WO2002063863A1

WO2002063863A1 - Supervisory system

Info

Publication number: WO2002063863A1
Application number: PCT/IL2001/000119
Authority: WO
Inventors: Abraham Borovsky; Igal Daniel; Ofer Weisz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-02-05
Filing date: 2001-02-05
Publication date: 2002-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 2003-08-05

Abstract

A site supervisory system for use with a non-dedicated communication network (15) for supervising a site from a remote location including a portable master terminal (20) and one or more site surveillance terminals (17).

Description

Supervisory System

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems for site surveillance and supervision from a remote location.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Remote surveillance systems allow monitoring of one or more sites from a remote location. Originally, such systems were dependent on a dedicated communications network, though there are now systems that work with the public switched telephone network (PSTN), standard or cellular. Existing systems require a server station, which is typically a large system in a fixed location, to receive, store, and relay data from the site, especially where the data includes video images. Where they allow remote access from a mobile user, it is typically limited access by telephone to the central or server station, with no direct access to remote sites. A further disadvantage of existing systems is that they require the server station to be manned full-time in order to respond to alarm conditions whenever they may occur.

U.S. Patent Number 5,164,979 discloses a security system that employs telephone lines to transmit video images to a remote location in response to an alarm condition in an alarm sensor at a site. While the system disclosed therein allows video supervision of the site in real time, it is only in response to the alarm sensors; there is no continuous video monitoring or storage of multiple images at the site, and communication with the site is only initiated by the site in response to a detected alarm condition. The system is also dependent on a fixed, central station which can store images but must be manned continuously to provide real time supervision of the site.

Similarly, U.S. Patent Number 5,745,849 discloses a premise monitoring alarm system using a cellular telephone to call a fixed, central site in response to an alarm condition detected by an alarm sensor at the site. It does not include video monitoring, and does not provide for remote communication with the site except as initiated by the site base unit in response to a detected alarm condition. It also has the previously mentioned disadvantages of a fixed central monitoring station.

U.S. Patent Number 5,553,609 discloses a remote visual monitoring system for providing patient health care and supervision at a number of remote sites by telephone from a fixed central site, which includes a number of medical supervisory and record-keeping functions. The system disclosed therein does not include any remote site initiated communication and is not readily applicable to site surveillance for security purposes.

U.S. Patent Number 5,202,759 discloses a surveillance system including a central control station and a number of site stations which include alarm sensors and a video camera. Most communication between central and site stations is by telephone and is initiated by site stations in response to alarm detection, though the system does include the possibility of programming the site stations from the central site. The system has the above mentioned disadvantages of a fixed, central station and does not include an option of routine site video monitoring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aim of the present invention is to provide a system for supervising a site from a remote location that overcomes the limitations of the prior art by not employing a fixed central monitoring station and by providing a greater range of communication, control, and data transfer options between master terminal and site terminals, than in the prior art.

There is thus provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a site supervisory system for use with a non-dedicated communications network for supervising a site from a remote location including a portable master terminal and one or more site surveillance terminals wherein: the portable master terminal includes a communications module, a master data processing module, a manual data input device, a data display, an audio playback device, and a power source including backup battery pack; and each site surveillance terminal includes a communications module, one or more monitoring devices, a site data processing module, and a power source including backup battery pack.

The communications modules allow the terminals to communicate with each other via the non-dedicated communications network which may be at least one of a switched communications network, a cellular telephone network, a radio network, and a satellite communications network. The portable master terminal communications module may be a wireless transceiver and may preferably be integrally fabricated with the portable master terminal. The terminals may also have connectors for direct connection and communication therebetween. The manual data input device may be a keyboard or a telephone keypad, and the data display can display both textual data and pictorial data, such as video images of the site.

The monitoring devices of the site surveillance terminals include sensors to detect predetermined alarm conditions at the site and associated circuitry to produce data signals corresponding thereto.

