Lamp monitoring and control system and method

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a system and method for remotely monitoring and/or controlling an apparatus and specifically to an alarm monitoring and control system and method.

2. Background of the Related Art

The concept of protection of personal property has existed for quite some time. In order to provide protection, a variety of alarm systems have been developed. These alarm systems are used to detect different types of alarm conditions such as a robbery, a fire, or other emergency conditions. However, the mere detection of an alarm condition is frequently not sufficient to allow a proper response.

A variety of attempts have been made to deal with the issue of alarm systems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,979 by Choi discloses a security system using telephone lines to transmit video images to a remote supervisory location. Unfortunately, Choi is limited by a selection of telephone lines to relay the alarm information back to a supervisory site. A skilled burglar will generally cut the phone lines to a location before committing a robbery so that no security information, or other forms of communication, can be transmitted during the course of the robbery. Furthermore, Choi does not provide for any type of transmission network in which individual neighborhoods can be grouped together as neighborhoods, rather he provides for a single supervisory site with direct communication to each of the security systems.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,474 by Park et al. discloses a photographic security system which detects the presence of an intruder and switches on an illumination system and sound system, and activates a still camera to take a picture of the illuminated intruder. The sound system is used to mask the operation of the camera so that the intruder is unaware the picture has been taken. The problem with Park et al. is that it provides no means for either transmitting the photographic image or transmitting an intruder detection signal to a main site. In other words, although Park et al. may allow the detection and photography of an intruder, it does not provide any mechanism for communicating this information back to another location.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,146 by Carlson discloses a burglar alarm system which incorporates photographic equipment to photograph an intruder and also includes a pneumatically operated audible alarm. Carlson suffers from the same problems as noted in reference to Park et al., i.e. it provides no method for sending either image data or a signal indicating that an alarm has occurred back to a supervisory site.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,347,590 by Heger et al. discloses an area surveillance system which includes an ultrasonic intrusion detector, an electronic range finder, and an instant camera. Heger et al. discloses a system in which the intruder is detected and the range finder is used to focus the camera on the intruding subject. After focusing, a series of pictures of the area are taken and these pictures are used to provide identification of the intruder. Heger et al. has the same problems as Carlson and Park et al. in that it does not provide any mechanism for transmitting either the photographic data or an alarm detection signal back to a central site.

The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an alarm monitoring and control system and method for use with alarm units which solves the problems described above.

In order to overcome the limitations of the current alarm systems, it is required that an alarm monitoring and control system be developed which allows for efficient and cost effective real time indication that an alarm has been detected and also provides some type of imaging data related to that alarm. The system needs to be flexible enough to allow the imaging data to be collected either directly at the site of the alarm or at a neighborhood site which is associated with several local alarms. Furthermore, in order to produce a cost effective system, it is preferable to have this alarm system associated with a monitoring and control system which is also performing other functions such as street lamp monitoring and control for example.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a system for monitoring and controlling alarm units or any remote device over a large geographical area.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a base station for receiving alarm data from remote devices.

Another object of the current invention is to provide an ID related to the alarm unit and related to the monitoring and control unit for allowing storage in a database to create statistical profiles.

An advantage of the present invention is that it solves the problem of efficiently providing centralized monitoring and/or control of the alarm units in a geographical area.

An additional advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a new type of monitoring and control unit which allows centralized monitoring and/or control of units distributed over a large geographical area.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it allows base stations to be connected to other base stations or to a main station in a network topology to increase the amount of alarm data in the overall system.

A feature of the present invention, in accordance with one embodiment, is that it includes an WDS link between the monitoring and control unit and the base station.

Another feature of the present invention, in accordance with another embodiment, is that it allows the combination of alarm and lamp monitoring and control functions in a single monitoring and control unit.

An additional feature of the present invention, in accordance with another embodiment, is that it allows image data to be collected at either the alarm unit or the monitoring and control unit when an alarm condition is detected.

Another feature of the present invention, in accordance with another embodiment, is that it allows the alarm condition to be generated by a panic button.

These and other objects, advantages and features can be accomplished in accordance with the present invention by the provision of an alarm monitoring and control system comprising a plurality of alarm units for detecting an associated alarm condition; at least one monitoring and control unit, coupled to a group of the plurality of alarm units, for receiving alarm information; and a base station, coupled via an IVDS link to the at least one monitoring and control unit, for receiving alarm data from said at least one monitoring and control unit.

Additional objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein:

FIG. 1

shows the configuration of a typical mercury-vapor lamp.

FIG. 2

shows a typical configuration of a lamp arrangement comprising a lamp sensor unit situated between a power source and a lamp assembly.

FIG. 3

shows a lamp arrangement, according to one embodiment of the invention, comprising a lamp monitoring and control unit situated between a power source and a lamp assembly.

FIG. 4

shows a lamp monitoring and control unit, according to another embodiment of the invention, including a processing and sensing unit, a TX unit, and an RX unit.

FIG. 5

shows a general monitoring and control unit, according to another embodiment of the invention, including a processing and sensing unit, a TX unit, and an RX unit.

FIG. 6

shows a monitoring and control system, according to another embodiment of the invention, including a base station and a plurality of monitoring and control units.

FIG. 7

shows a monitoring and control system, according to another embodiment of the invention, including a plurality of base stations, each having a plurality of associated monitoring and control units.

FIG. 8

shows an example frequency channel plan for a monitoring and control system, according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 9A-B

show packet formats, according to another embodiment of the invention, for packet data between the monitoring and control unit and the base station.

FIG. 10

shows an example of bit location values for a status byte in the packet format, according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 11A-C

show a base station for use in a monitoring and control system, according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12

shows a monitoring and control system, according to another embodiment of the invention, having a main station coupled through a plurality of communication links to a plurality of base stations.

FIG. 13

shows a base station, according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 14A-E

show a method for one implementation of logic for a monitoring and control system, according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 15

shows an alarm monitoring and control unit, according to one embodiment of the invention, having a processing unit, TX unit, and RX unit.

FIG. 16

shows an alarm monitoring and control unit, according to an additional embodiment of the invention, having a processing unit, TX unit, RX unit, and an imaging unit.

FIG. 17

shows an alarm monitoring and control unit, according to another embodiment of the invention, having a processing unit, TX unit, RX unit, imaging unit, interface, and memory.

FIG. 18

shows an alarm unit, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, having an alarm detection unit and a TX unit.

FIG. 19

shows an alarm unit, according to another embodiment of the invention, having an alarm detection unit, a TX unit, a processing unit, and an imaging unit.

FIG. 20

shows an interrogation unit having a processing unit, interface, and storage unit, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 21

shows a monitoring and control system, according to another embodiment of the invention, having a main station coupled through communication links to a plurality of base stations.

FIG. 22

shows a method, according to another embodiment of the invention, for monitoring and controlling an alarm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention includes a monitoring and control unit, such as the lamp monitoring and control unit disclosed in pending application entitled “LAMP MONITORING AND CONTROL UNIT AND METHOD”, filed Apr. 16, 1997, Ser. No. 08/838,303 and “LAMP MONITORING AND CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD”, also filed Apr. 16, 1997, Ser. No. 08/838,302, the contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference. An alarm monitoring and control system and method according to one embodiment of the invention will be described in detail below with respect to

FIGS. 15

on. First, however, a lamp monitoring and control unit will be presented.

