FR2707029A1 - Method and system for event monitoring, which are applicable to remote surveillance installations - Google Patents

Abstract

Method of event monitoring, for example applicable to remote surveillance installations including a procedure for removing doubt, characterised in that the information gathered on a surveyed site, by at least one sensor, is recorded continuously on a local memory-storage module including at least one recorder or endless recording apparatus equipped with a capacity for recording over a given duration (T) and to which this sensor is linked, the operation of this endless recorder being stopped by means of a timer after a short period of time (T2) less than the possible recording duration and subsequent to the transmission of an event by this sensor, the information recorded before the stopping of the said recorder then being automatically transmitted, by at least one transmitter, to a surveillance station.

Description

Method and system for controlling events, applicable to

  remote monitoring facilities.

  The present invention relates to a method and a system for controlling events, this system and this method being more particularly applicable to the control of alarms signaled in remote monitoring installations comprising a doubt raising procedure. This very interesting application is not however not limited, The method and the system seton The invention can be advantageously implemented for the control of events of various nature such as, for example, for the various checks desirable in access control procedures, remote control, remote control, etc. The purpose of remote monitoring installations is to detect, collect and transmit to specialized intervention units, any alteration of the defenses

  put in place to protect people and property.

  For this, on the sites to be protected, detection devices are installed connected to a collection and transmission system (called "alarm center"), returning the information acquired to a site or central monitoring station (called "PC" remote monitoring ") responsible for: collecting alteration information (known as" alarms "); - to validate this information by a procedure called "raising doubts", in order to obtain timeliness and efficiency

  desirable in the interventions requested.

  There are still today, for example in the banking sector, direct links: Banking Site / Law enforcement agencies which give z99% of false information generating useless, inappropriate or even dangerous interventions * This is why it It is essential to give credibility to the information transmitted to stakeholders and this is the essential role assigned to remote monitoring. The universally used operation of remote monitoring installations is as follows: When a detector, via its alarm center, sends an alarm to your remote monitoring PC and that the latter arrives & The operator responsible for surveillance, which vatid the event assumed by a doubt-raising procedure consisting of listening and / or

  vision of the generating site of L'ALarme (Figures 1A and 1B).

  As shown schematically in FIGS. 1A and 1B, one of the major difficulties currently encountered is the time lag between the event generating the information process and its a posteriori raising of doubt which does not allow an interpretation of the information obtained by putting implementing the Doubt Removal system. that "XI seconds (or even minutes) later, which does not make it possible to bring the relevance necessary for the processing of information nor a real validation of this historically, the notion of raising doubt was more linked to the RELIABILITY OF THE ALARM MATERIAL ONLY IN THE INTERPRETATION OF INFORMATION RECEIVED Today, detection and transmission techniques are sufficiently proven to guarantee reliable information, but the evolution of aggression techniques and non-compliance operating procedures no longer simply require interpretation but perfect knowledge of the state of the

attacked site.

  The current instattLLations, of which Figure 2 is a synoptic representation, consist of an alarm center which collects information from different sensors such as: - motion detection sensors: infrared radar, microwave, etc .; intrusion detection sensors: door contact, seismic detector etc .; assault detection sensors = button and hotd-up pedal, etc. The alarm center generally manages different zones (for example: lockers, counters, desks, etc.), each zone having its own characteristics. For example, this zone is in service and monitored from 12 noon to -3- 2 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., such other zone is under permanent surveillance (self-protection), etc. In the event of an alarm, the center signals the information collected either locally (siren) or remotely. Indeed, the most often The alarm center is coupled to a telephone transmitter. This transmitter, in the presence of one or more alarm information, automatically calls a central monitoring station where specialized personnel decide on the operations to be implemented.

  action according to the remote instaltation.

  In the case of an installation without raising any doubts, the operator triggers actions in relation to a set of instructions specific to this installation. It is therefore only afterwards that we will know

  possibly the event that triggered the Atrium.

  In the case of an installation with doubt removal (auditory or visual), the operator initiates actions taking into account, on the one hand, instructions given by a book of instructions and, on the other hand, The information additional information that it collects by listening to and / or viewing the installation after logging into

his instaltation.

  This raising of doubt makes it possible to follow in real time the evolution of the situation if, and only if the material

  correspondent is still active after the assault.

