Abstract:
A system and method for remotely monitoring and controlling building security are provided. A controller is communicatively coupled to various security devices of a building and can communicate an activity event detected by one of the security devices to a remote user device. The controller can then establish a communication session between the remote device and a security communication device via the controller, thereby allowing the user to communicate with any visitors. Video from a security device can be transmitted by the controller to the user device or an alternative user-device. Access instructions can be provided by the user to the controller, in response to which the controller can deactivate various building security measures. Security measures can be reactivated by the controller automatically or in response to a user command. Additionally, the controller can monitor visitor compliance with the deactivated security measures and activate alarms or notify security agencies if necessary.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to building security, and more particularly to remote monitoring and control of building security systems. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Deliveries and service/repair visits frequently require a homeowner or building manager/supervisor (for simplicity, hereinafter referred to as a homeowner) to be present at the home or building. In many instances, the homeowner is merely required to open the door for the delivery and/or acknowledge the presence of the service personnel. Often, deliveries and service visits can only be scheduled during weekdays (i.e., normal business days), thus requiring homeowners to be physically present at the building. Homeowners must disrupt their usual schedule or neglect other things that need attention outside the home in order to wait at home for a delivery. This causes an increase in frustration and inconvenience of the homeowner as well as a decrease in worker productivity. 
         [0003]    Various building security measures and entrance security devices are known. However, none adequately addresses the need for a homeowner to be physically present without unacceptably compromising the security of the home. For example, some homes/buildings are equipped with a keypad lock such that anyone that knows the correct combination can gain entry. Alternatively, some locks have a master key that allows entry into multiple homes. However, these security measures still require third-parties to be granted unfettered access to the entire building and risk the dissemination of the pass-code combination or copies of the master key to parties without authorization for entry. Alternative security systems include the use of security cameras and/or intercom systems. However, such existing solutions also require a user to be present at the home or building to interact with the security devices. 
         [0004]    Additionally, security alarms can be operated with a timer to deactivate alarms during certain times. A user may be able to schedule deactivation of the alarm for the window during which the delivery or repair service is scheduled to arrive. Thus, a homeowner is not required to be present for the visitor. However, in accordance with this solution, the alarm is deactivate for all visitors for the scheduled time and thus creates an unacceptable risk. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In accordance with an embodiment, a method and system for remotely monitoring and controlling building security is provided. Security monitoring devices, connected to a controller, can communicate an activity event (e.g., detection of a visitor) to the controller. The controller transmits an activity notification to a user&#39;s remote device. The controller can then establish a communication session between the remote device and a security communication device by establishing a first communication channel with the remote device and a second communication channel with the security-communication device, thereby allowing the user to communicate with the security communication device via the controller. Access instructions can then be provided to the controller (e.g., from the user or the user device), in response to which the controller can deactivate various building security measures. 
         [0006]    In a further aspect of an embodiment, the controller can communicate with a remote video-capable user device to transmit video from one of the security monitoring devices. The remote video-capable device can be included in the first remote device or a separate device (e.g., a user computer). Additionally, the controller can establish another communication channel with the video capable device or, if possible, transmit the video data over the existing communication channel to the remote user device. 
         [0007]    In yet a further aspect of an embodiment, security measures can be reactivated by the controller. In one embodiment, the user can remotely control the security measures by way of a command that is transmitted to the controller. Alternatively, the controller can automatically reactivate security measures after a period of time. Additionally, if necessary, either the user or the controller can alert a security agency. 
         [0008]    These and other advantages of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates an operational environment of a remote monitoring system in accordance with an embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of a process in accordance with an embodiment; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a high-level block diagram of a computer in accordance with an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    By way of overview and introduction, and in accordance with an embodiment, a user can control and interact with various building or home security features from a remote device. For example, in one scenario, a homeowner may be expecting delivery of a package while at work. Rather than missing the delivery, the homeowner can configure a monitoring system, implemented in accordance with an embodiment, to notify the homeowner when someone rings the doorbell to the house. Additionally, the monitoring system can be configured to establish a communication channel with the user&#39;s remote device (e.g., a cellular telephone) and establish a communication channel with a security communication device in the home (e.g., an intercom at the front door), so as to enable the user to talk to and/or listen to whoever is at the door of the home. Optionally, the user can be provided with video or still pictures of the person at the door obtained by a security camera connected to the monitoring system. If the user determines that the visitor is the delivery person, the user can instruct the monitoring system to unlock the front door to allow the delivery person to leave the package inside the house. Once the delivery person leaves, the door can be re-locked by the monitoring system, either automatically or in response to a user-command. Additional aspects and features of various embodiments are described below with reference to the Figures. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates an operational environment  100  of the monitoring system in accordance with an embodiment. A building  110  is provided with various security devices including security communication devices and security monitoring devices. Security communication devices typically enable an authorized person(s) to communicate (e.g., audibly or visibly) with other parties (e.g., visitors, intruders, or other personnel) in and around the building. Security monitoring devices typically enable an authorized person(s) to interact with or monitor the status of the building being monitored (e.g., determine which doors or windows are open, view various camera displays, etc.). For example, the building  110  includes a motion detector  145  located by the garage and a security camera  130 , an intercom  135  and a doorbell  140  near the front door. While illustrated as separate devices, a person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the security monitoring devices and security communication devices could be implemented in various combinations in an individual security device, such as a video-capable intercom  135  having a ringer (i.e., doorbell  140 ) or a motion sensor  145  that includes a camera  130 . 
         [0014]    Each of the security monitoring devices and security communication devices are preferably in network communication with controller  120 . Communication between the monitoring devices and security communication devices can be provided through wired or wireless communication. In accordance with one embodiment, the controller  120  is capable of Ethernet (i.e., the IEEE 802.3 standard) and Wireless Ethernet (i.e., the IEEE 802.11x standard) communications. Thus, the intercom  135 , doorbell  140 , and camera  130  may be connected to the controller  120  through Ethernet cables, and the motion detector  145  can be provided with a wireless transceiver to wireless communicate with the controller  120 . Wireless communication can be beneficial for adding security monitoring devices or security communication devices without requiring the installation of additional wiring in buildings. In a further alternative, the security monitoring devices and security communication devices can communicate over other known wired and wireless protocols. 
         [0015]    While the controller  120  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  as within the building  110  premises, in accordance with a further embodiment, the controller  120  can be located remotely, such as at a remote monitoring site associated with a contracted security service. If the security monitoring devices and security communication devices are capable of internet protocol (IP) communication, the security monitoring devices and security communication devices can be connected to a router within the building  110 , or a network address translation (NAT) module which directs communications between the security monitoring devices and security communication devices and the remotely located controller  120 . Alternatively, a simplified sub-controller can be located within the building  110  premises to communicate with the security monitoring devices and security communication devices using a known protocol, and translate or encapsulate those communications for transmission to the remotely located controller  120 . 
         [0016]    The controller  120  is preferably configured to communicate with remote devices over one or more wide area networks (e.g., the Internet, cellular telephone networks, etc.).  FIG. 1  illustrates a single network  150  only for simplified exemplary purposes. A person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the convergence of telephone networks and computer networks is rapidly enabling devices using one protocol to communicate with other devices using another protocol (e.g., cellular telephone  160  to internet communications). However, the controller  120  can include multiple interfaces to various networks. For example, the controller  120  can include an interface to a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a cellular telephone network, and/or an IP network. Therefore, as illustrated, the controller  120  can communication with a user&#39;s cellular telephone  160 , a computer  170 , a set-top box  180  (e.g., a cable television receiver), or other device. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of a process  200  in accordance with an embodiment that operates within the environment described above with respect to  FIG. 1 . Process  200  enables users to remotely monitor building security, interact with visitors, and remotely control various security aspects of the building  110 . Additionally, based on the description and Figures contained herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the process  200  can operate with a subset or superset (i.e., additional or multiples) of the security monitoring devices and security communication devices illustrated in  FIG. 1 , as well as a subset of superset of the remote user devices (i.e., computer  170 , set top box  180 , cellular telephone  160 ). 
         [0018]    Accordingly, at step  210  of process  200 , the controller  120  receives an event from one of the security monitoring devices. The event can include a network-based message or interrupt from one of the security monitoring devices in response to an external trigger, such as a detection of motion by the motion detector  145  or the press of the doorbell  140 . The controller  120  can determine what type of event occurred and transmit an activity notification to a user&#39;s remote device at step  215 . Optionally, the activity notification may include additional details about the event. For example, if the motion detector  145  detects motion, the controller  120  can instruct a nearby security camera  130  to record a still picture of video clip of the event cause. The picture or video clip can then be transmitted along with, or as part of, the event notification. In a further example, a set of computer instructions at the intercom  135 , or at the controller  120  controlling the intercom  135 , can request that a visitor state his or her name. The visitor&#39;s response is recorded and transmitted along with, or as part of, the event notification. 
