Security monitoring system

Abstract

A method for operating a security monitoring system of a premises is provided. The method comprises the steps of detecting presence of a person by means of an imaging means arranged to monitor an exterior portion of the premises, and determining a current point of time. If the determined time is within a predefined time span, the method comprises a step of controlling a lock of at least one door of the premises.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for operating a security monitoring system for monitoring a premises and such security monitoring system.BACKGROUND

[0002] Security installations that are or include security monitoring systems for monitoring premises, often referred to as alarm systems, typically provide a means for detecting the presence and / or actions of people at premises and reacting to detected events. Commonly, such systems include sensors to detect opening and closing of doors and / or windows to provide a secure perimeter to the premises, creating one or more protected interior spaces, movement detectors to monitor spaces (both within and outside buildings) for signs of movement, microphones to detect sounds such as breaking glass, and image sensors to capture still or moving images of monitored zones. Such systems may be self-contained, with alarm indicators such as sirens and flashing lights that may be activated in the event of an alarm condition being detected. Such installations typically include a control unit (which may also be termed a central unit), generally mains powered, that is coupled to the sensors, detectors, cameras, etc. ("nodes"), and which processes received detections and determines a response. The central unit may be linked to the various nodes by wires, but increasingly is instead linked wirelessly, rather than by wires, since this facilitates installation and may also provide some safeguards against sensors / detectors effectively being disabled by disconnecting them from the central unit. Similarly, for ease of installation and to improve security, the nodes of such systems typically include an autonomous power source, such as a battery power supply, rather than being mains powered.

[0003] As an alternative to self-contained systems, a security monitoring system may include an installation at a premises, domestic or commercial, that is linked to a remote central monitoring station (CMS) where, typically, operators manage the responses required by different alarm and notification types. In such centrally monitored systems, the central unit at the premises installation typically processes detection events received from the nodes in the installation, and notifies the central monitoring station of only some of these, depending upon the settings of the system and the nature of the detected events. In such a configuration, the central unit at the installation is effectively acting as a gateway between the nodes and the central monitoring station. Again, in such installations the central unit may be linked by wires, or wirelessly, to the various nodes of the installation, and these nodes will typically be battery rather than mains powered.

[0004] Such security monitoring systems contribute to the safety and wellbeing of occupants of the protected premises, as well as safeguarding articles within the protected perimeter - which may of course not simply be limited to a house or dwelling but may also extend to the grounds of the house, protected by a boundary fence and gate, for example.

[0005] Embodiments of the present invention seek to provide enhanced security monitoring systems, and corresponding apps, methods and other implementations that improve the scope of security monitoring systems to address aspects of the problem of entry systems as well as providing new functionality and methods.SUMMARY

[0006] The invention is defined by the appended independent claims. Additional features and advantages of the concepts disclosed herein are set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the described technologies. The features and advantages of the concepts may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the described technologies will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the disclosed concepts as set forth herein.

[0007] In one aspect, a method for operating a security monitoring system of a premises is provided. The method comprises the steps of detecting presence of a person by means of an imaging means arranged to monitor an exterior portion of the premises and determining a current point of time. If the determined time is within a predefined time span, the method comprises controlling a lock of at least one door of the premises. This may provide a sense of security to a user of the system in that if someone is approaching the premises they will be detected by the system, and the system is configured to control locks of the system. For example, the locks may be controlled to a locked state. If a user has forgotten to lock a door, and a person approaches the premises, this door will be locked by the system. If presence of an approaching person is detected in the vicinity of a first door, all door locks may be controlled to a locked state.

[0008] In some embodiments, the lock is an electronic lock and the step of controlling the lock comprises operating the lock to a locked state. Optionally, the lock is an exterior door lock. The premises may comprise one or more door(s), such as exterior door(s). Such exterior door(s) provide access from an exterior to an interior of the premises. The door(s) may be one or more front door(s), back door(s), side door(s), basement door(s), and / or any additional door(s). Said lock may be arranged on any or more of such door(s).

