Vehicle security surveillance system and method for surveillance of a vehicle

• US 8,854,465 B1
• Filed: 09/04/2011
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jason Charles Mcintyre
• Original Assignee: Jason Charles Mcintyre
• Inventors: McIntyre, Jason Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Woolcock, Madhu
• Application Number:
  US13/225,464
• Time in Patent Office: 1,129 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148, 726/26
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/302 using recording means, e.g. black box
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera

Abstract

A vehicle security surveillance system includes a camera installed within a vehicle'"'"'s interior a memory device coupled to the camera, an external device interface coupled to the memory device, a wiring interface coupled to a power supply, a network interface module, and an image packet application. The camera is normally rendered in a “stand-by” mode until trigger activated to generate digital images of the interior of the vehicle. An image packet application facilitates, generation of at least one vehicle interior image packet. On receiving a trigger from the motion sensors, the camera is rendered to record digital images to the memory device and the image packet application initiates generation of at least one vehicle interior image packet including the recorded digital images and encrypts each digital image. The at least one vehicle interior image packet is sent from the vehicle security surveillance system via the network interface module.

Claims

1. A vehicle security surveillance system comprising:

a camera configured to be installed within a vehicle'"'"'s interior, the camera including one or more motion sensors and a processor, wherein (a) the processor is configured to facilitate operation of the camera and the one or more motion sensors, and (b) the camera is configured to be in stand-by mode and to generate one or more digital images of the interior of the vehicle when the one or more motion sensors trigger activation of the camera;

an image packet application configured to facilitate generation of at least one vehicle interior image packet comprising (i) an encrypted digital image generated by the camera, (ii) an image capture time indicator, (iii) an image capture date indicator, (iv) a counter status indicator for tracking a number of times the vehicle interior image packet has been downloaded, and (v) a decryption status indicator for identifying a person or entity requesting decryption, wherein the image packet application, upon receipt of a valid request for decryption including a decryption code for the vehicle interior image packet, creates an encrypted vehicle interior image packet from the vehicle interior image packet comprising current status information that includes the decryption status indicator including a predefined one letter code that identifies the person or entity requesting decryption and an updated count of the counter status indicator so that veracity of the vehicle interior image packet is documented to enhance admissibility in legal proceedings;

a memory device, the memory device coupled to the camera and configured to store the one or more digital images generated by the camera;

an external device interface coupled to the memory device, wherein the external device interface is configured to facilitate removal of the one or more digital images from the memory device;

a network interface configured to send the encrypted vehicle interior image packet from the vehicle security surveillance system; and

a wiring interface coupled to a power supply.

2. The vehicle security surveillance system according to claim 1 further comprising a Video Share application server configured to send at least one vehicle interior image packet to a Video Share User Equipment (UE) device.

3. The vehicle security surveillance system according to claim 2 wherein the Video Share UE device comprises a mobile phone.

4. The vehicle security surveillance system according to claim 1 wherein the camera further comprises shock sensors.

5. The vehicle security surveillance system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one encrypted vehicle interior image packet requires a restricted code for decrypting.

6. A vehicle security surveillance system comprising:

a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, configured to be installed within a vehicle'"'"'s interior and comprising motion sensors and a processor, wherein the CCD camera is configured to be in stand-by mode and to generate one or more digital images of the interior of the vehicle when the CCD camera is trigger-activated by the motion sensors to generate digital images, and the processor is configured to facilitate operation of the CCD camera and the motion sensors;

an image packet application configured to facilitate generation of at least one vehicle interior image packet comprising (i) an encrypted digital image generated by the CCD camera, (ii) an image capture time indicator, (iii) an image capture date indicator, (iv) a counter status indicator for tracking a number of times the vehicle interior image packet has been downloaded, and (v) a decryption status indicator for identifying a person or entity requesting decryption, wherein the image packet application, upon receipt of a valid request for decryption including a decryption code for the vehicle interior image packet, creates an encrypted vehicle interior image packet from the vehicle interior image packet comprising current status information that includes the decryption status indicator including a predefined one letter code that identifies the person or entity requesting decryption and an updated count of the counter status indicator so that veracity of the vehicle interior image packet is documented to enhance admissibility in legal proceedings;

a micro hard drive coupled to the CCD camera and configured to store the one or more digital images generated by the CCD camera;

universal serial bus (USB) plug coupled to the micro hard drive, wherein the USB plug is configured to facilitate removal of the one or more digital images from the micro hard drive;

a network interface configured to transmit the encrypted vehicle interior image packet; and

a power supply.

7. A method for surveillance of a vehicle including:

rendering a vehicle security surveillance system in a stand-by mode while the vehicle is parked,

generating one or more digital images of an interior of the vehicle by at least one camera when the at least one camera is activated by triggering of a motion sensor;

generating of at least one vehicle interior image packet comprising (i) an encrypted digital image generated by the camera, (ii) an image capture time indicator, (iii) an image capture date indicator, (iv) a counter status indicator for tracking a number of times the vehicle interior image packet has been downloaded, and (v) a decryption status indicator for identifying a person or entity requesting decryption, wherein, upon receiving a valid request for decryption including a decryption code for the vehicle interior image packet, creating an encrypted vehicle interior image packet from the vehicle interior image packet comprising current status information that includes the decryption status indicator including a predefined one letter code that identifies the person or entity requesting decryption and an updated count of the counter status indicator so that veracity of the vehicle interior image packet is documented to enhance admissibility in legal proceedings;

recording the one or more digital images generated by the at least one camera onto a memory device; and

sending the encrypted vehicle interior image packet from the vehicle security surveillance system, via a network interface module.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the at least one camera is activated by shock sensors.

9. The method according to claim 7 further comprising sending at least one vehicle interior image packet to a Video Share Application Server from the network interface module.

10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of sending the encrypted vehicle interior image packet to at least one user equipment device.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the one or more digital images are recorded on the memory device via a self-cleaning program.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the step of recording the one or more digital images further comprises the steps of:

storing a digital image file for the at least one camera in a corresponding folder, each folder including a predetermined number of subfolders; and

deleting the digital image file of an oldest subfolder to generate a contents-deleted subfolder to store a subsequent digital image file.

13. The method according to claim 7 further comprising engaging a valet or service attendant mode.