The preferred embodiments of a lamp monitoring and control system (LMCS) and method which allows centralized monitoring and/or control of street lamps, will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures. While one embodiment of the invention is described with reference to an LMCS, the invention is not limited to this application and can be used in any application which requires a monitoring and control system for centralized monitoring and/or control of devices distributed over a large geographical area. For example, the monitoring and control system can comprise various monitoring and control units, each of which communicates with various alarm units. Additionally, the term street lamp in this disclosure is used in a general sense to describe any type of street lamp, area lamp, or outdoor lamp.

Currently, most street lamps still use arc lamps for illumination. The mercury-vapor lamp is the most common form of street lamp in use today. In this type of lamp, the illumination is produced by an arc which takes place in a mercury vapor.

FIG. 1

shows the configuration of a typical mercury-vapor lamp. This figure is provided only for demonstration purposes since there are a variety of different types of mercury-vapor lamps.

The mercury-vapor lamp consists of an arc tube

110

which is filled with argon gas and a small amount of pure mercury. Arc tube

110

is mounted inside a large outer bulb

120

which encloses and protects the arc tube. Additionally, the outer bulb may be coated with phosphors to improve the color of the light emitted and reduce the ultraviolet radiation emitted. Mounting of arc tube

110

inside outer bulb

120

may be accomplished with an arc tube mount support

130

on the top and a stem

140

on the bottom.

Main electrodes

150

a

and

150

b

, with opposite polarities, are mechanically sealed at both ends of arc tube

110

. The mercury-vapor lamp requires a sizeable voltage to start the arc between main electrodes

150

a

and

150

b.

The starting of the mercury-vapor lamp is controlled by a starting circuit (not shown in

FIG. 1

) which is attached between the power source (not shown in

FIG. 1

) and the lamp. Unfortunately, there is no standard starting circuit for mercury-vapor lamps. After the lamp is started, the lamp current will continue to increase unless the starting circuit provides some means for limiting the current. Typically, the lamp current is limited by a resistor, which severely reduces the efficiency of the circuit, or by a magnetic device, such as a choke or a transformer, called a ballast.

During the starting operation, electrons move through a starting resistor

160

to a starting electrode

170

and across a short gap between starting electrode

170

and main electrode

150

b

of opposite polarity. The electrons cause ionization of some of the Argon gas in the arc tube. The ionized gas diffuses until a main arc develops between the two opposite polarity main electrodes

150

a

and

150

b

. The heat from the main arc vaporizes the mercury droplets to produce ionized current carriers. As the lamp current increases, the ballast acts to limit the current and reduce the supply voltage to maintain stable operation and extinguish the arc between main electrode

150

b

and starting electrode

170

.

Because of the variety of different types of starter circuits, it is virtually impossible to characterize the current and voltage characteristics of the mercury-vapor lamp. In fact, the mercury-vapor lamp may require minutes of warm-up before light is emitted. Additionally, if power is lost, the lamp must cool and the mercury pressure must decrease before the starting arc can start again.

The mercury-vapor lamp has become one of the predominant types of street lamp with millions of units produced annually. The current installed base of these street lamps is enormous with more than 500,000 street lamps in Los Angeles alone. The mercury-vapor lamp is not the most efficient gaseous discharge lamp, but is preferred for use in street lamps because of its long life, reliable performance, and relatively low cost.

Although the mercury-vapor lamp has been used as a common example of current street lamps, there is increasing use of other types of lamps such as metal halide and high pressure sodium. All of these types of lamps require a starting circuit which makes it virtually impossible to characterize the current and voltage characteristics of the lamp.

FIG. 2

shows a lamp arrangement

201

with a typical lamp sensor unit

210

which is situated between a power source

220

and a lamp assembly

230

. Lamp assembly

230

includes a lamp

240

(such as the mercury-vapor lamp presented in

FIG. 1

) and a starting circuit

250

.

Most cities currently use automatic lamp control units to control the street lamps. These lamp control units provide an automatic, but decentralized, control mechanism for turning the street lamps on at night and off during the day.

A typical street lamp assembly

201

includes a lamp sensor unit

210

which in turn includes a light sensor

260

and a relay

270

as shown in FIG.

2

. Lamp sensor unit

210

is electrically coupled between external power source

220

and starting circuit

250

of lamp assembly

230

. There is a hot line

280

a

and a neutral line

280

b

providing electrical connection between power source

220

and lamp sensor unit

210

. Additionally, there is a switched line

280

c

and a neutral line

280

d

providing electrical connection between lamp sensor unit

210

and starting circuit

250

of lamp assembly

230

.

From a physical standpoint, most lamp sensor units

210

use a standard three prong plug, for example a twist lock plug, to connect to the back of lamp assembly

230

. The three prongs couple to hot line

280

a

, switched line

280

c

, and neutral lines

280

b

and

280

d

. In other words, the neutral lines

280

b

and

280

d

are both connected to the same physical prong since they are at the same electrical potential. Some systems also have a ground wire, but no ground wire is shown in

FIG. 2

since it is not relevant to the operation of lamp sensor unit

210

.

Power source

220

may be a standard 115 Volt, 60 Hz source from a power line. Of course, a variety of alternatives are available for power source

220

. In foreign countries, power source

220

may be a 220 Volt, 50 Hz source from a power line. Additionally, power source

220

may be a DC voltage source or, in certain remote regions, it may be a battery which is charged by a solar reflector.

The operation of lamp sensor unit

210

is fairly simple. At sunset, when the light from the sun decreases below a sunset threshold, light sensor

260

detects this condition and causes relay

270

to close. Closure of relay

270

results in electrical connection of hot line

280

a

and switched line

280

c

with power being applied to starting circuit

250

of lamp assembly

230

to ultimately produce light from lamp

240

. At sunrise, when the light from the sun increases above a sunrise threshold, light sensor

260

detects this condition and causes relay

270

to open. Opening of relay

270

eliminates electrical connection between hot line

280

a

and switched line

280

c

and causes the removal of power from starting circuit

250

which turns lamp

240

off.

Lamp sensor unit

210

provides an automated, distributed control mechanism to turn lamp assembly

230

on and off. Unfortunately, it provides no mechanism for centralized monitoring of the street lamp to determine if the lamp is functioning properly. This problem is particularly important in regard to the street lamps on major boulevards and highways in large cities. When a street lamp burns out over a highway, it is often not replaced for a long period of time because the maintenance crew will only schedule a replacement lamp when someone calls the city maintenance department and identifies the exact pole location of the bad lamp. Since most automobile drivers will not stop on the highway just to report a bad street lamp, a bad lamp may go unreported indefinitely.

Additionally, if a lamp is producing light but has a hidden problem, visual monitoring of the lamp will never be able to detect the problem. Some examples of hidden problems relate to current, when the lamp is drawing significantly more current than is normal, or voltage, when the power supply is not supplying the appropriate voltage level to the street lamp.

Furthermore, the present system of lamp control in which an individual light sensor is located at each street lamp, is a distributed control system which does not allow for centralized control. For example, if the city wanted to turn on all of the street lamps in a certain area at a certain time, this could not be done because of the distributed nature of the present lamp control circuits.

Because of these limitations, a new type of lamp monitoring and control system is needed which allows centralized monitoring and/or control of the street lamps in a geographical area.

