SECURITY MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20130033379A1
• Filed: 08/05/2011
• Published: 02/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RSI Video Technologies Incorporated (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: RSI Video Technologies Incorporated (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jentoft, Keith A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,495,849 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 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/004 Alarm propagated along alternative communication path or using alternative communication medium according to a hierarchy of available ways to communicate, e.g. if Wi-Fi not available use GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

In one embodiment, a monitoring system is provided. The system includes one or more monitoring devices configured to generate respective video signals, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to allow a user remote access to the video signals in response to a request for remote access by the user via the WAN interface and the control circuit operating in an alarm state. The control circuit is configured to deny the user access to the video signals in response to a request for remote access by the user via the WAN interface and the control circuit operating in a non-alarm state.

Claims

1. A monitoring system, comprising:

one or more monitoring devices configured to generate respective video signals;

a control circuit including;

a local area network (LAN) interface configured and arranged to receive the video signals generated by the one or more monitoring devices; and

a wide area network (WAN) interface; and

a logic circuit coupled to the LAN and WAN interfaces, the logic circuit configured and arranged to;

in response to a request for remote access by a user via the WAN interface and the control circuit operating in an alarm state, allow the user remote access to the video signals; and

in response to a request for remote access by the user via the WAN interface and the control circuit operating in a non-alarm state, deny the user access to the video signals.

2. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the logic circuit is further configured to:

in response to a request for remote access by an additional user and the control circuit operating in either the alarm state or non-alarm state, allow the additional user remote access to the video signals.

3. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the logic circuit is configured to allow the user remote access to the video signals by generating and sending an internet video stream, derived from the video signals, to the user via the WAN interface.

4. The monitoring system of claim 3, wherein the WAN interface is configured and arranged to:

transmit the internet video stream from the logic circuit to the user via a first network interface; and

in response to the internet access point not being available, transmit the internet video stream to the user via a second network interface.

5. The monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the second network interface is configured and arranged to communicate over a cellular communication network.

6. The monitoring system of claim 5, wherein the logic circuit is configured and arranged, in response to the internet access point not being available, to generate a Internet video stream using a lower resolution in comparison to a resolution used when the first network interface is available.

7. The monitoring system of claim 5, wherein the logic circuit is configured and arranged to, in response to the first network interface not being available, generate and send a video clip, derived from the video signals, to the user via the cellular communication network.

8. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein:

each of the one or more monitoring devices includes a motion detector; and

the control circuit is configured and arranged to operate in the alarm state in response to operating in an armed state and one of the one or more monitoring devices detecting motion with the corresponding motion detector.

9. The monitoring system of claim 8, wherein each of the one or more monitoring devices is configured and arranged to generate the respective video signals in response to the corresponding motion detector detection motion.

10. The monitoring system of claim 8, further including an intrusion sensor configured and arranged to generate a signal that activates the motion detectors of the one or more monitoring devices in response to sensing the intrusion.

11. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein:

the control circuit and the one or more monitoring devices each have a respective primary source and a respective backup power source; and

the control circuit and the one or more monitoring devices are each configured to operate using the respective backup power source in response to the respective primary power source being unavailable.

12. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the LAN interface is configured and arranged to communicate with the one or more monitoring devices via a wireless protocol.

13. A monitoring system, comprising:

one or more monitoring devices configured and arranged to generate respective video signals;

a control circuit including;

a local area network (LAN) interface configured and arranged to receive the video signals generated by the one or more monitoring devices;

a wide area network (WAN) interface; and

a logic circuit coupled to the LAN and WAN interfaces, the logic circuit configured and arranged to;

transmit video data, derived from the video signals, to a user via the WAN interface, in response to entering an alarm state of operation; and

while in a non-alarm state of operation, deny the user remote access to the video signals.

14. The monitoring system of claim 13, wherein in response to a request for remote access by a second user and the control circuit operating in either the alarm state or non-alarm state, the logic circuit is further configured to allow the second user remote access to the video signals.

15. The monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the WAN interface is configured and arranged to:

transmit the video data to the user via an internet access point, if available; and

in response to a first network interface not being available, transmit the video data to the user via a cellular communication service using a second network interface.

16. The monitoring system of claim 15, wherein the video data is a video clip of a fixed length.

17. The monitoring system of claim 15, wherein the video data is an internet video stream, derived from the video signals.

18. The monitoring system of claim 17, wherein the logic circuit configured and arranged to:

generate the video data using a first video encoding, in response to the first network interface being available; and

generate the video data using a second video encoding, in response to the first network interface not being available, the first video encoding being a higher quality than the second video encoding.

19. The monitoring system of claim 15, wherein the control circuit is configured and arranged to:

transmit a fixed length video clip, derived from the video signals to the first party, in response to entering an alarm state of operation and the first network interface being unavailable; and

transmit an Internet video stream to the user, in response to entering an alarm state of operation and the first network interface being available.

20. The monitoring system of claim 15, wherein the control circuit is configured and arranged to:

transmit an interne video stream, derived from the video signals to the first party, in response to entering an alarm state of operation and the first network interface being unavailable; and

transmit an Internet video stream to the user, in response to entering an alarm state of operation and the first network interface being available.