Monitoring smart devices on a wireless mesh communication network

• US 9,544,547 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2015
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: KIP SMRT P1 LP
• Inventors: Renkis, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLDER, ANNER N
• Application Number:
  US14/963,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20160094811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A surveillance system and method with at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) and/or another ICD, including the steps of providing the base system; at least one user accessing the DIR via user interface either directly or remotely; the DIR and/or ICD searching for signal from the ICD(s) and establishing communication with them, and the system providing for input capture and data transmission prioritization, thereby providing a secure surveillance system having wireless communication for monitoring a target environment with prioritization capabilities.

Claims

1. A system for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory having instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to;

wirelessly communicate with input capture devices;

automatically establish and control settings, activities, and/or functionality of at least one input capture device, independent of any remote server device; and

directly communicate with the at least one input capture device, wherein each of the input capture devices have one or more sensors for independently capturing environmental data and wherein each of the input capture devices are operable for wireless cross-communication directly with each other independent of any remote server device for forming a wireless mesh network of input capture devices operable to provide control of a target environment.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory having instructions is further configured to cause the at least one processor to:

identify a first input capture device, a second input capture device and an intermediate capture device,

wherein the first input capture device, the second input capture device and the intermediate input capture device are configured to directly communicate to one another,

wherein the first input capture device and the second input capture device are configured to communicate via a communication path established through the intermediate input capture device, and

wherein the establishment of the path through the intermediate input capture device expands an operating radio range that is a distance greater than an operating radio range provided by any one of the first input capture device, the second input capture device and the intermediate input capture device,

wherein the first input capture device detects environmental data at a target environment,

wherein when the first input capture device detects the environmental data, a first notification is received from the second input capture device that originated from the first input capture device and was sent through the intermediate input capture device, and

wherein the first notification indicates that the first input capture device detected the environmental data,

in response to receiving the first notification, sending a second notification via a wired LAN and/or WAN network for delivery to a remote server and/or remote viewing device;

receiving from the remote server and/or the remote viewing device a request for the environmental data; and

in response to at least the request for the environmental data, sending at least part of the environmental data for delivery to the remote server and/or remote viewing device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote viewing device is a mobile device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory having instructions is further configured to cause the at least one processor to make available to the remote viewing device, via a non-mesh network, one or more images received from the first input capture device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the one or more images are portions of live video captured by the first input capture device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein in response to receiving the request to view the environmental data, authenticating the remote viewing device and/or operator of the remote viewing device to access the environmental data.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory having instructions is furthered configured to cause the at least one processor to receive data from the remote server device and/or a remote viewing device for controlling the first input capture device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the input capture devices is a camera and wherein, when the camera detects motion, an alarm is triggered and a notification that the alarm was triggered is sent to a remote server device and/or a remote viewing device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory having instructions is further configured to cause the at least one processor to establish clear channels of communication, wherein a clear channel includes at least two separate communication pathways, wherein a first pathway is established between the first input capture device and the intermediate capture device, and a second pathway is established between the intermediate input capture device and the second input capture device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication between input capture devices includes direct cross-communication for data exchange, wherein the data exchange includes information about environmental inputs and/or settings.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the input capture devices are operable to transmit inputs from a first input capture device to a second input capture device for extending a maximum operating radio range of the mesh network.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the input capture devices are operable to compare inputs to reference data for labeling a sensed object for further identification by the system.

13. The system of claim 1, further including a cellular phone transmitter or wide band cellular card for providing cellular transmission to a remote viewing device.

14. The system of claim 1, further including locking the wireless smart cross-communication between the input capture devices to establish a clear channel for transmissions between a first input capture device, an intermediate input capture device and an endpoint input capture device.

15. A method for providing networked communication in a base system including at least one or more wireless input capture devices and a corresponding digital input receiving device forming a base system wherein the at least one input capture device is capable of independent, direct smart cross-communication with each other input capture device, the method comprising the steps of:

activating a digital input receiving device and/or at least one input capture device, wherein activation of the digital input receiving device and/or the at least one input capture device further activates self-configuration of wireless direct smart communication between the at least one input capture device and digital input receiving device on a wireless mesh network; and

the at least one input capture device being independently operable to;

process input data captured by the at least one input capture device, based upon predetermined settings stored in a memory of the at least one input capture device, and

communicate directly with each other input capture device to transmit the captured input data to the digital input receiving device, thereby providing remote access to control monitoring at a target environment.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising, locking the wireless communication between the input capture devices to establish a clear channel for transmissions between selected and/or all input capture devices.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising, transmitting inputs from a first input capture device to a second input capture device, wherein each of the first input capture device and the second input capture device is operable to communicate directly with each other to extend a maximum radio range of the wireless mesh network.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the digital input receiving device and/or at least one input capture device is accessible via a user interface of a mobile device.