[0009] In some embodiments, the step of detecting a person further comprises detecting movement by means of a movement sensor. Optionally, the movement is detected by means of a PIR sensor and / or a radar sensor and / or pixel sensor.

[0010] In some embodiments, the step of detecting a person further comprises detecting a voice, optionally by means of an audio interface.

[0011] In some embodiments, the predefined time span is a time span during which visitors are not expected, optionally at nighttime, optionally between 00:00-04:00, optionally between 23:00-05:00, optionally between 22:00-06:00.

[0012] In some embodiments, the method further comprises a step of determining if the security monitoring system is in an armed or unarmed state.

[0013] In some embodiments, the method further comprises a step of determining and / or controlling an armed / unarmed state of the security monitoring system.

[0014] In some embodiments, the method further comprises a step of transmitting a notification to at least one user device associated with the security monitoring system. The notification optionally comprises one or more of: a lock state of the lock; images captured by the imaging means; audio from an audio interface; an option to control the lock state of the lock.

[0015] In some embodiments, the method further comprises a step of identifying the detected person, and if said person is identified as an authorized person, controlling the lock to an unlocked state.

[0016] In some embodiments, the step of identifying the detected person comprises one or more of: biometric recognition, optionally wherein the biometric recognition comprises face recognition, gait recognition, voice recognition, or any combination thereof; and / or determining if a user device associated with an authorized user has joined a local network of the premises; and / or determining a position of a user device associated with an authorized user.

[0017] In one aspect, a security monitoring system for monitoring a premises is provided. The system comprises a control unit, at least one imaging unit arranged in an exterior of the premises, and configured to capture images of at least a portion of the exterior of the premise. The control unit is configured to determine presence of a person in the captured images and to determine a current point of time. If the determined point of time is within a predefined time span, the control unit is configured to control a lock of at least one door of the premises.

[0018] In some embodiments, the system further comprises at least one additional sensor, optionally at least one movement detector, optionally a PIR sensor and / or a radar sensor, arranged in an exterior portion of the premises, configured to detect movement in said portion of the of the premises.

[0019] In some embodiments, the system further comprises an audio interface configured to capture audio in an exterior portion of the premises.

[0020] In some embodiments, the system further comprises a user device configured to, as a response to the control unit controlling a lock of at least one door of the premises, receive a notification comprising one or more of: a lock state of the lock; receive images captured by the imaging unit; receive audio from an audio interface; present a user with an option to control the lock state of the lock; present a user with an option to control an armed / unarmed state of the security monitoring system.

[0021] In some embodiments, the system further comprises a remote central monitoring station. The system is configured to, in response to the control unit controlling a lock of at least one door of the premises, transmit a notification to the central monitoring station comprising one or more of: a lock state of the lock; images captured by the imaging means; audio from an audio interface; the central monitoring station being configured to one or more of: controlling the lock state of the lock; controlling an armed / unarmed state of the security monitoring system, controlling an alarm of the security monitoring system; transmitting images from the imaging unit of the security monitoring system to a user device, communicating with a user device, communicating with a central unit of the security monitoring system, communicate with emergency service(s), transmitting images from the imaging unit of the security monitoring system to the emergency service(s), transmitting information / data to the emergency service(s), optionally comprising one or more of premises info, user info, data log(s), one or more of image(s), video, audio from the security monitoring system.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to best describe the manner in which the above-described embodiments are implemented, as well as define other advantages and features of the disclosure, a more particular description is provided below and is illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting in scope, the examples will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic drawing showing a front elevation of stylised building monitored by a security monitoring system according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic part plan view of a premises protected by the security monitoring system, together with other elements of the system; Figure 3 is a flowchart of a method for operating the security monitoring system.

[0023] Further, in the figures like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several figures.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Various embodiments of the disclosed methods and arrangements are discussed in detail below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components, configurations, and steps may be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

[0025] In the description and claims the word "comprise" and variations of the word, such as "comprising" and "comprises", does not exclude other elements or steps.

