Security system

• US 6,690,411 B2
• Filed: 07/20/1999
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: @Security Broadband Corporation
• Inventors: Naidoo, Surendra N., Glasgow, William P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Chris
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, TUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/357,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20020167590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,666 Days
• Field of Search: G08/B 1.300, H04/N.718, H04/N.947, 348/143, 348/150, 348/151, 348/152, 348/153, 348/154, 348/155, 348/160, 348/169, 348/170, 382/151, 382/141, 340/541, 340/505, 340/825.06, 340/525
• US Class Current: 348/143
• 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 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19658 Telephone systems used to communicate with a camera, e.g. PSTN, GSM, POTS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/004 Reflective safety signalling devices attached on persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A system and method for enabling a central station to accurately verify in real-time whether an alarm signal generated by a security base station is a false alarm, and for enabling remote users to securely access features of the security base station such as remote surveillance, activating and deactivating the system, and adjusting alarm sensitivities.

Claims

1. A security system, comprising:

a base station;

a video camera coupled to transmit video to said base station;

one or more sensor units configured to detect an occurrence of an alarm event and convey an indication of said occurrence of said alarm event to said base station;

a central station operable to communicate with said base station through a network;

said base station configured to;

(1) generate an alarm signal in response to receipt of said indication of said alarm event, (2) generate an alarm video in response to receipt of said indication of said occurrence of said alarm event, said alarm video corresponding in time to said alarm event and generated from said video transmitted to said base station by said video camera, (3) transmit said alarm signal to said central station in substantially real-time; and

(4) transmit said alarm video to said central station in substantially

a remote station operable to communicate with said base station and said central station through said network;

wherein said central station is configured to create a secure data connection between said remote station and said base station such that subsequent communications between said remote station and said base station bypass said central station, said central station creating said secure data connection between said remote station and said base station after said central station has authenticated said remote station.

2. The security system of claim 1, wherein said central station is operable to utilize said alarm video to assist in the verification of said alarm signal.

3. The security system of claim 1 wherein said video camera is a 360-degree camera.

4. The security system of claim 1, wherein said alarm video corresponding in time to said alarm event corresponds to an interval of time beginning at or before said occurrence of said alarm event.

5. The security system of claim 4, wherein said alarm video corresponding in time to said alarm event corresponds to an interval of time ending after said occurrence of said alarm event.

6. The security system of claim 4, wherein said alarm video corresponding in time to said alarm event corresponds to an interval of time ending after a predetermined duration.

7. The security system of claim 1, wherein said base station is coupled to said central station through said network via a high-speed network connection.

8. The security system of claim 7, wherein said high-speed network connection is a cable-modem connection.

9. The security system of claim 7, wherein said high-speed network connection is an xDSL connection.

10. The security system of claim 7, wherein said high-speed network connection is a wireless connection.

11. The security system of claim 1, wherein said remote station is operable to control what constitutes said occurrence of said alarm event.

12. The security system of claim 1, wherein said remote station is operable to control activation of said base station.

13. The security system of claim 1, wherein said remote station is operable to control deactivation of said base station.

14. The security system of claim 1, wherein said remote unit is operable to access one or more functions of said base station.

15. The security system of claim 14, wherein said one or more functions of said base station comprises remote surveillance.

16. The security system of claim 1, wherein said alarm video further comprises audio.

17. The security system of claim 16, wherein said central station is operable to transmit audio signals to said base station, and said base station is operable to play said audio signals.

18. The security system of claim 1, wherein said base station further comprises a user interface operable to activate and deactivate said base station.

19. security system of claim 18, wherein said user interface is a keypad.

20. The security system of claim 18, wherein said user interface is a receiver configured to activate and deactivate said base station in response to signals from a remote transmitter.

21. The security system of claim 1, wherein said network is the Internet.

22. The security system of claim 21, wherein said central station is substantially continuously coupled to said base station through the Internet.

