Network appliances for use in combination with a network based full
service, multi-media surveillance system provide a wide range of
monitoring techniques utilizing digital network architecture. The
appliances may be connected to the surveillance system for transmitting
event data, video and/or image monitoring information, audio signals and
other data over significant distances using digital data transmission
over networks such as a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN),
a wide area network such as the Internet for other networks, permitting
remote manual and/or automatic assessment and response. The wireless LAN
connectivity permits local distribution of audio, video and image data
with relatively high bandwidth without requirement of a license and
without relying on a common carrier and the fees associated therewith.
The surveillance system may be interfaced with a WAN (wide area network)
such as frame relay or the Internet for providing a worldwide, low cost
surveillance system with virtually unlimited geographic application.
Multiple sensors and appliances may be accommodated, as required. The
topology of the network will be established by the geographic situation
of the specific installation. Appropriate firewalls may be set up as
desired to protect unauthorized access to the system or collected data.
The server based system permits a security provider to have access to the
appliance, related sensor and surveillance data or to configure or
reconfigure the system from any station on the Intranet or Internet.