Security monitoring system with camera

Abstract

A method for operating a security monitoring system is provided, comprising the steps of capturing (302) images by means of an interior image detection unit arranged within a premises to be monitored by the security monitoring system; recognizing a change in the captured images; and determining (303) if the recognized change is caused by a person. If said change is determined to be caused by a person, the method comprises attempting to identify (304) said person by means of a first identification method. If said person is identified as an authorized person, the method comprises unarming (305) the security monitoring system.

Description

[0001] SECU RITY MON ITORI NG SYSTE M WITH I N DOOR CAM E RA

[0002] TECH N ICAL FI ELD

[0003] The present invention relates to a method for operating a security monitoring system for monitoring a premises and such security monitoring system.

[0004] BACKG ROU N D

[0005] 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.

[0006] 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.

[0007] 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.

[0008] 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.

[0009] SU M MARY

[0010] 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 evident 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.

[0011] In a first aspect, a security monitoring system of a premises to be monitored and a method for operating the security monitoring system is provided. The method may comprise scanning for presence in a first predefined area of the premises. In some embodiments, the scanning for presence may comprise scanning for e.g. movement, sound or heat, or any combination thereof. The scanning may be performed by means of a motion sensor such as a PIR sensor, a radar sensor etc, an audio sensor, a thermal camera or any other suitable presence detector.

[0012] In case presence is detected in the first predefined area, the system may be configured to determine if the detected presence is caused by a person. If so, the system may be configured to activate, or arm, an imaging unit arranged within the premises. The imaging unit may be configured to capture images of a second predefined area of the premises. In some embodiments, the second predefined area may correspond to the first predefined area. In some embodiments, the first and second predefined areas may partly overlap each other. In some embodiments, the first predefined area and the second predefined area may be completely spatially separate from each other. The first predefined area may be an outdoor area. The second predefined area may be an indoor area. The second predefined area may be an area adjacent to or comprising an entryway (e.g. a door) into a building of the premises. In particular, the imaging unit may be arranged to have a field of view covering such an entryway.

[0013] The imaging unit then captures one or more images of the second predefined area. The system may be configured to attempt identifying the person captured in these images. If the person is identified as one of an authorized person, unauthorized person or unknown person, the system is configured to perform one or more actions. The actions may comprise e.g. one or more of: triggering an alarm, transmitting push notifications to one or more users associated with the security monitoring system, notifying a remote central monitoring station associated with the security monitoring system, display still or video images captured by the one or more image detection unit(s), receiving audio from an audio interface, communicate position data of a user device to a control unit, transmit input data provided by a user to a control unit, transmit locking and / or unlocking signals to an electronic lock, receive data from a control unit, present data as notifications etc.

[0014] In a second aspect, a method for operating a security monitoring system is provided. The method comprises the steps of: capturing images by means of an interior image detection unit arranged within a premises to be monitored by the security monitoring system, recognizing change in the captured images, and determining if the recognized change is caused by a person. If said change is determined to be caused by a person, the method comprises attempting to identify said person by means of a first identification method. If said person is identified as an authorized person, the method comprises unarming the security monitoring system.

[0015] The method of the second aspect provides a beneficial way of operating the security monitoring system, in that the system is configured to recognize authorized user and deactivate / unarm the system automatically. Thus, an authorized user may not be required to perform any deactivation action in order to deactivate the system. This is convenient for the users, especially users not familiar with alarm systems, or not comfortable of handling an alarm system, such as elderly persons, or children.

[0016] The method of the second aspect may be performed when the system is in an (fully) armed state (also known as an “armed away” state, e.g. when no one is expected to be present inside the building.

[0017] In any variant of the second aspect, the step of recognizing change comprises recognizing a movement.

[0018] In any variant of the second aspect, the first identification method comprises one or more ef face recognition, gait recognition.

