Security system

• US 20040085202A1
• Filed: 06/26/2003
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: @Security Broadband Corporation
• Inventors: Glasgow, William P., Naidoo, Surendra N.
• Granted Patent: US 6,930,599 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/531
• 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: G08B 5/004 Reflective safety signalling devices attached on persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A system and method for enabling a central station to accurately verify in real-time whether an alarm signal generated by a security base station is a false alarm, and for enabling remote users to securely access features of the security base station such as remote surveillance, activating and deactivating the system, and adjusting alarm sensitivities.

Claims

1. A security system, comprising:

a base station configured to generate an alarm signal in response to an occurrence of an alarm event, and to generate an alarm video corresponding to said alarm event;

a central station coupled through a network to receive said alarm signal and said alarm video from said base station in substantially real-time.

2. The security system of claim 1, wherein said network is the Internet.

3. The security system of claim 1, wherein said base station is configured to detect said occurrence of said alarm event.

4. The security system of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensor units;

wherein said one or more sensor units are configured to detect said occurrence of said alarm event and convey an indication of said occurrence to said base station.

5. The security system of claim 1, wherein said central station is operable to utilize said alarm video to assist in the verification of said alarm signal.

6. The security system of claim 1, further comprising:

a video camera coupled to transmit video to said base station,

wherein said base station is configured to generate said alarm video from said video transmitted by said video camera, said alarm video corresponding to said alarm event.

7. The security system of claim 6, wherein said base station is configured to detect said occurrence of said alarm event utilizing said video transmitted by said video camera.

8. The security system of claim 6, wherein said video camera is a 360-degree camera.

9. The security system of claim 1, wherein said alarm video corresponds to an interval of time beginning at or before said occurrence of said alarm event.

10. The security system of claim 9, wherein said alarm video corresponds to an interval of time ending after said occurrence of said alarm event.

11. The security system of claim 9, wherein said alarm video corresponds to an interval of time ending after a predetermined duration.

12. The security system of claim 1, wherein said base station is coupled to said central station through said network via a high-speed network connection.

13. The security system of claim 12, wherein said high-speed network connection is a cable-modem connection.

14. The security system of claim 12, wherein said high-speed network connection is an xDSL connection.

15. The security system of claim 12, wherein said high-speed network connection is a wireless connection.

16. The security system of claim 1, further comprising:

a remote station operable to communicate with said base station and said central station through said network,

wherein said central station is configured to create a secure data connection between said remote station and said base station such that subsequent communications between said remote station and said base station bypass said central station.

17. The security system of claim 16, wherein said central station is configured to create said secure data connection after authenticating said remote station.

18. The security system of claim 16, wherein said remote station is operable to control what constitutes said occurrence of said alarm event.

19. The security system of claim 16, wherein said remote station is operable to control activation of said base station.

20. The security system of claim 16, wherein said remote station is operable to control deactivation of said base station.

21. The security system of claim 16, wherein said remote unit is operable to access one or more functions of said base station.

22. The security system of claim 21, wherein said one or more functions of said base station comprises remote surveillance.

23. The security system of claim 2, wherein said central station is substantially continuously coupled to said base station through the Internet.

24. The security system of claim 23, wherein said central station is operable to detect in substantially real-time if said central station becomes uncoupled from said base station.

25. The security system of claim 1, wherein said alarm video further comprises audio.

26. The security system of claim 25, wherein said central station is operable to transmit audio signals to said base station, and said base station is operable to play said audio signals.

27. The security system of claim 1, wherein said base station further comprises a user interface operable to activate and deactivate said base station.

28. The security system of claim 27, wherein said user interface is a keypad.

29. The security system of claim 27, wherein said user interface is a receiver configured to activate and deactivate said base station in response to signals from a remote transmitter.

30. A security system, comprising:

a base station connected to the Internet, said base station configured to detect an occurrence of an alarm event and to generate an alarm signal in response to detecting said occurrence of said alarm event;

a video camera coupled to said base station, said video camera operable to transmit video to said base station,

wherein said base station is configured to generate an alarm video corresponding to said alarm event from said video transmitted by said video camera; and

a central station connected to the Internet, said central station configured to receive said alarm signal and said alarm video from said base station through the Internet in substantially real-time, and

wherein said central station is operable to utilize said alarm video to assist in the verification of said alarm signal.

31. The security system of claim 30, further comprising a remote station operable to communicate with said base station and said central station through the Internet,

wherein said central stations is configured to create a secure data connection between said remote station and said base station such that subsequent communications between said remote station and said base station bypass said central station.

32. The security system of claim 31, wherein said central station is configured to create said secure data connection after authenticating said remote station.

33. The security system claim 31, wherein said remote unit is operable to access one or more functions of said base station.

34. A method for a remote unit to obtain access to a base station within a security system, comprising the steps of:

connecting said remote unit to a central station within said security system;

supplying authorization information from said remote unit to said central station;

authenticating said remote unit by utilizing said authorization information;

establishing a connection between said remote unit and said base station such that subsequent communications between said remote unit and said base station bypass said central station.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising utilizing said connection in order to allow said remote unit to access one or more functions of said base station.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said one or more functions of said base station comprises remote surveillance.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein said one or more functions of said base station comprises activation and deactivation of said security system.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein said one or more functions of said base station comprises controlling what constitutes an occurrence of an alarm event.

39. A method for real-time verification by a central station of an alarm signal generated by a base station, comprising the steps of:

detecting an occurrence of an alarm event at a location;

generating an alarm signal and an alarm video at said location corresponding to said occurrence of said alarm event;

conveying said alarm signal and said alarm video from said base station to said central station in substantially real-time;

viewing said alarm signal and said alarm video at said central station;

determining if said occurrence of said alarm event corresponds to a false alarm in response to said viewing.