Virtual guard gate for a gated community and method therefor

• US 8,558,887 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2009
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Morgan Plaster
• Original Assignee: Morgan Plaster
• Inventors: Plaster, Morgan
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Lynn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Liu, Lin
• Application Number:
  US12/354,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20100175323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,734 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 348/156, 348/152, 348/159
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A virtual guard gate for a gated community has at least one camera positioned proximate an entrance gate of the gated community. A monitoring station monitor is provided for displaying images captured by the at least one camera located in an off site monitoring station. Receivers are located in a plurality of homes of the gated community for receiving the images captured by the at least one camera. An access device is located in the monitoring station and in each house within the gated community. The access device is used for opening the entrance gate when the images have been verified by one of an individual in the monitoring station or in one of the homes.

Claims

1. A virtual guard gate for a gated community comprising:

at least one camera positioned proximate an entrance gate of the gated community;

a monitoring station monitor for displaying images captured by said at least one camera located in an off site monitoring station;

receivers located in a plurality of homes of the gated community for receiving the images captured by said at least one camera;

an access device located in said monitoring station and in each house within said gated community for opening the entrance gate when said images have been verified by one of an individual in said monitoring station or in one of the homes;

a server located in said monitoring station coupled to said at least one camera;

a first database stored in said server and storing registered license plates and associated photos of authorized individuals of said gated community, wherein said server compares the images captured by said at least one camera and sends a signal for opening said entrance gate when said at least one camera captures an image of an authorized vehicle or individual seeking access;

a stopping device located proximate said entrance gate, the stopping device allowing a single vehicle to proceed through the entrance gate at a time;

a sensor for monitoring a rearmost portion of said single vehicle and to send a signal to activate said stopping device;

wherein said sensor is at least one photoelectric entrance beam, said photoelectric entrance beam capable of detecting when a rearmost portion of a vehicle entering said entrance gate has cleared said stopping device, said stopping device raises behind said rearmost portion of a vehicle when said at least one photoelectric entrance beam detects said rearmost portion of said vehicle has passed said stopping device and retracts when said entrance gate has closed; and

a directory device proximate said entrance gate containing a family name of each home and enabling communication with said monitoring station and with a selected home.

2. The virtual guard gate for a gated community of claim 1 further comprising a second database stored in said server for storing license plates and time and date data of when vehicles enter and exit said gated community.

3. The virtual guard gate for a gated community of claim 1 further comprising a photoelectric beam system attached to a fence around a perimeter of said gated community and generating at least one photoelectric beam enclosing said gated community, said photoelectric beam system sending an alarm signal to the monitoring station when said at least one photoelectric beam of the photoelectric beam system are interrupted.

4. The virtual guard gate for a gated community of claim 3 further comprising at least one fence monitoring camera attached to the fence around the perimeter of said gated community wherein said at least one fence monitoring camera is activated in response to said at least one photoelectric beam of the photoelectric beam system being interrupted, said fence monitoring camera focused upon an area proximate a point in which said at least one photoelectric beam are interrupted.

5. The virtual guard gate for a gated community of claim 4 wherein said at least one fence monitoring camera is directed upwardly.

6. The virtual guard gate for a gated community of claim 3 wherein said photoelectric beam system comprises:

a photoelectric beam generating source capable of generating a single photoelectric beam;

a photoelectric beam prism capable of separating said single photoelectric beam into a plurality of photoelectric beams, said plurality of photoelectric beams being in a vertical plane;

at least one beam-directing device capable of reflecting a first portion of said plurality of photoelectric beams and capable of redirecting a second portion of said plurality of photoelectric beams; and

a detecting source capable of detecting said point in which more than one of said plurality of photoelectric beams are interrupted.