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Title:
VIDEO SURVEILLANCE DEVICE FOR DWELLINGS AND ENVIRONMENTS AT RISK
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2007/014835
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A video surveillance device comprising a camera (2), a UMTS interface (3) for the telephone connection with an external UMTS unit (4) and means (5) for managing the camera (2) and the interface (3) is disclosed. The managing means (5) comprises processing means and memory means suitable for storing a plurality of telephone numbers and at least one input (IN1-IN4) connectable to a fault condition detecting system (6). The managing means (5) is capable of activating the camera (2) and of controlling the dispatch of images coming from the camera (2) to the external unit (4) when at least one input (IN1-IN4) is activated by the detecting system (6) and is capable of sending to said at least one output (01, O2) commands and/or adjustment for external peripheral units.

Inventors:
BRUNAZZO, Mauro (Via Vittorio Veneto 41, Arsago Seprio Va, I-21010, IT)
Application Number:
EP2006/064247
Publication Date:
February 08, 2007
Filing Date:
July 13, 2006
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
S. & A. S.R.L. (Corso Sempione 12, Olgiate Olona Va, I-21057, IT)
BRUNAZZO, Mauro (Via Vittorio Veneto 41, Arsago Seprio Va, I-21010, IT)
International Classes:
G08B15/00; H04M11/04
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
MITTLER, Enrico (MITTLER & C. s.r.l, Viale Lombardia 20, Milano, I-20131, IT)
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Claims:

CLAIMS

1. Video surveillance device comprising a camera (2), a UMTS interface (3) for telephone connection with an external UMTS unit (4) and means (5) for managing said camera (2) and said interface (3), said managing means (5) comprising processing means and memory means suitable for storing a plurality of telephone numbers, characterised in that said managing means (5) comprises at least one input (IN1-IN4) connectable to a fault condition detecting system (6) and at least an output (01, O2), said managing means (5) being capable of activating said camera (2) and of controlling the dispatch of images coming from the camera (2) to said external UMTS unit (4) when said at least one input (IN1-IN4) is activated by the detecting system (6) and being capable of sending commands and/or adjustment for peripheral units to said at least one output (01, O2)

2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that said managing means (5) comprises a radio receiver (R), said managing means (5) being capable of commanding the dispatch of images coming from the camera (2) to said external UMTS unit (4) with the activation of said radio receiver (R).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said managing means (5) are capable of commanding the dispatch in real time of images coming from the camera (2) to said external UMTS unit (4).

4. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said managing means (5) is capable of commanding the recording of a film of images coming from the camera (2) and the dispatch of said film to said external unit (4). 5. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that said managing means (5) comprises a two-directional audio circuit (52).

6. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that said managing means (5) is capable of sending an SMS to said external UMTS unit (4) when said radio receiver (R) is activated. 7. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that said managing

means (5) is capable of sending an SMS to said external UMTS unit (4) when said at least an input (EST1-IN4) is activated by the alarm system (6).

8. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that said at least an output (01, O2) is a relay output. 9. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that said alarm system

(6) consists of a presence sensor inside the device.

10. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that said managing means (5) is programmable by means of SMS sent by said external UMTS unit (4). 11. Device according to claim 1 , characterised in that said external peripheral units coincide with said detecting system (6).

12. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that said managing means (5) is queryable by said external UMTS unit (4).

13. Video surveillance device characterised in that it comprises a camera (2), a UMTS interface (3) for the telephone connection with an external UMTS unit (4) and means (5) for managing said camera (2) and said interface (3), said managing means (5) comprising processing means and memory means suitable for storing a plurality of telephone numbers, said managing means (5) being queryable by said UMTS unit (3) and being capable of activating said camera (2) and of commanding the dispatch of images coming from the camera (2) to said external UMTS unit (4) in response to a command coming from said UMTS unit (3).

14. Device according to claim 13, characterised in that said managing means (5) comprises a radio receiver (R), said managing means (5) being capable of commanding the dispatch of images coming from the camera (2) to said external UMTS unit (4) with the activation of said radio receiver (R).

15. Device according to claim 13 or 14, characterised in that said managing means (5) is able to command the dispatch in real time of images coming from the camera (2) to said external UMTS unit (4). 16. Device according to claim 13 or 14, characterised in that said

managing means (5) is capable of commanding the recording of a film of images coming from the camera (2) and the dispatch of said film to said external unit (4).

17. Device according to claim 14, characterised in that said managing means (5) comprises a two-directional audio circuit (52).

18. Device according to claim 14, characterised in that said managing means (5) is capable of sending an SMS to said external UMTS unit (4) when said radio receiver (R) is activated.

19. Device according to claim 13, characterised in that said managing means (5) comprises at least an input (IN1-IN4) connectable to a fault condition detecting system (6).

20. Device according to claim 19, characterised in that said managing means (5) is capable of sending an SMS to said external UMTS unit (4) when said at least an input (EST1-IN4) is activated by said fault condition detecting system (6).

21. Device according to claim 20, characterised in that said detecting system (6) consists of a presence sensor inside a preset area comprised within the operating range of said camera (2).

22. Device according to claim 13, characterised in that it comprises at least an output (01, O2) for commands and/or adjustment of peripheral units.

23. Device according to claim 22, characterised in that said at least an output (01, O2) is a relay output.

24. Device according to claim 22 or 23, characterised in that said external peripheral units comprise said detecting system (6).

25. Device according to claim 13, characterised in that said managing means (5) is programmable by means of SMS sent by said external UMTS unit (4).

