Method and system for monitoring events
First Claim
1. A monitoring and control system comprising:
- a control unit for receiving signals from a variety of detection devices monitoring events pertaining to security, the control unit having means for transferring information related to the reception of such signals to a remote monitoring station and having control means for actively controlling one or more detection devices;
the monitoring station having programmable storage means storing automatic evaluation routines to initiate the automatic transfer of information to a chosen remote user terminal;
wherein the monitoring station is responsive to commands initiated by a remote user terminal, which is remote of the monitoring station and the site being monitored and which may be the chosen remote user terminal or an alternative remote user terminal, to establish a link between the remote user terminal and the control unit to cause the control means thereof to initiate a change in the operative state of at least one of the detection devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a monitoring and control system comprising a control unit (50) for receiving signals from a variety of detection devices (10, 21, 502) monitoring events pertaining to security. The control unit (50) transmits information related to the reception of such signals to a remote monitoring station (100) that stores and operates automatic evaluation routines to send an alert call to a chosen remote user terminal. The remote user terminal may conveniently be a PC, a PDA, a mobile phone or WAP enabled mobile phone, or a fixed line telephone. In some embodiments of the invention it may be possible to provide the monitoring station (100) with transmitted information including verification of the event. The nature of the event and verification may be determined by the control unit (50) or by the monitoring station (100). The invention also provides a control unit (50) for receiving alarm signals generated by detection devices (10, 21, 502) in response to detectable events, the control unit comprising interface means (51) for receiving generated signals and means for transmitting information relating to the generated signals (500, 501, 510, 519) to a remote monitoring station (100).
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A monitoring and control system comprising:
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a control unit for receiving signals from a variety of detection devices monitoring events pertaining to security, the control unit having means for transferring information related to the reception of such signals to a remote monitoring station and having control means for actively controlling one or more detection devices;
the monitoring station having programmable storage means storing automatic evaluation routines to initiate the automatic transfer of information to a chosen remote user terminal;
wherein the monitoring station is responsive to commands initiated by a remote user terminal, which is remote of the monitoring station and the site being monitored and which may be the chosen remote user terminal or an alternative remote user terminal, to establish a link between the remote user terminal and the control unit to cause the control means thereof to initiate a change in the operative state of at least one of the detection devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 30, 41)
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13. A method of monitoring a site equipped with one or more detection devices for monitoring events pertaining to security and generating signals in response to detectable events, the method comprising:
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utilizing a local control unit for receiving signals related to events pertaining to security, the local control unit having means for transferring information related to the reception of such signals to a remote monitoring station and having control means for actively controlling the one or more detection devices;
utilizing a monitoring station, remote from the local control unit, to initiate the automatic transfer of information to a chosen remote terminal in accordance with automatic evaluation routines programmed onto the monitoring station; and
enabling the monitoring station to respond to commands initiated from a remote user terminal, which is remote of the monitoring station and the site being monitored and which may be the chosen remote user terminal or an alternative remote user terminal, to establish a link between the remote user terminal and the control unit to cause the control means thereof to initiate a change in the operative state of at least one of the detection devices. - View Dependent Claims (14, 16)
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15. A method according to 13 further comprising enabling the monitoring station to respond to a command request to transfer additional information to the monitoring station and/or the remote user terminal.
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24. A control unit for use in a monitoring and control system or for use in a method of monitoring a site, the control unit comprising:
- interface means for receiving signals of the same general character from a variety of detection devices in response to detectable events, means for differentiating or discriminating between such signals and the events which caused the signals, and means for transmitting information relating to received signals to a remote monitoring station.
- View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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31. An alarm control unit (ACU) for use in combination with one or more pre-existing alarm systems, wherein the ACU comprises:
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i) a detector for receiving signals from the one or more pre-existing alarm systems;
ii) a communications module;
iii) means for recording reference samples of different signals produced by the one or more pre-existing alarm systems;
iv) means for distinguishing the signals from one another and from background interference, by comparing the detected signals or interference with the recorded reference signals; and
v) means for transmitting an output via the communications module. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification