from the ICD(s);

an authorized user logging into the system;

the user accessing and controlling the DIR or ICD(s) via a user interface remotely from a remote viewing device to review inputs to the ICD(s) and control the ICD(s);

thereby providing a secure surveillance system for a target environment wherein inputs from the target environment are captured by the ICD(s).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the inputs include visual inputs to the ICD(s) captured from the target environment.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the inputs include video at a specific frame rate and size.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the inputs include still images at a specific rate and size.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the inputs include video a specific frame rate and size and still images at a specific rate and size.

6. A method for activating remote viewing between a remote viewing device and a wireless surveillance system including at least one wireless digital input capture device (ICD(s)) and a corresponding wireless digital input recorder (DIR), the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing the wireless surveillance system having at least one ICD constructed and configured for wireless digital direct communication with a corresponding wireless DIR or ICD(s) without requiring interaction with a remote server computer for operation, wherein the DIR or ICD(s) has a memory and a data processor for running software and is operable for transmitting instructions to and receiving and recording data inputs from the ICD(s);

b) at least one authorized user logging into the system;

c) the at least one authorized user interfacing with the DIR or ICD(s) to view inputs from the ICDs relating to a target environment.

7. The method according to claim 6, further including the step of the user establishing and/or adjusting settings on the DIR and/or ICD(s).

8. A method for remote communication between a remote viewing device and a base surveillance system comprising at least two wireless input capture device ICD(s) capable of direct wireless cross-communication, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the base surveillance system having at least two wireless input capture device ICD(s) capable of direct wireless cross-communication without requiring interaction with a remote server computer for operation;

at least one user accessing and controlling the at least one ICD via a user interface on the remote viewing device;

the ICD(s) transmitting data to the remote viewing device, the data relating to inputs to the ICD(s) from sensors monitoring a target environment.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the base system further includes a wireless digital input recorder (DIR) operable for direct wireless communication with the ICD(s).

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the data include visual inputs to the ICD(s).

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the data include video at a specific frame rate and size.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the data include still images at a specific rate and size.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the inputs include video a specific frame rate and size and still images at a specific rate and size.

14. A surveillance system for wireless communication between components comprising:

a base system including at least two wireless input capture devices (ICDs), the ICDs having at least one sensor and at least one input component for detecting and recording inputs, a processor, a memory, a transmitter/receiver, all constructed and configured in electronic connection;

wherein the ICDs are operable for direct wireless cross-communication with each other without requiring interaction with a remote server computer for operation; and

wherein the ICDs are operable for direct wireless communication with a remote viewing device operable by an authorized user.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the direct cross-communication of ICDs includes data exchange, wherein the data exchange includes information about the surveillance environment, settings, inputs, and combinations thereof.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein the inputs include visual inputs to the ICD(s) from the target environment.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the inputs include video at a specific frame rate and size.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein the inputs include still images at a specific rate and size.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein the inputs include video a specific frame rate and size and still images at a specific rate and size.

20. The system according to claim 14, wherein the remote viewing device capability is optimized for a specific available bandwidth.

21. The system according to claim 14, wherein the remote viewing device is an Internet connectable personal computer or personal data assistant.

22. The system according to claim 14, wherein the remote viewing device is a cell phone with Internet connection capabilities.