Security monitoring system and method for operating the same

Abstract

A method for operating a security monitoring system configured to monitor a premises is provided. The method comprising the steps of detecting a person in an exterior area of the premises and determining presence inside the premises. If presence is detected inside the premises, the method comprises a step of providing an alert.

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 configured to monitor a premises is provided. The method comprises the steps of detecting a person in an exterior area of the premises, and determining presence inside the premises. If presence is detected inside the premises, the method comprises providing an alert. In this way, an alert is issued when presence occurs inside the monitored premises.

[0008] In some embodiments, if presence is detected inside the premises, such as in an interior portion of the premises, the method comprises providing an alert.

[0009] In some embodiments, if presence is detected in an exterior portion of the premises, the method comprises providing an alert.

[0010] In some embodiments, the step of detecting a person in the exterior portion of the premises is performed by means of an imaging means arranged to monitor the exterior portion of the premises.

[0011] In some embodiments, the method further comprises scanning for characteristics of said detected person. Optionally, said characteristics are one or more of visual characteristics, sound characteristics, voice characteristics.

[0012] In some embodiments, the method further comprises image analysis, optionally Al based, to determine characteristics of said detected person.

[0013] In some embodiments, the step of scanning for characteristics comprises one or more of: determining if a smart device associated with a system user has joined a local Wi-Fi network of the premises, position determination of a smart device associated with a system user, face recognition, gait recognition, voice recognition; delivery personnel recognition, such as recognition of the detected person carrying a package and / or recognition of the detected person wearing a delivery company clothing and / or recognition of a delivery company vehicle.

[0014] In some embodiments, the step of providing an alert comprises one or more of: transmitting a notification to at least one user device associated with the security monitoring system, optionally wherein the notification comprises information regarding the detected person; transmitting a speaker announcement, optionally wherein the speaker announcement comprises information regarding the detected person; emitting a sound signal, emitting a light signal.

[0015] In some embodiments, the method further comprises a step of attempting to identify at least one person causing the detected presence inside the premises.

[0016] In some embodiments, the transmitting of a notification to at least one user device comprises transmitting the notification to the user device(s) associated with the person(s) identified to be present inside the premises.

[0017] In some embodiments, the step of attempting to identify the person(s) determined to be present inside the premises comprises one or more of: determining if a smart device associated with a system user is connected to a local Wi-Fi network of the premises, position determination of a smart device associated with a system user, face recognition, gait recognition, voice recognition.

[0018] In one aspect, a security monitoring system for monitoring a premises is provided. The system comprises a control unit, at least one first detection unit configured to detect a person in an exterior portion of the premises, and at least one second detection unit configured to detect presence inside the premises. If presence is detected in the premises, the control unit is configured to provide an alert.

[0019] In some embodiments, if presence is detected inside the premises, the control unit is configured to give an alert.

[0020] In some embodiments, if presence is detected in an exterior portion of the premises, the control unit is configured to give an alert.

[0021] In some embodiments, the first detection unit is an external detection unit. Optionally, the first detection unit is an imaging unit, configured to capture images in said exterior portion of the premises.

[0022] In some embodiments, the system further comprises at least one additional detection unit. Optionally, the at least one additional detection unit is at least one movement detector, such as optionally a PIR sensor and / or a radar sensor. The at least one additional detection unit may be configured to detect movement in said exterior portion of the premises.

[0023] In some embodiments, the system further comprises at least one audio interface configured to capture audio in said exterior portion of the premises.

[0024] In some embodiments, the imaging unit is configured to capture images as a response to movement detected by the at least one movement detector.

[0025] In some embodiments, the second detection unit is an interior detection unit, optionally being an imaging unit, configured to capture images of an interior portion of the premises, and / or being an interior motion detector, configured to detect motion in the interior portion of the premises.

[0026] In some embodiments, the system further comprises at least one user device configured to one or more of: display still and / or video images captured by the first imaging unit, receiving audio from the at least one audio interface, communicate position data of the user device to the control unit, transmit input data provided by a user to the control unit, transmit locking and / or unlocking signals to one or more electronic door lock(s) and / or gate lock(s), receive data from the control unit, present data as notifications.