The data processing modules process and store data, process commands, and mediate communications between the terminals via the communications modules.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the monitoring devices of the site surveillance terminals include a video camera; the site data processing module includes a site video section operative to process video signals from the video camera, compress the video signals for storage and for transmission via the communications modules and the network to the portable master terminal, process video control commands, and send video control commands to the video camera; the site data processing module further includes an image analysis module operative to analyze video images from the video camera and the site video section and, in response to at least one predetermined condition in the video images, generate at least one predetermined command to be issued by the site data processing module; and the master data processing module includes a master video section operative to decompress video signals received from the site surveillance terminal via the communications modules and the network and process them and send them to the data display for display. Additionally, the site video section module is further operative to store, for transfer to the portable master terminal, from the output of the video camera, a predetermined number of still images of the site taken at predetermined time increments and a running video image of the site during a further predetermined time interval. The site video section module is further operative to compress and transmit, to the portable master terminal via the communications modules and the network, from the output of the video camera, a real-time video image of the site.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the monitoring devices of the site surveillance terminals include a microphone; the site data processing module includes a site audio section and a speaker associated therewith, wherein the site audio section is operative to process and execute commands to adjust the sensitivity of the microphone, to process audio signals from the microphone, to store therefrom an audio recording of the site during a predetermined time interval, and to transmit the audio recording via the communications modules and the network to the portable master terminal; the site audio section is further operative to record audio messages via the. microphone, to store recorded audio messages, and to playback audio messages via the speaker; and the site data processing module further includes an audio analysis module operative to analyze audio signals from the microphone and the site audio section and, in response to at least one predetermined condition in the audio signals, to generate at least one predetermined command to be issued by the site data processing module; and the master data processing module includes a master audio section operative to process audio signals received from the site surveillance terminal via the communications modules and the network, to play, via the audio playback device, them for a user, to store a multiplicity of preselected recorded audio messages, and, in response to predetermined conditions, play predetermined recorded audio messages from the multiplicity, to the user. Additionally, the site audio section is further operative to convert the signals from the monitoring devices to analog signals suitable for transmitting via the communications network and wherein the master audio section is further operative to process the analog signals to reconstitute the signals from the monitoring devices therefrom. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a high-level block diagram of a site supervisory system, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a block diagram of a portable master terminal, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 3 is a block diagram of a site surveillance terminal, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a block diagram of a site supervisory system referred to generally as 10, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Site supervisory system 10 includes a portable master terminal 20 and one or more site surveillance terminals 30 connected via non-dedicated communications network 15, which may be a public switched telephone network (PSTN), cellular or standard. Site surveillance terminals 30 all include one or more monitoring devices 17 for recording events at the site under surveillance. Among these may be a video camera, a microphone, or a standard alarm device, such as a smoke detector, heat sensor, motion detector, or open/entry detector.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a block diagram of a portable master terminal referred to generally as 20, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Portable master terminal 20 includes a communications module 22, a power supply 23, a data input device 24, a display 25, an audio playback device 26, and a data processing unit 27.

Communications module 22 may include any or all of a cellular telephone transceiver, a regular telephone requiring connection to a PSTN, and a transceiver connecting to a satellite or other non-dedicated communications network. It should be noted that, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the communications devices listed above is fabricated integrally with portable master terminal 20. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, communications module 22 will accommodate any commercially available cellular telephone transceiver or network connection device. Power supply 23 includes a main battery, a backup battery, and charging circuitry that can accept electrical power input from a wall (mains) socket or from a car battery and can power portable master terminal 20 while charging the batteries. Data input device 24 is an integrated touch keyboard enabling the use of programmable keys. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the telephone keypad can serve as the data input device. Display 25 is a color or black and white liquid crystal display (LCD) that can display video images as well as alphanumeric data. Audio playback device 26 is a dedicated speaker or earphone, but a speakerphone speaker or that of the telephone handset may also serve as a playback device.

Data processing unit 27 manages all portable master terminal 20 functions and data flow and storage. It includes an audio section 28 and a video section 29 to process audio and video signals, respectively, especially data decompression and signal decoding and reconstruction. Data processing unit 27 processes command and control information and routes audio, video, and command and control information as needed. It may be fabricated from separate components for each or a number of these functions, or, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it may be fabricated integrally, from a single, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which has all of these functions and the required programs and data processing built in as hardware or firmware. The data and signal processing portions of communications module 22 may be included therein, as well. This integrally fabricated embodiment can enhance the speed and the signal processing capabilities of the system, and can be expected to reduce its size.

Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown a block diagram of a site surveillance terminal referred to generally as 30, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Site surveillance terminal 30 includes a communications module 32, a power supply 33, a video camera 49, a microphone 44 and a speaker 48, one or more standard alarm devices 47, and a data processing unit 37. Communications module 32 connects directly to a telephone or PSTN line and can alternatively be connected to a cellular telephone transceiver or to a transceiver connecting to a satellite or other non-dedicated communications network. It should be noted that, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the communications devices listed above is fabricated integrally with site surveillance terminal 30. Power supply 33 accepts electrical power input from a wall (mains) socket and includes a backup battery and charging circuitry therefor. In an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention, power supply 33 further includes an additional emergency backup battery which can maintain predetermined minimal functions, such as memory preservation and alarm status notification to portable master terminal 20, even in the case of both mains power and backup battery failing. Video camera 49, which may be configured to sense either visible or infrared light, provides visual monitoring of the site via display 25 of portable master terminal 20. Microphone 44 is operative to allow audio monitoring of the site via portable master terminal 20, and speaker 48 can play both prerecorded audio messages and live audio messages coming into site surveillance terminal 30 via communications module 32 from portable master terminal 20, or, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, from any telephone device. Standard alarm devices 47 may include smoke detectors, heat sensors, motion detectors, or open/entry detectors.

