Abstract: An integrated security system (10) for monitoring a premises (12) to detect an intrusion onto the premises comprises a video system for providing video representations of the premises, an alarm system for providing an indication of an intrusion onto the premises, an access control system for allowing authorized entrance onto the premises, a processing device connected to the video security system, the alarm system, and the access control system for producing a signal indicative of an intrusion onto the premises, and a monitoring center connected to the processing device for receiving the signal indicative of an intrusion onto the premises.

Abstract: A video recording system (10) monitoring a scene to detect occurrence of an event within the scene. A camera (C1) monitors the scene and provides a video signal representative of the scene. A sensor (C2) senses movement within a portion of the observed scene and provides a signal indicative of the movement. A processor (12) connected to the camera and sensor determines if there is any movement within the scene; and if there is, the portion of the scene where it occurred based upon the signals received from the camera and sensor. The processor produces a signal indicative of the event and the portion of the scene where it occurs. A digital video recorder (18) connected to the processor now records the scene and the signal indicative of the occurrence of the event.

Abstract: A method of scanning recorded video images of a scene to locate those images in which there is a predetermined amount of activity. Images (I) of the scene are obtained over a period of time. Each of the images (SI) is compared to a reference image (RI) of the scene and a difference image (DI) is created for each comparison. A threshold test is applied to each image as a measure of the activity occurring in the scene at the time the image is obtained and the results of the test are stored with the image in a memory (18) of an image processing system (10). When the images are subsequently viewed, a viewing threshold related to the amount of activity occurring in the scene is established by the viewer. The test results for each stored image are then scanned to determine if the image meets the viewing criteria. If it does, the image is either displayed for viewing on a monitor (24) or a file (F2) is created for analysis.