Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided, wherein the method includes the steps of an activity analysis processor monitoring activities of a security system protecting a secured area and a human operator of the security system and evaluating the activities, the activity analysis processor detecting an event and saving a summary of the event to a cloud server, a user interface of the cloud server detecting a request from a user for an activity report, the cloud server downloading the activity report to the user, the activity report including playback features controlling playback of the summary, the playback features including a provision to accept requests from the user for additional data, and the playback features downloading and displaying the additional data in response to the requests from the user for the additional data.

Abstract: A video surveillance system having a plurality of video-type cameras includes a graphical user interface which is not list driven but provides a background image of a portion of the region being monitored, and, event or incident identifiers associated with the provided background image. The event or incident identifiers are presented semi-transparently and overlay the background image. Each of the incident identifiers includes a selectable icon. Selecting the icon switches to a different background image and presents a different foreground group of incidents or events associated with the different background image. The various events or incidents can be explored in the context of the background image. In addition with selecting the icons user can also select the event or incident identifier to see the corresponding background image. Once the background image is updated, user can start play the video directly in the same view.

Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying a dynamic risk level indicator of an ATM site or other remote monitoring site on a map are provided. Some methods can include receiving one or more pieces of data associated with an ATM site, assigning a risk level to the ATM site based on at least one of the one or more pieces of data, and displaying an identifier of the ATM site on a map displayed on a user interface device such that the identifier can visually identify a location of the remote device and the risk level assigned to the remote device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing UAV-based digital escort drones in visitor management and access control systems are provided. A visitor management and access control system can identify a need for escorting a visitor through the region and transmit a signal to a drone that identifies a starting location and a destination location in the region. Responsive to receiving the signal, the drone can escort the visitor along a path from the starting location to the destination location, and an access privilege device carried by the drone can open a secured door or access a secured area along the path.

Abstract: Systems and methods of alerting a central monitoring station and registered users about a potential duress situation using a mobile application are provided. Some methods can include receiving user input to access a remote security system, responsive to receiving the user input, determining whether the user input includes a first type of user input or a second type of user input, when the user input includes the second type of user input, collecting additional information from an ambient environment, transmitting a duress message to a central monitoring station, the duress message including the additional information.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus that embodies a method including a panic alert mobile application of a security system that protects a secured geographic area executing on a portable electronic device of an authorized user, the panic alert mobile application retrieving a predetermined word sequence associated with the authorized user, the panic alert mobile application continuously monitoring spoken words of the authorized user, the panic alert mobile application detecting the predetermined word sequence in the spoken words of the authorized user and the panic alert mobile application reporting a panic alert to a central monitoring station of the security system.

Abstract: A system including a plurality of cameras of a surveillance system that detect threats within a secured geographic area, a first file embodied in memory that defines a plurality of human use scenarios of the secured area, one of the plurality of human user scenarios being selected by a human user, a respective second file corresponding to each of the plurality of human user scenarios embodied in memory that defines critical surveillance areas of the secured area based upon the selected scenario and at least upon a time of day, the second file receiving from the user an identifier of one or more of the plurality of cameras that correspond to each of the critical surveillance areas and processor of the surveillance system that preferentially displays video from each of the critical surveillance areas based upon the time of day and camera identifiers received from the user.

Abstract: A system and approach for monitoring and controlling energy consumption. The system may incorporate one or more devices configured on a floor map, a monitor that detects energy consumption by each of the one or more devices, a heat map shown on the floor map, a processor, and a user interface having a display connected to the processor. The heat map may indicate energy consumption in various areas of the floor plan. The floor map with the heat map may be a screen showable on the display. The energy consumption by each of the one or more devices from the monitor may be calculated by the processor in terms of time that each device is active and in terms of a power rating of the respective device. The energy consumption by each of the one or more devices may be converted by the processor into cost. From a screen, a user may define a virtual and dynamic zone to optimize and control the energy consumption with duration to apply the changes.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a plurality of Bluetooth low energy devices (BLEs) embodied as stand-alone devices or incorporated into a respective security sensor, each at known locations within a secured geographic area, a plurality of portable wireless devices within the secured area, each receiving location information via signals from a nearby one or more of the plurality of BLEs, and a security system of the secured area that receives location information from the plurality of portable wireless devices, detects a security breach within the secured area, sends a notification to each of the plurality of wireless devices, and assigns a user of one of the plurality of portable wireless devices to investigate the breach based upon proximity of the one portable device to the breach.

Abstract: An apparatus including a plurality of Bluetooth low energy devices (BLEs) embodied as stand-alone devices or incorporated into a respective security sensor, each at known locations within a secure geographic area, a plurality of portable wireless devices within the secured area each receiving location information via signals from a nearby one or more of the plurality of BLEs and a security system of the secured area that receives location information from the plurality of portable wireless devices, detects a security breach within the secured area, sends notification to each of the plurality of wireless devices and assigns a user of one of the plurality of portable wireless devices to investigate the breach based upon proximity of the one portable device to the breach.

