US 4,630,110 A · Surveillance system

Abstract

An improved surveillance system for recording and monitoring video information from a plurality of cameras (20) and data from a plurality of electronic cash registers (21). An intelligent controller (28) controls operation of the entire system. Data concerning all cash register transactions are stored in a memory (78) and video signals are displayed on a monitor (27) and/or recorded on a VCR (26). A keyboard (30) is provided so that the user can generate reports, and selectively vary parameters which will trigger alarm events. A novel entrance door mat (22) is provided having a pair of switch arrays (46, 47) separated by a dead zone (48) is provided and the state of the switches is periodically read by the CPU. Control logic (FIGS. 9, 10) executed by the CPU detects closures of the switches in the mat to determine when customers are passing into and out of the store, as well as maintaining a count of the net number of customers at the store at any given time. A video multiplexer (250) changes the display format and the video signals on the monitor (27) and recorded by the VCR (26). Control of the multiplexer (256) is accomplished by a second multiplexer (258) which allows the video multiplexer to be controlled by the outputs of a read only memory (260) addressed by modified scan counts (195) from a CRT controller (165). Alternately, the format of the video display from the video multiplexer can be controlled by the CPU through words written into a register (268) connected to the second multiplexer (258). The apparatus changes the video display format from a normal split screen format in which portions of the video signals from all cameras are displayed to a full screen format of a particular camera. The system also includes apparatus for detecting the period of time for which a cash drawer of one of the ECRs is open and control logic (287) causes an alarm event to be generated turning on the recorder and selecting a full screen display format.

Claims13

Dependent claims

In a surveillance system including a plurality of cameras for providing video signals corresponding to images of a monitored device, at least one video signal recording device selectively operable for recording said video signals in response to a record signal, event detection means for producing a plurality of event signals in response to selective operation of said monitored device;

an improved controller comprising in combination:
timer means connected to said event detection means for measuring a selected predetermined time interval in response to said event detection means providing a first one of said plurality of event signals, and for providing said record signal in response to termination of said predetermined time interval during which said event detection means failed to provide a second particular one of said plurality of event signals.

In a surveillance system including a plurality of cameras for providing a plurality of video signals at a plurality of camera outputs, a display device for displaying visible signals corresponding to video signals provided to a display input, and data generating means connected to at least one monitored device in an area within the field of view of at least one of said cameras for generating real time data signals corresponding to a transaction selectively performed on said monitored device;

and improved video controller comprising in combination:
a CRT controller for providing cyclic raster timing signals to at least one timing signal output of said CRT controller and for defining a periodic complete raster scan;
a processor connected to and comprising a part of said data generating means, said processor being asynchronous to said CRT controller;
an addressable memory for storing said data signals as stored data signals under the control of said processor;
address translation means interposed between said timing signals output and the address inputs of said addressable memory for causing said stored data signals to be read out of said addressable memory during a predetermined portion of said raster scan and for providing programmed counter signals;
character generating means connected to said addressable memory and to said display input for providing character signals corresponding to said stored data signals to a character output;
register means connected to said processor for storing a display mode control signal and a display select output provided by said processor and providing same to a display control output;
camera select means connected to said address translation means for providing a plurality of camera select output signals during a plurality of additional predetermined portions of said raster scan different from said first predetermined portion of said raster scan, including a first camera select output signal which is active only during said first predetermined portion of said raster scan, in response to said programmed counter signals;
gating means responsive to said first camera select output signal and said display mode control signal to provide a multiplexer control signal, said multiplexer control signal alternately being in a first state and a second state;
multiplexer means connected to said camera outputs, said character output, said display control output for connecting said character signals to said display input during said predetermined portion of said raster scan and for providing, when said multiplexer control signal is in said first state;
said plurality of video signals from said cameras to said display input in response to said camera select output signals during said plurality of additional predetermined portions of said raster scan, and for providing,
when said multiplexer control signal is in said second state;
said character signals to said display input during said additional predetermined portions of said raster scan when said display select signal is in a first state and providing a particular one of said plurality of said video signals from one of said cameras to said display input when said display select signal is in a second state.

10 more elements

an improved video controller comprising in combination:
a CRT controller for providing cyclic raster timing signals to at least one timing signal output of said CRT controller and for defining a periodic complete raster scan;
a processor connected to and comprising a part of said data generating means;
an addressable memory for storing said data signals as stored data signals under the control of said processor;
address translation means interposed between said timing signals output and the address inputs of said addressable memory for causing said stored data signals to be read out of said addressable memory during a predetermined portion of said raster scan and for providing programmed counter signals;
character generating means connected to said addressable memory and to said display input for providing character signals corresponding to said stored data signals to a character output;
character generating means connected to said addressable memory and to said display input for providing character signals corresponding to said stored data signals to a character output;
register means connected to said processor for storing a display control signal provided by said processor and providing same to a display control output;
multiplexer means connected to said camera outputs, said character output, said display input and said display control output for connecting said character signals to said display input during said predetermined portion of said raster scan and for connecting said camera outputs to said display input for the remainder of said raster scan when said display control signal is in a first state, and alternately for connecting said character signals to said display input for all of said raster scan when said display control signal is in a second state distinct from said first state.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Surveillance system

Life of this patent

Surveillance system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13