Wireless video surveillance system and method with remote viewing

Abstract

A surveillance system and method for remote viewing of inputs associated with at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) monitoring a target environment, and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) and/or another ICD, including the steps of providing base system and at least one user accessing the DIR or ICD(s) via user interface remotely from a remote viewing device.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising;
 providing one or more capture devices configured for wireless digital direct communication with:   a corresponding wireless receiving device; and/or   a respective one of the one or more capture devices without requiring interaction with a remote server computer for operation;   
       wherein the wireless receiving device and/or the one or more capture devices has a memory and a processor configured to execute software and is operable to:
 communicate, via a mesh network, environmental data captured by the one or more capture devices, and 
 receive data that causes an operator interface of a remote viewing device to be able to access and control the wireless receiving device and/or the one or more capture devices, to:
 review, at the remote viewing device, the environmental data captured by the one or more wireless capture devices, and/or 
 control, by the remote viewing device, the one or more capture devices or the wireless receiving device. 
 
 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more wireless capture device is configured to detect one or more of a physical presence of a person, animal or object, temperature, moisture, sound, and presences of one or more chemicals, wherein the one or more wireless capture device is configured to extend the usable range of any individual one of the one or more wireless capture devices and wherein the one or more wireless capture devices and wireless receiving device directly wirelessly communicate using mesh network-based communication. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data inputs captured from the target environment include visual inputs. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data inputs include video at a specific frame rate and size and/or still images at a specific rate and size. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more wireless capture devices is configured to capture images. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more wireless capture devices is configured to detect motion, and wherein when motion is detected, an indication that motion was detected is used to trigger an alarm or notification. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more wireless capture devices is configured to detect one or more of a physical presence of a person, animal or object, temperature, moisture, sound, and presences of one or more chemicals. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more wireless capture devices is configured as a repeater. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a trigger event, notification or alarm is activated based on detection or lack of detection of an input by the one or more wireless capture devices. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more wireless capture devices is configured to send a notification directly to the wireless receiving device or the remote viewing device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more wireless capture devices is configured to send a notification directly to the wireless receiving device when an event is triggered. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a rule is triggered by the one or more wireless capture devices or the wireless receiving device when an event is detected by the one or more wireless capture devices, wherein the rule is for activating an alarm or sending a notification when motion is detected, and wherein, in response to the rule being triggered by the one or more wireless capture devices, an action is caused to occur at a second of the one the one or more wireless capture devices. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rule causes the one or more wireless capture devices to capture video. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more wireless capture devices is configured to send a notification to the remote viewing device based on detection of an event or input by the one or more wireless capture devices, wherein the remote viewing device is configured to display at least a portion of the notification to a user associated with the remote viewing device and wherein the notification is sent using one or more of a text message and email. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more wireless capture devices is configured to send one or more images to the remote viewing device based on detection of an event or input by the one or more wireless capture devices and wherein the remote viewing device is configured to inform an operator associated with the remote viewing device that the event or input was detected, and wherein at least portions of the one or more images are sent to the remote viewing device uses one or more of a text message or email. 
     
     
         16 . An intelligent wireless appliance operable on a mesh network, comprising:
 at least one processor;   a network component; and   memory having instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to:   configure the network component for wireless digital direct communication with at least one sensor device on the mesh network, without requiring interaction with a remote server computer for operation,   receive, via the at least one sensor device, data inputs obtained from a target environment, and   receive communication via a remote viewing device to review at least a portion of the data inputs or to control the at least one sensor device.   
     
     
         17 . The intelligent wireless appliance of  claim 16  further comprising, sending the portion of the data inputs to the remote viewing device or providing at least partial control of the at least one sensor device to the remote viewing device, wherein the data inputs include visual inputs captured from the target environment, wherein the at least one sensor device is configurable as a repeater to expand a range of the mesh network and wherein a trigger event, notification or alarm is activated based on detection or lack of detection of an input by the at least one sensor device. 
     
     
         18 . The intelligent wireless appliance of  claim 16  wherein the at least one sensor device is configured to capture images, and wherein the event is motion. 
     
     
         19 . The intelligent wireless appliance of  claim 16  wherein the at least one sensor device is configured to detect motion, and wherein when motion is detected, an indication that motion was a basis for activating an alarm or notification. 
     
     
         20 . The intelligent wireless appliance of  claim 16  wherein at least one sensor device is configured to detect one or more of a physical presence of a person, animal or object, temperature, moisture, sound, and presences of one or more chemicals. 
     
     
         21 . The intelligent wireless appliance of  claim 16  wherein the at least one sensor device is configured to detect a plurality of motion, presence or sound, and wherein the at least one sensor device is configured to send a notification for delivery to the intelligent wireless appliance or the remote viewing device. 
     
     
         22 . The intelligent wireless appliance of  claim 16  wherein a rule is triggered by the at least one sensing device or the intelligent wireless appliance when an event is detected by the at least one sensor device. 
     
     
         23 . The intelligent wireless appliance of  claim 16  wherein the at least one sensor device is configured to send one or more images to the remote viewing device based on detection of an event or input by the at least one sensor device, wherein the remote viewing device is configured to inform an operator associated with the remote viewing device that the event or input was detected and wherein at least portions of the one or more images is sent to the remote viewing device uses one or more of a text message or email. 
     
     
         24 . A computing system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   memory having instructions configured to cause the processor to:   communicate wireless digital direct communications with an intelligence appliance on a mesh network, without requiring interaction with a remote server computer for operation;   capture a data input;   receive communication for requesting access to at least a portion of the captured data input, wherein a portion of the communication from the intelligence appliance is received, via the intelligence appliance, from a remote viewing device requesting review of the data input; and   communicate the at least portion of the captured data input for delivery to the remote viewing device.   
     
     
         25 . The computing system of  claim 24  wherein at least one of the remote viewing device and operator of the remote viewing device are authenticated before the remote viewing device receives the at least portions of captured data and wherein the at least portions of captured data are portions of live video.  26 . The computing system of  claim 24  wherein the intelligence appliance is configured to make available to the remote viewing device, via a non-mesh wireless network, the at least portions of the captured data. 
     
     
         27 . The computing system of  claim 24 , further comprising extending the range of the mesh network. 
     
     
         28 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 configuring at least one sensing device for wireless digital direct communication with a computing device on a mesh network without requiring interaction with a remote server computer for operation;   receiving, via the mesh network, data inputs from the at least one sensing device;   receiving a request to view the data inputs of the at least one sensing device or to control the at least one sensing device; and   sending at least a portion of the requested data inputs to a remote viewing device or providing at least partial control of the sensing device to the remote viewing device.   
     
     
         29 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 28  wherein the at least one sensing device is configured to detect one or more of a physical presence of a person, temperature, and sound wherein the at least one sensing device is configured to extend the usable range of the mesh network and wherein the remote view device is a mobile computing device. 
     
     
         30 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 28  wherein at least one of the data inputs is one or more of an image, sound or presence, wherein the computing device is a second sensing device or a wireless receiving device, wherein the request is digital message configured for sending over the mesh network and wherein the remote viewing device at least partially operates using a non-mesh network.