Lifestyle multimedia security system

• US 7,119,609 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2003
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: @Seurity Broadband Corporation
• Inventors: Naidoo, Surendra N., Glasgow, William P., Feldkamp, Gregory E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US10/609,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20040086091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1409, 348/143, 348/152, 348/154, 379 37- 51, 379/93.02, 379/93.03, 340/541, 340/539, 340/506, 713/172, 713/168, 713/201
• US Class Current: 379/37
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19669 Event triggers storage or change of storage policy
• 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 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/60 Security, fault tolerance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A method for remote monitoring of a premises. A geographically remote client is operatively coupled to a security system server capable of authenticating a user of the remote client. The remote client is then operably coupled to a security gateway capable of managing the monitoring of the premises, activating a signal at the premises for notifying an occupant at the premises that remote monitoring is occurring, and transferring information between the security gateway and the remote client. The transfer of information between the security gateway and the remote client is controlled by the user of the remote client. The security gateway may be operably coupled to at least one camera at the premises and to at least one audio station at the premises.

Claims

1. A method for remote monitoring of a premises, said method comprising:

operatively coupling a remote client to a security system server, said security system server being capable of authenticating a user of said remote client;

operatively coupling said remote client to a security gateway, said security gateway being capable of managing the monitoring of one or more portions of said premises;

said operative coupling of said remote client to said security gateway further comprising;

said security system server verifying the identity of said user of said remote client;

transmitting authorization information from said security system server to said remote client and from said security system server to said security gateway, said authorization information transmitted to said remote client including access permissions for said user;

said remote client using said authorization information received thereby to initiate operative coupling with said security gateway;

said security gateway using said authorization information received from said security system server and said authorization information received from remote client to complete operative coupling with said security gateway;

activating a signal at said premises for notifying an occupant at said premises that remote monitoring is occurring; and

transferring information between said security gateway and said remote client;

wherein said user is at a location which is geographically remote from said premises;

wherein access to said security gateway by said remote client is allowed based upon said access permissions for said user; and

wherein said access permissions for said user are based upon a permission profile created by a general administrator of said security gateway.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said general administrator of said security system is capable of modifying said user'"'"'s permission profile.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of verifying said identification of said user comprises authenticating biometric data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said permission profile for said user identifies specific features of said security gateway which may be accessed by said remote client.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said access permissions for said user enables said user to access to one or more designated cameras located at said premises.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said access permissions for said user enables said user to access to one or more designated audio stations located at said premises.

7. A method for remote monitoring of a residential premises, said method comprising the steps of:

operatively coupling a remote client to a security system server, said security system server being capable of authenticating a user of said remote client;

said security system server verifying the identity of said user of said remote client;

transmitting authorization information from said security system server to said remote client and from said security system server to a security gateway, said authorization information transmitted to said remote client including access permissions for said user;

operatively coupling said remote client to said security gateway, said security gateway being capable of managing the monitoring of one or more portions of said premises;

said operative coupling of said remote client and said security gateway further comprising;

said remote client providing, to said security gateway, said authorization information provided to said remote client by said security system server; and

said security gateway enabling said operative coupling of said remote client to said security gateway based upon said authorization information provided to said remote client by said security system server and said authorization information provided to said security gateway by said security system server;

activating a signal at said premises for notifying an occupant at said premises that remote monitoring is occurring; and

transferring information between said security gateway and said remote client;

wherein said user is at a location which is geographically remote from said premises;

wherein said security gateway is operably coupled to at least one camera located at said premises;

wherein said security gateway is operably coupled to at least one audio station located at said premises;

wherein access to said security gateway by said remote client is allowed based upon said access permissions for said user; and

wherein said access permissions for said user are based upon a permission profile created by a general administrator of said security gateway.

