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BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The subject invention is generally related to safety and surveillance equipment for aircraft, ships and other commercial vehicles and is specifically directed to a comprehensive multi-media traffic management and security surveillance system for
same while in port or terminal and/or unattended whether taxiing or parked. The system of the subject invention also permits tracking while en route.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Security is of ever increasing importance. This is particularly true with respect to commercial airlines as more and more people and freight are moved in this manner and aircraft and other commercial transports increasingly become the targets of
terrorists activities. The airways are becoming increasingly crowded with traffic. Global tracking systems are now in place to monitor the flight of the aircraft from the moment it lifts off until it safely lands at its destination. Radar and
navigational positioning systems are commonplace both on the aircraft and at the ground tracking stations. All of these electronic systems have increased the overall safety record of commercial traffic to new standards as the number of miles flown
continues to escalate.
In addition, the on board avionics including electronic monitoring and diagnostic equipment, particularly on large commercial jets, continues to evolve, giving both the on board crew and the ground assets more complete, accurate and up to date
information regarding the condition of the aircraft while in flight. Flight recorders long have been incorporated in order to provide a record of each flight and in order to provide critical information to aid in the determination of the causes of an
accident or multifinction should one occur.
However, one area which has been neglected with the ever increasing availability of electronic surveillance is the security of the aircraft or other vehicles or vessels, including, but not limited to, over-the-road vehicles, ships and other
commercial transports (collectively referred to as commercial transports), particularly when unattended. Typically, when an aircraft is on the ground, or in port, and unattended the only security provided is the security of the location. If the
security of the area in which the commercial transport is stored is breached, the commercial transport is an easy target. In most cases, even the access doors are left open and further, for obvious safety reasons, are designed not to be locked from the
outside. Many critical areas of the commercial transport are left exposed such as in an aircraft, by way of example, the landing gear, the engine housing and critical wing and tail components.
In addition, most of the ground traffic control relies on pilot visual information and onboard avionics providing an in adequate, at best, traffic management system utilizing already overworked equipment. The limited control and management of
terminal traffic including not only the commercial transports, but also ground personnel, security vehicles and fuel trucks and other support vehicles, creates a dangerous and hazardous condition at most highly congested terminals. There are not any
monitoring devices to assure that such traffic is in its assigned zones or to alert when a commercial transport is at risk because of breach of a restricted zone by unauthorized personnel or unauthorized vehicles, including overlapping exclusive
occupancy zones by more than one commercial transport.
In addition, with terrorism and sabotage an increasing problem there is significant need to develop an integrated system capable of providing good physical/visual and/or audio surveillance as well as monitoring- of the environmental, security and
motion conditions of the commercial transport and various components while the commercial transport is on the ground. For example, a good visual surveillance system would give instant evidence of a breach of commercial transport security, could sound an
alarm and could immediately secure the area.
Such a system would also permit the recording of visual information to provide a history for later review, providing yet another source of information for increasing the overall security of commercial transportation.
While such a system would be of great benefit to the commercial transport and airline industries in general and to the commercial airlines in particular, there are no integrated systems currently available which adequately meets these needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention is directed to a comprehensive multi-media safety, tracking and/or surveillance system, which in the preferred form provides both visual and/or audio information as well as critical data such as location, direction,
intrusion, fire and/or smoke detection and/or status of environmental conditions and/or transport systems status. In my aforementioned patent and copending applications, incorporated herein by reference, detection and sensor systems are utilized to
provide the flight crew and/or a ground tracking station for commercial aircraft critical information during flight and/or to record the information and data generated during flight for later reconstruction of catastrophic events. The subject invention
is an expansion of this concept and adds not only ground security and surveillance, but tracking while in port or on the ground as well as while in route, as well as incorporating the onboard systems of the aforementioned patent and applications. It is
an important feature of the invention that the transmitting network for provides a comprehensive communications link between stationary and mobile stations on the ground, the craft or vehicle being monitored and strategic sensors both onboard the
commercial transport and the sensors on the ground. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a wireless LAN (local area network), WAN (wide area network) or other wireless transmission scheme is used as the transmission system of choice. A digital
wireless voice intercom is provided for security purposes and for communication between the onboard crew and the ground based personnel. In the preferred embodiment video intercom is also provided. Digital wireless telecommunication capability provides
for text communications. Digital wireless (such as, by way of example, LAN) based file communication capability permits the transmission of information such as route or flight plans or gate and dock information. As an example, a LAN or WAN has
worldwide tracking capability adapted to be used in connection with a global satellite communication system such as IRIDIUM, wherein the entire path and status of the commercial transport may be monitored while airborne over satellite connections. While
wireless systems provide the preferred form of communication, many features of the invention may be practiced using other communication links within the scope and spirit of the invention.
