Method and apparatus for communicating between a home network and a wireless network

• US 20070139188A1
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Coogan, John, Ollis, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US11/300,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20070139188A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.120
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• 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 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A bridge apparatus is provided that interfaces the home network to the wireless network. The bridge apparatus is separate from the security panel module, and includes a processor that translates commands received from the home network control unit into wireless network commands and transmits the wireless network commands over a wireless network to a security monitoring service center or to a health monitoring service center, depending on whether the commands relate to detected security conditions or detected health conditions.

Claims

1. An apparatus for interfacing a home network to a wireless network comprising:

a home network interface component configured to receive a communication from a home network control center relating to at least one condition detected by at least one sensor within the home network;

a processor configured to receive one or more commands from the home network interface component and to translate the commands into wireless network commands; and

a wireless network interface component configured to receive the translated commands from the processor and to place a call over a wireless network in accordance with the translated commands received from the processor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory device in communication with the processor for storing one or more software computer programs and data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the home network interface component communicates via a wireless link with the home network control center.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one condition corresponds to a condition relating to security of a home in which the home network is incorporated.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one condition corresponds to a condition relating to health of a user of the home network.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a wall outlet plug assembly for enabling the apparatus to be plugged into an electrical wall outlet; and

an Alternating Current (AC)-to-Direct Current (DC) converter for converting an AC signal from the electrical wall outlet into a DC signal that is used to supply power to the apparatus.

7. A method for interfacing a home network to a wireless network comprising:

receiving a command in a home network interface component from a home network control center, the command being associated with one or more conditions detected by one or more sensors of a home network;

processing the command in a processor that is in communication with the home network interface component to translate the command into a wireless network command;

forwarding the wireless network command from the processor to a wireless network interface component;

receiving the wireless network command in the wireless network interface component; and

transmitting the wireless network command from the wireless network interface component to a wireless network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the home network interface component communicates via a wireless link with the home network control center.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said at least one condition corresponds to a condition relating to security of a home in which the home network is incorporated.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said at least one condition corresponds to a condition relating to health of a user of the home network.

11. A computer program for interfacing a home network to a wireless network, the program being embodied on a computer-readable medium, the program comprising instructions for execution by a computer, the program comprising:

instructions for receiving a command in a home network interface component from a home network control center, the command being associated with one or more conditions detected by one or more sensors of a home network;

instructions for processing the command in a processor that is in communication with the home network interface component to translate the command into a wireless network command;

instructions for forwarding the wireless network command from the processor to a wireless network interface component;

instructions for receiving the wireless network command in the wireless network interface component; and

instructions for transmitting the wireless network command from the wireless network interface component to a wireless network.

12. The computer program of claim 11, wherein the home network interface component communicates via a wireless link with the home network control center.

13. The computer program of claim 11, wherein said at least one condition corresponds to a condition relating to security of a home in which the home network is incorporated.

14. The computer program of claim 11, wherein said at least one condition corresponds to a condition relating to health of a user of the home network.