Advanced video security system

• US 6,069,655 A
• Filed: 08/01/1997
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ADT Security Services SA (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wells Fargo Dealer Services Incorporated (Wells Fargo & Company)
• Inventors: Vogt, William R., Seeley, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard
• Application Number:
  US08/904,509
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 348/159, 348/143, 348/152, 348/153, 348/154, 348/155
• US Class Current: 348/154
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A video security system (10) monitors a premise (F) to detect unwanted intrusions onto the premises. A plurality of cameras (22) located about the premise supply video images of scenes to a processor (12) located which processes the images to detection motion in a scene and classify the source of the motion. Only if the source is determined be one of a predetermined class of causes, is an indication provided to an alarm unit (16). The alarm unit, which is also connected to a plurality of conventional sensors (S1-S3) is responsive to the indication to cause the processor to transmit authenticated video images of the scene in which the motion is detected to a central station (CS). There, a video server (102), in conjunction with an alarm computer (104), enables the images to be displayed at a selected workstation (106) for viewing by an operator (O). Besides video, audio and relevant site data is also made available to the operator at the workstation. The operator'"'"'s responsibility is to alert appropriate authorities. By not providing an indication of an intrusion unless the intrusion has been previously confirmed on-site, false and unwanted alarms are prevented without reducing but the probability of detecting an intrusion.

Claims

1. A security system monitoring a premise to detect intrusions onto the premise comprising:

means acquiring sequential multiple video images of a scene of the premise,

a processor processing said images to compare said video images to determine differences in said video images of said scene, to classify the cause of said differences based on physical characteristics of an object causing the differences, and to provide an indication only if said source is classified as movement of a predetermined class; and

,

an alarm unit responsive to said indication to provide an alarm.

2. The security system of claim 1 which simultaneously monitors a number of premises.

3. The security system of claim 1 wherein said processor is responsive to said alarm unit to transmit a video image of a scene in which motion is detected, and the system includes a video server for receiving said video image.

4. The security system of claim 3 wherein said processor authenticates each video image transmitted to said video server, and said video server verifying the authentication of each video image received to verify that the video image received is identical to the video image transmitted.

5. The security system of claim 3 further including video display means connected to said video server for observing said video image.

6. The security system of claim 1 further including a plurality of video display means and an alarm computer for selecting at which display means the video image is observed.

7. The security system of claim 6 wherein said processor transmits sequential multiple video images to a video server for display on said video display means, said processor transmitting said video images only when an indication is made where said source is classified as movement of a predetermined class, or transmitting said video images only when a user directs said processor to transmit said video images.

8. The security system of claim 7 wherein said video images may be selectively displayed on the video display means and whereby said video images can be displayed in a mosaic pattern.

9. The security system of claim 8 wherein said alarm computer includes means for storing and retrieving non-video data relevant to and indicating characteristics of said premise from which said video images are transmitted, and said alarm computer displays said data on said video display means together with said video images.

10. The security system of claim 1 further including sensors connected to said alarm unit, said sensors sensing the condition of the premise, said alarm unit being further responsive to a indication of an intrusion from one of said sensors for further providing an alarm.

11. The security system of claim 10 further including a communication means connected to said processor and a video server, and a terminal adapter being responsive to a signal from said alarm unit to route video images transmitted by said processor to said video server.

12. The security system of claim 1 wherein said means acquiring said image includes a plurality of video cameras located about said premise.

13. The security system of claim 12 further including audio acquisition means for acquiring audio inputs from about said premise, said processor processing said audio inputs together with said video image.

14. The security system of claim 10 wherein said alarm unit is responsive to inputs from said sensors to provide an alarm indication on either an instant or a delayed basis, and said alarm means is responsive to said indication from said processor to also provide said alarm indication on an instant or delayed basis.

15. The security system of claim 11 wherein said video server includes an image transfer means controlling said processor to direct the rate at which said processor transmits video images to said video server.

16. The security system of claim 15 wherein said image transfer means controls the rate at which the processor transmits video images, said image transfer means calculating the rate at which said processor and said video server accept data by transmitting a data packet to said processor, said processor returning said data packet to said video server, and said image transfer means determining the amount of time required for the data packet to be sent to processor and return, and wherein said image transfer means directs the processor to transmit video images at said rate.

17. The security system of claim 11 further including control means by which an operator of said system can selectively operate each of said cameras to view a scene of the premise observed by each individual camera, said control means allowing said operator to thereby tour said premise from a remote site.

18. The security system of claim 17 wherein said control means further allows said operator to suspend operation of said processor to process a video image obtained from any of said cameras, and whereby said operator can suspend processor operation during said tour, or during a test of said system to determine if the system is operating properly.

19. The security system of claim 18 wherein said control means further enables testing of said system prior to the transfer of monitoring of the premise from on-premise guard personnel to the security system.

20. The security system of claim 6 further including a plurality of workstations each of which includes a video display means, said video display means including a monitor simultaneously displaying a plurality of video images and non-video data relevant to and indicating characteristics of said premise from which the video images were transmitted.

21. A security system comprising a motion detector and an alarm unit responsive to an output from said motion detector to provide an alarm, said motion detector acquiring a video image of a scene and processing said video image to detect motion in said scene and classify the cause of said motion based upon size and shape characteristics of a body causing the motion, said motion detector providing an output to said alarm unit only when the motion detector has confirmed that the cause of said motion is one of a class of predetermined causes.

22. The security system of claim 21 wherein said motion detector further provides an output to said alarm unit when said motion detector classifies the cause of said motion as unknown.

23. The security system of claim 22 wherein said alarm unit is responsive to an output from said motion detector immediately when said output is received, or on a time delayed basis.