Patent Description:
These video security systems typically include surveillance, e.g., security, cameras that connect via a security network to a control system. Additional components include network video recorder (NVR) systems, also known as video management systems, and monitors for displaying images such as video from the security cameras.

The security cameras typically have a lenses and imager systems that are fixed, adjustable, or motorized. A fixed security camera will have the lens and imager system permanently fixed in a set position (i.e., lens and imager system cannot change position with respect to camera body). On the other hand, an adjustable security camera's lens and imager system is movable with respect to camera body (e.g., installer can move the lens and imager system to different positions) so that it can be pointed down a hall or at a door, for example. A motorized security camera, such as a pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) security camera, utilizes motor(s) to automatically move the lens and imager system to different positions usually under operator or automatic control.

Multi-sensor security cameras, also known as multi-imager cameras, have also been deployed to capture a wide field of view. A typical multi-sensor security camera comprises two to four sensor modules. Each sensor module has a lens and imager system. The sensor modules are positioned or repositioned to cover the panoramic field of view while minimizing or eliminating blind spots. Typically, multi-sensor security cameras are designed either with sensor modules that are fixed in place or with a mechanical positioning system that can tilt the sensor modules up and down or sideways according to the specific mechanical design of the security camera system.

More recently, security cameras have been proposed that implement a single, universal design for a security camera system with a variable number of sensor modules and fields of view. The security camera system includes a base unit, including a mounting dome, the surface of which includes several mounting sockets to which a variable number of sensor modules are attached mechanically or magnetically. The sensor modules can be powered wirelessly via magnetic induction. Similarly, the sensor modules might communicate with a base unit of the security camera system via low power wireless technology such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), near-field communication (NFC), LiFi, and visible light communication (VLC), among other examples. The availability of several mounting sockets on the mounting dome provides practically unlimited arrangements of sensor modules, eliminating the blind spots imposed by previous mechanical designs. The variable number of sensor modules also allows for a single, universal design, regardless of the desired field of view of the security camera system, significantly reducing the complexity and cost of design, manufacturing and installation, as well as the development cycle time.

<CIT> discloses a surveillance camera mounting apparatus including an elastically deformable body element including camera-receiving openings or slits for receiving and holding a surveillance camera therein.

<CIT> discloses a surveillance device with a support that is arranged to be secured to a structure such as a support pole. The support has a first image collection device with discrete digital camera devices disposed circumferentially about the support, with each digital camera device providing a <NUM> degree field of view. A second image collection device is disposed under the first image collection device and includes a camera with a <NUM> degree field of view and a pan function provided by a servo motor that drives the camera around the support.

<CIT> discloses a device for monitoring an interior or exterior space with a modular sensor system and application unit. It uses a wireless local area network antenna, an analog signal antenna, and a Global System for Mobile Communications antenna or Universal Mobile Telecommunications System antenna.

The flexibility offered by these multi-sensor security camera systems in creating customized panoramic fields of view by attaching different combinations of sensor modules to different mounting sockets of a mounting dome presents an additional challenge of determining the location and orientation of the sensor modules and associating the location and orientation of the different sensor modules with image data captured by those sensor modules in order to perform image stitching and other image analytics functions.

The present invention concerns the automatic detection of each sensor module's location on the mounting dome. and is directed to a security camera system as defined by claim <NUM> and to a method for configuring a multi-sensor security camera system according to claim <NUM>.

In one embodiment, a wireless beacon is located either on or at a designated distance away from the camera dome. Each sensor module includes a corresponding wireless receiver that can measure and calculate signal strength of the wireless signal received at the location where it is positioned. A mapping of the signal strength of the wireless signal to each specific location on the dome is determined, and this expected signal strength information is stored. When each sensor module is positioned on the dome, signal strength information for the wireless signals from the wireless beacon is generated by each sensor module and sent to the control electronics or software. By comparing the signal strength information to a table of expected signal strength information for each mounting socket, the control system can determine exactly where the sensor module was positioned on the dome.

On the other hand, another embodiment uses three or more wireless beacons, which are disposed at fixed locations around the dome. Each sensor module includes wireless receivers for receiving the signals from the wireless beacons. Based on the signal strength of each received signal, the sensor module triangulates its position on the dome. That position is then communicated to the control electronics or software. In an alternative embodiment, the received signal strengths can be communicated to the control electronics, which triangulates the positions of the sensor modules.