Description:

"Video surveillance device for dwellings and environments at risk".

* * * *

The present invention relates to a video surveillance device for dwellings and environments at risk such as shops, offices, etc. In the prior art, alarm systems for dwellings are known comprising one or more presence sensors installed in various zones of the home, such as the entrance or the corridor. Said systems can be provided with volumetric sensors and cameras suitable for being activated in response to a signal coming from a sensor when the latter has detected the presence of a person inside the protected apartment or environment.

Normally, most alarm systems are provided with acoustic alarms sounded in the event of doors or windows being forced and the intrusion of people into the dwelling. Nevertheless, most times said acoustic alarms are sounded in circumstances that do not correspond to the intrusion of undesired persons into the dwelling and as many times they are ignored or are also considered to be only a disturbance by those who hear them.

In view of the state of the art, the object of the present invention is to provide a video surveillance device for dwellings and environments at risk that is able to alert a user by means of images on the mobile telephone of the user.

According to the present invention, this object is achieved by means of a video surveillance device comprising a camera, a UMTS interface for telephone connection with a UMTS external unit and means for managing said camera and said interface, said managing means comprising processing means and memory means suitable for storing a plurality of telephone numbers, characterised in that said managing means comprises at least an input connectable to a fault condition system and at least one output, said managing means being capable of activating said camera and of commanding the dispatch of images coming from the camera to said external UMTS unit when said at least one input is activated by the detecting

system and being capable of sending commands and/or adjustments for peripheral units to said at least one output.

Owing to the present invention it is possible to make a video surveillance device for dwellings and environments at risk that enables the user to view the surveyed area through interrogation of the device by an external UMTS unit.

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be made more evident from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof illustrated as non-limiting example in the enclosing drawings, in which: figure 1 is a diagram of the video surveillance device for dwellings and environments at risk according to the present invention; figure 2 is a more detailed diagram of a part of the video surveillance device in figure 1. With reference to figure 1 there is shown a video surveillance device 1 for dwellings according to the present invention. Said device 1 is provided with a camera 2, with a UMTS interface 3 suitable for exchanging information with a mobile telephone or with a remote PC 4 and a managing card 5 suitable for exchanging data with the interface 3, with the camera 2 and with a detecting or alarm system 6 that is normally outside the device 1 or also inside the device if it consists of a single presence sensor. The alarm system 6, if it is outside the device 1, may consist of an anti-intrusion system, of an alarm system for detecting gas or fumes or other things. Said managing card 5 comprises a microprocessor 51 having four digital inputs IN1-IN4 for the alarm system 6 and two outputs Ol and O2, as more visible in figure 2. Of the two outputs Ol and O2 at least one is connectable to the alarm system 6 to control it, i.e. to switch it off or, if the alarm system 6 comprises sirens, to switch off the sirens. Each input INl- IN4 comprises an optoisolator diode D connected to the VDD voltage supply and connected by means of a resistance to the collector of a bipolar

transistor T having the emitter terminal connected to ground GND; the base terminal of the bipolar transistor T is the input terminal for the alarm system 6.

The outputs Ol and O2 are of the relay type and can be driven by the microprocessor 51. Each output comprises a LED diode L and a transistor

TO having the collector terminal coupled with the supply voltage, the emitter terminal connected to ground GND and the base terminal connected to the relay.

The microprocessor 51 comprises an output ESfT for controlling the interface UMTS 3 and the camera 2; said output ESfT is of serial type.

The microprocessor 51 also comprises a memory where the users are stored who are authorised to receive the images coming from the camera and to send text messages or SMS to programme the card 5; the memory contains the operating programme of the device 1. The managing card 5 may also comprise a radio receiver suitable for receiving radio signals from the alarm system 6 and suitable for receiving commands from a hanging remote control 7.

The device 1 according to the invention can act as a remote camera to be interrogated using a UMTS mobile telephone by means of a call to the device 1. The managing card programme checks whether the number of the calling user is one of those stored in the memory and sets up the dispatch in real time of the images of the camera 2 to said user. One of the outputs Ol and O2 can be used to activate the recording of a film to be sent.

The device 1 according to the invention may act as a remote camera combined with the alarm system 6. If one of the digital inputs IN1-IN4 of the managing card 5 or if the radio receiver are activated by the alarm system 6, for example through the detection of a movement, opening of a door or of a window, the detection of smoke or gas or water infiltrations, i.e. when one of the inputs of the managing card 5 is activated by an external source, the device 1 responds by sending data to one of the telephone

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numbers present in the memory inside the managing card 5. Said data may consist of a written text or SMS, of a text with images or MMS, or of a short film or merely of some images.

The managing card 5 may also comprise a two-directional audio circuit 52 connected to the UMTS card 3 and activatable by means of the hanging remote control 7; this can enable old people or disabled people or simply ill people to get into audio contact with a remote assistance centre and to be able to send the images coming from the camera 2 by activating the radio receiver R by means of the hanging remote control 7. The device 1 is programmable by means of the dispatch of SMS comprising a password. It is possible to programme the telephone numbers to be stored in the memory of the managing card 5 by means of a message containing the password and the telephone number to be stored in the memory. It is possible to programme the managing card 5 so that at the activation of one of the inputs INl -IN4 or of the radio receiver the card 5 sends to the enabled numbers or to only one of the enabled numbers a text message or SMS, an MMS with a film of a few seconds, for example twelve seconds, recorded upon activation of an input, images in real time coming from the camera 2 or of a combination of the aforesaid functions, i.e. sends an SMS, an MMS and the images in real time.