[0026] Hereinafter, certain embodiments will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the inventive concept. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice disclosed herein. The embodiments herein are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the inventive concept, and that the claims be construed as encompassing all equivalents of the present inventive concept which are apparent to those skilled in the art to which the inventive concept pertains. If nothing else is stated, different embodiments may be combined with each other.

[0027] Figure 1 shows a view of the front of a premises 100 protected by a security monitoring system. The premises 100, here in the form of a house, has an exterior door, here front door, 102. The door gives access to a protected interior space 200. The security monitoring system secures at least part of a perimeter to the premises 100, and the door 102 constitutes an exterior closure in the secure perimeter giving access to a protected interior space 200 of the premises. A lock 104 on the exterior door is optionally electrically controlled so that it can be locked and unlocked remotely.

[0028] The premises 100 is equipped with an exterior image detection unit, also referred to as imaging unit, such as a camera 112, such as a video camera. In some embodiments, the premises 100 is equipped with more than one exterior image detection unit(s).

[0029] In some embodiments, a presence and / or movement detector 114 is arranged in the exterior of the premises 100. The presence and / or movement detector 114 may be configured to detect presence / movement in an exterior portion 108 of the premises 100.

[0030] In some embodiments, the premises 100 is equipped with one or more interior image detection units 214. Any interior image detection unit 214 may be associated with an interior movement detector 216.

[0031] In some embodiments, the premises 100 is equipped with at least one exterior audio interface 230. Optionally , the audio interface(s) 230 comprises both an audio input device 231, and an audio output device 232. The audio interface 230 may be separate from or may be integral with the video camera 112. The audio interface may be configured to capture audio in an exterior portion 108 of the premises. The audio interface 230 may be configured to record audio in the environment where it is arranged. The audio interface 230 may enable (bi- / )directional audio communication with anyone observed by the camera.

[0032] One or more of the video camera 112, the movement detector 114, and the audio interface 230 may be arranged to monitor the same exterior portion 108 of the premises, or at least overlapping exterior portions of the premises 100.

[0033] Optionally, as shown, the facade of the house 100 carries an external keypad 110 by means of which a user can arm and / or disarm the security monitoring system, and unlock the lock 104. Optionally, the keypad is an internal keypad arranged in the interior of the house 100.

[0034] Figure 2 is a schematic part plan view of the premises 100 protected by the security monitoring system, and other elements of the system, corresponding generally to the premises of figure 1. The front door 102, with lock 104, leads into the protected interior space 200 of the premises. The premises comprises windows 202, each of which, and a rear door 204, being fitted with a sensor 206, respectively, to detect when they are opened. Each of the sensors 206 includes a radio transceiver to report events to a controller, or central unit, 208 of the security monitoring system. If one of the sensors 206 is triggered when the system is armed, a signal is sent to the central unit 208 which in turn may signal an alarm event to a remote central monitoring station 210. The central unit 208 is connected to the remote central monitoring station 210 via the Internet 212, either via a wired or a wireless connection. The central unit 208 may include a memory unit. The central unit 208 may include a control unit.

[0035] The system comprises one or more exterior image detection unit(s) 112 configured to capture images of the plot of the premises 100. The exterior image detection unit 112 is e.g. a camera, such as a motion picture camera, such as a video camera, or a still image camera. The exterior image detection unit 112 may be associated with a movement detector 114, which may be separate from or may be integral with the exterior image detection unit 112. The movement detector may be a PIR sensor, a radar sensor, a pixel movement sensor or any other suitable motion detection sensor. The exterior image detection unit 112 will hereinafter also be referred to as a video camera. The video camera 214 may have a field of view including the front door 104 / the front door opening of the premises 100. The video camera 214 may be directed towards the front door 104.

[0036] The video camera 112 may be arranged, both when the security monitoring system is armed and when it is unarmed, to capture images, such as video images, of an exterior portion 108 of the house 100, e.g. a garden, in front of the house.

