Patent Publication Number: US-2009237246-A1

Title: Driveway alert system with car id

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a security/notification system and method for notifying of a detected trespassing or visiting entity in a specified area, and more specifically, a security/notification system and method for identifying a detected trespassing or visiting entity in a specified area. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally, many properties belonging to homes, estates, businesses or college campuses have extensive grounds, lengthy driveways, and/or multiple entrances and exits to the property. For example, a residential home may have a long driveway leading up to the house. Notification or annunciator systems for alerting residents that a vehicle is entering their driveways are known. 
     One problem with current notification systems is that although the user is alerted to a vehicle entering the driveway, the identity of the vehicle is unknown to the user. For example, the user does not know if the vehicle is someone in the family or a known user, or a stranger. Further the user does not know if the vehicle is entering the driveway or exiting the driveway. 
     It would therefore be desirable to provide a system which alerts residents or appropriate personnel that a vehicle or other entity is entering their driveway and identifies the vehicle. Additionally, it would be desirable for the system to have the capability to determine and communicate whether the vehicle is either entering or existing the driveway. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In an aspect of the invention, an alert system includes at least one sensor device having a detection zone for detecting entry of an entity in the detection zone. An electronic identification device coupled to an entity, and the electronic identification device including a transceiver for transmitting a particular identification signal in response to a request signal. A transceiver in the sensor device being initiated by the sensor device to send the request signal to the entity requesting the particular identification signal. The transceiver determining the entity has an electronic identification device when the transceiver receives the particular identification signal from the electronic identification device. The transceiver sending the particular identification signal identifying the entity or sending an alert signal when no particular identification signal is received by the transceiver. A control device for receiving the particular identification signal identifying the entity or the alert signal from the transceiver in the sensor device. The control device providing a first notification signal using the particular identification of the entity or a second notification signal indicating no particular identification signal for identifying the entity was received. In another embodiment of the invention, the control device categorizes the entity using the particular identification. The categories include known and unknown entities. The first and second notification signals may include a visual display and/or auditory communication to a user. The sensor device may include a PIR (passive infrared device) for detecting entry of the entity into the detection zone. The transceiver of the electronic identification device may be a radio transceiver. The entity may be a vehicle. In another embodiment, the control device determines and communicates the direction of motion of the entity. The system may further include, multiple sensor devices positioned in spaced relation to each other along a route of motion of the entity, and the control device determines the direction of motion of the entity using the particular identification signal or the alert signal, and communicates the direction of the entity. Further, determining the direction of motion of the entity may include analyzing which of two sensor devices detects the entity first. The system may further include a camera for photographing the entity and transmitting the photograph to the control device for display. 
     In anther aspect of the invention, a method for providing an alert upon entering a detection zone includes: detecting entry of an entity into a detection zone using a sensor device; sending a request signal to the entity using a transceiver in the sensor device; transmitting a particular identification signal from an electronic identification device coupled in the entity in response to the request signal; determining the entity has the electronic identification device when a particular identification signal is received by the transceiver in the sensor device; sending the particular identification signal identifying the entity to a control device; sending an alert signal to the control device when no particular identification signal is received by the transceiver; and receiving the particular identification signal identifying the entity or the alert signal from the transceiver in the sensor device at the control device; notifying a user of the particular identification of the entity using the control device; and notifying the user when no particular identification signal for identifying the entity was received using the control device. The method may further include: determining the direction of motion of the entity; and notifying the user of the direction of the entity using the control device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram depicting a notification system including a passive infrared (PIR) sensor and a control panel connected to a display and a chime; and 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of house having a driveway and sensor devices for detecting a vehicle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An illustrative embodiment of a security and notification system and method for the same  10 , as shown in the  FIGS. 1 and 2 , includes a sensor device  14 . In one embodiment of the invention, the sensor device  14  includes a passive infrared (PIR) sensor  22  connected to electronic circuitry  18  capable of reading and analyzing a signal from the PIR sensor  22  for detection of a heat emitting or radiation emitting entity entering a detection zone  74  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) of the PIR sensor  22 . In the present embodiment of the invention, the sensor device  14  is adapted to detect a visiting or trespassing entity embodied as a vehicle  42 . The entity may include a bicycle, or various motor scooters or motorcycles, or a boat entering a canal or dock area. The PIR sensor  22  can detect at least three heat sources in a vehicle, the engine, the exhaust, and the occupants of the vehicle, and headlights if they are on. In another example, as is readily apparent, the radiated heat from a person on a bicycle can be detected by the PIR sensor  22 . 