In an example which is not included in the scope of the invention, a temporary provisioning bubble (similar to the protective bubble used during normal operation of the camera) is secured over the base unit any attached sensor modules, and the protective bubble. The provisioning bubble includes electrically decipherable graphics that can be seen in the images generated by each sensor module. The graphics indicate the location of the imager assembly such that the system can analyze the image from each sensor module and automatically determine where it is located on the dome. As one example the graphics could be a bar code or a QR code, or any other code that a system can interpret visually. Accordingly, all sensor modules can be positioned on the dome and the regular protective bubble housing installed, if used. Then the provisioning bubble is placed over the protective bubble, and the system analyzes image data from each sensor module and determines its location. Once all sensor modules are mapped to locations on the dome, the provisioning bubble is removed.

In general, according to one aspect, the invention features a security camera system comprising a base unit including a plurality of mounting points; one or more wireless transmitters for transmitting wireless signals; sensor modules attached to the base unit at the mounting points and generating image data, the sensor modules comprising wireless receivers for detecting the wireless signals, and signal strength modules for generating signal strength information based on the wireless signals; and a positioning module for determining the positions of the sensor modules based on the signal strength information.

In embodiments, the positioning module determines the positions of the sensor modules by comparing the signal strength information to expected signal strength information stored for each of the mounting points, or by generating location information indicating locations of the sensor modules with respect to the wireless transmitters based on the signal strength information and comparing the location information to expected location information stored for each of the mounting points. The one or more wireless transmitters are integral with and/or attached to the base unit or positioned at predetermined distances away from the security camera system.

In general, according to another aspect, the invention features a method for configuring a multi-sensor security camera system including a base unit with a plurality of mounting points and sensor modules attached to the base unit at the mounting points and generating image data, the method comprising: one or more wireless transmitters transmitting wireless signals; the sensor modules detecting the wireless signals via wireless receivers and generating signal strength information based on the wireless signals via signal strength modules; and a positioning module determining the positions of the sensor modules based on the signal strength information.

The above and other features of the invention including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, and other advantages, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular method and device embodying the invention are shown by way of illustration and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, wherein the scope of the invention is defined by the claims.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a security camera system <NUM> to which the present invention is applicable.

The security camera system <NUM> includes a base unit <NUM>, sensor modules <NUM> and a transparent bubble <NUM>. The transparent bubble <NUM> is shown exploded off the security camera system <NUM>.

The base unit <NUM> includes a camera base <NUM> and a mounting dome <NUM>. The camera base <NUM> is a cylindrical assembly, a top circular surface of which faces and attaches to a surface of a building or other structure on which the security camera system <NUM> is mounted, typically a ceiling or wall or mounting bracket. The mounting dome <NUM> is a dome, such as a hemispherical dome, protruding from a bottom circular surface of the camera base <NUM> to which the sensor modules <NUM> attach.

The mounting dome <NUM> includes several mounting points, which are particular locations on the surface of the mounting dome at which sensor modules <NUM> are attached to the mounting dome <NUM> of the base unit <NUM>. In the illustrated example, the mounting points are mounting sockets <NUM>, which are identically-sized regions of the surface of the mounting dome <NUM> defined by raised ridges along the perimeters of the sockets and/or depressed regions within the interior of the sockets. The mounting sockets <NUM> are arrayed across the entire round surface of the mounting dome <NUM> such that the mounting sockets <NUM> face radially outward from a center of the hemispherical mounting dome <NUM> at regularly spaced intervals. Other examples of mounting points can include mesas and/or raised regions of the surface of the mounting dome <NUM>, or even undifferentiated points on the surface of the mounting dome <NUM>, among other examples.

In the illustrated example, the mounting sockets <NUM> are hexagonal depressions. The front portion of the mounting dome <NUM> (visible in the illustration) includes about thirty mounting sockets <NUM>, and the mounting dome <NUM> in its entirety (including portions of the mounting dome <NUM> not visible in the illustration) would have about sixty mounting sockets <NUM> in total, as the mounting sockets <NUM> extend to cover the entire outer surface of the mounting dome <NUM>.

