FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates to methods and systems for device health management and more particularly to method and system for surveillance device health management.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] With increase in crime rate around the world, a well-equipped security system with continuous surveillance is one of the ways to ensure security of human life and property. Many people/institutes/firms/offices/residential buildings are employing individual cameras as well as CCTV cameras to ensure safety of their premises as well as loved ones. After installation, the surveillance cameras are not monitored regularly, and the customer assumes that the camera is always working. Usually, after the occurrence of an untoward incident, an anomaly in the surveillance camera functioning is detected, defeating the entire purpose of surveillance camera installation.
[003] Continuous monitoring of human life and property requires a large number of surveillance cameras to be installed and continuously monitor buildings, shopping stores, roads, schools etc. However, with the increase in number of surveillance cameras, analyzing the functioning of each and every camera becomes a mammoth task for security providers.
[004] US2018/0114070 discloses a method to detect surveillance camera status by sequentially comparing each of the plurality of captured video frames with a reference video frame, thereby facilitating a maintenance procedure to be performed on the surveillance camera to remove one of the plurality of abnormal properties. However, the use of video feed of camera requires huge amount of bandwidth at both server and client end.
[005] US2004/0155757 discloses apparatus for monitoring operation of a security camera on a powerline network by receiving a monitoring signal from a surveillance camera coupled to said powerline network, and a computer configured for processing said monitoring signal, determining a status of said surveillance camera based on said processing. The method transmits video information over a powerline network, including the steps of detecting a signal from a security camera over a powerline network at predetermined intervals.

[006] Further, existing surveillance methods and systems require IP address along with the username and password of the devices to fetch the health information or alive status of devices. This increases the security threat to the devices by making both the IP address and passwords public.
[007] Considering the above-described state of the art, there is a need of a reliable and secure monitoring system which provides real time status updates and does not require the IP address or the username and password of the surveillance cameras.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[008] The main aspect of the present invention is a monitoring system for surveillance devices. The system receives signal from the surveillance device at regular intervals and provides real-time status of the said devices to the customer or user through a website portal as well as a mobile application.
[009] Another aspect of the present invention provides a plurality of surveillance devices, a health management sever, receiving signals from the plurality of surveillance devices at regular intervals, determining abnormalities in the signals, notifying the user and a system integrator, and allocating an agent to resolve the abnormality in the surveillance device.
OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a monitoring system for checking health, failure, malfunction or other events occurring in surveillance devices.
[0011] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide real time notification to the customer through applications including but not limited to website portal, Android and IOS mobile application etc.
[0012] Yet another objective of the present invention is to use minimal bandwidth while transmitting information from surveillance device to the monitoring system.

[0013] Yet another objective of the present invention is to utilize device numbers instead of IP address of surveillance devices for identification and communication.
[0014] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with illustrations and examples to further disclose the aspects of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when taken in conjunction with the detailed description thereof and in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates a surveillance device monitoring system.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates a monitoring method for surveillance devices.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The following description describes various features and functions of the disclosed system and method with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, similar symbols identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative aspects described herein are not meant to be limiting. It may be readily understood that certain aspects of the disclosed system and method can be arranged and combined in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are contemplated herein.
[0019] The following description of preferred embodiments of the invention is not intended to limit the invention to these preferred embodiments, but rather to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use this invention.
[0020] These and other features and advantages of the present invention may be incorporated into certain embodiments of the invention and will become more fully apparent from the following description and claims or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. It may be readily understood that certain aspects of the disclosed system,

and method can be arranged and combined in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are contemplated herein.
[0021] Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.
[0022] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention.
[0023] It is to be understood that the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0024] It should be emphasized that the term "comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.
[0025] Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic block diagram of the present invention. The system (100) includes a plurality of surveillance devices (102) for monitoring a public or personal premise. The surveillance devices (102) communicate with a health management server (104) at periodic intervals providing requisite surveillance information to the user on web portal or mobile application.
[0026] The health management system (104) may include a data storage device (106) for storing (meta data). The data storage device (106) may be a database connected to the server (104). Alternatively, the data storage device (106) may be included within the surveillance device (102).

