Abstract:
A virtual guard gate for a gated community has at least one camera positioned proximate an entrance gate of the gated community. A monitoring station monitor is provided for displaying images captured by the at least one camera located in an off site monitoring station. Receivers are located in a plurality of homes of the gated community for receiving the images captured by the at least one camera. An access device is located in the monitoring station and in each house within the gated community. The access device is used for opening the entrance gate when the images have been verified by one of an individual in the monitoring station or in one of the homes.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to security systems, and more specifically, to a system for automating the security of a gated community through the use of a sophisticated array of cameras and photoelectric beams combined with an automated entrance gate, all of which are monitored by a third party monitoring company located off site. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A more secure neighborhood has proven to be a commodity which many people desire. Because of this, many people like to live in gated communities. However, many gated communities have unsupervised entrances. This allows many unauthorized vehicles to enter the gated community. 
     To help ensure security, it is typically necessary to employ several security agents and place them at one or more guard stations on the property. This is an ongoing and continuing expense, greatly adding to the cost of running and maintaining the security system. 
     Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide a virtual guard gate for a gated community and method therefor. The device and method should provide an automated system for allowing access for authorized users and vehicles while denying access to unrecognized or unauthorized users and vehicles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one embodiment, a virtual guard gate for a gated community is disclosed. The virtual guard gate for a gated community has at least one camera positioned proximate an entrance gate of the gated community. A monitoring station monitor is provided for displaying images captured by the at least one camera located in an off site monitoring station. Receivers are located in a plurality of homes of the gated community for receiving the images captured by the at least one camera. An access device is located in the monitoring station and in each house within the gated community. The access device is used for opening the entrance gate when the images have been verified by one of an individual in the monitoring station or in one of the homes. 
     The features, functions, and advantages can be achieved independently in various embodiments of the disclosure or may be combined in yet other embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an elevated perspective view of a vehicle proximate the entrance gate; 
         FIG. 2  is an elevated perspective view of the entrance gate following erection of the stopping device; 
         FIG. 3  is an elevated perspective view of the entrance gate demonstrating the line of sight of the various cameras and also demonstrating the photoelectric entrance beam used in conjunction with the stopping device; 
         FIG. 4  is an elevated perspective view of the entrance gate demonstrating the line of sight of various cameras; 
         FIG. 5  is an elevated perspective view of the gated community with the entrance gate of the gated community in the foreground, and with a blow-up view of the monitoring cameras positioned on the fence of the gated community; and 
         FIG. 6  demonstrates communication of the cameras with a server, communication of the server with a home within the community, communication of the server with the monitoring station, and communication of the server with the list of authorized vehicles and individuals and the list of individuals and vehicles within the gated community. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , a virtual guard gate for a gated community  10  is shown. The virtual guard gate for a gated community  10  is used in combination with a fence  12  which is coupled to an entrance gate  18 . In the preferred embodiment, the entrance gate  18  also acts as an exit gate, although it should be clear that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which a separate exit gate exists. The virtual guard gate for a gated community  10  may be employed in an existing gated community having unmanned entrance gates  18  or it may be used to replace the security agents currently being used at manned entrance gate of existing gated communities. Alternatively, the virtual guard gate for a gated community  10  may be instead in new gated communities being constructed. 
     The virtual guard gate for a gated community  10  has at least one camera  22  capable of recording the license plate of a vehicle or the facial features of an individual seeking entrance into the community located in close proximity to the entrance gate  18 . In general, multiple cameras  22  are used so that both the license plate and facial features of the individuals seeking access are captured. Cameras  22  may also be positioned near the entrance gate  18  to monitor the entrance gate  18  to capture images of individuals who may be vandalizing the entrance gate  18 , unauthorized individuals trying to climb over or get through the entrance gate  18  when closed, and the like. Similarly, additional cameras  22  may be used to record the license plate of a vehicle and the facial features of an individual exiting the gated community  46 . 
