Wireless video surveillance system and method for mesh networking

Abstract

A mesh network surveillance system and method for providing communication between a base system having at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and other ICD(s), wherein the ICD(s) are capable of smart cross-communication with each other and remote access to their inputs via a server computer, including the steps of providing this base system; at least one user accessing the ICDs and inputs remotely via a user interface through a remote server computer and/or electronic device communicating with it, for providing a secure surveillance system with extended inputs range and wireless smart cross-communication for monitoring a target environment.

I/we claim: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 detecting a wireless communication signal from one or more input devices that are part of a wireless mesh communication network, wherein the one or more input devices are configured to at least communicate directly with each other and/or with a smart communication appliance operating that is part of the wireless mesh communication network, wherein the one or more input devices are configured to capture input at a target environment;   establishing wireless communication with the one or more input devices via the wireless mesh communication network;   receiving a data stream, via the wireless mesh communication network, from a first input device of the one or more input devices, wherein the data stream includes data originating from a second input device, different from the first input device, of the one or more input devices;   storing at least a portion of the data originating from the second input device;   receiving a request, wherein the request is for accessing the portion of the stored data; and   sending the portion of the stored data based at least on the request.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, receiving, from a remote computing device via a wired or wireless network different from the wireless mesh communication network, a request to control at least part of the second input device and, in response to the request, sending, via the wireless mesh communication network, information configured to be delivered to the second input device and configured to establish control of the second input device, wherein the request for accessing the portion of the stored data originates from a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, PDA, watch or other mobile device, wherein the data originating from the second input device includes data captured by the second input device at the target environment, and wherein the data captured by the second input device is one or more of: an image, video, sound, motion data, physical presence data, temperature data, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the request to control at least part of the second input device is received via the wired network different from the wireless mesh communication network and wherein the wired network different from the wireless mesh communication network is the Internet or a cellular network. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the wired or wireless network different from the wireless mesh communication network is the Internet, a cellular network, or a network implementing a LAN-based protocol. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a request for controlling the one or more input devices and, in response, sending communications, via the wireless mesh communication network to the one or more input devices, configured to facilitate control of the one or more input devices based on the request. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data originating from the second input device includes data captured by the second input device at the target environment, wherein the data captured is one or more of: an image, video, sound, motion data, physical presence data, temperature data, chemical presence data, humidity data, radiation data, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more input devices includes a camera configured to obtain visual-based information or motion-based information from the target environment. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more input devices includes one or more input components configured to detect and record inputs at the target environment. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising configuring at least one of the one or more input devices to receive one or more inputs from the target environment. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data originating from the second input device is repeated by the first input device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first input device and the second input device extends the range of the wireless mesh communication network. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, determining a characteristic of the data originating from the second input device and, in response to determining the characteristic, sending a message or alert indicia to a remote computing device on a LAN or the Internet. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the characteristic of the data originating from the second input device includes one or more of: an image, temperature data, motion data, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless mesh communication network uses MIMO. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, making the portion of the stored data available for access via a second communication network. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second communication network is a LAN-based network. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second communication network is the Internet. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second communication network is a cellular network. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least a part of the second communication network utilizes the Internet. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, receiving, from a remote computing device via a wired or wireless network different from the wireless mesh communication network, a request to control at least part of the second input device and, in response to the request, sending information to the second input device, the sent information configured to control the second input device. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising, wherein the control is for adjusting the sensitivity of motion or audio detected by the one or more input devices at the target environment. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, contemporaneous with receiving the data stream from the first input device, receiving a second data stream from at least one other of the one or more input devices, wherein the second data stream includes data captured at the target environment. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, controlling a brightness level of at least one of the one or more input devices that is part of the wireless mesh communication network. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, sending, in response to at least receiving the data originating from the second input device, one or more text messages, emails or other communications configured to be displayed at a remote communication device. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, facilitating encryption of at least a portion of the communication between the one or more input devices. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, determining a motion detection area for detecting motion at the target environment by the one or more input devices, wherein the motion detection area is a subset of a total area that is detectable by the one or more input devices. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising triggering an event in response to receiving the data originating from the second input device. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data originating from the second input device is captured by the second input device at a predetermined time, in response to a triggered event, or in response to receipt of a command via the wireless mesh communication network. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request for accessing the portion of stored data is received via a second network, wherein the second network is a wired network. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request for accessing the portion of stored data is received from a second network, wherein the second network is a wireless communication network that is not the wireless mesh communication network. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request for accessing the portion of the stored data originates from a remote computing device that is not on the wireless mesh communication network. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request for accessing the portion of the stored data originates from a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, PDA, watch or other mobile device. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request for accessing the portion of the stored data originates from a web browser. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data originating from the second input device is live video captured at the target environment and is made accessible to a remote communication device, wherein the remote communication device is a mobile device or a computing device having a web browser. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data stream from the first of the one or more input devices is received in response to a predetermined rule. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, determining whether a rule is triggered based on detecting a presence of motion by at least one of the one or more input devices at the target environment. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, determining whether to trigger an event or alarm, or send instructions to at least one other input device of the one or more input devices, in response to at least receiving the data originating at the second input device. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, triggering an event in response to receiving the data originating from the second input device and, in response to triggering the event, sending a notification of the occurrence of the event to a remote computing device. 
     
