Monitoring system

• US 6,727,811 B1
• Filed: 12/29/1999
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gregory Fendis
• Inventors: Fendis, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/474,066
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/531, 340/539, 340/541, 340/539.1, 340/539.16, 340/539.17, 340/539.18
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence

Abstract

A method and system for of monitoring a site, the method including: monitoring the site for the occurrence of predetermined alarm condition; responding to the alarm condition by capturing a packet of alarm data; and transmitting the packet of alarm data to a remote location or to a communications network for transmission to the remote location.

Claims

1. A monitoring system for monitoring a site, comprising:

an alarm sensor at the site for detecting whether at least one predetermined alarm condition has occurred;

a data collection means at the site for collecting alarm data pertaining to the alarm condition and for outputting said alarm data as a discrete data packet;

data transmission means for transmitting said alarm data from said site; and

electronic data evaluation means, at a location remote from said site

(a) for receiving said alarm data, and

(b) for electronically evaluating said alarm data to determine whether or not said alarm data is indicative of a false alarm condition and, if said electronic data evaluation means determines that said alarm data is not indicative of the false alarm condition, forwarding said alarm data to a user or users.

2. A monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data transmission means is an interface to a communications network or includes a communications network.

3. A monitoring system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said communications network is the internet.

4. A monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data packet constitutes or forms a part of an electronic mail message.

5. A monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, further including a data storage means for storing said alarm data for later inspection and/or analysis.

6. A monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said alarm data includes audio and/or video data.

7. A monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said alarm data includes streaming video.

8. A monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data evaluation means is located at a monitoring bureau and said data evaluation means is configured to respond to said alarm condition, if said electronic data evaluation means determines that said alarm data is not indicative of the false alarm condition, by transmitting said alarm data to said user.

9. A monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the evaluation means is provided with or operable to obtain a look-up table of data so that said evaluation means may evaluate said alarm data by comparing said alarm data with said look-up table data.

10. A monitoring system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said system is configured or operable to establish said look-up table when said system is initialised.

11. A monitoring system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said look-up table data comprises an image of the monitored site, for comparing with the alarm data.

12. A monitoring system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said evaluation means is configured so that it does not forward the alarm data if said image and said alarm data do not differ to a significant extent.

13. A monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system is provided with smart card access means for controlling access to said system and/or for controlling the operation of said system.

14. A monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data evaluation means comprises an intelligent agent evaluation system for evaluating said alarm data.

15. A method of monitoring a site, including the steps of:

monitoring said site for the occurrence of at least one predetermined alarm condition;

responding to said alarm condition by capturing at the site a packet of alarm data pertaining to the alarm condition;

forwarding the packet of alarm data to a location which is remote from said site;

electronically receiving and evaluating at the location said packet of alarm data to determine whether or not said packet of alarm data is indicative of a false alarm condition and, forwarding; and

transmitting, if said alarm data is not indicative of the false alarm condition, said packet of alarm data to a user or users.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, including evaluating said alarm data against a look-up table of data indicative of a false alarm condition.

17. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said alarm data includes streaming audio and/or streaming video data.

18. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said alarm data is transmitted over a computer network.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said computer network comprises the internet.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said alarm data is transmitted by means of electronic mail.

21. A method as claimed in claim 15, including evaluating said alarm data with an intelligent agent evaluation system.