[0019] In any variant of the second aspect, if the step of attempting to identify said person fails, the method comprises a step of attempting to identify said person by a second identification method. In any variant of the second aspect, the second identification method comprises on or more of: determining if a smart device associated with an authorized person has joined a local Wi-Fi network of the premises, position determination of a smart device associated with an authorized person, a deactivation action such as insertion of a deactivation code on a keypad, a biometric recognition such as a retina or iris scan, or a fingerprint scan, a voice recognition.

[0020] In any variant of the second aspect, the method further comprises determining, by means of the interior image detection unit, if the deactivation action is performed by the person causing the recognized movement.

[0021] In any variant of the second aspect, the method further comprises, if said person is identified as an unauthorized person, or if the identification fails, a step of triggering an alarm. The step of triggering 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. In embodiments where the imaging unit is configured to monitor an entryway of the building, the method provides a way of monitoring a perimeter of the building, and to trigger an alarm if the perimeter is breached by an unauthorized person.

[0022] In any variant of the second aspect, if the first identification method and the second identification method provide contradictory results, the method comprises one or more of the following actions: triggering an alarm, transmitting push notifications to one or more users associated with the security monitoring system, notifying a remote central monitoring station associated with the security monitoring system.

[0023] In a third aspect, a security monitoring system for monitoring a premises is provided. The system comprises a central unit comprising a control unit, at least one interior image detection unit arranged within the premises, and configured to capture images of at least a portion of the interior of the premises, such as a portion including an entryway (e.g. a door) into the building. The control unit is configured to recognize change in the captured images and to determine if the recognized change is caused by a person. If said change is determined to be caused by a person, the control unit is configured to attempt to identify said person by means of a first identification method. If said person is identified as an authorized person, the control unit is configured to unarm the security monitoring system.

[0024] In any variant of the third aspect, said change is a movement.

[0025] In any variant of the third aspect, the system further comprises at least one movement detector arranged within the premises, configured to detect movement in a portion of the interior of the premises.

[0026] In any variant of the third aspect, the interior image detection unit is configured to capture images as a response to movement detected by the movement detector. In any variant of the third aspect, the system further comprises one or more additional sensors. Optionally, the one or more additional sensors are door sensors and / or window sensors.

[0027] In any variant of the third aspect, the interior image detection unit is a moving picture camera or a still image camera.

[0028] In any variant of the third aspect, the system further comprises at least one audio interface. The audio interface may be arranged inside or outside the premises, i.e. it may be an internal and / or external audio interface.

[0029] In any variant of the third aspect, the system further comprises a user device configured to one or more of: display still or video images captured by the one or more image detection unit(s), receiving audio from an 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 an electronic lock, receive data from the control unit, present data as notifications.

[0030] In any variant of the third aspect, 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 a door lock, control operation of the interior image detection unit, control operation of any further image detection unit(s) of the security monitoring system, transmit images from any image detection unit of the security monitoring system to the user device, 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.

[0031] BRI EF DESCRI PTION OF TH E DRAWI NGS

[0032] 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:

[0033] 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 a security monitoring system according to an aspect of the invention, together with other elements of the system; and

[0034] Figure 3 is a flowchart of a method for operating a security monitoring system according to an aspect of the invention.

[0035] Further, in the figures like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several figures.

[0036] DETAI LE D DESCRI PTION

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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.

[0040] Figure 1 shows a view of the front of a premises 100 protected by a security monitoring system according to an aspect of the invention. 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 fagade of the house 100 also carries an external keypad 110 by means of which a user can disarm the security monitoring system, and unlock the lock 104.

[0041] 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, along with front door 102 and a rear door 204 is 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 in a suitable armed mode, 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 may be connected to the remote central monitoring station 210, optionally via the Internet 212, either via a wired or a wireless connection. The central unit 208 may include a memory unit to store program instructions to control operation of a processor of the central unit, to store arm state data, and optionally to store signal and content data received from one or more nodes of the system (such as video and / or still images, audio files, event data, etc.).

