Network communication techniques for security surveillance...

Television – Special applications – Observation of or from a specific location

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C340S506000, C455S431000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06392692

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The subject invention is generally related to safety and surveillance equipment for aircraft, ships and other commercial vehicles and is specifically directed to a comprehensive multi-media security surveillance system for same while in port or terminal and/or unattended whether taxiing or parked or docked. The system of the subject invention also permits tracking while en route.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Security is of ever increasing importance. This is particularly true with respect to commercial airlines as more and more people and freight are moved in this manner and aircraft and other commercial transports increasingly become the targets of terrorists activities. The airways are becoming increasingly crowded with traffic. Global tracking systems are now in place to monitor the flight of the aircraft from the moment it lifts off until it safely lands at its destination. Radar and navigational positioning systems are commonplace both on the aircraft and at the ground tracking stations. All of these electronic systems have increased the overall safety record of commercial traffic to new standards as the number of miles flown continues to escalate.
In addition, the on board avionics including electronic monitoring and diagnostic equipment, particularly on large commercial jets, continues to evolve, giving both the on board crew and the ground assets more complete, accurate and up to date information regarding the condition of the aircraft while in flight. Flight recorders long have been incorporated in order to provide a record of each flight and in order to provide critical information to aid in the determination of the causes of an accident or malfunction should one occur.
However, one area which has been neglected with the ever increasing availability of electronic surveillance is the security of the aircraft or other vehicles or vessels, including, but not limited to, over-the-road vehicles, ships and other commercial vehicles (collectively referred to as commercial transports), particularly when unattended. Typically, when an aircraft is on the ground, or in port, and unattended the only security provided is the security of the location. If the security of the area in which the commercial transport is stored is breached, the commercial transport is an easy target. In most cases, even the access doors are left open and further, for obvious safety reasons, are designed not to be locked from the outside. Many critical areas of the commercial transport are left exposed such as in an aircraft, by way of example, the landing gear, the engine housing and critical wing and tail components.
With terrorism and sabotage an increasing problem there is significant need to develop an integrated system capable of providing good physical/visual and/or audio surveillance as well as monitoring of the environmental, security and motion conditions of the commercial transport and various components while the commercial transport is on the ground. For example, a good visual surveillance system would give instant evidence of a breach of commercial transport security, could sound an alarm and could immediately secure the area. Such a system would also permit the recording of visual information to provide a history for later review, providing yet another source of information for increasing the overall security of commercial transportation.
While such a system would be of great benefit to the commercial transport and airline industries in general and to the commercial airlines in particular, there are no integrated systems currently available which adequately meets these needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention is directed to a comprehensive multi-media safety, tracking and/or surveillance system, which in the preferred form provides both visual and/or audio information as well as critical data such as location, direction, intrusion, fire and/or smoke detection and/or status of environmental conditions and/or transport systems status. In my aforementioned patent and copending applications, incorporated herein by reference, detection and sensor systems are utilized to provide the flight crew and/or a ground tracking station for commercial aircraft critical information during flight and/or to record the information and data generated during flight for later reconstruction of catastrophic events. The subject invention is an expansion of this concept and adds not only ground security and surveillance, but tracking while in port or on the ground as well as while in route, as well as incorporating the onboard systems of the aforementioned patent and applications. It is an important feature of the invention that the transmitting network for provides a comprehensive communications link among the transport, per se, stationary and mobile stations on the ground, as well as personal security units, with the craft or vehicle being monitored by both strategic sensors onboard the commercial transport and also strategically placed sensors on the ground.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a wireless LAN (local area network), WAN (wide area network) and/or other wireless transmission scheme is used as the transmission system of choice and permits the use of IP protocol for providing a comprehensive, multi-media security and surveillance system with communication and command capability between the transport and the ground station, the transport and personnel, personnel and ground and personnel to personnel, including both mobile and permanent ground based stations. Monitoring of and communication with support personnel and vehicles as well as between transports is also provided. A digital wireless voice intercom is provided for security purposes and for communication between the onboard crew and the ground based personnel. In the preferred embodiment video intercom is also provided. Digital wireless (such as, by way of example, LAN) based file communication capability permits the transmission of information such as route or flight plans or gate and dock information. As an example, a LAN or WAN has worldwide tracking capability adapted to be used in connection with a global satellite communication system such as IRIDIUM, wherein the entire path and status of the commercial transport may be monitored while airborne over satellite connections.
One important feature of the invention is the ability to remotely monitor a commercial transport while on the ground, whether or not the commercial transport is attended. This will permit detection of unexpected events, breach of security, change in environmental conditions and other activities both on and in the vicinity of the commercial transport. A G.P.S. system may be included to provide accurate positioning information of the commercial transport, establishing the parked position of the commercial transport at any time, as well as tracking its movements.
In its preferred form, a plurality of sensor units, which may include at least one video or image sensor/device and/or at least one audio sensor and/or at least one motion sensor, are placed strategically about the interior and exterior of the commercial transport and at strategic ground based locations. In addition, strategically placed motion detectors, fire sensors, smoke sensors, door or latch sensors and other monitoring equipment are incorporated in the system. A comprehensive system incorporating these various sensing devices provide a broad based, multi-media safety, security and surveillance system for monitoring commercial transports at any time, whether or not attended.
In addition to safety and/or surveillance issues, the comprehensive data collection scheme of the subject invention provides a system permitting enhanced monitoring and/or response to crew generated work orders or re-supply orders, and may even avoid the requirement that the crew order certain supplies. For example, by monitoring the fuel, fresh water, waste water and/or hydraulic levels onboard and transmitting this to a ground station, refueling, water delivery and/or

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