Object locator feature as part of a security system

• US 20050099293A1
• Filed: 11/06/2003
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Tyroler, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 7,551,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.32
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0238 adding new units to the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

An object locator feature is incorporated into a security system that includes a user interface device with a display, keypad and associated transmitter. Wireless RF electronic tags with sounders are attached to different objects, e.g., an inanimate object, or a living being such as a child or pet. Each tag has an identifier such as a serial number that is learned to the user interface device by the user typing in the identifier of each tag. The user also types in descriptive information regarding the object with which the tag is associated, The user can edit the entries by adding or deleting objects, or changing the descriptive information. In a search mode, the user can select an object by its name or an assigned sequence number. In a polling mode, the electronic tags are periodically polled to confirm the presence of the associated object to the user.

Claims

1. A security system with an object locator feature, comprising:

a user interface device including a user output component and a user input component;

a memory associated with the user interface device for storing identifiers for electronic tags associated with a plurality of objects, and storing descriptive information for the plurality of objects;

wherein the user output component provides the descriptive information to a user to enable the user to select at least one of the plurality of objects via the user input component;

a control responsive to the user input component for retrieving, from the memory, the identifier for the electronic tag that is associated with the at least one selected object; and

a transmitter responsive to the control for transmitting a wireless signal encoded with the retrieved identifier.

2. The security system of claim 1, wherein:

the control controls security system components in the security system.

3. The security system of claim 1, wherein:

the transmitter transmits a wireless signal to at least one security system component in the security system.

4. The security system of claim 1, wherein:

the user output component comprises a display.

5. The security system of claim 1, wherein:

the user input component comprises a keypad.

6. The security system of claim 1, wherein:

the descriptive information for the plurality of objects is editable by the user via the user input component.

7. The security system of claim 1, wherein:

the. memory stores the identifiers for the electronic tags responsive to inputs provided by the user via the user input component.

8. The security system of claim 1, wherein:

the user enters a string of characters comprising at least one of numbers and letters via the user input component to provide the identifiers for the electronic tags that are stored by the memory.

9. The security system of claim 1, wherein:

the objects comprise at least one inanimate object.

10. The security system of claim 1, wherein:

the objects comprise at least one living being.

11. A method for providing an object locator feature for a security system, comprising:

storing identifiers for electronic tags associated with a plurality of objects, and storing descriptive information for the plurality of objects, in a memory associated with a user interface device of the security system;

providing the descriptive information to a user via a user output component of the user interface device to enable the user to select at least one of the plurality of objects via a user input component of the user interface device;

retrieving, from the memory, the identifier for the electronic tag that is associated with the at least one selected object; and

transmitting a wireless signal encoded with the retrieved identifier.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

inputting the identifiers via the user input component.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

inputting the descriptive information via the user input component.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

editing the descriptive information via the user input component.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the user enters a string of characters comprising at least one of numbers and letters via the user input component to provide the identifiers for the electronic tags for use in said storing step.

16. A program storage device, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform a method for providing an object locator feature for a security system, the method comprising the steps of:

storing identifiers for electronic tags associated with a plurality of objects, and storing descriptive information for the plurality of objects, in a memory associated with a user interface device of the security system;

providing the descriptive information to a user via a user output component of the user interface device to enable the user to select at least one of the plurality of objects via a user input component of the user interface device;

retrieving, from the memory, the identifier for the electronic tag that is associated with the at least one selected object; and

transmitting a wireless signal encoded with the retrieved identifier.

17. The program storage device of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

inputting the identifiers via the user input component.

18. The program storage device of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

inputting the descriptive information via the user input component.

19. The program storage device of claim 16, wherein:

the descriptive information comprises a name and number for each object.

20. The program storage device of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

editing the descriptive information via the user input component.

21. The program storage device of claim 16, wherein:

the user enters a string of characters comprising at least one of numbers and letters via the user input component to provide the identifiers for the electronic tags for use in said storing step.

22. An electronic tag for use with an object locator feature of a security system, comprising:

a memory for storing an identifier;

a receiver for receiving a wireless signal encoded with an identifier that was retrieved by a control of the security system from a memory of the security system;

a control for comparing the stored identifier to the received identifier; and

a sounder responsive to the control for emitting an audible sound when the stored identifier matches the received identifier.

23. The electronic tag of claim 22, wherein:

the identifier that was retrieved by the control of the security system from the memory of the security system is retrieved in response to a user input component of the security system.

24. The electronic tag of claim 22, wherein:

the identifier that was retrieved by the control of the security system from the memory of the security system is retrieved in response to a polling schedule of the security system.

25. A security system with an object polling feature, comprising:

a user interface device including a user output component and a user input component;

a memory associated with the user interface device for storing identifiers for electronic tags associated with a plurality of objects, and storing descriptive information for the plurality of objects;

wherein the user output component provides the descriptive information to a user to enable the user to select at least one of the plurality of objects via the user input component;

and a user activates a polling feature using the user interface device;

a control responsive to the user input component for retrieving, from the memory, the identifier for the electronic tag that is associated with the at least one selected object; and

a transmitter responsive to the control for transmitting a wireless signal encoded with the retrieved identifier according to a polling schedule associated with the polling feature.

26. The security system of claim 25, wherein:

the user sets the polling schedule via the user interface device.