FIG. 3

shows a lamp arrangement

301

which includes lamp monitoring and control unit

310

, according to one embodiment of the invention. Lamp monitoring and control unit

310

is situated between a power source

220

and a lamp assembly

230

. Lamp assembly

230

includes a lamp

240

and a starting circuit

250

.

Power source

220

may be a standard 115 volt, 60 Hz source supplied by a power line. It is well known to those skilled in the art that a variety of alternatives are available for power source

220

. In foreign countries, power source

220

may be a 220 volt, 50 Hz source from a power line. Additionally, power source

220

may be a DC voltage source or, in certain remote regions, it may be a battery which is charged by a solar reflector.

Recall that lamp sensor unit

210

included a light sensor

260

and a relay

270

which is used to control lamp assembly

230

by automatically switching the hot line

280

a

to a switched line

280

c

depending on the amount of ambient light received by light sensor

260

.

On the other hand, lamp monitoring and control unit

310

provides several functions including a monitoring function which is not provided by lamp sensor unit

210

. Lamp monitoring and control unit

310

is electrically located between the external power supply

220

and starting circuit

250

of lamp assembly

230

. From an electrical standpoint, there is a hot line

280

a

and a neutral line

280

b

between power supply

220

and lamp monitoring and control unit

310

. Additionally, there is a switched line

280

c

and a neutral line

280

d

between lamp monitoring and control unit

310

and starting circuit

250

of lamp assembly

230

.

From a physical standpoint, lamp monitoring and control unit

310

may use a standard three-prong plug to connect to the back of lamp assembly

230

. The three prongs in the standard three-prong plug represent hot line

280

a

, switched line

280

c

, and neutral lines

280

b

and

280

d

. In other words, the neutral lines

280

b

and

280

d

are both connected to the same physical prong and share the same electrical potential.

Although use of a three-prong plug is recommended because of the substantial number of street lamps using this type of standard plug, it is well known to those skilled in the art that a variety of additional types of electrical connection may be used for the present invention. For example, a standard power terminal block or AMP power connector may be used.

FIG. 4

includes lamp monitoring and control unit

310

, the operation of which will be discussed in more detail below along with particular embodiments of the unit. Lamp monitoring and control unit

310

includes a processing and sensing unit

412

, a transmit (TX) unit

414

, and an optional receive SEX) unit

416

. Processing and sensing unit

412

is electrically connected to hot line

280

a

, switched line

280

c

, and neutral lines

280

b

and

280

d

. Furthermore, processing and sensing unit

412

is connected to TX unit

414

and RX unit

416

. In a standard application, TX unit

414

may be used to transmit monitoring data and RX unit

416

may be used to receive control information. For applications in which external control information is not required, RX unit

416

may be omitted from lamp monitoring and control unit

310

.

FIG. 5

shows a general monitoring and control unit

510

including a processing and sensing unit

520

, a TX unit

530

, and an optional RX unit

540

. Monitoring and control unit

510

differs from lamp monitoring and control unit

310

in that monitoring and control unit

510

is general-purpose and not limited to use with street lamps. Monitoring and control unit

510

can be used to monitor and control any remote device

550

.

Monitoring and control unit

510

includes processing and sensing unit

520

which is coupled to remote device

550

. Processing and sensing unit

520

is further coupled to TX unit

530

for transmitting monitoring data and may be coupled to an optional RX unit

540

for receiving control information.

FIG. 6

shows a monitoring and control system

600

, according to one embodiment of the invention, including a base station

610

and a plurality of monitoring and control units

510

a-d.

Monitoring and control units

510

a-d

each correspond to monitoring and control unit

510

as shown in

FIG. 5

, and are coupled to a remote device

550

(not shown in

FIG. 6

) which is monitored and controlled. Each of monitoring and control units

510

a-d

can transmit monitoring data through its associated TX unit

530

to base station

610

and receive control information through a RX unit

540

from base station

610

.

Communication between monitoring and control units

510

a-d

and base station

610

can be accomplished in a variety of ways, depending on the application, such as using: RF or other wireless means, wire, coaxial cable, or fiber optics. For lamp monitoring and control system

600

, RF is the preferred communication link due to the costs required to build the infrastructure for any of the other options.

FIG. 7

shows a monitoring and control system

700

, according to another embodiment of the invention, including a plurality of base stations

610

a-c

, each having a plurality of associated monitoring and control units

510

a-h

. Each base station

610

a-c

is generally associated with a particular geographic area of coverage. For example, the first base station

610

a

, communicates with monitoring and control units

510

a-c

in a limited geographic area. If monitoring and control units

510

a-c

are used for lamp monitoring and control, the geographic area may consist of a section of a city.

Although the example of geographic area is used to group monitoring and control units

510

a-c

, it is well known to those skilled in the art that other groupings may be used. For example, to monitor and control remote devices

550

made by different manufacturers, monitoring and control system

700

may use groupings in which base station

610

a

services one manufacturer and base station

610

b

services a different manufacturer. In this example, bases stations

610

a

and

610

b

may be servicing overlapping geographical areas.

FIG. 7

also shows a communication link

716

between base stations

610

a-c

. This communication link is shown as a bus topology, but can alternately be configured in a ring, star, mesh, or other topology. An optional main station

710

can also be connected to the communication link to receive and concentrate data from base stations

610

a-c

. The media used for the communication link between base stations

610

a-c

can be: RF, wire, coaxial cable, fiber optics or any other communication link.

FIG. 8

shows an example of a frequency channel plan for communications between monitoring and control unit

510

and base station

610

in monitoring and control system

600

or

700

, according to one embodiment of the invention. In this example table, interactive video and data service (IVDS) radio frequencies in the range of 218-219 MHZ are shown. The IVDS channels in

FIG. 8

are divided into two groups, Group A and Group B, with each group having nineteen channels spaced at 25 KHz steps. The first channel of the group A frequencies is located at 218.025 MHZ and the first channel of the group B frequencies is located at 218.525 MHZ.

FIGS. 9A-B

show packet formats, according to two embodiments of the invention, for packet data transferred between monitoring and control unit

510

and base station

610

.

FIG. 9A

shows a general packet format, according to one embodiment of the invention, including a start field

910

, an ID field

912

, a status field

914

, a data field

916

, and a stop field

918

.

Start field

910

is located at the beginning of the packet and indicates the start of the packet.

ID field

912

is located after start field

910

and indicates the ID for the source of the packet transmission and optionally the ID for the destination of the transmission. Inclusion of a destination ID depends on the system topology and geographic layout. For example, if an RF transmission is used for the communications link and if base station

610

a

is located far enough from the other base stations so that associated monitoring and control units

510

a-c

are out of range from the other base stations, then no destination ID is required. Furthermore, if the communication link between base station

610

a

and associated monitoring and control units

510

a-c

uses wire or cable rather than RF, then there is also no requirement for a destination ID.

Status field

914

is located after ID field

912

and indicates the status of monitoring and control unit

510

. For example, if monitoring and control unit

510

is used in conjunction with street lamps, status field

914

could indicate that the street lamp was turned on or off at a particular time.

Data field

916

is located after status field

914

and includes any data that may be associated with the indicated status. For example, if monitoring and control unit

510

is used in conjunction with street lamps, data field

916

may be used to provide an A/D value for the lamp voltage or current after the street lamp has been turned on.

Stop field

918

is located after data field

916

and indicates the end of the packet.

