Neighborhood Camera Linking System

Abstract

A method and apparatus for recording video. The method includes the steps of a plurality of security systems within a predetermined geographical area each detecting intruders within a respective home of the predetermined geographic area, a camera associated with each of at least some respective homes of the plurality of private security systems, the camera recording video in a public area surrounding the respective home of the security system, detecting an intruder within a security system of the plurality of security systems and activating the at least one camera within each of the at least some security systems to record video in response to the detected intruder.

1 . A method comprising:
 a plurality of security systems within a predetermined geographical area each detecting intruders within a respective home of the predetermined geographic area;   a camera associated with each of at least some respective homes of the plurality of private security systems, the camera recording video in a public area surrounding the respective home of the security system;   detecting an intruder within a security system of the plurality of security systems; and   activating the at least one camera within each of the at least some security systems to record video in response to the detected intruder.   
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 1  further comprising saving the recorded video from each of the at least some security systems in a server. 
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 2  further comprising providing access to the saved video by law enforcement personnel. 
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 2  further comprising coupling a camera to each of the plurality of security systems. 
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 4  further comprising continuously capturing and saving video from at least some of the cameras. 
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 5  further comprising providing access to the saved video by users of each of the plurality of security systems. 
     
     
         7 . The method as in  claim 6  further comprising analyzing the saved video for indicia of identify of moving objects within a field of view of each of the cameras. 
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 7  wherein the identity of moving objects further comprises reading license plates of passing cars. 
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 8  wherein analyzing the identity of moving objects further comprises performing face recognition of passersby. 
     
     
         10 . The method as in  claim 9  wherein the face recognition further comprising a user providing an image of a person living in one of the homes of the plurality of security systems. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of security systems each located within a respective home of a predetermined geographic area and that each detect intruders;   one camera coupled at least some of the plurality of private security systems, each recording video in a public area surrounding the respective home of the security system;   a central monitoring station that receives an alarm message indicating an intruder from an activated security system of the plurality of security systems and that activates the at least one camera within each of the at least some security systems to record video in a public space surrounding the home in response to the alarm message from the activated security system.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as in  claim 11  further comprising a server that receives and saves video images from the cameras in response to the alarm message. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as in  claim 11  further comprising a geoprocessor that identifies a geographic location of each of the cameras. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as in  claim 13  further comprising an Internet link sent by the geoprocessor to law enforcement personnel that provides access to the saved video images. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as in  claim 11  further comprising a motion detection processor that detects motion and an identifier of moving objects in captured images. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as in  claim 15  further comprising a tracking processor that receives notification of detected motion and the identifier of the moving objects from the motion detection processor and that tracks the identified moving objects. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as in  claim 16  wherein the identifier further comprises a license number of an automobile. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as in  claim 16  wherein the identifier further comprises facial characteristics of a person. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as in  claim 18  further comprising a processor that identifies a most recent location of a child. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus comprising:
 a security system located within each of a plurality of homes of a predetermined geographic area that detect intruders;   a camera disposed within each of the homes, the camera recording video in a public area surrounding the home;   a central monitoring station that receives an alarm message indicating an intruder from an activated security system of the plurality of homes and that activates the camera within each of the plurality of homes to record video in the public area in response to the alarm message from the activated security system.