  FIG. 3 is a functional chronogram of a conventional installation for removing doubt, the operation of such an installation is as follows: As soon as an alarm appears, at time tO, the alarm central tries to connect with the central station (duration required: 40 seconds minimum). When the connection is established, the alarm center sends its message (duration required: a few seconds); the central station receives

  information on its procurement systems (generally

  ral, IT is IT); Date, archive and notify the operator (duration required: from a few seconds to several minutes). The operator, after having read it (notion of acknowledgment) calls the site where the alarm occurred in order to listen to the zone concerned (required time: 40 seconds minimum>. Once the established link and according to the means available (hearing or visualization), it tries to verify the validity of the alarm and to obtain additional information on the local situation, several minutes after having received the information of event. according to his intimate conviction and the instructions relating to this site, he will trigger or not

appropriate actions.

  We understand that: - several minutes will have been necessary before the decision to trigger the actions; - listening to or viewing the site several minutes after the event can reveal an apparently normal situation (see Figure lB), so that the operator

  will refrain from initiating desirable actions.

  An aim of the invention is therefore to remedy the shortcomings of the methods and devices for removing doubt currently used in ttLésurvelilance installations. According to the invention, this objective is achieved by a method and an event control device according to which the information collected, on the site monitored, by at least one sensor, is continuously recorded by a local storage module. comprising at least one recorder or endless recording device endowed with a recording capacity over a given duration and to which this sensor is connected, the operation of this endless recorder being stopped by means of a timer, after a short period of time, less than the possible recording time and consecutive to the transmission of an event by this sensor, the information recorded before the stop of said recorder is then automatically transmitted via

  minus a transmitter, up to a monitoring station.

  Thanks to the event control method and device according to the invention, it is in particular possible to quickly check information collected on a monitored site, before, during and after the event detected by

a captor.

  In the more particularly interesting application to remote monitoring installations comprising an alarm center, the method and the device according to the invention are further characterized by the fact that the local storage module of the device for removing doubt from these installations is LINKED to the latter's alarm center by an inter-equipment link which can be made up: - either by an electronic input-output system;

  - either by a computer link.

  In this advantageous application, the system and the device according to the invention make it possible in particular: - The storage of information for raising doubts in the form of sliding archives; - The correlation of the information from the alarm center with the local doubt raising in riet time; - The transmission of the result of this correlation without

  The intervention of the central remote monitoring station.

  In the event of an alarm, the alarm center transmits this information, via a telephone transmitter or other # to the central post of surveillance. At the same time, the Local Doubt Removal system simultaneously transmits the information that

enabled to validate this alarm.

  Specialized personnel located at the central monitoring station therefore have two tangible sources of information of the same date to certify or not this

alarm information.

  The goals, characteristics and advantages above and

  still others will emerge more clearly from the description which

  follows and the annexed drawings in LesqueLs: FIG. iA is a synoptic view of the configuration of a current remote monitoring installation incorporating

a procedure for removing doubt.

  -6- Figure 1B is a block diagram illustrating the time difference between the alarm generating event and

  The implementation of your doubt removal procedure.

  FIG. 2 is a synoptic view of the current configurations of remote monitoring installations without lever

of doubt and with the raising of doubt.

  Figure 3 is the functional timing diagram of a current téturveiltLance installation with doubts raised. FIG. 4 is a synoptic view of a remote monitoring installation comprising an alarm center and comprising application of the method and system of Lever de

doubt selton The invention.

  Figure 5 is the functional timing diagram of such

installation.

  FIG. 6A is another synoptic view of the configuration of a remote monitoring installation comprising application of the method and of the survey system.

doubt of the invention.

  FIG. 6B is a synoptic view showing the reduction of the time difference between the event generating an alarm and the implementation of the procedure for removing doubt. Figure 7 is a schematic view illustrating the operation of the memory module

sliding according to the invention.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an example of configuration of the seton event control device of the invention. Reference is made to said drawings to describe an interesting example. although nultt Limitatif, of implementation of the process and realization of the control device

of events, according to the invention.

  According to this process and this system, The information collected on the site monitored, by one or more sensors, is recorded by a Local storage module comprising one or more recorders or endless recording devices endowed with a capacity of -7 recording on a given duration T and The operation of this recorder or any one or more of these recorders can be stopped, by means of a timer acting on a stop switch, after a short period of time TZ following your transmission of an event by this or these sensors, the information recorded by this or these devices during the duration T

  then being automatically transmitted by at least one transmitter to a central monitoring station.