[0037] In some embodiments, the electrically controlled lock 104 is wirelessly coupled to the central unit 208.

[0038] One or more of the interior doors 218 of the premises may be provided with a sensor 206 to detect the opening / closing of the door.

[0039] The above mentioned items are preferably coupled to the central unit 208 using transceivers operating in the industrial scientific and medical (ISM) bandwidths, for example a sub-gigahertz bandwidth such as 868 MHz, and the communications are encrypted preferably using shared secret keys.

[0040] Also shown in figure 2 is a user device 220, preferably loaded with an appropriate app, and a public land mobile network (PLMN) by means of which the central monitoring station 210, and the central unit 208, may communicate with the user device 220.

[0041] Operation of the security monitoring system may be controlled by one or more of: the controller 208, the remote central monitoring station 210, and the security monitoring app installed on the user device 220. For example, the remote monitoring station 210, if provided, may receive one or more signals from any one of: the exterior image detection unit 112, the keypad 110, the sensors 206, the audio interface 230. The remote monitoring station 210 may transmit commands for controlling any one or more of: the arm state of the alarm system (e.g. armed or unarmed); commanding a tripped alarm state to be signaled by the alarm system (e.g. by triggering one or more sirens to generate alarm noise); commanding a lock state of the door lock 104 (e.g. locked or unlocked), commanding operation of one or more cameras to transmit images to the remote monitoring unit / user device application / app. Communication with the remote monitoring station 210 may pass through the controller 208, as described above. In other embodiments, not including the remote monitoring station 210, or should communication with the remote monitoring station 210 be interrupted, operation of the alarm system may be controlled by the controller 208. In yet other embodiments, the controller 208 may be omitted, and the individual peripheral devices may communicate directly with the remote monitoring station 210.

[0042] The security monitoring system application / app is installed on a user device 220, here shown as a smartphone, although it could be almost any kind of electronic device, such as a laptop or desktop computer, a tablet such as an iPad, a smart watch, or even a television. The security monitoring system app may be used to display still or video images captured by the one or more cameras 112, receive audio from the audio interface 230, provide position data of the device on which the app is installed to the controller 208, transmit input data provided by a user to the controller 208, transmit locking and / or unlocking signals to the electronic lock 104, receive data from the controller 208 and present these as notifications.

[0043] The video camera 112 may be configured to be armed or unarmed. In the armed state, it is configured to capture video images. It may be configured to capture images only as a response to a detection by the movement detector 114 of a movement. Alternatively, it may be configured to capture images continuously. The video camera 112 may be configured to capture images only when the audio interface 230 captures an audio signal, or it may be configured to capture images continuously.

[0044] The video camera 112 may include an internal CPU, and / or be configured to communicate with the central unit 208. In the case of the video camera 112 comprising an internal CPU, it may be configured to communicate directly with the user device 220. In other cases, the video camera 112 may be configured to transmit data to the central unit 208, which may be configured to communicate with the user device 220.

[0045] With reference to Fig. 3, a method 300 of operating the security monitoring system is described.

[0046] If the video camera 112 is not continuously streaming video images, the method may include a step of detecting a movement by means of the movement detector 114, such as optionally by means of a PIR sensor and / or a radar sensor and / or pixel sensor.

[0047] If the video camera 112 is not continuously streaming video images, the method may also / alternatively, include a step of detecting a voice by means of the audio interface (230). As a response to a detected movement and / or sound, the video camera 112 is configured to start capturing images / record / transmit video.

[0048] The CPU is configured to determine 301, by means of image analysis of the images captured by the video camera, if a person is approaching the house. I.e. the CPU is configured to determine if a person is present in the monitored area 108. Suitable, and commonly known algorithms for image analysis are utilized for detecting a person. The algorithm(s) may be carried out on the CPU of the central unit 208, on an internal CPU of the camera 112, or in the central monitoring station 210.

