Tracking, presence verification and locating features as part of a security system

• US 20050099299A1
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Tyroler, Dan, Lizza, Alfred M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,113,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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

Tracking, presence verification, and locating features are incorporated into a security system that includes a user interface device with a display, keypad and associated transceiver. Wireless RF electronic tags are attached to different objects, e.g., an inanimate object, or a living being such as a child or pet. To verify the presence of an object associated with a tag, the user instructs the user interface device to transmit a wireless signal to the tag. The tag responds, when within range, by returning a wireless signal. In another aspect, a person is detected such as at the entry to a home, and a low-power transmitter at the entry sends a signal to the electronic tag. The electronic tag responds by transmitting data to the security system to cause it to take a desired action. The presence of a person, such as a child, in an unauthorized area can trigger an alarm.

Claims

1. An apparatus with a presence verification feature, comprising:

a user interface device for receiving a command from a user to verify the presence of an object;

a transmitter;

a control responsive to the command for controlling the transmitter to transmit a wireless signal encoded with an identifier of an electronic tag associated with the object; and

a receiver for receiving a wireless signal from the electronic tag that is responsive to the wireless signal transmitted thereto;

wherein the control is responsive to the wireless signal received by the receiver for informing the user, via the user interface device, that the presence of the object is verified.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the command designates a schedule for transmitting the wireless signal encoded with the identifier at different times.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the user interface device enables the user to select the object whose presence is to be verified from among a plurality of objects for which respective electronic tags are associated.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the control controls at least one component in a security system.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory for storing the identifier for the electronic tag responsive to inputs provided by the user via the user interface device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the object comprises one of an inanimate object and a living being.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

wherein the control is responsive to a lack of receipt of the wireless signal by the receiver for informing the user, via the user interface device, that the presence of the object is not verified.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the transmitter and the receiver is configured by a hardware setting.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the transmitter and the receiver is configured by a user setting.

10. An electronic tag for use with a presence verification feature, comprising:

a memory for storing an identifier;

a receiver for receiving a wireless signal encoded with an identifier;

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

a transmitter responsive to the control for transmitting a wireless signal for verifying a presence of the electronic tag when the stored identifier matches the received identifier.

11. A detection apparatus, comprising:

a detector at a specified location for detecting the presence of a living being within a specified range;

a transmitter at the specified location; and

a control responsive to the detector for controlling the transmitter to transmit a wireless signal with a specified energy based on the specified range;

wherein the wireless signal from the transmitter, when received by an electronic tag within the specified range, causes the electronic tag to transmit a wireless signal with data to a security system.

12. The detection apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the data transmitted by the electronic tag causes the security system to take a specified action.

13. The detection apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a memory that is pre-programmed with data for setting the specified energy.

14. The detection apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

at least one of the transmitter and the detector is configured by a remote user setting.

15. The detection apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

at least one of the transmitter and the detector is configured by a hardware setting.

16. An electronic tag, comprising:

a memory for storing an identifier;

a receiver for receiving a first wireless signal;

a transmitter for transmitting a second wireless signal; and

a control responsive to receipt of the first wireless signal by the receiver for controlling the transmitter to transmit the second wireless signal to a security system;

wherein the second wireless signal is encoded with the identifier and other data for use by the security system.

17. The electronic tag of claim 16, wherein:

the other data in the second wireless signal causes the security system to take a specified action.

18. The electronic tag of claim 16, wherein:

at least one of the transmitter and the receiver is configured by a remote user setting.

19. The electronic tag of claim 16, wherein:

the other data is configured by a hardware setting.

20. The electronic tag of claim 16, wherein:

the other data is configured by a remote user setting.

21. The electronic tag of claim 16, wherein:

at least one of the transmitter and the receiver is configured by a hardware setting.

22. A method for controlling a security system, comprising:

detecting the presence of a living being within a specified range of a detector at a specified location;

responsive to the detecting, controlling a transmitter at the specified location to transmit a wireless signal having a specified energy based on the specified range;

receiving the wireless signal at an electronic tag when the electronic tag is within the specified range; and

responsive to the receiving, transmitting a wireless signal, which includes data for use by the security system, from the electronic tag to the security system.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein:

the data is relayed from the received wireless signal.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein:

the data causes the security system to take a specified action.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein:

the data is configured by a remote user setting.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein:

the data is configured by a hardware setting.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein:

the transmitted wireless signal from the electronic tag includes an identifier associated with the electronic tag; and

the security system uses the identifier in determining how to process the data.

28. A security system apparatus, comprising:

a receiver for receiving a wireless signal encoded with data from an electronic tag;

a memory programmed with instructions for performing a specified action; and

a control for accessing the memory to carry out the instructions for performing the specified action responsive to the data received in the wireless signal.

29. The security system apparatus of claim 28, wherein:

the wireless signal is also encoded with an identifier of the electronic tag; and

the control verifies that the identifier is recognized before accessing the memory to carry out the instructions for performing the specified action.

30. A security system apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a user setting for configuring a transmission range of a remote transmitter; and

a control responsive to the means for receiving for controlling a local transmitter to transmit a signal to configure the transmission range of the remote transmitter according to the user setting.

31. The security system apparatus of claim 30, wherein:

the means for receiving comprises a user interface device.

32. A security system apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a user setting for configuring a transmission range of a local transmitter; and

a control responsive to the means for receiving for controlling the local transmitter to configure the transmission range according to the user setting.

33. A security system apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a user setting for configuring a receiving range of a local receiver; and

a control responsive to the means for receiving for controlling the local receiver to configure the receiving range according to the user setting.