Security system with two-way communication and video

• US 20100195810A1
• Filed: 02/02/2010
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BCE Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AlarmForce Industries, Inc. (BCE Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mota, Iwan, Matlin, Joel
• Granted Patent: US 8,897,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/167.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

A security system has a camera; a sensor generating a signal in response to a triggering event, and a management module. The triggering event is one of an actuation of a doorbell button, an actuation of a bell connected to and operated by a doorbell button, door opening detection, motion detection, proximity detection and infrared (IR) beam interruption. The management module is adapted to send data to be received by a remote communication device upon generation by the sensor of the signal generated in response to the triggering event. The management module is also adapted to initiate a connection between the remote communication device and the camera, the connection permitting data exchange between the remote communication device and the camera. The security system allows a person located in a vicinity of the camera installed at a building or a house to communicate with a user of a remote communication device.

Claims

1. A security system comprising:

a camera;

a sensor generating a signal in response to a triggering event, the triggering event being at least one of an actuation of a doorbell button, an actuation of a bell connected to and operated by a doorbell button, door opening detection, sound detection, motion detection, proximity detection and infrared (IR) beam interruption; and

a management module adapted to;

send data to be received by at least one remote communication device upon generation by the sensor of the signal generated in response to the triggering event, and

initiate a connection between the at least one remote communication device and the camera, the connection permitting data exchange between the at least one remote communication device and the camera.

2. The security system of claim 1, wherein the camera and the sensor are a common device providing a motion detection module, the motion detection module triggering motion detection and proximity detection.

3. The security system of claim 1, wherein the data sent by the management module includes data generated by the camera.

4. The security system of claim 1, wherein the at least one remote communication device includes a first remote communication device receiving the data sent by the management module upon generation by the sensor of the signal generated in response to the triggering event and a second remote communication device with which the connection permitting data exchange with the camera is initiated, the second remote communication device being different from the first remote communication device.

5. The security system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a doorbell button.

6. The security system of claim 1, further comprising a receiver module which causes the camera to generate data related to an image of a vicinity of the camera taken by the camera in response to receiving the signal generated by the sensor.

7. The security system of claim 6, wherein the receiver module and the camera are embedded in a common unit.

8. The security system of claim 1, wherein the data sent by the management module is related to an image of a vicinity of the camera taken by the camera.

9. The security system of claim 1, wherein the camera is a video camera and includes a microphone and a speaker.

10. The security system of claim 1, wherein the connection initiated between the at least one remote communication device and the video camera allows a user of the at least one remote communication device to communicate with a person who is located in a vicinity of the video camera.

11. The security system of claim 10, wherein the video camera is located at one of a building and a house and the user of the at least one remote communication device is remote from the one of the building and the house.

12. The security system of claim 1, wherein the management module is further adapted to store in a database data related to an image of a vicinity of the camera taken by the camera upon receipt of the signal from the sensor.

13. The security system of claim 1, wherein the at least one remote communication device is at least one of a fixed line telephone, a cellular telephone, a smart phone, and a computer.

14. The security system of claim 1, wherein the signal generated by the sensor in response to the triggering event is transmitted to at least one of the management module and the camera wirelessly.

15. The security system of claim 1, wherein the management module initiates the connection between the at least one remote communication device and the camera via at least one of Internet and a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call.

16. The security system of claim 1, wherein the management module initiates the connection between the at least one remote communication device and the camera by dialling at least one pre-determined phone number.

17. The security system of claim 1, wherein the management module is accessible to a user via a web interface.

18. The security system of claim 17, wherein the web interface allows at least one of changing a configuration of the management module, modifying the triggering event, requesting a live video session with the camera, requesting a live audio session with the camera, recording audio session with the camera, recording video session with the camera, accessing an image of a vicinity of the camera taken by the camera, arming an alarm control unit, disarming an alarm control unit, requesting a message to be played and accessing data related to actions undertaken by the management module.

19. The security system of claim 1, wherein the camera includes the management module.

20. A doorbell system comprising:

a camera;

a doorbell button;

a bell operated by the doorbell button;

a sensor generating a signal in response to actuation of at least one of the doorbell button and the bell; and

a management module adapted to;

send data to be received by at least one remote communication device upon generation by the sensor of the signal generated in response to actuation of at least one of the doorbell button and the bell, and

initiate a connection between the at least one remote communication device and the camera, the connection permitting data exchange between the at least one remote communication device and the camera.

21. A doorbell system comprising:

a camera;

a doorbell button generating a signal in response to actuation of the doorbell button; and

a management module adapted to;

send data to be received by at least one remote communication device upon generation by the doorbell button of the signal generated in response to actuation of the doorbell button, and

initiate a connection between the at least one remote communication device and the camera, the connection permitting data exchange between the at least one remote communication device and the camera.