  The sensor (s) of the event control system can be auditory (microphones) and / or visual (cameras) sensors. After listening to or viewing the site generating the event, the recorder (s) can be put back into operation by a manual command. The system can however include a second timer acting on the stop switch of the recorder or of each recorder, in order to control its automatic resumption after a determined period, or if for example,

  The system could not connect to the central monitoring station after a predetermined number of attempts.

  The method and the system according to the invention can be implemented in remote monitoring installations.

  intended for various applications and in which the rapid control of an event reported on a monitored site is desirable.

  An example of a more particularly advantageous application of the invention to the instattllations is described below.

  remote monitoring system comprising an alarm center and 30 including a doubt removal procedure.

  As shown in particular in FIGS. 4 and 6A and as indicated previously, an installation of this kind comprises an alarm central which collects the information coming from different sensors set up on the monitored sites such that, for example: motion detection: infrared radar, microwave etc; me-- intrusion detection sensors: door contact,

sissi- detector

  quet etc .; - aggression detection sensors: button and hold-up pedal, etc. The alarm center generally manages several zones or sites, each zone having its own characteristics: such zone being, for example, in service and therefore monitored from 12 noon to 2 p.m. and from 6 p.m. & 8 a.m., while such other zone is under permanent surveillance (self-protection ), etc. The alarm center is connected to the central remote monitoring station via a transmitter, for example constituted by a telephone transmitter, and at least one transmission or communication network such as, for example, transport network , switched telephone network, private network, Transpac system (packet transmission network), Numéris system, etc. It is also preferably connected to the monitoring P.C. by a second network or back-up network made up, by

  free, via a switched telephone network.

  The remote monitoring installation also includes a doubt removal device and, according to the invention, this doubt removal device comprises a local storage or sliding storage module comprising a number of endless recorders, and it is connected to alarm center by means of an inter-equipment link which, in the case of an "audio" system, may consist of: - either an electronic output system known per se; - either by a Link or computer network, for example of type V24 / RS232e or RS485, or other, with The protocol of

  communication adapted to the corresponding central unit.

  According to the invention, the doubt removal system (FIG. 8) consists of an electronic device comprising a central unit comprising, for example, a main card equipped with a micro-controller ensuring your total management of

  functions and I / O interface.

  These input / output interfaces are of three types: - 9- digital inputs / outputs (dry contact type); - communication inputs / outputs; - recording / memorizing inputs / outputs,

listening and restitution.

  It is these inputs / outputs that allow, in Connection with the alarm center, to "correct" The information

  of alarms transmitted by the sensors.

  Communication inputs / outputs allow with certain equipment to simplify exchanges

  information through more relevant dialogue and a -

  simpler targeting. In addition, it is they who establish

Liaison with the central station.

  The most important part of the recording, listening and playback inputs / outputs

Local doubt removal system.

  The number of recording inputs / outputs is flexible: The number of audio and / or visual inputs can vary to adapt to different possible applications. The tocal memorization module of the doubt removal system and, more precisely, the central unit of this memorization module, is connected to the central surveillance station by means of an automatic transmitter, for example constituted by a telephone transmitter , and a communication or transmission network, preferably separate from that or those which retain the central monitoring station and the alarm center. This transmission or communication network can be constituted by a

switched telephone network.

  It is planned to develop the alarm center functions without specific alarm sensors, by the use of microphones or video cameras by setting their triggering on predetermined thresholds of level or frequency. It is possible to integrate system protocols

Most used alarm.

  To allow a doubt to be rigorously rigged, The device of doubt with sliding storage is

- 1Q -

  connected on the one hand to the atrium control unit, as indicated above, and / or on the other hand to sound or visual sensors (microphones, cameras, etc.) installed on the device (s)

  monitored sites. To simplify the description, we

  hereafter refers only to sound sensors, it being understood that the detection principles are applicable in identical or similar ways to visual sensors (cameras) * To correct and validate the information coming from the central dtaLarme, te system of Lever de tocal doubt realizes a permanent recording of information in

  from its various sensors.