In alternative embodiments, the mounting sockets <NUM> can be other shapes such as circles, octagons, pentagons, or triangles, among other examples. The size and number of the mounting sockets <NUM> could also vary, based on the different embodiments. In general, there are at least <NUM> mounting sockets, but <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> or more is preferred. Regions between the mounting sockets <NUM> can separate the different mounting sockets <NUM>, or the mounting sockets <NUM> can tile across the surface of the mounting dome <NUM> without any regions between the mounting sockets <NUM>.

In general, the mounting sockets <NUM> represent regions of the mounting dome <NUM> to which the sensor modules <NUM> can be attached.

Each sensor module <NUM> includes a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end engages the exterior surface of the mounting dome <NUM> at a particular mounting point. At the distal end of the sensor module is a mounting plug <NUM>. The mounting plug <NUM> is prismatic shaped in the illustrated embodiment, with a distal exterior surface sharing the same shape and approximate size as each of the mounting sockets <NUM> and engaging with the exterior surface of the mounting dome <NUM> within the perimeter of one of the mounting sockets <NUM>.

In the illustrated example, the mounting plug <NUM> is a hexagonal prism, matching the hexagonal shape of the mounting sockets <NUM> depicted in the same illustration. However, in other embodiments in which the mounting sockets <NUM> take different shapes, the distal surface of the module mounting plug <NUM> would correspond to the shape of the mounting sockets <NUM>.

At the proximal end of the sensor module <NUM> is a lens system <NUM>, which is encased in a cylindrical assembly. In general, the sensor module <NUM> generates image data from light captured via the lens system <NUM>, with the lens system forming an image of that light onto an image sensor, inside the module.

The sensor modules <NUM> are attached to the mounting dome <NUM> such that their optical axes extend radially from the center of the mounting dome <NUM> in different elevational and azimuthal directions, corresponding to the positions of the different mounting sockets <NUM> along the surface of the dome. In general, the number of sensor modules <NUM> and the selection of mounting sockets <NUM> to which the modules attach determines a field of view of the security camera system <NUM>.

The transparent bubble <NUM> is a hollow, rigid, hemisphere of transparent material. A circular rim <NUM> (forming the perimeter of a circular, flat face of the transparent bubble <NUM>) inserts into an attachment ridge <NUM> along the perimeter of the bottom face of the camera base <NUM> and is secured via an attachment mechanism such as a snap fit.

The transparent bubble <NUM> is secured to the camera base <NUM> such that it encases the mounting dome <NUM> and attached sensor modules <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the base unit <NUM> of the security camera system <NUM> without any sensor modules <NUM> attached to it, depicting the camera base <NUM>, mounting dome <NUM>, mounting sockets <NUM> and attachment ridge <NUM>. Here more of the mounting sockets have been labeled, specifically <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>, to illustrate the number of potential locations at which the modular sensor modules <NUM> can be installed. A similar number of mounting sockets are available on the backside of the unit, but not shown in this view.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the sensor module <NUM>, depicting the lens system <NUM> and module mounting plug <NUM>.

Also shown is a bubble contact ring <NUM>, which is a ring of elastic material that compresses around the proximal end of the assembly containing the lens system <NUM> defining the module's entrance aperture. An interior surface of the transparent bubble <NUM> presses against the bubble contact ring <NUM> preventing movement and/or vibration of the sensor modules <NUM> and urging the sensor modules into their respective sockets.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of the base unit <NUM> and the sensor module <NUM> according to one embodiment of the current invention.

The base unit <NUM> includes a power source <NUM>, a base inductive power supply <NUM>, a base controller <NUM>, a wireless transceiver <NUM>, a network interface <NUM>, and several mounting sockets <NUM>. In the figure, only <NUM> mounting sockets are shown, but in the typical embodiment, the number of mounting sockets <NUM> would be at least <NUM>, but typically <NUM> or more are provided. Each mounting socket includes a socket magnetic mount <NUM>, an inductive power transmitter <NUM>, a wireless antenna <NUM>, and a socket identification (ID) module <NUM>.