     The cameras  22  are coupled to a server  37  (shown in  FIG. 6 ). The cameras  22  transmit the captured images to the server  37 . The server  37  analyzes the captured images and is capable of recognizing faces of individuals in the vehicle and characters on a license plate of the vehicle to determine whether the vehicle or individual has previously been entered into the server  37  and are authorized for entry into the gated community  46 . 
     Referring to the  FIG. 6 , the images captured by the cameras  22  are then sent to the server  37  and compared to a database  39  of authorized individuals and vehicles. If the individual or vehicle is found to be authorized by the database  39 , then the entry gate  18  is opened. Furthermore, the data representing the authorized individual or vehicle is stored in the server  37  on a database  43  of individuals and vehicles within the gated community  46 . Similarly, the camera  22  which captures the images of the facial features of individuals and license plates of vehicles exiting the gated community  46  sends the information to the server  37 , which then removes those individuals and vehicles from the list  43  of individuals and vehicles within the gated community  46 . Thus, the server  37  will store information related to the individuals and the vehicles within the gated community  46 . 
     The virtual guard gate for a gated community  10  may have a tag reader  23  located near the entrance gate  18 . In accordance with one embodiment, the tag reader  23  is an RFID tag reader. The tag reader  23  will monitor for an identification tag which may be placed on the vehicle of people living in the gated community  46 . The identification tag will only be given to authorized individuals gated community  46 . If the tag reader  23  senses an identification tag when a vehicle approaches the entrance gate  18 , the entrance gate  18  automatically open. 
     In close proximity to the entrance gate  18  is a photoelectric entrance beam  34 . The photoelectric entrance beam  34  is used for determining when the rearmost portion of an authorized vehicle has passed beyond a stopping device  50  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). Once the photoelectric entrance beam  34  determines that the rearmost portion of an authorized vehicle has passed beyond a stopping device  50 , a signal is sent to the stopping device  50  which raises the stopping device  50  to ensure that no vehicle enters behind the authorized vehicle without having undergone the authorization process. In the preferred embodiment, the stopping device  50  is a vertical stop barrier, but it should be clear that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the stopping device  50  is a severe tire damage device. The stopping device  50  remains up until the entrance gate  18  closes, at which point the stopping device  50  lowers. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , positioned about the fence  12  is a plurality of monitoring cameras  14  and at least one photoelectric beam  16 . The photoelectric beam  16  is directed around the perimeter of the fence  12 . The monitoring cameras  14  and at least one photoelectric beam  16  are used to prevent unauthorized individuals from climbing over the fence  12  around the gated community  46 . In the preferred embodiment, the monitoring cameras  14  are directed upwardly as to not contain any of the structures contained within the gated community  46  so as to eliminate privacy concerns. However, it should be clear that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the monitoring cameras  14  are differently positioned. In general, a plurality of photoelectric beams  16  is used wherein the photoelectric beams  16  run in a horizontal plane on top of one another. The photoelectric beams  16  run parallel to, and on top of, the fence  12 , and have a sufficient distance between them to allow the passage of a small animal, such as a cat or a bird, over the fence  12  of the gated community  46  while breaking only one of the photoelectric beams  16 . This prevents false triggering of the virtual guard gate for a gated community  10 . If multiple photoelectric beams  16  are broken, the virtual guard gate for a gated community  10  activates at least one monitoring camera  14  to capture images of the area where the photoelectric beams  16  were broken while putting the virtual guard gate for a gated community  10  in an alarm mode. In the preferred embodiment, any facial images captured by the monitoring cameras  14  are transmitted to the server  37  for analysis so that the server  37  may possibly identify the unauthorized individual. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the photoelectric beams  16  originate from a single generating source  62  and are directed around the fence  12  and entrance gate  18  of the gated community  46  using a plurality of partially transparent yet partially reflective mirrors  58  and reflective mirrors  60 . 