One important feature of the invention is the ability to remotely monitor a commercial transport while on the ground, whether or not the commercial transport is attended. This will permit detection of unexpected events, breach of security,
change in environmental conditions and other activities both on and in the vicinity of the commercial transport. A GPS system may be included to provide accurate positioning information of the commercial transport, establishing the parked position of
the commercial transport at any time, as well as tracking its movements.
Once in port, the system of the subject invention permits complete monitoring of on ground movement, and allows the monitoring of other commercial transport in the area to assure that the various transports do not interfere with one another.
This provides collision avoidance, and can be utilized both on the ground and in the air or in route via water or land. Current airborne collision avoidance is accomplished by use of a radar transponder. Aircraft position is located by radar "echo"
response and altitude by a "reporting altimeter" reading being returned to the radar system encoded in the transporter return. Use of a satellite based LAN or WAN will provide an "intranet in the sky", providing much more accurate GPS position,
altitude, heading, speed and other navigational information to the FAA and other operators and computer tracking and monitoring stations, thus enhancing collision avoidance information.
In its preferred form, a plurality of sensor units, which may include at least one video or image sensor/device and/or at least one audio sensor and/or at least one motion sensor, are placed strategically about the interior and exterior of the
commercial transport and at strategic ground based locations. In addition, strategically placed motion detectors, fire sensors, smoke sensors, door or latch sensors and other monitoring equipment are incorporated in the system. A comprehensive system
incorporating these various sensing devices provide a broad based, multimedia safety, security and surveillance system for monitoring commercial transports at any time, whether or not attended.
In addition to safety and/or surveillance issues, the comprehensive data collection scheme of the subject invention provides a system permitting enhanced monitoring and/or response to crew generated work orders or re-supply orders, and may even
avoid the requirement that the crew order certain supplies. For example, by monitoring the fuel, fresh water, waste water and/or hydraulic levels onboard and transmitting this to a ground station, refueling, water delivery and/or hydraulic fluid check
and supply may be initiated by the station crew and prepared for delivery when the commercial transport arrives in port. The performance parameters of the commercial transport may also be monitored and may be utilized for initiating maintenance
procedures, for example, even before the commercial transport is in port. Pre-flight or pre-mission checklists may be enhanced or automated by monitoring the critical functions and criteria via the system of the subject invention. The system of the
subject invention greatly enhances maintenance procedures and efficiency. Where desired, the system is capable of permitting the commercial transport to carry its detailed maintenance record onboard, permitting full access to such information at remote
locations. The maintenance record can be routinely updated or polled from the home based maintenance station using the system's unique uplink capability. The ability to both send and receive information will support remote control of the commercial
transport onboard systems such as lighting, strobes, alarm setting/resetting, environmental controls, locking systems, siren or other audible signals, fuel flow, fire detection and the like.
Situational awareness is also provided by the subject invention. All transports in the terminal area are provided with a GPS location sensor such that the home or ground crew will be able to track and identify the location of every transport in
the terminal. This provides better flow of the commercial transports in the terminal area, assuring that proper distance is maintained and appropriate pathways are followed.