FIG. 9B

shows a more detailed packet format, according to another embodiment of the invention, including a start byte

930

, ID bytes

932

, a status byte

934

, a data byte

936

, and a stop byte

938

. Each byte comprises eight bits of information.

Start byte

930

is located at the beginning of the packet and indicates the start of the packet. Start byte

930

will use a unique value that will indicate to the destination that a new packet is beginning. For example, start byte

930

can be set to a value such as 02 hex.

ID bytes

932

can be four bytes located after start byte

930

which indicate the ID for the source of the packet transmission and optionally the ID for the destination of the transmission. ID bytes

932

can use all four bytes as a source address which allows for 2

32

(over 4 billion) unique monitoring and control units

510

. Alternately, ID bytes

932

can be divided up so that some of the bytes are used for a source ID and the remainder are used for a destination ID. For example, if two bytes are used for the source ID and two bytes are used for the destination ID, the system can include 2

16

(over 64,000) unique sources and destinations.

Status byte

934

is located after ID bytes

932

and indicates the status of monitoring and control unit

510

. The status may be encoded in status byte

934

in a variety of ways. For example, if each byte indicates a unique status, then there exists 2

8

(256) unique status values. However, if each bit of status byte

934

is reserved for a particular status indication, then there exists only 8 unique status values (one for each bit in the byte). Furthermore, certain combinations of bits may be reserved to indicate an error condition. For example, a status byte

934

setting of FF hex (all ones) can be reserved for an error condition.

Data byte

936

is located after status byte

934

and includes any data that may be associated with the indicated status. For example, if monitoring and control unit

510

is used in conjunction with street lamps, data byte

936

may be used to provide an A/D value for the lamp voltage or current after the street lamp has been turned on.

Stop byte

938

is located after data byte

936

and indicates the end of the packet. Stop byte

938

will use a unique value that will indicate to the destination that the current packet is ending. For example, stop byte

938

can be set to a value such as 03 hex.

FIG. 10

shows an example of bit location values for status byte

934

in the packet format, according to another embodiment of the invention. For example, if monitoring and control unit

510

is used in conjunction with street lamps, each bit of the status byte can be used to convey monitoring data.

The bit values are listed in the table with the most significant bit (MSB) at the top of the table and the least significant bit (LSB) at the bottom. The MSB, bit

7

, can be used to indicate if an error condition has occurred. Bits

6

-

2

are unused. Bit

1

indicates whether daylight is present and will be set to 0 when the street lamp is turned on and set to 1 when the street lamp is turned off. Bit

0

indicates whether AC voltage has been switched on to the street lamp. Bit

0

is set to 0 if the AC voltage is off and set to 1 if the AC voltage is on.

FIGS. 11A-C

show a base station

1100

for use in a monitoring and control system using RF, according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11A

shows base station

1100

which includes an RX antenna system

1110

, a receiving system front end

1120

, a multi-port splitter

1130

, a bank of RX modems

1140

a-c

, and a computing system

1150

.

RX antenna system

1110

receives RF monitoring data and can be implemented using a single antenna or an array of interconnected antennas depending on the topology of the system. For example, if a directional antenna is used, RX antenna system

1110

may include an array of four of these directional antennas to provide 360 degrees of coverage.

Receiving system front end

1120

is coupled to RX antenna system

1110

for receiving the RF monitoring data. Receiving system front end

1120

can also be implemented in a variety of ways. For example, a low noise amplifier (LNA) and pre-selecting filters can be used in applications which require high receiver sensitivity. Receiving system front end

1120

outputs received RF monitoring data.

Multi-port splitter

1130

is coupled to receiving system front end

1120

for receiving the received RF monitoring data. Multi-port splitter

1130

takes the received RF monitoring data from receiving system front end

1120

and splits it to produce split RF monitoring data.

RX modems

1140

a-c

are coupled to multi-port splitter

1130

and receive the split RF monitoring data. RX modems

1140

a-c

each demodulate their respective split RF monitoring data line to produce a respective received data signal. RX modems

1140

a-c

can be operated in a variety of ways depending on the configuration of the system. For example, if twenty channels are being used, twenty RX modems

1140

can be used with each RX modem set to a different fixed frequency. On the other hand, in a more sophisticated configuration, frequency channels can be dynamically allocated to RX modems

1140

a-c

depending on the traffic requirements.

Computing system

1150

is coupled to RX modems

1140

a-c

for receiving the received data signals. Computing system

1150

can include one or many individual computers. Additionally, the interface between computing system

1150

and RX modems

1140

a-c

can be any type of data interface, such as RS-232 or RS-422 for example.

Computing system

1150

includes an ID and status processing unit (ISPU)

1152

which processes ID and status data from the packets of monitoring data in the demodulated signals. ISPU

1152

can be implemented as software, hardware, or firmware. Using ISPU

1152

, computing system

1150

can decode the packets of monitoring data in the demodulated signals, or can simply pass, without decoding, the packets of monitoring data on to another device, or can both decode and pass the packets of monitoring data.

For example, if ISPU

1152

is implemented as software running on a computer, it can process and decode each packet. Furthermore, ISPU

1152

can include a user interface, such as a graphical user interface, to allow an operator to view the monitoring data. Furthermore, ISPU

1152

can include or interface to a database in which the monitoring data is stored.

The inclusion of a database is particularly useful for producing statistical norms on the monitoring data either relating to one monitoring and control unit over a period of time or relating to performance of all of the monitoring and control units. For example, if the present invention is used for lamp monitoring and control, the current draw of a lamp can be monitored over a period of time and a profile created. Furthermore, an alarm threshold can be set if a new piece of monitored data deviates from the norm established in the profile. This feature is helpful for monitoring and controlling lamps because the precise current characteristics of each lamp can vary greatly. By allowing the database to create a unique profile for each lamp, the problem related to different lamp currents can be overcome so that an automated system for quickly identifying lamp problems is established.

FIG. 11B

shows an alternate configuration for base station

1100

, according to a further embodiment of the invention, which includes all of the elements discussed in regard to FIG.

11

A and further includes a TX modem

1160

, transmitting system

1162

, and TX antenna

1164

. Base station

1100

as shown in

FIG. 11B

can be used in applications which require a TX channel for control of remote devices

550

.

TX modem

1160

is coupled to computing system

1150

for receiving control information. The control information is modulated by TX modem

1160

to produce modulated control information.

Transmitting system

1162

is coupled to TX modem

1160

for receiving the modulated control information. Transmitting system

1162

can have a variety of different configurations depending on the application. For example, if higher transmit power output is required, transmitting system

1162

can include a power amplifier. If necessary, transmitting system

1162

can include isolators, bandpass, lowpass, or highpass filters to prevent out-of-band signals. After receiving the modulated control information, transmitting system

1162

outputs a TX RF signal.

TX antenna

1164

is coupled to transmitting system

1162

for receiving the TX RF signal and transmitting a transmitted TX RF signal. It is well known to those skilled in the art that TX antenna

1164

may be coupled with RX antenna system

1110

using a duplexer for example.

FIG. 11C

shows base station

1100

as part of a monitoring and control system, according to another embodiment of the invention. Base station

1100

has already been described with reference to FIG.

11

A.

Additionally, computing system

1150

of base station

1100

can be coupled to a communication link

1170

for communicating with a main station

1180

or a further base station

1101

a.

