Security system user interface with video display

• US 20040257336A1
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shmuel Hershkovitz
• Original Assignee: Shmuel Hershkovitz
• Inventors: Hershkovitz, Shmuel, Anglehart, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,486,271 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system

Abstract

A security system user interface comprising a graphical display, a communication link, a memory, a camera and a display controller. The camera image is converted for display on the graphical display, the latter being used for security system control and viewing the camera image. The interface is best located near an entrance inside a secured premises, while the camera is arranged to monitor visitors outside the secured premises at the entrance. The camera can be connected directly to the user interface or indirectly using a data communications link of the security system interconnecting security detectors to a control panel.

Claims

1. A user interface for a security system comprising:

a security control detector unit communications interface receiving detector unit status data;

a graphical display to display information about said detector unit status data;

a display controller connected to a camera for transmitting an image from said camera to said display.

2. The user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display is a touch screen, said interface being adapted to respond to screen touch for inputting operational state or programming state data.

3. The user interface as claimed in claim 2, wherein said display has a lower resolution that said camera, and said display controller provides a controllable zoom of said image at a location corresponding to screen touch.

4. The user interface as claimed in claim 3, wherein said display comprises an LCD display.

5. The user interface as claimed in claim 3, wherein said zoom magnification changes in a cyclical manner from 1 times to 3 times to 9 times in response to screen touch.

6. The user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display has a lower resolution that said camera, and said display controller provides a controllable zoom of said image in response to user input.

7. The user interface as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a memory for storing said image, and said graphical display being adapted to respond to user input to retrieve and display said stored image.

8. The user interface as claimed in claim 7, further comprising an input from an occupant calling interface, said memory storing said image in response to said input from said occupant calling interface.

9. The user interface as claimed in claim 8, wherein a time of activation of said occupant calling interface is also stored in said memory.

10. The user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display controller automatically adjusts said image for brightness.

11. The user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image is repeatedly displayed to provide motion video.

12. The user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display controller is connected directly to said camera without involving said security control detector unit communications interface.

13. The user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display controller is connected to said camera using said security control detector unit communications interface.

14. A security system comprising:

a control panel;

a number of security detectors connected to said control panel, said security detectors covering locations or zones within protected premises;

an occupant calling interface connected to said control panel;

a door bell unit connected to said control panel, wherein said control panel controls said door bell unit in accordance with input received from said occupant calling interface.

15. The security system as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a variable voltage power supply for driving said door bell unit, said door bell unit comprising a conventional domestic door bell or chime device, and wherein an output voltage of said power supply being selectable using said control panel.

16. The security system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said control panel comprises a telephone line coupler, said security system using said telephone line to report security alarm, further comprising circuitry for creating a ring signal on a telephone line of said protected premises connected to said control panel.

17. The security system as claimed in claim 14, further comprising an audio alarm device connected to said control panel for generating an audio signal to be clearly heard within said protected premises in case of an alert or alarm condition, said control panel causing said audio alarm device to generate a predetermined door bell sound in response to input from said occupant calling interface.

18. The security system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said occupant calling interface comprises a door bell push button switch.

19. The security system as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a user interface connected to said control panel for programming said state of said security detectors, said user interface being adapted to allow program of a door bell program defining how said control panel controls said door bell unit in accordance with input received from said occupant calling interface.

20. The security system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said program comprises a time schedule.

21. The security system as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a memory for storing time indications of when the occupant calling interface is activated, and a user interface for displaying a log of said time indications.

22. A security system comprising:

a control panel;

a data network shared by a number of security detectors and said control panel, said security detectors covering locations or zones within protected premises;

a camera connected to said data network; and

a display connected to said data network for viewing an image from said camera.

23. The security system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said camera is located to view a visitor at an entrance to said protected premises.

24. The security system as claimed in claim 23, further comprising:

an occupant calling interface located at said entrance and connected to said data network; and

a door bell unit connected to said data network.

25. The security system as claimed in claim 24, wherein said data network is wireless.

26. The security system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said data network is wireless.

27. A security system comprising:

a control panel;

a data network shared by a number of security detectors and said control panel, said security detectors covering locations or zones within protected premises;

an occupant calling interface connected to said data network;

a door bell unit connected to said data network.

28. A security system comprising:

a control panel;

a number of security detectors connected to said control panel, said security detectors covering locations or zones within protected premises;

a display used by said control panel to display information about an operational state and/or a programming state of said security detectors;

a camera connected to said control panel, said control panel adapted to transmit an image from said camera to said display.

29. The security system as claimed in claim 28, wherein said display is integrated into a user interface of said control panel.

30. The security system as claimed in claim 29, wherein said display is a touch screen, said interface being adapted to respond to screen touch for inputting operational state or programming state data.

31. The security system as claimed in claim 28, wherein said camera is located to view a visitor at an entrance to said protected premises.