         [0019]    The remote device can include the user&#39;s cellular telephone  160 , computer  170 , set-top box  180 , or other such device. The controller  120  can be configured to communicate with the various devices based on a user selection, a configuration file specifying which device to contact at predefined times (e.g., a type of find me follow me service), or by concurrently attempting to contact multiple devices. The controller  120  can communicate with each user device using an appropriate communication protocol and transmission medium. For example, if the controller  120  contacts the user&#39;s cellular telephone  160 , the communications can be made via a telephone call or via a packet data service (e.g., GPRS or EDGE). If the activity notification is sent to the user&#39;s computer  170 , communications can be sent over the Internet via an IP protocol. 
         [0020]    The user can be provided with the option of responding to the activity notification. If the user is busy or does not recognize the optional accompanying audio or still image transmitted along with the activity notification, the user can simply ignore the activity notification. Thus, at decision  220 , the controller  120  determines whether it has received a response from the user&#39;s remote device. If no response has been received, the process  200  ends. 
         [0021]    However, if the user indicates, via the remote device, a desire to communicate with the visitor that prompted the activity notification, at step  220 , the process  200  establishes communication between the remote device and one of the security communication devices. That is, the controller  120  establishes communication with the remote device over an appropriate communication channel (e.g., cellular telephone communication channel) at step  230  and establishes another communication path with a security communication device over an appropriate communication channel at step  235 . Thus, the user can communicate with the visitor via the controller  120 . Communication can be one-way or two-way in accordance with limitations of the security communication device or remote device. 
         [0022]    At decision  240 , the controller  120  determines whether video or still images (hereinafter referenced as images) can or should be transmitted to the user. The determination to transmit images can be based on one or more parameters. In one scenario, the user can instruct the controller  120  to begin transmission of the images, for example by visiting a particular uniform resource locator (URL) address on a computer web browser, interacting with a software program on the user&#39;s computer  170  or cellular telephone  160 , sending a text message (e.g., Short Message Service (SMS)), voice command, or pressing a specific sequence of telephone keys to produce a predetermined sequence of dual-tone multi frequency (DTMF) tones. Alternatively, the user can be prompted by the controller  120  whether to transmit images and to where to transmit them. In a further alternative, the controller  120  can automate the decision by gathering information about the capabilities of the user&#39;s remote device and the configuration of the security monitoring devices and by transmitting images to the user&#39;s remote device if image data is available from the security system and capable of displaying on the user&#39;s remote device. 
         [0023]    Images can be transmitted to a cellular telephone  160  preferably via data link, to a computer  170  via an IP-based link, or to a set-top box  180 . Additionally, images can be transmitted to the same device to which the controller  120  sent the activity notification or to an additional remote user device. For example, if the controller  120  calls the user on a cellular telephone  160  to notify the user of the activity, the controller  120  can also transmit the images to the cellular telephone  160  or open the second communication channel with a computer  170  and transmit the images to the computer  170  while optionally maintaining the connection with the user&#39;s cellular telephone  160 . 
         [0024]    If the controller  120  determines that images should be transmitted at step  240 , at step  250  the controller  120  connects with the video device and transmits images at step  255 . As described above, connecting to the video device at step  250  can merely include signaling the remote device over an already-existing communication channel that image transmission will begin. Alternatively, connecting to the video device can require establishing a second communication channel between the controller  120  and a remote device. The second communication channel can be over the same transmission medium as the existing communication channel or a different transmission medium. 
         [0025]    The process  200  can also continue without transmission of images. Thus, if at decision  240 , the controller  120  determines images should not be transmitted, the process  200  proceeds to step  260 . 
         [0026]    By way of the audio and/or image communication established between the security monitoring devices of the building  110  and the remote user devices, the homeowner, or other responsible party, can determine whether the visitor should be provided access to the building  110 . For example, if the visitor is a delivery person, the homeowner may want to grant the visitor access for the building  110  for a limited period of time (e.g., enough time to deliver the package). In a further example, the homeowner may recognize the visitor as their teenage child who forgot his or her keys to the home. In either of the above scenarios, the remote user may instruct the controller  120  to allow the visitor access to the building  110 . 
