Wireless Mesh Camera System with Relay Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and complexity of wiring installations for security cameras in process plants, combined with environmental interference, lead to unreliable wireless communication and increased monitoring costs due to the need for extensive cabling and complex monitoring systems.
Innovation Solution
A mesh communication wireless camera system that enables cameras to send messages via multiple wireless paths, utilizing intermediate nodes to multiplex video signals and ensure reliable communication, reducing the need for physical cabling and enhancing communication reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If wireless communication is used to reduce wiring costs, then installation cost is reduced, but communication reliability deteriorates due to environmental interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediate nodes (relay cameras or dedicated relay devices) that act as mediators in the wireless communication path. These intermediaries receive, process, and forward video signals and control messages, enabling reliable communication through multiple hops while maintaining wireless operation. The intermediaries compensate for signal degradation and environmental interference by regenerating and retransmitting signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the wireless communication system into multiple independent communication paths through intermediate nodes. Instead of a single direct link between camera and monitoring system, the communication is divided into multiple segments (camera-to-intermediate, intermediate-to-monitoring system), allowing redundancy and alternative routing if one segment fails due to environmental interference.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple security cameras are deployed to monitor large perimeters, then monitoring coverage is improved, but installation cost increases due to extensive cabling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses intermediate nodes positioned strategically throughout the facility perimeter to relay signals from multiple cameras. These intermediaries consolidate multiple camera signals and forward them to the monitoring system, eliminating the need for separate cabling runs from each camera to the central monitoring point. This reduces installation cost while maintaining comprehensive monitoring coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple camera signals and control paths through shared intermediate nodes and common communication channels. Multiple cameras can communicate through the same intermediate node, consolidating cabling requirements and reducing the total amount of physical infrastructure needed compared to dedicated point-to-point connections for each camera.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a complex monitoring system is used to handle data from multiple cameras, then monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring system into distributed intelligent nodes (cameras and intermediaries) that perform local processing and decision-making. Each node handles its own signal processing, error correction, and basic analysis, reducing the complexity burden on the central monitoring system. The central system receives pre-processed data rather than raw signals from all cameras, simplifying its architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service capabilities in cameras and intermediate nodes, where each device performs its own signal processing, compression, error detection, and basic anomaly detection. This distributed intelligence reduces the processing burden on the central monitoring system and allows the system to scale by simply adding more autonomous nodes without proportionally increasing central system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a camera and a monitoring system that are capable of wireless communication. The camera is operable to send a message to the monitoring system via a plurality of wireless communication paths. The message includes information relating to an operational status of the camera. The camera may generate and analyze a video signal and the message may include information relating to the analysis of the video signal. The camera may be one of a plurality of cameras capable of generating video signals. The system may further include an intermediate node capable of wireless communication with the cameras and the monitoring system. The intermediate node may multiplex the video signals from the cameras to the monitoring system.