ES2367470T3 - SYSTEMS TO SUPERVISE SECURITY SYSTEMS. - Google Patents

Abstract

System (10) for monitoring security systems, comprising: (A) at least one pedestal set (20) to transmit a signal to a tag (T) that passes near the pedestal set (20) and receive a signal back from the tag (T) when the tag (T) passes near the pedestal assembly (20) to establish an alarm event; (B) at least one IP camera (45) configured to operate for a period of time during the alarm event; (C) a computer (60) to compile the data received from at least one pedestal set (20), which includes video data from the IP camera (45); and (D) a graphic display to display the compiled data received from the pedestal assembly, characterized in that the computer (60) is connected to a reason code generator (90) and compiles data received from the reason code generator ( 90), in which the graphic display shows the compiled data in the form of location maps.

Description

Background of the invention

The present invention relates to intelligent security systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system for monitoring security systems comprising at least one pedestal set for transmitting a signal to a card that passes near the pedestal set and receiving a return signal from the card when The card passes near the pedestal set to establish an alarm event, at least one IP camera configured to operate for a period of time during the alarm event, a computer to compile the data received from the at least one set of pedestal, which includes video data from the IP camera and a graphic display to display the compiled data received from the pedestal set.

The present invention relates to an intelligent system for monitoring security systems that automate many functions that previously required manual entry by an operator. The security system is designed to operate with radio frequency (RF) safety devices such as electronic article security (EAS) and radio frequency identification (RFID) systems and labels and amplitude modulation (AM). The present system can be used in any location for which there is a need for tracking elements or protection elements against theft. The present system could be used, for example, in a retail store, in an expedition facility, a warehouse, an airport, a library and the like.

Several companies manufacture and sell intelligent radio frequency security systems. For example, Sensormatic Electronics Corporation, a subsidiary of Tyco International, Ltd., markets a system that performs real-time monitoring of warehouses that has the capacity to interconnect with warehouse alarms, has a remote diagnostic equipment, performs the operation of the data and counts the people who pass through a detection area.

This system also performs the electronic introduction of alarm operation records and has the ability to link video surveillance cameras. Sensormatic also has a system that allows warehouse employees to track alarms based on the information entered into a panel. This system automatically records elapsed response times, reason, location and system status. Using a keyboard or a scanner, operations of the point of sale information such as a specific aisle or a used cashier and the quantity and identification of the recovered items can be recorded. An alarm incident report becomes part of a centralized database that is accessible, for example, via the Internet or by email. The Sensormatic system can also link a deactivation of the EAS of the items with a transaction point of sale. The system provides a record of all deactivations. A Sensormatic system also records information on the number of people entering and leaving warehouses that can be automatically transmitted to corporate headquarters. Finally, a Sensormatic system remotely controls RFID readers.

The publication of US Patent Application No. 2004/0164863, from Sensormatic (Tyco Fire & Security Services, as indicated in the publication) refers to an EAS of the articles and the system and the point of sale procedure in which A computer receives and processes the EAS data of the items together with the data of the point of sale for use by a user. This patent also includes other features that include a timer that starts at the time of receiving an alarm. The timer stops in response to an entry by a user. In operation, the system receives an alarm event that corresponds to an activated EAS tag of the items. Information regarding the alarm event is available, including a reason code (such as failure to deactivate, failure to extract, stock movement, system verification, unexplained, unattended, etc.). A keyboard or scanner can be used to enter information about the alarm event. See also published international application No. WO 2004/077362, from Sensormatic.

N.V. Nederlandsche Apparatenfabriek (NEDAP) in the Netherlands also markets a system that counts people, such as customers entering and leaving an area. This information is used to determine the effectiveness of marketing campaigns or can be compared with the point-of-sale alarm data to determine how to best deploy sales and security personnel. This system shows the entrances and exits of the customers that pass through an area during a designated period of time, allows an operator to monitor the relevant data, compares the current data with the data received during previous periods of time, shows a correspondence between the number of alarms and the number of visitors, etc. NEDAP also manufactures a security system monitor that provides the operator with the status of the EAS system of the items (for example fully operational, possible causes of failure and solutions, etc.). NEDAP also markets a program that monitors labeling and labeling performance, including the quantity and quality of deactivated labels. The system provides remote service and online maintenance options.