Data input to site surveillance terminal 30 is generally performed strictly from portable master terminal 20 and its data input device 24 (Figure 2), remotely via the network and communications modules 22 and 32. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, site surveillance terminal 30 and portable master terminal 20 are further configured with communications connectors or ports that can be connected, for example with a cable, to allow direct data transfer and communication therebetween. Data display for site surveillance terminal 30 is similarly arranged to be via data display 25 of portable master terminal 20 (Figure 2). In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a telephone keypad can serve as the data input device, either locally or remotely, with audio confirmation and feedback.

Data processing unit 37 manages all site surveillance terminal 30 functions and data flow and storage. It includes an audio section 38 and a video section 39 to process audio and video signals, respectively. Data processing unit 37 processes command and control information and routes audio, video, and command and control information as needed. There is also an alarm processing section 43 to receive and process signals from alarm devices 47. Alarm processing section 43 initiates alarm sequences, as described below, according to predetermined conditions being met by signals from alarm devices 47 or by video 39 or audio 38 sections, such as changes from baseline monitoring status. This requires an image analysis capability in video section 39, especially an image comparison function.

Among the more important signal processing functions of these sections are data compression and signal coding and interleaving. All data: video, audio, as well as commands, must be converted to audio data for transmission to portable master terminal 20 via the network, which typically has a limited bandwidth. In order to maintain the quality of audio and video transmissions without loss of control information, the system employs optimized data compression and prioritized interleaving of data to be transmitted. It should be noted that the data processing unit 27 of portable master terminal 20 (Figure 2) has complementary software and functions to decompress, decode, and reconstruct the data from signals it receives.

Data processing unit 37 may be fabricated from separate components for each or a number of the above functions, or, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it may be fabricated integrally, from a single application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which has all of the above functions and the required programs and data processing built in as hardware or firmware. The data and signal processing portions of communications module 32 may be included therein, as well. This integrally fabricated embodiment can enhance the speed and the signal processing capabilities of the system, and can be expected to reduce its size.

The following is a description of typical system functioning in response to an alarm condition.

When site surveillance terminal 30 detects an alarm condition, it initiates communication with portable master terminal 20. This will typically be via a telephone call to a predetermined number or an ordered series of numbers. Connection parameters, such as number of attempts or rings, may be preset by the user via portable master terminal 20. When the call is connected, site surveillance terminal 30 will deliver a voice message describing the status at the site, including site identification, time, and type of alarm. A series of recorded pictures of the site, taken by video camera 49 at predetermined time intervals can be transmitted to portable master terminal 20 automatically or upon request, for viewing on data display 25. The time interval between pictures will typically be made much shorter in response to an alarm condition than for uneventful surveillance. All actions of any system terminal will be stored in log files. The user may observe the site directly via site surveillance terminal 30 video camera 49, which the user may also control via commands (e.g. pan, tilt, zoom, etc.) issued from portable master terminal 20. According to predetermined criteria, site surveillance terminal 30 can react automatically by announcing prerecorded messages via its speaker 48 or can respond to commands from the user via portable master terminal 20. The user may also make live announcements from portable master terminal 20 over speaker 48 of site surveillance terminal 30. It should be noted that all actions of site surveillance terminal 30 can be programmed automatically or actively controlled by the user via portable master terminal 20.

Active control by the user via portable master terminal 20 need not be part of an alarm response. The user may initiate a call to site surveillance terminal 30 as a routine status check. Site surveillance terminal 30 responds with a voice message describing the status at the site, including site identification, time, and the absence of alarm conditions. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, site surveillance terminal 30 may require a password or other identification signal or "handshake" procedure from the user or portable master terminal 20 before responding to prevent unauthorized access. The user may view, on data display 25, the series of recorded pictures of the site, taken at predetermined time intervals, that are stored in the site surveillance terminal 30. As was noted above, the time interval between pictures will be longer for routine, non-alarm, operation. Also, as above, the user may observe the site directly, on data display 25, via site surveillance terminal 30 video camera 49, which the user may also control via commands (e.g. pan, tilt, zoom, etc.) issued from portable master terminal 20. The user may also review the event log for site surveillance terminal 30. It should be noted that while the supervisory system of the present invention has been described above with particular reference to security surveillance applications, it is by no means limited to such applications.

It will further be appreciated, by persons skilled in the art, that the scope of the present invention is not limited by what has been specifically shown and described hereinabove, merely by way of example. Rather, the scope of the present invention is defined solely by the claims, which follow.