8. A security system for remote monitoring of a premises by a user of a remote client, said security system comprising:

a security system server, said security system server being capable of authenticating said user of said remote client;

a security gateway operatively coupled to said security system server via said network, said security gateway being capable of managing the monitoring of one or more portions of said premises;

upon authentication of said user of said remote client, said security system server providing each of said remote client and said security gateway with information necessary for said remote client to directly access said security gateway via a network;

one or more cameras located at said premises and operatively coupled to said security gateway; and

one or more audio stations located at said premises and operatively coupled to said security gateway;

wherein said user is at a location which is geographically remote from said premises;

wherein said security gateway provides an audiovisual signal at said premises for notifying an occupant at said premises that remote monitoring is occurring;

wherein said remote client cannot directly access said security gateway prior to said security gateway receiving (1) said information provided to said security gateway by said security system server and (2) receiving, from said remote client, said information provided, to said remote client, by said security system server; and

wherein said security system server provides said remote client with authorization information based on a permission profile associated with said user.

9. A security system for remote monitoring of a premises by a user of a remote client, said security system comprising:

a security system server, said security system server being capable of authenticating said user of said remote client;

a security gateway operatively coupled to said security system server via a network, said security gateway being capable of managing the monitoring of one or more portions of said premises;

one or more cameras located at said premises and operatively coupled to said security gateway; and

one or more audio stations located at said premises and operatively coupled to said security gateway;

wherein said user is at a location which is geographically remote from said premises;

wherein said security gateway provides an audiovisual signal at said premises for notifying an occupant at said premises that remote monitoring is occurring;

wherein said security system provides for streaming data in substantially real-time from said security gateway to said remote client;

wherein said security system provides for substantially real-time synchronized audio and video communication between said remote client and said security gateway;

wherein said security system server provides said remote client with authorization information based on a permission profile associated with said user;

wherein said security system server provides said security gateway with authorization information; and

wherein said remote client is provided with selected access to said security gateway, said selected access based upon said authorization information provided to said security gateway by said security system server and said authorization information provided to said remote client by said security system server.

10. A method for remote monitoring of a premises, said method comprising:

operatively coupling a remote client to a security system server, said security system server being capable of authenticating a user of said remote client;

upon authentication of said user of said remote client, said security system server;

(1) transmitting, to said remote client, authorization information necessary for said remote client to access a security gateway for said premises and (2) transmitting, to said security gateway, said authorization information necessary for said remote client to access said security gateway, said authorization information transmitted to said remote client and said security gateway including access permissions for said user;

said remote client transmitting, to said security gateway, said authorization information transmitted to said remote client by said security system server;

operatively coupling said remote client to said security gateway, said security gateway being capable of managing the monitoring of one or more portions of said premises using a plurality of devices operably coupled thereto; and

transferring information between said security gateway and said remote client;

wherein said user is at a location which is geographically remote from said premises;

wherein said remote client cannot access said security gateway without;

(1) said security gateway receiving, from said remote client, said authorization information provided, to said remote client, by said security system server; and

(2) said security gateway receiving, from said security system server, said authorization information provided to said security gateway;

wherein the information transferred between said security gateway and said remote client relates to selected ones of said plurality of devices for which said access permissions identifies as devices that said user may access; and

wherein the remote client can access said selected one of said plurality of devices but is prevented from accessing unselected ones of said plurality of devices.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said selected ones of said plurality of devices operably coupled to said security gateway are lifestyle monitoring devices and said unselected ones of said plurality of devices operably coupled to said security gateway are not lifestyle monitoring devices.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

said plurality of devices operably coupled to said security gateway include at least two video cameras;

said lifestyle monitoring devices include a first one of said at least two video camera; and

said non-lifestyle monitoring devices include a second one of said at least two video cameras.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

said plurality of devices operably coupled to said security gateway further include at least two audio stations;

said lifestyle monitoring devices further include a first one of said at least two audio stations; and

said non-lifestyle monitoring devices further include a second one of said at least two audio stations.

14. The method of claim 13, and further comprising assigning, by a general administrator of said security gateway, said access permissions for said user.

15. The method of claim 14, and further comprising said general administrator assigning said access permissions for said user such that said user may only access lifestyle monitoring devices and is restricted from accessing devices which are not lifestyle monitoring devices.

