Abstract:
An apparatus and method for obtaining real-time video data and broadcasting it to a remote PC or other mobile computing device upon request by a user. The transmitting unit uses the cellular transmission network to transmit video data at high speeds and is a self-contained, autonomous unit of relatively small size. The unit can also be easily camouflaged to avoid detection when utilized as a surveillance device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the transmission of data over a global communications network, such as the Internet. In greater particularity, the present invention relates to the acquisition of video data from a self-contained, autonomous module and the transmission of that video data to a remote user. In even greater particularity, the present invention relates to the transmission of that video data to a remote user over a cellular network and over the Internet. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Most typical video surveillance systems involve the acquisition of video data and the streaming of that data over either a dedicated circuit switched telephone line, over a dedicated or time multiplexed RF link, or over the Internet in packet-switched format. However, these systems are typically powered by facility power systems and transmit data through stationary computer equipment housed in environmentally controlled areas. The video capture devices similarly are tied to terrestrial power systems and typically use coaxial cable to transmit the captured video data over Ethernet CAT5 cable. Further, even if the systems are not land-wire linked to their transmitters, they cannot be moved because the RF transmitters require a fixed directional point for reception to which to transmit. 
     Further, the ability to communicate with a user of the Internet has heretofore been relegated to personal computers and video equipment tied to computer servers or computer terminals designed for the task of video capture and transmission in a production studio. Hence, video recording has evolved miniaturized systems to record video data on mediums that may be removed from the recording apparatus and placed into reproduction machines such as in video tape machines like VCRs. The video tape device can after playback transmit the information to another destination, albeit with the introduction of a time delay, and in a manner that reduces the usefulness of the video data. 
     Moreover, today&#39;s surveillance needs require real-time recording of actual events to be useful. For example, automobile traffic patterns change very quickly on highways and the timing of traffic lights and notification to motorists of traffic delays must be acquired and broadcasted in real-time to be useful. Or, if police are monitoring potential crime areas, real-time detection of an occurring crime can save a life, but only if the information is timely. Insurance companies could also use real-time surveillance to protect themselves against fraudulent submission of claims by camouflaging video surveillance systems in unobtrusive objects positioned in the vicinity of persons of interest to acquire video of suspects in acts that conflict with their claims submissions. 
     Unfortunately, an apparatus for the remote real-time acquisition of video data in a size and shape practical for deployment does not exist. Moreover, such an apparatus needs to be accessible from anywhere on the planet and needs to be untethered from wires for transmission and wires for supplying power. Hence, what is needed is a compact, self-contained video surveillance apparatus that can be deployed into remote areas and yet is accessible over the Internet to supply real-time video to a remote PC user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In summary, the present apparatus is a compact, self-contained video recording and transmission unit that uses a cellular network to transmit video in real-time to a remote desktop of a PC. Communication with the apparatus occurs over the Internet or similar global communications network. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a generalized view of the communications path from the invention to a remote PC user; 
         FIG. 2  is a system block diagram of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a system block diagram of the video broadcaster; 
         FIG. 4  is a input connection diagram from the perspective of the back of the video broadcaster; 
         FIG. 5  is a picture of an acceptable broadband router showing the typical positioning of the cellular air-card that serves as a cellular modem; 
         FIG. 6  is a functional processing diagram showing the major functions and subsystems of the network router and cellular modem; and, 
         FIG. 7  is a data flow diagram showing the path through which the invention utilizes the cellular network to transfer video data to a PC. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings for a better understanding of the function and structure of the invention,  FIG. 1  shows generalized structure for the apparatus  10  within its service confines. Specifically, apparatus  10  is positioned in a camouflaged manner, typically under naturally appearing brush  22  or within obscured support structures, and captures video information pertaining to an area under surveillance  11 , such as office buildings, manufacturing yards, high crime or high security areas, hiking trails, college campus foot traffic areas, or other targeted areas desirable for surveillance. The apparatus  10  maintains constant communication through an available cellular network  18  which provides a backbone network superstructure to access and promote data through the Internet  17 . The requesting personal computer (“PC”)  13  having the appropriate software running thereon  16 , provides data requests via the Internet  17 , cellular network  18 , and wireless cellular pathway  21  to the apparatus  10  to retrieve the captured video data at will, and in real-time. