US6970183B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multimedia surveillance and monitoring system including network configuration
Assignee: e-Watch Inc
•
Filing: 2000-06-14
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Granted: 2005-11-29
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Expires: 2020-06-14
Abstract
Abstract A comprehensive, wireless multimedia surveillance and monitoring system provides a combination of megapixel digital camera capability with full motion video surveillance with a network, including network components and appliances such as wiring, workstations, and servers with the option of geographical distribution with various wide area carriers. The full service, multi-media surveillance system is capable of a wide range of monitoring techniques utilizing digital network architecture and is adapted for transmitting event data, video and/or image monitoring information, audio signals and other sensor and detector data over significant distances using digital data transmission over a LAN, wireless LAN, Intranet or Internet for automatic assessment and response including dispatch of response personnel. Both wired and wireless appliance and sensor systems may be employed. GPS dispatching is used to locate and alert personnel as well as to indicate the location of an event. Automatic mapping and dispatch permits rapid response. The wireless LAN connectivity permits local distribution of audio, video and image data over a relatively high bandwidth without requirement of a license and without relying on a common carrier and the fees associated therewith. The surveillance system may be interfaced with a WAN (wide area Network) or the Internet for providing a worldwide, low cost surveillance system with virtually unlimited geographic application. Centralized monitoring stations have access to all of the surveillance data from various remote locations via the Internet or the WAN. A server provides a centralized location for data collection, alarm detection and processing, access control, dispatch processing, logging functions and other specialized functions. The server may be inserted virtually anywhere in the Intranet/Internet network. The topology of the network will be established by the geographic situation of the installation. Appropriate firewalls may be set up as desired. The server based system permits a security provider to have access to the appliance and sensor and surveillance data or to configure or reconfigure the system for any station on the network.
Inventors
- 👤 David A. Monroe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:47
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B25/00; G08B25/01; G08B25/016; G08B13/00; G08B13/18; G08B13/189; G08B13/194; G08B13/196; G08B13/19617; G08B13/19621; G08B13/19654; G08B13/19656; G08B13/19658; G08B13/19665; G08B13/19669; G08B13/19671; G08B13/19678; G08B13/1968; G08B13/19684; G08B13/19689; G08B13/19691; G08B13/19697; G08B25/12; G08B7/00; G08B7/06; G08B7/062; H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/18; H04N7/181
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A comprehensive, IP network compatible, multimedia surveillance and security system comprising a plurality of sensor appliances adapted to connected to a network based server for monitoring, logging, and transmitting data to the server in order to permit comprehensive surveillance of a predetermined area, the system comprising: a. a conventional security sensor which is activated by the occurrence of an activating event and upon activation generates a signal; b. a convertor for converting the conventional sensor signal into a network compatible signal and adapted for sending the converted signal via the network to the server; c. a surveillance sensor appliance controlled by the server for monitoring an area and generating a signal indicating a condition in the monitored area in a programmed response mode controlled by the server, whereby the server receives and logs data transmitted by both the conventional sensor and the sensor appliance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A comprehensive, IP network compatible, multimedia surveillance and security system comprising a plurality of sensor appliances adapted to connected to a network based server for monitoring, logging, and transmitting data to the server in order to permit comprehensive surveillance of a predetermined area, the system comprising: a. a conventional security sensor which is activated by the occurrence of an activating event and upon activation generates a signal; b. a convertor for converting the conventional sensor signal into a network compatible signal and adapted for sending the converted signal via the network to the server; c. a surveillance sensor appliance controlled by the server for monitoring an area and generating a signal indicating a condition in the monitored area in a programmed response mode controlled by the server, whereby the server receives and logs data transmitted by both the conventional sensor and the sensor appliance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 1 , the sensor appliance comprising: a. a monitoring device for monitoring an area; b. an activation mechanism for activating the sensor appliance to generate a monitoring signal; c. a transmitter for ending the monitoring signal to the server.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 2 , the sensor appliance further comprising: a. an on-board memory for collecting and storing monitoring signal data as it is generated; b. a transmission control device for selectively transmitting the collected and stored transmission data to the server.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 3 , the transmission control device adapted for responding to a send signal generated by the server.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 3 , the transmission control device adapted for responding to a preselected event within the zone monitored by the sensor appliance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 3 , the transmission control device adapted for transmitting data to the server upon the occurrence of an event.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 6 , the transmission control device adapted for transmitting both pre-event and post-event data upon the occurrence of an event.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 , the sensor appliance comprising an imaging sensor for collecting and generating an image signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 8 , the sensor appliance adapted for generating full motion video images.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 8 , the sensor appliance adapted for generating still frame images.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 8 , the sensor appliance adapted for generating both full motion video and still frame images.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 , the sensor appliance comprising an audio sensor for collecting and generating an audio signal in the zone of operation of the sensor appliance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 , the sensor appliance comprising an environmental condition sensor for collecting and generating and environmental condition signal in the zone of operation of the sensor appliance.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 13 , the sensor appliance comprising a heat sensor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 13 , the sensor appliance comprising a smoke detector.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 13 , the sensor appliance comprising a fire detector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 13 , the sensor appliance comprising a chemical detector.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
