Video security systems and methods

Abstract

Systems and methods for the remote verification and monitoring of conditions surrounding an alarm signal are disclosed. In an aspect, a security system can comprise a security gateway located at a premises, wherein the security gateway is operable to detect an alarm condition and to receive video of at least a portion of the premises relating to the alarm condition, a first network coupled to the security gateway, and a second network coupled to the security gateway. The security gateway can be configured to cause transfer of alarm information comprising at least a portion of the received video and a first notification of the alarm condition in substantially real time through only the first network. The security gateway can be further configured to cause transfer of a second notification of the alarm condition through the second network substantially simultaneously with causing transfer of the alarm information through the first network.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a computing device in communication with a first network, a first notification of an alarm condition;   receiving a video of at least a portion of a premises relating to the alarm condition via the first network, wherein one or more of the first notification and the video is received by the computing device in substantially real time via the first network; and   receiving a second notification of the alarm condition via a second network, wherein a transmission of the second notification is substantially simultaneous with the transmission of the first notification.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first network is an IP network, an Ethernet-based network, the Internet, a frame relay network, a hybrid-fiber coaxial network, a fiber-optic network, a DSL network, an ATM network, a high-speed fixed wireless network, or a high-speed mobile network, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second network comprises a public switched telephone network, a fixed wireless network, or a mobile communications network, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is associated with a security monitoring system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises a mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the video of at least the portion of the premises relating to the alarm condition is received via the first network without causing transfer of the video through the second network. 
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by software executing on a first device in communication with a first network, a first notification of an alarm condition;   receiving, by the software executing on the first device, a video of at least a portion of a premises relating to the alarm condition, wherein one or more of the first notification and the video is received in substantially real time via the first network; and   receiving, by software executing on a second device in communication with a second network, a second notification of the alarm condition, wherein a transmission of the second notification is substantially simultaneous with the transmission of the second notification.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first network is an IP network, an Ethernet-based network, the Internet, a frame relay network, a hybrid-fiber coaxial network, a fiber-optic network, a DSL network, an ATM network, a high-speed fixed wireless network, or a high-speed mobile network, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second network comprises a public switched telephone network, a fixed wireless network, or a mobile communications network, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first device is associated with a security monitoring system. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second device comprises a mobile device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the receiving, by the software executing on the first device, the video of at least the portion of the premises relating to the alarm condition is via only the first network. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a computing device in communication with a first network, a first notification of an alarm condition;   receiving, by the computing device, a video of at least a portion of a premises relating to the alarm condition, wherein one or more of the first notification and the video is received by the computing device in substantially real time via the first network; and   upon authentication of a user associated with the premises, allowing remote access by a remote device to the video of at least the portion of the premises relating to the alarm condition, wherein the remote device is in receipt, via a second network, of a second notification of the alarm condition.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first network is an IP network, an Ethernet-based network, the Internet, a frame relay network, a hybrid-fiber coaxial network, a fiber-optic network, a DSL network, an ATM network, a high-speed fixed wireless network, or a high-speed mobile network, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second network comprises a public switched telephone network, a fixed wireless network, or a mobile communications network, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the computing device is associated with a security monitoring system. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the computing device comprises a mobile device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the remote device comprises a mobile device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the receiving, by the computing device, the video of at least the portion of the premises relating to the alarm condition is via only the first network. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising causing transmission of the video of at least the portion of the premises to the remote device. 
     
     
         21 . A device comprising:
 a first interface configured to receive a first notification of an alarm condition and a video of at least a portion of a premises relating to the alarm condition via a first network, wherein one or more of the first notification and the video is received by the first interface in substantially real time; and   a second interface configured to receive a second notification of the alarm condition via a second network, wherein a transmission of the second notification is substantially simultaneous with the transmission of the first notification.   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the first network is an IP network, an Ethernet-based network, the Internet, a frame relay network, a hybrid-fiber coaxial network, a fiber-optic network, a DSL network, an ATM network, a high-speed fixed wireless network, or a high-speed mobile network, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the second network comprises a public switched telephone network, a fixed wireless network, or a mobile communications network, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the device comprises a computing device associated with a security monitoring system. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the device comprises a mobile device. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the first interface receives the video of at least the portion of the premises relating to the alarm condition via only the first network. 
     
     
         27 . A system comprising:
 first software executing on a first device in communication with a first network, the first software configured to receive a first notification of an alarm condition and a video of at least a portion of a premises relating to the alarm condition, wherein one or more of the first notification and the video is received in substantially real time via the first network; and   second software executing on a second device in communication with a second network, wherein a transmission of the second notification is substantially simultaneous with the transmission of the second notification.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the first network is an IP network, an Ethernet-based network, the Internet, a frame relay network, a hybrid-fiber coaxial network, a fiber-optic network, a DSL network, an ATM network, a high-speed fixed wireless network, or a high-speed mobile network, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the second network comprises a public switched telephone network, a fixed wireless network, or a mobile communications network, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the first device is associated with a security monitoring system. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the second device comprises a mobile device. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein first software is configured to receive the video of at least the portion of the premises relating to the alarm condition via only the first network. 
     
     
         33 . A system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing processor-executable instructions configured to:
 receive, via a first network, a first notification of an alarm condition and a video of at least a portion of a premises relating to the alarm condition, wherein one or more of the first notification and the video is received by the first interface in substantially real time; and 
 upon authentication of a user associated with the premises, allow remote access to the video of at least the portion of the premises relating to the alarm condition by a remote device, wherein the remote device is in receipt, via a second network, of a second notification of the alarm condition received. 
   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the first network is an IP network, an Ethernet-based network, the Internet, a frame relay network, a hybrid-fiber coaxial network, a fiber-optic network, a DSL network, an ATM network, a high-speed fixed wireless network, or a high-speed mobile network, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the second network comprises a public switched telephone network, a fixed wireless network, or a mobile communications network, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the processor is associated with a security monitoring system. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the remote device comprises a mobile device. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the memory stores processor-executable instructions configured to receive the video of at least the portion of the premises relating to the alarm condition via only the first network. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the memory stores processor-executable instructions configured to cause transmission of the video of at least the portion of the premises to the remote device.