Method and apparatus for facilitating accessing home surveillance data by remote devices

Abstract

Method and apparatus for facilitating accessing home surveillance device data, preferably an IP camera video stream, by a remote user device at the remote user device's instigation, over the Internet through a home router, the facilitating including incorporating a smart gateway in local communication with the home router and in persistent or intermittent communication with a remote Internet server to facilitate communication of data over the Internet at the remote user device's request through direct communication between the remote user device and the smart gateway, the smart gateway in local communication with the home surveillance device such as an IP camera, the direct communication facilitated by a “hole punch” type of technique.

Description

[0001]This invention relates to and claims priority to the co-pending provisional application Ser. No. 61 / 972,602, filed Mar. 31, 2014, entitled Method and Apparatus for Facilitating Providing Home Surveillance Device Data to Remote Devices, having inventors Russell S. Vail, Michael R. Miller, Byron L. Hoffman, and Eric R. Lachney. The content of the referenced co-pending provisional application is herein and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention is directed to the home security space and more particularly, in a preferred aspect, to the installation of a remote server on the Internet and a smart gateway in communication with a home router on a home premises, in order to provide a cost effective method and system for conveying preferably live home security data, such as IP camera data, to remote user devices upon a remote user device's request. (Home as used herein means residence or small business. The home router is also referred...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a solution for remotely installing and enabling secure communication between home security devices and a user's device over the Internet, without the need for advanced technical knowledge of the user's network. A smart gateway is added to the local network and connected to the security devices, while a remote Internet server is connected to the gateway through the user's network. The smart gateway automatically assigns an IP address to the security devices and connects them securely with the user's device. This solution provides a cost-effective, reliable, and secure communication link between the security devices and the user's device.

Problems solved by technology

As stated above, performing pre-configurations or port forwarding is specific to each home router and can represent a high cost in time and training for installers, requiring them to learn how to properly translate addresses for a variety of home routers.

Such preconfiguring or port forwarding can also result in security risks for customers.

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