[0042] The security monitoring system also includes an interior image detection unit 214. The interior image detection unit 214 is arranged within a / the building of the premises 100. The interior image detection unit 214 is e.g. a camera, such as a motion picture camera, such as a video camera, or a still image camera. The interior image detection unit 214 may be associated with a movement detector 216, which may be separate from or may be integral with the interior image detection unit 214. The movement detector may be a PI R sensor, a radar sensor, a pixel movement sensor or any other suitable motion detection sensor, or some combination thereof.

[0043] In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more exterior image detection unit(s) 112 configured to capture images of the plot or surroundings 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 sensing arrangement, a pixel movement sensor or any other suitable motion detection sensor or some combination thereof.

[0044] The exterior image detection unit 112 may be arranged to capture video / images of the front of the house and a private area, e.g. a garden, in front of the house when the security monitoring system is armed, and signal an alarm event to the controller 208 of the security monitoring system. Optionally, additional exterior cameras are arranged in other locations of the exterior of the premises 100.

[0045] The system may further comprise one or more audio interface(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 or each interior image detection unit 214. The or each audio interface 122 may comprise an audio input device, such as a microphone, configured to capture sound / audio in the environment where it is arranged, e.g. inside the premises, or outside the premises 100, the audio signals may be recorded (typically in digital form) and / or subject to further processing.

[0046] In some embodiments, an electrically controlled lock 104 is wirelessly coupled to the central unit 208.

[0047] Further, each of the interior doors 218 of the premises may be provided with a sensor 206 to detect the opening / closing of the door and to report to the central unit any detected activity and / or otherwise to report a status of the associated door.

[0048] The above mentioned items are preferably coupled to the central unit 208 using transceivers (or transmitters and receivers) 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.

[0049] Also shown in figure 2 is a user device 220, preferably loaded with an appropriate security monitoring system app, and configured to communicate via one or more public land mobile networks (PLMN) by means of which the central monitoring station 210, and the central unit 208, may communicate with the user device 220.

[0050] Operation of the security monitoring system may be controlled by one or more of: the controller 208, the remote central monitoring station 210, and a 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 of interior image detection unit 214, 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 signalled 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 (exterior / interior) 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, for example by using one or more loT communications protocols such as LTE Cat-M1 , or NB-loT, or a LoRa network.

[0051] 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, a car, or even a television. The security monitoring system app may be used to perform one or more of the following: display still and / or video images captured by the one or more interior / exterior cameras 112, 214, receive audio from the audio interface 230, provide position data of the device on which the app is installed to the security system monitoring controller 208, transmit input data provided by a user to the security system monitoring controller 208, transmit locking and / or unlocking signals to the electronic lock 104, receive data from the security system monitoring controller 208 and present these as notifications.

[0052] As shown in Fig. 2, the security monitoring system comprises an image detection unit 214 arranged in (or at least with a view of) the interior space adjacent the front door 102. In the described embodiment, the image detection unit 214 comprises a motion picture image detection unit, and will hereinafter also be referred to as video camera 214. The video camera 214 may have a field of view including the front door 102 or the front door opening. The video camera 214 may be directed towards the front door 102 in order to be able to capture images of anyone who enters through the front door.

[0053] The behaviour of the video camera 214 may depend upon the arm state of the security monitoring system, and the system may be so configured that the video camera 214 only capture images when the system is in the armed state. Alternatively, the system may be so configured that the behaviour of the cameras is independent of the arm state of the system (indeed, the cameras may not be provided with any indication or other information about the arm state of the system). Images may be captured only in response to an associated movement detector (e.g. 216) detecting movement. The system may be configured such that detection of movement is reported to the central unit, the central unit then sending a command to the associated video camera to capture images / video only if the system is in an appropriate arm state (an approach which can lead to a significant reduction in the amount of energy consumed by the camera - which is particularly beneficial if the camera is battery-powered). The video camera 214 may be configured to capture or acquire images continuously. The video camera 214 may alternatively or additionally be configured to capture images in response to the audio interface capturing an audio signal.

