Patent ID: 7120233

Claim:
A method for remote monitoring of a premises, said method comprising: operatively coupling a remote client to a security system server, said security system server being capable of authenticating a user of said remote client; operatively coupling said remote client to a security gateway, said security gateway being capable of managing the monitoring of one or more portions of said premises; verifying the identification of said user of said remote client; transmitting an access token from said security system server to said remote client; said security system server providing said security gateway with information about said user and said access token; and transferring information between said security gateway and said remote client, said security gateway generating a signal, at said premises, for notifying an occupant of said premises that remote monitoring is occurring during transfers of information from said security gateway to said remote client; wherein said user is at a location which is geographically remote from said premises; wherein said access token is adapted to allow said remote client to access said security gateway based on said user's permission profile; wherein said user's permission profile is created by a general administrator of said security gateway; and wherein said access token expires at a designated time and date.