Alarm systems having multiple communication alternatives for contacting a monitoring service and methods of operating the same

• US 20080020747A1
• Filed: 07/18/2006
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: McQuaide, Arnold Chester
• Granted Patent: US 8,457,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/004 Alarm propagated along alternative communication path or using alternative communication medium according to a hierarchy of available ways to communicate, e.g. if Wi-Fi not available use GSM
• 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 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/16 Security signalling or alarm systems, e.g. redundant systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

An alarm system includes a mobile terminal and an alarm controller. The alarm controller is configured to communicate with the mobile terminal, to attempt a call to a monitoring service using a first communication technique responsive to detection of an alarm condition, and to attempt a call to the monitoring service using the mobile terminal if the call attempt using the first communication technique is unsuccessful.

Claims

1. An alarm system, comprising:

a mobile terminal; and

an alarm controller that is configured to communicate with the mobile terminal, to attempt a call to a monitoring service using a first communication technique responsive to detection of an alarm condition, and to attempt a call to the monitoring service using the mobile terminal if the call attempt using the first communication technique is unsuccessful.

2. The alarm system of claim 1, wherein the alarm controller is further configured to attempt a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) call to the monitoring service using the mobile terminal if the call attempt using the first communication technique is unsuccessful.

3. The alarm system of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal is configured to communicate with the alarm controller via a direct wired or wireless communication interface.

4. The alarm system of claim 3, wherein the direct wireless communication interface comprises one of a Bluetooth and a IEEE 802.11b/g Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication protocol.

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

a cradle that is configured to receive the mobile terminal therein, the cradle being communicatively coupled to the alarm controller.

6. The alarm system of claim 5, wherein the cradle comprises a phone interface that is configured to activate the mobile terminal responsive to detection of the alarm condition at the alarm controller.

7. The alarm system of claim 5, wherein the alarm controller is configured to communicate with the cradle via a direct wired or wireless communication interface comprising one of a Bluetooth and a IEEE 802.11b/g Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication protocol.

8. The alarm system of claim 5, wherein the cradle is configured to communicate with the mobile terminal via a direct wired or wireless communication interface comprising one of a Bluetooth and a IEEE 802.11b/g Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication protocol.

9. The alarm system of claim 1, wherein the first communication technique is a wireline call via a wireline connection.

10. The alarm system of claim 9, wherein the alarm controller further comprises a switch that is configured to select the wireline connection for communication responsive to detection of the alarm condition and to select the mobile terminal for communication responsive to an unsuccessful wireline call attempt.

11. A method of operating an alarm system, comprising:

operating an alarm controller to attempt a call to a monitoring service using a first communication technique responsive to detection of an alarm condition; and

operating the alarm controller to attempt a call to the monitoring service using a mobile terminal if the call attempt using the first communication technique is unsuccessful.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein operating the alarm controller to attempt the call to the monitoring service using the mobile terminal comprises operating the alarm controller to attempt a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) call to the monitoring service using the mobile terminal.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein operating the alarm controller to attempt the call to the monitoring service using the mobile terminal comprises:

communicating with a mobile terminal via a direct wired or wireless communication interface to attempt the call.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the direct wireless communication interface comprises one of a Bluetooth and a IEEE 802.11b/g Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication protocol.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing a cradle;

receiving the mobile terminal in the cradle; and

activating the mobile terminal in the cradle responsive to detection of the alarm condition.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

operating a switch to connect the alarm controller to a wireline connection to attempt the call to the monitoring service using the first communication technique; and

operating the switch to connect the alarm controller to the mobile terminal if the call attempt using the first communication technique is unsuccessful.

17. A method of operating an alarm system, comprising:

detecting an alarm condition;

determining if dial tone is available on a wireline connection;

placing a wireline call to a monitoring system on the wireline connection if dial tone is available;

determining if a mobile terminal is active if dial tone is not available on the wireline connection; and

placing a wireless call to the monitoring system using the mobile terminal if the mobile terminal is active.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein placing the wireless call to the monitoring service comprises:

communicating with the mobile terminal via a direct wired or wireless communication interface to place the wireless call.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

providing a cradle;

receiving the mobile terminal in the cradle; and

activating the mobile terminal in the cradle responsive to detection of the alarm condition.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

operating a switch to connect to the wireline connection to place the wireline call; and

operating the switch to connect to the mobile terminal to place the wireless call.