         [0027]    At step  260 , the controller  120  determines whether access instructions have been received from the remote user. Access instructions can be received in a variety of the ways such as those described above with respect to step  240  and receiving instructions to provide video. That is, instructions can be provided by signaling through a computer application, DTMF tones, SMS, or voice command. 
         [0028]    Access instructions typically specify deactivation of certain security features of the building  110 . For example, access instructions may specify that the controller  120  disable the building  110  alarm and unlock the front door at step  270 . More detailed instructions may also be supported such that specific alarms and locks can be deactivated. For example, the user can specify that only the front door alarm be deactivated. Additionally, access instructions may specify a period of time over which the alarm is deactivated and/or the door unlocked. Thus, if after being granted access the visitor lingers inside the building  110  too long, the alarm will be automatically reactivated and potentially sound. 
         [0029]    At step  280 , the controller  120  can determine whether alarm instructions have been received. As discussed above with respect to access instructions and video instructions, alarm instructions can be provided by signaling through a computer application, DTMF tones, SMS, or voice command. Additionally, alarm instructions can be generated automatically by the controller  120 . For example, in the example discussed above in which the visitor lingers beyond the specified period of time during which the alarm was disabled, the controller  120  may automatically generate alarm instructions that are performed by the controller  120  at step  285  so as to alert security (e.g., a security monitoring company or the or police) and optionally sound an audible alarm. Additionally, if the user is no longer monitoring the visitor&#39;s access to the building  110  (e.g., the user granted access and ended the communication from the controller  120 ), the controller  120  can notify the user that the visitor has violated the access granted by the access instructions and further inform the user of whatever other security measures (e.g., alarm and/or police call) are being taken. 
         [0030]    It should be noted that alarm instructions can be received regardless of whether access instructions were received or provided. Thus, if a remote user is notified at step  215  of certain activity, and the user determines, based on the images transmitted along with the activity notification, that the activity is ill intentioned, the user can remotely activate alarms at step  285  including an audible alarm and an interactive or automated call to the police or security company. 
         [0031]    At step  290 , if alarm instructions have not been received or as part of the alarm instruction process, security measures can be reactivated. The user can manually instruct the controller  120  to reactivate security measures or the security measures may be reactivated automatically after a configurable elapsed time. Thus, the security system continues to monitor the various monitoring devices. 
         [0032]    The above-described methods for providing building security can be implemented on a computer using well-known computer processors, memory units, storage devices, computer software, and other components. A high-level block diagram of such a computer is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Computer  300  contains a processor  310  which controls the overall operation of the computer  300  by executing computer program instructions which define such operations. Controller  120  can be implemented using a computer as described herein. The computer program instructions may be stored in a storage device  320 , or other computer readable medium (e.g., magnetic disk, CD ROM, etc.), and loaded into memory  330  when execution of the computer program instructions is desired. Thus, the method steps of  FIG. 2  and/or operations of controller  120  of  FIG. 1  can be defined by the computer program instructions stored in the memory  330  and/or storage  320  and controlled by the processor  310  executing the computer program instructions. For example, the computer program instructions can be implemented as computer executable code programmed by one skilled in the art to perform an algorithm defined by the method steps of  FIG. 2 . Accordingly, by executing the computer program instructions, the processor  310  executes an algorithm defined by the method steps of  FIG. 2 . The computer  300  also includes one or more network/communication interfaces  340  for communicating with other devices via a network  150 . The computer  300  also includes input/output devices  350  that enable user interaction with the computer  300  (e.g., display, keyboard, mouse, speakers, buttons, etc.) One skilled in the art will recognize that an implementation of an actual computer could contain other components as well, and that  FIG. 3  is a high level representation of some of the components of such a computer for illustrative purposes. 
         [0033]    The foregoing Detailed Description is to be understood as being in every respect illustrative and exemplary, but not restrictive, and the scope of the invention disclosed herein is not to be determined from the Detailed Description, but rather from the claims as interpreted according to the full breadth permitted by the patent laws. It is to be understood that the embodiments shown and described herein are only illustrative of the principles of the embodiments, and that various modifications may be implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Those skilled in the art could implement various other feature combinations without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The various functional modules that are shown are for illustrative purposes only, and may be combined, rearranged and/or otherwise modified.