Abstract:
A stand-alone, portable video alarm system for monitoring a protected area selected by a user is described that includes a video detection sensor for issuing alarm system signals, including an intrusion alarm signal when the video detection sensor detects motion indicative of an intruder within the protected area, a secondary detection sensor to detect the intruder within said protected area, a modem for communicating command signals to and alarm system signals from the video alarm system, a user-controlled mobile display for transmitting said command signals to the video alarm system through said modem and for receiving said alarm status signals from the video alarm system through said modem, wherein the intrusion alarm signal is communicated from the video alarm system through the modem and onto the user-controlled mobile display only when the intruder is detected by both the video detection sensor and the secondary detection sensor.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention is generally directed to an alarm system for monitoring a protected area to detect the presence of an intruder. More particularly, the present invention provides a stand-alone, portable video alarm system that is inexpensive and tamper resistant, yet also allows a user not only to receive remote alarm signals, but also to receive video verification to determine the cause of any such alarm signals. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    For many years, various alarm systems have been utilized to protect residential, governmental and commercial properties from unauthorized intruders. Such alarm systems typically would incorporate a control panel, a user interface (such as a keypad) to program and control the system, and an array of intrusion sensors such as motion detectors, glass break detectors, door contacts, window contacts, etc. Such alarm systems would communicate any detected alarm conditions to a central monitoring station, which would process the alarm report and contact the proper authorities (and/or user) to respond to the event. 
         [0003]    While conventional alarm systems have achieved significant market penetration with respect to upscale private homes, government institutions and business establishments, the high cost of installation and monthly recurring charges associated with central monitoring stations have resulted in a lack of penetration in apartments, mobile homes, temporary residences, boats, etc., where many users deem the cost-benefit analysis as not warranting the installation of a conventional alarm system. Moreover, users who frequently relocate often consider the costs of initial installation as impractical even in a private home, business, etc., since when one moves from one location to another, the alarm system that had already been paid for is not transportable. 
         [0004]    Due to the extensive use of alarm systems, law enforcement authorities are more recently hesitant to respond to an alarm report if an occupant has a history of false alarm reports. Before responding to an alarm condition, many municipalities now require separate video verification that would indicate the presence of an intruder before responding to the alarm condition. Regrettably, the use of a separate video verification system further increases the cost of the alarm system, and makes such systems even less practical in many applications for reasons previously described. 
         [0005]    It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved alarm system that is a stand-alone unit and readily portable. 
         [0006]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved alarm system that provides a single video sensor that provides both motion sensing and video verification. 
         [0007]    It is still yet a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved alarm system that requires no professional installation. 
         [0008]    It is still an additional object of the present invention to provide a new and improved alarm system that provides direct communication to a user through a mobile device application. 
         [0009]    It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a new and improved alarm system that provides an anti-tamper function to ensure that an intruder has not deliberately disabled the alarm system. 
         [0010]    It is still an additional object of the present invention to provide a new and improved alarm system that provides a supervisory function to confirm that the alarm system is operational. 
         [0011]    It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved alarm system that is inexpensive to purchase, install, and operate. 
         [0012]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the specifications in the drawings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Briefly stated and in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a stand-alone, portable video alarm system for monitoring a protected area selected by a user is described that incorporates a video detection sensor that utilizes known pixel-data analytics, such that the video detection sensor can both detect motion indicative of an intruder within the protected area as well as provide video. A modem is provided to communicate the alarm system signals to a user through a mobile display such as on a smart phone, a hand-held tablet, or any other electronic device having a display apparatus. The stand-alone, portable video alarm system of the present invention thereby not only communicates an intrusion alarm signal, but also provides video that verifies the intrusion alarm signal. The user may also, through the mobile apparatus, supply command signals to the video alarm system. 