The sensor module <NUM> includes a module controller <NUM>, a power conditioner <NUM>, a module wireless transceiver <NUM>, a lens system <NUM> and imager <NUM>, and a module mounting plug <NUM>, which includes a module magnetic mount <NUM>, an inductive power receiver <NUM>, a wireless antenna <NUM> and an ID reader module <NUM>.

In general, the sensor module <NUM> generates image data. Incoming light is collected and focused by the lens system <NUM> on an imager <NUM>, such as a CCD or CMOS imager. The image data is sent the base unit <NUM>. The base unit <NUM> receives image data from one or more sensor modules <NUM> and associates the image data from each sensor module <NUM> with elevation and azimuth information associated with the mounting socket <NUM> to which the sensor module <NUM> is attached.

The power source <NUM> provides power to the components of the base unit <NUM> including the base controller <NUM> and the base inductive power supply <NUM>. In different examples, the power source can be a battery, an AC 24V power supply, a DC 12V power supply, or a power supply utilizing Power over Ethernet (PoE) or PoE+ technologies.

The base controller <NUM> executes firmware instructions and, in general, sends instructions to and receives data from the base inductive power supply <NUM>, sensor modules <NUM> via the wireless transceiver <NUM> and wireless antenna(s) <NUM>, and the network interface <NUM>. More specifically, the base controller <NUM> receives image data from the sensor modules <NUM> and sends it to a network video distribution system <NUM> via the network interface <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment, the base unit <NUM> wirelessly provides power to the sensor modules <NUM> via the base inductive power supply <NUM>, inductive power transmitters <NUM>, inductive power receivers <NUM>, and the power conditioner <NUM>. When the sensor module <NUM> is attached to the mounting socket <NUM>-<NUM>, the inductive power transmitter <NUM>-<NUM> at or near the surface of the mounting dome <NUM> in the region containing the mounting socket <NUM>-<NUM> come into proximity with the inductive power receiver <NUM> of the sensor module <NUM>. The base inductive power supply <NUM> supplies an alternating current to the inductive power transmitter <NUM>, which is, for example, a coil. An oscillating magnetic field is formed, which induces an alternating current in the inductive power receiver <NUM>, as illustrated as a wireless power link <NUM>. This alternating current is then conditioned by the power conditioner <NUM>, for example, by converting it to direct current to power the sensor module <NUM>.

The module controller <NUM> receives power from the power conditioner <NUM> and image data from the imager <NUM> (based on light captured by the lens system <NUM>). The module controller <NUM> also sends instructions to and receives ID information (for the mounting socket <NUM> to which the sensor module <NUM> is attached) to and from the ID reader module <NUM>. The module controller <NUM> sends the image data and the ID information to the base unit <NUM> via the wireless transceiver <NUM>.

The base wireless transceiver <NUM> and the module wireless transceiver <NUM> wirelessly (e.g. via near-field communication, visible light communication or LiFi technologies) send and receive information to each other via a wireless communications link <NUM> between the base wireless antenna <NUM> and the module wireless antenna <NUM>, respectively.

In general, the socket ID module <NUM> is a physical representation of a socket ID, which, in tum, is a unique identifier associated with each mounting socket <NUM>. The socket ID is detected by the ID reader module <NUM> interacting with the socket ID module <NUM>.

A configuration file <NUM> of the base unit <NUM> (for example, stored in nonvolatile memory of the base controller <NUM>) includes information about the elevation and azimuth associated with the different fields of view from the mounting sockets <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, in which each mounting socket <NUM> includes a socket ID module <NUM>, the configuration file <NUM> directly associates the elevation and azimuth information for the different mounting sockets <NUM> with the socket IDs of the mounting sockets <NUM> (for example, in a table). In other examples, however, the configuration file <NUM> includes other identification information in addition to or instead of the socket IDs, including identification and/or address information for reader modules or sensors of the base unit <NUM> that are used to identify the mounting socket <NUM> to which the sensor module <NUM> is attached. Typically, this mapping of elevation and azimuth information to mounting sockets <NUM>, using socket IDs and/or other identification information, was provided during an initial configuration of the base unit <NUM> during manufacturing.

The sensor modules <NUM> attach to the mounting sockets <NUM> via the socket magnetic mount <NUM> and the module magnetic mount <NUM>. In one example, the magnetic mounts <NUM>, <NUM> are formed of ferromagnetic material and/or magnets that are attracted to each other.

