SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SERVER BASED CONTROL
A system and method in a building or vehicle for an actuator operation in response to a sensor according to a control logic, the system comprising a router or a gateway communicating with a device associated with the sensor and a device associated with the actuator over in-building or in-vehicle networks, and an external Internet-connected control server associated with the control logic implementing a PID closed linear control loop and communicating with the router over external network for controlling the in-building or in-vehicle phenomenon. The sensor may be a microphone or a camera, and the system may include voice or image processing as part of the control logic. A redundancy is used by using multiple sensors or actuators, or by using multiple data paths over the building or vehicle internal or external communication. The networks may be wired or wireless, and may be BAN, PAN, LAN, WAN, or home networks.
1 . A device for use with a first wireless network in a building and for use with a server external to the building, the device comprising:
an antenna for communication over the first wireless network;
a wireless transceiver coupled to the antenna for transmitting digital data to, and for receiving digital data from, the first wireless network;
a video camera for providing video data;
a motion detector for sensing a person motion;
a sounder for emitting sound waves;
a software and a processor for executing the software, the processor is coupled to control the wireless transceiver, the video camera, the sounder, and the motion detector;
a battery for powering the device; and
a single enclosure housing the antenna, the wireless transceiver, the video camera, the motion detector, and the battery,
wherein the device is operative to transmit a first message to the server over the Internet via the first wireless network in response to sensing the person motion by the motion detector,
wherein the device is operative to transmit the video data to the server over the Internet via the first wireless network,
wherein the device is operative to receive voice data from the server over the Internet via the first wireless network, and to emit the received voice data by the sounder,
and wherein the single enclosure is configured to be mounted on a wall in the building.
2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first wireless network is using an unlicensed radio frequency band that is an Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) radio band.
3 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first wireless network is a Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN), the antenna is a WPAN antenna, and the wireless transceiver is a WPAN modem.
4 . The device according to claim 3 , wherein the WPAN is according to, is based on, or is compatible with, Bluetooth™ or IEEE 802.15.1-2005 standard, or wherein the WPAN is a wireless control network that is according to, based on, or complaint with, Zigbee™, IEEE 802.15.4-2003, or Z-Wave™ standard.
5 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first wireless network is a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), the antenna is a WLAN antenna, and the wireless transceiver is a WLAN modem.
6 . The device according to claim 5 , wherein the WLAN is according to, is based on, or is compatible with, IEEE 802.11-2012, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, or IEEE 802.11ac standard.
7 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first wireless network is a cellular telephone network, the antenna is a cellular telephone network antenna, and the wireless transceiver is a cellular telephone network modem.
8 . The device according to claim 7 , wherein the cellular telephone network is according to, is based on, or is compatible with, a Third Generation (3G) network that uses Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) UMTS, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) W-CDMA UMTS, High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) HSPA, UMTS Time-Division Duplexing (TDD) TDD, CDMA2000 1×RTT, Evolution—Data Optimized (EV-DO) EV-DO, or Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) GSM, Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) EDGE-Evolution, or wherein the cellular telephone network is according to, is based on, or is compatible with, a Fourth Generation (4G) network that uses Evolved High Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) HSPA+, Mobile Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) WiMAX, Long-Term Evolution (LTE) LTE, LTE-Advanced, Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA) MBWA, or is based on IEEE 802.20-2008.
9 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a memory coupled to the processor that stores a digital address that uniquely identifies the device in the first wireless network or in the Internet.
10 . The device according to claim 9 , wherein the digital address is a locally administered addresses or a universally administered digital address.
11 . The device according to claim 9 , wherein the digital address is a MAC layer address that is MAC-48, EUI-48, or EUI-64 address type.
12 . The device according to claim 9 , wherein the digital address a layer 3 address and is static or dynamic Internet Protocol (IP) IP address that is IP Version 4 (IPv4) IPv4 or IP Version 6 (IPv6) IPv6 type address.
13 . The device according to claim 9 , wherein the digital address is autonomously assigned or is assigned by another device via a communication interface using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) DHCP.
14 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the video camera further comprises one or more optical lens for focusing the received light and to guide a captured image, and wherein the video camera is based on, or using, photoelectric element that is based on Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) or a Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) element.
15 . The device according to claim 14 , wherein the video camera captures visible light images.
16 . The device according to claim 15 , wherein the video camera further captures invisible light images.
17 . The device according to claim 16 , wherein the invisible light comprises infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays, or gamma rays.
18 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the video data is using, is according to, or is compatible with, a digital video format.
