Central monitoring/managed surveillance system and method

• US 7,403,116 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interface Security Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Westec Intelligent Surveillance Incorporated (Interface Security Systems LLC)
• Inventors: Bittner, Darjon
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Application Number:
  US11/364,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20060195716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 340/533
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19676 Temporary storage, e.g. cyclic memory, buffer storage on pre-alarm
• 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 15/00 Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

A method for remotely monitoring a first location. The method includes providing surveillance equipment at the first location. Data is transmitted from the security equipment via IP connectivity to a second location that is remote from the first location. The data is monitored in real-time from the second location.

Claims

1. A method of performing remote surveillance comprising:

detecting a first event at a first location via surveillance equipment;

detecting a second event at the first location via the surveillance equipment; and

alerting a central server at a second location via IP connectivity in response to the first and second events occurring within a predetermined time limit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first event is detected by a first surveillance device and the second event is detected by a second surveillance device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined time limit is less than about one second such that the first and second events occur about simultaneously.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second events are detected by a single surveillance device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the surveillance equipment is at least one of a camera, a motion detector, a panic button, a door sensor, a sensor, and any combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing communications equipment at the first location;

transmitting data from the surveillance equipment via IP connectivity to the second location;

monitoring the data in real-time from the second location;

transmitting an audio signal from the second location to the communications equipment at the first location; and

receiving an audio signal from the communications equipment from the first location at the second location.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising recording and centralizing the data.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising recording the data via a digital video recorder.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the digital video recorder includes a digital video recorder server adapted to communicate via the internet with the central server.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the second location is remote from the first location.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing, via a microphone at the first location, bi-directional communication with the second location.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time limit is between 1 and 5 seconds.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the predetermined time limit is about 3 seconds.

5. A method of performing remote surveillance comprising:

detecting a first event at a first location via surveillance equipment;

assigning a first timestamp at a central server upon detecting the first event;

detecting a second event at the first location via surveillance equipment;

assigning a second timestamp at the central server upon detecting the second event;

comparing the first timestamp and second timestamp at the central server to see if a predetermined delay has passed and whether a lifetime has not expired; and

playing a global voice prompt at the first location if the central server has determined that the predetermined delay has been passed.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second event takes place at a location other than the first location.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined delay is between 1 and 5 seconds.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the predetermined delay is about 3 seconds.

18. The method of claim 5, wherein the surveillance equipment is at least one of a camera, a motion detector, a panic button, a door sensor, a sensor, and any combination thereof.