METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR REMOTE MANAGEMENT OF SECURITY SYSTEMS

• US 20110205050A1
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ONCAM Global, Inc. (Oncam Global Group AG)
• Original Assignee: ONCAM Global, Inc. (Oncam Global Group AG)
• Inventors: Pineau, Adam, Pineau, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,508,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

In one embodiment, the method of these teachings includes the steps of utilizing a remote server to manage security alerts, utilizing the remote server to administer security system updates and utilizing the remote server to configure the security system.

Claims

1. A method for rendering a (monitoring) security system less susceptible to sabotage, the method comprising the step of:

utilizing a remote server to manage security alerts; and

utilizing, by means of the remote server, a remote system to interact with the security system;

said remote system being in communication with said remote server.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of utilizing the remote server to manage security alerts comprises the steps of:

determining a type of alert for an alert;

merging an identifying ID with the alert type;

determining a location of the alert; and

transmitting, using a transmitter and a preselected transmission method, the merged ID and alert type and the location to a predetermined site.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of utilizing said remote system to interact with the security system comprises the steps of:

utilizing said remote system to arm and disarm the security system; and

accessing functionality of predetermined security devices.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of utilizing the remote server to manage security alerts further comprises the step of:

contacting, if an alarm is received, a predetermined site.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of utilizing said remote system to interact with the security system further comprises the step of:

receiving output from predetermined security devices.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of utilizing said remote system to interact with the security system further comprises the step of:

generating a log of events captured by the predetermined? security devices.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of accessing functionality of predetermined security devices comprises the step of:

adjusting settings/parameters of predetermined security devices.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of accessing functionality of predetermined security devices comprises the step of:

updating firmware of predetermined security device.

9. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of accessing functionality of predetermined security devices comprises the step of:

adding new features/capabilities to predetermined security devices.

10. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of accessing functionality of predetermined security devices comprises the step of:

controlling predetermined security devices.

11. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of accessing functionality of predetermined security devices comprises the step of:

requesting output of predetermined security devices.

31. The method of claim 4 wherein the predetermined site is at least one of a monitoring site, a customer or one or more designated emergency authorities.

12. A method for rendering a security system less susceptible to sabotage, the method comprising the step of:

utilizing a remote system, said remote system being in communication with a remote server, to;

arm and disarm the security system;

access functionality of predetermined security devices; and

receive output from predetermined security devices.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the remote system is further utilized to:

generate a log of events captured by the security devices.

14. A method for configuring/maintaining/updating a security system, the method comprising the steps of:

accessing a device database accessible by a remote server, the device database having information for each one security system, said information comprising location, system preferences, identifying information, type of security device, identifier for each security device in said one security system, and number of security devices in said each one security system;

retrieving, by means of the remote server, from the device database, the information for the security system; and

providing, via a network by means of the remote server, information for setup/maintenance/update of the security system to a remote system or to a security device in the security system.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

if the security system is being configured, registering each security device in the security system, registration including entering into the device database said information for each security device in the security system.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

if the security system is being updated, updating, in the device database, said information for each security device in the security system that is being updated or modified.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

monitoring, by means of the remote server, the security devices.

18. A monitoring system comprising:

at least one remote alarm console;

said at least one remote alarm console comprising;

at least one first processor;

at least one first computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein, said computer readable code causing said at least one first processor to;

arm and disarm a security system;

said security system comprising at least one security device;

access functionality of predetermined security devices from said at least one security device; and

receive output from predetermined security devices from said at least one security device;

at least one database;

said database having information for said security system, said information comprising location, system preferences, identifying information, type of security device and identifier for said at least one security device and number of security devices in said security system;

a remote server comprising;

at least one second processor; and

at least one second computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein, said computer readable code causing said at least one second processor to;

determine a type of alert for an alert;

merge an identifying ID with the alert type;

determine a location of the alert;

transmit, using a transmitter and a preselected transmission method, the merged ID and alert type and the location to a predetermined site;

utilize said remote alarm console to arm and disarm the security system; and

access, by means of said remote alarm console, functionality of predetermined security devices from said at least one security device;

said remote alarm console, said security system and said remote server operatively connected by one or more networks.

19. The monitoring system of claim 18 wherein said computer readable code in said second computer usable medium causes said at least one second processor to:

Contact, if an alarm is received, a predetermined site.

20. The monitoring system of claim 18 wherein said computer readable code in said second computer usable medium causes said at least one second processor to:

receive output from predetermined security devices from said at least one security device.

21. The monitoring system of claim 18 wherein said computer readable code in said second computer usable medium causes said at least one second processor to:

generate, by means of said remote alarm console, a log of events captured by each security device from said at least one security device.

22. The monitoring system of claim 18 wherein said computer readable code in said second computer usable medium causes said at least one second processor to:

access said at least one database;

retrieve from said at least one database, the information for the security system; and

provide, via said at least one network, information for configuring/maintaining/updating the security system to said remote alarm console or to a security device from said at least one security device.

23. The monitoring system of claim 22 wherein said computer readable code in said second computer usable medium causes said at least one second processor to:

if the security system is being configured, register each one of said at least one security device, registration including entering into said at least one database said information for each security device in the security system.

24. The monitoring system of claim 22 wherein said computer readable code in said second computer usable medium causes said at least one second processor to:

if the security system is being updated, update, in said at least one database, said information for each security device from said at least one security device.

25. The monitoring system of claim 22 wherein said computer readable code in said second computer usable medium causes said at least one second processor to:

monitor said at least one security device.

32. The monitoring system of claim 18 wherein the predetermined site is at least one of a monitoring site, a customer or one or more designated emergency authorities.

33. The monitoring system of claim 19 wherein the predetermined site is at least one of a monitoring site, a customer or one or more designated emergency authorities.

26. A configuring/maintaining/updating system comprising:

at least one remote server;

said at least one remote server comprising;

at least one processor; and

at least one computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein, said computer readable code causing said at least one processor to;

access a device database, the device database having information for at least one security system, said information comprising location, system preferences, identifying information, type of security device and identifier for each security device in said at least one security system, and number of security devices in said at least one security system;

retrieve, from the device database, the information for said at least one security system; and

provide, via a network, information for configuration/maintaining/updating said at least one security system to a remote alarm console or to a security device in said at least one security system.

27. The configuring/maintaining/updating system of claim 26 wherein said computer readable code in said computer usable medium causes said at least one processor to:

if said at least one security system is being configured, register each one of said at least one security device, registration including entering into said at least one database said information for each security device in said at least one security system.

28. The configuring/maintaining/updating system of claim 26 wherein said computer readable code in said computer usable medium causes said at least one processor to:

if the security system is being updated, update, in said at least one database, said information for each security device in said at least one security system.

30. The configuring/maintaining/updating system of claim 26 wherein said computer readable code in said computer usable medium causes said at least one processor to:

monitor predetermined security devices in said at least one security system.