AU2005100691A4 - Improved Video Entry Security System - Google Patents

Description

O1 IMPROVED VIDEO ENTRY SECURITY SYSTEM S) FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to video entry security systems, and in Nparticular to a system which allows more intelligent selection of multiple video inputs signals to a separate visual pathway.

_BACKGROUND ART VThere are a wide variety closed circuit type television systems used for oentry into a secured building or the like. Each of the many prior art systems are directed to solving a particular problem. An excellent summary of the types of systems available in given in United States Patent No. 5,428,388 and is given below: Moore, U.S. Pat. No. 3,480,727, Nov. 25, 1969, Closed Circuit Television Protection System: Discloses a closed circuit television system for use in monitoring a door or other entranceway, to permit recognition of a visitor before the door is opened. The system includes wiring between a camera and loudspeaker located near the door, to a television monitor in which the filament of the picture tube is constantly energized by heating current, thereby allowing instant display of a scene viewed by the camera, when a switch is actuated. The direction of one-way voice communication between the camera loudspeaker/microphone and the monitor loudspeaker/microphone is selectable by a switch.

Desanti, U.S. Pat. No. 4,075,659, Feb. 21, 1978, Electronic Door Announcer: Discloses an electronic door announcer for apartments of a multi-family dwelling having a community television antenna in which signals due to sound and video operation of the announcer are carried by at least part of the community antenna coaxial cable system, switching means for the individual apartments being connected into said coaxial cable system.

Cohn, U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,675, Jan. 25, 1983, Doorbell Actuated Television Security System: Discloses a video security system with intercom activated by means of a doorbell. The video input to a remote camera is automatically presented on the video display of a television receiver upon activation of the doorbell while audio from the intercom's speaker microphone is output through the television receiver's speaker system. Following 2

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C a predetermined time interval after doorbell actuation, the system automatically turns off.

b) If the television receiver is on when the doorbell is actuated, the system automatically cr provides video camera and intercom information at the television, reverting to the Nreceived television signal mode of operation upon user selection.

Levinson, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,193, Jun. 1, 1985, Remote-Controlled _Doorbell Signal Receiver: a Discloses a remote-controlled doorbell adapted for connection across the existing doorbell oin a building having a wired doorbell system. A transmitter for generating an over-the-air I radio signal is coupled across the wired doorbell so that the transmitter will be actuated in response to current flowing through the wired doorbell. A remote receiver coupled to sound producing means receives the over-the-air radio signal and actuates the sound producing means when the existing doorbell is energized.

Lefkowitz, U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,384, Jun. 18, 1985, Video and Audio Security System: Discloses a video and audio system for monitoring an area, particularly an area adjacent a door. The system includes a video and audio assembly adapted to be mounted to a door and a video and audio console spaced from the door. Opening of the door is controlled by an electric door strike operated from the console. Both the console and the assembly include audio elements which permit simultaneous two-way communication. A limited number of conductors, one of which carry high voltage, couple the assembly and the console.

Chem, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,764,953, Aug. 16, 1988, Method and Apparatus for Remote Doorbell Answering: Discloses an apparatus for providing remote answering of a doorbell that includes a circuit for receiving a doorbell signal indicative that a doorbell switch has been actuated.

An autodialing circuit is coupled to and responsive to the receiving circuit and a telephone line for dialling a telephone number responsive to the doorbell signal. An alerting circuit generates an alert signal to be transmitted over the telephone line to the telephone number dialled by the autodialing circuit, so that the alert signal may alert a party answering the remote telephone to the fact that the party is responding to a doorbell rather than a normal telephone call. An audio speaker is physically situated near the doorbell switch, for reproducing audio signals from the telephone line which are generated at the remote 3 o telephone. An audio microphone is also physically situated near the doorbell switch, for i) generating electrical signals responsive to sounds made near the doorbell switch and transmitting the signals to the telephone line to the remote telephone. The apparatus Nfurther includes a switching network for coupling the door speaker and microphone to a local telephone set and a remote telephone set selectively in any combination.

S Tatsumi, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,461, Jun. 27, 1989, Over-Door Interphone System Provided With a Night-Vision Monitoring Device:

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oDiscloses an over-door interphone system for telephone communication between a master station unit, inside of a house, and a remote station unit, outside of an entrance door of the house, that is provided with a night-vision monitoring device. The system includes a television camera having a solid state camera sensitive to infrared light, and an infrared illuminator source comprising an array of infrared light emitting diodes.

