Security system and method with realtime imagery

• US 20050068175A1
• Filed: 08/02/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Discovery Toys LLC
• Original Assignee: James O.Faulkner, Richard Marvel Blake
• Inventors: Faulkner, James Otis, Blake, Richard Marvel
• Granted Patent: US 7,323,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19663 Surveillance related processing done local to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19693 using multiple video sources viewed on a single or compound screen
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance

Abstract

A security alarm system that provides secure, realtime video and/or other realtime imagery of a secured location to one or more emergency response agencies over a high-speed communications link, such as an Internet link. Realtime video and/or realtime imagery, along with other useful information is therefore placed directly into the hands of those who are called upon and trained to respond to a potential emergency. As such, the emergency response agencies and their personnel are better informed. This, in turn, allows the personnel to be better prepared in their response to potential emergencies or acts of terrorism, saving manpower, money, lives and reducing the number of false alarms.

Claims

1. A security system comprising:

an imaging device positioned at a secured location;

a computer system associated with a central monitoring station, said computer system configured to;

receive real-time imagery data from said secured location;

process the received imagery data;

generating additional information associated with the received data; and

transmit the received imagery data and the additional information to a computer system associated with a response agency.

2. The security system of claim 1, wherein:

the real-time imagery data received from said secured location includes biometric information from an individual located at the secured location; and

the computer system associated with the central monitoring station is further configured to analyze the biometric information.

3. The security system of claim 2, wherein:

the computer system associated with the central monitoring station is further configured to retrieve information concerning the individual who is present at the secured location based on the analysis of the biometric information; and

wherein the additional informational information is the retrieved information concerning the individual.

4. The security system of claim 1, wherein the additional information is automatically generated by the computer system.

5. The security system of claim 1, wherein the additional information is generated by personnel associated with the central monitoring station.

6. The security system of claim 1, wherein the additional information is voice data.

7. The security system of claim 6, wherein the computer system associated with the central monitoring station is configured to transmit the voice data using voice over internet protocol.

8. The security system of claim 1, wherein the additional information is related to the secured location.

9. The security system of claim 8, wherein the additional information reflects a structural attribute associated with the secured location.

10. The security system of claim 8, wherein the additional information reflects a physical condition associated with the secured location.

11. A method of securing a location comprising the steps of:

generating real-time imagery data at a secured location;

transmitting the real-time imagery data to a central monitoring station over a network connection;

processing the received imagery data at the central monitoring station;

generating additional information associated with the received imagery data; and

transmitting the received imagery data and the additional information to a response agency over a network connection.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the real-time imagery data received from the secured location includes biometric information from an individual located at the secured location

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

analyzing the biometric information;

retrieving information concerning the individual located at the secured location; and

wherein the additional information transmitted to the response agency includes the information retrieved concerning the individual located at the secured location.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the additional information is automatically generated by a computer system associated with the central monitoring station.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the additional information is generated by personnel associated with the central monitoring station.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the additional information is voice data.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of transmitting the additional information includes transmitting the additional information over the network using voice over internet protocol.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the additional information is related to the secured location.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the data related to the secured location reflects a structural attribute associated with the secured location.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the data related to the secured location reflects a physical condition associated with the secured location.