GB2487394A

GB2487394A - Conversion of analogue television signals to digital video signals in multi-occupancy buildings

Info

Publication number: GB2487394A
Application number: GB1100949.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen King
Original assignee: COLSTON TRUSTEES Ltd; T2 DIGITAL Ltd
Current assignee: COLSTON TRUSTEES LIMITED; T2 DIGITAL LIMITED
Priority date: 2011-01-20
Filing date: 2011-01-20
Publication date: 2012-07-25
Also published as: GB201100949D0

Abstract

In multi-occupancy buildings with building-wide antenna cable systems, security camera (30) images are often combined with received (20) televisions signals. Now that television signals, and as such televisions (130), are often digital in format the security camera images have to be converted to digital format if they originate in analogue form. The present invention provides a relatively simple method and device (120) for this purpose, namely an analogue to digital converter. The converter may be communal or one may be provided in each room (100).

Description

Conversion of analogue television signals to composite video signals in multi-occupancy buildings The present invention relates generally to a method of converting communal security camera analogue television signals to composite video signals and finds particular, although not exclusive, utility in apartment buildings with pre-existing signal distribution systems.

In apartment buildings, block of flats, education establishments, and other large multi-occupancy buildings such as hospitals, the wired transmission of television and radio signals received from centrally located aerials is often merged with analogue television signals from security cameras.

In the past this has meant that in the room or space, such as an apartment, a television may he connected to the wiring bringing the signal (also known as "a building-wide antenna cable system" or "an integtated reception system"). The television may be tuned such that certain channels receive television signals, certain channels receive radio signals and certain channels receive images from the security cameras.

However, television tran smis sions throughout many countries are pres en dy being changed from analogue to digital. This means that newer televisions are being manufactured with digital tuners rather than analogue tuners.

In multi-occupancy buildings which have pre-existing infrastructure for transmitting the centrally received television and radio signals together with signals from cameras to individual rooms the signal received in the rooms will be a mixture of digital signals from the television and radio, and analogue television signals from the security cameras.

If the television in the room does not have an analogue tuner then the security camera images will not be viewable.

The present invention addresses this by providing, in a first aspect, a method of converting television signals originating from a communal security camera, and distributed as an analogue television signal, to composite video signals in a multi-occupancy building, the building having a pre-existing distribution system for distributing signals from one or more communal security cameras, together with television and radio signals received from one or more aerials, to individual spaces within the building, the method comprising the steps of providing a dedicated analogue television signal to composite video converter in each individual room, as required; and connecting the converter in between a television and the pre-existing distribution system. The television signals originating from the communal security camera may he distributed as an analogue television signal substantially similar to those used for analogue television broadcast.

In this way, the analogue television security camera signals will be converted into a composite video signal which may be acceptable by the televisions. If there is more than one camera then the converter may be able to switch between the analogue television signals received from each camera and send that to the television for viewing.

The method may further comprise the step of automatically tuning the converter to receive the analogue television signals from the one or more cameras. This tuning may he stored and/or pre-set. The television may receive the composite video signals on an "AV" channel.

The method may further comprise the step of manually tuning the converter to receive the analogue television signals from the one or more cameras.

The step of manually tuning the converter to receive the analogue television signals from the one or more cameras may involve moving dip switches. These dip switches may be arranged on the converter.

The method may include the step of automatically switching between the analogue television signals received from one camera to those received from another camera, to sequentially show images from more than one security camera, at predetermined time intervals. In this embodiment, if there is more than one security camera then the method may provide (or output) the images from one camera for, say, 30 seconds and then provide (output) the images from a second camera for 30 seconds, and so on.

The method may include the step of manually switching between the analogue television signals received from one camera to those received from another camera, to sequentially show images from more than one security camera.

This may be effected by the pressing of one or more buttons on the converter.

However, the step of manual switching may also be effected by the use of a remote control unit. In this regard, the method may further include the step of the converter learning the code of any button on the remote control.

The composite video signal may have an analogue sound signal associated with it.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a communal security camera analogue television signal to composite video signal converter for converting television signals originating from a communal security camera, to composite video signals in a multi-occupancy building, the building having a pre-existing distribution system for distributing signals from one or mote communal security cameras, together with television and radio signals received by one or more aerials, to individual rooms within the building.

The converter may be a free-standing dedicated converter arranged to be installed in individual rooms only. It may not be powerful enough and/or arranged to provide composite signals to more than one television.

The converter may comprise a SCART socket and/or connector via which the composite video signal may be conveyed. An optional sound signal may also be conveyed in this manner.

The converter may be arranged to receive analogue television signals on a predetermined channel. This may be factory-set or pre-set on installation.

The converter may include antenna loop through means with a resistive splitter and an RE amphfier. The latter may provide sufficient gain to compensate for any losses in the splitter.

The converter may include means for learning the code of any button on a remote control.

The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. This description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the invention. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a multi-occupancy building including a building-wide antenna cable system; and Figure 2 is an elevational view of a converter according to one embodiment of the invention.