European Patent No. EP 1 226 565 of NEDAP refers to a system for monitoring theft protection. In this case, the system includes a transceiver arranged adjacent to a passage that detects anti-theft tags that pass through the passage. The system includes a communication device that transmits, in real time, information about the detected labels. The system is arranged for manual input and real-time transmission of information regarding anti-theft tags attached to payment items. When a security officer has established that a detection originates from an anti-theft tag attached to a payment item, at least one local control system or the central control system is provided with this information. Real-time information can be processed remotely. The central control device can statistically process the information received. A display can be used in which a city can be selected and information related to that city can be displayed.

European patent application EP 1 411 484, owned by NEDAP, refers to a real-time system for monitoring theft protection. Similar to EP 1 226 565, this system refers to an anti-theft security device provided with a transceiver that is installed in a passage and detects the anti-theft tags that pass through the passage. The system may include a provision to count people. The system provides manual input and real-time transmission of information regarding anti-theft tags attached to paid items. A local control set and a central control set can be used. The analysis and statistical processing of the results can be visualized through the local or central control set.

Detectag, Inc. of Ontario, Canada, provides a system that uses transceivers connected to a control that uses a user's private Ethernet network. Transceivers monitor the activity of RFIDs in a warehouse. The user can connect numerous control modules in the network. The transceivers are equipped with self-diagnostic programs. Additionally, transceivers are resistant to tampering. If the transceiver detects tampering, the transceiver generates an audible alarm. The system can also use a voice module and a relay driver module. The voice module allows a user to register and then play voice messages or instructions. For example, the system can welcome someone when they enter a building. Similarly, the system can inform users of certain building security procedures. The relay driver module allows a user to control the energy in separate outdoor devices. The module is essentially a remote switch for connection and disconnection. This system provides, for example, the connection and disconnection of electronic locks, alarm modules and lights of a building.

US Patent No. 5,748,085 (Davis et al) refers to an EAS event monitoring system of the articles. This system is capable of recording an alarm and other events associated with the operation of the EAS system of the articles. The monitor can have the ability to detect the alarm, an alphanumeric keypad for an employee to enter the event code, a memory to store the event data and the employee's identification and a means to download the data to a portable reader or a central processor This monitoring system allows warehouse managers and item EAS manufacturers to audit the behavior of the EAS systems of installed items. It provides warehouse managers with means to register and thus judge whether warehouse employees are responding appropriately to the EAS events of the items.

WO 01/46923 A1 describes a remote monitoring system for supervising an installation against fire, thieves and other alarms. The system comprises radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that are activated by physically touching a reader or passing near a reader. When the cards receive a radio frequency signal, they transmit their identification number to the reader so that the personnel or physical goods of the business can be located in the facility. In addition, video and audio data are collected from cameras and microphones placed in and around the installation, in which data collection can be initiated through an external trigger or an alarm. The combined tag and video data can be stored for later review or transmitted live over the Internet to a central host.

However, currently known systems suffer from a number of limitations resolved by the present invention. Most importantly, currently known systems do not provide data analysis, for example, or graphic displays of the frequency of stolen items or data on why specific alarms have been triggered.

All references cited are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Summary of the invention

In the present invention, the system for monitoring security systems includes a reason code generator that is connected to the computer, in which the computer compiles the data received from the reason code generator and in which the graphic display shows data compiled in the form of location maps.

The period of time may be between approximately one and ten seconds and, preferably, approximately four seconds.

The present invention preferably includes all the advantages of the systems identified above (for example, interconnection with warehouse alarms, remote diagnostic equipment, remote management, data extraction, people counter, alarm operation log, camera linkage security, alarm tracking, data comparison, supervision of the operation of the labels, voice module, the use of a network, etc.) but resolves the limitations of the prior art. The present system provides a system that uses the automatic generation of reason codes. That is, the present system automatically determines the reason for the alarm. For example, the present invention automatically generates a code when an alarm has been activated because an item has been stolen. Additionally, the present system uses detailed visualizations such as visualizations provided with maps with annotations to quickly provide the system operator with detailed information from the stored event information.

