Security monitoring with programmable mapping
An integrated security arrangement is implemented in a variety of embodiments. In one such embodiment an integrated security arrangement includes a plurality of intrusion sensors that sense an intrusion in a target area, a motion sensor, and an image-capture device that is responsive to the motion sensor. When the image-capture device is enabled it captures images of the target area in response to movement in the target area as indicated by the motion sensor. The integrated security arrangement also includes a mapping database that contains data used to associate one or more of the plurality of intrusion sensors with the image-capture device. A user configures the mapping database to select at least one of the intrusion sensors for enabling the image-capture device. The integrated security arrangement further includes a control unit that enables the image-capture device in response to the selected intrusion sensor as configured in the mapping database.
1. An integrated security arrangement, comprising:
a plurality of intrusion sensors configured and arranged to generate intrusion signals;
a motion sensor configured and arranged with a field of view to sense motion in a target area and, in response, to generate a motion indication signal;
a camera device physically integrated with the motion sensor to capture images of the target area in response to the motion indication signal from the motion sensor;
a communication device, including circuitry and configured to send data indicative of detected motion and to communicate with at least one of the intrusion sensors by receiving the intrusion signals;
a housing configured to contain the motion sensor, the camera device and the communication device; and
a control panel including a memory circuit with a mapping database that contains data that associates, for a first mode, a first set of the plurality of intrusion sensors with the camera device and associates, for a second mode, a second set of the plurality of intrusion sensors with the camera device, and additional data specifying a delay for enabling the camera device in response to the corresponding set of intrusion sensors, the control panel configured and arranged to permit a user to configure the mapping database by changing the data associations for the first and second modes, and to operate in:
the first mode, in response to a first user selection, the first mode causing the camera device to capture images of the target area in response to tripping of an intrusion sensor from the first set of the plurality of intrusion sensors and after a delay as indicated by the additional data; and
in the second mode, in response to a second user selection, the second mode causing the camera device to capture images in response to an intrusion sensor from the second set of the plurality of intrusion sensors being tripped and after a delay as indicated by the additional data; and wherein the control panel is configurable to cause the camera device and another camera device to capture images consecutively in an order that is defined by the mapping database and that specifies sequentially enabling cameras corresponding to an indicated or likely path of an intruder.
2. The integrated security arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the intrusion sensor is one of a window contact and a glass-break detector.
3. The integrated security arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first user selection and the second user selection are different security codes entered at the control panel.
4. The integrated security arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the control panel is configurable to cause the camera device to capture images of the target area in response to a signal from a sensor, the signal representing a detectable situation, and wherein the signal is directly provided to the camera device.
5. The integrated security arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the communication device is configured to transmit signals to the control panel, the control panel is remotely-located from the communication device.
6. The integrated security arrangement of claim 1 , wherein multiple sensors are linked in the mapping database, thereby requiring more than one sensor to be tripped prior to the camera device capturing pictures.
7. The integrated security arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the camera device is used to differentiate between images of a human and another moving object.
8. The arrangement of claim 1 , where the control panel is configurable to override the associations in the database for the camera device to cause the camera device to capture images of the target area in response to a sensor signal.
9. The integrated security arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the camera device includes and is integrated with the motion sensor, and wherein the control panel is further configured to provide a user interface that includes icons for configuring the mapping database.
10. The integrated security arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the camera device includes and is integrated with the motion sensor, and further including a user interface that receives data for configuring the mapping database, and wherein configuring the mapping database is limited based upon a control level associated with a user that is configuring the mapping database.
11. The integrated security arrangement of claim 10 , wherein configuring the mapping database is limited based upon a different control level for a different user.
12. The integrated security arrangement of claim 1 , wherein, responsive to data stored in the mapping database, a second camera device is configured to capture images in response to a first camera device capturing images.
13. The integrated security arrangement of claim 1 , further including a user interface and an installation interface that each receive input for configuring the mapping database, wherein the user interface has a first level of access to the mapping database and the installation interface has a second level of access to the mapping database, wherein said first level of access is a subset of said second level of access.
14. The integrated security arrangement of claim 1 , wherein, in the first mode, the camera device captures one or more still images and, in the second mode, the camera device captures video images.
15. The integrated security arrangement of claim 1 , further including a user interface that receives data for configuring the mapping database, and wherein the mapping database stores data identifying the camera device and each of the plurality of intrusion sensors.
16. The integrated security arrangement of claim 15 , wherein the user interface is configured to receive data for configuring the mapping database, and wherein the user interface is one of a personal computer running software configured to interface with the control panel through a communication link, a keypad and a remote server.
17. The integrated security arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the order defined by the mapping database specifies sequentially enabling cameras that are in a likely path of an intruder.
18. The integrated security arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the order defined by the mapping database specifies enabling the camera in response to a succession of sensors being triggered.
19. An integrated security arrangement, comprising:
a plurality of intrusion sensors configured and arranged to generate intrusion signals;
a motion sensor configured and arranged with a field of view to sense motion in a target area and, in response, to generate a motion indication signal;
a camera device physically integrated with the motion sensor to capture images of the target area in response to the motion indication signal from the motion sensor;
a communication device, including circuitry and configured to send data indicative of detected motion and to communicate with at least one of the intrusion sensors by receiving the intrusion signals;
a housing configured to contain the motion sensor, the camera device and the communication device; and
a control panel including a memory circuit with a mapping database that contains data that associates, for a first mode, a first set of the plurality of intrusion sensors with the camera device and associates, for a second mode, a second set of the plurality of intrusion sensors with the camera device, and additional data specifying a delay for enabling the camera device in response to the corresponding set of intrusion sensors, the control panel configured and arranged to permit a user to configure the mapping database by changing the data associations for the first and second modes, and to operate in:
the first mode, in response to a first user selection, the first mode causing the camera device to capture images of the target area in response to tripping of an intrusion sensor from the first set of the plurality of intrusion sensors and after a delay as indicated by the additional data; and
in the second mode, in response to a second user selection, the second mode causing the camera device to capture images in response to an intrusion sensor from the second set of the plurality of intrusion sensors being tripped and after a delay as indicated by the additional data; and
wherein the control panel is configurable to cause the camera device to capture images in response to an order of sensor events and the absence of at least one sensor event.