Digital Security Multimedia Sensor

Abstract

A fully digital camera system provides high-resolution still image and streaming video signals via a network to a centralized, server supported security and surveillance system. The digital camera for collects an image from one or more image transducers, compressing the image and sending the compressed digital image signal to a receiving station over a digital network. A plurality of image transducers or sensors may be included in a single camera unit, providing array imaging such as full 360 degree panoramic imaging, universal or spherical imaging and field imaging by stacking or arranging the sensors in an array. The multiple images are then compressed and merged at the camera in the desired format to permit transmission of the least amount of data to accomplish the desired image transmission. The camera also employs, or connects to, a variety of sensors other than the traditional image sensor. Sensors for fire, smoke, sound, glass breakage, motion, panic buttons, and the like, may be embedded in or connected to the camera. Data captured by these sensors may be digitized, compressed, and networked to detect notable conditions. An internal microphone and associated signal processing system may be equipped with suitable signal processing algorithms for the purpose of detecting suitable acoustic events and their location. In addition, the camera is equipped with a pair of externally accessible terminals where an external sensor may be connected. In addition, the camera may be equipped with a short-range receiver that may detect the activation of a wireless ‘panic button’ carried by facility personnel. This ‘panic button’ may employ infrared, radio frequency (RF), ultrasonic, or other suitable methods to activate the camera's receiver.

1 . A digital security camera capable of generating and transmitting digital high resolution image signals in both a full motion video format and a still image frame format, the camera comprising: 
 a. an image transducer;    b. a motion video compressor associated with the image transducer for compressing full motion video images for generating a compressed full motion video image data signal;    c. a still frame compressor associated with the image transducer for compressing still frame images for generating a compressed still frame image data signal;    d. a multiplexer for merging the compressed full motion video image data signal and the compressed still frame image data signal into a single, combined image data signal;    e. a processor associated with the multiplexer for generating a conditioned output image signal suitable for transmission over a network; and    f. a network gateway.    
     
     
         2 . The digital camera of  claim 1 , wherein the compressed still frame image data signal is of a higher resolution than the compressed full motion video image data signal.  
     
     
         3 . The digital camera of  claim 1 , further including an activation mechanism for activating the camera to collect images in response to an activation signal.  
     
     
         4 . The digital camera of  claim 3 , wherein the activation mechanism is an event detector adapted for generating an activation signal in response to the detection of an event.  
     
     
         5 . The digital camera of  claim 4 , wherein the event detector is a manually operated switch.  
     
     
         6 . The digital camera of  claim 4 , wherein the event detector is a sensor adapted for automatically responding to the occurrence of an event.  
     
     
         7 . The digital camera of  claim 6 , wherein the event detector is a smoke detector.  
     
     
         8 . The digital camera of  claim 6 , wherein the event detector is an acoustic event detector.  
     
     
         9 . The digital camera of  claim 6 , wherein the event detector is motion detector.  
     
     
         10 . The digital camera of  claim 6 , wherein the event detector is an alarm trigger switch.  
     
     
         11 . The digital camera of  claim 3 , further including a wireless receiver and wherein the activation signal generator is a remote device having a wireless transmitter for generating an activation signal upon the occurrence of an event.  
     
     
         12 . The digital camera of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of image transducers each adapted for collecting digital high resolution image signals, and a second multiplexer for merging all of said signals into a combined data signal.  
     
     
         13 . The digital camera of  claim 12 , further including a motion compressor and a still frame compressor associated with each transducer and between the transducer and the second multiplexer.  
     
     
         14 . The digital camera of  claim 12 , further including a single motion compressor and a single still frame compressor associated with all of the transducers and positioned between the first mentioned multiplexer and the second multiplexer.  
     
     
         15 . The digital camera of  claim 12 , further including a cylindrical housing for housing the plurality of transducers, each of the transducers mounted in the cylindrical housing such that they are angularly spaced and aimed radially outward from the housing in a manner to collect a combined image representing a full panoramic view of an area within the normal range of the transducers.  
     
     
         16 . The digital camera of  claim 15 , wherein all of the transducers are mounted in a common plane generally perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical housing.  
     
     
         17 . The digital camera of  claim 16 , further including another plurality of sensors, each of said second plurality of sensors mounted in the cylindrical housing such that they are angularly spaced and aimed radially outward from the housing in a manner to collect a combined image representing a full panoramic view of an area within the normal range of the transducers, said second plurality of sensors mounted in a common plane generally perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical housing and axially spaced from said first mentioned common plane.  
     
     
         18 . The digital camera of  claim 12 , further including a planar housing for supporting the plurality of sensors mounted in the housing on a planar surface thereof and spaced to provide full image collection coverage for a predetermined area.  
     
     
         19 . The digital camera of  claim 18 , wherein all of the plurality of transducers are mounted in a straight line on the planar surface.  
     
     
         20 . The digital camera of  claim 19 , further including a second plurality of transducers mounted in a second straight line on the planar surface of the housing, said second line being parallel to and spaced from said first mentioned line.  
     
     
         21 - 40 . (canceled)