The system also permits full situational awareness capability where all ground or water transports in the are provided with GPS location information such that the ground crew will know where all assets are at any point in time. This can provide
both collision avoidance as described and also check to assure that the transports are in an authorized area. A composite of all transport location information can be used to provide a "live" display of all assets in the area. Logging of this
information will provide good archival information in the event a reconstruction of events, such as a security breach or collision, is required.
The comprehensive multi-media system of the subject invention permits the collection and dissemination of virtually all data associated with the commercial transport at any time, both while in port or in service. In the preferred embodiment a
combination of sensors systems are used, with sensors being installed within the transport, on its exterior and at ground-based locations for monitoring the transport when is in port. In such areas where ground based systems are not available, the
transport-installed systems still provide useful and enhanced information over the prior art. Likewise, in those areas where unequipped transports enter a system equipped port; the ground based system of the subject invention can communicate via
standard ground-to-air radio to provide useful information such as perimeter surveillance and the like. For example, even without the use of on-board systems, the identification number (such as the tail number on an aircraft), owner, state or country of
origin and other identifying information can be matched with available data to provide immediate and accurate identification of a specific commercial transport. This permits efficient tracking and response capability of the transport in port, on the
ground, or anywhere in the world using satellite communications.
In the preferred embodiment, fixed view and steerable video cameras may be incorporated either on the commercial transport or independently of the transport at ground based sites where commercial transport is located in order to monitor movements
around the perimeter of the monitored commercial transport. It is also desirable to include focusing and/or timing functions so that selective pan, tilt and/or zoom (x,y,z) positioning can be utilized. The cameras may be activated and/or aimed and/or
focused based on the location data provided by a GPS system integral to the monitored commercial transport, may automatically pan an area, or may be manually operated by crew or ground personnel. Automatic tracking of each transport in the terminal by
one or more tracking cameras in conjunction with a recording device can provide an archival record of each asset in case of a detrimental event, such as fire, terrorist event, theft, collision and the like.
Several video cameras may be placed such that the lens of each is aimed through a window opening provided in the fuselage or body in order to provide video imaging of the engines, tail section, and/or landing gear and other functional components
of an aircraft. Cameras may be placed throughout the interior of the commercial transport on the flight deck, in the cargo hold, in passenger cabin and/or other desired spaces including on the ground outside the commercial transport. The audio
sensors/transducers and/or other sensors and detectors are also strategically located throughout the commercial transport and positioned at strategic locations both internal and external of the fuselage. External sensors based on the ground area
surrounding the commercial transport may also be added.
In its simplest form, current sensors are already on the commercial transport coupled with strategically based ground sensors and may be used to provide surveillance and/or warning system. Thus, a basic system may be implemented with a minimum
of alteration to the commercial transport and a minimum of expense.
Within the commercial transport, the system may be hardwired or may use wireless transmission and receiving systems. The wireless system is particularly useful for adapting the system as a retrofit on existing equipment and also provides
assurances against disruption of data transmission during structural catastrophes such as fire or airframe breakup. In the preferred embodiment, the wireless system is fully self-contained with each sensor unit having an independent power supply and
where appropriate, a sensor light source. The ground sensors may likewise be hardwired or use wireless transmission and receiving of video and/or alarm telemetry signals. The ground security system may include motion sensitive, weight sensitive,
infrared sensitive, audio sensitive, or other typed activation system so that the equipment is not activated until some event is detected, i.e., the system is action triggered. The ground communications link, monitoring and/or recording systems for
collecting and/or transmitting the data as disclosed in my copending applications may be adapted for processing the information gathered by the onground security system and, in the preferred embodiment. The wireless system may use radio frequency
transmission and may incorporate the wireless communication system already in place as an integral component of the system. Where desired, a wireless local area network (LAN) or other wireless system may also be utilized for intercommunication among the
system components. Preferably, the entire capture, retrieval, monitor and archive system is installed utilizing the wireless transmitting/receiving system in order to assure that transmission will not be lost in the event of a power shutdown or a
failure causing possible open or shorted circuit conditions which could occur in a hard wired system.
