Combined real-time data and live video system
A system for providing combined real-time data and live video of an enclosure. The real-time data may be overlayed on live video. Additionally, or instead, alarms and/or real-time control capabilities may be overlayed on the live video. An embedded server may be connected to sensors and cameras at the enclosure for providing the video with the overlaid information to a network. A user interface may obtain access to the overlaid video via the network.
1. An enclosure space data and video observation system for perishable goods storage, comprising:
one or more sensors situated in a refrigerated, perishable goods enclosure space, the one or more sensors configured to detect at least one parameter indicative of an environmental condition within the refrigerated, perishable goods enclosure space;
a video camera having a field of view which encompasses the refrigerated, perishable goods enclosure space;
a controller connected to the one or more sensors, the video camera, and a network; and
a user interface connected to the controller; and
wherein:
the controller receives a live video image from the video camera showing the refrigerated, perishable goods enclosure space;
the controller provides the live video image having a real-time overlay on the video image;
the user interface is for providing the live video image having the real-time overlay on the video image on a display; and
the real-time overlay provides environmental data from the one or more sensors, wherein if the controller determines that the environmental data from the one or more sensors does meet a predetermined criterion, at least a portion of the real-time overlay is visually altered to indicate an alarm condition.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the refrigerated, perishable goods enclosure space comprises sub-enclosures;
one or more sensors are situated in one or more sub-enclosures; and
the one or more sensors comprise a temperature sensor and a door position sensor for the one or more sub-enclosures; and
each temperature sensor is a component of a thermostat connected to the controller.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the real-time overlay provides real-time control capabilities.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the network uses Internet Web browser technology as a user interface to the controller; and
the controller is an embedded controller.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the network is a TCP/IP based network; and
the network may comprise TCP/IP routers and switches.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is a set-top controller for connecting televisions to a cable or fiber optic television programming provider.
7. A facility data and video observation system, comprising:
one or more sensors situated in a perishable goods storage facility, the one or more sensors configured to detect at least one parameter indicative of an environmental condition within the perishable goods storage facility;
one or more video cameras having a fields of view which encompass the perishable goods storage facility; and
a controller connected to the one or more sensors, the one or more video cameras, and a network; and
wherein:
the controller receives a live video images from the one or more video cameras of the perishable goods storage facility; and
the controller provides the live video images having real-time overlays on the video images, wherein the real-time overlays provide environmental data from the one or more sensors and wherein at least a portion of the real-time overlay is visually altered to indicate an alarm condition if the environmental data from the one or more sensors falls outside of a predetermined range.
8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a user interface connected to the controller; and
wherein the user interface is for providing the live video images, having the real-time overlays on the video images, on a display.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the real-time overlays provide real-time control capabilities.
10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is a building automation embedded controller for the perishable goods storage facility.
11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is a security controller for access control and intrusion detection of the perishable goods storage facility.
12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is a store monitoring controller for monitoring fuel and other supplies and equipment of the perishable goods storage facility.
13. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is a residential controller for monitoring and controlling lights, heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment of the perishable goods storage facility.
14. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is an energy management controller for monitoring and controlling devices in the perishable goods storage facility for energy management.
15. A method for monitoring an enclosure comprising:
sensing one or more parameter information in a refrigerated, perishable goods enclosure, the one or more parameter information indicative of an environmental condition within the a refrigerated, perishable goods enclosure;
capturing live video images of the a refrigerated, perishable goods enclosure;
overlaying and displaying real-time sensed parameter information including information indicative of an environmental condition on the live video images;
visually altering at least a portion of the displayed real-time sensed parameter information to indicate an alarm condition if the sensed parameter information does not meet a predetermined criteria for the sensed parameter; and
providing the live video images with the overlayed information to a network for access by a user interface.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising overlaying real-time control capabilities on the live video images.
17. The system of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor.
18. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor or a door position sensor.