Wireless network camera systems

• US 8,050,206 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2007
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axis AB (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MicroPower Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Siann, Jon, Espey, Dennis James
• Primary Examiner(s): Lai, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US12/515,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20100141762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/338, 340/693.1, 345/204, 348/14.11, 348/207.99, 358/408, 382/103, 396/56, 433/29, 455/450, 713/340
• US Class Current: 370/310
• 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 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00315 with a radio transmission apparatus with a cordless telephone H04N1/00305; systems or arrangements for the transmission of a picture signal specially adapted for transmission via radio H04N1/00103; H04N1/00307 takes precedence; radio transmission systems H04B7/00; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

Apparatus, systems and techniques associated with battery powered wireless camera systems. One aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a system that includes a battery powered wireless camera including an internal battery to provide energy and a burst transmission unit to transmit information during burst periods. The system includes a base station, separated from the battery powered wireless camera, in wireless communication with the battery powered wireless camera to receive information from the battery powered wireless camera. The base station is configured to process the received information and includes a web server to transmit the processed information to a client. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a base station comprising a first receiver configured to receive information in a first wireless network and a second transmitter configured to transmit information in a second wireless network;

a remote node comprising a first transmitter configured to transmit information in the first wireless network and a second receiver configured to receive information in the second wireless network;

wherein the second transmitter is further configured to transmit control information from the base station to the remote node via the second wireless network and the first transmitter is further configured to transmit compressed video information from the remote node to the base station via the first wireless network; and

wherein the second receiver in the remote node is further configured to operate continuously for periods of time exceeding 5 hours while drawing less than 10 mW in average power.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitted information comprises digitally encoded video signals.

3. The system of claim 1, comprising a first wireless network configured to communicate between one or more wireless cameras and the base station via one or more high-bandwidth channels.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second wireless network is configured to communicate between one or more wireless cameras and the base station via one or more low-bandwidth channels, and wherein the second wireless network is configured to be more reliable than the first wireless network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless network comprises one of a wireless Ethernet network, a WiFi network, and a WiMAX network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless network is based on Multiple In Multiple Out (MIMO) technology.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second wireless network is configured to operate for an extended period of time to facilitate one or more of set-up, installation, and troubleshooting activities.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second wireless network is configured to signal to one or more wireless cameras that one of one or more high-bandwidth channels is available for data transmission.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the base station is configured to determine a channel availability of one or more high-bandwidth channels.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the second wireless network uses Multiple In Multiple Out (MIMO) technology.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the base station comprises a second transmitter configured to transmit via the second wireless network information comprising one or more of positional, zoom, and tilt commands to each of one or more wireless cameras.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the base station is configured to process a triggering event, a motion detection or a detection of an object of interest.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the base station automatically sends a textual, a visual, or an auditory alert based on detection of motion or an object of interest or a trigger activity.

14. A wireless camera system comprising:

one or more battery powered wireless cameras, each of the one or more battery powered wireless cameras including an internal battery to provide energy and a burst transmission unit to transmit information during burst periods;

a base station, separated from the one or more battery powered wireless cameras, in wireless communication with the one or more battery powered wireless camera and configured to receive the information from the one or more battery powered wireless camera, the base station configured to process the received information and including a web server to transmit the processed information to a client;

a first wireless network configured to communicate between the one or more wireless cameras and the base station via one or more high-bandwidth channels; and

a second wireless network configured to communicate between the one or more wireless cameras and the base station via one or more low-bandwidth channels;

wherein the second wireless network is configured to be more reliable than the first wireless network; and

wherein the base station comprises a transmitter configured to transmit via the second wireless network a command to flush information and data stored on each of the one or more wireless camera through the first wireless network.

15. A wireless camera system comprising:

one or more battery powered wireless cameras, each of the one or more battery powered wireless cameras including an internal battery to provide energy and a burst transmission unit to transmit information during burst periods;

a base station, separated from the one or more battery powered wireless cameras, in wireless communication with the one or more battery powered wireless camera and configured to receive the information from the one or more battery powered wireless camera, the base station configured to process the received information and including a web server to transmit the processed information to a client;

a first wireless network configured to communicate between the one or more wireless cameras and the base station via one or more high-bandwidth channels; and

a second wireless network configured to communicate between the one or more wireless cameras and the base station via one or more low-bandwidth channels;

wherein the second wireless network is configured to be more reliable than the first wireless network; and

wherein each of the one or more battery powered wireless cameras includes a high-bandwidth transceiver and a low-bandwidth transceiver, wherein the high-bandwidth transceiver is configured to receive information via the first wireless network and the low-bandwidth transceiver is configured to receive information via the second wireless network.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the low-bandwidth transceiver is configured to consume less than 4 mW of power in constant receive operation.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the low-bandwidth transceiver is configured to operate in a polling mode that reduces an average energy consumption of the camera.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the base station comprises timing circuits configured to be synchronized with the cycle of the polling mode in the receiver.