Method for video monitoring objects by means of a mobile communication system

p0001The invention relates to a method for video object monitoring using a mobile communication system according to the preamble of claim 1.

p0002There are different technologies for various monitoring tasks. It is common to all technologies that the signals, such as image and sound data, are first recorded in a transmitting unit by means of a microphone, camera, sensors, etc., and then transmitted to a remote receiving station. These reception points can, for example, be designed as monitoring monitors in safety centers, baby-phone receivers, etc.

p0003The technologies used for the transmission of the data can be classified firstly in short-range technologies and long-distance technologies.

p0004In the near area, usually a distance between transmitter and receiver of less than 300m, the data is transmitted via a direct cable connection or also via radio transmission. In the case of radio transmission, systems are used which use a direct radio link between the transmitter and the receiver. This has the disadvantage that the receiving point must lie very close to the object or area to be monitored. An example of such a video surveillance system is shown in FIG<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP1124355A2"><text>EP 1 124 355 A2</text></patcit> Described. In this case, the video data are recorded by a camera, and a cordless telephone system is used for transmitting the video data. The video image can be viewed on the cordless phone display.

p0005In the remote area, a dial-up connection is established between the transmitter and the receiver via a public communication network. The structure of the dial-up connection can take place as a function of a triggering event (trigger), which is triggered, for example, by motion sensors or at regular time intervals. It is also known to perform video transmissions of so-called WebCams over the Internet. Such a remote transmission of video signals via an ISDN network or a mobile radio network C is known from the<patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="DE4126105A1"><text>DE 41 26 105 A1</text></patcit> known.

p0006The <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="WO0201531A1"><text>WO 02 01531 A1</text></patcit> Discloses an alarm system in which various sensors, including monitoring cameras, are arranged in an object to be monitored, the signals of which are transmitted to an automatic evaluation device. If unusual activities are detected by the sensors and the evaluation device, an alarm signal is triggered and reported to a central alarm device. From there the alarm signal can be forwarded to the user of the alarm system and to other predetermined locations. The user has, for example, access to the central alarm device via an Internet portal or his mobile telephone, where he can query information about his personal alarm system and make settings. The access to the central alarm system is secured by an identification via user name and password.

p0007<patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="WO02054677A1"><text>WO 02 054677 A1</text></patcit> Discloses a method for providing telecommunication services in a mobile communication system wherein data transmission is made possible between a mobile station of the mobile communication system and a terminal of another wireless network, eg WLAN, GSMLAN.

p0008The <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="WO0103402A1"><text>WO 01 03402 A1</text></patcit> Relates to a method for the authentication of a subscriber of a first communication network in a second communication network, an address being assigned to the subscriber in the second communication network, the address being linked to the identity of the subscriber present in the first communication system, and the subscriber being authenticated by means of this identity in the second communication network. <patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="WO0131925A1"><text>WO 01 31925 A1</text></patcit> Discloses a method and a system for video surveillance in which the video signal is recorded by a video camera and transmitted via a mobile communication network to a receiver, eg a video-enabled mobile telephone. A special authorization check of the recipient is not provided.

p0009However, in all transmission methods, it is to be ensured that only one authorized receiver can receive the video data of the transmitter. In the case of a dial-up connection, this can be done, for example, by a query of a user name in combination with a password, and on the Internet by known key methods (eg certificates).

p0010In this case, the transmitter and receiver have to ensure a secure transmission method, which, however, is difficult for unskilled technicians to carry out.

p0011The object of the invention is to provide a method for video object monitoring using a mobic communication system in which a user can easily and without technical expertise perform secure video transmission via the mobile communication system.

p0012This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of patent claim 1.

p0013The invention is based on the fact that, before or during the connection setup, a device is tested by a device of the mobile communication system as to whether the receiver is authorized to receive the video data of the sender.

p0014Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are given in the dependent patent claims.

p0015Compared to the prior art, the invention has the following advantages:<ul><li>The method allows the greatest possible mobility by means of mobile monitoring terminals.</li><li>There is no line connection, for example via a public fixed network.</li><li>A transmission of the video data to the long range is readily possible and is limited only by the range of the mobile communication system.</li><li>An existing mobile radio infrastructure, eg (GSM / UMTS), can be used to transmit the video data.</li><li>The established identification methods, eg by means of a SIM card, which are specific to the mobile communication system, can be used for the identification of the transmitter and the recipient on the network side or on the other.</li><li>Personalization of sender and recipient can be carried out in accordance with government regulations (eg G10 in Germany).</li></ul>

p0016The object of the invention is to provide the user with a transmission method and a suitable pair of devices which is completely preconfigured. The device pair consists of a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter comprises a video camera, a microphone, as required additional sensors, eg motion detectors, and a GSM / UMTS spark unit. All of these units are preferably integrated in a compact device. However, they can also be designed as individual units and can be connected to one another via connecting cables or a wireless interface, eg infrared or Bluetooth. The receiver is a GSM / UMTS terminal capable of reproducing motion pictures and audio signals. In order to be able to selectively receive and control more than one transmitter, it may be provided that the receiver-side terminal has a kind of "browser", eg based on the WAP or (X) HTM technology, with which the respective receiver to be received is selected can be. The establishment of a connection between the transmitter and the receiver preferably takes place via a selection of the respective mobile subscriber number MSISDN assigned to the latter. Both the transmitter and the receiver can thus initiate a connection setup.

p0017Another possibility of the connection setup is to select an assigned temporary IP address assigned to the sender and the receiver.

p0018According to the invention, both the transmitter and the receiver can be equipped with a video camera, so that the transmitter can optionally be used as a receiver and the receiver as a transmitter.

p0019The applications of this method can be of various types.