  The recording takes place over a selected period of time T, the duration of which can be from a few tens of seconds to several minutes. This recording time can be adjusted by any known and appropriate method & The recording technique used. The recorders used for Endless recording are preferably,

  of a type allowing digital recording.

  Recording is like recording on an endless tape. Indeed, when the chosen period of time T is listened to, Recording resumes at the start, in a cyclical manner, The information recorded

  before The time period T is automatically erased.

  FIG. 7 illustrates the operation of an endless recorder implemented in the device for raising doubt and for which a recording capacity of duration T of

seconds.

  When an alarm information appears from your alarm center or in the event of a significant change in sound level coming from the Doubt raising sensors (time to), the concerned recorder of the Doubt raising system local still records for a predetermined time T2 (20 seconds for example). At the expiration of this time T2, a timer -stop recording completely and the system of doubt doubt connects by telephone to P * C * -. of early monitoring to transmit Information - 1l recorded during the period of time T preceding the shutdown

of the recorder.

  The information sent is (for example) the following: - site identity; - date and time of the event; - the zone of the sensor considered - a message (auditory or visual) restoring the atmosphere of the site during the time T1 before tlratarme (tO - 40s) - a message (auditory or visual) restoring the atmosphere of the site during the appearance of alarm-; - a message (auditory or visual) restoring the atmosphere of the site during time T2 after tThe alarm (tO + 20s) Of course, tThe operator can Throughout the transmission of this message intervene and send commands to do repeat this or that part of the message. At the same time, this message is stored by Ltt'informatique du P.C. de téLésurveiLlance so that it can be reused later. This message is finished, the operator can listen or

  view the site status in real time.

  The functional timing diagram of FIG. 5 and FIGS. 6A and 6B, illustrate the operation of the remote monitoring installation with local doubt removal.

according to the invention.

  When an alarm appears at time tO, the central alarm tries to connect with the central station (duration: 40 seconds minimum). When the connection is established, the alarm center sends its message (duration: a few seconds). The central station (remote monitoring PC) receives this alarm information (usually IT means), dates, archives and reports to the operator (duration: from a few seconds to several minutes depending on your availability

from the operator).

  At the same time or simultaneously, the Local Doubt Removal system also connects with the central station, by

- 1- 2707029

another channel of communication.

  Thus, almost at the same time, the operator, on the one hand, receives the alarm information from the alarm center and, on the other hand, automatically finds itself in connection with the system of remove doubt. - - Depending on: means. available (hearing or viewing), iL can immediately check the validity of the alarm and obtain additional information on

  the events generating the local alarm. and not -

  only on their consequences .-- -

  -In addition, an appreciable time is saved (several minutes) thanks to the system-of-raising-of-doubt which established the communication in an automatic way and this in an early way, moreover, the particular characteristics of the local raising of doubt, provide valuable and some information on the event that generated the alarm. The circumstances of the triggering of the latter are

known before, during and after. -

  It is understood that the method and the device according to the invention allow the synchronization of the event.

  with-its-Doubt raising related by = ..

  - endless recording or sliding storage, on the assaulted site, of all the information acquired by the sensors for raising doubts (microphones, camé-ras); - a transmission, at the same time and correlatively

of--:-

  - Alarm information making it possible to locate - the origin of the event by its usual transmission channel; - the history of the event (phases: before, during,

  after), by The specific fly of the raising of doubt.

  All of this information can be automatically re-centralized, at the central station, in a file or computer server which can be consulted, either immediately or after, by the operator responsible for monitoring, depending on its availability, and which, therefore, does not have to interpret the information provided by the system

- 13 -

  To raise doubts, LesqueLttes indeed present Precision

desirable.

  The invention also relates to the instalations of tetLsurveiLttance with Resolving doubt comprising implementation or application of the method and the control system

  previously described events.

- 14 -

R E V E N D C A T I O NS

  1. - Event control process, for example applicable to remote monitoring facilities comprising a doubt-raising procedure, characterized in that the information collected on a monitored site, by at least one sensor, is continuously recorded by a Locat storage module comprising at least one endless recorder or recording device with recording capacity over a given period (T) and when this sensor is retained, The operation of this endless recorder being controlled by L ' through a timer after a short period of time (T2) of less than tThe possible recording duration and consecutive to the transmission of an event by this sensor, the information recorded before the stopping of said t5 recorder is then automatically transmitted, through at least one transmitter, to a station

monitoring.

