System and method for monitoring security systems by using video images

• US 6,400,265 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2001
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microstrategy Incorporated
• Inventors: Saylor, Michael J., Slavin, Alison, Martin, Jean-Paul Hugues
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/840,303
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/507, 340/514, 340/517, 340/521, 340/539, 340/937, 340/531, 340/3.1
• US Class Current: 340/531
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19602 Image analysis to detect motion of the intruder, e.g. by frame subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19671 Addition of non-video data, i.e. metadata, to video stream
• 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 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• 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 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

The present invention provides a monitoring system for providing images (e.g., photos, pictures, video, diagram, illustration, etc.) where an alarm situation may be defected by comparing images. When a change (indicating motion) is detected, an alarm may be signaled or other user-defined response may be invoked. In addition, the image and other relevant data may be conveyed to a central security network where identified individuals may be alerted via identified methods. The user may also view the images (e.g., video clips) remotely via the web or other method. The present invention provides a personal security network where an individual'"'"'s system or systems of security devices may be connected to a central security network. The central security network of the present invention may monitor a system'"'"'s status and alert the individual when an alert situation occurs.

Claims

1. A system for automatic notification of security information to subscribed users based on user specified information wherein the security information is communicated over at least one wireless communication path from security devices associated with the subscription comprising:

a user profile storage system for storing user profile information wherein profile information comprises notification preferences;

a security control system that receives wireless communications that include image status data associated with one or more remote image recording devices associated with a user, compares a first image with a previous image from the one or more remote image recording devices to monitor for an alarm event and automatically notifies the user associated with the remote security devices when an alarm event satisfying the user notification preferences is received from the one or more remote devices; and

an image delivery system that transmits the image that triggered an alarm event to a user device to enable the user to analyze the alarm condition.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the security control system records at least one image when a change between a first image and a previous image is detected.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the notification preferences comprise order of contact devices.

4. The system of claim 2 further comprising an image storage system for storing the at least one image at the security control system.

5. The system of claim 2 further comprising a compressor for compressing images to reduce storage space.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the user is notified via a wireless device via wireless communication.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the wireless device comprises one or more of mobile phone, pager, email and PDA.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the security control system notifies a user by an alarm notification comprising at least one image associated with the alarm event.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the security control system notifies a user by an alarm notification comprising one or more response options.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein response options comprise one or more of cancel, call one or more identified entities, call one or more emergency entities, view image, and view video.

11. A user system through which a user accesses security information for one or more remote image recording devices over at least one wireless communication path comprising:

a profile module for providing user profile information wherein profile information comprises notification preferences;

a data access module for accessing a security control system that receives wireless communications that include image status data associated with one or more remote image recording devices associated with a user, compares a first image with a previous image from the one or more remote image recording devices and automatically notifies the user associated with the remote security devices when an alarm event satisfying the user notification preferences is received from the one or more remote devices; and

a display delivery system for transmitting one or more images based on user notification preferences, including an image that triggered an alarm event, to a user device to enable the user to analyze the alarm condition.

12. The user system of claim 11 wherein the user views selected images associated with the alarm event via a web site provided by the security control system.

13. The user system of claim 11 wherein the security control system notifies the user via one or more of mobile phone, pager, email and PDA.

14. A method for automatic notification of security information to subscribed users based on user specified information wherein the security information is communicated over at least one wireless communication path from security devices associated with the subscription comprising the steps of:

storing user profile information wherein profile information comprises notification preferences; and

receiving wireless communications that include image status data associated with one or more remote image recording devices associated with a user;

comparing a first image with a previous image from the one or more remote image recording devices to monitor for an alarm event;

automatically notifying the user associated with the remote security devices when an alarm event satisfying the user notification preferences is received from the one or more remote devices; and

transmitting the image that triggered an alarm event to a user device to enable the user to analyze the alarm condition.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the security control system records at least one image when a change between a first image and a previous image is detected.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the notification preferences comprise order of contact devices.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising a step of storing the at least one image at the security control system.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising a step of compressing images to reduce storage space.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the user is notified via a wireless device via wireless communication.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the wireless device comprises one or more of mobile phone, pager, email and PDA.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein the security control system notifies a user by an alarm notification comprising at least one image associated with the alarm event.

22. The method of claim 14 wherein the security control system notifies a user by an alarm notification comprising one or more response options.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein response options comprise one or more of cancel, call one or more identified entities, call one or more emergency entities, view image, and view video.

24. A user method through which a user accesses security information for one or more remote image recording devices over at least one wireless communication path comprising the steps of:

providing user profile information wherein profile information comprises notification preferences;

accessing a security control system that receives wireless communications that include image status data associated with one or more remote image recording devices associated with a user;

comparing a first image with a previous image from the one or more remote image recording devices; and

automatically notifying the user associated with the remote security devices when an alarm event satisfying the user notification preferences is received from the one or more remote devices; and

transmitting the image that triggered an alarm event to a user device to enable the user to analyze the alarm condition.

25. The user method of claim 24 wherein the user views selected images associated with the alarm event via a web site provided by the security control system.

26. The user method of claim 24 wherein the security control system notifies the user via one or more of mobile phone, pager, email and PDA.