Security system and method with help and login for customization

9,615,065

14/098935

December 06, 2013

A user-centric management application system and method for a security system that conceptualizes the security devices and the tasks to perform on the security devices as separate objects with common properties and behavior. Operators of the system create abstract containers, called dockviews, which the operator adds objects to in order to perform specific tasks. Because the operator assigns user access to dockviews and objects, the system tailors system access for both application users and tenants of the security system based on policy objectives. Dockviews have the ability to open in separate application windows to support priority display and isolation of critical management tasks. The system provides integrated user administration, event management and reports capability, a consistent “look and feel,” and system-wide automated event notification via a watchlist window.

Tyco Safety Products Canada Ltd. (Concord, CA)

Tyco Safety Products Canada Ltd. (Concord, Ontario, CA)

1. A method for defining dockviews for users and presenting object information for objects in a security system, comprising: on a configuration screen, displaying icons representing object types of the objects; enabling an operator to define object information that is displayed in the dockviews by manipulating the icons in the configuration screen; and displaying the dockviews based on the manipulation of the icons; and wherein the object information that is displayed in the dockviews includes object icons for the objects of the security system, and wherein the object icons display configuration data of the object information for the objects.

2. A method for defining dockviews for users and presenting object information for objects in a security system, comprising: on a configuration screen, displaying icons representing object types of the objects; enabling an operator to define object information that is displayed in the dockviews by manipulating the icons in the configuration screen; and displaying the dockviews based on the manipulation of the icons; and wherein the object information that is displayed in the dockviews includes object icons for the objects of the security system, and wherein the object icons display status data of the object information of the objects.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the configuration screen displays the icons according to operational object types and configuration object types.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the operator manipulating the icons comprises dragging and dropping the icons onto a drop region of the configuration screen for defining the object information displayed in the dockviews.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein in response to the dragging and dropping of each icon onto the drop region by the operator, the configuration screen creates an object window of the object type represented by each icon, and enables the operator to associate the object window with a specific object in the security system.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein each object window displays the object information for the specific object in the security system associated with each object window.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the object information displayed in the dockviews includes configuration data for the objects of the security system.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the configuration screen displays tooltip messages providing an indication of actions for the operator to perform during the manipulation of the icons.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the manipulation of the icons in the configuration screen for defining of the object information that is displayed in the dockviews is provided to the operator as a sequence of configuration tasks.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the configuration screen displays tooltip messages during the sequence of configuration tasks, the tooltip messages providing an indication of actions for the operator to perform.

11. The method of claim 2 , wherein the objects of the security system include access cards, and wherein the object information that is displayed in the dockviews for the access cards concerns use of the access cards by the security system.

12. The method of claim 2 , wherein the objects of the security system include security cameras, and wherein the object information that is displayed in the dockviews for the security cameras includes video streams from the security cameras.

13. The method of claim 2 , wherein the object information that is displayed in the dockviews includes event data from the objects of the security system.

14. The method of claim 2 , wherein the object information that is displayed in the dockviews includes object icons for the objects of the security system, and wherein the object icons enable configuration of the objects in the dockviews.

15. A security system, comprising: a server system for a security network that aggregates object information from objects on the security network; and graphical user interfaces displayed on user devices that present the object information received from the server in dockviews and that present a configuration screen displaying icons representing Object types of the objects and enabling an operator to define object information that is displayed in the dockviews by manipulating the icons in the configuration screen; and wherein the object information that is displayed in the dockviews includes object icons for the objects of the security system, and wherein the object icons display status data of the object information of the objects.

16. The security system of claim 15 , wherein the configuration screen includes a drop region that the operator drags and drops the icons upon for defining the object information displayed in the dockviews.

17. The security system of claim 15 , wherein the object information displayed in the dockviews includes configuration data for the objects of the security system.

18. The security system of claim 15 , wherein the configuration screen includes tooltip messages that provide an indication of actions for the operator to perform during the manipulation of the icons.

19. The security system of claim 18 , wherein the tooltip messages include text and graphics.

20. A security system, comprising: a server system for a security network that aggregates object information from objects on the security network; and graphical user interfaces displayed on user devices that present the object information received from the server in dockviews and that present a configuration screen displaying icons representing object types of the objects and enabling an operator to define object information that is displayed in the dockviews by manipulating the icons in the configuration screen; and wherein the objects of the security system include access cards, and wherein the object information that is displayed in the dockviews for the access cards concerns use of the access cards by the security system.

21. The security system of claim 15 , wherein the objects of the security system include security cameras, and wherein the object information that is displayed in the dockviews for the security cameras includes video streams from the security cameras.

22. The security system of claim 15 , wherein the object information that is displayed in the dockviews includes event data from the objects of the security system.

23. The security system of claim 15 , wherein the object information that is displayed in the dockviews includes object icons for the objects of the security system, and wherein the object icons enable configuration of the objects in the dockviews.

24. A security system, comprising: a server system for a security network that aggregates object information from objects on the security network; and graphical user interfaces displayed on user devices that present the object information received from the server in dockviews and that present a configuration screen displaying icons representing object types of the objects and enabling an operator to define object information that is displayed in the dockviews by manipulating the icons in the configuration screen; and wherein the object information that is displayed in the dockviews includes object icons for the objects of the security system, and wherein the object icons display configuration data of the object information for the objects.

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