Claims

1. A site supervisory system for use with a non-dedicated communications network for supervising a site from a remote location, said system including: a portable master terminal; and at least one site surveillance terminal, wherein: said portable master terminal includes: a first communications module for communicating, via the non-dedicated communications network, with said at least one site surveillance terminal; a master data processing module for data processing and storage, for processing commands from a user, and for processing inputs from and sending commands to said at least one site surveillance terminal, via said first communications module and the communications network; a manual data input device for enabling the user to input commands to said master data processing module; a data display associated with said master data processing module; an audio playback device associated with said master data processing module; and a first power source for powering said portable master terminal; and each said site surveillance terminal includes: a second communications module for communicating, via the non-dedicated communications network, with said portable master terminal; at least one monitoring device for recording sensible events of at least one type selected from a predetermined plurality, occurring at a site and for providing output data signals corresponding to the sensible events; a site data processing module for data processing and storage, for controlling said at least one monitoring device and processing output data signals therefrom, and for sending corresponding data signals to and processing inputs from said portable master terminal, via said second communications module and the communications network; and a second power source for powering said site surveillance terminal.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said portable master terminal further includes first connector apparatus operative to connect directly with said at least one site surveillance terminal for communicating directly therewith and each said site surveillance terminal further includes second connector apparatus operative to accept direct connection with said portable master terminal for communicating directly therewith.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said portable master terminal and each said site surveillance terminal are configured for communications with each other via a non-dedicated communications network which is at least one of a switched communications network, a cellular telephone network, a radio network, and a satellite communications network.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein each said monitoring device of each said site surveillance terminal includes a sensor and circuitry associated therewith operative to produce a signal corresponding with a predetermined event type selected from said predetermined plurality of sensible events, occurring at the site.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said data display is operative to display at least one of textual and pictorial data associated with events monitored by said at least one monitoring device.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first communications module is a wireless transceiver.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first communications module is integrally fabricated with said portable master terminal.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein said manual data input device is a keyboard.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said manual data input device is a telephone keypad.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein: said at least one monitoring device includes a video camera; said site data processing module includes a site video section operative to process video signals from said video camera, compress said video signals for storage and for transmission via said communications modules and the network to said portable master terminal, process video control commands, and send said video control commands to said video camera; said site data processing module further includes an image analysis module operative to analyze video images from said video camera and said site video section and, in response to at least one predetermined condition in said video images, generate at least one predetermined command to be issued by said site data processing module; and said master data processing module includes a master video section operative to decompress video signals received from said site surveillance terminal via said communications modules and the network and process them and send them to said data display for display.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein said video control commands include commands to move the camera in a horizontal direction, to move the camera in a vertical direction, to adjust the focus of the camera, and to adjust the sensitivity of the camera.

12. A system according to claim 10, wherein said site video section module is further operative to store, for transfer to said portable master terminal, from the output of said video camera, a predetermined number of still images of the site taken at predetermined time increments and a running video image of the site during a further predetermined time interval.

13. A system according to claim 10, wherein said site video section module is further operative to compress and transmit, to said portable master terminal via said communications modules and the network, from the output of said video camera, a real-time video image of the site.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein: said at least one monitoring device includes a microphone; said site data processing module includes a site audio section and a speaker associated therewith, wherein said site audio section is operative to process and execute commands to adjust the sensitivity of said microphone, to process audio signals from said microphone, to store therefrom an audio recording of the site during a predetermined time interval, and to transmit said audio recording via said communications modules and the network to said portable master terminal; said site audio section is further operative to record audio messages via said microphone, to store recorded audio messages, and to playback audio messages via said speaker; said site data processing module further includes an audio analysis module operative to analyze audio signals from said microphone and said site audio section and, in response to at least one predetermined condition in said audio signals, generate at least one predetermined command to be issued by said site data processing module; and said master data processing module includes a master audio section operative to process audio signals received from said site surveillance terminal via said communications modules and the network, to play, via said audio playback device, them for a user, to store a multiplicity of preselected recorded audio messages, and, in response to predetermined conditions, play predetermined recorded audio messages from said multiplicity, to the user.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein said site audio section is further operative to convert said signals from said monitoring devices to analog signals suitable for transmitting via said communications network and wherein said master audio section is further operative to process said analog signals to reconstitute said signals from said monitoring devices therefrom.

16. A system according to claim 1, wherein each of said power sources includes an emergency backup power device operative to maintain stored information and to allow performance of a predetermined subset of system operations.

17. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first power source includes at least one of: a mains power supply, a car battery power adapter, and a backup battery pack.

18. A system according to claim 1, wherein said second power source includes a mains power supply and a backup battery pack.