23. The security system of claim 22, wherein said central station is operable to detect in substantially real-time if said central station becomes uncoupled from said base station.

24. A security system, comprising:

a base station coupled to the Internet;

a central station coupled to the Internet;

one or more sensor units configured to detect an occurrence of an alarm event and convey an indication of said occurrence of said alarm event to said base station;

a video camera coupled to said base station, said video camera operable to transmit video to said base station;

said base station configured to;

(1) generate an alarm signal in response to receipt of said indication of said alarm event, (2) generate an alarm video in response to receipt of said indication of said occurrence of said alarm event, said alarm video corresponding in time to said alarm event and generated from said video transmitted to said base station by said video camera, (3) transmit said alarm signal to said central station in substantially real-time, and (4) transmit said alarm video to said central station in substantially real-time;

said central station configured to;

(1) receive, in substantially real time, said alarm signal from said base station through the Internet, (2) receive, in substantially real time, said alarm video from said base station through the Internet; and

a remote station operable to communicate with said base station and said central station through the Internet;

said central station configured to create a secure data connection between said remote station and said base station such that subsequent communications between said remote station and said base station bypass said central station, said central station further configured to authenticate said remote station and enable creation of said secure data connection between said remote station and said base station subsequent to authentication of said remote station by said central station.

25. The security system of claim 24, wherein said remote unit is operable to access one or more functions of said base station.

26. The security system of claim 24, wherein said central station is operable to utilize said alarm video to assist in the verification of said alarm signal.

27. The security system of claim 24, wherein said alarm video corresponding in time to said alarm event corresponds to an interval of time beginning at or before said occurrence of said alarm event.

28. The security system of claim 27, wherein said alarm video corresponding in time to said alarm event corresponds to an interval of time ending after said occurrence of said alarm event.

29. The security system of claim 27, wherein said alarm video corresponding in time to said alarm event corresponds to an interval of time ending after a predetermined duration.

30. The security system of claim 24, wherein said remote station is operable to control what constitutes said occurrence of said alarm event.

31. The security system of claim 24, wherein said remote station is operable to control activation of said base station.

32. The security system of claim 24, wherein said remote station is operable to control deactivation of said base station.

33. The security system of claim 24, wherein said remote unit is operable to access one or more functions of said base station.

34. The security system of claim 33, wherein said one or more functions of said base station comprises remote surveillance.

35. The security system of claim 24, wherein said central station is substantially continuously coupled to said base station through the Internet.

36. The security system of claim 35, wherein said central station is operable to detect in substantially real-time if said central station becomes uncoupled from said base station.

37. The security system of claim 24, wherein said alarm video further comprises audio.

38. The security system of claim 31, wherein said central station is operable to transmit audio signals to said base station, and said base station is operable to play said audio signals.

39. A security system, comprising:

a network;

a remote station coupled to said network;

a central station coupled to said network;

a base station coupled to said network, said base station secured against accesses, by said remote station, until said remote station has been authenticated by said central station;

a video camera coupled to said base station;

one or more sensor units coupled to said base station;

wherein, to access said base station, said remote station first establishes a connection with said central station over said network and wherein, upon authentication of said remote station by said central station, said central station enabling establishment of a direct connection between said remote station and said base station over said network such that subsequent communications between said remote station and said base station bypass said central station.

40. The security system of claim 39, wherein the direct connection between said remote station and said base station over said network is a secure connection.

41. The security system of claim 39, wherein:

said one or more sensor units are configured to detect an occurrence of an alarm event and convey an indication of said occurrence of said alarm event to said base station; and

said remote station is configured to define, for said base station, what constitutes an occurrence of an alarm event.

42. The security system of claim 39, wherein said remote station is configured to control activation and deactivation of said base station.

43. The security system of claim 39, wherein:

said video camera is operable to transmit video to said base station; and

said remote station is configured for performing remote surveillance by controlling transmission of video, by said video camera, to said base station.