In the illustrated example, three mounting sockets <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-n are depicted, and the sensor module <NUM> is attached to mounting socket <NUM>-<NUM>. The sensor module <NUM> would be attached to the mounting socket <NUM>-<NUM> in such a way to allow the inductive transmitter <NUM>-<NUM>, wireless transceiver <NUM>-<NUM> and socket ID module <NUM>-<NUM> of the mounting socket <NUM>-<NUM> to interface with the inductive power receiver <NUM>, wireless transceiver <NUM> and ID reader module <NUM> of the sensor module <NUM>. In different examples, this may involve the components of the mounting socket <NUM> to come in direct contact with their counterparts on the sensor module <NUM>, or to simply come in close proximity.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of the base unit <NUM> and sensor modules <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present invention in which the positions of the sensor modules <NUM> are determined based on wireless signals transmitted by a wireless beacon <NUM>.

The wireless beacon <NUM> transmits wireless signals. The wireless signals include, for example, data packets containing unique identification information for the wireless beacon <NUM>. In different embodiments, the wireless beacon <NUM> is integral with and/or attached to the base unit <NUM> or positioned a predetermined distance away from the security camera system <NUM>. The beacon may employ the Bluetooth protocol or Bluetooth low energy (BLE).

The sensor module <NUM> includes a wireless receiver <NUM> (which is part of the previously described module wireless transceiver <NUM>) and a signal strength module <NUM>, which executes on an operating system (OS) <NUM> and a central processing unit (CPU) <NUM> of the sensor module <NUM>. The wireless receiver <NUM> detects wireless signals transmitted by the wireless beacon <NUM>. The signal strength module <NUM> generates signal strength information, including measurements of the signal strength of the wireless signals detected by the wireless receiver <NUM>.

The base unit <NUM> includes a signal strength positioning module <NUM> executing on its OS <NUM> and CPU <NUM> of the base unit <NUM>. In general, the signal strength positioning module <NUM> determines the positions of the sensor modules based on the signal strength information received from the individual signal strength modules of the sensor modules <NUM>.

More specifically, the signal strength positioning module <NUM> determines the socket IDs for the mounting sockets <NUM> to which the sensor modules <NUM> are attached by comparing the signal strength information originating from the sensor modules <NUM> to expected signal strength information stored for each of the mounting sockets <NUM>. The expected signal strength information includes signal strength measurements of wireless signals transmitted by the wireless beacon <NUM> recorded from known locations or relative positions of the different mounting sockets <NUM>.

In the illustrated example, the expected signal strength information is stored in a signal strength table <NUM> in nonvolatile memory <NUM> of the base unit <NUM>. The signal strength table <NUM> includes a socket ID column and an expected signal strength information column such that socket IDs listed in the socket ID column are associated with expected signal strength information in the expected signal strength column. The signal strength positioning module <NUM> compares the signal strength information from the sensor module <NUM> to the expected signal strength information stored in the signal strength table <NUM> and, for example, returns the socket ID associated with expected signal strength that best matches the signal strength information from the respective sensor modules <NUM>.

<FIG> is a plan view of the mounting dome <NUM>, base unit <NUM> and three exemplary sensor modules <NUM> showing the sensor modules <NUM> receiving wireless signals transmitted by the wireless beacon <NUM>.

In the illustrated example, three sensor modules <NUM> are attached at to the mounting dome at different mounting points. The wireless beacon <NUM> is positioned on the base unit <NUM> at a varying distance from each of the three sensor modules <NUM>. For example, sensor module <NUM>-<NUM> is positioned the closest to the wireless beacon <NUM>, followed by sensor module <NUM>-<NUM> and then by sensor module <NUM>-<NUM>. As a result, different signal strength information would be generated by each of the sensor modules <NUM>.

<FIG> is a sequence diagram illustrating the process by which the base unit <NUM> determines the location of the sensor modules <NUM> via the signal strength positioning module <NUM> and reports to the network video distribution system <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the base unit <NUM> provides power to the sensor module <NUM>. This can be done inductively as previously described or via a wired connection.