     
         39 . A computer-readable storage device storing instructions that, when executed by a computing system including at least one processor, cause the computing system to perform operations for monitoring a target environment, the operations comprising:
 detecting a wireless communication signal from one or more input devices that are communicating on a wireless mesh communication network, wherein the one or more input devices are configured to at least communicate directly with each other and to a smart communication appliance communicating on the wireless mesh communication network, wherein the one or more input devices are configured to capture environmental data at the target environment;   establishing wireless communication with the one or more input devices via the wireless mesh communication network;   receiving a wireless data stream from a first input device of the one or more input devices, wherein the wireless data stream includes environmental data originating from a second input device, devices different from the first input device, of the one or more input; and   sending at least a portion of the environmental data to a remote computing device.   
     
     
         40 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 39 , wherein the operations further comprise, triggering an event in response to receiving the environmental data originating from the second input device and, in response to triggering the event, sending a notification of the occurrence of the event to a remote computing device. 
     
     
         41 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 39 , wherein the environmental data is streaming video captured at the target environment and is made accessible to the remote communication device, wherein the remote communication device is a mobile device. 
     
     
         42 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 39 , wherein the operations further comprise, receiving a request, wherein the request is for accessing the portion of the environmental data, wherein the request is received via a second network, wherein the second network is a wireless communication network that is not the wireless mesh communication network, wherein the environmental data includes data captured by the second device at the target environment, wherein the data captured is one or more of: an image, video, sound, motion data, physical presence data, temperature data, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         43 . A computing system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   memory having instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to:
 detect a wireless communication signal from one or more input devices on a wireless mesh communication network, wherein the one or more input devices are configured to at least communicate directly with each other and directly to a smart communication appliance operating on the wireless mesh communication network, wherein the one or more input devices are configured to capture environmental data at a target environment; 
 establish wireless communication with the one or more input devices via the wireless mesh communication network; 
 receive a wireless data stream from a first input device of the one or more input devices, wherein the wireless data stream includes environmental data originating from a second input device, different from the first input device, of the one or more input devices; and 
 send at least a portion of the environmental data originating from the second input device to a remote computing device operating on a second network. 
   
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the memory further has instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to: send, in response to at least receiving the environmental data originating from the second input device, one or more text messages, emails or other communications to the remote communication device on the second network, wherein the environmental data includes one or more of: an image, video, sound, motion data, physical presence data, temperature data, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the second network is at least partially Internet-based. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the second network is a cellular-based or LAN-based network. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the memory further has instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to: receive, from the remote computing device via the second network, a request to control at least part of the second input device and, in response to the request, send information via the wireless mesh communication network to the second input device, wherein the information is configured to control the second input device, and wherein the second network is a wired or wireless network that is not a mesh communication network. 
     
     
         48 . A computing system, comprising:
 a wireless detection component for detecting a wireless communication signal from one or more input devices that are part of a wireless mesh communication network, wherein the one or more input devices are configured to at least communicate directly with each other and/or to a smart communication appliance that is communicating on the wireless mesh communication network, wherein the one or more input devices are configured to capture environmental data at a target environment;   a communication initiation component for establishing wireless communication with the one or more input devices via the wireless mesh communication network; and   a communication component for:
 receiving a wireless data stream from a first input device of the one or more input devices, wherein the data stream includes environmental data originating from a second input device of the one or more input devices; and 
 sending at least a portion of the environmental data originating from the second input device to a remote computing device.