A commercial transport equipped with the ground surveillance system of the subject invention may not always be located at a port or terminal equipped with a ground security system. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the on-board
system is self-contained and can operate on a stand-alone basis at sites where compatible comprehensive electronic ground security is not available. In those sites with a compatible ground surveillance system, the onboard system communicates with the
site-based system to provide information to airport ground personnel and security personnel. The system of the present invention also lends well to a deployable surveillance device carried by the transport, which can be deployed at unequipped sites to
permit off-craft monitoring while the commercial transport is at the port or terminal. The system can be positioned at a strategic location within the site whenever the commercial transport is unattended to permit monitoring of the commercial transport
from a remote location. The deployable device is then retrieved and stowed in the commercial transport when the commercial transport departs from the site.
In the preferred embodiment, the system will transmit any detected information to a monitor system located at a ground control security station, typically located somewhere within the terminal, tower and/or safety sites such as security stations
and fire stations. Detection of activity or fire can sound local and/or remote alarms and/or dial emergency numbers. The data may also be recorded on the standard recorders provided onboard the commercial transport and/or on ground based recorders of
conventional type, digital type or a computer based logging system. The security station has instant live access to all of the image and/or audio signals as they are captured by the sensors, and where used, the commercial transport recorder will make an
historic record of the images for archive purposes. Where random access recording techniques are used, such as, by way of example, digital random access memory storage devices, the information by be readily searched for stored information.
If unauthorized personnel breaches the security area and the audio and/or video equipment is activated, signals will be immediately transmitted to the security station. This will give immediate access to information identifying the activity and
the personnel involved. Further, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, an alarm system will be activated for securing the immediate area and taking counter measures to tighten security such as remote operation of lights and doors, and respond to
a breach of same.
In the one embodiment. information from the plurality of sensors on the transport is synchronized through an on board capture/multiplexing system whereby the plurality of data, including visual image data, may be displayed, recorded, and/or
transmitted in either a split screen or serial fashion. A "time-stamp" or chronology signal may also be incorporated in the data scheme. Any signal which is capable of being captured and stored may be monitored in this manner. Utilizing the wireless
system of the invention in combination with the battery back-up power supply, it is possible to continue collecting information without using ground power or commercial transport power. This assures that the system will operate even if power is
disrupted for any reason such as, by way of example, tampering by unauthorized personnel or by fire. In its simplest form, only triggered (activated) sensors are active, i.e., an activity at the site causes a triggering effect and activates the sensor,
and only the signals generated thereby are transmitted to the security station. In such a system, multiplexing of continuous signals is not nearly as critical. The "time-stamp" is particularly useful as an aid in reconstructing the events in a
"postevent" investigation.
In the one embodiment, the system includes a plurality of strategically located video image sensors and/or audio sensors, each sensor adapted for transmitting the signals to a multiplexer for distributing the signals to monitors and/or archival
recorders. The data multiplexer combines all of the signals from the various detector circuits to provide a data stream suitable for transmission over the wireless system.
The LAN transceiver is the interface into the LAN. The LAN transceiver can accept software downloads from various system elements to enable the multi-media sensor system to be maintained or upgraded to perform other functions. Other sensors may
also be incorporated in the system, such as motion sensors, smoke and/or fire sensors and the like. The system is configured for selectively transmitting all of the data on a "real-time" or "near real-time" basis, i.e., the data is delivered with only
delays for processing time such as compression/decompression, multiplexing and the like. The system is also adapted to provide the monitors access to serial, synchronized full screen view of each of the cameras, in sequential viewing, or alternatively
to provide split screen or multi-monitor viewing of a plurality of cameras. The system may be hardwired or wireless transmission may be utilized to further minimize the possibility of a malfunction at the onset of a catastrophic occurrence and to make
the system more tamper resistant.