19 . The device according to claim 18 , wherein the digital video format is based on one out of: TIFF (Tagged Image File Format), RAW format, AVI, DV, MOV, WMV, MP4, DCF (Design Rule for Camera Format), ITU-T H.261, ITU-T H.263, ITU-T H.264, ITU-T CCIR 601, ASF, Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format), and DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) standards.
20 . The device according to claim 18 , wherein the video data is using, is according to, or is compatible with, Standard-Definition (SD) or High-Definition (HD) standard.
21 . The device according to claim 20 , wherein the video data is using, is according to, or is compatible with, High-Definition (HD) standard that is using, is according to, or is compatible with, 1,280×720 pixels (720p) or 1,920×1,080 pixels (1080i/1080p).
22 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a intraframe or interframe compression based video compressor coupled to the video camera for lossy or non-lossy compressing the video data.
23 . The device according to claim 22 , wherein the compression uses, or is based on, a standard compression algorithm which is one or more out of JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) and MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group), ITU-T H.261, ITU-T H.263, ITU-T H.264 and ITU-T CCIR 601.
24 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is mountable for capturing video external to the building.
25 . The device according to claim 24 , wherein the device is mountable for detecting or viewing a person at a door in the building.
26 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the motion detector comprises an acoustic sensor for detecting the motion using sound.
27 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the motion detector comprises an optical sensor for detecting the motion using opacity.
28 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the motion detector comprises a magnetic sensor for detecting the motion using magnetism or geomagnetism.
29 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the motion detector comprises energy emitter and sensor for sensing a reflected energy.
30 . The device according to claim 29 , wherein the transmitted energy comprises sound or ultrasound waves, or wherein the transmitted energy comprises electromagnetic waves, laser, or microwaves, and the motion detector comprises a radar.
31 . The device according to claim 29 , wherein the transmitted energy comprises visible or invisible light.
32 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the motion detector comprises a Passive Infrared sensors (PIR), or an ultrasonic-waves sensor.
33 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the motion detector is a directional detector.
34 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the motion detector is mountable for detecting motion external to the building.
35 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a light source that emits light for illumination or indication coupled to be activated by the processor and powered by the battery.
36 . The device according to claim 35 , wherein the light source emits non-visible light.
37 . The device according to claim 36 , wherein the non-visible light is infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays, or gamma rays.
38 . The device according to claim 35 , wherein the light source consists of, or comprises, a lamp, an incandescent lamp, a gas discharge lamp, a fluorescent lamp, a Solid-State Lighting (SSL), a Light Emitting Diode (LED), an Organic LED (OLED), a polymer LED (PLED), or a laser diode.
39 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the battery comprises a rechargeable battery.
40 . The device according to claim 39 , further comprising a battery compartment for housing the battery, and a connector for connecting to a battery charger for charging the battery.
41 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the sounder is operative for emitting omnidirectional, unidirectional, or bidirectional pattern, audible or inaudible, sound waves.
42 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the sounder comprises an electromagnetic loudspeaker, a piezoelectric speaker, an electrostatic loudspeaker (ESL), a ribbon or planar magnetic loudspeaker, or a bending wave loudspeaker.
43 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the sounder is operative to emit a sound of a bell, a buzzer, a chime, a whistle, or a ringer.
44 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a memory that stores digital audio content, and wherein the sounder is further operative to play the digital audio content.
45 . The device according to claim 44 , wherein the digital audio content comprises pre-recorded or synthesized human voice.
46 . The device according to claim 45 , wherein the digital audio content comprises syllable, a word, a phrase, a sentence, a short story; or a long story.
47 . The device according to claim 45 , further comprising a hardware or software speech synthesizer for playing the human voice, and wherein the speech synthesizer is a concatenative type that uses, or is based on, unit selection, diphone synthesis, or domain-specific synthesis.
48 . The device according to claim 45 , further comprising a hardware or software speech synthesizer for playing the human voice, and wherein the speech synthesizer is a formant type, that uses, or is based on, articulatory synthesis or Hidden Markov Models (HMM).
49 . The device according to claim 44 , wherein the digital audio content comprises music.
50 . The device according to claim 49 , wherein the music comprises emulation of a music instrument.
51 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising an actuator and an electrically actuated switch coupled for connecting electric power to the actuator, wherein the electrically actuated switch is actuated in response to the motion detector or the video data, or in response to command received from the server.
52 . The device according to claim 51 , wherein the electrically actuated switch is based on an electrical circuit that comprises an open collector transistor, an open drain transistor, a thyristor, a TRIAC, or an opto-isolator.
