MONITORING STATION WITH SYNCHRONISED PLAYBACK OF DETECTED EVENTS
A monitoring system is provided for a defined space. The monitoring system includes a plurality of sensor elements distributed throughout the defined space, a plurality of alarms distributed throughout the defined space and a monitoring station. The monitoring station is receptive of information from the respective pluralities of the sensor elements and the alarms. The monitoring station is configured to generate from the information a device list, an alarm and event list, a layout of audio/video playback windows, a playback control interface and a standard timeline representing a standard playback time of audio signals and videos being played in the audio/video playback windows.
1 . A monitoring system for a defined space, comprising:
a plurality of sensor elements distributed throughout the defined space;
a plurality of alarms distributed throughout the defined space; and
a monitoring station which is receptive of information from the respective pluralities of the sensor elements and the alarms,
the monitoring station being configured to generate from the information:
a device list,
an alarm and event list,
a layout of audio/video playback windows,
a playback control interface, and
a standard timeline representing a standard playback time of audio signals and videos being played in the audio/video playback windows.
2 . The monitoring system according to claim 1 , further comprising a network by which the monitoring station is communicative with the respective pluralities of the sensor elements and the alarms.
3 . The monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensor elements comprises cameras distributed throughout the defined space.
4 . The monitoring system according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of sensor elements further comprises at least one of motion detectors, microphones and optical detectors.
5 . The monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of alarms comprises at least one of door and window alarms.
6 . The monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the monitoring station comprises at least one display unit configured to display the device list, the alarm and event list, the layout of audio/video playback windows, the playback control interface, and the standard timeline.
7 . The monitoring system according to claim 6 , wherein the audio/video playback windows are configured to automatically synchronize the audio signals and videos played therein.
8 . The monitoring system according to claim 7 , wherein the standard timeline comprises an advancing time-stamp superimposed over the audio signals and videos.
9 . A monitoring station of a monitoring system for a defined space, the monitoring station being receptive of information from respective pluralities of sensor elements and alarms distributed throughout the defined space and comprising:
at least one display unit which is configured to display monitoring elements generated from the information, the monitoring elements comprising:
a device list;
an alarm and event list;
a layout of audio/video playback windows;
a playback control interface; and
a standard timeline representing a standard playback time of audio signals and videos being played in the audio/video playback windows.
10 . The monitoring station according to claim 9 , further comprising a network by which the information is receivable from the respective pluralities of the sensor elements and the alarms.
11 . The monitoring station according to claim 9 , wherein the plurality of sensor elements comprises cameras distributed throughout the defined space.
12 . The monitoring station according to claim 11 , wherein the plurality of sensor elements further comprises at least one of motion detectors, microphones and optical detectors.
13 . The monitoring station according to claim 9 , wherein the plurality of alarms comprises at least one of door and window alarms.
14 . The monitoring station according to claim 9 , wherein the audio/video playback windows are configured to automatically synchronize the audio signals and videos played therein.
15 . The monitoring system according to claim 14 , wherein the standard timeline comprises an advancing time-stamp superimposed over the audio signals and videos.
16 . A method of operating a monitoring system for a defined space, the method comprising:
distributing a plurality of sensor elements throughout the defined space;
distributing a plurality of alarms throughout the defined space;
receiving, at a monitoring station comprising a display unit, information from the respective pluralities of the sensor elements and the alarms; and
generating, at the monitoring station, monitoring elements from the information for display on the display unit,
the monitoring elements comprising a device list, an alarm and event list, a layout of audio/video playback windows, a playback control interface and a standard timeline representing a standard playback time of audio signals and videos being played in the audio/video playback windows.
17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the receiving of the information comprises receiving the information via a network.
18 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the plurality of sensor elements comprises cameras distributed throughout the defined space, at least one of motion detectors, microphones and optical detectors and at least one of door and window alarms.
19 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising automatically synchronizing the audio signals and videos played in the audio/video playback windows.
20 . The method according to claim 19 , further comprising superimposing an advancing time-stamp over the audio signals and videos.