[0027] In some embodiments, the system further comprises a remote central monitoring station, configured to one or more of: control an armed / unarmed state of the security monitoring system, control an alarm of the security monitoring system; control a lock state of at least one door lock, control a lock state of at least one gate lock, control operation of the first imaging unit, control operation of any further imaging unit(s) of the security monitoring system, transmit images from any image detection unit of the security monitoring system to a user device associated with the security monitoring system, communicate with the user device, communicate with the central unit, 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

[0028] 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, and Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of a premises with a security monitoring system according to some embodiments.

[0029] Further, in the figures like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several figures.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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, have 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. Optionally, as shown, the façade of the house 100 also carries an external keypad 110 by means of which a user can disarm the security monitoring system, and / or unlock the lock 104.

[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 a first detection unit, configured to monitor an exterior portion 108 of the plot of the premises 100. The first detection unit may be an image detection unit / imaging unit 112 being configured to capture images of the first portion 108 of the plot of the premises 100.

[0036] The system further comprises a second detection unit 214 arranged inside the premises, such as being configured to monitor the inside of the premises, such as inside the house. The second detection unit may be a second image detection unit / imaging unit 214 configured to capture images of an interior portion premises 100, such as inside the house. Optionally, the system comprises several interior detection units, such as imaging units, configure to monitor parts of, major parts of or all parts of the interior of the premises.

[0037] The first and / or second image detection unit 112, 214 is e.g. a camera, such as a motion picture camera, such as a video camera, or a still image camera. The first and / or the second image detection units 112, 214 may be associated with a respective movement detector 114, 216, which may be separate from or may be integral with the respective image detection unit(s) 112, 214. The movement detector may be a PIR sensor, a radar sensor, a pixel movement sensor or any other suitable motion detection sensor. The image detection unit(s) 112, 214 will hereinafter also be referred to as a video camera(s). Optionally, additional exterior and / or interior cameras are arranged in other locations of the exterior / interior of the premises 100.

[0038] The first video camera 112 may have a field of view including the front door 102 / the front door opening of the premises 100. The video camera 112 may be directed towards the front door 104.

[0039] The first 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 the front of the house, an entry way, the front door 102, and / or any other portion of the plot of the premises 100 associated with the front door 102.

[0040] The second video camera 214 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 216 of a movement. In some embodiments, the electrically controlled lock 104 is wirelessly coupled to the central unit 208.

[0041] 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.

[0042] The system may further comprise one or more audio interfaces(s) 230, preferably comprising 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 first and / or second image detection unit 112, 214. The audio interface 230 may be configured to collect and / or record sound / audio in the environment where it is arranged, e.g. in the exterior portion 108 of the plot of the premises 100 and / or in the interior portion of the premises 100.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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 first and / or second image detection unit, the keypad 110, the sensors 206, the movement sensor(s), the audio interfaces(s) 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.

[0046] The triggering of an alarm may comprise one or more of: sound signals, light signals, smoke release, sending an alarm notification to a remote monitoring centre, sending alarm notification to one or more user devices associated with the security monitoring system, sending alarm notification to emergency service(s) etc.

[0047] 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 and / or video images captured by the one or more cameras 112, 214, 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.

[0048] The video camera(s) 112, 214 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 associated movement detector 114, 216 of a movement. Alternatively, it may be configured to capture images continuously. The video camera(s) may be configured to capture images only when one or more of the at least one audio interface 230 captures an audio signal, or it may be configured to capture images continuously.

[0049] The video cameras may include an internal CPU, and / or be configured to communicate with the central unit 208. In the case of the video camera(s) comprising an internal CPU, it may be configured to communicate directly with the user device 220. In other cases, the video cameras may be configured to transmit data to the central unit 208, which may be configured to communicate with the user device 220.

[0050] The system may be configured to analyze and / or compare audio samples recorded / collected by any of the audio interfaces 230 and compare these with audio samples of occupants, authorized and / or unauthorized persons. Optionally, the system may be configured to scan for a predetermined phrase uttered by a person residing in or entering the monitored exterior portion 108.

[0051] With reference to Fig. 3, a method 300 of operating the security monitoring system is described.