S Morotomi, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,959,713, Sep. 25, 1990, Home Automation System: Discloses a home automation system in which a coaxial cable or other data bus is laced inside a home to connect an intercom unit and monitor camera for communication with visitors, to a conventional home television connected to the bus, thereby making it possible to output audio and video signals from the intercom unit and monitor camera on a conventional broadcast reception television.

As can be seen from the above, there are a wide variety of systems available. One important feature of a video entry system is a separation of the audio and visual signal pathways in order that feedback or interference is minimized. This creates a problem for the control system with the identification of an incoming signal and transmission of the incoming signal to the nominated unit in the building. This difficulty is increased when there are a large number of units in a building and multiple door entry stations. It also typically requires a dramatically increased amount of cabling to link the system together. Generally, a system will therefore provide directed audio and will provide a rolling visual signal wherein the signal of each of the entry station visual device is displayed for a short period of time instead of a dedicated signal from the nominated entry station being transmitted to the nominated unit.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an improved video entry security In 4 0 system, which may at least partially overcome the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

In one form, the invention resides in an improved video entry security IND system for a building having a plurality of secured entry points and a plurality of internal units, the system including an entry station visual device for each entry station and a visual display device in each unit with a visual-communication pathway between each Va entry station and each unit an entry station notification device for each entry station and

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o a notification device in each unit with a communication pathways between each entry station and each unit, and control means wherein when a notification device at a particular entry point is activated and the notification communications pathway between the entry point and a nominated unit is opened, the control means selects and connects the visual pathway to the entry station visual device at the same entry point through identification of the notification communications pathway.

In a second form, the invention resides in an improved video entry security system for a building having a plurality of secured entry points and a plurality of internal units, the system including an entry station visual device for each entry point and a visual display device in each unit, a plurality of entry station notification devices and a notification device in each unit, a plurality of separate communications pathways and control means to control the selection of communications pathways between a nominated unit and the entry station visual device based on an input from a notification device and directed towards the nominated unit.

In a third form', the invention resides in an improved video entry security system for a building having a plurality of secured entry stations, and a plurality of internal units, the system including a plurality of entry station devices, each with at least one communication pathway and a notification pathway between each entry station and each unit, and control means which identifies a nominated unit using the notification pathway from an activated entry station device and connects at least one communication pathway from an activated entry station device to the nominated unit.

The video entry system of the invention is capable of selecting the correct entry station device based on the control means identifying the notification pathway back to the activated entry station. This system can solve issues of providing a visual display of a person requesting entry to a secured building by providing a directed pathway for a o visual signal to the selected entry point without "scrolling" through all of the signals and displaying them for a predetermined period of time.

;Z The system is generally fitted to a building having a plurality of secured IND entry points and a plurality of internal units. A building of this type normally has a number of different entry points including generally the main doors, side and rear doors as well as goods entry points. The security for the building is provided by a communications Va terminal at the entry point to allow a visitor to nominate a particular unit and to

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o communicate via an audio device (usually a speaker and microphone), with that unit.

Each entry point will also generally be provided with a camera which is separate to and usually remote from the communications terminal. Generally the camera operates on an entirely different system to the audio-based, communications terininal at the entry point.

Each of the communications terminals further has a keyboard (not shown) by which a room or unit number signal is produced by operating the keys to designate a particular room or unit in the building.

Using the keyboard, a visitor can enter the room or unit number of the nominated room or unit and the system will generally issue a notification signal to the nominated room via the control means. The notification signal will normally be an electrical pulse that sounds a chime or alarmn tone on the notification device in the nominated room or unit. The notification signal may be or include an audio signal.

Activation of the notification signal may also open an audio communications pathway to the nominated unit via the control means.

Each room or unit in the building will typically have a visual display device used for receiving the video signal from a camera at an entry station. The visual display device may be in the form of an electronic visual display device such as a television, a liquid crystal display (LCD) or similar. Jt is preferred that the visual display device be as small as possible to be as inconspicuous as possible. Typically, the intercom terminal also includes an audio device, separate from the visual display device capable of receiving and transmitting audio signal so that an occupant can speak to the visitor.