         [0014]    In certain applications, a secondary detection sensor may be utilized to confirm a detection of an intruder within the protected premises prior to an intrusion alarm signal being issued. The use of such a secondary detection sensor will minimize false alarms. It is also possible to utilize a remote server system to ensure that the video alarm system of the present invention is operating correctly and/or has not been tampered with by an intruder. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention herein, it is believed that the present invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a first embodiment of a stand-alone, portable video alarm system of the present invention utilizing a single video detection sensor to both detect the presence of an intruder in a protected, monitored area and provide video verification of the intruder; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of a stand-alone, portable video alarm system of the present invention that is similar to the video alarm system of  FIG. 1 , but incorporates a secondary detection sensor to confirm the detection of an intruder in a protected area; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of the server system utilized in conjunction with the stand-alone, portable video alarm system of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of the alarm processing of the stand-alone portable video alarm system of  FIG. 2  of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart of the interface control processing of the stand-alone portable video system of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart of the supervision function of the stand-alone, portable video alarm system of the present invention to determine if the video alarm system is operational; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart of the anti-tamper function of the stand-alone, portable video alarm system of the present invention to determine if an intruder has deliberately tampered with the video alarm system. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    A first embodiment of the present invention is depicted in the schematic illustration of  FIG. 1 . A stand-alone, portable video alarm system  10  is shown which includes a video detection sensor  12 , a microprocessor  14 , and communication circuitry  16 . Video detection sensor  12  utilizes known pixel-data analytical software operated in microprocessor  14 , which allows video detection sensor  12  to not only record video, but to ascertain movement within a protected area. Although not depicted in  FIG. 1 , video alarm system  10  is typically powered by a plug-in adapter, although it would be possible for video alarm system  10  to be powered by an internal power supply such as a battery. 
         [0024]    A modem  18  is depicted as being partially within the dashed box representative of video alarm system  10  and partially outside the dashed box representative of video alarm system  10  in order to demonstrate that modem  18  can either be an integral part of video alarm system  10  or separate from video alarm system  10 . In instances where modem  18  is not an integral part of video alarm system  10 , modem  18  can be any existing modem within a user&#39;s home or other protected area. Moreover, it should be noted that, for purposes of this specification and the appended claims, that modem  18  is defined broadly as any device that permits access to the internet, such as a router, a network appliance, a cable modem, a “hot spot” connection, etc. 
         [0025]    Video alarm system  10  is capable of issuing intrusion alarm signals, which can be passed through modem  18 , over the internet, and onto remote server system  20  and/or mobile device application  22 . It should be understood that mobile device application  22  can be a smart phone, a tablet device, a laptop, or any other mobile device that has—or can be connected to—a video display. The video alarm system of  FIG. 1  allows both intrusion detection and video verification in a portable and inexpensive device. 
         [0026]    The use of a single detection technology (even video) often can result in a higher number of false alarms then is desirable. Thus, in  FIG. 2 , a second embodiment of the present invention is depicted wherein a secondary detection sensor  113  is incorporated to confirm the intruder detection made by video detection sensor  112 . Secondary detection sensor  113  can be a microwave sensor, a passive infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or any other sensor known in the art. The operation of the systems in both  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  are similar and will be described hereinafter in further detail. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a more detailed depiction of remote server system  120 . Remote server system  120  will, in the preferred embodiments, optionally include both a database of authorized users  124  and a video storage memory  126 . Although not depicted, a similar database of authorized use information and video storage memory can also be included within video alarm system  100 . If an attempt to control video alarm system is received from a device not stored within database  124 , access will be denied. Video storage memory  126  can be made to maintain video of significant events detected by video alarm system  100 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  describes the process of issuing an intrusion alarm signal in conjunction with an embodiment of the present invention that utilizes two sensors ( FIG. 2 ). The process is started (box  400 ) and a determination is made as to whether video alarm system in indeed armed/ON (box  402 .) A determination is then made (decision box  404 ) as to whether an intruder is detected by video detection sensor  112 . If no detection is made, no further action occurs in this running of the software. However, if an intruder is detected by video detection sensor  112 , a verification timer is started (box  406 ). Secondary detection sensor  113  then determines if it also senses the presence of an intruder in a protected zone (box  408 ). If no detection of an intruder is made by secondary detection sensor  113  prior to the expiration of the verification timer (box  410 ), no alarm signal is issued (box  412 ). Conversely, if secondary detection sensor  113  detects the presence of an intruder within the expiration of the verification timer, an alarm report is generated (box  414 ), and a video clip is generated and transmitted (box  416 ). In the flow chart of  FIG. 4 , video detection sensor  112  makes the first determination of the presence of an intruder. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that secondary detection sensor  113  can indeed be utilized to first detect the presence of an intruder with confirmation detection by video detection sensor  112  thereafter. 