16. A method for remote monitoring of a premises comprising:

operatively coupling a remote client to a security system server, said security system server being capable of authenticating a user of said remote client;

upon authentication of said user of said remote client, said security system server transmitting, to both of said remote client and a security gateway for said premises, authorization information necessary for said remote client to access said security gateway for said premises;

said remote client transmitting, to said security gateway, said authorization information transmitted to said remote client by said security system server;

operatively coupling said remote client to said security gateway based upon said authorization information transmitted to said security gateway by said remote client and said authorization information transmitted to said security gateway by said security system server, said security gateway being capable of managing the monitoring of one or more portions of said premises;

activating a signal at said premises for notifying an occupant at said premises that remote monitoring is occurring; and

transferring information between said security gateway and said remote client;

wherein said user is at a location which is geographically remote from said premises; and

wherein said remote client cannot access said security gateway without said authorization information provided, to said remote client, by said security system server.

17. A method for remote monitoring of a premises, said method comprising:

operatively coupling a remote client to a security system server, said security system server being capable of authenticating a user of said remote client;

verifying the identity of said user of said remote client;

transmitting an access token from said security system server to said remote client, said access token adapted to allow said remote client to access said security gateway based on a permission profile for said user;

providing said security gateway with information about said user and said access token;

operatively coupling said remote client to a security gateway, said security gateway being capable of managing the monitoring of one or more portions of said premises using a plurality of devices operably coupled thereto; and

transferring information from said security gateway to said remote client;

said security gateway initiating generation of a signal at said premises for notifying an occupant at said premises that remote monitoring is occurring whenever said security gateway transfers said information to said remote client;

wherein said user is at a location which is geographically remote from said premises;

wherein said information transferred from said security gateway to said remote client relates to selected ones of said plurality of devices for which said access permissions identifies as devices that said user may access; and

wherein the remote client can access said selected ones of said plurality of devices but is prevented from accessing unselected ones of said plurality of devices.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said selected ones of said plurality of devices operably coupled to said security gateway are lifestyle monitoring devices and said unselected ones of said plurality of devices operably coupled to said security gateway are not lifestyle monitoring devices.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

said plurality of devices operably coupled to said security gateway include at least two video cameras;

said lifestyle monitoring devices include a first one of said at least two video cameras; and

said non-lifestyle monitoring devices include a second one of said at least two video cameras.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

said plurality of devices operably coupled to said security gateway further include at least two audio stations;

said lifestyle monitoring devices further include a first one of said at least two audio stations; and

said non-lifestyle monitoring devices further include a second one of said at least two audio stations.

21. The method of claim 20, and further comprising assigning, by a general administrator of said security gateway, said access permissions for said user, said access permissions assigned such that said user may only access lifestyle monitoring devices and is restricted from accessing devices which are not lifestyle monitoring devices.

22. A security system for remote monitoring of a premises by a user of a remote client, said security system comprising:

a plurality of devices;

a security gateway operably coupled to each of said plurality of devices, said security gateway being capable of managing the monitoring of one or more portions of said premises using said plurality of devices;

a security system server for authenticating said user of said remote client and, upon authentication of said user of said remote client, providing said remote client with an access token necessary for said remote client to access said security gateway based upon a permission profile associated with said user;

wherein said user is at a location which is geographically remote from said premises;

wherein said security gateway is configured to transfer information to said remote client;

wherein said information transferred from said security gateway to said remote client relates to selected ones of said plurality of devices for which said permission profile identifies as devices that said user may access;

wherein said security gateway initiates generation of a signal at said premises for notifying an occupant at said premises that remote monitoring is occurring whenever said security gateway transfers said information to said remote client; and

wherein the remote client can access selected ones of said plurality of devices but is prevented from accessing unselected ones of said plurality of devices.

23. The security system of claim 22, wherein said selected ones of said plurality of devices operably coupled to said security gateway are lifestyle monitoring devices and wherein said unselected ones of said plurality of devices are not lifestyle monitoring devices.

24. The security system of claim 23, wherein said permission profile allows said user to access lifestyle monitoring devices but restricts said user from accessing devices which are not lifestyle monitoring devices.

25. The security system of claim 24, wherein:

said plurality of devices operably coupled to said security gateway include at least two video cameras and at least two audio stations;

wherein a first one of said at least two video cameras is a lifestyle monitoring device and a second one of said at least two video cameras is not a lifestyle monitoring device; and

wherein a first one of said at least two audio stations is a lifestyle monitoring device and a second one of said at least two audio station is not a lifestyle monitoring device.