  2. - Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the information collected on one or more monitored sites is recorded by a locat storage module comprising a plurality of endless recorders retained, each, with one or more sensors located on the or

Said monitored sites.

  3. - Method according to one of claims 1 or 2,

  comprising an alarm center linked to one or more sensors such as, for example, motion sensors, burglary sensors, aggression sensors, characterized in that said central atrium is connected to the

LocaL memorization.

  4. - Method according to claim 3 characterized in that the alarm center is linked back to the local storage module, by means of an inter-equipment link.

  constituted by an electronic input-output system.

- 15 -

  5. - Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the alarm center is connected to the tocal storage module, via a computer link.

  6.- - Method according to any one of claims 3 to

  , characterized in that The alarm information collected by The alarm center is transmitted to the

  central post of supervision via a.

  first transmission or communication system while the information recorded by the system

  doubt are transmitted to said central station through

  diary of a second transmission or communication system.

  7. - Method according to any one of claims 1 to

  6, characterized in that the information communicated by the system for raising doubts is recorded and stored

  by the central remote monitoring station.

  8 * - Method according to any one of claims 1 to

  7O characterized in that the recordings made by the endless recorder (s) of the storage module

  Local are digital recordings.

  9. - Method according to any one of claims 3 to

  8, characterized in that the total management of the functions and of the input-output interfaces of the doubt removal system is ensured by a central unit comprising a card

  main equipped with a micro-controller.

  , - Event control system for example for instattllations of t * LésurveiLlance comprising a doubt removal procedure, characterized in that it comprises: - at least one local storage module comprising at least one recorder or recording device without end with recording capacity over a given duration <T); - a timer set to control the stopping of said

- 16 -

  endless recorder after a short period of time (T2) lower than the possible and consecutive recording time i The transmission of event information ie l te, S - at least one sensor intended to be installed on a site to be monitored and to be connected to said recorder by means of said timer, - and an automatic transmitter retained to said recorder and making it possible to transmit automatically The information recorded by the latter before it is stopped, during the

  duration (T), up to a monitoring station.

  11. - event control system according to claim 10, characterized in that the toca memorization modute comprises a plurality of endless recorders capable of being selected, each, to one or more sensor intended to be placed on the or The sites to monitor. 12. Event control system according to one of the

  claims 10 or 11, characterized in that te or Les

  timers commanding The stopping of the endless recorder (s) of the memorization module are adjustable * 13. - Instalation of tel * monitoring with a device for raising doubts constituted by an event control system according to any of the

  claims 10 to 12, and an alarm center withheld

  or several sensors $ characterized in that said alarm center is connected to the Locat storage nodule

of the device for removing doubt.

  14. - Instalttation of titésurveiLLance according to claim 13, characterized in that your alarm center is connected to the Local storage module of the device for raising doubts, by means of an inter-equipment link constituted by a system

electronic input-output.

- 17 -

  15. - InstaLLation of ttLsurveiLLance seton Claim 13, characterized in that the central alarm is linked to the local storage method of the device for raising doubts, by means of a computer link. 16. - Teturitoring facility according to One

  Any of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that

  that the sensors read to the alarm center, include = - one or more motion detection sensors; - one or more burglary detection sensors;

  - one or more attack detection sensors.

  17. - INSTALLATION OF REMOTE MONITORING ACCORDING TO ONE

  Any of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that

  that the central alarm system is linked to the central surveillance station by a first communication or transmission system, while the local storage module of the doubt raising device is linked to said central surveillance station, by a second communication system or

of transmission.

  18. - InstaLLation according to claim 17, characterized in that the alarm center is linked to the central monitoring station on the one hand, by a main network and,

  on the other hand, by a backup network.

  19. - InstattLLation of early monitoring according to one

  Any of claims 12 to 18, characterized in that

  that the monitoring station includes means for storing information transmitted by the device for checking doubt. 20. TELESURVEITANCE ESTABLISHMENT WITH ONE

  Any of claims 12 to 19, characterized in that

  that your endless recorders from the Lever de

  doubt are digital recorders.

- 18 -

  21. - Installation of remote monitoring according to one

  Any of claims 12 to 20, characterized in that

  that the Local storage module includes a central unit comprising a main card fitted with a micro-controller and ensuring total management of the functions and input-output interfaces of the device for removing doubts