Finally, the present system provides a short video of an alarm event that can be seen from a central computer, remote from the event site.

Brief description of the various views of the drawings

The invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which equal reference numbers designate equal elements through the various views and in which:

Figure 1 is a block diagram of a system for monitoring security systems according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a simplified drawing of an example of a display showing a map as used in the system of Figure 1; Y

Figure 3 is a simplified drawing of an example of a display showing a second map as used in the system of Figure 1, in which this second map is a detailed view of a part of the first map.

Detailed description of the invention

The present system refers to a novel security system comprising a program system that receives information from an equipment system. Equipment systems and programs will be described separately later in this report.

SYSTEM OF EQUIPMENT

With reference now to the drawings, in which the reference numbers of equal parts refer to equal elements through the various views, a system for monitoring security systems 10 according to a preferred embodiment of The present invention. The system for monitoring security systems 10 includes one or more sets of pedestals 20 for sending a signal and receiving a signal from a T card, such as an RFID card. The system may additionally include, for example, a deactivation scanner 30, a system for counting people 40, an IP camera 45 (a device that allows a user to view live or stored, a video of the entire movement from anywhere in a computer network) one or more auxiliary inputs 50 and a local computer 60 that is connected to a server 70. These subsystems are all connected to the system for monitoring security systems 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The local computer 60 is connected to a reason code generator 90 (as will be described in more detail hereinafter). The local computer 60 also receives data relating to the information observed by the system in the pedestal assemblies 20, the deactivation scanner 30, the people counting system 40 and auxiliary inputs 50. The equipment system, that is the system 10 for monitoring security systems of the present invention is compatible with a wide variety of products in a wide variety of areas, such as general security systems, shipping facilities, airports, casinos, libraries and warehouses (retail industry in general) . The system 10 preferably includes the pedestals 20, as is well known, connected by cable or without cable to send information to the server 70, preferably through the local computer 60. The server 70 processes the information received on the pedestals 20 and other attached devices. (deactivation scanner 30, people counting system 40, etc.). As shown in FIG. 1, the pedestals 20 can be connected to a connection port (for example, ports in the computer 60) or a connection port of separate equipment 15 having ports for other communication sources including, by for example, the system for counting people 40, the deactivation scanner 30, the reason code generator 90 and the auxiliary inputs 50 for other devices.

Auxiliary inputs 50 may include, for example, systems for determining the information of the electrical state of the warehouse or the pedestals 20, closed circuit television, information on the state of the door and the locks of the windows, information of the metal detector, warehouse lighting and the like.

Instead of feeding information to the computer 60, these systems 10, which include the pedestals 20, can feed information received to the connection mouth 15. The connection mouth 15 acts as a server to send the information to a processing station outside the instead, that is, server 70 in, for example, the headquarters of the facility. Optionally, a modem 65 or a wireless connection can transfer the data from the connection port 15 to the server 70.

The system 10 can also include one or more outputs 110 to act on a given condition introduced into the reason code generator 90, or automatically (that is, without a direct introduction by a human operator) by an automatic code generator of reason 90. Exits 100 are designed to carry out security measures such as calls to the police, locked doors, lighting of lights, or sounding an alarm. While installed, the components will send information to the connection port 15 continuously. The connection port 15 sends the information to the local computer in the warehouse 60 which sends the information to the server outside the place 70. The server outside the place 70 sends the information to a management computer 80 or to computers that are sufficiently powerful enough to see the generated safety data. Warehouse owners, district managers, regional managers and the like will be able to monitor their warehouse or warehouse profile to obtain useful information about customers in the warehouse. The management computer 80 could preferably be an individual computer located, for example, in the company's headquarters.

Optionally, the system 10 may include the possibility of watching a video related to a triggered condition that uses, for example, the IP camera 45. When it is triggered, the IP camera sends a short video to the local computer 60

or to server 70.