     The following describes a three sided perimeter having three sections, although it should be clear that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which additional or fewer sides and/or sections exist. In the same area of the generating source  62  is a detecting source  64  capable of detecting varying beam intensity. The generating source  62  projects the photoelectric beams  16  toward a first partially transparent yet partially reflective mirror  58   a . In the preferred embodiment, the partially transparent yet partially reflective mirrors  58  ideally have a 1 to 1 transmissitivity to reflectivity ratio on their leading edge, and a maximum transmissitivity and minimum reflectivity on their trailing edge, although it should be clear that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the partially transparent yet partially reflective mirrors  58  have different properties. The partially transparent yet partially reflective mirrors  58  are each coupled to a reflective mirror  60  for redirection of the photoelectric beams  16 , the reflective mirrors  60  ideally having a maximum reflectivity. The first reflective mirror  60   a  redirects the transmitted portion  16   a  of the photoelectric beams  16  passing through the first partially transparent yet partially reflective mirror  58   a  toward the second partially transparent yet partially reflective mirror  58   b . Accordingly, a reflected portion  16   b  of the photoelectric beams  16  is returned from the first partially transparent yet partially reflective mirror  58   a  to the detecting source  64 . The transmitted portion  16   a  travels toward the second partially transparent yet partially reflective mirror  58   b . Similarly, the transmitted portion  16   a  has an additional transmitted portion  16   c  as well as a reflected portion  16   d  that is returned back to the detecting source  64  via the first reflective mirror  60   a  and through the first partially transparent yet partially reflective mirror  58   a . Accordingly, the intensity perceived by the detecting source  64  is a combination of the reflected portion  16   d  and the reflected portion  16   b . The additional transmitted portion  16   c  is then redirected by a second reflective mirror  60   b  toward a terminal reflective mirror  60   c . The additional transmitted portion then travels back toward the detecting source  64  via the second reflective mirror  60   b , through the second partially transparent yet partially reflective mirror  58   b , being redirected by the first reflective mirror  60   a , and passing through the first partially transparent yet partially reflective mirror  58   a , resulting in the intensity perceived by the detecting source  64  being the combination of the additional transmitted portion  16   c  with the combined intensity of  16   b  and  16   d.    
     This causes the intensity perceived by the detecting source  64  to be of a different level for each scenario involving a different section in which the photoelectric beams  16  are interrupted. If the photoelectric beams  16  are interrupted between the generating source  62  and the first partially transparent yet partially reflective mirror  58   a , no beam intensity is detected. If the photoelectric beams  16  are interrupted between the first partially transparent yet partially reflective mirror  58   a  and the second partially transparent yet partially reflective mirror  58   b , only  16   b  is detected. If the plurality of photoelectric beams  16  are interrupted between the second partially transparent yet partially reflective mirror  58   b  and terminal reflective mirror  60   c ,  16   b  plus  16   d  is detected. And if the plurality of photoelectric beams  16  is uninterrupted, then  16   b  plus  16   d  plus  16   c  is detected. This allows the virtual guard gate for a gated community  10  to use a common area for generating and detecting the plurality of photoelectric beams  16  while still being able to determine which section of the fence  12  has been breached. It should be noted that different embodiments may create additional sections through the use of additional partially transparent yet partially reflective mirrors  58  and reflective mirrors  60 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , in proximity to the entrance gate  18  is a directory device  38  which contains a list  45  of each family name of each home  56  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) within the gated community  46 , and enables an individual seeking authorization to communicate with an individual on the list  45  or the monitoring station  55  (shown in  FIG. 6 ). Once an individual is selected from the list  45 , the individual is alerted via a receiver  54  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) within their home  56  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) that an unauthorized individual is requesting access. The individual is also able to view images of the entrance gate  18 , and therefore the individual requesting authorization, via the receiver  54 . The individual from whom access authorization is requested may then open the entrance gate  18  using an access device. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a flow diagram relating to the information and data exchanged between the different entities and objects that make up the invention is shown. The various cameras  14  and  22  are represented by the image of a single camera, which is in constant communication with the server  37 . The server  37  is in constant communication with, and is capable of manipulating, the list  39  of authorized individuals and license plates, the list  43  of individuals and vehicles within the gated community  46 , and the list  45  of each family name of each home within the gated community  46 . 
     While embodiments of the disclosure have been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments of the disclosure can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims, and will also recognize that different features of different embodiments may be combined and incorporated into other embodiments.