As well as the notification pathway, there will typically be at least two communications pathways linking each visual display device and each camera-equipped door or gate terminal, namely at least one audio communications pathway, capable of carrying or transmitting an audio signal and at least one visual communications pathway, tt'3 6 0 o separated from the audio communications pathway, capable of carrying or transmitting a b visual signal. It is appreciated that the respective signals may be of any type. The notification pathway may carry or include an audio communications signal pathway.

IN Typically the separate audio communications pathway may be a two-way pathway whereas the visual communications pathway will be only one-way with the occupant of a room or unit in the building able to view the potential visitor but the visitor.

According to a preferred embodiment, the audio communications pathway oand the visual communications pathway will be separated from one another, and I preferably will be physically separated. This may limit any feedback or interference from the two signals.

According to a preferred embodiment, each of the pathways may include coaxial cable. Coaxial cable is called "coaxial" because it includes one physical channel that carries the signal surrounded (after a layer of insulation) by another concentric physical channel, both running along the same axis. The outer channel serves as a ground.

Many of these cables or pairs of coaxial tubes can be placed in a single outer sheathing and, with repeaters, can carry information for a great distance. The first physical channel may carry the audio signal and the second physical channel may carry the visual signal or vice versa. The insulation layer will typically isolate or protect the signal integrity of each signal. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a single coaxial cable may be provided linking the control means to the visual display device-equipped intercom terminal in each room or unit in the building, and similarly a single coaxial cable may be provided linking the control means to each camera-equipped door or gate terminal.

The communications pathways from the camera-equipped door or gate terminal to each visual display device-equipped intercom terminal and vice versa will typically occur through the control means. Each camera-equipped door or gate terminal will generally be linked to the control means as will each visual display device in each unit. The control means will typically complete the pathways dependant upon the satisfaction of conditions.

The control means will typically be the component of the system which allows the other components of the system to have the functionality as discussed. The other components may be conventionally available and it will typically be the control means and the parameters for forming the respective separate visual and audio lt) 7

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o communications pathways that may differentiate the present invention.

b) In use, a notification device at a particular entry point is typically activated r by a visitor, by entering the unit identifier, using the keyboard provided. The control Imeans, upon receiving the signal from the notification device will generally open the audio communications pathway from that entry point, to the nominated unit. Based on the signal from the notification device at the particular entry point, the control means also Vthen preferably sends the video signal from a camera device at the particular entry point to othe visual communications pathway, displaying the visual signal in all units.

IIn an alternative embodiment, the control means will not send the video signal until an occupant of the unit activates the visual display device in the unit in response to the notification audio signal. The control means identifies the activated entry station device and connects the visual signal from the activated entry door station to the visual pathway. Of course, if an occupant of a unit activates the visual display deviceequipped intercom terminal in the nominated unit at a time of their choosing as opposed to in response to a notification signal, the control means may or maybe not have a visual pathway activated.

The control means will therefore typically use the audio communications signal pathway to identify the correct or activated entry station device and may connect the visual communications signal pathway from that entry station device to the display devices based on the audio communications signal pathway.

The control means will typically be associated with the required cabling and power source(s) to power the system. There may be one or more signal amplifying means associated with the system. Where the system is provided in a multi-storey apartment building for example, there may be a signal amplifying means associated with each floor or a number of floors.

There will typically be the following system components: a. Door/Entry Station devices -intercom station having a separate audio receiving and transmission capabilities and video transmission capabilities installed at the each entrance to the building, parking entrance or floor level. The Door/Entry Station is configured to communicate with any other station, including for example reception, security, concierge and/or apartment station.

b. Apartment Station devices the visual display will display the visual )pathway and the separate audio intercom stations can communicate with any other station.

c. Control means typically contains power/switching equipment and modules enabling various systems' features. The system could be configured to include one control means that contains all modules and parts or more control means located throughout the building.

0 oEach door/ entry station device shall preferably include the following features: 1 Direct call and audio communication devices using keypad.

0 10 Each door entry station will also have video communication with visual pathway via control means.

Apartment Station(s) devices shall typically include the following features: 1 Audio Communication to Door Station(s) devices via separate privacy handset.

2 Remote door release feature, generally via integrated 'key' button on cradle of Apartment Station device.

3 Apartment Stations visual devices can be mounted as surface, flush or desktop-mounted units.

It is also to be appreciated that the control means and the system may be such that it is possible to output video signals from the entry door station's visual pathway on a conventional broadcast reception television network.

