Method and system for providing integrated remote monitoring services

• US 7,286,158 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1999
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Axcess International, Inc. (Amphion Innovations PLC)
• Original Assignee: Axcess International, Inc. (Amphion Innovations PLC)
• Inventors: Griebenow, Allan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHILIPPE, GIMS S
• Application Number:
  US09/469,644
• Time in Patent Office: 2,862 Days
• Field of Search: 348142-144, 348/154, 348/150, 348/156, 348/161, 348/169, 348/139, 382/118, 340/541, 340/505, 340/506, 340/5.81, 725/9, 725/12, 725/109, 725/105, 713/168, 379/201.01
• US Class Current: 348/156
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• 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 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2454 Checking of authorisation of a person accessing tagged items in an EAS system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/248 EAS system combined with another detection technology, e.g. dual EAS and video or other presence detection system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2482 EAS methods, e.g. description of flow chart of the detection procedure

Abstract

A method and system for providing integrated remote monitoring services includes receiving and storing radio frequency identification (RFID) data from an RFID system at a remote facility of a subscriber. Video data is received from a video system at the facility and also stored. The subscriber is provided with access to the stored RFID and video data. The subscriber is also provided with access to and control of a video camera in the video system at the facility.

Claims

1. A method for providing integrated remote monitoring services, comprising:

receiving and storing radio frequency identification (RFID) data from an RFID system at a remote facility of a subscriber;

receiving and storing video data from a video system at the facility;

providing the subscriber with access to the stored RFID and video data;

providing the subscriber with access to and control of a video camera in the video system at the facility; and

processing the RFID data to generate a report for the subscriber.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the RFID and video information is received over the Internet and the subscriber is provided with access to the stored data and to the video camera through a web portal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing the RFID data to determine whether an alert condition exists and notifying the subscriber if an alert condition exists.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the alert is a subscriber-defined alert.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising generating an e-mail and transmitting the e-mail to the subscriber to notify the subscriber of the alert condition.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the alarm condition comprises less than a minimum number of employees in attendance at the facility.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the alarm condition comprises less than a minimum number of employees performing a specified function.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a polling event in response to a specified event, the polling event operable to use the RFID system at the facility to poll an area of the facility to determine an inventory of tagged items within the area; and

receiving results of the polling event.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the specified event is a pre-defined time.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the specified event is a periodic event.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining whether all items have been accounted for based on the polling results; and

generating an alert in response to unaccounted for items.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the report is a subscriber-defined report.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the report comprises time and attendance records of the employees of the subscriber at the facility.

14. A method for providing identity verification for access to a secure area, comprising:

eliciting a radio response from a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag at an access door of a secure area;

determining whether access by a wearer of the RFID tag to the secure area is authorized based on the radio response;

recording a video image of the wearer of the RFID tag at the access door; and

controlling access to the door to provide access to the secure area by the wearer only if access by the wearer is authorized.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising recording the video image in response to authorized access.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising recording the video image in response to an attempt at unauthorized access.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising recording the video image in response to the radio response from the RFID tag.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising recording a series of video images of the wearer of the RFID tag at the access door.

19. A method for remotely notifying a subscriber of an alert condition at a facility, comprising:

receiving a radio frequency identification (RFID) action from an RFID system at a facility;

determining whether the RFID action corresponds to a pre-defined alert condition;

obtaining a video image associated with the RFID action only if the RFID action corresponds to a pre-defined alert condition; and

electronically transmitting notice of the alert condition along with the video image for delivery to a manager of the facility.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising electronically mailing the notice of the alert condition along with the video image over the internet to the manager of the facility.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising obtaining and electronically transmitting a series of video images associated with the RFID action.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the RFID action comprises access to a specified area.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

determining whether an expected RFID action has occurred by a specified time; and

electronically transmitting a notice that the expected RFID action has not occurred to the manager of the facility in response to determining that the expected RFID action has not occurred.