Abstract: Systems and methods of alerting a central monitoring station and registered users about a potential duress situation using a mobile application are provided. Some methods can include receiving user input to access a remote security system, responsive to receiving the user input, determining whether the user input includes a first type of user input or a second type of user input, when the user input includes the second type of user input, collecting additional information from an ambient environment, transmitting a duress message to a central monitoring station, the duress message including the additional information.

Abstract: A video surveillance system having a plurality of video-type cameras includes a graphical user interface which is not list driven but provides a background image of a portion of the region being monitored, and, event or incident identifiers associated with the provided background image. The event or incident identifiers are presented semi-transparently and overlay the background image. Each of the incident identifiers includes a selectable icon. Selecting the icon switches to a different background image and presents a different foreground group of incidents or events associated with the different background image. The various events or incidents can be explored in the context of the background image. In addition with selecting the icons user can also select the event or incident identifier to see the corresponding background image.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes a security system that protects a secured area, a wireless portable device that arms and disarms the security system through a wireless interface, the wireless portable device having a camera, a microphone and a global positioning system (GPS), and a processor of the wireless portable device that detects disarming of the security system by a user under duress through the wireless portable device and captures information of an environment of the wireless portable device from the GPS and one or more of the camera and microphone and sends the captured information to a central monitoring station of the security system through the wireless interface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus. The method includes the steps of an activity analysis processor monitoring the activities of a security system protecting a secured area and a human operator of the security system and evaluating the system's and operator's activities, the activity analysis processor detecting an event and saving a summary of the event to a cloud server, a user interface of the cloud server detecting a request from a user for a report of activities and the cloud server downloading the activity report to the user, the activity report displayed to the user including playback features controlling playback of the summary, the playback features further including provision to accept requests for additional data from the user and the playback features downloading and displaying the additional data in response to the requests.

Abstract: A system including a video sequence embodied in memory, a processor that detects a moving object or person within a field of view of the video sequence, a processor that tracks the moving object or person and that identifies a plurality of frames that summarizes movement of the moving object or person within a time interval of the video sequence and a processor that combines the identified plurality of frames into a thumbnail image.

Abstract: An apparatus including a plurality of user controlled devices, each located at a respective predetermined location within a geographic area of a user, a respective location indicator associated with each of the plurality of user controlled devices, a portable user device including a respective controlling application of each of the plurality of user controlled devices embodied in a memory of the portable user device, a monitoring processor of the portable user device that detects a location of the portable user device within the geographic area based upon a wireless signal from one of the respective location indicators and an interface processor of the portable device that loads the controlling application of one of the plurality of user controlled devices based upon the detected location of the portable user device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus. The method includes the steps of an activity analysis processor monitoring the activities of a security system protecting a secured area and a human operator of the security system and evaluating the system's and operator's activities, the activity analysis processor detecting an event and saving a summary of the event to a cloud server, a user interface of the cloud server detecting a request from a user for a report of activities and the cloud server downloading the activity report to the user, the activity report displayed to the user including playback features controlling playback of the summary, the playback features further including provision to accept requests for additional data from the user and the playback features downloading and displaying the additional data in response to the requests.

Abstract: A method and system that includes a processor of a surveillance system detecting identification of a portion of a secured area via a drawing made by an operator on a graphical representation of the secured area, the processor identifying at least one camera within the identified portion of the secured area, the processor increasing a relative level of picture quality for each of the at least one camera and the processor recording video with the increased level of picture quality from each of the identified at least one camera for a predetermined time period where the picture quality is increased by performing one or more of increasing image resolution, increasing frames per second, decreasing a group of pictures (GOP) value, decreasing a compression ratio and increasing a bit rate.

Abstract: A system including a security system that protects a secured area, a wireless portable device that arms and disarms the security system through a wireless interface, the wireless portable device having a camera, a microphone and a global positioning system (GPS) and a processor of the wireless portable device that detects disarming of the security system by a user under duress through the wireless portable device and captures information of an environment of the wireless portable device from the GPS and one or more of the camera and microphone and sends the captured information to a central monitoring station of the security system through the wireless interface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus including a cloud server saving a plurality of security events that occurred within a secured area where each saved security event includes an identifier on a device or person monitored by the security system, an identifier of the monitoring function that triggered the saving of the event in the cloud and a time of the event, a user input receiving an identifier of the monitored device or person and at least two different functions monitored by the security system and a processor downloading information of some of the plurality of saved events identified by the received identifiers from the cloud server and presenting the downloaded information of each event at corresponding locations along a timeline.