WIRELESS TAKEOVER OF WIRED ALARM SYSTEM COMPONENTS

• US 20100308990A1
• Filed: 06/08/2009
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NICE North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Linear LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Dean, Lance Leo, Simon, Scott Harris
• Granted Patent: US 8,638,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/16 Security signalling or alarm systems, e.g. redundant systems

Abstract

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for wireless takeover of wired alarm system components. Embodiments of the invention can be used to bridge hardwired alarm zones for use with a wireless alarm controller. Wired sensors are wired to a takeover module that converts communication from the wired sensors into wireless communication that can be compatibly processed at an alarm controller that accepts wireless signals. Power and ground connections from an existing wired alarm controller can be used with the takeover module to facilitate wireless takeover of wired alarm sensors.

Claims

1. An alarm system, the alarm system comprising:

wired alarm hardware configured to receive wired sensor input from a plurality of connected wired alarm sensors, one or more wires connecting each wired sensor to the wired alarm hardware; and

a takeover module, the takeover module including external connections, a microprocessor, and a wireless transmitter, wherein;

the external connections are configured to connect to the one or more wires connected to each wired alarm sensor such that wired sensor input from the wired alarm sensors is received at the external connections;

the microprocessor is configured to;

receive wired sensor input from the wired alarm sensors over the external connections;

convert the wired sensor input into wireless sensor input data, the wireless sensor input data in a format that is compatible with an alarm controller that accepts wireless signals; and

the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the wireless sensor input data to the alarm controller using a compatible frequency and wireless sensor protocol.

2. The alarm system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an AC power source, the AC power source connected to the wired alarm hardware, the AC power source providing power to run the wired alarm hardware, including providing power to any active wired alarm sensors in the plurality of wired alarm sensors, when the AC power source is on; and

a backup battery, the backup battery connected to a positive terminal and a ground terminal of the wired alarm hardware, the backup battery configured to provide power to run the wired alarm hardware, including providing power to the active wired alarm sensors, when the AC power source is off, and

wherein the AC power source charges the backup battery when the AC power source is on.

3. The alarm system as recited in claim 2, wherein the wired alarm hardware includes a wired power output terminal that provides power to the active wired alarm sensors.

4. The alarm system as recited in claim 3, wherein the external connections of the takeover module are further configured to connect to the wired power output terminal included in the wired alarm hardware.

5. The alarm system as recited in claim 4, wherein the wired alarm hardware is configured to shut off AC to at designated intervals and test the sufficiency of the battery backup to power components connected to the wired alarm hardware.

6. The alarm system as recited in claim 5, wherein the backup battery is connected to a positive terminal and a ground terminal of the takeover module, the backup battery configured to provide power to components of the takeover module when a loss of power is detected on the wired power output terminal of the wired alarm system hardware, connection of the battery backup to the ground terminal providing a common ground between the wired alarm hardware and the takeover module.

7. The alarm system as recited in claim 6, wherein the takeover module includes a battery monitoring module, the battery monitoring module configured to test the sufficiency of the battery backup to power components connected to the takeover module in response to detecting a loss of power on the wired power output terminal of the wired alarm hardware.

8. The alarm system as recited in claim 7, wherein the battery monitoring module is further configured to:

detect that the power of the battery backup is approaching a level that would be insufficient to power the components of the takeover module; and

send a low battery indicator to the microprocessor in response to the detection; and

wherein the microprocessor is configured to;

receive a low battery indicator from the battery monitoring module; and

convert the low battery indicator into wireless sensor input data indicative of a low battery at a wireless alarm sensor; and

wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to;

transmit the wireless sensor input data indicative of a low battery to the alarm controller.

9. The alarm system as recited in claim, 6 wherein the wired alarm sensors remain connected to a ground terminal at the wired alarm hardware to reduce the number of wires that have to be connected to the takeover module, the ground terminal at the wired alarm hardware connected to the common ground.

10. The alarm system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a wireless alarm controller, the wireless alarm controller configured to receive wireless sensor input data from wireless alarm sensors using the compatible frequency and wireless sensor protocol.

11. The alarm system as recited in claim 10, wherein the wireless transmitter transmits wireless sensor input data received from the microprocessor to the alarm controller to make it appear to the alarm controller that the alarm controller is receiving wireless sensor input data from one or more wireless alarm sensors so as to bridge the wired alarm sensors for monitoring by the alarm controller.

12. The alarm system as recited in claim 1, wherein the wired alarm hardware is a wired alarm controller configured to monitor wired alarm sensors.