[0049] If a person / human is detected in the monitored area 108, the CPU is configured to determine 302 a current point of time. If the determined time is within a predefined time span, the CPU is configured to control 303 the lock 104 of at least one door 102 of the premises 100. The controlling of the lock 104 may comprise operating the lock 104 to a locked stated. Optionally, it is the lock 104 of the front door 102 which is controlled. Optionally, at least one other lock, e.g. of a back 204 or other additional door is also controlled, such as to a locked state.

[0050] The time span in which the system is configured to lock the lock 104 as a response to the detection of an approaching person may be a time during which no visitors are normally expected. This may be a nighttime such as between 00:00 - 04:00, optionally between 23:00 - 05:00, optionally between 22:00 - 06:00. The predefined time span may be adjustable by a user of the system to conform with their habits / lifestyle / schedule etc.

[0051] The system may be configured to operate the lock 104 to the locked state regardless if occupants are at home and / or if the security monitoring system is in the armed or unarmed state. The CPU may also be configured to control the state of the system to armed, upon detection of a person.

[0052] The CPU may further be configured to transmit a notification to at least one user device 220 with information regarding e.g. one or more of: a lock state of the lock; images captured by the imaging means 112; audio from the audio interface 230; an option to control the lock state of the lock 104.

[0053] The method may further comprise a step of attempting to identify the detected person. The identification may be performed by means of one or more of the following: biometric recognition, optionally comprising face recognition, gait recognition, or voice recognition, or any combination thereof; and / or determining if a user device 220 associated with an authorized user has joined a local network of the premises 100; and / or determining a position of a user device 220 associated with an authorized user, such as the user device 220 being determined to be in the observed portion 108 of the premises.

[0054] The system may be configured to store identification information of authorized persons in the memory unit. Alternatively, this information is stored externally, e.g. in the cloud. The identification information may be biometrics data, gait data, voice samples, etc.

[0055] If the system determines that the approaching person is an authorized person, it may be configured to control the lock 104 to an unlocked state.

[0056] In case the approaching person is not identified as an authorized person, they may still unlock the lock by any conventional unlocking means, such as a key, tag, code, etc.

[0057] If the approaching person is determined to be an authorized person, the CPU may be configured to transmit a (second) notification to one or more users, optionally being different from the identified person / user, with information of the detection of an authorized person, and that the door 104 is again unlocked. Also, and / or alternatively, the system may be configured to transmit such notification to the central monitoring station.

[0058] Even though the above description describes an embodiment in which the image detection unit 112 is a video camera, in other embodiments, it may be a still image camera. Instead of capturing or streaming a sequence of moving pictures, the still image camera may be configured to capture still images. The remaining handling, analysis, calculations, determinations, triggerings, notifications etc. correspond to the above described, with possible adjustments made for the images being a sequence of still images instead of a moving picture sequence, which adjustments the person skilled in the art are familiar with.

[0059] The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the invention. For example, the principles herein may be applied to any alarm system or security monitoring system, even if it only includes some of the sensors described. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made to the present invention without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0060] Throughout this specification, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e. meaning having the potential to), rather than in the mandatory sense (i.e. meaning must).

[0061] Throughout this specification, the words "comprise", "include", and variations of the words, such as "comprising" and "comprises", "including", "includes", do not exclude other elements or steps.

[0062] As used throughout this specification, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the", include plural referents unless explicitly indicated otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "an" element includes a combination of two or more elements, notwithstanding use of other terms and phrases for one or more elements, such as "one or more" or "at least one".

[0063] The term "or" is, unless indicated otherwise, non-exclusive, i.e. encompassing both "and" and "or". For example, the feature "A or B" includes feature "A", feature "B" and feature "A and B".

[0064] Unless otherwise indicated, statements that one value or action is "based on", "in response to" and / or "in dependence on" another condition or value or action, encompass both instances in which the condition or value or action is the sole factor and instances where the condition or value or action is one factor among a plurality of factors.

