Security System and Method with Multistate Alert User Interface

• US 20140197959A1
• Filed: 01/14/2013
• Published: 07/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Galvez, Miguel, Tarmey, Stephen, Pearson, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,552,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/691.6
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19682 Graphic User Interface [GUI] presenting system data to the user, e.g. information on a screen helping a user interacting with an alarm system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19691 Signalling events for better perception by user, e.g. indicating alarms by making display brighter, adding text, creating a sound
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

A security system, system user interface, and method for displaying status information from security devices in a networked security system using a multistate alert user interface. The security system supports different features in icons associated with the security devices, displayed on a graphical user interface. This provides operators with the ability to display status information from security devices, such as alert information comprising one or more alerts, by displaying the icons on a topology map of the graphical user interface. In this way, the operator can determine at a glance the number and type of alert information from the topology map without the need to perform additional selection and navigation steps within the graphical user interface.

Claims

1. A security system, comprising:

a security network;

security devices that transmit status information via the security network; and

a display device that presents the status information using icons associated with each of the security devices, wherein the icons include multiple features for indicating different alert information from the associated security devices.

2. The security system of claim 1, wherein details of the alert information from the associated security devices are presented on the display device in response to a user indicating the icons on the display device.

3. The security system of claim 2, wherein the user indication is made by operating a pointing device to hover over the features of the icons.

4. The security system of claim 2, wherein the details of the alert information from the associated security devices are presented in a tooltip displayed on the display device.

5. The security system of claim 1, wherein the security system further comprises;

a workstation that receives the status information over the security network and presents a user interface, including the icons, via the display device.

6. The security system of claim 1, wherein the security devices include one or more key card readers, network video recorders, video cameras, monitoring points, and door sensors.

7. The security system of claim 1, wherein the icons include inner status regions for displaying the status information from the associated security devices.

8. The security system of claim 7, wherein the multiple features of the icons are displayed in outer alert regions for displaying the alert information.

9. The security system in claim 8, wherein the multiple features of the icons are alert segments.

10. The security system in claim 8, wherein the multiple features of the icons are icons, images of which represent the alert information.

11. The security system of claim 1, wherein the status information comprises:

security device state information; and

the alert information.

12. The security system of claim 1, wherein the alert information comprises:

a name; and

an alert status.

13. A graphical user interface for a security system displayed on a display device, the graphical user interface comprising:

a topology map showing a security network; and

icons associated with security devices on the security network, wherein the icons include multiple features for indicating different alert information from the associated security devices.

14. The graphical user interface of claim 13, wherein details of the alert information from the associated security devices are presented on the display device in response to a user indicating the icons on the display device.

15. The graphical user interface of claim 14, wherein the user indication is made by operating a pointing device to hover over the features of the icons.

16. The graphical user interface of claim 14, wherein the details of the alert information from the associated security devices are presented in a tooltip displayed on the display device.

17. The graphical user interface of claim 13, wherein the icons include:

inner status regions for displaying the status information from the associated security devices.

18. The graphical user interface of claim 17, wherein the multiple features of the icons are displayed in outer alert regions for displaying the alert information.

19. The graphical user interface of claim 18, wherein the multiple features of the icons are alert segments.

20. The graphical user interface of claim 18, wherein the multiple features of the icons are icons, images of which represent the alert information.

21. The graphical user interface of claim 13, wherein the alert information comprises:

a name; and

a value.

22. A method for presenting status information from security devices in a security system, the method comprising:

displaying icons associated with the security devices on a display device; and

presenting the status information using the icons, wherein the icons include multiple features for indicating different alert information from the associated security devices.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising presenting details of the alert information from the associated security devices in response to a user indicating the icons.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the user indicating the icons includes a pointing device hovering over the features of the icons.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising presenting the details of the alert information from the associated security devices in a tooltip displayed on the display device.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising displaying the icons on a topology map on the display device.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising displaying the status information in inner status regions of the icons.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising displaying the alert information in outer alert regions of the icons.

29. The method of claim 28, further displaying the multiple features of the icons as alert segments.

30. The method of claim 29, further displaying the multiple features of the icons as icons, images of which represent the alert information.