Television – Two-way video and voice communication – Transmission control
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-22
2001-05-01
Kuntz, Curtis (Department: 2643)
Television
Two-way video and voice communication
Transmission control
C348S014010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06226031
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to image communication systems, and more particularly, to video communication directed to monitoring applications, among others security applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Image communication systems span a variety of applications. One such application is security monitoring. Security monitoring typically involves system control and display functions located at a central station. The central station includes multiple emanating video-communication paths, each path connecting to a remotely-located display camera. Traditionally, the significant expense of security monitoring systems has limited their practicability to larger facilities.
Recent developments in communication standards and compression/decompression techniques have permitted enhanced security-system implementations. One generally-described approach involves using a remote camera that responds to changes in motion or audio as a determining factor for transmitting captured video and audio data to the control station. Another approach uses a remote server station that connects to several cameras, with the server station coupling to a telephone line for reporting back to the control station. These and other recent implementations are directed to markets ranging from retail shops to large industrial warehouses.
Widespread acceptance and usage of security-system implementations are largely a function of cost. As with most other systems, reduced cost is realized through cost-effective mass production. The initial costs to effect such a mass production, however, can be exorbitant. Moreover, widespread acceptance and usage of such technology cannot be forced, even when appropriately addressing the marketing needs and overcoming the exorbitant costs of the mass production equipment. Consequently, efforts to launch the appropriate technology for practicable acceptance and usage of security systems has been difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a programmable video communication arrangement and method for monitoring applications, such as security. According to one example embodiment, a monitoring arrangement communicates video and audio data over a conventional communications channel, such as a POTS line, cellular, other wireless and other digital communication media. The arrangement includes: a video source configured and arranged to capture images and to generate video data representing monitored images; a telephone line interface circuit, including a signal transceiver circuit, configured and arranged to transmit and receive data including video data over the telephone line; a programmable processor circuit configured and arranged for processing captured video and causing image data to be output for display, the programmable processor circuit having a DSP section, including a DSP-type processor, configured and arranged for executing compression/decompression algorithms, and further having a controller section communicatively coupled to the DSP section and configured and arranged for controlling operation of the video monitoring/communication apparatus; a memory circuit configured and arranged for storing executable code for controlling operation of the programmable processor circuit including executable code for compressing/decompressing video data consistent with at least one video-coding recommendation; a way for setting the memory circuit to designate the selected mode for operating the video monitoring/communication apparatus; and a display driver circuit responsive to the programmable processor circuit and configured and arranged to generate video data for a display.
A more specific implementation includes the above arrangement constructed and operating in a security monitoring system. The above programmable processor circuit includes the programmable processor further configured to change the operation of the processor in response to changing the code to permit reconfigurability of the processor.
Other aspects of the present invention are directed to example method and application-specific implementations relating to the above apparatuses.
The above summary is not intended to characterize each embodiment of the present invention. Other aspects of the present invention are provide by way of example upon review of the figures and corresponding description of the drawings.
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Barraclough Keith
Martin Bryan R.
Rainnie Hedley
Eng George
Kuntz Curtis
Netergy Networks, Inc.
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