13. A takeover circuit for taking over wired alarm system components, the takeover circuit comprising:

a plurality of external connections for connecting to a wired alarm system controller, the wired alarm system controller connected by wires to one or more wired alarm system zones, each wired alarm system zone including one or more wired sensors, the external connections configured to connect to the wires for each wired alarm system zone such that the takeover model receives wired sensor input directed to the wired alarm system controller from each wired alarm system zone;

electrical components for conditioning wired sensor input from each wired alarm system zone for processing by a microcontroller;

a microcontroller, the microcontroller configured to receive the conditioned wired sensor input from each wired alarm system zone and consolidate the wired sensor input into a wireless input data stream, the wireless input data stream in a format that is compatible with a alarm controller that accepts wireless signals; and

a wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter configured to transmit the wireless sensor input data to the alarm controller using a compatible wireless sensor protocol, transmission of the wireless input data stream used to simulate transmission of input data from a wireless sensor to the alarm controller.

14. The takeover circuit as recited in claim 13, wherein the microcontroller is further configured to:

assign each wired alarm system zone a serial number representative of a wireless sensor; and

associate an assigned serial number for a wired alarm zone with wired sensor input received from wired alarm sensors in the wired alarm zone.

15. The takeover circuit as recited in claim 14, wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to transmit wireless sensor input data associated with an assigned serial number to the alarm controller to make it appear to the alarm controller that the alarm controller is receiving wireless sensor input data from wireless alarm sensors so as to bridge input from a wired alarm system zone for monitoring by the alarm controller.

16. The takeover circuit as recited in claim 15, wherein the microcontroller is further configured to receive wired sensor input indicating an alarm condition in a corresponding wired alarm system zone;

and

wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit an indication of the alarm condition along with the assigned serial number for the wired alarm system zone to the alarm controller to simulate detection of the alarm condition by a wireless alarm sensor.

17. The takeover circuit as recited in claim 13, further comprising;

an electrical terminal for connecting to a wired power output terminal of a wired alarm controller, the wired power output terminal powered from an AC power source connected to the wired alarm controller, the AC power source providing power to the components of the wired alarm controller.

18. The takeover circuit as recited in claim 17, further comprising

an positive electrical terminal and ground electrical terminal for connecting to an external battery backup, the external battery backup providing power to components of the takeover circuit when power is not provided from the wired power output terminal of the wired alarm controller.

19. The takeover circuit as recited in claim 18, further comprising a battery monitoring module configured to test the sufficiency of the battery backup to power components connected to the takeover module in response to detecting a loss of power on the wired power output terminal of the wired alarm hardware, including:

detecting that the power of the battery backup is approaching a level that would be insufficient to power the components of the takeover module; and

sending a low battery indicator to the microprocessor in response to the detection;

wherein the microcontroller is configured to;

receive a low battery indicator from the battery monitoring module; and

convert the low battery indicator into wireless sensor input data

indicative of a low battery at a wireless alarm sensor; and

wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the wireless sensor input data indicative of a low battery to the alarm controller.

20. At a device including a processor, a method for taking over wired alarm system components for use in a wireless alarm system, the method comprising:

receiving wired sensor input from a plurality of different defined alarm zones of a wired alarm system, the received wired sensor input received over one or more wires connected to wired sensors in each of the plurality of different defined alarm zones of the wired alarm system;

conditioning the wired sensor input from each of the plurality of different defined alarm zones of the wired alarm system for processing by the processor;

the processor receiving the conditioned wired sensor input for each of the plurality of different defined alarm zones of the wired alarm system;

the processor converting the wired sensor input into a wireless input data stream, the wireless input data stream in a format that is compatible with an alarm controller;

the processor sending the wireless input data stream to a wireless transmitter;

the wireless transmitter receiving the input data stream from the processor; and

the wireless transmitter transmitting the wireless input data stream to a the alarm controller using a compatible wireless sensor protocol, transmission of the wireless input data stream used to simulate transmission of input data from a wireless sensor to the alarm controller such that it appears as if a wireless sensor is sending the wireless sensor input data.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising assigning each defined alarm zone a wireless sensor serial number representative of a wireless sensor prior to receiving wired sensor input from a plurality of different defined alarm zones of a wired alarm system.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein receiving wired sensor input from a plurality of different defined alarm zones of a wired alarm system comprises receiving wired sensor input from a wired sensor that is indicative of an alarm condition.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the processor converting the wired sensor input into a wireless input data stream comprises the processor converting the wired sensor input into a wireless input data stream that indicates an alarm condition was detected at a wireless sensor, the wireless sensor identified by the serial number assigned to the defined alarm zone that includes the wired sensor.

24. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the wireless transmitter transmitting the wireless input data stream to the alarm controller using a compatible wireless sensor protocol comprises an act of the wireless transmitter transmitting the wireless input data stream to the alarm controller to simulate detection of the alarm condition at a wireless sensor connected to the alarm controller.