SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING A LOCATION
A system for monitoring a location may include a local agent device at the location, and at least one sub-system at the location. The sub-system(s) is in communication with the local agent device. The local agent device is configured to detect and automatically respond to a first event occurring at or within the sub-system(s) according to a first procedure. The local agent device is configured to contact a monitoring center that is remotely located from the location when the local agent device detects a second event occurring at or within the sub-system(s) according to a second procedure.
1 . A system for monitoring a location, the system comprising:
a local agent device at the location; and
at least one sub-system at the location, wherein the at least one sub-system is in communication with the local agent device, wherein the local agent device is configured to detect and automatically respond to a first event occurring at or within the at least one sub-system according to a first procedure, and wherein the local agent device is configured to contact a monitoring center that is remotely located from the location when the local agent device detects a second event occurring at or within the at least one sub-system according to a second procedure.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the local agent device comprises a server, wherein the server comprises a housing configured to be positioned on or underneath a desk at the location.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sub-system comprises one or more of a business sub-system, a home sub-system, a video monitoring sub-system, a card access sub-system, or a security sub-system.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first event comprises an alarm event that is pre-defined and stored within the local agent device.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second event comprises an emergency event that is pre-defined and stored within the local agent device.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first procedure comprises the local agent device sending an email to an individual associated with the location.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second procedure comprises the local agent device sending an alert to the monitoring center, wherein the alert prompts personnel at the monitoring center to take further action.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the local agent device and the monitoring center generates an incident report of the first or second event, and wherein one or both of the local agent device or the monitoring center sends the incident report to an individual associated with the location.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the local agent comprises a control block having a processor in communication with a memory and a database, wherein the first and second procedures are stored in the memory, and wherein the processor is configured to store incident reports in the database.
10 . A system for monitoring a location, the system comprising:
a plurality of sub-systems at a first location;
a local agent device at the first location, wherein the local agent device is in communication with each of the plurality of sub-systems, wherein the local agent device is configured to detect and automatically respond to one or more first events occurring at or within the plurality of sub-systems according to first procedures; and
a monitoring center at a second location that is separate, distinct, and remote from the first location, wherein the local agent device is configured to contact the monitoring center when the local agent device detects one or more second events occurring at or within the plurality of sub-systems and act according to second procedures associated with the one or more second events.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the local agent device comprises a server, wherein the server comprises a housing configured to be positioned on or underneath a desk at the first location.
12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of sub-systems comprise one or more of a business sub-system, a home sub-system, a video monitoring sub-system, a card access sub-system, or a security sub-system.
13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the first events comprise alarm events that are pre-defined and stored within the local agent device.
14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the second events comprise emergency events that are pre-defined and stored within the local agent device.
15 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the first procedures comprise the local agent device sending an email to an individual associated with the first location.
16 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the second procedures comprise the local agent device sending an alert to the monitoring center, wherein the alert prompts personnel at the monitoring center to take further action.
17 . The system of claim 10 , wherein one or both of the local agent device and the monitoring center generate incident reports of the first or second events, and wherein one or both of the local agent device or the monitoring center send the incident reports to an individual associated with the first location.
18 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the local agent comprises a control block having a processor in communication with a memory and a database, wherein the first and second procedures are stored in the memory, and wherein the processor is configured to store incident reports in the database.
19 . A method of monitoring a location, the method comprising:
communicatively connecting a plurality of sub-systems at a first location to a local agent device at the first location;
monitoring the plurality of sub-systems with the local agent device;
detecting a first event at or within one of the plurality of sub-systems with the local agent device at the first location;
automatically responding, with the local agent device at the first location, to the first event at or within one of the plurality of subsystems according to a first procedure;
detecting a second event at or within one of the plurality of sub-systems with the local agent device at the first location;
sending, from the local agent device, an alert regarding the second event to a monitoring center at a second location that is separate, distinct and remote from the first location of the second events;
responding, by the monitoring center at the second location, to the second event according to a second procedure.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of sub-systems comprise one or more of a business sub-system, a home sub-system, a video monitoring sub-system, a card access sub-system, or a security sub-system.
21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the first event comprises an alarm event that is pre-defined and stored within the local agent device, and wherein the second event comprises an emergency event that is pre-defined and stored within the local agent device.
22 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the first procedure comprises the local agent device sending an email to an individual associated with the first location, and wherein the second procedure comprises the local agent device sending an alert to the monitoring center, wherein the alert prompts personnel at the monitoring center to take further action.
23 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
generating an incident report of the second event, and
sending the incident report to an individual associated with the first location.