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the apparatus  10  includes various components to achieve the real-time supply of video data to a remote PC user. Video data capture apparatus  26  obtains optical video data via lens  27 , buffers the data as needed, and supplies the raw video data to video data broadcaster (“VDB”)  33 . A network router switch  34  assigns an IP address to the VDB  33  while recording its MAC address within its internal table. A cellular data modem  36  provides a data gateway for network router switch  34  via antenna  37  to communicate with cellular network  18 . Power supply  38  provides power to the system  10  and control console  31  provides control inputs to the apparatus  10  for controlling same. Control console  31  may be a series of buttons on the exterior case of the apparatus  10 , or it may consist of an infrared remote control device that communicates with the apparatus  10  to provide control instructions via an infrared optical reception lens. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , it may be seen that the VDB  33  consists of various processing elements that are typically ranged within a single manufactured circuit wiring board. For example, Sling Media, Inc. provides a pre-manufactured item called a “Slingbox” in various versions that satisfy the technical specifications required for a suitable VDB  33 . The single printed circuit wiring board within a Slingbox, or other video broadcaster, may be removed and placed into the herein described system  10  to perform the duties required to properly capture, buffer, and transmit data to a PC via the Internet for decoding by video decoding and display by compatible software. 
     A suitable video data capture device  26  may be implemented by any currently available video data capture device, such as a Cannon handheld video recorder, so long as the data recorder will provide real-time output of video data via RGB, RCA connections, or via an alternate data connection such as a high-speed USB port. Further, many video data capture devices (“VDC”) provide interactive reception and actuation of data video features via data cables, such as USB or RS232 connections, which may be implemented from the VDB  33 . Assuming that the VDC  27  provides interactive command reception and actuation, the lens  27  may be articulated to vary the depth of field and focus of items within the field of view of the VDC  26 . Some cameras also provide tilt and pan capabilities. These additional field of view articulations would be available via the data communications path to the VDC  26  also to enhance the apparatus&#39; surveillance capability. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , various types of video input from the VDC  26  may be presented to the VDB  33  via the connections  45 . For example, the well-known composite video signal  46  may be connected to input interface  41  along with audio connection  47 , assuming that audio is also desired to be transmitted. Input interface  41  provides a communication path internally within the VDB  33  to pass video data to decoder  52 . Tuner  51  is also available for decoding of radio frequency signals via cable input  43 , however this item would likely be a superfluous element within the VDB system, unless VDC  26  was remotely positioned outside of apparatus  10  via an RF cable extension and encoded and transmitted signals over that coaxial cable to input  43 . The decoder  52  decodes the video input  41  and places a pre-defined portion of the video data into memory  53  in accordance with processing instructions executed by processor  56 . Controller interface  57  provides a control input for processor  56  which, in turn, controls other elements within the system  33 . However, most likely, network interface  61  would provide the data command structure and control to VDB  33  from network connections  62  and remote user at PC  13 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the physical connections that are available between the VDB, the network router/switch  34 , and the VDC  26  may be seen. VDC  26 , in its most simplified and practical form, provides cable output from its source circuitry to analog input jacks  71 ,  72 ,  73 ,  74 , to establish a hard-wired cable connection between VDC  26  and VDB  33 . As indicated earlier, cable feed  81  is not applicable to the current situation unless the VDC is remotely located and a radio frequency transmitter is affixed to the VDC to provide encoded radio frequency video feed via cable to VDB  33 . In which case the cable would connect to the cable jacks  81  and tuner  51  would provide the proper decoding to receive and store the video data. Control  82  would also be provided on VDB  33  via infrared connection or RS232 connections as needed. A reset button  78  is also provided in the event that the VDB becomes inoperative due to a software failure, and power cable input port  77  provides power to the VDB  33  from power supply  38 . Network connection  86  provides a command signal reception area to control VDB  33  and to transmit recorded video data out to the herein described broadband wireless gateway  87 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , it may be seen that a wireless router may serve as the network router/switch  34  for the herein described system  10  since it has a relatively compact size and configuration necessary for serving the network router/switch function  34  within the apparatus  10 . The particular item shown in  FIG. 5  is suitable for the purposes of the herein described apparatus  10  and includes the items of an antenna  92  and a wireless, cellular Air-card  94  that fits within a predefined socket port for router  91 . As may be recognized, the item shown in  FIG. 5  is offered by Linksys Corporation and consists of a wireless-G router that provides a mobile broadband connection through its mobile broadband data card  94 . Lanksys model WRT54G3G-ST provides all the features necessary to implement the herein described requirements for the network router  34 . However, several network electronics board manufactures exists that provide the required data rates and ports necessary to satisfy the herein described system requirements. 
