Communications architecture for a security network

• US 20040212503A1
• Filed: 03/23/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LifeShield LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LifeShield LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stilp, Louis A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,084,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/248 EAS system combined with another detection technology, e.g. dual EAS and video or other presence detection system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/002 Generating a prealarm to the central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/14 checking the detection circuits

Abstract

A communications architecture for a security network using low power and high power wireless communications. The low power and high power wireless communications will typically be operating in different frequency bands and at different transmit power levels. The security network contains base units and transponders. Base units may be in the form of cordless phone handsets or cordless phone base stations. Transmissions from a transponder may be received at more than one base unit. A base unit may forward communications from a transponder to another base unit. Transponder communications may contain identifying information and may further encrypt information sent in the communications. Base units may contain data used in determining whether to route communications to another base unit.

Claims

1. A communications architecture for a security network containing at least a first and a second base unit and a first transponder, wherein

The said first transponder communicates to at least the first base unit using low power wireless communications, and

The said second base unit communicates with the said first base unit using high power wireless communications.

2. The communications architecture in claim 1 wherein the said low power wireless communications operates at a different frequency band than the said high power wireless communications.

3. The communications architecture in claim 1 wherein the said low power wireless communications operates under a different FCC rule section than the said high power wireless communications.

4. The communications architecture in claim 1 wherein the said low power wireless communications is transmitted at average power levels under 10 milliwatts and the said high power wireless communications is transmitted at average power levels above 10 milliwatts.

5. The communications architecture in claim 1 wherein the said low power wireless communications operates within a first fixed frequency range and the said high power communications never operates within the first fixed frequency range.

6. The communications architecture in claim 1 wherein the said first transponder can receive wireless communications from the said first base unit.

7. The communications architecture in claim 6 wherein the said first transponder can change parameters of subsequent transmitted low power wireless communications based upon data received in the wireless communications from the said first base unit.

8. The communications architecture in claim 1 wherein when the said first base unit can receive a first communications from the first transponder and send a copy of the said first communications to the said second base unit.

9. The communications architecture in claim 1 wherein the communications sent from the said first transponder contains identifying information that identifies the first transponder.

10. The communications architecture in claim 1 wherein the communications sent from the said first transponder contains identifying information that identifies the security network in which the first transponder is enrolled.

11. The communications architecture in claim 1 wherein at least part of the communications sent from the said first transponder has been encrypted using an encryption key.

12. The communications architecture in claim 1 wherein the communications sent from the said first transponder to the said first base unit is received by the said second base unit.

13. The communications architecture in claim 9 wherein the said first base unit contains first data used by the said first base unit to determine whether to send a copy of the communications sent from the said first transponder to the said second base unit.

14. The communications architecture in claim 13 wherein the said first data includes identifying information about the said first transponder.

15. The communications architecture in claim 11 wherein the said first base unit contains an encryption key than enables the said first base unit to interpret the said communications sent by the said first transponder to the said first base unit.

16. The communications architecture in claim 1 wherein the first base unit is in the physical form of a cordless phone handset.

17. The communications architecture in claim 1 wherein the second base unit is in the physical form of a cordless phone handset.

18. The communications architecture in claim 1 wherein the second base unit is in the physical form of a cordless phone base station.

19. The communications architecture in claim 1 wherein the first base unit is powered by a battery.

20. The communications architecture in claim 12 wherein the said second base unit sends a copy of the said communications sent from the said first transponder to the said first base unit using high power wireless communications.