Method and apparatus for remote surveillance

Abstract

A remote surveillance apparatus and method comprising a camera coupled to a support structure and configured to capture video data and transmit the captured video data, a router bound to a public internet protocol (IP) address of a data center computing device external to the remote surveillance apparatus using a virtual private network (VPN), the router being configured to receive the captured video data, and wirelessly retransmit the captured video data, via a modem, to a requesting computing device external to the remote surveillance apparatus in response to a request originating at the requesting computing device that is addressed to the public IP address of the data center computing device and subsequently directed to the router by the data center computing device.

1 . A remote surveillance apparatus, comprising,
 a camera coupled to a support structure and configured to capture video data and transmit the captured video data; and   a router bound to a public internet protocol (IP) address of a data center computing device external to the remote surveillance apparatus using a virtual private network (VPN), the router being configured to:
 receive the captured video data, and 
 wirelessly retransmit the captured video data, via a modem, to a requesting computing device external to the remote surveillance apparatus in response to a request originating at the requesting computing device that is addressed to the public IP address of the data center computing device and subsequently directed to the router by the data center computing device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an enclosure coupled to the support structure that houses the router and the modem.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the enclosure further houses one or more of:
 a fan configured to cool components housed in the first enclosure; or   a Power over Ethernet injector coupled to the camera.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the router comprises the termination point of the VPN. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the request directed to the router by the data center computing device using hairpin routing. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the public IP address of the data center computing device is translated to a private IP address associated with the router. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a solar panel movably coupled to the support structure and configured to tilt and swivel;   a battery electrically coupled to the solar panel and configured to store energy collected by the solar panel and power one or more of the camera, the modem, and the router; and   a battery enclosure coupled to a base of the support structure and housing the battery.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the camera is movably coupled to the support structure. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the router and the modem are contained within a single device. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a mast. 
     
     
         11 . A method for operating a remote surveillance apparatus, the method comprising:
 capturing, by a camera, video data, wherein the camera is coupled to a support structure;   transmitting, by the camera, the captured video data to a router bound to a public internet protocol (IP) address of a data center computing device external to the remote surveillance apparatus using a virtual private network (VPN); and   wirelessly retransmitting, by the router, the captured video data to a requesting computing device via a modem in response to a request originating at the requesting computing device that is addressed to the public IP address of the data center computing device and subsequently directed to the router by the data center computing device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an enclosure coupled to the support structure that houses the router and the modem.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the enclosure further houses one or more of:
 a fan configured to cool components housed in the first enclosure; or   a Power over Ethernet injector coupled to the camera.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the router comprises the termination point of the VPN. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the request directed to the router by the data center computing device using hairpin routing. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the public IP address of the data center computing device is translated to a private IP address associated with the router. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a solar panel movably coupled to the support structure and configured to tilt and swivel;   a battery electrically coupled to the solar panel and configured to store energy collected by the solar panel and power one or more of the camera, the modem, and the router; and   a battery enclosure coupled to a base of the support structure and housing the battery.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the camera is movably coupled to the support structure. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the router and the modem are contained within a single device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the support structure comprises a mast.