53 . The device according to claim 51 , wherein the electrically actuated switch is coupled for connecting electric power from the battery to the actuator.
54 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a motion actuator coupled to the processor to be controlled or activated in response to the motion detector or the video data, or in response to command received from the server.
55 . The device according to claim 54 , wherein the motion actuator causes linear or rotary motion, and the device further comprising a conversion mechanism for respectfully converting to rotary or linear motion based on a screw, a wheel and axle, or a cam.
56 . The device according to claim 54 , wherein the motion actuator consists of, or comprises, a pneumatic actuator, hydraulic actuator, or electrical actuator.
57 . The device according to claim 54 , wherein the motion actuator consists of, or comprises, an electrical motor.
58 . The device according to claim 57 , wherein the electrical motor is a brushed motor, a brushless motor, or an uncommutated DC motor.
59 . The device according to claim 58 , wherein the electrical motor is a DC stepper motor that is a Permanent Magnet (PM) motor, a Variable reluctance (VR) motor, or a hybrid synchronous stepper motor.
60 . The device according to claim 57 , wherein the electrical motor is an AC motor that is an induction motor, a synchronous motor, or an eddy current motor.
61 . The device according to claim 60 , wherein the AC motor is a single-phase AC induction motor, a two-phase AC servo motor, or a three-phase AC synchronous motor, and the AC motor is a split-phase motor, a capacitor-start motor, or a Permanent-Split Capacitor (PSC) motor.
62 . The device according to claim 54 , wherein the motion actuator is part of, or integrated with, an electronic door lock.
63 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the single enclosure is fixedly mountable or attachable onto exterior surface or wall of the building.
64 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the building comprises a house, school, store, factory, residential house, apartment, trailer, motor home, or office.
65 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the single enclosure consists of, comprises, or is integrated with, an electrical outlet or a plug-in module that is pluggable to the outlet.
66 . The device according to claim 1 , further being be part of, integrated with, or coupled to, a door phone, intercom, doorbell. electronic door lock, or garage doors opener.
67 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a human operated switch coupled to the processor, wherein the device is further operative to transmit a second message to the server over the Internet via the first wireless network in response to the operation of the human operated switch.
68 . The device according to claim 67 , wherein the human operated switch comprises, or consists of, a tactile sensor that is sensitive to force, pressure, or human touch.
69 . A system comprising the device according to claim 1 and the server, wherein the device serves as a client in a client-server model.
70 . The system according to claim 69 , wherein the server is operative to store the video data. received from the device.
71 . The system according to claim 69 , further comprising an image processor for processing the video data.
72 . The system according to claim 71 , wherein the server comprises the image processor.
73 . The system according to claim 71 , wherein the image processor is operative for face detection, face recognition, gesture recognition, compression or de-compression, or motion sensing of the video data.
74 . The system according to claim 71 , wherein the image processor is operative for Video Content Analysis (VCA).
75 . The system according to claim 74 , wherein the VCA includes Video Motion Detection (VMD), video tracking, egomotion estimation, identification, behavior analysis, situation awareness, dynamic masking, motion detection, object detection, face recognition, automatic number plate recognition, tamper detection, video tracking, or pattern recognition.
76 . The system according to claim 69 , for use with a mobile device external to the building, the mobile device comprises a display for displaying the video data and a microphone for capturing voice data, and wherein the server is operative to communicate with the mobile device over the Internet via a second wireless network.
77 . The system according to claim 76 , further comprising the mobile device.
78 . The system according to claim 76 wherein in response to the received video data or first message from the device, the server is operative to transmit a notification to the mobile device over the Internet via the second wireless network.
79 . The system according to claim 78 , wherein in response to the received video data or first message from the device, the server is operative to transmit the video data to the mobile device over the Internet via the second wireless network for displaying by the display of the portable device.
80 . The system according to claim 79 , wherein the video data is displayed on the display of the mobile device in real-time or in near-real-time.
81 . The system according to claim 78 , wherein in response to the received video data or first message from the device, the server is operative to receive voice data from the mobile device over the Internet via the second wireless network and to transmit the received voice data to the first device for sounding by the sounder therein.
82 . The system according to claim 78 , further operative for viewing by the display a person that is at the door of the building.
83 . The system according to claim 76 , wherein the mobile device comprises, or consists of, a. mobile phone or a smartphone, and wherein the second wireless network is based on, or comprises, a WLAN or cellular telephone network.