Multicamera Alarm System Using LED Video Encoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote surveillance security systems face issues with high costs, unreliability, radio frequency interference, and the need for frequent computer resets due to separate digital selective calling systems and costly internet-based video transmissions, making it difficult to determine which motion detector has been tripped and whether a malfunction has occurred.
Innovation Solution
A surveillance system that uses LEDs and photocells to transmit discrete detector information, allowing for easy identification of tripped and malfunctioning motion detectors at a remote location, with a decoder and printer to provide alerts and status updates, and a spread spectrum transmitter to reduce interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate digital selective calling (DSC) is used for discrete detectors, then alarm notification is provided, but additional costs are incurred and the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the alarm notification function with the existing video transmission system by encoding detector signals into the video feed. Instead of using a separate DSC system, the alarm status is integrated into the video stream that is already being transmitted to remote locations, thereby eliminating additional costs and reducing system complexity while maintaining reliable alarm notification.
Solution Approach 2:
The video transmission system is made multi-functional by enabling it to serve both video monitoring and alarm notification purposes. The encoder incorporates detector status information into the video stream, allowing a single system to perform multiple functions: video surveillance, alarm detection, and remote notification, thereby eliminating the need for separate DSC infrastructure.
2Ease of operation
If Internet service is used to transmit video feeds, then remote viewing is enabled, but costs increase and reliability decreases due to interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs radio frequency transmission as a more reliable and cost-effective alternative to Internet service for video feed transmission. Radio transmission provides continuous, uninterrupted service without dependency on Internet connectivity, offering a stable remote viewing solution that is less prone to interruptions and cost fluctuations associated with Internet service providers.
3Ease of operation
If radio transmitters are utilized, then remote transmission is achieved, but significant interference occurs in populated areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the alarm notification data from the video stream and transmits it separately using spread spectrum technology. By separating the data transmission from the video transmission and using frequency-hopping spread spectrum, the system achieves reliable remote transmission while minimizing interference in populated areas through frequency diversity and lower power requirements.
4Measurement precision
If manual checking of videos is required, then alarm verification is possible, but time lags occur between activation and detection
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic alarm verification by encoding detector signals into the video stream and displaying them at remote locations. The encoded alarm information is automatically generated and presented without requiring manual video checking, enabling instant verification of alarm conditions and eliminating the time lag between activation and detection while maintaining accurate alarm verification.
5Reliability
If separate DSC system is used, then alarm notification is provided, but location information of the alarm detector is not indicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges detector location information with alarm notification by encoding the detector signals into the video stream in a manner that preserves location identification. The encoded signals include information about which specific detector was triggered, allowing remote users to immediately identify the location of the alarm while receiving notification, thereby eliminating the information loss inherent in separate DSC systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a low-cost, reliable, and continuous method for remotely viewing the status of multiple detectors, reducing the need for manual checks and minimizing interference, while ensuring timely and accurate alerts and logging of detector status.
Implementation Method 1
an encoder that receives the video information and combines the video information with the plurality of motion sensor outputs to produce the surveillance information
Implementation Method 2
a decoder at the second location that decodes the surveillance information to produce an alert signal indicative of when and which motion sensor is tripped
Data Source
AI summary
A television based alarm system provides video streams from multiple cameras produced at a first location that is transmitted via a radio transmitter to a secondary location. Detectors such as motion detector signals from a plurality of motion detectors at the first location are utilized to indicate when and which cameras are likely to see an intruder based on when and which detectors are tripped. In the encoder/decoder, the detectors are connected to LEDS and an encoder video camera at said first location for encoding into an encoder video. The encoder video is sent along with a plurality of videos to the second location. The decoder video is decoded at said second location utilizing photo electric cells. The LEDs produce three levels of brightness to indicate (1) not tripped but functioning, 2) tripped, or 3) malfunctioning for any particular motion detector.