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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It is still yet a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved alarm system that requires no professional installation.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the specifications in the drawings.
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.
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.
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:
A first embodiment of the present invention is depicted in the schematic illustration of
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'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.
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
The use of a single detection technology (even video) often can result in a higher number of false alarms then is desirable. Thus, in
The processing of an alarm report with video verification in the embodiment of
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).
The operations described in conjunction with
The supervisory function of
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.
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.