         [0029]    The processing of an alarm report with video verification in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , wherein no secondary detection sensor is incorporated is less complex. If video detection sensor  12  detects the presence of an intruder, an alarm and video clip for verification is sent. There is no verification timer required. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  depicts how a user can utilize mobile device application  122  to control video alarm system  100 . The first step is that the user will launch the mobile application software (box  500 ). Such mobile application software programs are easily written by a programmer and are designed to operate on mobile devices such as an IPHONE®, ANDROID® or BLACKBERRY® based device. An example of such existing mobile application technology is the NAPCO® MyRemoteKeypad mobile application, which provides system control of conventional alarm systems manufactured by the assignee of the subject invention. In the present instance, the mobile application software on mobile application device  122  will provide remote control of video alarm system  100 . 
         [0031]    Next a determination is made as to whether video alarm system  100  is armed or disarmed (box  502  and box  504 ). If indeed video alarm system  100  is armed, a determination is then made to determine if video alarm system  100  is in alarm (box  506 ). If video alarm system  100  is not in alarm, the user can determine whether it wishes to disarm or arm the system (box  508 , box  510 , and box  512 ). If, at box  506 , a determination is made that video alarm system  100  is in alarm, the user will first be provided with a display of the sensor means that are an alarm so that a determination can be made whether to disarm or arm the system (box  514 , box  516  and box  518 ). If, at decision box  504 , video alarm system  100  is deemed not to be armed, the user will be able to determine to arm the system or leave the system disarmed (box  520  and box  522 ). 
         [0032]    The operations described in conjunction with  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  can be performed without accessing remote server system  120 . However, while permitting control of video alarm system  100  and the issuing of intrusion alarm signals from video alarm system  100 , these direct operations between video alarm system  100  and mobile device application  122  do not allow the remote user to determine more specific, important information such as whether the system is operational or whether the system has been intentionally tampered with to render it inoperable. 
         [0033]    The supervisory function of  FIG. 6  typically would be provided for at remote server system  120 . The operation is started (box  600 ) and a supervision timer is initialized (box  602 ). Next, a determination will be made to ascertain if a supervisory signal that is periodically programmed to be issued by video alarm system  100  is received by remote server system  120  (box  604 ). If the periodic supervisory signal from video alarm system  100  is received at remote server system  120 , video alarm system  100  is deemed to be operational. However, if an expected supervisory signal is not received, the supervision timer will be incremented (box  606 ) until the supervisory timer has exceeded its predetermined threshold (box  608 ). If no supervisory signal is received within the time allowed for by the supervision timer, a trouble notification will be forwarded from remote service system  12  to mobile device application  122 . The user can then determine how best to make the system operational or whether it is important that the system be made operational. 
         [0034]      FIG. 7  describes the functionality of what, in essence, is a particular type of failure of receiving the expected supervisory signal (i.e., when an intruder intentionally has attempted to disable the device). When an intrusion alarm signal is received (box  700 ) an anti-tamper counter is initialized (box  702 ). Remote server system  120  will then look for the periodic supervisory signal issued by video alarm system  100  (box  704 ). If the supervisory signal is received when expected, the system is still operational although an intruder may have breached the protected zone. However, if no supervisory signal is received within the time frame permitted by the anti-tampered counter (box  706  and box  708 ), remote server system  120  will generate an anti-tamper alarm notification and forward it to user mobile device application  122  (box  710 ). Under such a circumstance, the user then would know that no signals are being received because an intruder intentionally intended to disable the device, as opposed to other possible failures such as power source failures, connectivity problems, broken sensors, etc. that might not require immediate action. 
         [0035]    It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a novel and inexpensive stand-alone, portable video alarm system that incorporates supervisory features, anti-tamper features, and inexpensive video verification of intrusion alarm signals. The video alarm system provided herein is so portable that it can provide protection in environments such as hotels and/or short-term residences. In such environments, the video verification feature allows the user to determine if the intruder is actually an authorized person such as a maid, as opposed to an unauthorized user such as a burglar. 
         [0036]    While there has been shown and described what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the broader aspects of this invention. It is, therefore, aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true scope and spirit of the invention.