Automated configuration of security system control panels using calling number information

• US 20050276389A1
• Filed: 06/14/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Zakrewski, David S., Martin, Christopher D., Hinkson, Richard H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,142,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/37
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2854 Wide area networks, e.g. public data networks

Abstract

A method is disclosed of automatically configuring security system control panels by using calling number information that is provided by a telephone call made to a specified telephone number, such as Calling Number Delivery (CND) information that is provided by a telephone call made to a toll free (800) telephone number. After an initial installation of a security system at an installation site, the security system control panel dials the specified telephone number to establish a telephone connection to a security company database center. The security company database center receives the calling number information that includes the telephone number of the installation site, and utilizes the telephone number of the installation site to look up in a database the security system control panel configuration information. This control panel configuration information is then automatically transferred and downloaded over the telephone connection to the security system control panel to configure and program the control panel for operation. The method of establishing a connection to a specified telephone number can also be utilized to reconfigure an already-installed security system, and also to configure many other devices and systems unrelated to security systems that need to be customized or configured.

Claims

1. A method of automatically configuring a security system control panel of a security system at an installation site by using calling number information that is provided by a telephone call made to a specified telephone number, comprising:

the security system control panel establishing a telephone connection from the installation site to the specified telephone number that supplies the specified telephone number with the calling number information which includes the telephone number of the calling number-installation site;

the specified telephone number providing a connection to a database center that receives and uses the telephone number of the installation site to access control panel configuration data associated with the telephone number of the installation site;

transferring the control panel configuration data over the telephone connection to the security system control panel to configure and program the security system control panel for operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the programming and configuring of the security system control panel is accomplished automatically by a program at the database center for transferring the configuration data over the telephone connection.

3. The method of claim 1, including creating a security system database which stores and indexes a plurality of installation site telephone numbers, to enable the use of an installation site telephone number to access stored configuration data required to set up and configure the security system control panel at that installation site.

4. The method of claim 1, including a security system company programming a single specified telephone number into all of the control panels of a given single model, to allow the given single model to be used by the security system company for all security system installations.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a security system installation technician installs and connects all of the components and equipment of the security system, and then activates an installation mode to cause the security system control panel to dial the specified telephone number to establish a connection to the database center.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the security system installation technician activates the installation mode by entering a special key sequence at the security system control panel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein following installation and connection of all of the components and equipment of the security system, programming and configuring of the security system control panel is accomplished automatically by a program at the database center for transferring the configuration data over the telephone connection without intervention by a security system installation technician, thereby allowing the programming and configuration of the security system control panel to proceed at the convenience of the security system installation technician.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein an existing operational security system is reconfigured by causing the security system control panel to dial the specified telephone number to establish a connection to the database center.

9. The method of claim 1, the security system control panel establishing a telephone connection to a specified toll free telephone number that supplies the specified toll free telephone number with Calling Number Delivery (CND) information provided by a telephone call made to a toll free telephone number.

10. The method of claim 1, including a security system company programming a single specified toll free telephone number, that receives Calling Number Delivery (CND) information from telephone calls made to the specified toll free telephone number, into all of the control panels of a given single model, to allow the given single model to be used by the security system company for all security system installations.

11. A method of automatically configuring a device at an installation site by using calling number information that is provided by a telephone call made to a specified telephone number, comprising:

the device establishing a telephone connection from the installation site to the specified telephone number that supplies the specified telephone number with the calling number information which includes the telephone number of the calling number-device installation site;

the specified telephone number providing a connection to a database center that receives and uses the telephone number of the installation site to access device configuration data associated with the telephone number of the installation site;

transferring the device configuration data over the telephone connection to the device to configure and program the device for operation.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the programming and configuring of the device is accomplished automatically by a program at the database center for transferring the configuration data over the telephone connection.

13. The method of claim 11, including creating a device database which stores and indexes a plurality of installation site telephone numbers, to enable the use of an installation site telephone number to access stored configuration data required to set up and configure the device at that installation site.

14. The method of claim 11, including a device company programming a single specified telephone number into all of the devices of a given single model, to allow the given single model to be used by the device company for all device installations.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein a device installation technician installs and connects all of the components and equipment of the device, and then activates an installation mode to cause the device to dial the specified telephone number to establish a connection to the database center.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the device installation technician activates the installation mode by entering a special key sequence at the device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein following installation and connection of all of the components and equipment of the device, programming and configuring of the device is accomplished automatically by a program at the database center for transferring the configuration data over the telephone connection without intervention by a device installation technician, thereby allowing the programming and configuration of the device to proceed at the convenience of the device installation technician.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein an installed operational device is reconfigured by causing the device to dial the specified telephone number to establish a connection to the database center.

19. The method of claim 11, the device establishing a telephone connection to a specified toll free telephone number that supplies the specified toll free telephone number with Calling Number Delivery (CND) information provided by a telephone call made to a toll free telephone number.

20. The method of claim 11, including a device company programming a single specified toll free telephone number, that receives Calling Number Delivery (CND) information from telephone calls made to the specified toll free telephone number, into all of the devices of a given single model, to allow the given single model to be used by the device company for all device installations.