Communication link

1170

may be implemented using a variety of technologies such as: a standard phone line, DDS line, ISDN line, T

1

, fiber optic line, or RF link. The topology of communication link

1170

can vary depending on the application and can be, for example,: star, bus, ring, or mesh.

FIG. 12

shows a monitoring and control system

1200

, according to another embodiment of the invention, having a main station

1230

coupled through a plurality of communication links

1220

a-c

to a plurality of respective base stations

1210

a-c.

Base stations

1210

a-c

can have a variety of configurations such as those shown in

FIGS. 11A-B

. Communication links

1220

a-c

allow respective base stations

1210

a-c

to pass monitoring data to main station

1230

and to receive control information from main station

1230

. Processing of the monitoring data can either be performed at base stations

1210

a-c

or at main station

1230

.

FIG. 13

shows a base station

1300

which is coupled to a communication server

1340

via a communication link

1330

, according to another embodiment of the invention. Base station

1300

includes an antenna and preselector system

1305

, a receiver modem group (RMG)

1310

, and a computing system

1320

.

Antenna and preselector system

1305

are similar to RX antenna system

1110

and receiving system front end

1120

which were previously discussed. Antenna and preselector system

1305

can include either one antenna or an array of antennas and preselection filtering as required by the application. Antenna and preselector system

1305

receives RF monitoring data and outputs preselected RF monitoring data.

Receiver modem group (RMG)

1310

includes a low noise pre-amp

1312

, a multi-port splitter

1314

, and several RX modems

1316

a-c

. Low noise pre-amp

1312

receives the preselected RF monitoring data from antenna and preselector system

1305

and outputs amplified RF monitoring data.

Multi-port splitter

1314

is coupled to low noise pre-amp

1312

for receiving the amplified RF monitoring data and outputting split RF monitoring data lines.

RX modems

1316

a-c

are coupled Lo multi-port splitter

1314

for receiving and demodulating one of the split RF monitoring data lines and outputting received data (RXD)

1324

, received clock (RXC)

1326

, and carrier detect (CD)

1328

. These signals can use a standard interface such as RS-232 or RS-422 or can use a proprietary interface.

Computing system

1320

includes at least one base site computer

1322

for receiving RXD, RXC, and CD from RX modems

1316

a-c

, and outputting a serial data stream.

Computing system

1320

further includes an ID and status processing unit (ISPU)

1323

which processes ID and status data from the packets of monitoring data in RXD. ISPU

1323

can be implemented as software, hardware, or firmware. Using ISPU

1323

, computing system

1320

can decode the packets of monitoring data in the demodulated signals, or can simply pass, without decoding, the packets of monitoring data on to another device in the serial data stream, or can both decode and pass the packets of monitoring data.

Communication link

1330

includes a first communication interface

1332

, a second communication interface

1334

, a first interface line

1336

, a second interface line

1342

, and a link

1338

.

First communication interface

1332

receives the serial data stream from computing system

1320

of base station

1300

via first interface line

1336

. First communication interface

1332

can be co-located with computing system

1320

or be remotely located. First communication interface

1332

can be implemented in a variety of ways using, for example, a CSU, DSU, or modem.

Second communication interface

1334

is coupled to first communication interface

1332

via link

1338

. Link

1338

can be implemented using a standard phone line, DDS line, ISDN line, T

1

, fiber optic line, or RF link. Second communication interface

1334

can be implemented similarly to first communication interface

1332

using, for example, a CSU, DSU, or modem.

Communication link

1330

outputs communicated serial data from second communication interface

1334

via second communication line

1342

.

Communication server

1340

is coupled to communication link

1330

for receiving communicated serial data via second communication line

1342

. Communication server

1340

receives several lines of communicated serial data from several computing systems

1320

and multiplexes them to output multiplexed serial data on to a data network. The data network can be a public or private data network such as an internet or intranet.

FIGS. 14A-E

show methods for implementation of logic for lamp monitoring and control system

600

, according to a further embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14A

shows one method for energizing and de-energizing a street lamp and transmitting associated monitoring data. The method of

FIG. 14A

shows a single transmission for each control event. The method begins with a start block

1400

and proceeds to step

1410

which involves checking AC and Daylight Status. The Check AC and Daylight Status step

1410

is used to check for conditions where the AC power and/or the Daylight Status have changed. If a change does occur, the method proceeds to step

1420

which is a decision block based on the change.

If a change occurred, step

1420

proceeds to a Debounce Delay step

1422

which involves inserting a Debounce Delay. For example, the Debounce Delay may be 0.5 seconds. After Debounce Delay step

1422

, the method leads back to Check AC and Daylight Status step

1410

.

If no change occurred, step

1420

proceeds to step

1430

which is a decision block to determine whether the lamp should be energized. If the lamp should be energized, then the method proceeds to step

1432

which turns the lamp on. After step

1432

when the lamp is turned on, the method proceeds to step

1434

which involves Current Stabilization Delay to allow the current in the street lamp to stabilize. The amount of delay for current stabilization depends upon the type of lamp used. However, for a typical vapor lamp a ten minute stabilization delay is appropriate. After step

1434

, the method leads back to step

1410

which checks AC and Daylight Status.

Returning to step

1430

, if the lamp is not to be energized, then the method proceeds to step

1440

which is a decision block to check to deenergize the lamp. If the lamp is to be deenergized, the method proceeds to step

1442

which involves turning the Lamp Off. After the lamp is turned off, the method proceeds to step

1444

in which the relay is allowed a Settle Delay time. The Settle Delay time is dependent upon the particular relay used and may be, for example, set to 0.5 seconds. After step

1444

, the method returns to step

1410

to check the AC and Daylight Status.

Returning to step

1440

, if the lamp is not to be deenergized, the method proceeds to step

1450

in which an error bit is set, if required. The method then proceeds to step

1460

in which an A/D is read.

The method then proceeds from step

1460

to step

1470

which checks to see if a transmit is required. If no transmit is required, the method proceeds to step

1472

in which a Scan Delay is executed. The Scan Delay depends upon the circuitry used and, for example, may be 0.5 seconds. After step

1472

, the method returns to step

1410

which checks AC and Daylight Status.

Returning to step

1470

, if a transmit is required, then the method proceeds to step

1480

which performs a transmit operation. After the transmit operation of step

1480

is completed, the method then returns to step

1410

which checks AC and Daylight Status.

FIG. 14B

is analogous to

FIG. 14A

with one modification. This modification occurs after step

1420

. If a change has occurred, rather than simply executing step

1422

, the Debounce Delay, the method performs a further step

1424

which involves checking whether daylight has occurred. If daylight has not occurred, then the method proceeds to step

1426

which executes an Initial Delay. This initial delay may be, for example, 0.5 seconds. After step

1426

, the method proceeds to step

1422

and follows the same method as shown in FIG.

14

A.

Returning to step

1424

which involves checking whether daylight has occurred, if daylight has occurred, the method proceeds to step

1428

which executes an Initial Delay. The Initial Delay associated with step

1428

should be a significantly larger value than the Initial Delay associated with step

1426

. For example, an Initial Delay of 45 seconds may be used. The Initial Delay of step

1428

is used to prevent a false triggering which deenergizes the lamp. In actual practice, this extended delay can become very important because if the lamp is inadvertently deenergized too soon, it requires a substantial amount of time to reenergize the lamp (for example, ten minutes). After step

1428

, the method proceeds to step

1422

which executes a Debounce Delay and then returns to step

1410

as shown in

FIGS. 14A and 14B

.

