System and methods for automated alarm tracking and billing

• US 20020190857A1
• Filed: 05/24/2002
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safety Corporation
• Original Assignee: Safety Corporation
• Inventors: Chicca, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 6,856,246 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/531
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

An automated alarm tracking system is provide which retrieves, collects, extracts, stores, analyzes, tracks, processes, and bills alarm data to provide a broad array benefits. In addition, the system provides numerous reporting and analytical tools to allow users to accurately identify false alarms, alarm patterns, geographically view alarm locations, and other information. The system enables users to define and modify various aspects and features to provide a customized automated alarm tracking system and methods.

Claims

1. A system for automated alarm tracking comprising:

at least one alarm company for receiving alarm signals from at least one alarmed facility;

a dispatch system for receiving a plurality of alarm information from said at least one alarm company wherein said dispatch system enters said plurality of alarm information into at least one alarm record contained within an alarm data file;

a processing system comprising a computer processing device for receiving said alarm data file, a database for storing a plurality of stored alarm data, and a software application for processing each of said at least one alarm record against said plurality of stored alarm data and at least one predefined criteria.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said processing system is located in a remote facility from said dispatch system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said remote facility is an outsource agency.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said remote facility is a police agency within said jurisdiction.

5. A method for automated alarm tracking comprising the steps of:

establishing a set of pre-defined criteria;

obtaining an alarm data file comprised of at least one alarm record, wherein said at least one alarm record contains a plurality of alarm data including an associated record identifier;

processing each one of said at least one alarm record against a plurality of stored alarm data;

combining data from said at least one alarm record to related data within said plurality of stored alarm data to create a combined alarm data record;

comparing said combined alarm data record against said set of predefined criteria to determine if any data of said combined alarm data record has met or exceeded at least one of said set of predefined criteria; and

creating an appropriate correspondence for said record identifier associated with said at least one alarm data record which has exceeded at least one of said set of predefined criteria.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said correspondence is an invoice.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said record identifier is the name of the alarm registrant associated with said alarm record.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said record identifier is the location of an alarmed facility associated with said alarm record.

9. The method of claim 5, further including the steps of determining if said alarm record is related to a new registrant and if so creating a new registrant entry within said plurality of stored alarm data.

10. The method of claim 5, further including the steps of determining if said alarm record is related to a new location and if so creating a new location entry within said plurality of stored alarm data.

11. A programmable software application for automated alarm tracking which performs the following processing steps:

establishes a set of pre-defined criteria;

obtains an alarm data file comprised of at least one alarm record, wherein said at least one alarm record contains a plurality of alarm data including an associated record identifier;

processes each one of said at least one alarm record against a plurality of stored alarm data;

combines data from said at least one alarm record to related data within said plurality of stored alarm data to create a combined alarm data record;

compares said combined alarm data record against said set of predefined criteria to determine if any data of said combined alarm data record has met or exceeded at least one of said set of predefined criteria; and

creates an appropriate correspondence to send to said record identifier associated with said at least one alarm data record which has exceeded at least one of said set of predefined criteria.

12. The programmable software application of claim 11, wherein said correspondence is an invoice.

13. The programmable software application of claim 11, further including the processes of determining if said alarm record is related to a new registrant and if so creating a new registrant entry within said plurality of stored alarm data.

14. The programmable software application of claim 11, further including the processes of determining if said alarm record is related to a new location and if so creating a new location entry within said plurality of stored alarm data.