The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-hmiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may he exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

It is to be noticed that the term "comprising", used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, hut does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device comprising means A and B" should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B. Similarly, it is to be noticed that the term "connected", used in the description, should not be interpreted as being restricted to direct connections only. Thus, the scope of the expression CCa device A connected to a device B" should not be limited to devices or systems \vherein an output of device A is directly connected to an input of device B. It means that there exists a path between an output of A and an input of B which may be a path including other devices or means. CCG nn td" may mean that two or more elements are either in direct physical or electrical contact, or that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but yet still co-operate or interact with each other.

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, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may refer to different embodiments.

Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics of any embodiment or aspect of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

Similarly it should he appreciated that in the description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamhning the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects he in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form yet further embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth.

However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practised without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of

this description.

The invention will now be described by a detailed description of several embodiments of the invention. It is cleat that other embodiments of the invention can be configured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit or technical teaching of the invention, the invention being hrnited only by the terms of the appended claims.

In Figure 1, a building 10 is shown in elevation. It includes a building-wide antenna cable system which comprises an aerial 20 on the roof and a security camera 30 positioned by an external door 40. The aerial 20 and the camera 30 are connected to an analogue modulator 80 via wiring 60, 70. This modulator 80 modulates the analogue television signals from the camera 30 on to a predetermined radio frequency carder.

The modulator 80, in this embodiment, also comprises combining means for "combining" the signals from the aerial 20 and the signals from the camera 30.

However, the combining means may be separate from the modulator 80.

In this regard, an associated analogue sound signal may be created from a microphone possibly situated adjacent the camera 30. In such cases, the analogue sound signal may be included in the modulated analogue television signal. From the modulator 80, the modulated analogue television signals are sent to a splitter 90 for onward transmission to individual rooms, apartments 100 etc. in the building 10.

In each room or space 100, the incoming wiring ends in a wall socket 110.

Standard co-axial cables may be plugged into this socket 110.

A co-axial cable is plugged into the socket 110 and connected to a separate dedicated analogue television signal to composite video signal converter 120. This converter 120 converts the analogue television signal coming in from the security camera to composite video. The converter 120 is connected to a television 130 on which the camera images may be viewed.

Although not shown, the building-wide antenna cable system may include an amplifier located before the splitter 90 to boost the signal strength.

With reference to Figure 2, the converter 120 is shown in more detail. It comprises a box shape case including a power input 130, a power indicator light 140, an input connector 150, an output connector 180 and a SCART output connector 160.

The input 150 and output 180 connectors may he arranged for use with co-axial connectors, however, other types of connectors are possible.

The composite video signal is output through the SCART output connector 160. The output connector 180, by contrast, outputs the same signal as has been sent to the converter 120 via the input connector 150, although it may have been amplified by means of an RE amplifier. This allows the converter output connector 180 to be connected to a standard digital television receiver.

Dip switches 170 are shown on the side of the converter 120. These may be arranged to "tune" the converter, or demodulator, to receive different signals from the one or more cameras on one or more different channels.

Other means of effecting this "tuning" are possible such as the use of buttons and a display.

Claims

Claims I. A method of converting television signals originating from a communal security camera, and distributed as an analogue television signal, to composite video signals in a multi-occupancy building, the building having a pre-existing distribution system for distributing signals from one or more communal security cameras, together with television and radio signals received from one or more aerials, to individual spaces within the building, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a dedicated analogue television signal to composite video converter in each individual room, as required; and b) connecting the converter in between a television and the pre-existing distribution system.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of automatically tuning the converter to receive the analogue television signals from the one or more cameras.
3. The method of claim I, further comprising the step of manually tuning the converter to receive the analogue television signals from the one or more cameras.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of manually tuning the converter to receive the analogue television signals from the one or more cameras involves moving dip switches.
5. The method of any preceding claim, including the step of automatically switching between the analogue television signals received from one camera to those received from another camera, to sequentially show images from more than one security camera, at predetermined time intervals.
6. The method of any preceding claim, including the step of manually switching between the analogue television signals received from one camera to those received from another camera, to sequentially show images from mote than one security camera.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of manual switching is effected by use of a remote control unit.
8. The method of claim 7, further including the step of the converter learning the code of any button on the remote control.
9. A communal security camera analogue television signal to composite video signal converter for converting television signals originating from a communal security camera, to composite video signals in a multi-occupancy building, the building having a pre-existing distribution system for distributing signals from one or more communal security cameras, together with television and radio signals received by one or more aerials, to individual rooms within the building.
10. The converter of claim 9 being a free-standing dedicated converter arranged to be installed in individual rooms only.
11. The converter of either one of claims 9 and to, comprising a SCART socket and/or connector via which the composite video signal is conveyed.
12. The converter of any one of claims 9 to It, being arranged to receive analogue television signals on a predetermined channel.
13. The converter of any one of claims 9 to 12, including antenna loop through means with a resistive splitter and an RF amplifier.
14. The converter of any one of claims 9 to 13 including means for learning the code of any button on a remote control.
15. A method of converting communal security camera analogue television signals to composite video signals in a multi-occupancy building, substantially as hereinhefore described \vith reference to the accompanying drawings.
16. An analogue television signal to composite video signal converter for converting communal security camera analogue television signals substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.