FIG. 14C

shows a method for transmitting monitoring data multiple times in monitoring and control unit

510

, according to a further embodiment of the invention. This method is particularly important in applications in which monitoring and control unit

510

does not have a RX unit

540

for receiving acknowledgments of transmissions.

The method begins with a transmit start block

1482

and proceeds to step

1484

which involves initializing a count value, i.e. setting the count value to zero. The method proceeds from step

1484

to step.

1486

which involves setting a variable x to a value associated with a serial number of monitoring and control unit

510

. For example, variable x may be set to 50 times the lowest nibble of the serial number.

The method proceeds from step

1486

to step

1488

which involves waiting a reporting start time delay associated with the value x. The reporting start time is the amount of delay time before the first transmission. For example, this delay time may be set to x seconds where x is an integer between 1 and 32,000 or more. This example range for x is particularly useful in the street lamp application since it distributes the packet reporting start times over more than eight hours, approximately the time from sunset to sunrise.

The method proceeds from step

1488

to step

1490

in which a variable y representing a channel number is set. For example, y may be set to the integer value of RTC/12.8, where RTC represents a real time clock counting from 0-255 as fast as possible. The RTC may be included in processing and sensing unit

520

.

The method proceeds from step

1490

to step

1492

in which a packet is transmitted on channel y. Step

1492

proceeds to step

1494

in which the count value is incremented. Step

1494

proceeds to step

1496

which is a decision block to determine if the count value equals an upper limit N.

If the count is not equal to N, the method returns from step

1496

to step

1488

and waits another delay time associated with variable x. This delay time is the reporting delta time since it represents the time difference between two consecutive reporting events.

If the count is equal to N, the method proceeds from step

1496

to step

1498

which is an end block. The value for N must be determined based on the specific application. Increasing the value of N decreases the probability of a unsuccessful transmission since the same data is being sent multiple times and the probability of all of the packets being lost decreases as N increases. However, increasing the value of N increases the amount of traffic which may become an issue in a monitoring and control system with a plurality of monitoring and control units.

FIG. 14D

shows a method for transmitting monitoring data multiple times in a monitoring and control system according to a another embodiment of the invention.

The method begins with a transmit start block

1410

′ and proceeds to step

1412

′ which involves initializing a count value, i.e., setting the count value to 1. The method proceeds from step

1412

′ to step

1414

′ which involves randomizing the reporting start time delay. The reporting start time delay is the amount of time delay required before the transmission of the first data packet. A variety of methods can be used for this randomization process such as selecting a pseudo-random value or basing the randomization on the serial number of monitoring and control unit

510

.

The method proceeds from step

1414

′ to step

1416

′ which involves checking to see if the count equals 1. If the count is equal to 1, then the method proceeds to step

1420

′ which involves setting a reporting delta time equal to the reporting start time delay. If the count is not equal to 1, the method proceeds to step

1418

′ which involves randomizing the reporting delta time. The reporting delta time is the difference in time between each reporting event. A variety of methods can be used for randomizing the reporting delta time including selecting a pseudo-random value or selecting a random number based upon the serial number of the monitoring and control unit

510

.

After either step

1418

′ or step

1420

′, the method proceeds to step

1422

′ which involves randomizing a transmit channel number. The transmit channel number is a number indicative of the frequency used for transmitting the monitoring data. There are a variety of methods for randomizing the transmit channel number such as selecting a pseudo-random number or selecting a random number based upon the serial number of the monitoring and control unit

510

.

The method proceeds from step

1422

′ to step

1424

′ which involves waiting the reporting delta time. It is important to note that the reporting delta time is the time which was selected during the randomization process of step

1418

′ or the reporting start time delay selected in step

1414

′, if the count equals 1. The use of separate randomization steps

1414

′ and

1418

′ is important because it allows the use of different randomization functions for the reporting start time delay and the reporting delta time, respectively.

After step

1424

′ the method proceeds to step

1426

′ which involves transmitting a packet on the transmit channel selected in step

1422

′.

The method proceeds from step

1426

′ to step

1428

′ which involves incrementing the counter for the number of packet transmissions.

The method proceeds from step

1428

′ to step

1430

′ in which the count is compared with a value N which represents the maximum number of transmissions for each packet. If the count is less than or equal to N, then the method proceeds from step

1430

′ back to step

1418

′ which involves randomizing the reporting delta time for the next transmission. If the count is greater than N, then the method proceeds from step

1430

′ to the end block

1432

′ for the transmission method.

In other words, the method will continue transmission of the same packet of data N times, with randomization of the reporting start time delay, randomization of the reporting delta times between each reporting event, and randomization of the transmit channel number for each packet. These multiple randomizations help stagger the packets in the frequency and time domain to reduce the probability of collisions of packets from different monitoring and control units.

FIG. 14E

shows a further method for transmitting monitoring data multiple times from a monitoring and control unit

510

, according to another embodiment of the invention.

The method begins with a transmit start block

1440

′ and proceeds to step

1442

′ which involves initializing a count value, i.e., setting the count value to 1. The method proceeds from step

1442

′ to step

1444

′ which involves reading an indicator, such as a group jumper, to determine which group of frequencies to use, Group A or B. Examples of Group A and Group B channel numbers and frequencies can be found in FIG.

8

.

Step

1444

′ proceeds to step

1446

′ which makes a decision based upon whether Group A or B is being used. If Group A is being used, step

1446

′ proceeds to step

1448

′ which involves setting a base channel to the appropriate frequency for Group A. If Group B is to be used, step

1446

′ proceeds to step

1450

′ which involves setting the base channel frequency to a frequency for Group B.

After either Step

1448

′ or step

1450

′, the method proceeds to step

1452

′ which involves randomizing a reporting start time delay. For example, the randomization can be achieved by multiplying the lowest nibble of the serial number of monitoring and control unit

510

by 50 and using the resulting value, x, as the number of milliseconds for the reporting start time delay.

The method proceeds from step

1452

′ to step

1454

′ which involves waiting x number of seconds as determined in step

1452

′.

The method proceeds from step

1454

′ to step

1456

′ which involves setting a value z=0, where the value z represents an offset from the base channel number set in step

1448

′ or

1450

′. Step

1456

′ proceeds to step

1458

′ which determines whether the count equals 1. If the count equals 1, the method proceeds from step

1458

′ to step

1472

′ which involves transmitting the packet on a channel determined from the base channel frequency selected in either step

1448

′ or step

1450

′ plus the channel frequency offset selected in step

1456

′.

If the count is not equal to 1, then the method proceeds from step

1458

′ to step

1460

′ which involves determining whether the count is equal to N, where N represents the maximum number of packet transmissions. If the count is equal to N, then the method proceeds from step

1460

′ to step

1472

′ which involves transmitting the packet on a channel determined from the base channel frequency selected in either step

1448

′ or step

1450

′ plus the channel number offset selected in step

1456

′.

If the count is not equal to N, indicating that the count is a value between 1 and N, then the method proceeds from step

1460

′ to step

1462

′ which involves reading a real time counter (RTC) which may be located in processing and sensing unit

412

.

The method proceeds from step

1462

′ to step

1464

′ which involves comparing the RTC value against a maximum value, for example, a maximum value of 152. If the RTC value is greater than or equal to the maximum value, then the method proceeds from step

1464

′ to step

1466

′ which involves waiting x seconds and returning to step

1462

′.