[0052] If the first 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.

[0053] If the first video camera 112 is not continuously streaming video images, the method may also / alternatively, include a step of detecting a voice in the exterior monitored area 108 by means of the audio interface 230 associated with the video camera 112. As a response to a detected movement and / or sound, the first video camera 112 is configured to start capturing images / record / transmit video.

[0054] The CPU is configured to determine 301, by means of image analysis of the images captured by the first video camera 112, if a person resides in the exterior monitored area 108. I.e. the CPU is configured to determine if a person is present in the exterior monitored area 108. This may be indicative of a person approaching the front door 102. 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 223, or in the central monitoring station 210.

[0055] If a person is approaching the front door, it could be valuable for a resident / occupant / user of the system to receive information of an upcoming event at the front door 102, such that they may prepare for and start moving towards the door already before the door bell sounds. This may be especially valuable for elderly, disabled, injured persons, or anyone with reduced mobility. A pre-notification to the resident could potentially avoid a situation where the visitor assumes no one is at home, and leaves before the resident can open the door.

[0056] However, it could potentially be relevant only to pre-notify the resident if they actually are at home. This could spare the resident of receiving notifications which are of no use. For example, it would perhaps not be relevant for the resident to know that a neighbour is approaching the front door, if the resident is not at home, and can open.

[0057] Thus, if a person / human is detected 301 in the external monitored area 108, the CPU may be configured to determine if someone is present inside the building, which indicates that a resident is at home.

[0058] If presence is detected 303 inside the house (in some embodiments, also in a garden, a backyard, an annex building or similar), the CPU is configured to give an alert. In this way, person in the premises, such as the resident, is pre-notified of an upcoming event at the front door (in other embodiments: other entrance / area monitored by the first video camera 112). The person inside the house can prepare for and start moving towards the front door, such that they can open the door for the person outside the house.

[0059] When the system detects a person / human in the external monitored area 108, the CPU may be configured to scan 302 for characteristics of the detected person. The characteristics may be one or more of visual characteristics, sound characteristics, voice characteristics. The characteristics may be detected by means of one or more of the video camera 112, the audio interface 230, the motion sensor 114. The CPU may be configured to apply image analysis, optionally Al based, on the images captured by the video camera 112 in order to determine characteristics of said person.

[0060] The scanning of person characteristics may further be comprises one or more of: determining if a smart device 220 associated with a system user has joined a local Wi-Fi network of the premises 100, position determination of a smart device 220 associated with a system user, face recognition, gait recognition, voice recognition, delivery personnel recognition, such as recognition of the person carrying a package and / or recognition of the person wearing a delivery company clothing and / or recognition of a delivery company vehicle.

[0061] Optionally, the security monitoring system is configured to attempt 304 to identify the person inside the house. The identification of persons inside the building may comprise one or more of: determining if a smart device 220 associated with a system user is connected to a local Wi-Fi network of the premises 100, position determination of a smart device 220 associated with a system user, face recognition, gait recognition, voice recognition.

[0062] The step of alerting 305 comprises may comprise one or more of: transmitting a notification to at least one user device 220 associated with the security monitoring system, transmit a speaker announcement, such as via a loudspeaker associated with the security monitoring system, emitting a sound signal, emitting a light signal. The notification may optionally comprise information regarding the approaching person. This may be e.g. a name, an image, a delivery company name, one or more images (still or moving) from the first video camera 112. The notification may also / alternatively comprise a prompt or suggestion to the user to move towards the front door, or any other area / entrance where the first video camera is arranged, an option to call and / or message the identified approaching person.

[0063] The transmission of a speaker announcement may be a voice message and may be played by the audio interface 230 arranged inside the building such that it may be heard by the person residing therein. The voice message may comprise the name of an identified, known person, such as "XXX is approaching the front door". The voice message may comprise information that a person identified as being unauthorized is approaching, such as "XXX is approaching the front door". The voice message may comprise information that an unknown person is approaching, such as "An unknown person is approaching the front door". The voice message may comprise information that a delivery person is approaching, such as "A delivery person from company XXX is approaching the front door".