In step <NUM>, the sensor module <NUM> initializes itself in response to receiving power from the sensor module <NUM>. In one example, the sensor module <NUM> runs self-tests/diagnostic procedures and establishes wireless communications with the base unit <NUM> as well as sends unique identification information for the sensor module <NUM>, such as a sensor module ID, to the base unit <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the wireless beacon <NUM> transmit wireless signals, which are detected and for which signal strength information is generated by the signal strength module <NUM> of the sensor module <NUM>. In step <NUM>, the sensor module <NUM> sends the signal strength information to the signal strength positioning module <NUM>, which, in step <NUM>, determines the socket ID for mounting socket <NUM> to which the sensor module <NUM> is attached based on the signal strength information. In one example, the signal strength positioning module <NUM> retrieves from the signal strength table <NUM> the socket ID associated with expected signal strength information that matches the signal strength information from the sensor module <NUM>. In step <NUM>, the signal strength positioning module <NUM> returns the socket ID to the base unit <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the base unit <NUM> translates the socket ID received from the sensor module <NUM> into elevation/azimuth information for the sensor module's <NUM> field of view by, for example, retrieving the elevation/azimuth information associated with the socket ID from the configuration file <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the sensor module <NUM> captures image data, which is then encoded and transmitted to the base unit <NUM> in step <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the base unit <NUM> aggregates the image data from all of the sensor modules <NUM> or, alternately, stitches together the image data from each of the sensor modules <NUM> based on the elevation/azimuth information. In step <NUM>, depending on the step <NUM>, either the aggregated image data comprising the separate streams for each sensor module <NUM>, along with the corresponding elevation/azimuth information, or the stitched image data, are sent to the network video distribution system <NUM>. In one example, the elevation/azimuth information is included as meta-data of the image data.

Finally, in step <NUM>, the network video distribution system <NUM> uses the elevation/azimuth information pertaining to each of the sensor modules <NUM> to stitch together the image data if it was not previously stitched together by the base unit <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of the sensor module <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present invention in which positions of the sensor modules <NUM> are determined based on wireless signals transmitted by several wireless beacons <NUM>.

Now, the sensor module <NUM> includes a triangulation positioning module <NUM>, which executes on the OS <NUM> and the CPU <NUM>. In general, the triangulation positioning module <NUM> receives signal strength information from the signal strength module <NUM> pertaining to wireless signals detected by the wireless receiver <NUM> from multiple different wireless beacons <NUM> and determines positions of the sensor module <NUM> based on the signal strength information of the wireless signals originating from the plurality of wireless beacons <NUM>. In the illustrated example, the sensor module <NUM> receives wireless signals from three wireless beacons <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>.

More specifically, the triangulation positioning module <NUM> determines the socket ID for the mounting socket <NUM> to which the sensor module <NUM> is attached by generating location information indicating a location of the sensor module <NUM> with respect to the wireless beacons <NUM> and comparing the location information to expected location information stored for each of the mounting sockets <NUM>. The expected location information includes known locations or relative positions of each of the different mounting sockets <NUM> with respect to the wireless beacons <NUM>.

In the illustrated example, the expected location information is stored in a socket location table <NUM> in nonvolatile memory <NUM> of the sensor module <NUM>. The socket location table <NUM> includes a socket ID column and an expected location column. The triangulation module <NUM> compares the calculated location information for the sensor module <NUM> to the expected location information stored in the socket location table <NUM> and, for example, returns the socket ID associated with expected location that matches the calculated location for the sensor module <NUM>. The socket ID is then sent to the base unit <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of the sensor module <NUM> and base unit <NUM> according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the positions of the sensor modules <NUM> are determined based on wireless signals transmitted by several wireless beacons <NUM>.

Now, the triangulation positioning module <NUM> executes on the OS <NUM> and CPU <NUM> of the base unit <NUM>, and the socket location table <NUM> is stored in the nonvolatile memory <NUM> of the base unit <NUM>.

In this example, the triangulation positioning module <NUM> receives signal strength information from the signal strength modules <NUM> of each of the sensor modules <NUM>, calculates location information for each of the sensor modules <NUM>, and retrieves the socket IDs from the socket location table <NUM> for each of the sensor modules <NUM> based on the location information, as previously described.

