Security motion sensor and video recording system

• US 20070046462A1
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Complete Surveillance Solutions
• Original Assignee: Complete Surveillance Solutions
• Inventors: Fancella, Ron
• Granted Patent: US 7,382,249 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19602 Image analysis to detect motion of the intruder, e.g. by frame subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19634 Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves

Abstract

A combined alarm and surveillance system integrates an existing alarm system (12) with an existing surveillance system (14) such that functions unique to each system are combined in a complementary manner. The existing alarm and surveillance systems are combined via an interface (16) comprising an array of electric relays (52,54,56,58,60,62). Each relay receives a signal from either the alarm system or the surveillance system and retransmits the signal to the other system in a form that is compatible with the receiving system. The alarm system is configured to communicate alarm status information to the surveillance system, and the surveillance system is configured to communicate control signals to the alarm system, such as an alarm system reset signal.

Claims

1. An integrated alarm and surveillance system comprising:

an alarm system including a user interface for enabling a user to arm and disarm the alarm system; and

a surveillance system including—

a video camera for detecting motion in a field of view of the camera,

an input port for receiving alarm system status information from the alarm system, wherein the status information includes whether the alarm system is armed, and

a controller for communicating an electronic notification in response to detected motion if the alarm system is armed.

2. The integrated system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an interface interposed between the alarm system and the surveillance system, the interface including an electric circuit for receiving a signal from the alarm system that contains the alarm system status information, and communicating the signal to the surveillance system in a form compatible with the surveillance system.

3. The integrated system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the interface is adapted to communicate with the alarm system and the surveillance system via a plurality of wired connections.

4. The integrated system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the interface is adapted to communicate with the alarm system and the surveillance system via a plurality of wireless connections.

5. The integrated system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the alarm system is adapted to detect a disturbance, activate an alarm in response to the disturbance if the alarm system is armed, and deactivate the alarm in response to an alarm reset signal.

6. The integrated system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the alarm system includes an input port, and is adapted to receive the alarm reset signal from the user interface and from the surveillance system via the input port.

7. The integrated system as set forth in claim 5, further comprising a remote computer adapted to communicate with the surveillance system via a computer network, wherein the remote computer presents a user interface for receiving an alarm system reset input from a user and communicating the alarm reset signal to the surveillance system in response to the input received from the user, and wherein the surveillance system communicates the alarm reset signal to the alarm system.

8. The integrated system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the surveillance system is adapted to receive an alarm trigger signal from the alarm system via the input port and communicate an electronic notification of the alarm trigger signal via the controller.

9. The integrated system as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a remote computer adapted to communicate with the surveillance system via a computer network, wherein the remote computer presents a user interface for displaying the electronic notification received from the surveillance system.

10. A method of integrating an alarm system and a surveillance system comprising the steps of:

connecting an electric circuit to the alarm system and to the surveillance system such that the circuit receives a first signal from the alarm system and communicates the first signal to the surveillance system in a form compatible with the surveillance system; and

configuring the surveillance system to communicate an electronic notification in response to motion detected by a camera of the surveillance system if the first signal indicates that the alarm system is armed.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10, further comprising the step of connecting the electric circuit to the alarm system and to the surveillance system such that the circuit receives a second signal from the surveillance system and communicates the signal to the alarm system in a form compatible with the alarm system.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11, further comprising the step of configuring the alarm system to deactivate an alarm in response to the second signal.

13. The method as set forth in claim 11, further comprising the step of configuring the alarm system to communicate alarm status information via the first signal, and configuring the surveillance system to communicate alarm control information via the second signal.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising the step of configuring the surveillance system to associate a disturbance reported by the alarm system via the first signal with a camera of the surveillance system.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising the step of configuring the surveillance system to present video data generated by the camera to a user via a surveillance system monitor.

16. The method as set forth in claim 15, further comprising the step of configuring the surveillance system to receive an alarm system reset signal from the user and generate the second signal in response to receiving the alarm system reset signal.

17. The method as set forth in claim 15, further comprising the step of configuring the surveillance system to communicate the video data to a remote computer and to receive an alarm system reset signal from the remote computer.

18. The method as set forth in claim 10, further comprising the step of connecting a first electric relay to the alarm system and the surveillance system as part of the electric circuit, such that the relay receives the first signal from the alarm system and communicates the first signal to the surveillance system.

19. An integrated alarm and surveillance system comprising:

an alarm system including—

a user interface for enabling a user to arm and disarm the alarm system; and

an input port for receiving an alarm system reset signal;

a surveillance system including—

a video camera for detecting motion in a field of view of the camera,

an input port for receiving an alarm system status signal indicating whether the alarm system is armed, and

a controller for generating an electronic notification in response to detected motion if the alarm system is armed, and for generating an alarm system reset signal;

an interface including—

a first electronic relay for receiving the status signal from the alarm system and communicating the status signal to the surveillance system in a form compatible with the input port of the surveillance system, and

a second electronic relay for receiving the alarm system reset signal from the surveillance system and communicating the alarm system reset signal to the alarm system in a form compatible with the input port of the alarm system.

20. The integrated system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the surveillance system controller is adapted to communicate the electronic notification and video data generated by the camera to a remote computer, and to receive an alarm system reset signal from the remote computer.