Abstract: A communications system for an alarm or security system. A plurality of sensors are installed in a facility detect an alarm condition together with a control unit interconnected with the sensors and to which an alarm indication is sent by a sensor going into alarm. A communications path is established by which an alarm signal is transmitted from the control unit to an alarm processing station. A central database, remote from the facility, is accessible from the alarm processing station and includes up-to-date, pertinent information relating to the facility including its address and description, information about the sensor that triggered the alarm, a past history of other alarms, and special instructions regarding how responders should respond in the event hazardous materials are located in an area of the facility where the sensor is located. The system further includes a communications capability for providing this information to responders in route to the facility, including text and graphic information.

Abstract: A method of integrating tasks common to the design, installation, and operation of a fire alarm and security system in a facility. Tasks included in the process include the initial design of the system, and any subsequent changes thereto; monitoring of the bidding process by preparing system's requirement statements, review of RFQ's, providing cost estimates and pricing for equipment, wiring, installation, and other system costs, preparing the bid together with necessary compliance and exception statements. Once a bid is accepted, subsequent monitoring and inspection of the system set-up is also done. The result is a single point source for all of the steps involved in putting an alarm system in place. The method further includes use of a single database storing information developed at each stage of system design and installation to provide a logical reporting progression.

Abstract: A video security system (10) monitors a premises (F) to detect unwanted intrusions onto the premises. A site control unit (12) obtains and evaluates the images to determine if an intrusion has occurred, and provides an indication if an intrusion is detected. A central station (CS) includes a plurality of workstations (106), and a central alarm computer (104). The computer is responsive to an alarm indication to cause video images, and audio, to be transmitted to the central station for presentation at one of the workstations selected by the computer. Additionally, the computer supplies site specific data to the workstation for display with the video images. Control signals from the workstation back to the site are routed through the computer.

Abstract: A site control unit (12) located at a premises (F) processing video images obtained from a plurality of cameras (22) located about the premises and relaying the presence of a real intrusion to a central station (CS). The site control unit has an image acquisition module (24) receiving video images from the cameras. An image processor (30) processes the images to eliminate possible causes of false alarms of an intrusion and reliably detecting actual intrusions. The processor includes video masking (32) to filter known motion present within a scene, detection (34) detecting movement in unmasked portions of the scene, and recognition (36) classifying the cause of the movement. An indication of an intrusion is given only if the cause is one of a class of predetermined causes representing an intruder on the premises, or an unknown cause. A video recorder (38) records images of the actual intrusion and supplies recorded images to a security system operator (O) who informs authorities of in intrusion.

Abstract: A workstation (106) for a security system (10) includes a first video display (602a) displaying status information of video equipment (22) used at the premises to perform the surveillance. A second video display (602b) displays a plurality of thumbnail images of an intrusion scene. A third video display (602c) displays a snapshot image from which one of said the thumbnail images is derived. The snapshot is displayed upon the thumbnail image derived from the snapshot being selected by a workstation operator. A fourth video display (602d) displays data relating to the premises, identifying the location on the premises where the intrusion occurred, who should be contacted about the intrusion, etc.

Abstract: A video security system (10) monitors a premise (F) to detect unwanted intrusions onto the premises. A plurality of cameras (22) located about the premise supply video images of scenes to a processor (12) located which processes the images to detection motion in a scene and classify the source of the motion. Only if the source is determined be one of a predetermined class of causes, is an indication provided to an alarm unit (16). The alarm unit, which is also connected to a plurality of conventional sensors (S1-S3) is responsive to the indication to cause the processor to transmit authenticated video images of the scene in which the motion is detected to a central station (CS). There, a video server (102), in conjunction with an alarm computer (104), enables the images to be displayed at a selected workstation (106) for viewing by an operator (O). Besides video, audio and relevant site data is also made available to the operator at the workstation.

Abstract: An alarm system including a sensor for providing an output signal upon sensing a given condition, an alarm unit for providing an alarm signal on receipt of the output signal, and a timer, coupled between the sensor and the alarm unit, which is reset to a preset count each time it receives an indication that the sensor has detected the given condition where the timer is allowed to count down from a preset count while no sensor is providing output signals and an arming signal is generated by the timer when it completes the countdown.

Abstract: A security alarm system includes a transponder having a housing enclosing both a sensor and associated circuit means in a unitary package. The housing base includes barrel-shaped connectors, and a pc board carrying the communications components is carried by the housing cover. Flag-like connectors mate with the barrel-shaped connectors when the cover is attached to the base, and the connectors give both good mechanical indexing and retention, and effective electrical contact. Removal of the cover from the base breaks the electrical contact and thus breaks continuity back to the system controller, indicating someone has tampered with the system.