Abstract: A modular water leakage detector includes a housing that carries a plurality of water leakage sensors, an electrical water shutoff valve, and circuitry coupled thereto. In response to sensing water leakage, the circuitry actuates the valve to shut off a water supply. Detectors can communicate alarm indicating signals directly with one another. The detectors can include a wireless transmitter and communicate with a displaced alarm monitoring system.

Abstract: A regional monitoring system can include a plurality of voice sensing units each of which incorporates speech recognition circuitry. In response to recognizing a verbal command at a unit, a coded representation, or token, along with location information, can be transmitted to a system control apparatus. Upon receipt of the token, the control apparatus can carry out the requested command or provide requested information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting personal distress and gesture commands in security video are provided. Some methods can include receiving a sequence of images from a video device monitoring a secured area, analyzing the sequence of images to detect a presence of a human in the sequence of images, when the presence of the human is detected in the sequence of images, analyzing the sequence of images to detect one of a plurality of contexts that requires an action in the sequence of images, and when the one of the plurality of contexts that requires the action is detected in the sequence of images, transmitting a signal to execute the action. Each of the plurality of contexts can include a respective act performed by the human or a respective condition of the human irrespective of the human being in motion or being stationary.

Abstract: A monitoring security system can be coupled to a thermostatic HVAC control module, either wired or wirelessly. In at least some embodiments, an interactive interface of the monitoring security system can communicate with the thermostatic HVAC control module. Information as to operation of the monitoring security system and the thermostatic HVAC control module can be presented on a common display of the monitoring security system, and commands that are directed to the thermostatic HVAC control module can be entered via the monitoring security system.

Abstract: A modular water leakage detector includes a housing that carries a plurality of water leakage sensors, an electrical water shutoff valve, and circuitry coupled thereto. In response to sensing water leakage, the circuitry actuates the valve to shut off a water supply. Detectors can communicate alarm indicating signals directly with one another. The detectors can include a wireless transmitter and communicate with a displaced alarm monitoring system.

Abstract: A group of unsupervised detectors or control units in wireless communication with a user can be upgraded for the user with the addition of hardware and/or downloadable software to provide communications and information to a supervisory station. Supervisory station services can be implemented locally or via cloud based computer services. A displaced dealer can be contacted using codes carried by the detectors or the control units for installation or activation of additional services.

Abstract: A network based product enables browser based computers, smart phones or tablets to connect to and access the product. A local router can be automatically configured by the product. The product can be automatically registered with a DDNS server and a user account opened. Authentication can be carried out between the product and the server.

Abstract: A method and system are provided, wherein a user can log in to a first cloud based server using a selected communications device. Upon log in, a selected plurality of video cameras is activated to simultaneously provide respective streaming video from each of the selected plurality of video cameras to a second cloud based server. Upon designation of a first member of the selected plurality of video cameras, the first member streams the respective streaming video from the first member to a communications device of the user, and streaming from all other members of the selected plurality of video cameras is terminated.

Abstract: Systems and methods that use cloud-hosted control system back-up processing to replace the functionality of a failed control panel are provided. Systems can include a remote monitoring station, a remote control panel device, and a local control system installed in a region, the local control system including a local control panel and at least one device. When operating in a normal mode, the at least one device can communicate with the local control panel, the local control panel can communicate with the remote monitoring station, and the remote control panel device can be inactive. When operating in a back-up mode, the remote control panel device can be active, the at least one device can communicate with the remote control panel device, the remote control panel device can communicate with the remote monitoring station, and the local control panel can be inactive.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting personal distress and gesture commands in security video are provided. Some methods can include receiving a sequence of images from a video device monitoring a secured area, analyzing the sequence of images to detect a presence of a human in the sequence of images, when the presence of the human is detected in the sequence of images, analyzing the sequence of images to detect one of a plurality of contexts that requires action in the sequence of images, and when the one of the plurality of contexts that requires the action is detected in the sequence of images, transmitting a signal to execute the action. Each of the plurality of contexts can include an act performed by the human or a condition of the human irrespective of the human being in motion or being stationary.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a security system are provided. The method includes the steps of the security system monitoring a secured area, a video camera obtaining images of the secured area, detecting at least one person within the obtained images and identifying a predetermined context associated with the identified at least one person within the obtained images.

Abstract: A method and system wherein a user can log in to a cloud based server using a selected communications device. Upon log in, a selected plurality of video cameras is activated to simultaneously provide streaming video from each of the cameras to a second cloud based server. Upon designation of a member of the plurality, the designated camera streams video to the user's communications device, and streaming from all other members of the plurality is terminated.

Abstract: A regional monitoring system includes a system control unit. A plurality of security related detectors are coupled to the control unit. A router is coupled to the control unit to implement bidirectional network communications with a displaced communications device wherein in one configuration, the control unit monitors ports of the router and responsive to detecting a predetermined router port configuration, forwards an alert indicator to the displaced device or monitors traffic patterns to detect local network threats.

Abstract: A regional monitoring system includes speech recognition circuitry having smart filtering capability to interpret speech input from a user to provide interactions between the user and the system. Received voice commands can be filtered using key words to interpret security commands which can then be executed. The system can provide audible feedback using one or more of prerecorded voice data files or synthesized speech.

Abstract: A regional monitoring system can include a plurality of voice sensing units each of which incorporates speech recognition circuitry. In response to recognizing a verbal command at a unit, a coded representation, or token, along with location information, can be transmitted to a system control apparatus. Upon receipt of the token, the control apparatus can carry out the requested command or provide requested information.

Abstract: A monitoring security system can be coupled to a thermostatic HVAC control module, either wired or wirelessly. In at least some embodiments, the thermostatic module can be communicated with via an interactive interface of the security system. Information as to the operation of the security system and the module can be presented on a common display of the security system, and commands, which are directed to the module, can be entered via the security system.

Abstract: A network based product enables browser based computers, smart phones or tablets to connect to and access the product. A local router can be automatically configured by the product. The product can be automatically registered with a DDNS server and a user account opened. Authentication can be carried out between the product and the server.

Abstract: Systems and methods that use cloud-hosted control system back-up processing to replace the functionality of a failed control panel are provided. Systems can include a remote monitoring station, a remote control panel device, and a local control system installed in a region, the local control system including a local control panel and at least one device. When operating in a normal mode, the at least one device can communicate with the control panel, the control panel can communicate with the remote monitoring station, and the remote control panel device can be inactive. When operating in a back-up mode, the remote control panel device can be active, the at least one device can communicate with the remote control panel device, the remote control panel device can communicate with the remote monitoring station, and the control panel can be inactive.

Abstract: A modular water leakage detector includes a housing which carries a plurality of water leakage sensors, an electrical water shutoff valve and circuitry coupled thereto. In response to sensing water leakage, the circuitry actuates the valve to shut off the water supply. Detectors can communicate alarm indicating signals directly with one another. The detectors can include a wireless transmitter and communicate with a displaced alarm monitoring system.

Abstract: Systems and methods that balance the need for privacy by a primary user with the need for remote access by a secondary user to an on-site video surveillance system are provided. Methods include defining at least one predetermined condition, determining when the at least one predetermined condition is met, providing a primary user with remote access to an on-site video surveillance system in a region regardless of when the at least one predetermined condition is met, and providing a secondary user with remote access to the on-site video surveillance system in the region only when the at least one predetermined condition is met.