Lifestyle multimedia security system

• US 8,144,836 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• 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:
  US11/929,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20080048861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,610 Days
• Field of Search: 379/37, 379/38, 379/39, 379 40- 45, 37910601-10602, 379/102.01, 379/102.05, 379/102.06, 379/93.02, 348152-156
• 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 is disclosed for remote monitoring of a premises, comprising the steps of operatively coupling a geographically remote client to a security system server which is capable of authenticating a user of the remote client, operatively coupling the remote client to a security gateway which is 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 least 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 the steps of:

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 providing said remote client with information necessary for said remote client to directly access a security gateway for said premises;

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;

activating a signal at said premises for notifying an occupant at said premises that remote monitoring is occurring; and

directly transferring information 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 directly access said security gateway without said information provided, to said remote client, by said security system server; and

wherein said signal activated at said premises for notifying an occupant at said premises that remote monitoring is occurring is generated by said security gateway during transfers of information from said security gateway to said remote client.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transferring information between said security gateway and said remote client is controlled by said user of said remote client.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said security gateway is operably coupled to at least one camera located at said premises.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said security gateway is operably coupled to at least one audio station.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said signal comprises an audible signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said signal comprises visual data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of activating said signal comprises activating a light source at said premises, a LED located on said camera, and/or a LED located on a keypad located at said premises.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said security gateway comprises a controller capable of performing one or more building automation and control functions.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

streaming data in substantially real-time from said security gateway to said remote client.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

enabling substantially real-time audio and/or video communication between said remote client and said security gateway.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

recording audio and/or video data during a particular time period.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein, upon authentication of said user of said remote client, said security system server providing said security gateway with information about said user of said remote client.

13. A security system for remote monitoring of a premises by a user of a remote client, said security system comprising:

a security system server, said security system server being capable of authenticating said user of said remote client and, upon authentication of said user of said remote client, providing said remote client with information necessary for said remote client to access a security gateway for said premises via a network;

said security gateway operatively coupled to said security system server via said network, said security gateway being capable of managing the monitoring of one or more portions of said premises;

one or more cameras located at said premises and operatively coupled to said security gateway; and

one or more audio stations located at said premises and operatively coupled to said security gateway;

wherein said user is at a location which is geographically remote from said premises;

wherein said security gateway generates an audiovisual signal at said premises for notifying an occupant at said premises that remote monitoring is occurring by said remote client; and

wherein said remote client cannot access said security gateway without said information provided, to said remote client, by said security system server.

14. The security system of claim 13, wherein said security gateway comprises a controller capable of performing building automation control functions.

15. The security system of claim 13, wherein said security system provides for streaming data in substantially real-time from said security gateway to said remote client.

16. The security system of claim 13, wherein said security gateway preempts remote monitoring of said premises by said user of said remote client in response to an occurrence of an alarm condition.

17. A security system for remote monitoring of a premises by a user of a remote client, said security system comprising:

a security system server, said security system server being capable of authenticating said user of said remote client;

a security gateway operatively coupled to said security system server via a network, said security gateway being capable of managing the monitoring of one or more portions of the premises;

a monitoring client operatively coupled to said security system server and said security gateway via said network;

one or more cameras located at said premises and operatively coupled to said security gateway;

one or more audio stations located, at said premises and operatively coupled to said security gateway;

wherein said remote client is at a first location geographically remote from said premises and said monitoring client is at a second location geographically remote from said premises;

wherein said one or more cameras and/or said one or more audio stations are available for use, by said authenticated user at said remote client, for lifestyle monitoring of said premises in non-alarm situations;

wherein said security gateway generates a signal at said premises during lifestyle monitoring by said remote client; and

wherein, in response to an occurrence of an alarm condition, said lifestyle monitoring using said one or more cameras and/or said one or more audio stations is preempted so that monitoring personnel at said monitoring client have control over said one or more cameras and/or said one or more audio stations.

18. A method for remote monitoring of a premises, said method comprising the steps of:

operatively coupling a remote client to a security system server via a network, 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 providing authorization information to said remote client and to a security gateway, located at said premises, which manages the monitoring of one or more portions of said premises;

operatively coupling said remote client to said security gateway via said network; and

transferring information between said security gateway and said remote client;

wherein said remote client is at a first location geographically remote relative to said security gateway and said security system server is at a second location geographically remote relative to said security gateway;

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

said remote client providing, to said security gateway, said authorization information provided to said remote client by said security system server, and said security gateway enabling said operative coupling of said remote client to said security gateway based upon said authorization information provided to said remote client by said security system server and said authorization information provided to said security gateway by said security system server; and

wherein said remote client cannot be operatively coupled with said security gateway without said authorization information provided, to said remote client, by said security system server.

19. The method of claim 18, and further comprising the step of:

activating a signal at said premises for notifying an occupant at said premises that remote monitoring is occurring.

20. A security system for remote monitoring of a premises by a user of a remote client, said security system comprising:

a security system server, said security system server being capable of authenticating said user of said remote client and, upon authentication of said user of said remote client, providing each of said remote client and a security gateway with information necessary for said remote client to directly access said security gateway located at said premises via a network;

said security gateway operatively coupled to said security system server via said network, said security gateway being capable of managing the monitoring of one or more portions of said premises;

one or more cameras located at said premises and operatively coupled to said security gateway; and

one or more audio stations located at said premises and operatively coupled to said security gateway;

wherein said remote client is at a first location geographically remote relative to said security gateway and said security system server is at a second location geographically remote relative to said security gateway; and

wherein said remote client cannot directly access said security gateway prior to said security gateway (a) receiving said information provided to said security gateway by said security system server and (b) receiving, from said remote client, said information provided, to said remote client, by said security system server.