<FIG> is a plan view of the mounting dome <NUM>, base unit <NUM> and one exemplary sensor module <NUM> showing the sensor module <NUM> receiving wireless signals transmitted by three exemplary wireless beacons <NUM>.

In the illustrated example, one sensor module <NUM> is attached to the mounting dome at a mounting point. Three wireless beacons <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> are positioned on the base unit <NUM> at varying distances from the sensor modules <NUM>. For example, wireless beacon <NUM>-<NUM> is positioned the closest to the sensor module <NUM>, followed by wireless beacon <NUM>-<NUM> and then by wireless beacon <NUM>-<NUM>. As a result, different signal strength information would be generated by the sensor module <NUM> for the wireless signals originating from each of the different wireless beacons <NUM>, and the location of the sensor module <NUM> with respect to the three wireless beacons <NUM> could be calculated based on the signal strength information.

<FIG> is a sequence diagram illustrating the process by which the base unit <NUM> determines the location of the sensor modules <NUM> via the triangulation positioning module <NUM> and reports to the network video distribution system <NUM>.

Steps <NUM> and <NUM> proceed as previously described.

Now, however, in step <NUM>, the wireless beacons <NUM> transmit wireless signals, which are detected and for which signal strength information is generated by the signal strength module <NUM> of the sensor module <NUM>. In step <NUM>, the sensor module <NUM> sends the signal strength information to the triangulation positioning module <NUM>, which can be executing on either the base unit <NUM> or the sensor module <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the triangulation positioning module <NUM> generates location information, for example, by calculating a location of the sensor module <NUM> with respect to the wireless beacons <NUM> based on the signal strength information. In step <NUM>, the triangulation positioning module <NUM> determines the socket ID for the mounting socket <NUM> to which the sensor module <NUM> is attached, based on the location information. In one example, the triangulation positioning module <NUM> retrieves from the socket location table <NUM> the socket ID associated with expected location information that matches the calculated location information for the sensor module <NUM>. The triangulation positioning module <NUM> returns the socket ID to the base unit <NUM> in step <NUM>.

Steps <NUM> through <NUM> then proceed as previously described.

This process repeats for each sensor module <NUM> that is attached to the base unit <NUM>.

In the example in which the triangulation positioning module <NUM> executes on the base unit <NUM>, the triangulation positioning module receives signal strength information from several different sensor modules <NUM> and returns different socket IDs for those sensor modules <NUM>. On the other hand, when the triangulation positioning module <NUM> executes on the sensor module <NUM>, multiple triangulation positioning modules <NUM> each return a single socket ID to the base unit <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a provisioning bubble <NUM> exploded off of the security camera system <NUM>.

The provisioning bubble <NUM> includes socket ID areas <NUM> and socket ID designators <NUM>. The socket ID areas <NUM> are regions of the surface of the provisioning bubble <NUM> that are visible by the sensor modules <NUM> attached to the base unit <NUM> and correspond to the field of view from each of the mounting sockets <NUM> of the base unit <NUM>. In one example, the material of the bubble is transparent or transmissive. The socket designators <NUM> are graphical or optical representations of data, including optical codes such as barcodes and/or matrix barcodes, and/or alphanumeric characters, among other examples. The socket designators <NUM> provide identification information (such as the socket ID) for the mounting sockets <NUM> from which the socket ID designators <NUM> are visible by the sensor modules <NUM>.

In general, the provisioning bubble <NUM> facilitates automatic detection of the locations of sensor modules <NUM> by arranging socket ID designators <NUM> within the different fields of view of the attached sensor modules <NUM>. The sensor modules <NUM> generate image data, which includes depictions of the socket ID designators <NUM> within the fields of view of the sensor modules <NUM>.

In different examples, the provisioning bubble <NUM> can be transparent, translucent or opaque, and the socket designators <NUM> can be engraved, printed, or attached, among other examples, to the interior or exterior surface of the provisioning bubble <NUM> such that they are visible and included in the field of view of the sensor modules <NUM>.

In the preferred embodiment, the provisioning bubble <NUM> is temporarily secured over the base unit <NUM> and the sensor modules <NUM>, in a similar manner as the transparent bubble <NUM>. In another example, the provisioning bubble <NUM> is temporarily secured over the base unit <NUM>, sensor modules <NUM> and the transparent bubble <NUM>.

