INSTANT MESSAGING APPLICATIONS IN SECURITY SYSTEMS

• US 20100030856A1
• Filed: 02/05/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Zakrewski, David S., Blum, William R., Addy, Kenneth L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,843,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method of operating a security system by generating an instant message at a first location, the instant message including security system data, then transmitting the instant message from the first location over a computer network to a second location via an instant message server computer. The instant message is received at the second location, and a security system function is initiated at the second location based on the security system data from the instant message. Security system configuration data may be provided with an instant message in order to enable remote programming of the security system via the instant messaging channel. Half-duplex audio communications may also be achieved by providing digitized audio files with instant messages that may be communicated between locations.

Claims

1. A method of operating a security system comprising:

a. generating an instant message comprising security system configuration data;

b. transmitting the instant message from a first location over a computer network to a second location via an instant message server computer;

c. receiving the instant message at the second location; and

d. programming a security system device at the second location with the security system configuration data from the received instant message.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said security system configuration data comprises authorized user information.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said security system configuration data comprises security system scheduling information.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said security system configuration data comprises security system operational update software.

5. A security system communications system comprising:

a) an instant messaging server interconnected to a computer network;

b) a central station operator computer at a first location and interconnected to the computer network; and

c) a premises monitoring system at a second location, comprising

a plurality of security system devices, each adapted to monitor a condition at the second location,

a control panel interconnected to the plurality of security system devices for communication therewith,

an instant messaging client adapter interconnected with the control panel and the computer network, and

processing circuitry adapted to program a security system device with security system configuration data from an instant message received from the central station operator computer.

6. A method of providing half-duplex audio communications between parties via a security system comprising:

a. generating an instant message comprising digitized audio information from a first party;

b. transmitting the instant message from a first location over a computer network to a second location via an instant message server computer;

c. receiving the instant message at the second location; and

d. playing the digitized audio information from the received instant message over a speaker to a second party at the second location.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

e. generating a response instant message comprising digitized audio information from the second party;

f. transmitting the response instant message from the second location over a computer network to the first location via the instant message server computer;

g. receiving the response instant message at the first location; and

h. playing the digitized audio information from the received response instant message over a speaker to the first party.

8. A security system communications system comprising:

a) an instant messaging server interconnected to a computer network;

b) a central station operator computer at a first location and interconnected to the computer network; and

c) a premises monitoring system at a second location, comprising

a plurality of security system devices, each adapted to monitor a condition at the second location,

a control panel interconnected to the plurality of security system devices for communication therewith,

an instant messaging client adapter interconnected with the control panel and the computer network, and

a speaker for playing an audio file received as part of an instant message from the central station operator computer.

9. The security system of claim 8 further comprising a microphone for enabling a user to generate an audio file to be included in an instant message for transmission to the central station operator computer.