The comprehensive surveillance/communication of the subject invention supports communication of monitored data and/or commands or operational data between the ground or base station and the transport. between the transport and ground or terminal
support vehicles and/or equipment, between the transport and various monitoring stations or systems, between transports, between the ground station and the support vehicles, between the monitoring station and support vehicles and between the monitoring
stations or systems and the support vehicles. This permits the ground station to monitor and/or determine the identity, location, and heading of any vehicle in its range for tracking and collision avoidance, as well as monitoring sensor information,
alarm conditions, emergency conditions, servicing requests, maintenance information, navigational information, requests for information such as flight plans, weather information, route maps, message traffic such as e-mail and the like. Similar
information may be transmitted and received between transports, between transports and support vehicles and any of these and the ground station. The ground station may also send operational commands to the various monitoring systems both on-board the
transport and ground mounted, such as camera tilt, pan and zoom and sensor activation. Other command signals such as "lock-on" a specific condition or transport, sensor download, activation such as "lights-on" or alarm (e.g., siren) activation and the
like.
In a typical application. when an alarm from a specific transport is sent to the ground station it will be tagged with the GPS coordinates of the transport. The alarm will also be reported to a security system, typically including a
computerized center that distributes the information of the wireless LAN and. where used, the wired LAN. The mobile and/or personal security units will also report their GPS coordinates to the central computer so that the system knows the location of
all security personnel at ant point in time. Once the alarm signal is received, the system can search and identify the closest appropriate personnel and alert them of the alarm condition. This is accomplished by calculating the length of the vectors
between the transport GPS and the various personnel GPS signals. The shortest vectors are the nearest personnel and these can be alerted to respond to the alarm condition.
The selected personnel are then signaled by the security system of the present invention to respond. Audio, text and graphic communications may be utilized to inform the selected personnel of the condition and location. The system can also use
its "mapping" function to assist the personnel in determining the best route to take in response. Because of the em comprehensive nature of the system of the subject invention, both audio and image conditions of the transport can be communicated
directly to the selected personnel, using video conferencing compression techniques of the LAN. If the desired, the personnel can switch cameras to obtain different views, or gain control of the steerable camera disclosed herein and survey the scene as
appropriate via remote control. The two-way communication capability of the system would also permit the personnel to communicate conditions and the need for additional personnel or equipment both to the system computer and directly to other personnel.
The security computer system will register the GPS location of the selected personnel as well as the location of additional or "back-up" personnel in order to coordinate their movements and actions. The system can then provide essential audio, video and
communications to the selected back-up personnel in order to coordinate the entire operation. The coordinates of fixed sensors may also be entered into the system so that personnel can determine the proximity of each available sensor to his GPS
location.
It should be noted that the request for back-up can be programmed to be automatically activated under certain conditions. For example, if a security personnel personal system detects an explosion or a gunshot, an automatic alarm condition can be
activated to alert central security other personnel in the vicinity to indicated "potential bomb blast" or "potential automatic weapon", all based on the audio signal which is picked up by the sensors by comparing them to known acoustic signatures of
these types of events. Shock and vibration detectors may also be included both on board, at fixed locations on the ground and in the portable or mobile units. For example, if a personal unit is dropped, an alarm would be generated. Smoke and heat
detectors may also be incorporated to monitor the safety of the environment of personnel.
It is a primary object of the subject invention to provide the means and apparatus for a comprehensive, multi-media traffic management, surveillance and monitoring system for monitoring and tracking a commercial transport vehicle while in port or
while in route.
It is a further object and feature of this invention to provide a comprehensive surveillance and monitoring system supported by a wireless transmission system whereby communication of all data including live video and/or audio transmissions can
transmitted between the transport, ground or base stations, remote sensor systems, remote or mobile monitoring systems and other transports.
It is another object and feature of this invention to provide tracking capability to assure that a transport stays in an assigned zone while either in route or in the port or terminal.
It is a further object and feature of this invention to provide communication capability for monitoring and/or responding to supply needs on board the transport in order to permit support personnel to expedite response and/or re-supply when the
transport arrives in port.
It is also an object and feature of this invention to provide for monitoring of situational conditions of and surrounding the transport both while in port and while in route.
It is yet another object and feature of this invention to provide means for archiving performance parameters for later recall in order to review performance and/or reconstruct events.
