System for remotely monitoring a premise

• US 20060164234A1
• Filed: 12/13/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mustafa Acar
• Original Assignee: Mustafa Acar
• Inventors: Acar, Mustafa
• Granted Patent: US 7,642,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/003 Address allocation methods and details
• 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 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring a premise in case of an emergency and enabling 2-way voice communications with an individual at every possible location within the monitored premises. The system utilizes a radio frequency 2-way wireless communication link from a centrally located Base Alarm Control Unit on the premise to plurality of Remote Alarm Control Units situated throughout the premise. Remote Alarm Control Units relay the information received from the wireless remote transmitters to the Base Alarm Control Unit thereby increasing the effective useful range of the wireless communication link. The same also establishes a 2-way voice connection between the Central Station operator and the individual who may be located at any possible location within the premise, thereby providing a much more effective handling of the emergency or alarm situation.

Claims

1. Alarm system for providing audio communications between a monitored location and a central monitoring station, comprising:

a. a BACU having a first radio transceiver for receiving a first digital radio signal and for transmitting a second digital radio signal;

b. a RACU having, a speaker for outputting audio at the monitored location, a microphone for receiving audio originating at the monitored location, a second radio transceiver for receiving said second digital radio signal and transmitting said first digital radio signal, an A/D converter, and a D/A converter;

c. wherein, said RACU utilizes said A/D converter for converting audio received by said microphone into said first digital signal and transmits via said second radio transceiver said first digital signal to said first radio transceiver; and

d. wherein, said BACU transmits via said first radio transceiver a second digital signal, and said RACU receives said second digital signal with said second radio transceiver and the RACU utilizes said D/A converter for converting said second digital signal into an analog audio signal which converted by said speaker into audible sound.

2. The alarm system of claim 1, further comprising:

a. a RID having a transmitter which transmits status information; and

b. wherein said RACU includes a receiver for receiving said status information from said RID and includes said status information in said first digital signal.

3. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein said first digital radio signal and said second digital radio signal are IEEE 802.15.4 compliant.

4. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein said BACU further includes a communicator for communicating between said BACU and said central monitoring station.

5. The alarm system of claim 4 wherein said communicator communicates over a PSTN network to the central monitoring station.

6. The alarm system of claim 5 wherein said BACU further comprises a second A/D converter for converting analog voice signals received over the PSTN network to said second digital radio signal.

7. The alarm system of claim 6 wherein said BACU further comprises a second D/A converter for converting said first digital radio signal to an analog sign to be transmitted over the PSTN network.

8. An alarm system of claim 1, further comprising a second RACU having a third radio transceiver, wherein said third radio transceiver receives said first digital signal and said third transceiver retransmits said first digital signal.

9. An alarm system of claim 1, further comprising a second RACU having a third radio transceiver, wherein said third radio transceiver receives said first digital signal and said third transceiver retransmits said first digital signal.

10. Alarm system for sending status signals originating at a RID to a central monitoring station, comprising:

a. a BACU having a first radio transceiver for transmitting and receiving a first digital protocol;

b. a RACU having a second radio transceiver for transmitting and receiving said first digital protocol between said BACU and said RACU; and

c. said RACU having a receiver for receiving a second digital protocol from a RID, wherein said RACU converts said second digital signal to said first digital signal, wherein said first digital protocol and said second digital protocol are different.

12. The alarm system of claim 10, wherein said second digital protocol consumes less power than said first digital protocol.

13. The alarm system of claim 10, wherein said second digital protocol communicates at a slower speed than said first digital protocol

14. The alarm system of claim 10, further comprising a second RACU having a third radio transceiver, wherein said third transceiver receives said first digital protocol and said third transceiver retransmits said first digital protocol.

15. The alarm system of claim 10 wherein said first digital protocol includes a digitized audio.

16. The alarm system of claim 10 wherein said second digital protocol includes status information of said RID.

17. The alarm system of claim 10 wherein said BACU further comprises a communicator for communication a third protocol with the central monitoring station.

18. The alarm system of claim 17 wherein said third protocol is different from said first digital protocol and said second digital protocol.

19. The alarm system of claim 18 where said third protocol is suitable for transmission over a PSTN network.

20. The alarm system of claim 17 wherein said third protocol is the same as said first protocol.

11. The alarm system of claim 11, wherein said first digital protocol is IEEE 802.15.4 compatible.

21. An alarm system for monitoring a premise and communicating with a central monitoring station, comprising:

a BACU comprising;

a communicator for communicating with the central monitoring station, a first visible clock on the BACU for displaying the time of day, and a user input key; and

wherein upon said BACU detecting activation of said user input key, said BACU communicates using said communicator with the central monitoring station and receives time information, wherein said BACU updates the time on said first visible clock in accordance with the time information received.

22. The alarm system of claim 21 further comprising:

a RACU having a second visible clock and a transceiver for communicating with said BACU, wherein said BACU transmits said time information to said RACU with in turn updates said second visible clock.