     The sensor device  14  further includes a transceiver  20  connected to the electronic circuitry  18  for providing an alert of a detected entity. The transceiver receives the detection signal from the PIR sensor  22  and transmits an alert signal to a control device embodied as a control panel  30 , typically located inside a residence or building. The alert signal includes a notification component and an identification component. The alert signal communicates the entry of any entity into the specified area, whether known or unknown. The alert signal also provides security for the specified area by, for example, communicating to a security system the entrance of a trespasser or an intruder, or communicating the entry of an entity into a secure area. 
     The sensor device  14  is connected to the control panel  30  using either a wireless connection  26   a  or a wired connection  26   b . The control panel  30  is electrically connected to a display  34 , and an auditory alert device such as a chine  38  via a lead  36 . The display  34  is for showing a picture or video of the vehicle  42  when entering a specified area which will notify and identify the vehicle to a user who can take appropriate action for securing the area. The specified area is a predefined area of notification and identification which may include a secure area, and in the present embodiment of the invention includes a driveway area  54 , shown in  FIG. 2 . Similar to the display  34 , the chime  38  communicates the vehicle  42  has entered the secure area  54 . In an alternative embodiment, the display  34  and chime  38  may be integral with the control panel  30 . Another alternative includes the control panel  30  connected to other devices for remotely displaying or signaling the detection of the vehicle  42  on, for example, a cellular telephone or wireless device. 
     In another embodiment, an electronic identification device embodied as a vehicle identification (ID) tag  44  is coupled to the vehicle  42 . The vehicle ID tag  44  transmits a signal  48  which contains a particular identification embodied as a vehicle identification (or vehicle ID) to the sensor device  14  using a transceiver  46  in the vehicle ID tag  44  when the vehicle  42  enters the driveway area  54 . The vehicle ID tag  44  may be removably attached to the vehicle  42 , for example, to the windshield, or to the back of the rear view mirror, or as a clip-on to a visor. In an alternative embodiment, the vehicle ID tag  44  may be part of an existing vehicle security system, for instance, LOJACK®. 
     More specifically, the vehicle ID tag  44  includes the radio transceiver  46  for receiving a transmitted message from the sensor device  14 , and for transmitting a reply to the sensor device  14  including the vehicle ID which identifies the vehicle  42 . For example, a three digit code included in the radio frequency (RF) message would allow up to eight family members or friends to be identified. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the control panel  30  categorizes the vehicle  42  using the vehicle ID from the vehicle ID tag  44 . More particularly, the vehicle ID tag  44  transmits  48  a unique vehicle ID for each vehicle ID tag  44  for reception by the sensor  14  which, in turn, transmits the vehicle ID to the control panel  30 . The control panel  30  analyzes any received vehicle ID, and is capable of identifying the vehicle ID using a computer program stored in a computer  31  in the control panel  30 . The computer program is programmed to associate the vehicle ID with a particular vehicle  42  and the driver of the vehicle  42 , after the vehicle ID and the associated vehicle  42  and driver have been identified and entered into the computer  31 . Thus, for example, the control panel  30  can categorize a plurality of vehicles as known or unknown vehicles and the display and chime can indicate to the user whether the vehicle is known or unknown to the system  10 . 