It is an additional object and feature of this invention to provide a ground surveillance and security system for detecting the breach of commercial transport security while the commercial transport is on the around or in a port or terminal and
is unattended.
It is another object and feature of the subject invention to identify that a commercial transport is on the ground and needs to be monitored for tracking its exact location, and its orientation on the ramp.
It is also an object and feature of the subject invention to provide a security system, which is integral with the commercial transport for providing ground security.
It is a further object and feature of the subject invention to provide communications between the commercial transport and a ground security station to assure commercial transport security while the commercial transport is parked or unattended.
It is another object and feature of the subject invention to provide a comprehensive, multi-media data generating, collecting, displaying, transmitting, receiving and/or storage safety and/or surveillance scheme for commercial transport.
It is also an object and feature of the subject invention to provide an on ground security system which incorporates the in-flight surveillance system in order to minimize the number of additional components required to implement the system.
It is also an object and feature of the subject invention to store video, images, audio and/or transducer data on the commercial transport being protected and/or at the ground security station
It is yet another object and feature of the subject invention to provide apparatus for permitting ground and/or base personnel to receive video, images, audio information and/or data relating to critical components and areas of a commercial
transport and operational data such as dispatch information.
It is still another object and feature of the invention to permit the monitoring, storing and retrieval of any of a variety of video, images, audio signals and/or performance data by the tracking, surveillance and/or imaging equipment on board
the commercial transport.
Other objects and features of the subject invention will be readily apparent from the accompanying drawings and detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a basic diagram of a ground based security and surveillance system incorporating the teachings of the subject invention.
FIGS. 2a and 2b are diagrams of a simplified, basic camera/transmitter to base station system utilizing a conventional wireless transmission system between transport and the base station, and adapted for converting generally incompatible systems
in order to make the system of the subject invention of universal application.
FIGS. 3a and 3b are diagrams of a simplified, basic camera to base station utilizing a digital wireless transmission system such as, by way of example, a digital radio, wireless digital LAN or other wireless communication system.
FIGS. 4a and 4b are diagrams of an expanded system similar to FIG. 3b, but showing use of an on-board hardwired system and on-board wireless system, respectively.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a multimedia camera tracking system for use in connection with the subject invention.
FIG. 6 is an expanded system incorporating the teachings of FIG. 1, including a remote mobile security unit and utilizing a local area network (LAN) as the signal transmitting and receiving system applied to the fixed components of the system, a
wireless network such as a wireless LAN (W-LAN) for the signal transmitting and receiving system applied to the mobile components of the system and a wide are network (WAN) as the signal transmitting and receiving system applied to distant components of
the system.
FIG. 7 is an illustration of an aircraft as an exemplary commercial transport and shows the incorporation of on board systems with the comprehensive tracking and monitoring system of the subject invention.
FIG. 8 shows a typical ground based system.
FIGS. 9 is an expansion of the system shown in FIG. 1, utilizing a remote receiver and monitor station in combination with hardwired ground components, wireless ground components and an aircraft system interface.
FIG. 10 is a simplified diagrammatic illustration of a wireless LAN or WAN networked system illustrating the versatility of information transmission and monitoring capabilities.
FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of the system being used in a taxi protection and/or tracking mode.
FIGS. 12a, 12b and 12c are illustrations of various system configurations for LAN and wireless local area network (W-LAN) systems.
FIG. 13 is a detailed diagram of the onboard surveillance system for use in connection with transport two-way radio and/or the wireless LAN system of FIGS. 12a, 12b and/or 12c.
FIG. 14 is an integrated sensor/wireless LAN subsystem using DSP technology.
FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic illustration of the positioning of tracking sensors on the ramp, particularly well-suited for tracking assets without internal positional or tracking sensors.
FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic illustration of the selection process techniques for identifying and alerting personnel upon the occurrence and detection of an event requiring response.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
It will be readily understood that the various components and features of the subject invention can be utilized in connection with a tracking, security and/or surveillance system for any of a variety of commercial transports. For purposes of
brevity, the features of the invention are described in detail herein as applied to commercial aircraft. This is primarily because it is assumed that aircraft systems are likely to incorporate the most complex and comprehensive surveillance systems of
the subject invention due to the importance of securing this commercial transport while on the ground and both the importance and complexity of monitoring and tracking same while in port or in route. The system may be scaled up or scaled down depending
upon application. For example, land vehicles such as railroad rolling stock or over the road trucks may need only door sensors, motion sensors and brake monitors, whereas aircraft, as described, will require a substantially more comprehensive system in
order to provide adequate surveillance. In the preferred embodiment for aircraft as described in detail herein, the comprehensive surveillance system utilizes the onboard aircraft system in combination with a ground-based wireless system. The wireless
configuration can also be applied to the sensors on board the aircraft using the same architecture as described here for the ground based portion of the system. That is, the on board elements may be hardwired, may communicate through wireless radio, or
may utilize wireless LAN as herein described, or a combination. The LAN radio provides a wireless LAN connection to other system elements. This is a well-know but evolving technology that allows high bandwidth wireless data transmission between
multiple devices. Several different techniques are available from a variety of manufacturers, including Raytheon Systems Corporation, the assignee of the subject invention. Many of these techniques may be utilized in the subject invention.
The comprehensive system includes various condition sensors, motion and audio detectors, video cameras, light detectors, sound detectors, contact switches, temperature detectors and control systems for controlling light, and sound transmissions
to the aircraft. A temperature and/or humidity detector may be used for general monitoring functions such as predicting the icing of the wings in winter conditions, or for fire alarm functions. The temperature detector may be any known form for
temperature transducer, such as a PTC, NTC, thermistor, or semiconductor element. More advanced semiconductor elements may be used, such as integrated circuit types that may include integral temperature and/or humidity sensors, references,
analog/digital convertors, protocol engines and serial driver. Further, integrated circuits can incorporate on-board digital radio elements such as DSP based radios to be completely integrated self-contained chips. The temperature analog/digital
convertor adapts the ambient temperature of the environment into a digital data stream. This digitizer runs at suitable rates for continuous temperature monitoring. A signal processor can be used to provide correction to the temperature and/or humidity
elements, such as processing out non-linear characteristics of the sensors. It can also be used to look for profiles such as rapidly rising temperature/humidity conditions that may indicate a fire or open door or other security breach. Detection of
such an event would trigger a specified unique alarm condition to be transmitted back to other elements of the system.
One of the most significant factors in determining the overall complexity of the system is the cost associated with the various sensor components. For example, in certain applications it may be desirable to add a humidity detector or a carbon
monoxide detector. A digital camera may be used, or an analog camera may be used in combination with an analog to digital convertor, or digital with internal digitization circuits, or digital compressed with an internal analog to digital convertor and a
motion video compressor. In the preferred embodiment, the camera runs at full-motion rates. However, it will be readily understood that the camera can run at lesser rates for still frame or step video applications. In all cases, accurate information
can be supplied on a "real-time" basis, i.e., the information can be transmitted, received and acted upon by man or machine in a timely fashion, sometimes with slight delays, to permit adequate response to an event. The video analog/digital convertor is
functional to adapt the analog light modulated signal representing the video scene into a digital data stream. This digitizer can run at "real-time" rates for processing full motion video, or could operate at lesser rates for still frame or step video
applications. The signal processor/motion video compressor is flexible and will provide various functions depending upon application. For example, the video processor/compressor subsystem can be programmed to perform functions such as motion detection
in several well-known manners and methods. Several techniques are utilized to accomplish motion detection, but the most general method involves capturing repeated video frames and comparing differences in those repeated frames over time. Other
techniques such as edge analysis, which looks for specific characteristics in the image, and the changes in such characteristics, may also be used. The processor/compressor subsystem can also be used to image process the video for purposes of contrast
enhancement, dynamic range improvement, noise reduction and/or other well-known video processing methods, or o | | |
