System and Method of Providing Monitoring Service on Demand
A regional security system can be operated in an unmonitored state, a locally monitored state or a remotely monitored state. Monitoring by a displaced monitoring service can be provided on demand, in the absence of a pre-established account, for intermittent time intervals as needed. The request for activation of the displaced monitoring service can be entered via wireless communications devices such as smart phones, computers, tablets, smart cards or the like, along with scheduling information and duration of the requested monitoring. Such monitoring can also be terminated from any one of such devices.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
a credit establishing element;
a regional security system wherein the credit providing element can be manually activated to establish at least one time duration wherein the status of the system switches from a first state to a second, different, monitored, state where the system is monitored from a displaced location for the at least one time duration, and, subsequent thereto, automatically returns to the first state.
2 . An apparatus as in claim 1 where the credit establishing element includes a sensor responsive to a duration establishing event.
3 . An apparatus as in claim 2 where the sensor is coupled by one of a wireless, or wired, medium to establish the time duration.
4 . An apparatus as in claim 3 where the sensor includes at least one of a reader or an input screen.
5 . An apparatus as in claim 1 where the credit establishing element includes a near field communication reader.
6 . An apparatus as in claim 3 which includes establishing at least one of a real-time, or pre-paid account which can be drawn from to establish the at least one duration.
7 . An apparatus as in claim 1 which includes an evaluator which evaluates charges by members of a plurality of monitoring services and assigns requested monitoring to a member of that plurality in accordance with at least one parameter.
8 . An apparatus as in claim 7 where the parameter is selected from a class which includes at least location and cost to implement the requested monitoring.
9 . An apparatus as in claim 1 where a request for monitoring, can be entered or on-going monitoring, can be terminated from a location displaced from the security system
10 . A security apparatus comprising:
a security system with at least an armed state and a disarmed state where the system operates in a first state without communicating with a monitoring service;
a credit establishing entity which via a wired or a wireless medium can transmit a demand for monitoring the system for a selected time duration; and
a supervisory element responsive to the demand and credit established by the entity, which elects one of, carrying out the monitoring process, or, determining that one of a plurality of monitoring stations should be assigned to monitor operation of the system for the time duration, subject to the established credit.
11 . An apparatus as in claim 10 where the entity corresponds to one of a wired or, wireless communications device, a smart card, a computer or a tablet-type device.
12 . An apparatus as in claim 10 where the system includes at least one of a touch screen, or a near field communications reader.
13 . An apparatus as in claim 10 where the element makes a determination as to assigning one of the monitoring stations in accordance with at least one parameter selected from a class which includes cost, or location.
14 . A method of providing third party monitoring of a security system on demand comprising:
establishing at least one date and duration during which third party monitoring of a security system, from a site displaced from the system, is required;
establishing an appropriate financial credit to address costs of the required monitoring;
evaluating which one of a plurality of monitoring stations should be selected to monitor the system, and, arranging to have the system monitored thereby in accordance with the at least one date and duration; and
terminating the monitoring in accordance with the established date and duration.
15 . A method as in claim 14 where evaluating includes evaluating at least one of costs associated with members of the plurality, or locations of the members of the plurality.