     In one embodiment, referring to  FIG. 2 , two sensor devices  14 , which may be mounted, for example, on posts, are positioned at predetermined locations and in spaced relation to each other along a driveway  64  to a house  82 . The first sensor  14  is at the entrance to the driveway  62  and the second sensor  14  is further along the driveway towards the house  82 . Each of the sensors  14  include the PIR sensor  22  and the transceiver  20 . The driveway  64  is off the main/public road  60 , and thus, the secure area or property area  54  starts approximately at the entrance to the driveway  62 . The PIR sensor  22  of the sensor device  14  projects a detection zone  74 ,  78 , respectively, from the sensor devices  14 . The detection zones  74 ,  78  traverse the driveway  64  in parallel detections zones. Thus, a vehicle  42  will enter or trespass in one of the detection zones  74 ,  78  first, depending if the vehicle  42  is entering or exiting the driveway  64 , and thus the control panel  30  can determine the direction of the vehicle  42 . The control panel  30  can then communicate whether the vehicle  42  is entering or exiting the driveway  64  using the display  34 , along with any other information programmed into the computer  31 . If the vehicle is not recognized in the system, the control panel  30  can communicate that the vehicle is an unknown vehicle, and if it is entering or exiting the driveway  64 . 
     In the embodiment of the present invention, referring to  FIG. 1 , a plurality of vehicle ID tags  44  are coupled to a multiplicity of automobiles  42 , and each of the plurality of vehicle ID tags  44  includes a different identification, i.e., vehicle ID particular to the vehicle  42 , and thereby, identifies the vehicle or typical driver of the vehicle  42 . The vehicle ID which is communicated by the PIR sensor  14  to the control panel  30  via wireless or wired connections  26   a ,  26   b , respectively, is analyzed by the computer  31  of the control panel  30 . If the vehicle ID is known to the control panel  30 , the vehicle  42  can be identified in a variety of ways, such as, a distinct chime  38  or displaying the driver&#39;s name or respective name of the vehicle  42 , and/or displaying the vehicle  42  itself, or displaying the group the vehicle ID belongs to, such as “Family”. If the vehicle ID is unknown, the vehicle  42  can be identified as a unknown vehicle in a variety of ways, such as, a distinct chime for unknown vehicles, or a text display of stating “unknown vehicle” or the like, and/or displaying the unknown vehicle  42  itself. Displaying the vehicle  42  is achieved in the present embodiment of the invention using a camera  24  in the PIR sensor  14  for transmitting a video or picture of the vehicle  42  to the control panel for displaying on the display  34 . 
     Thus, in the embodiment of the present invention, a homeowner of a large home or estate having a long driveway to the home can be alerted or notified that someone is entering or exiting their driveway. Therefore, the system  10  is a desirable addition to a home security system. 
     In one embodiment using the security system and method  10  of the present invention, the system  10  is programmed via a control panel keypad by a homeowner to indicate a vehicle  42  enters the driveway with a vehicle ID tag  44  having a unique vehicle ID. The panel or keypad in the house chimes a first tone indicating a known vehicle ID and displays “Family Member” and/or the name of the family member, e.g., Mom, Dad, Jane, etc., which could also be programmed into the computer  31  and displayed. When a vehicle enters the driveway without a vehicle ID, the panel or keypad chimes a second tone indicating an unknown vehicle and display “Unknown vehicle”. The system  10  uses the two staggered sensor device  14  ( FIG. 2 ) with sensor devices  14  to detect whether the vehicle  42  is entering or exiting the driveway. The system could be programmed to only indicate vehicles entering the driveway, exiting, entering and exiting, or both. In another embodiment, the control panel can be programmed to not chime at vehicles having a vehicle ID, but to only chime at unknown vehicles, i.e., vehicles not having a vehicle ID and thus lacking a vehicle ID tag  44 . The system can also keep a record of activity similar to a telephone log of all detected vehicle activity. This would indicate to the homeowner if a vehicle entered their property while they were absent from the premises or otherwise preoccupied. Also, the system can be used such that a guardian or responsible party can access the recorded time a charge arrived home. A bypass mode for the security system  10 , selected at the control panel, would allow temporary shut off of the security system  10  in the event, for example, many guests are arriving for a party and chiming or the like indicating vehicle arrival is undesirable. 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in forms and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. It is therefore intended that the present invention not be limited to the exact forms and details described and illustrated herein, but falls within the scope of the appended claims.