Abstract:
A system that monitors the surrounding of a vehicle by taking pictures at a predetermined interval is provided. The system monitors the entire surroundings of the vehicle or specific areas around the vehicle. The system takes pictures and stores them in a hard disk drive for retrieval.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.§119 to the U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/373,820 entitled “SupraScopio” filed on Aug. 14, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to a surveillance system and, in particular, a surveillance network that utilizes high resolution digital photography for recording incidents and assisting in obtaining records of events upon request by a user of the system. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Background 
         [0005]    Video surveillance methods are commonly used to deter crime and to assess situations before, during, and after a particular event. Video cameras are utilized in police cars and other automobiles in order to protect police officers and civilians. Video images collected from these types of surveillance systems are not always clear and are difficult to utilize in real time. Although still photographs taken from vehicles are known in the prior art (U.S. Pat. No. 2,148,119), there is no system known to capture high resolution digital images of the environment around a vehicle continuously. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a system that monitors the surrounding of a vehicle at a predetermined interval. The system monitors the entire surroundings of the vehicle or specific areas around the vehicle. The system takes pictures and stores them in a hard disk drive for retrieval. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of the remote photographic monitoring system. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of various components of the photographic monitoring system. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the system. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is flowchart of the method used by the system to take and store pictures. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    The invention summarized above may be better understood by referring to the following description. This description of an embodiment, set out below to enable one to practice an implementation of the invention, is not intended to limit the preferred embodiment, but to serve as a particular example thereof. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the conception and specific embodiments disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other methods and systems for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent assemblies do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. 
         [0012]    A photographic monitoring remote system is disclosed as shown in  FIG. 1 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the system is installed on a vehicle  101 . At least two cameras  110  are placed on the vehicle  101 . The cameras  110  are configured to capture high resolution digital pictures. The cameras  110  are further configure to take pictures of the entire area around the vehicle. In another embodiment, four cameras  110  as shown on  FIG. 1  are utilized to cover each side of the vehicle. The cameras  110  are placed, preferably, on the roof  103  of the vehicle  101 . A person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the cameras  110  may be placed in any position on the vehicle  101  that allows a three-hundred and sixty degree coverage of the area around the vehicle  101 . The cameras  110  utilized in one embodiment are very small so that they do not interfere with the vehicle  101  design. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention the cameras have lenses of less than 5 mm in diameter. In some embodiments, the cameras  110  are concealed. In one particular embodiment, the cameras and their corresponding lenses are no bigger than a regular windshield wiper sprayer therefore not conspicuous. 
         [0013]      FIG. 2 , shows the basic components of the system  100 . The system  100  is preferably mounted on a vehicle  101 . The digital cameras  110  are connected to a digital video converter  220 , which converts analog images to digital images. In one preferred embodiment that cameras  110  provide digital images directly to a processor  225 . A sensor  227  provides other inputs to the processor  225 , such as audio, pollution, vibrations, speed, acceleration, deceleration, vehicle sensor systems, and other sensors capable of providing information to the system. A microphone  228  provides sound inputs to the processor. A global positioning system (GPS)  232  device provides location information to the processor  225 . A wireless connection  235  device such as a general packet radio service (GPRS) device connects the processor  225  via a wireless connection with the internet or other systems. The processor  225  is connected to a RAM device  240  that allows quick access to information. Finally, the processor  225  is connected to a hard disk drive (HDD)  245  with capacity to store large amounts of information, including pictures and picture related data. It is contemplated that the system  220  may not include all the components listed above. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments of the present invention, portions of the system  100  such as the processor  225 , HDD  245 , RAM  240 , Video converter  220 . GPS device  232 , and wireless connection device  235  may be placed in a protective case capable of withstanding impacts, crashes, fires, bullet impacts, and other damaging activities. 
         [0015]    An alternative embodiment is shown in  FIG. 3 . In addition to the components described above, the system  100  includes a power supply  300  that is in turn powered by the vehicle&#39;s electrical system. The power supply connects to a battery backup  310  that provides auxiliary power in the event that the vehicle&#39;s electrical system  100  fails. The power supply  300  and battery backup  310  power the system  100 . In an alternative embodiment of the system  100 , the GPS device  232  and wireless connection device  235  each have an antenna  321  and  323  respectively for communication with the GPS servers and the internet. A further alternative embodiment includes a video output port  325  that allows physical retrieval of pictures taken by the system  100 . In addition, access to the system  100  is provided through one or more USB ports  330  or other type of input/output device that allows physical or wireless communication with the system  100 . In a further alternative embodiment, the system is connected to a cooling device  340 , such as a peltier cooler to protect the processor  225  and other components of the system  100 . 
         [0016]    The system further comprises a signaling device  350  to be used by the driver or user of the system to automatically send pictures to a specific recipient through wireless connection device  235 . In further embodiments of the system  100 , a temperature sensor  358 , an audio sensor  365 , and a nose sensor  375  may be connected to the processor  225 . A hard disk drive is inside a bullet proof box among the GPS, the GSM cellular modem, the microprocessor, the USB interface port, the software which controls the system and other elements that let it perform it purpose and/or improve its functionality. 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the system  100  performs a method for taking and storing photographs. In the first step of the method  400 , the cameras are programmed by the user to take photographs at a specific interval, by way of non-limiting example, the cameras may be programmed to take ten (10) photographs per second; the user may also program the cameras to take 1 photograph per minute or at any preferred interval. In a second step  410  the pictures are converted from analog to digital formation, if necessary. Alternatively, the cameras take digital images that do not need to be converted from analog. At the next step  420 , the images are stored in RAM  240 . At the next step  430 , if the car is stopped, the images are saved to the HDD  245  along with the information from the GPS device  232 , including location, date and time of the picture step  435 . If the car is moving, the system  100  continues to take pictures and place them in RAM  240 . Once the HDD  245  is full, the system  100  overwrites the oldest picture with a new picture at step  450 . 
         [0018]    The method described above, is managed by a software program on the processor. The system  100  is further programmed to allow access to the HDD  245  in order to obtain images based on a specific location, date, or time. Access is provided through the USB port  330  or the wireless connection device  235 . The system  100  allows a user to send a information by pressing the panic button  350 . The system  100  is programmed to send the picture to a specific location using the wireless connection device  235  when the panic button is pushed. For example, the picture may be sent to the police, it may also be sent to a central location in communication with the wireless connection device  235 . 
         [0019]    In one alternative embodiment, the system is programmed to performs different face recognitions algorithms on the photographs, comparing them to a database previously downloaded from the authorities in order to conduct search warrants, find missing persons or detect house arrests violations. If the controlling software finds a match using the face recognitions algorithm on a photograph, it sends a message to the appropriate authorities utilizing the wireless connection device  235 . 
         [0020]    The invention has been described with references to a preferred embodiment. While specific values, relationships, materials and steps have been set forth for purposes of describing concepts of the invention, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the basic concepts and operating principles of the invention as broadly described. It should be recognized that, in the light of the above teachings, those skilled in the art can modify those specifics without departing from the invention taught herein. Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with such underlying concept. It is intended to include all such modifications, alternatives and other embodiments insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or equivalents thereof. It should be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth herein. Consequently, the present embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.