     While the Linksys router provides for wireless 802.11G and 802.11B wireless routing capability, the wireless capability and antenna  92  are not necessary for a complete understanding and operation of the herein described invention because the most secure and reliable connection between the VDB  33  and the router  34  would be hard-wired Ethernet RJ-45 cable connection within the unit casing  10 . Nevertheless, the inventors of the herein described system would envision implementation of external communications via the wireless capability of the router  34  to allow for re-programming and extraction of various functions and elements within system  10  and for “bleed-off” of video data as needed to enhance or facilitate data capture within the vicinity of the unit  10  within the surveillance zone  11  as needed. The Linksys router as described in  FIG. 5  includes the ability to receive an RJ-45 data input and is manufactured in a single printed circuit wiring board configuration to allow for easy incorporation into the system body of the apparatus  10 . 
     Referring to now to  FIG. 6 , it may be seen that the network router  34  includes a network interface  102 , a wireless transceiver  103 , a processor  104 , and various firmware and memory  110  from which processor  104  executes instructions. Memory  110  (firmware) includes communications protocol  112 , an IP router algorithmic processing subroutine  114 , a traffic monitor subroutine  116 , a software module for transmission quality control  118 , and an access point identifier  120  (e.g., assignment and monitoring of MAC addresses). Processor  104  utilizes the subroutine&#39;s present and its memory  110  in order to receive data via network interface  102  and transmit that data in a secure and reliable format via wireless cellular data modem  106 . Processor  104  also controls command access to and from VDB  33  to receive and promote instructions to processor  56  within VDB  33  in order to execute instructions within the VDB  33 . Processor  104 , in conjunction with cellular modem  106 , controls all of the communications from the apparatus  10  to and from cellular data modem  36 , and further to a cellular network  18 . 