The separate audio communications device and pathway mentioned above is also commonly named called a PABX or telephone system and is used for the supply of the audio communications of the intercom. The separate audio handsets are also a industry standard telephone handset available from many suppliers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to Figure 1 which is a schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of a video entry security system according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In one broad form, the present invention provides an improved video entry security system for a building having a plurality of secured entry stations, and a plurality l9 0 of internal units.

The preferred embodiment of the system illustrated in Figure 1 includes a plurality of entry station devices 10, each with at least one visual pathway and a IN notification pathway between each entry station 10 and each unit in the building.

The system also includes control means 1 1which identifies a nominated _unit using the notification pathway from an activated entry station device 10 and connects IN at least one visual pathway from an activated entry station device 10 to the common visual

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opathway.

n There will typically be the following system components: a. Door/entry station devices 10 intercom station having separate audio receiving an transmission capabilities and video transmission capabilities installed at the each entrance to the building, parking entrance or floor level. The door/entry station device 10 is configured to communicate with the control means and/or apartment station devices 13.

b. Apartment or unit station devices 13 the visual display devices 10 installed in apartments for direct visual display of the communication with visitor.

c. Control means 11 typically contains power/switching equipment and modules enabling various systems' features. The system could be configured to include one control means 11 that contains all modules and parts or more control means located throughout the building.

Each door/entry station device 10 takes the form of a camera-equipped door terminal for each entry point, and each apartment or unit station device 13 is an LCD equipped intercom terminal. The control means 11 has a central processing unit (CPU) to provide the system functionality. Each camera-equipped door terminal 10 has a separate speaker and a microphone. The door terminal will also be viewable using a camera connected via a visual pathway to the control means 11.

The preferred embodiment of the system is provided in a multi-storey apartment building for example, there is a signal amplifying means 15 associated with each floor or number of floors.

The camera-equipped door terminals 10 are provided at all entry points for example, front and back entrance doors, of a building. Each of the camera-equipped door terminal further has a keyboard (not shown) by which a unit number signal is produced by o operating the keys to designate a particular unit in the building.

Each LCD terminal 13 comprises a video receiver for receiving and ;Z displaying the video signal. The separate audio transmitter is associated with the control means CPU which compares the nominated unit number signal with a particular unit number signal from the activated entry station. When the nominated unit number signal matches with the allocated unit number signal, the control means 11I opens the audio IND conmunications pathway to the nominated unit.

o Once the occupant of the nominated unit activates the intercom terminal In 13, generally by depressing a button, the control means 11 then activates that particular LCD intercom terminal 13 and uses the nominated unit number signal on the audio pathway from the activated entry station device 10 to identify the activated entry station device 10 and feed the visual communications signal fr~om the activated entry station device 10 to the visual pathway to all station devices 13. The control means may open the visual pathway to the activated entry station device once the control means has identified the activated entry device based on the audio pathway.

The control means 11I and LCD intercom terminal 13 are connected by a separate dedicated audio signal transmission media, and a common video signal transmission pathway, which is typically a co-axial cable 14 or more than one coaxial cable. The audio and visual signal pathways are separated but the control means I11 is adapted to control all aspects of both communications pathways to all units from all entry point devices 10 and also to detect an incoming signal and properly direct the signal. The detection of an incoming signal from an entry point device 10 is particularly important in identifying both the nominated unit and also the activated entry point device 10, so that the control means I1I can connect the visual pathway to the activated entry point device In the present specification and claims, the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.II Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an try 11 0 0 embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all S) referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

IIn compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood _that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means Iherein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The oinvention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper tscope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

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Claims (3)

1. 2. An improved video entry security system as claimed in either claim wherein the notification pathway includes or carries an audio communications signal.
2. 3. An improved video entry security system as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein there are at least two communications pathways, a notification communications pathway carrying an audio signal and a visual communications pathway.
3. 4. An improved video entry security system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the visual communication pathway and the notification communication pathway are separate from each other but both linked to the control means. An improved video entry security system for a building having a plurality of secured entry points and a plurality of internal units, the system including an entry station visual device for each entry point and a visual display device in each unit, a plurality of entry station notification devices and a notification device in each unit a plurality of communications pathways and control means to control the selection of communications pathways between a nominated unit and the entry station visual device based on an input from a notification device and directed towards the nominated unit. DATED this 2 6 h day of August 2005 Next Generation Voice Pty Ltd By its Patent Attorneys Cullen Co.