[0064] In one embodiment, a person residing in the building receives a notification that a family member is approaching the front door, i.e. the occupant is pre-notified of an upcoming event at the front door. They can then choose to approach the front door to greet the approaching person, but may also stay where they are, controlling the front door lock to the unlocked state, and send a message (optionally provided as an option in the notification, and optionally predefined) to the approaching person, e.g. telling them "Come in, the front door is open, I am in the living room", or similar.

[0065] In one embodiment, a person residing in the building receives a notification that an unknown person is approaching the front door, i.e. the occupant is pre-notified of an upcoming event at the front door. This gives them an advance warning to start moving towards the front door. However, they may have configured the system to lock the front door 104 in case it is unlocked when an approaching, unknown person is detected. Thus, the resident need not be in a rush if they have forgotten to lock the front door, knowing that the system locks the door upon identification of an unknown person.

[0066] If one or more persons have been identified inside the house, the notification may be transmitted only to the user device(s) 220 associated with these person(s). Optionally, the notification is transmitted to all user devices associated with the system. Optionally, the notification is transmitted to all user devices within a certain predetermined area, or with a certain predetermined distance. Optionally, the notification is transmitted to certain predetermined user devices. Optionally, the notification is transmitted to all user devices 220 connected to a local Wi-Fi network of the premises 100.

[0067] In case presence is not detected in the house, the CPU may be configured to determine an arm status of the system. If the system is unarmed, and no one seems to be present inside the house, it may be indicative of the resident having left the building without arming the alarm system. In this case, the CPU may be configured to arm the system, upon recognition of an approaching person. The system may also / alternatively be configured to lock any unlocked doors and / or gates, notifying the remote central monitoring station 210 associated with the security monitoring system, increase a sensitivity level of system nodes associated with the security monitoring system.

[0068] The system may be configured to store identification information of known persons, in the memory unit, and / or externally, e.g. in the cloud. The identification information may be biometrics data, gait data, voice samples, etc. In this way, the system can include information of an identified approaching person in the notification.

[0069] The above described method may be configured to be carried out only if the security monitoring system is in the unarmed state, or regardless of if the system is armed / unarmed.

[0070] The security monitoring system may, in addition to the above described, be configured to allow the approaching person to identify themselves in conventional manners, unlock any doors and / or gates in conventional manners, arming / unarming the security monitoring system in conventional manners etc.

[0071] Even though the above description describes an embodiment in which the first and second imaging units are video cameras, in other embodiments, one or both of them may be still image cameras. Instead of capturing or streaming a sequence of moving pictures, the still image camera(s) may be configured to capture still images. The remaining handling, analysis, calculations, determinations, triggerings, notifications etc. correspond to the above described, with possible adjustments for the images being still image instead of a moving picture sequence made, which adjustments the person skilled in the art are familiar with.

[0072] In one embodiment, the system is configured to alert the approaching person, optionally if the person is identified as an occupant and / or another authorized person, that they are recognized by the system. The alert may be one or more of a push notification, a sound or light signal, a spoken message or any other suitable alert.

[0073] All notifications may also and / or alternatively be sent to the central monitoring station.

[0074] Referring to Fig. 4, the security monitoring system may further comprise, or be connected to, a radio-based sensing arrangement 130 for detecting presence or movement within the premises 100.

[0075] The radio-based sensing arrangement 130 is configured to detect human presence throughout the premises 100. In particular, the radio-based sensing arrangement 130 is configured to sense presence by detecting perturbations of radio signals received by the radio-based sensing arrangement 130.

[0076] A radio (or wireless) signal as used herein refers to a signal transmitted from a radio transmitter and received by a radio receiver, wherein the radio transmitter and radio receiver operate according to a standard or protocol. Such standards include, but are not limited to, IEEE 802.11. (which includes the Wi-Fi standards), IEEE 802.15 (which includes Zigbee), Bluetooth SIG, IEEE 802.16, IEEE 802.20, UMTS, GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 180, GSM 19011, GPM ITU-R 5.13, GPM IT U-R 5.150, ITU-R 5.280, 3GPP 4G (including LTE), 3GPP 5G, 3GPP NR, AND IMT-2000. However, the radio transmitters and receivers may also operate in non-telecommunications or Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) spectral regions without departing from the scope of embodiments.

