WO2001074080A1

WO2001074080A1 - Audio visual headgear

Info

Publication number: WO2001074080A1
Application number: PCT/GB2001/001586
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ian Longstaff
Original assignee: L & L Developments Limited
Priority date: 2000-03-24
Filing date: 2001-03-26
Publication date: 2001-10-04
Also published as: AU2001248520A1; GB0007029D0

Abstract

Security and monitoring apparatus is disclosed which provides an audio-visual monitor, an audio-visual processor preferably able to record an audio-visual signal, and means for communicating the audio-visual data between the monitor and the processor. The monitor is adapted for mounting on a person as a headset for monitoring audio and visual signals in the vicinity of said person.

Description

AUDIO VISUAL HEADGEAR

This invention relates to audio visual headgear especially but not exclusively for use as a security aid.

Public concern about the issue of safety and security is ever increasing. The growth in the number of security- related products and companies provides ample evidence of this.

Home security, for example, is now a multi-million pound business with an increasing number of firms being hired to provide neighbourhood patrols. The number of neighbourhood watch schemes also serves to highlight the importance of home security.

The problems of city centre security are also receiving a great deal of attention. Many establishments now hire staff to monitor their premises and close circuit television (CCTV) is becoming a common feature of town centres, even those thought to be immune from the problems of public safety. The number of court cases where footage of CCTV is instrumental in not only catching but also convicting offenders serves to highlight its importance. Furthermore, several television documentaries have recently been dedicated to the area of safety and security and, in particular, to the use of CCTV footage to catch offenders .

However, despite its usefulness there are considerable drawbacks to using CCTV as a source of conclusive evidence.

CCTV cameras are generally located in fixed positions that are often quite some distance from the scene of the alleged crime. This means that not only are images difficult to clearly distinguish, particularly in poor light, but also it is impossible to record any dialogue that may have occurred and accordingly to identify the aggressor.

CCTV cameras may also not respond to events quickly enough and consequently miss a vital piece of evidence.

It is therefore difficult to establish the exact course of events and as a result apportion responsibility. Other problems include an assailant turning to hide from the camera and thus hiding their exact misdemeanour.

This means that those guilty of an offence caught on camera can often walk free due to a lack of admissible evidence.

The problems connected with security also extend to those associated with the clear and accurate recording of dialogue between security staff and the general public. It is often difficult to determine what has been and said and by whom. Headgear, comprising headphones and a microphone, as currently used by security staff allows communication with other security staff. However, current headgear does not provide for either the accurate recording of dialogue between staff and the general public or the visual recording of events.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus comprising an audio-visual monitoring means, an audio-visual processing means and a communications means which communicates sounds and video signals from the audio-visual monitoring means to the audio-visual processing means, characterized in that the audio-visual monitoring means is mounted on a headset, the headset incorporates a means for retaining the headset on a user's head and the audio-visual monitoring means is adapted to monitor sounds from and images of events near the user.

Preferably, the audio-visual processing means comprises an audio-visual recording means.

More preferably, the audio-visual recording means is a video cassette recorder.

The audio-visual recording means might be wearable by the user.

The audio-visual processing means might comprise an audio-visual display means which plays sounds and displays visual images monitored by the audio-visual monitoring means . The communication means might incorporate one or more signal transmission means which enable the audio-visual monitoring means to communicate with the audio-visual processing means without requiring a continuous physical connection.

Optionally, one or more signal transmission means use phased aerials to transmit electromagnetic signals.

Preferably, the communication means may incorporate a satellite link between a receiver and a transmitter.

More preferably, the headset further comprises a light source positioned to illuminate the subject of images monitored by the audio-visual monitoring means.

The apparatus might be adapted to monitor images in the infra-red region of the spectrum.

The apparatus might be adapted for use underwater.

The apparatus may have a tamper indicating means.

In order to provide a better understanding of the invention, embodiments will be described thereof by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows a front view of audio visual headgear in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 2 shows a side view of audio visual headgear in accordance with the invention. Referring to Figure 1 and 2, front and side views respectively of audio visual headgear are depicted at 1. The headgear 1 comprises a set of headphones 2 to which is attached a microphone 3 via a stalk 4 and a pivot 5. The position of the microphone 3 may be adjusted by moving the stalk 4.

A camera 6 is attached to the headgear via a fitting 7. The camera 6 is attached to a microwave transmitter (not shown) and the microphone 3 is attached to a radio transmitter (not shown) . Both the transmitters are located in an equipment belt (not shown) worn round a user's waist.

Phased aerials (not shown) are used to ensure that clearer signals are received by the receivers.

Both the audio and visual signals are transmitted to a video cassette recorder which records the signals in real time. In order to provide trustworthy evidence, tamperproof tapes might be used; alternatively, tapes may be logged and sealed in tamper-evident containers.

In use the headgear provides a means of recording the interaction between a user and a third party either on tape, for possible later viewing, or for remote viewing in real time. Used in this way the headgear is particularly useful for security personnel who have to deal with members of the public in potentially difficult situations such as door staff in clubs and security staff in shops and stores.

The advantage of this headgear in such circumstances is that it would provide an irrefutable account of an incident both in terms of an audio account of proceedings and a visual one. In some circumstances remote monitoring would allow backup to be quickly provided for ^• any personnel who find themselves in difficulty.

An alternative embodiment provides for the headgear to be worn round the back of the head rather than over the top as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

A further example embodiment provides for the camera to be housed in its own casing together with a light source or infra-red detector to permit use of the headgear in areas of low lighting.

A still further example embodiment provides for the camera, light source and microphone to be housed in a waterproof casing to permit the headgear to be used in an underwater environment.

A still further example embodiment provides for the headgear to be linked to a miniature video cassette recording system, incorporated into a backpack.

The headgear has a number of security uses. For example security patrols in shops and security deliveries could also benefit from wearing the headgear.

The headgear may be used in areas outwith those of security. For example, divers reporting inspection of a pipeline could use the headgear to relay pictures to a remote control centre, typically via a modem connection, and provide a commentary on the conditions they have encountered and respond to instructions from the remote centre. The headgear in combination with the video backpack could, for example, be used as a replacement for the hand-held video camera in circumstances where hands free use is advantageous. For example by having hands free a parent could both play with a young child and record the activities at the same time.

Further modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention herein intended.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising an audio-visual monitoring means, an audio-visual processing means and a communications means which communicates sounds and video signals from the audio-visual monitoring means to the audio-visual processing means, characterized in that the audio-visual monitoring means is mounted on a headset, the headset incorporates a means for retaining the headset on a user's head and the audio-visual monitoring means is adapted to monitor sounds from and images of events near the user.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the audio- visual processing means comprises an audio-visual recording means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the audio- visual recording means is a video cassette recorder.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the audio-visual recording means is wearable by the user.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the audio-visual processing means comprises an audio-visual display means which plays sounds and displays visual images monitored by the audio-visual monitoring means.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the communication means incorporates one or more signal transmission means which enable the audio-visual monitoring means to communicate with the audio-visual processing means without requiring a continuous physical connection.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the one or more signal transmission means use phased aerials to transmit electromagnetic signals.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the communication means incorporates a satellite link between a receiver and a transmitter.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the headset further comprises a light source positioned to illuminate the subject of images monitored by the audio-visual monitoring means .

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims adapted to monitor images in the infra-red region of the spectrum.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims adapted for use underwater.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, further comprising a tamper indicating means .