US6097429A — Site control unit for video security system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 77 words

In a security system for monitoring a premises to detect intrusions onto the premises, a site control unit (SCU) comprising: means acquiring an image of a scene on the premises; and, a processor processing said image to detect motion within the scene, to classify the source of the motion as human or non-human, and to provide an indication of said motion as a possible intrusion of the premises only if the source is classified as being human.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 77 words

In a security system for monitoring a premises to detect intrusions onto the premises, a site control unit (SCU) comprising: means acquiring an image of a scene on the premises; and, a processor processing said image to detect motion within the scene, to classify the source of the motion as human or non-human, and to provide an indication of said motion as a possible intrusion of the premises only if the source is classified as being human.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 19 words

The SCU of claim 1 further including a video recorder recording said image if said processor provides said indication.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

The SCU of claim 1 further including an imaging means for obtaining said image.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 44 words

The SCU of claim 3 wherein said image is a video image and said imaging means comprises a plurality of cameras each of which obtains a video image of a different portion of the premise, said processor processing the video images from each camera.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 13 words

The SCU of claim 4 wherein said imaging means comprises an infrared camera.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 13 words

The SCU of claim 4 wherein said imaging means comprises an ultraviolet camera.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 13 words

The SCU of claim 3 wherein said imaging means comprises an acoustic sensor.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 12 words

The SCU of claim 3 wherein said imaging means comprises a radar.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 12 words

The SCU of claim 4 wherein said cameras are analog television cameras.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 12 words

The SCU of claim 4 wherein said cameras are digital television cameras.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

The SCU of claim 4 wherein said cameras are black and white television cameras.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 12 words

The SCU of claim 4 wherein said cameras are color television cameras.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 32 words

The SCU of claim 4 further including a controller separately controlling each camera, said controller individually turning each camera "on" and "off", and controlling pan, tilt, and zoom functions of each camera.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 23 words

The SCU of claim 13 wherein said controller further controls said processor to selectively activate and deactivate said processor for each individual camera.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 28 words

The SCU of claim 13 wherein said controller further controls a frame rate at which each camera obtains a video image of the scene observed by that camera.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 34 words

The SCU of claim 2 wherein said video recorder produces snapshots of any scene viewed by a camera, said snapshots being produced for every predetermined number of frames of video obtained by a camera.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 13 words

The SCU of claim 16 further including a buffer for storing said snapshots.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 22 words

The SCU of claim 16 further including transmission means transmitting video including said snapshots to a central station of said alarm system.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 25 words

The SCU of claim 18 wherein said snapshots represent uncompressed video images of a scene and said transmission means provides lossless transmission of said snapshots.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 23 words

The SCU of claim 18 wherein said video recorder includes means authenticating a snapshot prior to the snapshots transmission to the central station.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 39 words

The SCU of claim 18 further including at least one audio receiver located about said premise for acquiring audio, said video processor processing audio received by said receiver, and said transmission means transmitting said audio together with said video.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 35 words

The SCU of claim 21 further including at least one audio speaker located about said premise for broadcasting audio to the premise, said transmission means transmitting audio to said premise for broadcast through said speaker.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 16 words

The SCU of claim 2 wherein said video recorder produces compressed video images from said cameras.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 19 words

The SCU of claim 23 wherein said transmission means further transmits said compressed video images to said central station.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 18 words

The SCU of claim 23 wherein said video recorder further includes a buffer for storing said compressed images.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 20 words

The SCU of claim 25 wherein said transmission means further transmits said buffered, compressed video images to said central station.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 37 words

The SCU of claim 13 wherein said controller is accessible from said central station for an operator thereat to remotely control said cameras and said processor through said controller to perform a walk about of the premise.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 69 words

The SCU of claim 1 wherein said processor includes video masking means filtering known motion present within a scene observed by said imaging means, detection means detecting motion in unmasked portions of the scene, and recognition means classifying the cause of said motion as human or non-human whereby giving an indication only when the cause of motion is classified as human prevents false alarms and unwanted alarms being given.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 119 words

A site control unit (SCU) for a premises monitored by a video security system comprising: means acquiring video images of scenes of the premises; a processor performing intelligent image processing on said video images to provide an indication of a possible intrusion of the premises, said processor eliminating possible causes of false and unwanted alarms and providing said indication only when motion within a scene is detected by said processor and classified as being human motion, or motion from an unknown cause; and, a recorder recording said image if said processor provides said indication, said recorder producing a snapshot of the scene in which the motion is detected, and the site control unit authenticating the snapshot for evidentiary purposes.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 119 words

A site control unit (SCU) for a premises monitored by a video security system comprising: means acquiring video images of scenes of the premises; a processor performing intelligent image processing on said video images to provide an indication of a possible intrusion of the premises, said processor eliminating possible causes of false and unwanted alarms and providing said indication only when motion within a scene is detected by said processor and classified as being human motion, or motion from an unknown cause; and, a recorder recording said image if said processor provides said indication, said recorder producing a snapshot of the scene in which the motion is detected, and the site control unit authenticating the snapshot for evidentiary purposes.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 69 words

The SCU of claim 29 wherein said processor includes video masking means filtering known motion present within a scene observed by said imaging means, detection means detecting movement in unmasked portions of the scene, and recognition means classifying the cause of said movement, an alarm being given only if said cause is classified as a human representing an intruder on the premises, or unknown and therefore requiring further investigation.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 20 words