[0077] The radio-based sensing arrangement 130 comprises one or more nodes 131 distributed throughout the premises 100. At least one of the nodes 131 is capable of receiving radio signals, and may therefore be referred to as a receiver node 131a. Although only one receiver node 131a is shown in Fig. 4, it will be appreciated that the sensing arrangement 130 may comprise any number of receiver nodes 131a. The receiver node 131a may, in addition to receiving the radio signals, be configured to process the received radio signals to detect any perturbations, e.g. relative to a reference signal. Alternatively, the processing may be performed by a separate processing unit which may be located within the premises and / or remotely.

[0078] The remaining nodes 131 may each comprise a radio transmitter such that they can transmit radio signals, for instance to the receiver node 131a. Accordingly, the transmitting nodes 131 may illuminate the receiver node with their signals since the transmissions enable collection of information about the channel (or in other words, illuminates the channel). Such nodes may accordingly be referred to as illuminator nodes 131b. It will be noted that there are typically a plurality of illuminator nodes 131b for each receiver node 131a, and that a single receiver node 131a may be sufficient to perform radio-based sensing of the premises 100.

[0079] To ensure that the radio-based sensing arrangement 130 effectively covers the whole area of interest (for example, one or more floors or regions of the premises 100), the radio-based sensing arrangement 130 comprises a sufficient number of suitably located and distributed illuminator nodes 131b so that the radio signals received by the receiver node 131a have effectively traversed the whole area of interest.

[0080] The radio-based sensing arrangement 130 is configured to detect perturbations in radio signals (e.g. Wi-Fi signals) received by the receiver node 131b. Because the transmitted radio signals will be affected by the environment (e.g. a space or volume of the premises) through which they are transmitted, the presence of a person (or other object) in the relevant space of the premises will cause perturbations in the transmitted radio signals which may be identified to detect the presence of anyone in the relevant space of the premises. The changed pattern of signals received by the receiver node 201a enables the presence of the person to be detected by a presence monitoring algorithm that is supplied with information derived from the received signals. In particular, the radio-based sensing arrangement 130 can be trained to recognise specific perturbations corresponding to human presence. For example, the radio-based sensing arrangement 130 may be trained by establishing a base or reference setting in which the monitored area is unoccupied, and then training occupied states by a person entering, standing, and then walking through each of the zones one by one. This process may be repeated with two people, and then optionally with more people. In essence this is a supervised machine learning approach, but other approaches to training may be used. The system may need to be retrained setting if bulky furniture or other large objects (particularly if made of metal) are added to or moved within the monitored space, because these can be expected to change the propagation properties of the relevant zone / space.

[0081] The radio-based sensing arrangement 130 according to embodiments may be based on Wi-Fi signals. The radio-based sensing arrangement 130 may then be referred to as a Wi-Fi sensing arrangement. A sensing arrangement 130 based on Wi-Fi signals is particularly convenient because it can utilise Wi-Fi networks that are commonly already used and available in premises such as households or residential buildings. Furthermore, Wi-Fi capable devices, which are also commonly available in premises 100, can function as nodes 131 (and in particular as illuminator nodes 131b) in the Wi-Fi sensing arrangement. Examples of such Wi-Fi capable devices include smart plugs or smart sockets, smart bulbs, Wi-Fi access points, Wi-Fi routers, Wi-Fi range extenders (for example of the type that simply plug in to a socket of the mains electricity supply), smart speakers, smart doorbells, smart televisions, Wi-Fi enabled video cameras, or the like. The Wi-Fi sensing arrangement may be based on any type of Wi-Fi network and / or topology, operating in different frequency bands (such as 2.4, 5, 6, and 60 GHz) and different bandwidths.

[0082] An example of such a radio-based sensing arrangement 130 is described in WO2023 / 126426A1 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0083] 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.

[0084] 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).

[0085] 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.

[0086] 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".

[0087] 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".

[0088] 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.