     Aircard  94  consists of a cellular data modem that provides cellular wireless transceiver function as described in  106 , but includes the cellular communication protocols necessary to transmit data packets to and from a wireless cellular network such that data lost is minimized and speed is maximized. In particular, the data card provides a broadband (e.g. greater than 52 KB bi-directional transmission rate) for the apparatus  10  in order to properly stream video data to a remote PC  13 . A suitable cellular data modem is the Aircard  595  by Sierra Wireless Corporation. The Aircard  595  offers broadband like speeds with an average download speed of 600 kbps-1.5 Mbps and an average upload speed of 350-500 kbps. These speeds are acceptable ranges in order to stream live video from the apparatus  10  covering the surveillance area  11 , and providing a high-speed data command download path in order to control the apparatus  10 . As may be understood, various types of cellular Aircard type modems are available from various manufactures. Presently, most Aircards are designed to operate with specific cellular providers, however, data openness is continuing to proliferate within the cellular marketplace and it is envisioned by the inventors that an Aircard that communicates with all cellular vendors will be available in the very near future. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , it may be seen that video data captured by the VDB  33  transmits video information held in its memory  53  via local area network  132  (e.g. an RJ-45 ethernet cable) to router  91  ( 34 ) that includes cellular data modem  36 . Mobile router  91  communicates with cellular network  137  via base station  138  over cellular airways  136  and into cellular infrastructer  139 . Router  91  is assigned an IP address from the cellular infrastructure  39  to the extent that ports within the router  91  are available or “open” as permitted by the cellular provider and their cellular network  137 . For video transmissions, it is preferable for port  5005  to be open on the Aircard so that IP addressing can be known and utilized to communicate to the apparatus  10  from a PC without the reliance of a third party server holding the IP address and associated MAC address of the VDB  33 . In the topology of a third party server retaining MAC identities, finder IDs are assigned to each device so that a user accessing the third party server may locate a particular broadcasting unit. The cellular provider then provides a gateway  141  from within its cellular infrastructure to additional routers  142  and DNS servers, and on to the Internet  17 . Remote PC  13  then is able to access the apparatus  10  by its known pre-assigned IP address assigned by cellular infrastructure  139 . Further, since router  34  has also be assigned an IP address to VDB  33  and contains a table within its memory assigning the MAC address for VDB  33  to the proper IP address held by network  34 , PC  13  is able to communicate directly with the VDB  33  and obtain real-time video held within its memory  53  and issue commands to control the VDB, or the VDC  26  directly. It is important to note that while the cellular infrastructure  139  assigns an IP address to the wireless router  91 , the IP address of the VDB  33  may be recorded and utilized from any PC  13  running suitable software  16  to access VDB  33  and control and receive video capture. In other words, location is irrelevant as long as an Internet connection is available. Further, third party software running on PC  13  may work in conjunction with VDB  33  to allow for direct connection with the VDB  33  without knowledge of the IP address of the VDB. Specifically, and as known in the art, third party servers utilize a “pinging” technology in order to access and record the MAC address of the VDB  33  on a third party server such that third party software running on a PC  13  may interrogate a third party server to uncover the MAC address associated with the VDB  33  and thereby render an IP address from the third party server lookup table. For example, Slingbox currently offers the third party application known as SlingPlayer Desktop that runs on a PC to locate and obtain video capture data from the VDB  33  because the MAC address of the VDB  33  is already resident with the third party server controlled by Slingmedia, Inc. and assigned a “Finker ID.” The SlingPlayer Desktop software interrogates the Slingmedia server and obtains the IP address associated with the MAC address for the VDB  33  and is then able to communicate directly with the VDB  33  from the PC  13 . Therefore, whether the IP is address is known (e.g. static IP) or must be retrieved via third party software, the apparatus  10  may be accessed via the Internet and over the cellular infrastructure  139  in order to retrieve in real-time video data held by the memory of the VDB  33 . While the inventors have shown access to the apparatus  10  via a remote personal computer  13 , the inventors envision and fully anticipate that other types of data viewing devices such as PDAs, mobile phones and laptop computers, and similar devices, will be able to access the apparatus  10  in the same manner as described above and retrieve video in real-time to each of them. For example Slingmedia offers a SlingPlayer mobile that currently runs on the Pocket PC  1 . 5  operating system, Windows Smartphones, Palm OS Systems, and the Mobile Symbian OS. This application runs on these mobile devices and PDAs and allows for remote viewing of video data on apparatus  10  in the same manner that video data would be available for viewing on a PC  13 . 
     While the above apparatus  10  has been shown to utilize various and available elements that include the capabilities necessary for implementation of the apparatus  10 , the inventors fully comprehend that a reduction of the above referenced elements into a single printed circuit wire board instead of a dual or three-sided printed circuit wiring board is envisioned. Nevertheless, the above referenced elements may be currently integrated within a relatively small plastic case to achieve the above described functionality. In addition, while the Slingplayer software is a useful utility and available for free download and usage on their VDB products, other third party applications are available that allow for accessing and retrieval of video data from a specified IP address using known protocols and using standardized broadcasting command controls. 
     While I have shown my invention in one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.