# US 12,217,582 B2 · Image surveillance and reporting technology > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,217,582 B2 - Document ID: US12217582B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/824,208 - Filed: 2022-05-25 - Published: 2022-09-15 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2009-10-02 - Assignees: Alarm.com Incorporated - Applicants: Alarm.com Incorporated - Inventors: Stephen Scott Trundle; Robert J. McCarthy, Jr.; Jean-Paul Martin; Alison Jane Slavin; David James Hutz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12217582B2 ## CPC - G08B 13/19639: {Details of the system layout} - G08B 13/196: using television cameras - G08B 13/19613: {Recognition of a predetermined image pattern or behaviour pattern indicating theft or intrusion} - G08B 13/19634: {Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions} - G08B 13/1966: {Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera} - G08B 25/008: {Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system} - G08B 25/14: Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements - G08B 29/046: {prevention of tampering with detection circuits} - H04N 7/183: {for receiving images from a single remote source} - H04N 7/188: {Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position (signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253)} - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Image surveillance and reporting technology, in which an event that is indicative of potential physical activity within an area corresponding to a location of a camera unit is detected. In response to detection of the event, the camera unit is controlled to capture one or more images of the area corresponding to the location of the camera unit. The one or more images captured by the camera unit are analyzed to determine whether the one or more images include image data that is indicative of relevant physical activity within the area corresponding to the location of the camera unit. The one or more images are handled based on the determination of whether the one or more images include image data that is indicative of relevant physical activity within the area corresponding to the location of the camera unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: detecting, by a monitoring system, a potential alarm event at a property; identifying, by the monitoring system, a security rule that controls transmission of images by defining a threshold used to limit a number of images that are transmitted during a time period after the potential alarm event is detected; determining, by the monitoring system and using the security rule, that transmitting one or more images captured by a camera at the property during the potential alarm event will violate the security rule and exceed the threshold; and in response to determining that the security rule will be violated and the threshold exceeded if the one or more images are transmitted, discarding, by the monitoring system, the one or more images instead of transmitting the one or more images. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining to discard the one or more images instead of transmitting the one or more images comprises: determining to skip transmitting the one or more images to a remote monitoring server; and deleting the one or more images from an electronic storage without transmitting the one or more images to a remote monitoring server. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: detecting the potential alarm event at the property comprises detecting a potential alarm state during an entry delay period at the property; and determining to discard the one or more images instead of transmitting the one or more images is responsive to detecting entry of a proper passcode prior to an expiration of an entry delay period. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining to discard the one or more images instead of transmitting the one or more images comprises entering, by the monitoring system, a deactivated state. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising: maintaining a set of images that comprises the one or more images and one or more first images; transmitting, before determining to discard the one or more images captured by the camera during the potential alarm event and that is located at the property, the one or more first images to another system separate from the monitoring system; determining, using the security rule, that the one or more images are of irrelevant activity; and determining to not transmit, to the other system, the one or more images that have not been transmitted. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein determining that the one or more images are of irrelevant activity comprises receiving, from a device, data that indicates that the one or more images are of irrelevant activity. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining to discard the one or more images instead of transmitting the one or more images comprises: sending, to a user device, a request for authorization to transmit the one or more images to a remote monitoring server; receiving, from the user device, a response that declines authorization; and in response to receiving the response that declines authorization, determining to not transmit the one or more images. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the request for authorization indicates a status of one or more security system sensors. ### Claim 9 A system comprising: one or more computing devices; and one or more storage devices storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform operations comprising: detecting a potential alarm event at a property; identifying a security rule that controls transmission of images by defining a threshold used to limit a number of images that are transmitted during a time period after the potential alarm event is detected; determining, using the security rule, that transmitting one or more images captured by a camera at the property during the potential alarm event will violate the security rule; and in response to determining that the security rule will be violated and the threshold exceeded if the one or more images are transmitted, discarding the one or more images instead of transmitting the one or more images. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein determining to discard the one or more images instead of transmitting the one or more images comprises: determining to skip transmitting the one or more images to a remote monitoring server; and deleting the one or more images from an electronic storage without transmitting the one or more images to a remote monitoring server. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein: detecting the potential alarm event at the property comprises detecting a potential alarm state during an entry delay period at the property; and determining to discard the one or more images instead of transmitting the one or more images is responsive to detecting entry of a proper passcode prior to an expiration of an entry delay period. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein determining to discard the one or more images instead of transmitting the one or more images comprises entering, by the system, a deactivated state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise: maintaining a set of images that comprises the one or more images and one or more first images; transmitting, before determining to discard the one or more images captured by the camera during the potential alarm event and that is located at the property, the one or more first images to another system separate from the system; determining, using the security rule, that the one or more images are of irrelevant activity; and determining to not transmit, to the other system, the one or more images that have not been transmitted. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein determining that the one or more images are of irrelevant activity comprises receiving, from a device, data that indicates that the one or more images are of irrelevant activity. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein determining to discard the one or more images instead of transmitting the one or more images comprises: sending, to a user device, a request for authorization to transmit the one or more images to a remote monitoring server; receiving, from the user device, a response that declines authorization; and in response to receiving the response that declines authorization, determining to not transmit the one or more images. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the request for authorization indicates a status of one or more security system sensors. ### Claim 17 At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising: detecting a potential alarm event at a property; identifying a security rule that controls transmission of images by defining a threshold used to limit a number of images that are transmitted during a time period after the potential alarm event is detected; determining, using the security rule, that transmitting one or more images captured by a camera at the property during the potential alarm event will violate the security rule and exceed the threshold; and in response to determining that the security rule will be violated and the threshold exceeded if the one or more images are transmitted, discarding the one or more images instead of transmitting the one or more images. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 17, wherein determining to discard the one or more images instead of transmitting the one or more images comprises: determining to skip transmitting the one or more images to a remote monitoring server; and deleting the one or more images from an electronic storage without transmitting the one or more images to a remote monitoring server. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 17, wherein: detecting the potential alarm event at the property comprises detecting a potential alarm state during an entry delay period at the property; and determining to discard the one or more images instead of transmitting the one or more images is responsive to detecting entry of a proper passcode prior to an expiration of an entry delay period. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 17, wherein determining to discard the one or more images instead of transmitting the one or more images comprises entering, by a monitoring system, a deactivated state.