Lifestyle multimedia security system

For a security system for remote monitoring of a premises by a user of a remote client, a security gateway comprising:

• means for monitoring one or more portions of said premises, said means for monitoring one or more portions of said premises including a plurality of monitoring device configured to collect audio and/or video data;
• means for associating a first sensor with a first subset of said plurality of monitoring devices;
• means for associating a second sensor with a second subset of said plurality of monitoring devices;
• means for capturing and recording audiovisual information for use in evaluating an alarm condition detected by said first sensor, said captured and recorded audiovisual information comprised of:
• (1) pre-alarm audiovisual information acquired by said first subset of said plurality of monitoring devices associated with said first sensor prior to said first sensor entering into said alarm condition:
• (2) post-alarm audiovisual information acquired by said first subset of said plurality of monitoring devices associated with said first sensor subsequent to said first sensor entering into said alarm condition:
• and (3) non-alarm audiovisual information acquired by said second subset of said plurality of monitoring devices associated with said second sensor subsequent to said second sensor detecting a non-alarm event and prior to said first sensor entering into said alarm condition;
• means for streaming live video and/or audio data to said remote client;
• and
• means for generating, in response to said streaming means streaming live video and/or audio data to said remote client, an audiovisual signal at said premises for notifying an occupant at said premises that said remote client is conducting remote monitoring of said premises.

A security gateway for a security system which allows remote monitoring of a premises by a user of a remote client, said security gateway comprising:

• a video module, said video module configured to receive video signals from a first video camera associated with a first sensor and a second video camera associated with a second sensor, said first video camera, said first sensor, said second video camera and said second sensor all forming part of said security system;
• said video module further configured to cache video data, received from said first video camera and said second video camera, in a first memory;
• said video module further configured to store said cached video data from said first video camera in a second memory in response to said first sensor detecting an alarm event;
• and
• said video module further configured to store said cached video data from said second video camera in said second memory in response to:
• (a) said second sensor detecting a non-alarm event:
• and (b) said first sensor detecting an alarm event within a pre-determined time period subsequent to said second sensor detecting said non-alarm event.

A dual-use gateway suitable for use as part of both a security system and as part of a lifestyle monitoring system for a premises, said dual-use gateway comprising:

• a first module configured to receive video data from a video camera;
• said first module further configured to store said video data, received from said video camera, as part of said security system usage of said dual-use gateway;
• as part of said security monitoring usage of said dual-use gateway, said first module further configured to provide access of said stored video data to a remote security system server forming part of said security system in response to a determination, by said first module, of an alarm condition;
• as part of said lifestyle monitoring usage of said dual-use gateway, said first module further configured to prohibit access of said stored video data to said remote security system server in the absence of said determination, by said first module, of said alarm condition;
• said first module further configured to stream substantially real-time video data, received from said video camera, to a remote client, coupled to said first module via a network, as part of said lifestyle monitoring usage of said dual-use gateway;
• as part of said security system usage of said dual-use gateway, said first module further configured to stream said substantially real-time video data, received from said video camera to said remote security system server in response to said determination, by said first module, of said alarm condition;
• as part of said lifestyle monitoring usage of said dual-use gateway, said first module further configured to prohibit streaming of said substantially real-time video data, received from said video camera to said remote security system server in the absence of said determination, by said first module, of said alarm condition;
• and
• as part of said security system usage of said dual-use gateway, said first module further configured to prohibit streaming of said substantially real-time video data, received from said video camera, to said remote client in response to said determination, by said first module, of said alarm condition.

A dual-use gateway suitable for use as part of a security system and as part of a lifestyle monitoring system for a premises, said dual-use gateway comprising:

• a first module configured to receive video data from a video camera;
• said first module further configured to store said video data, received from said video camera, as part of said security system usage of said dual-use gateway;
• as part of said security monitoring usage of said dual-use gateway, said first module further configured to provide access of said stored video data to a remote security system server forming part of said security system in response to a determination, by said first module, of an alarm condition;
• as part of said lifestyle monitoring usage of said dual-use gateway, said first module further configured to prohibit access of said stored video data to said remote security system server in the absence of said determination, by said first module, of said alarm condition;
• said first module further configured to stream substantially real-time video data, received from said video camera, to a remote client, coupled to said first module via a network, as part of said lifestyle monitoring usage of said dual-use gateway;
• as part of said security system usage of said dual-use gateway, said first module further configured to stream said substantially real-time video data, received from said video camera to said remote security system server in response to said determination, by said first module, of said alarm condition;
• as part of said lifestyle monitoring usage of said dual-use gateway, said first module further configured to prohibit streaming of said substantially real-time video data, received from said video camera to said remote security system server in the absence of said determination, by said first module, of said alarm condition;
• as part of said security system usage of said dual-use gateway, said first module further configured to prohibit streaming of said substantially real-time video data, received from said video camera, to said remote client in response to said determination, by said first module, of said alarm condition;
• and
• as part of said lifestyle monitoring usage of said dual-use gateway, said first module further configured to generate, in response to said streaming of said substantially real-time video data, received from said video camera, to said remote client, a remote surveillance notification signal for notifying an occupant at said premises that said remote client is conducting remote monitoring of said premises.