[0065] Unless otherwise indicated, statements that "each" instance of some collection have some property should not be read to exclude cases where some otherwise identical or similar members of a larger collection do not have the property, i.e. each does not necessarily mean each and every.

Claims

1. A method for operating a security monitoring system of a premises (100), the method comprising the steps of: - detecting presence of a person by means of an imaging means (112) arranged to monitor an exterior portion (108) of the premises (100); - determining a current point of time; - if the determined time is within a predefined time span, controlling a lock (104) of at least one door (102) of the premises (100).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lock (104) is an electronic lock and the step of controlling the lock (104) comprises operating the lock (104) to a locked stated, optionally wherein the lock (104) is an exterior door lock.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of detecting a person further comprises detecting movement by means of a movement sensor (114), optionally by means of a PIR sensor and / or a radar sensor and / or pixel sensor.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of detecting a person further comprises detecting a voice, optionally by means of an audio interface (230).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the predefined time span is a time span during which visitors are not expected, optionally at night time, optionally between 00:00-04:00, optionally between 23:00-05:00, optionally between 22:00-06:00.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a step of determining if the security monitoring system is in an armed or unarmed state.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a step of determining and / or controlling an armed / unarmed state of the security monitoring system.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a step of transmitting a notification to at least one user device (220) associated with the security monitoring system, the notification optionally comprising one or more of: a lock state of the lock; images captured by the imaging means (112); audio from an audio interface (230); an option to control the lock state of the lock (104).

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a step of identifying the detected person, and if said person is identified as an authorized person, controlling the lock (104) to an unlocked state.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of identifying the detected person comprises one or more of: biometric recognition, optionally wherein the biometric recognition comprises face recognition, gait recognition, voice recognition, or any combination thereof; and / or determining if a user device (220) associated with an authorized user has joined a local network of the premises; and / or determining a position of a user device (220) associated with an authorized user.

11. A security monitoring system for monitoring a premises (100), the system comprising a control unit, at least one imaging unit (112) arranged in an exterior of the premises (100), and configured to capture images of at least a portion (108) of the exterior of the premises (100), the control unit being configured to determine presence of a person in the captured images and to determine a current point of time, wherein if the determined point of time is within a predefined time span, the control unit is configured to control a lock (104) of at least one door (102) of the premises (100).

12. The security monitoring system according to claim 11, wherein the system further comprises at least one additional sensor, optionally at least one movement detector (216), optionally a PIR sensor and / or a radar sensor, arranged in an exterior portion of the premises (100), configured to detect movement in said portion (108) of the of the premises (100).

13. The security monitoring system according to any one of claims 11-12, further comprising an audio interface (230) configured to capture audio in an exterior portion (108) of the premises (100).

14. The security monitoring system according to any one of claims 11-13, wherein the system further comprises a user device (220) configured to, as a response to the control unit controlling a lock (104) of at least one door (102) of the premises (100), receive a notification comprising one or more of: a lock state of the lock (104); receive images captured by the imaging unit (112); receive audio from an audio interface (230); present a user with an option to control the lock state of the lock (104); present a user with an option to control an armed / unarmed state of the security monitoring system.

15. The security monitoring system according to any one of claims 11-14, further comprising a remote central monitoring station (210), the system being configured to, in response to the control unit controlling a lock (104) of at least one door (102) of the premises (100), transmit a notification to the central monitoring station (210) comprising one or more of: a lock state of the lock (104); images captured by the imaging means (112); audio from an audio interface (230); the central monitoring station (210) being configured to one or more of: controlling the lock state of the lock (104); controlling an armed / unarmed state of the security monitoring system, controlling an alarm of the security monitoring system; transmitting images from the imaging unit of the security monitoring system to a user device, communicating with a user device, communicating with a central unit of the security monitoring system, communicate with emergency service(s), transmitting images from the imaging unit of the security monitoring system to the emergency service(s), transmitting information / data to the emergency service(s), optionally comprising one or more of premises info, user info, data log(s), one or more of image(s), video, audio from the security monitoring system.

Images