92 words
A comprehensive, IP network compatible, multimedia surveillance and security system comprising a plurality of sensor appliances adapted to connected to a network based server for monitoring, logging, and transmitting data to the server in order to permit comprehensive surveillance of a predetermined area, the system comprising: a. a multi-function image sensor appliance adapted for generating an image signal representing the visual condition of a monitored zone of operation, the image signal comprising both still frame image data and motion video image data; b. a transmitter for sending image data to the server.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
92 words
A comprehensive, IP network compatible, multimedia surveillance and security system comprising a plurality of sensor appliances adapted to connected to a network based server for monitoring, logging, and transmitting data to the server in order to permit comprehensive surveillance of a predetermined area, the system comprising: a. a multi-function image sensor appliance adapted for generating an image signal representing the visual condition of a monitored zone of operation, the image signal comprising both still frame image data and motion video image data; b. a transmitter for sending image data to the server.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 18 , wherein the multi-function image sensor appliance is responsive to an event in order to begin transmitting image data to the server.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 18 , wherein the multi-function image sensor appliance is responsive to a signal generated by the server in order to begin transmitting image data to the server.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 18 , wherein the multifunction image sensor appliance is responsive to a signal generating and transmission activation signal for transmitting both pre-event and post-event data to the server.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 18 , the server is adapted for mining the image data stored in the sensor memory.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 18 , wherein the sensor appliance further includes a receiver for receiving control signals from the server for activating the sensor, initiating and terminating transmission of data to the server and for managing control functions.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said sensor appliance includes a wireless transmitter and said server includes a wireless receiver, whereby data transmission is over a wireless system.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
126 words
A comprehensive, IP network compatible, multimedia surveillance and security system comprising a plurality of sensor appliances adapted to connected to a network based server for monitoring, logging, and transmitting data to the server in order to permit comprehensive surveillance of a predetermined area, the system comprising: a. a plurality surveillance sensor appliances controlled by the server for monitoring an area and generating a data signal indicating a condition in the monitored area controlled by the server, whereby the server receives and logs signal data; b. each sensor appliance adapted for transmitting the generated signal; c. a network for communicating the plurality of sensor appliances with a central server; d. the central server adapted for collecting and managing the data transmitted by the plurality of sensor appliances.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
126 words
A comprehensive, IP network compatible, multimedia surveillance and security system comprising a plurality of sensor appliances adapted to connected to a network based server for monitoring, logging, and transmitting data to the server in order to permit comprehensive surveillance of a predetermined area, the system comprising: a. a plurality surveillance sensor appliances controlled by the server for monitoring an area and generating a data signal indicating a condition in the monitored area controlled by the server, whereby the server receives and logs signal data; b. each sensor appliance adapted for transmitting the generated signal; c. a network for communicating the plurality of sensor appliances with a central server; d. the central server adapted for collecting and managing the data transmitted by the plurality of sensor appliances.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 25 , wherein the data from each of the various sensor appliances is transmitted to the server as it is created, wherein there is further included a monitor associated with the server for displaying the data, the server adapted for showing image data in a step video format.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 25 , wherein a plurality of the plurality of sensor appliances are image data generators and wherein the sensor is adapted for managing the simultaneous receipt of data from a plurality of sensors.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 25 , wherein the data generated by each of the sensor appliances is stored in memory at each appliance and is transmitted to the server upon occurrence of an event within the zone of operation of each sensor.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 28 , wherein the event is created by the server.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 28 , wherein the event is an action occurring at the location of the sensor appliance.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 28 , wherein each sensor is adapted for transmitting both pre-event and post-event data.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 25 , the system further including a dispatch generator whereby the occurrence of a specified event generates a dispatch signal to a predetermined response team.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 25 , wherein the sensor appliance includes a location identifier component in the data signal.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 33 , wherein the system further includes a dispatch generator, whereby the occurrence of a specified event generates a dispatch signal to a predetermined response team based on location of the response team.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-11-28 | 2009-05-30 | 2009-11-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-11-28 | 2013-05-30 | 2013-11-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-11-28 | 2017-05-30 | 2017-11-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |