Patent Application
20070052850
Intercom systems are well known in the art after having been employed in homes and businesses for years. Such traditional intercom systems employ microphone/speaker units distributed throughout the various rooms of a building. The units are interconnected by cable or networks dedicated to that purpose so that audio communication may be exchanged between rooms or to enable music to be piped throughout the building. Such traditional intercoms may provide video communication for security purposes. However, these require dedicated distribution means and reproduction equipment. They also do not provide ready logging of video or audio for security purposes.
Wireless cameras are known for surveillance purposes but do not offer communication functionality. Also, non-wireless surveillance cameras require dedicated networks for distributing their video signals.
From the foregoing, intercom systems are not generally suitable for security purposes. Dedicated distribution cabling or networking is required. Hence, there is a need for a more integrated intercom system which exhibits low overhead by utilizing existing network infrastructure and which offers integrated intercom and security camera functionality along with ready security logging. The present invention provides such a system and remote camera-microphone units for use in such systems.
In one embodiment of the invention, an audio/video intercom system comprises a computer, a monitor that displays images from video signals generated by the computer, and a speaker that reproduces sound from audio signals generated by the computer. The system further comprises a remote camera and microphone unit that generate remotely originated video and audio signals. The remote unit includes a transmitter that transmits the remotely originated video and audio signals. The system further includes an access point router coupled to the computer that receives the remotely originated video and audio signals and provides the remotely originated video and audio signals to the computer for generation of corresponding video and audio signals to be displayed by the monitor and reproduced by the speaker.
In another embodiment of the invention, a device comprises a camera that generates a video signal from an image, a microphone that generates an audio signal from sensed sound, a housing enclosing the camera and microphone, and a transmitter within the housing that transmits the video and audio signals for reception by an access point router and distribution to a computer and monitor.
In the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The detailed description and drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments by which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.
Referring now to
As known in the art, an “access point” is a wireless device used to connect computer and/or other wireless devices. As also known in the art, a “router” is a network device that allows devices, such as IEEE 802 devices, to be connected to the same network. Hence, the term “access point router” is used herein, as is known in the art, to refer to a combined access point (wireless device) and router.
The remote, camera, and microphone unit includes a camera 23 having a lens 24, a speaker/microphone 26, a transmitter 27, and a receiver 28. The unit 22 is remote from the computer 14 which may be, for example, in a home office. The camera 23 generates a remotely originated video signal which, as seen in
The access point router 30 may be of the type well known in the art. It includes an antenna 34 and a receiver 36 for receiving the transmitted video and audio signals from the remote unit 22. The remotely generated video and audio signals received by the access point router 30 are conveyed to the computer 14 enabling display of the video signals on the monitor 16 and the audio signals to be reproduced as sound by the speaker 18. In this manner, the outside play of the child 12 may be observed from a location inside of a home office, for example. The computer 14 includes a hard drive 15. The hard drive 15 provides a ready medium with which the observed play of the child 12 may be logged.
The access point router 30 is also coupled to the cable modem 32. This enables the video and audio remotely generated by the remote unit 22 and received by the access point router 30 to be seen and heard over the internet from a distant location external to the home in which the office resides.
The access point router 30 further includes a transmitter 38. This permits sound generated by the computer 14 to be transmitted from the access point router to the receiver 28 of the remote unit 22. The source of the sound may be the microphone wherein a parent may provide instruction to the child 12 remotely from the office by speaking into the microphone 20. The parent's voice is converted to an audio signal by the computer 14 which is then transmitted by the transmitter 38. Upon receipt by the receiver 28, the speaker/microphone 26 reproduces the parent's voice for communicating with the child 12.
Referring now to
As may be further noted in
As in the embodiment of
The system of
Referring now to
The system 70 further includes remote camera and microphone units 72, 82, and 92. Each of the remote camera and microphone units 72, 82, and 92, includes a camera 73, 83, and 93, respectively, and a speaker/microphone 76, 86, and 96, respectively. The remote units 72, 82, and 92, function as previously described with respect to the embodiments of
As will be noted in
The system of
Referring now to
The housing 112 also contains an RF transmitter and an RF receiver (not shown) which may transmit video and audio signals and receive video and audio signals with an antenna 124. As a result, the device 110 may be utilized for transmitting remotely generated video signals and remotely generated audio signals to an access router, such as access router 30 of the systems of
The device 110 may be battery powered or powered by AC power over power cord 122. Hence, the video and audio signals generated by the device 10 and received from the access point router 30 may be received over the power lines connected to the power cord 122.
The device 110 is further arranged to be placed on a desktop, for example. The device may be operative from the desktop with the transparent cover 126 being either open as illustrated or closed.
The device 130 is arranged to be coupled to the AC power line by a power cord 142. Thus, the receiver and transmitter (not shown) contained within the housing 132 may be adapted for transmitting and receiving video and audio signals over the power line through an Ethernet line and a power line doogle coupled to the power cord 142 as previously described with respect to the system of
Lastly, as will be noted in
Hence, any one of the remote units 110, 130, and 150 is capable of generating remotely originated video and audio signals for transmission to an access point router. This enables the video and audio signals to be displayed on a monitor and reproduced by a speaker associated with a computer coupled to the access point router at a distant location. Hence, the invention provides an intercom/surveillance audio/video system which does not require dedicated cabling or networking. No new wires are required. Existing network infrastructure may be utilized to provide an integrated intercom/security system. Further, the system may include a hard drive associated with the computer for providing a convenient medium for logging the video and audio signals. Still further, the system may be utilized in a traditional manner to pipe music throughout any room of a residence or business in which the system is employed.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit or scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained therein. It is intended that the invention reside in the claims.
