- a) establishing a security zone;
- b) positioning at least one optical input device to observe the security zone;
- c) connecting the optical input devices to a computer;
- d) observing occurrences within the security zone and communicating the observed occurrences to the computer;
- e) storing the observed occurrences within the computer to create a database or an evolving database for the security zone;
- f) processing the observed occurrences within the computer as compared to stored or retrieved data available to the computer; and
- g) issuing a signal to a security officer to investigate an occurrence.

The intelligent audio/visual observation andidentification database system10 may also be an apparatus for identifying a vehicle and likely driver comprising:

an optical input device;

a computer;

a database containing information;

and a display;

wherein said computer receives an image of an approaching vehicle's license plate from said optical input device, said computer searches said database and identifies information relevant to the license plate and identifies an expected driver of the vehicle;

and wherein said computer receives an actual driver image of said vehicle's actual driver from said optical input device, said computer compares said actual driver image with a prerecorded image of the expected driver and determines whether the actual driver image is substantially similar to said expected driver image.

In at least one alternative embodiment, a camera or optical input device may be engaged to an LED light emitting device as engaged to a controller. In at least one embodiment the camera or other optical input device is not continuously on, but is in communication with the controller to record an image of a designated security area for the interior or exterior of a building upon the flashing illumination of the LED light sources as regulated by the controller. In at least one embodiment, the LED light sources will act as a flash for the camera or other optical input device to illuminate a designated security area so that a color image of the designated security area may be recorded. The image of the designated security area as recorded may then be communicated via a building communication system or a pulsed LED light communication system to a security location to be recorded electronically on an electronic storage media as integral with a computer or server. In at least one embodiment, any recorded image may be displayed upon a monitor or other viewing device for review by security or other personnel.

In at least one embodiment, the camera or other optical input device uses standard image color recording and does not operate utilizing IR technology. In at least one embodiment the camera or other optical input device is not continuously on, and is only activated upon receipt of a signal from the controller to record an image. The signal to record an image and illuminate the LED's within a designated security area may be transmitted to the camera or other optical input device, including the LED light sources, according to a regular schedule. In alternative embodiment, the signal to record an image and illuminate the LED's for a designated security area may be transmitted to the camera or other optical input device, including the LED light sources, pursuant to an irregular schedule. In an alternative embodiment, the camera or other optical input device may be in electrical communication with a sensing device such as a motion sensor or noise detector which may communicate a signal to the camera or other optical input device, LED light sources, and controller, to initiate the recording of an image or sequence of images for the designated security area.

In at least one embodiment, the camera or other optical input device will not be continuously consuming power, and will only record images following an activation signal to power up the camera or other optical input device and to illuminate the LED light sources. A building security system will therefore experience significant energy expense savings as compared to optical image security systems which are continuously receiving power. In addition, the intermittent recording of images by the camera or other optical input device which occur simultaneously with the flashing or strobe lighting of the LED light sources, will significantly reduce the necessity for continual observation by security personnel. In at least one embodiment, the activation of the camera and/or other optical input device will simultaneously issue a signal to the controller which in turn will communicate a signal or warning signal to a security location for observation on a monitor or other display device for observation by security personnel. Alternatively, a pre-set command may be issued to a building system.

In at least one embodiment, the camera or other optical input device record one or more color digital images for communication to the controller for storage within electronic storage media associated with the processor and/or a computer or server.

In at least one embodiment the camera or other optical input device will record an image as initiated by the designated security environment/zone. In this embodiment the camera or other optical input device is environmentally stimulated and activated by movement, noise, or the existence of individuals within a designated security area or zone. At other times, the camera or other optical input device will be dormant awaiting activation, thereby providing significant energy expense savings to a building.

In at least one embodiment the environmentally stimulated action or occurrence may be triggered by a noise or decibel detector as in communication with a microphone as integral or proximate to, or separated from, the camera or other optical input device and LED light fixture. In some embodiments, the microphone and/or noise or decibel detector will be adjacent to the camera or other optical input device. In other embodiments, the microphone and/or noise or decibel detector may be positioned at another location within a designated security zone, however, the microphone and/or noise or decibel detector may be in communication with the camera or other optical input device in order to trigger the initiation and recording of a digital color image of a designated security area as simultaneously illuminated by a flashing of the LED light sources. In some embodiments, a speaker may be incorporated into an LED light generating device which is also in communication with a controller, computer, server, and/or security location. In at least one embodiment, security personnel either viewing a recorded image or receiving a signal as to the recording of an image may observe a designated security area on a monitor or other display device whereupon the security personnel may activate a microphone located within the security location to communicate a message for transmission over a speaker as located within the designated security zone. In this embodiment, security personnel may communicate to individuals located within a designated security zone that an individual is in route to provide assistance. In at least one embodiment, a microphone as located within a designated security zone may also record sounds or noise for transmission to and recording within the electronic storage media, for instantaneous or delayed review by security personnel within a security location.

The camera and/or other optical input device, microphone and speakers as described herein may be engaged to and/or in communication with any LED lighting device, communication system, device or invention as disclosed in any patent or patent application incorporated by reference herein. The camera and/or other optical input device may be constructed and arranged for use in any of the applications as disclosed in any patent or patent application incorporated by reference herein.

Enclosed herewith and incorporated by reference herein in their entireties are the following United States patent Numbers and patent application numbers:

U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,879,263; 7,046,160; 7,439,847; 7,902,978; 8,188,861; 8,188,878; 8,188,879; 8,330,599; 8,331,790; 8,543,505; 8,571,411; 8,593,299; Ser. Nos. 11/433,979; 12/032,908; 12/126,227; 12/126,342; 12/126,469; 12/126,647; 12/750,796; 13/427,358; 13/479556; 13/706,864; 13/972294; 14/033,014; 14/050,759; 14/050,765; 61/778,672; 61/783,501; 61/819,861; 61/867,731; 61/927,638; and 61/927,663.

The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. This description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this art. All these alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims where the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to”. Those familiar with the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein which equivalents are also intended to be encompassed by the claims.

Further, the particular features presented in the dependent claims can be combined with each other in other manners within the scope of the invention such that the invention should be recognized as also specifically directed to other embodiments having any other possible combination of the features of the dependent claims. For instance, for purposes of claim publication, any dependent claim which follows should be taken as alternatively written in an independent form from all prior claims which possess all antecedents referenced in such dependent claim. The following dependent claims should each be also taken as alternatively written in each singly dependent claim format which creates a dependency from a prior antecedent-possessing claim other than the specific claim listed in such dependent claim below.

This completes the description of the preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein which equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto.