Patent ID: 7158026

Claim:
A security system for monitoring a premises, said security system comprising: at least one device for collecting alarm information at said monitored premises; a monitoring computer workstation remotely located relative to said monitored premises, said collected alarm information transported to said monitoring computer workstation over a data network in response to detection of an alarm condition at said monitored premises; and a first emergency response computer workstation remotely located relative to said monitored premises, said first emergency response computer workstation not collocated with said monitoring computer workstation; said monitoring computer workstation configured to: (1) receive said collected alarm information over said data network: (2) actively control operation of said at least one alarm information collection device over said data network: (3) enable said first emergency response computer workstation to passively receive said collected alarm information and (4) cede active control of (a) operation of said at least one alarm information collection device and (b) delivery of said collected alarm information to said first emergency response computer workstation; said first emergency response computer workstation configured to actively control (a) operation of said at least one alarm information collection device and (b) delivery of said collected alarm information upon said monitoring computer workstation ceding control of said at least one alarm information collection device to said first emergency response computer workstation.