PROGRAM SYSTEM

As can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, which describe examples of a display screen 100A, 100B of the present invention, the software system 10 creates a map display to show the security system 10 of different areas within a region associated with the security system. Each location can be encoded with, for example, a different color or type of shading (as shown in Figures 2 and 3). For example, a visualization of a red area (displayed as an area of angled lines 120 in Figures 2 and 3) on a map may show a security risk associated with that area while a visualization of a green area (visualized as An area of vertical lines 130 in Figures 2 and 3) on the map can show a normal situation (all active and fully functional without alerts). For each event of a safety event, the color of the symbol changes. For example, the color of a symbol may gradually change from green to red depending on the number of security event events (described as an area of crossed dashed lines 140 in Figures 2 and 3). Therefore, a graphic representation that offers a more accurate view of the data is available for viewing. For example, a map may initially start as a medium color between green and red (for example, pale gray, pink or even a different color such as blue), so that an operator sees which locations have a greater or lesser number of events of security.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, by clicking on the area of the map using a cursor associated with a mouse, the map will zoom in a particular region (see Figure 3 compared to Figure 2). For example, if an initial map shows the entire world, an operator could point and click on a particular country (this is particularly useful for an international corporation). If the initial map shows a country (see, for example, figure 2), a state or a particular city can be designated (see, for example, figure 3). Clicking on the map again could obtain information about a particular location. The location could be a structure such as a private warehouse, a warehouse, an expedition facility, a house, an office building and the like. Clicking on a particular location will display the individual event log (such as security events) which have contributed to creating the color shown on the map. The information for a particular location could be, for example, textual information such as the number of alarms, the number of false alarms, specific details regarding those alarms, the accounting of people during a specific day, a week or a month , etc. (as is well known).

In addition to the ability to zoom in individual locations, the operator may preferably have the ability to filter for a specific location (for example, using filter 150) attributes such as urban or rural locations. Preferably, the operator can view a map for an elapsed time (for example, the average "color" for the week or last month) for a given region. In addition, this allows operators to view graphs of security conditions with respect to time for specific locations or groups of locations.

Another feature of the system allows an operator to delete certain data related to system security codes. For example, since the security codes are generated by the reason code generator or the automatic reason code generator, in a retail location, the operator can delete the data related to all the safety events that are related, by example, with false alarms. Maps and graphics can be viewed without that data.

5 With respect to the possibility of watching the video described hereinabove, a user can zoom in on an individual location for a specific event. An icon can be selected for a short video (for example, a four-second video) that shows, for example, two seconds before and two seconds after the shooting of an event, or four seconds immediately after the shooting of an event. This could provide confirmation of the reason provided for an alarm. This could be useful, for example, if a

10 EAS event of the articles will occur outside the working hours of the structure being monitored. If no reason was introduced, the video could provide details such as why it happened. Advantageously, the video is remote from the location where the event occurred. If this system is not available, an operator could probably have to go to a specific location and search the video or stored images to determine what happened. The present system can achieve this automatically.

Additionally, a system operator can confirm that the appropriate action was taken during an alarm condition by watching the short video. This can help, for example, to identify inefficiency in the responses of the staff, etc., so that corrective and supportive actions can be provided. Additionally, the remote technical service of the systems 10 may be provided because a video of an alarm condition can be viewed remotely to determine whether a genuine or "phantom" alarm occurred.

Although the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific examples thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made thereto without thereby departing from the scope of the claims of the same.

Claims (3)

1. System (10) for monitoring security systems, comprising:

(TO)

at least one pedestal set (20) to transmit a signal to a tag (T) that passes near the pedestal set (20) and receive a return signal from the tag (T) when the tag (T) passes by of the pedestal assembly (20) to establish an alarm event;

(B)

at least one IP camera (45) configured to operate for a period of time during the alarm event;

(C)

a computer (60) to compile the data received from at least one pedestal set (20), which includes video data from the IP camera (45); Y

(D)

a graphic display to visualize the compiled data received from the pedestal set,

characterized in that the computer (60) is connected to a reason code generator (90) and compiles data received from the reason code generator (90), in which the graphic display visualizes the compiled data in the form of location maps .

2.

System for monitoring security systems according to claim 1, wherein the period of time is between approximately one and ten seconds.

3.

System for monitoring security systems according to claim 1, wherein the maps of the locations comprise a series of map levels in which a first map visualizes the wider geographical region, a second map displays a smaller geographical region of the first map in greater detail than the one represented on the first map and a third map visualizes a smaller geographical region of the second map in greater detail than the one represented on the second map.