Wireless phone-interface device

• US 20020163997A1
• Filed: 05/01/2001
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Security Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: GE Security Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Bergman, John Todd, Lee, Thomas Anthony, Lofstad, Eric W., Seemann, Brian Karl, Hasselfeldt, Kurt
• Granted Patent: US 7,054,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/37
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

A phone-interface device receives a wireless signal from a control panel. The wireless signal encodes information regarding a system condition that has occurred in a facility. The phone-interface device communicates the system condition to a monitoring station. The phone-interface device receives its electrical power from the telephone line or from an energy storage device. In another aspect, the phone-interface device receives a provisional-alarm signal command from a control panel. The phone-interface device determines whether a disarm command has been received from the control panel. When a disarm command has not been received before expiration of a period of time, the phone-interface devices sends an alarm condition to a monitoring station.

Claims

1. A method at a phone-interface device, comprising:

receiving a provisional-alarm report;

determining whether a disarm command has been received subsequent to receipt of the provisional-alarm report; and

when a disarm command has not been received before expiration of a period of time, sending a system condition to a monitoring station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the provisional-alarm report is received via a wireless signal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the wireless signal is a radio frequency signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the alarm condition further comprises:

seizing a telephone line; and

calling the monitoring station via the telephone line.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining whether the calling element is successful, and when the calling element is not successful, sending the alarm condition to the monitoring station via an alternative communications link.

6. A control panel, comprising

a receiver to receive a sensor event from a security device;

a controller to translate the sensor event into a system condition; and

a transmitter to transmit a wireless signal to a phone-interface device, wherein the wireless signal encodes information regarding the system condition.

7. A phone-interface device, comprising:

a receiver to receive a wireless signal from a control panel, wherein the wireless signal encodes information regarding a system condition; and

a phone port to connect to a communications link, wherein the phone port is to dial a telephone number of a monitoring station in response to receiving the wireless signal.

8. The phone-interface device of claim 7, wherein the communications link is a telephone line.

9. The phone-interface device of claim 7, wherein the communications link is an ISDN line.

10. The phone-interface device of claim 7, wherein the communications link is wireless.

11. A phone-interface device, comprising:

a phone port to draw electrical energy from a phone line, wherein the phone port is part of a premise phone system, and wherein the electrical energy drawn from the phone line is within a current and voltage profile of the premise phone system.

12. The phone-interface device of claim 11, further comprising:

an energy storage device, wherein the electrical energy drawn from the phone line charges the energy storage device.

13. The phone-interface device of claim 12, wherein the energy storage device is a battery.

14. The phone-interface device of claim 12, wherein the energy storage device is a capacitor.

15. The phone-interface device of claim 12, wherein the electrical energy is drawn from the phone line during a phone line state of ringing.

16. The phone-interface device of claim 12, wherein the electrical energy is drawn while a premise phone is off-hook.

17. The phone-interface device of claim 12, wherein the electrical energy is drawn while the phone port checks the line for proper voltages and currents.

18. The phone-interface device of claim 12, wherein the electrical energy is drawn while the phone port is dialing.

19. The phone-interface device of claim 12, wherein the electrical energy is drawn during a connected call.

20. The phone-interface device of claim 12, wherein the electrical energy is drawn after an off-premise call has hung up.

21. A security system, comprising:

a control panel to receive a sensor event from a security device, to translate the sensor event into a system condition, and to transmit a wireless signal to a phone-interface device, wherein the wireless signal encodes information regarding the system condition; and

a phone-interface device to receive the wireless signal from the control panel, wherein the phone-interface device is packaged separately from the control panel.

22. The security system of claim 21, wherein the phone-interface further comprises a phone port to connect to a telephone line, wherein the phone port is to dial a telephone number of a monitoring station in response to receiving the wireless signal.

23. The security system of claim 21, wherein the control panel receives alternating electric current.

24. The security system of claim 21, wherein the phone-interface device receives direct electric current from an energy storage device.

25. The security system of claim 24, wherein the energy storage device comprises a battery.

26. The security system of claim 24, wherein the energy storage device comprises a capacitor.

27. The security system of claim 21, wherein the phone-interface device receives electrical power from a telephone line.

28. The security system of claim 21, wherein the phone-interface device is mounted in a separate enclosure from the control panel.

29. The security system of 21, wherein the phone-interface device is mounted in a separate enclosure from an input device.

30. The security system of 21, wherein the phone-interface device is mounted in a separate enclosure from a siren.

31. A program product comprising a signal-bearing media bearing instructions, which when read and executed by a processor, comprise:

receiving a provisional-alarm report;

determining whether a disarm command has been received subsequent to receipt of the provisional-alarm report; and

when a disarm command has not been received before expiration of a period of time, sending a system condition to a monitoring station.

32. The program product of claim 31, wherein the provisional-alarm report is received via a wireless signal.

33. The program product of claim 32, wherein the wireless signal is a radio frequency signal.

34. The program product of claim 31, wherein sending the alarm condition further comprises:

seizing a telephone line; and

calling the monitoring station via the telephone line.

35. The program product of claim 34, wherein the instructions further comprise:

determining whether the calling is successful, and when the calling is not successful, sending the alarm condition to the monitoring station via an alternative communications link.