p0020For example, it can be used as a baby monitor with video control. It is also possible to monitor remote areas, eg burglar surveillance of your own home, holiday house, factory and commercial buildings, etc. Another application is site monitoring or traffic monitoring. Furthermore, mobile health monitoring is conceivable. A kind of mobile WAP cam is also realizable.

p0021In all these applications, the advantage is that only one authorized receiver can receive the video data of the transmitter.

p0022A possible embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawing figure.

p0023The system consists of a video camera 1 which has a connection to a GSM / UMTS mobile communication terminal 2 on the front side. Typically, the video camera 1 may include a GSM / UMTS module, or a GSM / UMTS terminal 2 may be equipped with a video camera 1.

p0024If the video camera 1 and the GSM / UMTS terminal 2 are provided as separate units, a data connection between the video camera 1 and the GSM / UMTS terminal 2 can be carried out wirelessly, for example via Bluetooth.

p0025The unit of video camera 1 and GSM / UMTS terminal 2 is able to encode the video signal recorded by the video camera 1 in such a way that it transmits via the GSM / UMTS standardized transmission channels, eg GPRS, HSCSD, UMTS video bearer, via the mobile communication network 3 can be transmitted.

p0026At least one GSM / UMTS terminal 4 is provided on the receiving side, which can process the video and audio information transmitted from the transmitter side and display or reproduce it on a display of the terminal 4.

p0027Furthermore, a subscriber identification module 5 or 6, eg in the form of a SIM card, is required for each transmitter unit 2 and each receiver unit 4. The SIM cards 5 and 6 of the transmitter 2 or the transmitters and the receiver 4 are assigned to a common subscriber relationship at the operator 11 of the mobile communication network 3. For this purpose, a data base 7 is provided on the mobile communication network in which subscriber data 8 or 9, for example IMSI and / or MSISDN, of the transmitter 2 and of the receiver 4 are stored and assigned to each other. If, then, the subscriber attempts to establish a connection with a transmitter 2 with his receiver 4, a test device 10 of the network operator 11 is first checked whether such authorization of the receiver 4 exists for the reception of the video data of the transmitter 2. This ensures that only transmissions within these defined subscriber relationships are permitted. Transmissions to other receivers are only possible if the transmitter unit 2 gives this external (outside the subscriber relationship) recipients an express permission. This permission is deposited with the operator 11 of the mobile communication system.

p0028Since the resources are very limited in the GSM / UMTS networks, and a permanent transmission of data is not necessary in most cases, transmission preferably takes place only when triggered by a trigger, ie a triggering event. Triggering can occur both from the transmitter 2 and from the receiver 4.

p0029Triggers can be triggered:<ul><li>In periodic intervals</li><li>On direct request of sender or receiver</li><li>External signals and parameters detected by the transmitter or receiver, eg exceeding of threshold values, on the basis of a recorded volume, on the basis of the detection of movements, on the basis of the brightness, etc.</li></ul>

p0030If the transmitter 2 is operated with a battery or a battery, it is useful to provide measures for current savings. For example, only video data can be processed, if these should also be transmitted. In addition, the transmitter 2 can be operated in a standby mode, which can be activated again by a trigger.

p0031The terminals 2 and 4 used can be used in different modes. For example, in a monitoring mode with video transmission or in a "normal" mobile radio operation without a security query of the receiving authority of the receiver.

p0032For the use of the method, it is necessary for the user (subscriber) to purchase a transmitter unit consisting of video camera 1 and GSM / UMTS terminal 2 and / or a receiving unit consisting of a GSM / UMTS terminal 4 with a video display. In addition, the subscriber must acquire corresponding SIM cards 5, 6 for transmitter 2 and receiver 4. The operator 11 of the mobile communication system 3 enters the IMSI / MSISDN numbers of the transmitter 2 and the receiver 4, which are assigned to the subscriber ratios, into a database 7 and thus links the two subscriber connections 8, 9 to one another.

p0033Furthermore, the operator 11 of the mobile communication system can enter specific routing rules for IP addresses from certain address areas into corresponding router / firewalls of the mobile communication system. Routing rules can be that access to a specific IP address from the address range only a further defined IP address.

p0034For example, a connection is established as follows:

p0035The transmitter 2 and the receiver 4 book themselves into GSM / UMTS communication network 3. For this purpose, the subscriber data stored on the SIM cards 5, 6 are necessary. The subscriber data, for example IMSI and / or MSISDN, are stored in the database 10. A dynamic public IP address from a specific address range, which is stored in the database 7, is assigned to the transmitter 2. The receiver 4 is also assigned a dynamic public IP address. The receiver 4 can now search or select a particular transmitter 2 from the data of the database 7. On the basis of the data in the database 7, the checking device 10 checks whether the receiver 4 is authorized to receive the selected transmitter 2. If the receiver 4 is authorized to receive the transmitter 2, he can directly address the transmitter, eg by establishing a connection to the temporary IP address or selecting the mobile subscriber number of the transmitter 2. If the desired connection to the transmitter 2 is established, The desired video and sound information via the mobile communication system 3 to the receiver 4.

List of references

p0036<dl id="dl0001"><dt>1</dt><dd>video camera</dd><dt>2</dt><dd>Mobile communication terminal (transmitter)</dd><dt>3</dt><dd>mobile communication network</dd><dt>4</dt><dd>Mobile communication terminal (receiver)</dd><dt>5</dt><dd>SIM</dd><dt>6</dt><dd>SIM</dd><dt>7</dt><dd>data base</dd><dt>8th</dt><dd>subscriber data</dd><dt>9</dt><dd>subscriber data</dd><dt>10</dt><dd>testing equipment</dd><dt>11</dt><dd>operator</dd></dl>