The SCU of claim 23 further including a plurality of cameras operating in the visible portion of the light spectrum.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 12 words

The SCU of claim 31 wherein said cameras are color television cameras.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 14 words

The SCU of claim 31 wherein said cameras are black and white television cameras.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 32 words

The SCU of claim 31 further including a controller separately controlling each camera, said controller individually turning each camera "on" and "off", and controlling pan, tilt, and zoom functions of each camera.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 23 words

The SCU of claim 34 wherein said controller further controls said processor to selectively activate and deactivate said processor for each individual camera.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 28 words

The SCU of claim 34 wherein said controller further controls a frame rate at which each camera obtains a video image of the scene observed by that camera.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 33 words

The SCU of claim 29 wherein said recorder produces snapshots of any scene viewed by a camera, said snapshots being produced for every predetermined number of frames of video obtained by a camera.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 16 words

The SCU of claim 37 wherein said recorder further produces compressed video images from said cameras.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 19 words

The SCU of claim 38 wherein said recorder further includes buffers storing said snapshots and said compressed video images.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 16 words

The SCU of claim 39 further including means transmitting said snapshots and said compressed video images.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 13 words

The SCU of claim 40 wherein said recorder includes means authenticating transmitted snapshots.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 52 words

The SCU of claim 29 further including audio speakers and receivers located at said premises, said recorder recording audio signals in addition to said video images for transmission of said audio signals with said video images, and said site control unit receiving and broadcasting audio transmitted to said premise over said speakers.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 173 words

A site control unit (SCU) located at a premises being monitored by a video security system comprising: means acquiring video images of scenes about the premises; an image processor processing said video images to eliminate possible causes of false and unwanted alarms of an intrusion of the premises and reliably detecting actual intrusions, said processor including video masking means filtering known motion present within a scene observed by said imaging means, detection means detecting movement in unmasked portions of the scene, and recognition means classifying the cause of said movement as being either human or non-human, an indication being given only if said cause is classified as as being a human intruder on the premises, or an unknown cause; and, a video recorder recording images of actual intrusions and supplying said recorded images to a security system operator for said operator to inform authorities of an intrusion, said video recorder producing snapshots of a scene in which an intrusion is detected, authenticating said snapshots, and transmitting said snapshots for viewing by said operator.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 173 words

A site control unit (SCU) located at a premises being monitored by a video security system comprising: means acquiring video images of scenes about the premises; an image processor processing said video images to eliminate possible causes of false and unwanted alarms of an intrusion of the premises and reliably detecting actual intrusions, said processor including video masking means filtering known motion present within a scene observed by said imaging means, detection means detecting movement in unmasked portions of the scene, and recognition means classifying the cause of said movement as being either human or non-human, an indication being given only if said cause is classified as as being a human intruder on the premises, or an unknown cause; and, a video recorder recording images of actual intrusions and supplying said recorded images to a security system operator for said operator to inform authorities of an intrusion, said video recorder producing snapshots of a scene in which an intrusion is detected, authenticating said snapshots, and transmitting said snapshots for viewing by said operator.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 23 words

The SCU of claim 43 wherein said snapshots are produced for every predetermined number of frames of video acquired by said imaging means.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 26 words

The SCU of claim 44 wherein said video recorder further produces compressed video images from said cameras, said compressed video also being transmitted to said operator.

Claim 49

Independent Claim 129 words

A method of monitoring a premises to detect an intrusion of the premises comprising: observing the premises with an imaging means and obtaining images of scenes about the premises observed by said imaging means; processing said images to eliminate possible causes of false and unwanted alarms of an intrusion of the premises including distinguishing between human and non-human motion, detecting an actual intrusion resulting from human motion, and providing an indication when an intrusion is detected; and, recording an image of said intrusion and supplying said recorded image to a security system operator for said operator to inform authorities of said intrusion, recording said image includes producing snapshots of the scene in which said intrusion is detected, authenticating said snapshot, and transmitting said snapshot for viewing by said operator.

Claim 50

Independent Claim 129 words

A method of monitoring a premises to detect an intrusion of the premises comprising: observing the premises with an imaging means and obtaining images of scenes about the premises observed by said imaging means; processing said images to eliminate possible causes of false and unwanted alarms of an intrusion of the premises including distinguishing between human and non-human motion, detecting an actual intrusion resulting from human motion, and providing an indication when an intrusion is detected; and, recording an image of said intrusion and supplying said recorded image to a security system operator for said operator to inform authorities of said intrusion, recording said image includes producing snapshots of the scene in which said intrusion is detected, authenticating said snapshot, and transmitting said snapshot for viewing by said operator.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 61 words

The method of claim 46 wherein said processing includes filtering known motion present within a scene observed by said imaging means, detecting movement in unmasked portions of the scene, and classifying the cause of said movement with an indication being given only if said cause is classified as one of a class of predetermined causes representing an intruder on the premise.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 46 wherein said processing is performed by an image processor and the method further includes remotely programming said image processor.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 46 wherein said recording is performed by a video recorder and said method further includes remotely programming said video recorder.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-08-01	2004-01-31	2004-08-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-08-01	2008-01-31	2008-08-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-08-01	2012-01-31	2012-08-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Site control unit for video security system

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