[0054] The interior image detection unit 214 may include an internal processor (such as an MCU or a CPU), and / or be configured to communicate with the central unit 208. In the case of the interior image detection unit 214 comprising an internal processor, it may be configured to communicate directly with the user device 220. In other cases, the interior image detection unit 214 may be configured to transmit data to the central unit 208, which may be configured to communicate with the user device 220.

[0055] With reference to Fig. 3, a method 300 of operating the security monitoring system is described. If the video camera 214 is not continuously streaming video images, in some embodiments, the method includes a step of detecting 301 a movement by means of the movement detector 216. As a response, if a movement is detected, the video camera 214 is configured to start capturing images 302 (optionally as a result of the central unit instructing the camera to start to capture images consequent on the central unit having received a notification from the motion detector 216). The interior video camera 214 could also be triggered by other means, such as an interior or exterior audio interface, detection of outdoor presence by an exterior presence / move- ment detector, capturing of a person by the exterior image detection unit etc.

[0056] Once a video image is captured 302 by the video camera 214, the system, and in particular a processor of the system (such as an internal processor of the video camera, a processor of another device of the security monitoring system, or a processor of the controller), is configured to determine 303 whether the movement detected by the movement detector 216 is caused by a person / human. Suitable, and commonly known algorithms are utilized for determining whether the movement is caused by a person.

[0057] If it is determined that the movement was not caused by a person / human, but the movement detector was triggered by something else, such as an animal, any other moving object, something outside the door, such as a vehicle or the like, captured through the door opening, the camera 214 may be configured to stop capturing images (e.g., as a result of instructions received from the controller).

[0058] If the movement detected by the movement detector 216 is determined to be caused by a person / human, the system is configured to attempt to identify 304 the person causing the movement. The system may be configured to utilize face or gait recognition algorithms in order to determine 304 if the person belongs to one of the following categories: a known person, which may be an authorized person or a known unauthorized person; an unknown person or an unrecognizable person.

[0059] A known person may be a person the system has been trained to recognize. A known authorized person may be a person the system has been trained to recognize or a person not previously recognized by the system, but whose biometric data have been entered into the system and labelled as authorized.

[0060] A known unauthorized person may be a person who is specifically not allowed to enter the premises. The data of such known unauthorized person may have been entered into the system and labelled as unauthorized. The detection of a known unauthorized person may trigger additional actions, apart from triggering the alarm.

[0061] An unknown or unrecognizable person is a person who cannot be identified as either authorized or unauthorized by the security monitoring system.

[0062] The system may be configured to store identification information of known persons, authorized persons and / or unauthorized person in the memory unit. Alternatively, this information may be stored externally, e.g. in the cloud. The identification information may be one or more of biometrics data, gait data, voice samples, etc.

[0063] Based on the determination of the category in which the person falls, the system is configured to take one of following actions.

[0064] If the person is determined to be an authorized person, the system may be configured to disarm 305 the security monitoring system. The system may also be configured to perform one or more additional actions such as unlocking the front and / or back door, or any other exit / entrance of the premises, transmitting push notifications to one or more users (i.e. to a user device of such user(s)) associated with the security monitoring system.

[0065] If the person is a known, unauthorized person, the system may be configured to trigger 306 the alarm of the security monitoring system. It may also be configured to perform one or more additional actions, such as notifying the remote central monitoring station (CMS), locking the front and / or back door, transmitting push notifications to one or more users associated with the security monitoring system, transmitting a security alarm e.g. to a security company or a police department - optionally transmitting one or more still images or video captures (“clips”) in which the known unauthorised person is visible.

[0066] If the person is determined to be an unknown or unrecognizable person, i.e. the identification fails, the system may be configured to trigger 306 the alarm of the security monitoring system.

