Redundant security system

• US 20080186173A1
• Filed: 02/02/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tell A. Gates
• Original Assignee: Tell A. Gates
• Inventors: Gates, Tell A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,456,305 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/542
• 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 29/16 Security signalling or alarm systems, e.g. redundant systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply

Abstract

A redundant security system relies on a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag to convey security sensor data. If the RFID tag is unable to convey security sensor data, a backup photoelectric cell powered transmitter is activated to transmit security sensor data to a monitoring station. Alternately, a security safe is outfitted with a RFID tag based security sensor. The RFID tag allows remote monitoring of at least one of an opened/closed condition and a locked/unlocked condition of a door of the security safe.

Claims

1. A redundant security sensor, comprising:

a photoelectric cell;

a passive sensor to detect a security condition;

a security switch;

a wireless transmitter; and

a switch to trigger said wireless transmitter to wirelessly transmit sensor data associated with said security switch with power generated from said photoelectric cell.

2. The redundant security sensor according to claim 1, wherein:

said photoelectric cell is manually adjustable toward a light source.

3. The redundant security sensor according to claim 1, further comprising:

a processor to monitor for a radio frequency field attempting to obtain said security data.

4. The redundant security sensor according to claim 1, further comprising:

an energy storage device to store energy produced by said photoelectric cell.

5. The redundant security sensor according to claim 1, wherein:

said wireless transmitter is a piconet transceiver.

6. The redundant security sensor according to claim 1, wherein:

said wireless transmitter transmits to a wireless interface extender.

7. The redundant security sensor according to claim 6, wherein:

said wireless interface extender is integrated into any of a wall power outlet, a telephone line outlet, a smoke detector, a motion detector, a glass break detector and wall switch.

8. The redundant security sensor according to claim 1, wherein:

said passive sensor is comprised of a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag.

9. The redundant security sensor according to claim 1, wherein:

said redundant security sensor is integrated into a window lock.

10. The redundant security sensor according to claim 1, wherein:

said redundant security sensor is integrated into a door lock.

11. The redundant security sensor according to claim 1, wherein:

said redundant security sensor is integrated into a security safe.

12. The redundant security sensor according to claim 6, wherein:

said wireless interface extender comprises a motion detector.

13. The security sensor according to claim 1, wherein:

said sensor data is an open/close condition.

14. The security sensor according to claim 1, wherein:

said sensor data is a lock/unlocked condition.

15. A redundant security method, comprising:

determining if a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) radio frequency (RF) field is detected; and

activating a photoelectric cell powered security transmitter if said RFID RF field is undetected.

16. The redundant security method according to claim 15, further comprising:

detecting an open/close condition.

17. The redundant security method according to claim 15, further comprising:

storing energy produced by a photoelectric cell.

18. The redundant security method according to claim 15, further comprising:

incorporating said security method into a security safe.

19. The redundant security method according to claim 15, further comprising:

incorporating said security method into a window lock

20. A redundant security apparatus, comprising:

means for determining if a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) radio frequency (RF) field is detected;

means for activating a photoelectric cell powered security transmitter upon a determination that said RFID RF field is undetected.

21. The redundant security apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:

means for detecting an open/close condition.

22. The redundant security apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:

means for detecting a locked/unlocked condition.

23. The redundant security apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:

means for detecting a locked/unlocked condition.

24. The redundant security apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:

means for storing energy produced by a photoelectric cell.

25. A security safe, comprising:

passive sensor to detect at least one of an open/close condition and a locked/unlocked condition of a security safe door.

26. The security safe according to claim 25, wherein:

said passive sensor is comprised of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag.

27. The security safe according to claim 25, wherein:

said passive sensor communicates with a remote user panel.

28. The security safe according to claim 27, wherein:

said remote user panel is a personal computer.

29. A method of monitoring a security safe, comprising:

detecting at least one of an opened/closed condition and a locked/unlocked condition of a door of said security safe;

conveying said detected at least one of said opened/closed condition and said locked/unlocked condition of said door of said security safe with a passive element.

30. The method of monitoring a security safe according to claim 29, wherein:

said passive element is a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag.

31. The method of monitoring a security safe according to claim 29, wherein:

said passive element conveys said detected at least one of said opened/closed condition and said locked/unlocked condition of said door of said security safe with a safe monitoring station.

32. The method of monitoring a security safe according to claim 29, wherein:

said safe monitoring station is comprised of a personal computer.

33. A system for monitoring a security safe, comprising:

means for detecting at least one of an opened/closed condition and a locked/unlocked condition of a door of said security safe;

means for conveying said detected at least one of said opened/closed condition and said locked/unlocked condition of said door of said security safe with a passive element.

34. The system for monitoring a security safe according to claim 33, wherein:

said passive sensor is a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag.

35. The system for monitoring a security safe according to claim 33, wherein:

said passive sensor conveys said detected at least one of said opened/closed condition and said locked/unlocked condition of said door of said security safe with a safe monitoring station.

36. The system for monitoring a security safe according to claim 35, wherein:

said safe monitoring station is a personal computer.