If the value of the RTC is less than the maximum value, then the method proceeds from step

1464

′ to step

1468

′ which involves setting a value y equal to a value indicative of the channel number offset. For example, y can be set to an integer of the real time counter value divided by 8, so that Y value would range from 0 to 18.

The method proceeds from step

1468

′ to step

1470

′ which involves computing a frequency offset value z from the channel number offset value y. For example, if a 25 KHz channel is being used, then z is equal to y times 25 KHz.

The method then proceeds from step

1470

′ to step

1472

′ which involves transmitting the packet on a channel determined from the base channel frequency selected in either step

1448

′ or step

1450

′ plus the channel frequency offset computed in step

1470

′.

The method proceeds from step

1472

′ to step

1474

′ which involves incrementing the count value. The method proceeds from step

1474

′ to step

1476

′ which involves comparing the count value to a value N+1 which is related to the maximum number of transmissions for each packet. If the count is not equal to N+1, the method proceeds from step

1476

′ back to step

1454

′ which involves waiting x number of milliseconds. If the count is equal to N+1, the method proceeds from step

1476

′ to the end block

1478

′.

The method shown in

FIG. 14E

is similar to that shown in

FIG. 14D

, but differs in that it requires the first and the Nth transmission to occur at the base frequency rather than a randomly selected frequency.

FIG. 15

shows an alarm monitoring and control unit

1510

, according to one embodiment of the invention, having a processing unit

1520

, TX unit

1530

, and RX unit

1540

. Processing unit

1520

is coupled to TX unit

1530

for transmitting data to a base station. Processing unit

1520

is also coupled to RX unit

1540

for receiving data either from the base station or from a remote unit such as an alarm unit. As an option, alarm monitoring and control unit

1510

can also include a second RX unit

1550

for receiving data either from the base station or from a remote device such as an alarm unit.

As another option, alarm monitoring and control unit

1510

can include a sensing unit

1560

and a remote device

1570

both coupled to processing unit

1520

. For example, sensing unit

1560

and remote device

1570

can be for lamp monitoring and control so that alarm monitoring and control unit

1510

can perform the functions of lamp and alarm monitoring and control.

FIG. 16

shows an alarm monitoring and control unit

1610

, according to an additional embodiment of the invention, having a processing unit

1620

, TX unit

1630

, RX unit

1640

, and an imaging unit

1680

. Alarm monitoring and control unit

1610

is similar to alarm monitoring control unit

1510

in that it includes processing unit

1620

, TX unit

1630

, RX unit

1640

and optional RX unit

1650

, sensing unit

1660

, and remote device

1670

. These elements have functions analogous to the corresponding elements in FIG.

15

.

Additionally, alarm monitoring and control unit

1610

includes imaging unit

1680

coupled to processing unit

1620

. Imaging unit

1680

allows imaging to be performed based upon signals received from remote alarm units (not shown). For example, if an alarm signal is received from a remote alarm unit, imaging unit

1680

can perform imaging of the local area in order to collect information which may be valuable to the police and other law enforcement agencies.

Imaging unit

1680

may be any form of imaging unit such as a still camera, a video camera, a low light level camera, or an infrared camera. Imaging unit

1680

also can include a wide variety of lens types such as a wide field of view lenses to enable a very broad field of view during surveillance. Imaging unit

1680

also can include a pointing device which allows imaging unit

1680

to point at different objects depending on the source of the alarm. Although imaging unit

1680

is shown inside of alarm monitoring and control unit

1610

, imaging unit

1680

may be included in the same housing as processing unit

1620

or may be included in a separate housing with some form of communication link between imaging unit

1680

and processing unit

1620

.

Alarm monitoring and control unit

1610

can also include optional additional imaging units

1685

. Imaging unit

1685

allows the alarm monitoring and control unit to point at a direction different than the field of view of imaging unit

1680

. As previously described, imaging unit

1685

can also be implemented using a variety of different forms of imaging units such as a still camera, video camera, low light level TV, low light level video camera, and infrared video camera. Also, as previously discussed, alarm monitoring and control unit

1610

can include an optional sensing unit

1660

and remote device

1670

to allow the operation of both lamp monitoring and alarm monitoring in one monitoring and control unit.

FIG. 17

shows an alarm monitoring and control unit

1710

, according to another embodiment of the invention, having a processing unit

1720

, TX unit

1730

, RX unit

1740

, imaging unit

1780

, interface

1790

, and memory

1795

.

Alarm monitoring and control unit

1710

is similar to alarm monitoring and control unit

1610

in terms of the inclusion of a processing unit

1720

, TX unit

1730

, RX unit

1740

, imaging unit

1780

, and optional elements such as RX unit

1750

, sensing unit

1760

, remote device

1770

, and imaging unit

1785

. In addition, alarm monitoring and control unit

1710

includes an interface

1790

and a memory

1795

, both of which are coupled to processing unit

1720

. Memory

1795

allows storage of information at alarm monitoring and control unit

1710

. For example, if imaging unit

1780

collects image data, that image data can be stored in memory

1795

for download at a later time. Interface

1790

is the mechanism through which the download of information, such as image data, from memory

1795

is conducted. Interface

1790

can be implemented in a variety of ways such as through use of a wired line, infrared link, fiber optic link, or RF link. In addition, it is well known to those skilled in the art that there are many ways for implementing memory

1795

such as use of DRAM, SRAM, flash RAM, etc.

FIG. 18

shows an alarm unit

1810

, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, having an alarm detection unit

1820

and a TX unit

1830

. Alarm detection unit

1820

detects an alarm condition and TX unit

1830

, which is coupled to alarm detection unit

1820

, transmits associated alarm information to an alarm monitoring and control unit such as alarm monitoring control unit

1510

,

1610

or

1710

. Alarm unit

1810

can take a variety of different forms depending on the particular application. For example, in a residential house or a commercial building, alarm unit

1810

can be part of an alarm system so that alarm detection unit

1820

is coupled to alarm sensors which detect an alarm condition. Some examples of alarm conditions are the opening of a door or window or the detection of motion in a particular room of a building.

In other applications, alarm detection unit

1820

can be coupled to an alarm panic button. For example, an alarm panic button could be installed in vehicles such as taxicabs so that in the event of a robbery the taxicab driver could push the alarm panic button producing an alarm detection signal in alarm detection unit

1820

which results in the transmission of associated alarm information being transmitted by TX unit

1830

. The concept of alarm panic buttons can also be used in fixed locations such as in commercial operation such as banks or ATM machines, or the panic button can be placed in public areas such as on lamp posts along the side of a highway.

The alarm condition which triggers alarm detection unit

1820

is not limited to robberies, but also can include other forms of alarm conditions such as detection of fire or flooding in a building.

FIG. 19

shows an alarm unit, according to another embodiment of the invention, having an alarm detection unit, a TX unit, a processing unit, and an imaging unit.

