Patent ID: 8558887

Claim:
A virtual guard gate for a gated community comprising: at least one camera positioned proximate an entrance gate of the gated community; a monitoring station monitor for displaying images captured by said at least one camera located in an off site monitoring station; receivers located in a plurality of homes of the gated community for receiving the images captured by said at least one camera; an access device located in said monitoring station and in each house within said gated community for opening the entrance gate when said images have been verified by one of an individual in said monitoring station or in one of the homes; a server located in said monitoring station coupled to said at least one camera; a first database stored in said server and storing registered license plates and associated photos of authorized individuals of said gated community, wherein said server compares the images captured by said at least one camera and sends a signal for opening said entrance gate when said at least one camera captures an image of an authorized vehicle or individual seeking access; a stopping device located proximate said entrance gate, the stopping device allowing a single vehicle to proceed through the entrance gate at a time; a sensor for monitoring a rearmost portion of said single vehicle and to send a signal to activate said stopping device; wherein said sensor is at least one photoelectric entrance beam, said photoelectric entrance beam capable of detecting when a rearmost portion of a vehicle entering said entrance gate has cleared said stopping device, said stopping device raises behind said rearmost portion of a vehicle when said at least one photoelectric entrance beam detects said rearmost portion of said vehicle has passed said stopping device and retracts when said entrance gate has closed; and a directory device proximate said entrance gate containing a family name of each home and enabling communication with said monitoring station and with a selected home.