Method and apparatus for enhancing remote audio monitoring in security

Abstract

A remotely-monitored stored-audio security system has a local control unit at a monitored premises that communicates with a remotely located central control unit for alerting personnel of an alarm at the premises. Microphones located on the monitored premises receive sounds that are recorded on a recording device in the local control unit. When the alarm occurs the recording device ceases recording, thereby preserving any sounds that occurred prior to and immediately after the activation of the security system. A detector monitors the input to the recording device and detects the occurrence of a discrete sound, i.e., a sound exceeding the level of ambient noise. When the local control unit transmits the alarm indication it also transmits an indication to the central control unit for informing personnel whether any discrete sounds have been recorded. Personnel at the monitoring center can then enter commands on a console to receive live audio detected by a microphone in real-time or play back and receive recorded audio. Personnel may also receive a mix of audio from both sources. The audio played back by the recording device may be transmitted to the central control unit in a compressed format to reduce transmission time. The central control unit may have a similar recording device for recording transmitted audio.