Lifestyle multimedia security system

• US 7,120,232 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2003
• 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: @Security Broadband Corporation
• Inventors: Feldkamp, Gregory E., Naidoo, Surendra N., Glasgow, William P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US10/607,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20040086089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1409, 379 37- 51, 379/93.02, 379/93.03, 345/143, 345/152, 345/154, 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 last 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 comprises;

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 said remote client to complete operative coupling between said security gateway and said remote client;

said security system server initiating generation of 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 security gateway generates said signal whenever said security gateway is transferring information to 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;

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

wherein said authorization information expires at a designated time and date.

2. 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 said remote client to complete operative coupling between said security gateway and said remote client;

said security system server initiating generation of 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 security gateway generates said signal whenever said security gateway is transferring information to 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;

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

wherein said authorization information expires after a designated length of time has elapsed.

3. 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 said remote client to complete operative coupling between said security gateway and said remote client;

said security system server initiating generation of 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 security gateway generates said signal whenever said security gateway is transferring information to 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;

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

wherein said authorization information expires after a designated number of access have occurred.

4. 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 transmitting, to said remote client, authorization information necessary for said remote client to access a 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, said security gateway being capable of managing the monitoring of one or more portions of said premises; and

transferring information between said security gateway and said remote client;

wherein operatively coupling said remote client to said security gateway further comprises;

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

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

(1) without said authorization information transmitted to said remote client by said security system server, or (2) after expiration of said authorization information transmitted to said remote client by said security system server; and

wherein said authorization information which enables said remote client to access said security gateway is configured to have a lifespan which expires independently of said remote client initiating or terminating an access of said security gateway.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said lifespan of said authorization information is time-based.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said time-based lifespan of said authorization information expires at a designated time and date subsequent to said security system server transmitting said authorization information to said remote client.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said authorization information is an access token.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said time-based lifespan of said authorization information expires after a designated length of time has elapsed subsequent to said security system server transmitting said authorization information to said remote client.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said authorization information is an access token.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein said authorization information is an access token.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein said authorization information is an access token.

12. The method of claim 4 and further comprising activating a signal at said premises for notifying an occupant at said premises that remote monitoring is occurring.

13. 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 transmitting, to said remote client, authorization information necessary for said remote client to access a 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, said security gateway being capable of managing the monitoring of one or more portions of said premises; and

transferring information between said security gateway and said remote client;

wherein operatively coupling said remote client to said security gateway further comprises;

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

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

(1) without said authorization information transmitted to said remote client by said security system server, or (2) after expiration of said authorization information transmitted to said remote client by said security system server.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said authorization information is an access token.

15. The method of claim 13 and further comprising activating a signal at said premises for notifying an occupant at said premises that remote monitoring is occurring.

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

transmitting an access token from said security system server to said remote client; and

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

transferring information between said remote client and said security gateway;

wherein operatively coupling said remote client to said security gateway further comprises;

said remote client using said access token received thereby to initiate operative coupling with said security gateway; and

said security gateway using said information about said user and said access token received from said security system server and said access token received from said remote client to complete operative coupling between said security gateway and said remote client;

wherein said access token is adapted to allow said remote client to access said security gateway based on a permission profile for said user;

wherein said permission profile for said user is created by a general administrator of said security gateway; and

wherein said access token has a lifespan which expires independently of said remote client initiating or terminating an access of said security gateway.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said lifespan of said access token is time-based.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said time-based lifespan of said access token expires at a designated time and date.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said time-based lifespan of said access token expires after a designated length of time has elapsed.

20. The method of claim 16 and further comprising activating a signal at said premises for notifying an occupant at said premises that remote monitoring is occurring.