Additionally, the provisioning bubble <NUM> includes an aligning guide <NUM>. Similarly, the base unit <NUM> includes a base unit aligning guide <NUM>. The aligning guides allow for correct rotational alignment of the provisioning bubble <NUM> with respect to the base unit <NUM>. In one example, the provisioning bubble <NUM> is secured over the security camera system <NUM> such that the aligning guide <NUM> of the provisioning bubble <NUM> aligns with the aligning guide <NUM> of the base unit <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of the base unit <NUM>, sensor modules <NUM> and provisioning bubble <NUM>, illustrating how image data including socket ID designators <NUM> on the provisioning bubble <NUM> is captured by corresponding sensor modules <NUM> and directed to a provisioning bubble mapping module <NUM>.

As previously described, the socket ID designators <NUM> are arranged across the provisioning bubble <NUM> within the socket ID areas <NUM> in such a way that image data generated by the sensor modules <NUM> will include a depiction of the socket ID designator <NUM> corresponding to the mounting socket <NUM> to which the sensor module <NUM> is attached. In this way, the sensor module <NUM> captures the socket ID designator <NUM>. For example, sensor module <NUM>-<NUM>, attached to mounting socket <NUM>-<NUM> (not illustrated), captures socket ID designator <NUM>-<NUM> corresponding to mounting socket <NUM>-<NUM>. Similarly, sensor module <NUM>-<NUM>, captures the socket ID designator <NUM>-<NUM>, and sensor module <NUM>-n, captures the socket ID designator <NUM>-n.

Each of the sensor modules <NUM> sends the image data including the depictions of the corresponding socket ID designators <NUM> to the provisioning bubble mapping module <NUM>, which executes on the OS <NUM> and the CPU <NUM> of the base unit <NUM>. The provisioning bubble mapping module <NUM> determines the socket ID for the mounting sockets <NUM> to which the sensor modules <NUM> are attached by analyzing the image data, detecting the socket ID designators <NUM> depicted therein, and, for example, decoding and/or translating the socket ID designators <NUM> (e.g. scanning optical codes, text recognition) to determine the socket IDs represented by the socket ID designators <NUM>.

<FIG> is a sequence diagram illustrating the process by which the base unit <NUM> determines the location of the sensor modules <NUM> via the provisioning bubble mapping module <NUM> and reports to the network video distribution system <NUM>; this process is an example which is not included in the scope of the invention.

In step <NUM>, the provisioning bubble <NUM> is installed over at least the base unit <NUM> and the sensor modules <NUM> (and also possibly the transparent bubble <NUM>) and/or other components of the security camera system <NUM>.

Steps <NUM> through <NUM> proceed as previously described.

In step <NUM>, the sensor modules <NUM> capture image data, including the corresponding socket ID designators <NUM> that are visible from the fields of view of the sensor modules <NUM>. This image data is sent by the sensor modules <NUM> to the base unit <NUM> in step <NUM>. In step <NUM>, the base unit <NUM> sends the image data to the provisioning bubble mapping module <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the provisioning bubble mapping module <NUM> analyzes the image data and determines the socket ID for the mounting sockets <NUM> to which each sensor module <NUM> is attached based on the socket ID designator <NUM> depicted in the image data generated by the different sensor modules <NUM>, for example, by detecting the socket ID designator <NUM>, decoding the socket ID designator <NUM> (e.g. by reading an optical code or via OCR text recognition). In step <NUM>, the socket ID is returned from the provisioning bubble mapping module <NUM> to the base unit <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A security camera system (<NUM>), comprising:
a base unit (<NUM>) including a plurality of mounting points (<NUM>);
one or more wireless transmitters (<NUM>) for transmitting wireless signals;
sensor modules (<NUM>) attached to the base unit (<NUM>) at the mounting points (<NUM>) and generating image data, the sensor modules (<NUM>) comprising wireless receivers (<NUM>) for detecting the wireless signals, and signal strength modules (<NUM>) for generating signal strength information based on the wireless signals; and
a positioning module (<NUM>, <NUM>) for determining the positions of the sensor modules (<NUM>) based on the signal strength information.