[0067] Alternatively, if the identification fails, the system may be configured to allow the person to authenticate themselves in a different manner, within a certain amount of time. The system may thus be configured to scan 307 for one or more alternative authentications or second identification methods.

[0068] An alternative authentication manner may be automatic authentication such as the system being configured to determine whether a smart device associated with an authorized person has joined a local Wi-Fi network of the premises. This indicates that it is the authorized person detected by the camera 214.

[0069] Alternatively, the second identification method may be determining a geolocation of a smart device (for example using UWB and / or Bluetooth 6.0 or later location sensing) associated with an authorized person. If the smart device is determined to be within a predetermined area, it is indicative of the person detected by the camera 214 being the authorized person. The predetermined area may be the plot of the premises (e.g. the garden, drive, etc. that constitute the grounds of the premises), the inside of the premises, a certain portion of the premises, such as the hallway or other space within which the camera 214 is arranged.

[0070] Alternatively, the second identification method may be a voice / speaker recognition. The audio interface may be configured to capture audio samples which may be recorded and compared (e.g. by the controller) with audio samples of authorized and unauthorized persons. Alternatively, the system may be configured to scan for a predetermined disarming phrase uttered by the person.

[0071] Alternatively, the second identification method may involve an action performed by the person entering the premises. The authentication action may be the person authenticating themselves by a deactivation action. The deactivation action may be insertion of a deactivation code on the keypad 110, presentation of a token such as held on an RFID tag or a smartphone / smartwatch, or the like, a biometric recognition such as a retina or iris scan, a fingerprint scan or scanning of any other suitable recognizable biometric properties.

[0072] If the person is determined to be an authorized person by the second identification method, the system may be configured to be disarmed 305.

[0073] If the person is determined to be an unauthorized person, or if the identification fails, by means of the second identification method, the system may be configured to trigger the alarm 306.

[0074] One or more of the alternative authentication methods may be performed simultaneously, and one or more of them may be required to be successful / consistent with each other in order for the alarm system to be unarmed.

[0075] One or more additional actions may be associated with and triggered by the determination of each category of persons.

[0076] The system may be configured to control, for example via the camera 214 and the controller (or another suitable processor of the security monitoring system), that the deactivation action is performed by the correct person. For example, the system may be configured to control that the person performing the deactivation action acts independently, i.e. the controller (or other processor) is configured to determine whether the person seems to be under influence of another person or not. It could be by recognition of a secondary person forcing the authenticating person to perform the authentication action / deactivation action, or a known, unauthorized person performing the authentication action while an authorized person’s personal device is recognized in the local wireless (e.g. Wi-Fi) network or as being presented to a user interface device such as a disarm node.

[0077] If the system determines that the deactivation action is not performed by an authorized person, or performed by an authorized person under influence of an unauthorized person, the system may be configured to trigger the alarm 306 and optionally to flag an alarm event to the remote central monitoring station.

[0078] In case the system comes to contradictory conclusions based on the input from the camera 214 and the additional authentication method, respectively, the system may be configured to perform one or several of the following actions: trigger the alarm, transmitting push notifications to one or more users associated with the security monitoring system and / or notifying the remote central monitoring station (CMS). Even though the above description describes embodiments in which the interior image detection unit 214 is a video camera, in other embodiments, it may be a still picture camera. Instead of capturing or streaming a sequence of moving pictures, the still picture 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 for the images being still image instead of a moving picture sequence made, which adjustments the person skilled in the art are familiar with.

[0079] The interior image detection unit 214 has been described to be directed towards (or at least having a view of the space onto which the front door opens) the front door 104, but it may in other embodiments be directed to a back door, a secondary door or any other entrance into the premises and / or at least having a view of the space onto which the respective door opens.