[0089] 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 configured to monitor a premises (100), the method comprising the steps of: - detecting (301) a person in an exterior area (108) of the premises (100); - determining (303) presence inside the premises (100); - if presence is detected inside the premises (100), providing (305) an alert.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of detecting (301) a person in the exterior portion (108) of the premises (100) is performed by means of an imaging means (112) arranged to monitor the exterior portion (108) of the premises (100).

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising scanning (302) for characteristics of said detected person, optionally wherein said characteristics are one or more of visual characteristics, sound characteristics, voice characteristics.

4. The method according to claim 2 and 3, further comprising image analysis, optionally Al based, to determine characteristics of said detected person.

5. The method according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the step of scanning (302) for characteristics comprises one or more of: determining if a smart device (220) associated with a system user has joined a local Wi-Fi network of the premises (100), position determination of a smart device (220) associated with a system user, face recognition, gait recognition, voice recognition; delivery personnel recognition, such as recognition of the detected person carrying a package and / or recognition of the detected person wearing a delivery company clothing and / or recognition of a delivery company vehicle.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of providing an alert (305) comprises one or more of: transmitting a notification to at least one user device (220) associated with the security monitoring system, optionally wherein the notification comprises information regarding the detected person; transmitting a speaker announcement, optionally wherein the speaker announcement comprises information regarding the detected person; emitting a sound signal, emitting a light signal.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a step of attempting to identify (304) at least one person causing the detected presence inside the premises (100).

8. The method according to claims 6 and 7, wherein said transmitting a notification to at least one user device (220) comprises transmitting the notification to the user device(s) (220) associated with the person(s) identified to be present inside the premises (100).

9. The method according to claims 7 or 8, wherein the step of attempting to identify (304) the person(s) determined to be present inside the premises (100) comprises one or more of: determining if a smart device (220) associated with a system user is connected to a local Wi-Fi network of the premises (100), position determination of a smart device (220) associated with a system user, face recognition, gait recognition, voice recognition.

10. A security monitoring system for monitoring a premises (100), the system comprising - a control unit; - at least one first detection unit (112, 114) configured to detect (301) a person in an exterior portion (108) of the premises (100); and - at least one second detection unit (214, 216) configured to detect (303) presence inside the premises (100); wherein, if presence is detected in the premises (100), the control unit is configured to provide an alert (305).

11. The security monitoring system according to claim 10, wherein the first detection unit (112) is an external detection unit, optionally wherein the first detection unit (112) is an imaging unit, configured to capture images in said exterior portion (108) of the premises (100).

12. The security monitoring system according to any one of claims 10-11, wherein the system further comprises at least one additional detection unit, optionally at least one movement detector (114), optionally a PIR sensor and / or a radar sensor, configured to detect movement in said exterior portion (108) of the premises (100).

13. The security monitoring system according to any one of claims 10-12, further comprising at least one audio interface (230) configured to capture audio in said exterior portion (108) of the premises (100).

14. The security monitoring system according to any one of claims 12-13, wherein the imaging unit (112) is configured to capture images as a response to movement detected by the at least one movement detector (114).

15. The security monitoring system according to any one of claims 10-14, wherein the second detection unit (214, 216) is an interior detection unit, optionally being an imaging unit (214), configured to capture images of an interior portion of the premises (100), and / or being an interior motion detector (216), configured to detect motion in the interior portion of the premises (100).

16. The security monitoring system according to any one of claims 10-15, further comprising at least one user device (220) configured to one or more of: display still and / or video images captured by the first imaging unit (112), receiving audio from the at least one audio interface (230), communicate position data of the user device (220) to the control unit, transmit input data provided by a user to the control unit, transmit locking and / or unlocking signals to one or more electronic door lock(s) (104) and / or gate lock(s), receive data from the control unit, present data as notifications.

17. The security monitoring system according to any one of claims 10-16, wherein the system further comprises a remote central monitoring station (210), configured to one or more of: control an armed / unarmed state of the security monitoring system, control an alarm of the security monitoring system; control a lock state of at least one door lock (104), control a lock state of at least one gate lock, control operation of the first imaging unit (112), control operation of any further imaging unit(s) of the security monitoring system, transmit images from any image detection unit of the security monitoring system to a user device (220) associated with the security monitoring system, communicate with the user device (220), communicate with the central unit, 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.

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