Monitoring receiver having virtual receiver and line numbers

• US 20060215688A1
• Filed: 03/25/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Wontorcik, Glenn A., Martin, Christopher D., Hinkson, Richard H., Boodoosingh, Narine
• Granted Patent: US 7,995,600 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/463
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/20 the monitoring system or the monitored elements being virtualised, abstracted or software-defined entities, e.g. SDN or NFV

Abstract

A virtual receiver having multiple communication ports for connecting a link to a plurality of local security systems. The virtual receiver is programmed with a virtual receiver number and a virtual line number for each physical communication port on the receiver. The virtual receiver has a master/slave operational mode such that the data received from the plurality of local security systems by each receiver is transmitted from at least one selected slave receiver to a selected master receiver. The virtual receiver number and virtual line number is used to create a part of a subscriber number. In master/slave operation mode, M number of receivers are linked together and the possible number of virtual receiver lines in a virtual receiver is M times the number in a normal mode of operation.

Claims

1. A virtual receiver used to monitor a plurality of individual local security systems each identified by a subscriber number, said subscriber number including a receiver number and a line number, said virtual receiver comprising:

a plurality of physical ports for connecting the plurality of individual local security systems to the receiver; and

programming means for selecting a virtual receiver number and a virtual line number for each of said plurality of physical ports.

2. The virtual receiver of claim 1, further comprising a connection used to transmit subscriber information, containing at least said virtual receiver number and virtual port number to an automation computer.

3. The virtual receiver of claim 1, wherein said programming means includes a user interface means.

4. The virtual receiver of claim 1, wherein said programming means is located at a remote location.

5. The virtual receiver of claim 1, wherein the virtual receiver number and the virtual line number are used in place of said physical receiver number and physical line number to create said subscriber number.

6. The virtual receiver of claim 5 wherein an operator selects the virtual receiver number and virtual line number to a value such that the subscriber number corresponding to said individual local security system always remains the same even if the local security systems is connected to a different physical port.

7. A method of configuring a virtual receiver used to monitor a plurality of individual local security systems each identified by a subscriber number, said subscriber number including a receiver number and a line number, said method comprising the steps of:

assigning a virtual receiver number for each of a plurality of physical ports;

assigning a virtual port number for each of a plurality of physical ports;

creating a subscriber number comprising at least said virtual receiver number followed by said virtual port number.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said virtual receiver numbers and said virtual port numbers are assigned such that the subscriber number corresponding to said individual local security system remains the same regardless of which of said plurality of physical ports a communication link is connected.

9. A method of configuring a plurality of virtual receivers for receiving information from a plurality of local security systems, said method comprising steps of:

selecting a mode of transmission for each of said plurality of receivers;

programming a virtual receiver number for each of a plurality of physical ports on each of said plurality of receivers;

programming a virtual line number for each of said plurality of physical ports on each of said plurality of receivers; and

creating a subscriber number that includes at least said virtual receiver number followed by said virtual line number.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said mode of transmission is master/slave mode.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of selecting a mode of transmission further comprises:

selecting one of said plurality of receivers as a master receiver; and

selecting the other of said plurality of receivers as slave receivers.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said steps of programming a virtual receiver number and virtual line number is first performed in said selected master receiver.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said virtual receiver number and said virtual line number are assigned such that said subscriber number corresponding to said local security system remains the same regardless of which of said plurality of physical ports a communication link is connected.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein information received by said plurality of receivers is transmitted through the selected master receiver in said master/slave mode to an automation computer.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein said virtual line number is M×

N, where M is a number of receivers connected and N is a number of physical ports on each receiver.

16. A monitoring system apparatus used for monitoring a plurality of local security systems each identified by a subscriber number, said subscriber number including a receiver number and a line number, comprising:

a plurality of receivers connected to said local security systems for receiving information from said local security systems;

an automation computer for processing said received information;

each of said plurality of receivers including a plurality of physical ports where a communication link is connected between said plurality of receivers and said local security systems and a programming means for inputting operating information into the each of said plurality of receivers;

wherein said operating information include a virtual receiver number and a virtual line number.

17. The monitoring system apparatus of claim 16- wherein said subscriber number is created from at least said virtual receiver number followed by said virtual line number.

18. The monitoring system apparatus of claim 16, wherein said operating information includes modes of transmission.

19. The monitoring system apparatus of claim 17, wherein the virtual receiver number and virtual line number are selected such that the subscriber number corresponding to said individual local security system always remains the same even if the local security systems is connected to a different physical port.

20. The monitoring system apparatus of claim 18, wherein the mode of transmission is master/slave mode.

21. The monitoring system apparatus of claim 20, wherein there is a master receiver and at least one slave receiver.

22. The monitoring system apparatus of claim 21, wherein the information received by said plurality of receivers is transmitted through the master receiver in said master/slave mode to the automation computer.

23. The monitoring system apparatus of claim 20 wherein said virtual line number can be M×

N, where M is a number or receivers connected and N is a number of physical ports on each receiver.