[0080] In one embodiment, the system is configured to alert the person determined to cause a movement that they are not recognized by the system, prompting them to authenticate themselves in a different manner. The alert may be one or more of a sound or light signal, a spoken message or any other suitable alert.

[0081] 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 type of security monitoring system. 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.

Claims

CLAI MS1 . A method for operating a security monitoring system, the method comprising, in an armed mode of the security monitoring system, the steps of: capturing (302) images by means of an interior image detection unit (214) arranged within a premises (100) to be monitored by the security monitoring system, the image detection unit having a field of view covering an entryway into the premises, recognizing change in the captured images, determining (303) if the recognized change is caused by a person, if said change is determined to be caused by a person, attempting to identify (304) said person by means of a first identification method, if said person is identified as an authorized person, disarming (305) the security monitoring system.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of recognizing change comprises recognizing a movement.

3. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first identification method comprises one or more ef face recognition and gait recognition.

4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein if the step of attempting to identify (304) said person fails, the method comprises a step of attempting to identify (307) said person by a second identification method that is different from the first identification method.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the second identification method comprises on or more of: determining if a smart device associated with an authorized person has joined a local Wi-Fi or other local wireless network of the premises (100), position determination of a smart device (220) associated with an authorized person, a deactivation action such as insertion of a deactivation code on a keypad (110) or presentation of a token, a biometric recognition such as a retina or iris scan, or a fingerprint scan, a voice recognition.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the method further comprises determining, by means of the interior image detection unit (214), if the deactivation action is performed by the person causing the recognized movement.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising, if said person is identified as an unauthorized person, or if the identification fails, a step of triggering (306) an alarm.

8. The method according to any one of the claims 4-7, wherein if a result of first identification method and a result of second identification method are contradictory, the method comprises one or more of the following actions: triggering (306) an alarm, transmitting push notifications to one or more user devices associated with the security monitoring system, and notifying a remote central monitoring station (210) associated with the security monitoring system.

9. A security monitoring system for monitoring a premises (100), the system comprising a central unit (208) comprising a controller, at least one interior image detection unit (214) arranged within the premises (100), and configured to capture images of at least a portion of the interior of the premises (100), the controller being configured to recognize change in the captured images and to determine (303) if the recognized change is caused by a person, wherein if said change is determined to be caused by a person, the controller is configured to attempt to identify (304) said person by means of a first identification method, and wherein if said person is identified as an authorized person, the controller is configured to disarm (305) the security monitoring system.

10. The security monitoring system according to claim 9, wherein said change is a movement.

11. The security monitoring system according to claims 9 or 10, wherein the system further comprises at least one movement detector (216) arranged within the premises (100), configured to detect movement in a portion of the interior of the premises (100).

12. The security monitoring system according to claim 11 , wherein the interior image detection unit (214) is configured to capture images as a response to movement detected by the movement detector (216).

13. The security monitoring system according to any one of claims 9-12, wherein the system further comprises one or more additional sensors (206), optionally door sensors and / or window sensors.

14. The security monitoring system according to any one of claims 9-13, wherein the interior image detection unit (214) is a video camera or a still image camera.1615. The security monitoring system according to any one of claims 9-14, wherein the system further comprises an audio interface.

16. The security monitoring system according to any one of claims 9-15, wherein the system further comprises a user device (220) configured to perform one or more of: display still or video images captured by the one or more image detection unit(s) (214), receive audio from an audio interface (230), communicate position data of the user device (220) to the control unit (208), transmit input data provided by a user to the control unit (208), transmit locking and / or unlocking signals to an electronic lock (104), receive data from the control unit (208), present data as notifications.

17. The security monitoring system according to any one of claims 9-16, wherein the system further comprises a remote central monitoring station (210), configured to perform 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 a door lock (104), control operation of the interior image detection unit (214), control operation of any further image detection unit(s) of the security monitoring system, transmit images from any image detection unit of the security monitoring system to the user device, communicate with the user device (220), communicate with the central unit (208), 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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