Selectively enabled threat based information system

• US 20080224862A1
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seth Cirker
• Original Assignee: Seth Cirker
• Inventors: Cirker, Seth
• Granted Patent: US 8,749,343 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19652 Systems using zones in a single scene defined for different treatment, e.g. outer zone gives pre-alarm, inner zone gives alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19686 Interfaces masking personal details for privacy, e.g. blurring faces, vehicle license plates
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves

Abstract

A method for selectively monitoring a privacy sensitive area includes assigning the privacy sensitive area a privacy threshold value, receiving a threat level, and activating surveillance equipment associated with said privacy sensitive area when said threat level exceeds said privacy threshold value.

Claims

1. A method for selectively monitoring a privacy sensitive area, comprising:

assigning said privacy sensitive area a privacy threshold value;

receiving a threat level; and

activating surveillance equipment associated with said privacy sensitive area when said threat level exceeds said privacy threshold value.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a plurality of privacy sensitive areas;

assigning each of said plurality of privacy sensitive areas a privacy threshold value;

receiving a threat level; and

selectively activating surveillance equipment associated with each of said privacy sensitive areas when said received threat level exceeds each individual privacy threshold value.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising assigning a single privacy threshold value to two or more privacy sensitive areas that have substantially similar privacy requirements.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said assigning said privacy sensitive area a privacy threshold value comprises:

evaluating a degree of privacy desired in said privacy sensitive area; and

assigning said privacy threshold value in relation to said desire for privacy.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving a threat level comprises receiving a threat level value from an operations center.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said threat level value received from said operations center is calculated by receiving a current threat level condition and assigning a threat level value to said threat level condition based on a severity of said threat level condition.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said current threat level condition is received by said operations center from an automated threat level change.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said automated threat level change is received from one of a department of homeland security or an oceanic and atmospheric administration for natural disasters.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said current threat level condition is received by said operations center from a manual threat level change.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said current threat level condition is received from a local alarm input.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said activating surveillance equipment associated with said privacy sensitive area when said threat level exceeds said privacy threshold value comprises:

comparing said threat level to said privacy threshold value; and

activating one of a surveillance camera, a motion sensor, or an audio receptive device associated with said privacy sensitive area if said threat level exceeds said privacy threshold value.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said receiving a threat level is received in a security system interface;

said received threat level is transmitted to a threat level based surveillance control software or firmware module;

wherein said threat level based surveillance control software or firmware module compares said received threat level to said privacy threshold value; and

selectively activating surveillance equipment associated with said privacy sensitive areas when said received threat level exceeds said privacy threshold value.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said threat level based surveillance control software or firmware-module is disposed in a surveillance camera associated with said privacy sensitive area.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a source responsible for authorizing said threat level; and

recording said identification.

15. A method for selectively monitoring a privacy sensitive area, comprising:

assigning said privacy sensitive area a privacy threshold value including evaluating a degree of privacy desired in said privacy sensitive area and

assigning said privacy threshold value in relation to said desire for privacy;

receiving a threat level; and

activating surveillance equipment associated with said privacy sensitive area when said threat level exceeds said privacy threshold value including comparing said threat level to said privacy threshold value, and

activating one of a surveillance camera, a motion sensor, or an audio receptive device associated with said privacy sensitive area if said threat level exceeds said privacy threshold value.

16. The method for selectively monitoring a privacy sensitive area of claim 15, wherein receiving said threat level comprises receiving a numeric value from an operations center, wherein said numeric value corresponds with said threat level.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said threat level value received from said operations center is calculated by receiving a current threat level condition and assigning a numeric threat level value to said threat level condition based on a severity of said threat level condition.

18. A system for selectively monitoring a privacy sensitive area, comprising:

a surveillance component configured to be associated with a privacy sensitive area;

a surveillance system interface configured to selectively activate and deactivate said surveillance component based on a received threat level; and

a software or firmware module configured to determine whether said received threat level is sufficiently high to activate said surveillance component.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said system includes a privacy threshold value associated with said privacy sensitive area;

said privacy threshold value corresponding to a desire for privacy in said privacy sensitive area.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising an operations center communicatively coupled to said security system interface;

wherein said operations center is configured to

receive a threat level condition,

assign a threat level value to said received threat level condition, and transmit said assigned threat level condition to said security system interface.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said software or firmware module is configured to:

receive said assigned threat level condition;

compare said assigned threat level condition to said privacy threshold value; and

activate said surveillance component configured to be associated with a privacy sensitive area when said assigned threat level exceeds said privacy threshold value.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said software or firmware module is resident on said surveillance component.