[0027] The surveillance devices send meta data at regular intervals to the health management server (104). In an embodiment, the surveillance devices (102) are wirelessly communicated with the server (104). More specifically, the surveillance devices (102) may communicate via internet with the server (104).
[0028] The meta data may include surveillance device (102) information or status. Alternatively, the data may include surveillance device health information only.
[0029] The user interface (108) include a website or a web portal, which can be accessed via a television or a computer. In another embodiment, the user interface (108) may be a mobile application.
[0030] Once the surveillance device (102) and server (104) are connected, the device starts sharing data with the server. The server receives signals/alert status from devices at regular intervals. In an embodiment, the surveillance device (102) sends the data after an interval of 30 seconds. Furthermore, the surveillance device (102) may also send its complete working status to the server. The surveillance device (102) may send the complete status after an interval of 5 minutes. The server (104) may further save the data in a data storage device (106) for future reference.
[0031] The monitoring system (100) utilizes serial number of the surveillance devices (102) for identification instead of IP address of the device. This makes the system more secure as the surveillance device (102) identity remains confidential.
[0032] The server sends notification (110) to the user in case of any deviation in the signal received from the device. The system (100) also provide facility where user will get signals/alert notification for the event or abnormalities or issue on e-mail address (112), mobile application (114), or web portal (116). And after getting these notifications, a ticket is raised for each issue or abnormalities or failure by user, occurred at the camera device end. The current progress of the raised tickets can be tracked through web portal (116) or mobile application (114). Simultaneously, the system integrator and his agent will also get notification for the raised tickets for corrective action.

[0033] The surveillance device (102) may be a close-circuit television camera. In an embodiment, the camera may be affixed in an enclosed space. In another embodiment, the surveillance device may be affixed outdoors. Alternatively, the camera may be worn by a person.
[0034] A user receives real-time alerts or notifications on surveillance device health or status via a website or user portal or mobile application. In some embodiments, the system may send notification to the user a text message. In another embodiment, the user may receive an e-mail from the system. Alternatively, the user may receive an alarm or an alert on his mobile phone.
[0035] Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic block diagram of monitoring method (200) providing a plurality of surveillance devices (202) and a health management server (206). The surveillance devices (202) transmitting data at regular intervals at step 204. The health management server (206) receiving the transmitted data at step 208 and analyzing the data at step 210. The method notifies the user and system integrator at step 212 regarding any discrepancy in the signal via a user interface, push notifications or email.
[0036] At step 214, the method raises a ticket automatically for each discrepancy and assigns an agent at step 216 for resolution of the said discrepancy. In an embodiment, the method includes storing the observed discrepancies for a surveillance device in a data storage device.
[0037] The monitoring method (200) may automatically register a complaint or raise a ticket and allocate an agent for resolving the same. In some embodiments, the user may track the current progress of the generated tickets through the mobile application or web portal. If the agent is unable to or fails to resolve the ticket (212) for the issues or abnormalities or problems (208) in a defined time period, then the ticket (212) will be automatically escalated to the next level. Also, the ticket only gets closed once the user gives confirmation through his account that the ticket is closed.
[0038] In another embodiment of the present invention, the device may be added in user portal by generating a secure password, which is entered in the device interface to connect the device and the server.

[0039] While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more preferred aspects, which have been set forth in considerable details for the purpose of making a complete disclosure of the invention, such aspects are merely exemplary and are not intended to be limiting or represent an exhaustive enumeration of all aspects of the invention.. Further, it will be apparent to those skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit and the principles of the invention.

We Claim

1. A monitoring system comprising:
a plurality of surveillance devices (102); a health management server (104); a data storage device (106); and a user interface (108);
- wherein the surveillance device transmits meta data securely to the health management server at regular intervals and the server communicates the data with a user via a user interface.
2. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data includes but is not limited to device operating status or signal.
3. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the server stores the meta data or device operating status or signal in a data storage device.
4. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user interface includes but is not limited to a mobile application or a website.
5. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system utilizes serial number of the device.
6. A monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system generates a password for the surveillance device.
7. A monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system notifies the user via an email or message or an alarm.
8. A monitoring method comprising: providing a plurality of surveillance devices;
transmitting data periodically from the surveillance device to a server; providing a health management server;

receiving data from the plurality of surveillance devices at regular intervals;
analyzing the received data; and
notifying a user via a user interface at periodic intervals.
9. The monitoring method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the data includes but is not limited to device operating status or signal.
10. The monitoring method as claimed in claim 8, including storing the meta data or device operating status or signal in a data storage device.
11. The monitoring method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the user is a customer or a system integrator or a service agent.
12. The monitoring method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the user interface is a website or a mobile application.