Alarm unit

1910

includes a processing unit

1940

which is coupled to an alarm detection unit

1920

, a TX unit

1930

, and an imaging unit

1950

. Alarm unit

1910

can be used for all of the applications described with respect to alarm unit

1810

. In addition, alarm unit

1910

includes processing unit

1940

and imaging unit

1950

allowing additional applications in which image data is required at the location of alarm unit

1910

. As an example of one such application, if a residence is broken into, the alarm system would send an alarm signal to alarm detection unit

1920

. In response to this alarm signal, alarm detection unit

1920

would send a signal to processing unit

1940

which would in turn begin operation of imaging unit

1950

. Imaging unit

1950

could then surveil the area in a variety of ways similar to imaging units

1680

and

1780

. That is, imaging unit

1950

can collect photographic still data, video data, low light level video data, or infrared data. Furthermore in some applications, the image data could include audio data collected by the same imaging unit.

Alarm unit

1910

can also include an optional memory

1960

and interface

1970

to allow local storage of the image data from imaging unit

1950

. In an application in which local storage is selected, TX unit

1930

will transmit out an alarm indication signal to an alarm monitoring control unit to indicate an alarm condition has been detected at alarm unit

1910

. In other applications, image data from imaging unit

1950

can be directly transmitted using TX unit

1930

.

FIG. 20

shows an interrogation unit

2010

having a processing unit

2030

, interface

2020

, and storage unit

2040

, according to one embodiment of the invention.

Interface

2020

and storage unit

2040

are both coupled to processing unit

2030

. Interrogation unit

2010

allows for downloading of data from memory units in either the alarm monitoring and control unit

1710

or alarm unit

1910

. For example, referring back to alarm unit

1910

shown in

FIG. 19

, if image data is stored in memory

1960

then interrogation unit

2010

can download that data by establishing communication between interface

1970

and interface

2020

. The information is then sent through processing unit

2030

to storage unit

2040

for later retrieval. A similar interrogation unit

2010

can be used with alarm monitoring and control unit

1710

as shown in FIG.

17

.

For example, if image data is stored in memory

1795

at alarm monitoring and control unit

1710

, then interrogation unit

2010

can download this image data via a communication link established between interface

1790

and interface

2020

. The communication link between interface

1790

and interface

2020

can take a variety of forms well known to those skilled in the art such as wire, infrared, fiber optic, or RF. Likewise, storage unit

2040

can be implemented in a variety of ways such as using DRAM, SRAM, flash RAM, floppy disks, hard disks, video tape, streaming tape, etc.

FIG. 21

shows an alarm monitoring and control system

2100

, according to one embodiment of the invention, having a main station

710

coupled through communication links to a plurality of base stations

610

a-b.

Alarm monitoring and control system

2100

includes main station

710

and base stations

610

a

and

610

b

which are analogous in function to the similarly labeled elements in

FIGS. 6 and 7

which were described with respect to FIG.

12

. Each base station

610

a

and

610

b

is coupled to a variety of monitoring and control units (MCU)

2110

a-d

. MCUs

2110

a-d

are further coupled to a variety of alarm units. For example, a residential building

2120

may include an alarm unit

2120

a

. As previously discussed, alarm unit

2120

a

detects an alarm signal and transmits associated alarm information to MCU

2110

a.

In other embodiments, the alarm unit can be in a commercial building

2120

′ or an industrial building

2120

″. Commercial building

2120

′ includes an alarm unit

2120

′ a which is similar in function to alarm unit

2120

a

. Likewise, industrial site

2120

includes an alarm unit

2120

″ a which is similar in function to alarm unit

2120

a.

As another example, an automobile

2130

can be equipped with an alarm unit

2130

a

. As previously discussed, alarm unit

2130

a

can include a panic button. For example, alarm unit

2130

a

would allow a taxi driver to press the panic button in the event of a robbery. Pressing the panic button on alarm unit

2130

a

would result in a signal being sent to MCU

2110

a

which would further send a signal to base station

610

a

which would further send a signal to main station

710

. Likewise, panic buttons can be installed at other locations such as a panic button

2150

a

installed in a building

2150

or a panic button

2140

a

installed at a lamp post

2140

or in a public place.

If a real time response is required, the alarm information transmitted from an alarm unit such as alarm unit

2130

a

is relayed through MCU

2110

a

to base station

610

a

and further to main station

710

. The alarm information at main station

710

can include at least the unique ID for alarm unit

2130

a

and the ID of MCU

2110

a

which relayed the alarm information. The alarm information can include a time stamp indicating the time that alarm unit

2130

a

transmitted the alarm information. Alternatively, the time stamp can be the time that alarm information is received at MCU

2110

a

, at base station

610

a

or at main station

710

is stored in a database. This alarm information can be relayed directly to the police to alert law enforcement agencies that a robbery is in progress in a particular taxicab in a particular neighborhood. Additionally, the alarm information can be stored in a database at main station

710

or another location and can be used by either law enforcement agencies or insurance agencies to analyze crime data in a neighborhood. For example, if a law enforcement agency recognizes that the crime rate during a specific time of day is high in a particular neighborhood based upon the alarm information relayed from alarm units, the law enforcement agency can increase patrols in that area as a result to reduce the criminal activity.

FIG. 22

shows a method, according to another embodiment of the invention, for monitoring and controlling an alarm.

Method

2200

for monitoring and controlling an alarm includes a detecting step

2210

which involves detecting that an alarm condition has occurred. Method

2200

proceeds from detecting step

2210

to a transmitting step

2220

which involved transmitting alarm information associated with the alarm condition detected in detecting step

2210

.

Method

2200

proceeds from transmitting step

2220

to a further transmitting step

2230

which involves transmitting alarm data from an MCU to a base station.

Method

2200

proceeds from transmitting step

2230

to an analyzing step

2240

which involves analyzing the alarm data. As previously discussed, the step of analyzing the alarm data can take several forms such as storage for later processing or the forwarding of the alarm data to proper law enforcement activities for real-time response. The alarm data can also take a variety of forms and can include the ID numbers for the associated alarm unit and monitoring and control unit, a time stamp, and an indication of the type of alarm such as a fire alarm or a burglar alarm. Additionally, the alarm data may include image data relayed from an imaging device, such as an imaging device located in the alarm unit or in the alarm monitoring and control unit. Analyzing step

2240

also can include statistical analysis in a database. It is well known to those skilled in the art that such a database can be created with a variety of commercially available programs such as Oracle, Sybase, SQL server, Access, etc.

The foregoing embodiments are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Number	Name	Date	Kind
3828334	Wallace	Aug 1974	A
3900763	Turner	Aug 1975	A
4008415	De Avila-Serafin et al.	Feb 1977	A
4406995	May	Sep 1983	A
4479246	Young	Oct 1984	A
4580099	Zetti	Apr 1986	A
4614945	Brunius et al.	Sep 1986	A
4665321	Chang et al.	May 1987	A
4691341	Knoble et al.	Sep 1987	A
4718079	Rabito	Jan 1988	A
4808982	Knapp	Feb 1989	A
4810936	Nuckolls et al.	Mar 1989	A
4939505	Cappellini et al.	Jul 1990	A
6035266	Williams et al.	Mar 2000	A

	Number	Date	Country
Parent	08/942681	Oct 1997	US
Child	09/637916		US

	Number	Date	Country
Parent	08/838303	Apr 1997	US
Child	08/942681		US
Parent	08/838302	Apr 1997	US
Child	08/838303		US

Lamp monitoring and control system and method

Information

Patent Number

Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

US Classifications

Field of Search

US

International Classifications

Disclaimer

Abstract

Description

Claims

RELATED APPLICATIONS

US Referenced Citations (14)

Continuations (1)

Continuation in Parts (2)