Video security system

• US 20020147982A1
• Filed: 09/18/2001
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: @Security Broadband Corporation
• Inventors: Feldkamp, Gregory E., Glasgow, William P., Naidoo, Surendra N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,520,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/105
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19658 Telephone systems used to communicate with a camera, e.g. PSTN, GSM, POTS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A video security system for the remote verification and monitoring of conditions surrounding an alarm signal. A security gateway at the monitored premises detects alarm conditions and transmits information and video relating to the alarm condition to personnel at a central monitoring station in substantially real time for verification. Various embodiments of the system transmit alarm information to the central monitoring station through hybrid-fiber coaxial, DSL, fiber-optic, high-speed fixed wireless and mobile communications networks. The security system may include secondary alarm notification from the security gateway to the central monitoring station via a second network, such as IP, Ethernet, Internet, frame relay, public switched telephone, wireless, and mobile communications networks.

Claims

1. A security system comprising:

a security gateway located at a premises, wherein the security gateway is operable to detect an alarm condition and to record video of at least a portion of the premises relating to the alarm condition, said video hereinafter referred to as Alarm Video;

a security system server operatively coupled to the security gateway through a first network, wherein the security gateway is configured to notify the security system server of the alarm condition and to transfer the Alarm Video to the security system server in substantially real time through the first network; and

wherein the security system server is further operatively coupled to the security gateway through a second network, wherein the security gateway is configured to notify the security system server of the alarm condition through the second network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the security gateway is further configured to notify the security system server of the alarm condition through the first network substantially simultaneously with notifying the security system server of the alarm condition through the second network.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network is an IP network.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network is an Ethernet-based network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network comprises the Internet.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network comprises a frame relay network.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network comprises a hybrid-fiber coaxial network.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network comprises a fiber-optic network.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network comprises a DSL network.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network comprises an ATM network.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network comprises a high-speed fixed wireless network.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network comprises a high-speed mobile communications network.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the second network comprises a public switched telephone network.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the second network comprises a fixed wireless network.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the second network comprises a mobile communications network.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the security gateway is further operable to record audio from at least a portion of the premises relating to the alarm condition, said audio referred to hereinafter as Alarm Audio, and wherein the security gateway is further configured to transmit said Alarm Audio to the security system server through the second network in substantially real time.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the security system server is configured to provide notification of the alarm condition to a public safety agency.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the security system server is further configured to provide the Alarm Video to the public safety agency.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the security gateway is further operable to record audio from at least a portion the premises relating to the alarm condition, said audio referred hereinafter as Alarm Audio, and wherein the security gateway is further configured to transmit said Alarm Audio to the security system server through the first network in substantially real time.

20. A security system comprising:

a security gateway located at a premises,

wherein the security gateway is operable to detect an alarm condition and to record video of at least a portion of the premises relating to the alarm condition, said video hereinafter referred to the Alarm Video,

wherein the security gateway further comprises a network interface, and

wherein the network interface is configured to connect the security gateway to a cable headend through a first network, wherein said first network is a hybrid-fiber-coaxial network; and

a security system server configured to connect to the cable headend through a second network,

wherein the security gateway is configured to notify the security system server of the alarm condition and to transfer the Alarm Video to the security system server in substantially real time.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the second network is a dedicated bandwidth network.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the second network comprises a frame relay network.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the second network comprises an ATM network.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the second network comprises a managed IP connection having quality of service.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the security gateway is operatively coupled to the security system server through a third network, the security gateway being further configured to notify the security system server of the alarm condition through the third network.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the third network comprises a public switched telephone network.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the third network comprises a fixed wireless network.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the third network comprises a mobile communications network.

29. The system of claim 20, wherein the security gateway is further operable to record audio from at least a portion the premises relating to the alarm condition, said audio referred hereinafter as Alarm Audio, and wherein the security gateway is further configured to transmit said Alarm Audio to the security system server through the second network in substantially real time.

30. The system of claim 20, wherein the security system server is configured to provide notification of the alarm condition to a public safety agency.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the security system server is further configured to provide the Alarm Video to the public safety agency.

32. A security system for providing security monitoring services for a customer comprising:

a security gateway located at a premises designated by the customer,

wherein the security gateway is operable to detect an alarm condition and to record video of at least a portion of the premises relating to the alarm condition, said video hereinafter referred to as the Alarm Video,

wherein the security gateway further comprises a network interface, and

wherein the network interface is configured to connect the security gateway to a DSLAM through a first network, wherein the first network is a DSL network; and

a security system server connected to the DSL through a second network, wherein the security gateway is configured to notify the security system server of the alarm condition and to transfer the Alarm Video to the security system server in substantially real time.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the second network is a dedicated bandwidth network.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the second network is a frame relay network.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein the second network is an ATM network.

36. The system of claim 32, wherein the second network comprises a managed IP connection having quality of service.

37. The system of claim 32, wherein the security gateway is operatively coupled to the security system server through a third network, the security gateway being further configured to notify the security system server of the alarm condition through the third network.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the monitoring client is at a central monitoring station.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the security gateway is further operatively coupled to a central monitoring server at the central monitoring station, and wherein the security gateway is configured to transfer a notification of the alarm condition to the central monitoring server.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein the data center is further operable to store the notification of the alarm condition in the user information database.

42. The system of claim 38, wherein the data center is further operable to store the Alarm Video in the user information database.

38. A security system for providing security monitoring services comprising:

a security gateway located at a premises designated by a user, wherein the security gateway is operable to detect an alarm condition and to record video of at least a portion of the premises relating to the alarm condition, said video hereinafter referred to the Alarm Video;

a security system server operatively coupled to the security gateway and a data center, the data center comprising;

a user information database, comprising data about the user, said data referred to hereinafter as User Data,

wherein the security gateway is configured to notify the data center of the alarm condition and to transfer the Alarm Video to the data center in substantially real time,

wherein the security system server is operable to associate the Alarm Video with at least a portion of the User Data, said portion of the User Data referred to hereinafter as Associated User Data, and

a monitoring client operatively coupled to the monitoring client, wherein the data center is configured to transfer the notification of the alarm condition, the Alarm Video and Associated User Data to the monitoring client, and

wherein the monitoring client is configured to display at least a portion of the Alarm Video and the Associated User Data on the monitoring client.

43. A security system for providing security monitoring services for a plurality of users comprising:

a plurality of security gateways, each located at a premises, wherein each security gateway is operable to detect an alarm condition and to record video of at least a portion of its respective premises relating to the alarm condition, said video hereinafter referred to the Alarm Video;

a security system server operatively coupled to the plurality of security gateways, the security system server comprising a user information database, comprising data about each of the plurality of users, said data referred to hereinafter as User Data,

wherein each security gateway is configured to notify the security system server of the alarm condition and to transfer the Alarm Video to the security system server in substantially real time,

wherein the security system server is operable to associate the Alarm Video with at least a portion of the User Data, said portion referred to hereinafter as Associated User Data; and

a monitoring client operatively coupled to the security system server, and wherein the security system server is configured to transfer the notification of the alarm condition, the Alarm Video and Associated User Data to the monitoring client, and

wherein said monitoring client is configured to display at least a portion of the Alarm Video and the Associated User Data.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the security system server is further operable to store the notification of the alarm condition in the user information database.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the security system server is further operable to store the alarm video in the user information database.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein the monitoring client is at a central monitoring station.