19. A method, comprising:

establishing and controlling wireless input capture devices'"'"' settings, activities, and/or functionality, wherein the wireless capture devices communicate via a wireless mesh network; and

directly transmitting and receiving information with the wireless input capture devices, wherein the wireless input capture devices have one or more sensors and one or more input components for independently detecting and recording inputs, a microprocessor, a memory, a transmitter/receiver, all constructed and configured in electronic connection.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

identifying a first input capture device, a second input capture device and an intermediate device of the wireless input capture devices,

wherein the first input capture device, the second input capture device and the intermediate input capture device are configured to directly communicate to one another,

wherein the first input capture device and the second input communication device are configured to communicate with each other via a communication path established through the intermediate input capture device,

wherein the first input capture device detects motion data at a target environment,

wherein, when the first input capture device captures the motion data, a first notification that originated from the first input capture device and was sent through the intermediate input capture device is received from the second input capture device, and

wherein the first notification indicates that the first input capture device captured the motion data;

in response to receiving the first notification, sending a second notification via a wired LAN and/or WAN network for delivery to a remote server and/or remote viewing device;

receiving from the remote server and/or the remote viewing device a request for the motion data, and

in response to at least the request for the motion data, sending at least part of the motion data for delivery to the remote server and/or remote viewing device.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the wireless input capture devices are further configured to detect one or more of a temperature, moisture, sound, and presence of one or more chemicals and wherein the wireless input capture devices are configured to extend the usable radio frequency range of the wireless mesh network beyond the radio frequency range that is capable by of any individual one of the wireless input capture devices.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the wireless input capture devices are configured to detect a plurality of motion, presence or sound and wherein the wireless input capture devices are each configured as wireless communication range extenders.

23. The method of claim 19 further comprising, activating a trigger event or alarm based on receiving an indication of a detection or lack of detection of an input by at least one wireless input capture device and sending a notification of the trigger event or alarm using one or more of an SMS message and email.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein when a first wireless input capture device detects an input, the first wireless input capture device is configured to communicate information descriptive of the detected input directly with a second wireless input capture device, wherein the second wireless input capture device is configured to detect one or more of a physical presence of a person, animal or object, temperature, moisture, sound, and presence of one or more chemicals and is configured to extend the usable range of any individual one of the wireless input capture devices.

25. The method of claim 19 further comprising, sending one or more images to a remote communication device based on detection of an event or input by at least one of the wireless input capture devices and wherein the remote communication device is configured to inform an operator associated with the remote communicate device that the event or input was detected.

26. A method, comprising:

directly receiving data at one or more wireless input devices for establishing and controlling, by a digital input recording appliance, the one or more wireless capture devices'"'"' settings, activities, and/or functionality,

wherein the one or more wireless capture devices communicate via a wireless mesh network; and

independently detecting and recording inputs at the one or more wireless input devices.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

identifying a first input capture device, a second input capture device and an intermediate device of the one or more wireless input devices, wherein the input data is temperature data, motion data and/or image data;

wherein the first input capture device, the second input capture device and the intermediate input capture device are configured to directly communicate to one another, and

establishing a path by at least the first input capture device through the intermediate capture device, wherein the path expands an operating radio range that is greater than an operating radio range provided by the second input capture device;

detecting input data by the first input capture device at a target environment; and

sending a notification through the intermediate input capture device for delivery to the second input capture device, in response to the first input capture device detecting the input data, and

wherein the notification indicates that the first input capture device detected the input data at the target environment.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein a digital input recording appliance is configured to receive data from a mobile device, via both a wireless network and a wired network that are not the mesh network, for controlling one or more settings, activities, and functionality of the one or more wireless input devices.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the one or more wireless input devices are configured to detect motion and wherein, when motion is detected, an indication that motion was detected is used by a digital input recording appliance in communication with the one or more wireless input devices on the wireless mesh network or the one or more wireless input devices for triggering an alarm and sending a notification of the alarm triggering for delivery to a mobile device.

30. The method of claim 26, further including establishing a clear channel for transmissions between selected and/or all wireless input devices, wherein a channel has at least two communication pathways.