Communication and monitoring system
View Patent ↗An audio-video communication system comprises a wireless exterior module located proximate an entrance, a computerized controller running a software application, and a remote peripheral device. The wireless exterior module includes a proximity sensor for detecting a person at the entrance, a video camera for recording an image of the person at the entrance, a microphone for recording the person at the entrance, a speaker for playing audio to the person at the entrance, a transmitter for communicating sounds and images of the person at the entrance, and a receiver for receiving communications at the wireless exterior module. The computerized controller is disposed in wireless electronic communication with the wireless exterior module via the transmitter and the receiver of the wireless exterior module. The remote peripheral device is configured to electronically communicate with the computerized controller for viewing an image from the video camera communicated from the wireless exterior module.
1. A communications and monitoring system, comprising:
(a) a wireless device associated with a door and configured to communicate audio and video data;
(b) a plurality of peripheral devices, each peripheral device associated with a respective user; and
(c) a computer configured for communication with the wireless device and configured for communication with each of the peripheral devices;
(d) wherein the computer executes software, in accordance with which,
(i) the association of each of the peripheral devices with a respective user is maintained,
(ii) audio and video data from the wireless device is received by the computer, and
(iii) a graphical user interface is provided through which audio and video data from the wireless device is accessible by each respective user using one of the peripheral devices.
2. The communications and monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless device includes a camera, a microphone, a speaker, an RF transmitter, and an RF receiver.
3. The communications and monitoring system according to claim 2 , wherein the wireless device further includes a proximity sensor.
4. The communications and monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein, in accordance with the software, audio and video data received from the wireless device is recorded, and access to the recorded audio and video data is provided through the graphical user interface.
5. The communications and monitoring system according to claim 4 , wherein the audio and video data is recorded to a storage device selected from the group of a CD-ROM R/W, a DVD R/W, a camera card, a tape drive, and a hard drive.
6. The communications and monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein, in accordance with the software, the computer associates one of various levels of access privileges to each user.
7. The communications and monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein, in accordance with the software, the computer contacts a particular one of the users by sending a communication to the respective peripheral device associated with that user.
8. The communications and monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein, in accordance with the software, the computer facilitates audio communications between a person using the wireless device, and a particular one of the users, by initiating communications with the respective peripheral device associated with that user.
9. The communications and monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is configured for communication, via the Internet, with one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices such that audio and video data from the wireless device is remotely accessible via the Internet by a respective user using one of the peripheral devices.
10. The communications and monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is configured for communication, via a public switching telephone network, with one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices such that audio and video data from the wireless device is remotely accessible via the public switching telephone by a respective user using one of the peripheral devices.
11. The communications and monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is configured for communication, via a local area network, both with the wireless device and with one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices such that audio and video data from the wireless device is accessible via the local area network by a respective user using one of the peripheral devices.
12. The communications and monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of peripheral devices each comprises a digital communication device.
13. The communications and monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of peripheral devices comprises a cell phone, telephone, video-cell phone, computer, personal digital assistant, video-personal digital assistant, satellite telephone, or pager.
14. The communications and monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless device and at least one of the peripheral devices are configured for communications via text messaging.
15. The communications and monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless device is portable, has a locking mechanism, and an electrical receptacle for quickly attaching to a source of electricity, and wherein the wireless device further includes a portable energy source.
16. The communications and monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the computer comprises a module for authenticating a user based on a biometric of the user.
17. The communications and monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the biometric comprises at least one of the group of a user's face, eye, voice, and fingerprint.
18. The communications and monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the computer comprises a voice-generation apparatus.
19. A communications and monitoring system, comprising:
(a) a wireless device associated with a door and configured to communicate audio and video data;
(b) a plurality of peripheral devices, each peripheral device associated with a respective user; and
(c) a computer configured for communication with the wireless device and configured for communication, via the Internet, with each of the peripheral devices;
(d) wherein the computer executes software, in accordance with which,
(i) the association of each of the peripheral devices with a respective user is maintained,
(ii) audio and video data from the wireless device is received and stored by the computer,
(iii) a graphical user interface is provided through which audio and video data from the wireless device is accessible, via the Internet, by each respective user using one of the peripheral devices, and
(iv) each user is authenticated based on a biometric of the user.
20. A communications and monitoring system, comprising:
(a) a wireless device associated with a door and configured to communicate audio and video data, the wireless device including a camera, a microphone, a speaker, an RF transmitter, and an RF receiver;
(b) a plurality of peripheral devices, each peripheral device associated with a respective user; and
(c) a computer configured for communication with the wireless device and configured for communication via the Internet with each of the peripheral devices;
(d) wherein the computer executes software, in accordance with which,
(i) the association of each of the peripheral devices with a respective user is maintained,
(ii) audio and video data from the wireless device is received by the computer,
(iii) a graphical user interface is provided through which audio and video data from the wireless device is accessible via the Internet by each respective user using one of the peripheral devices, and
(iv) audio and video data received from the wireless device is recorded, and access to the recorded audio and video data is provided through the graphical user interface.