Method and System For Logging Security Event Data

• US 20120154138A1
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Cohn, Alan Wade, Faulkner, Gary Robert, Kitchen, James Edward, Proft, David Leon, Quain, Corey Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 9,147,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/501
• 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 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

Through the use of a persistent connection between security, monitoring and automation controller devices and provider supported servers in an operator domain, recordation of sensor fault events, SMA controller events, and communication events is provided. Servers in the operator domain can record events and provide a filtered log of events surrounding an alarm event or other selected timeframe.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an alarm system controller comprising

an alarm system processor configured to

receive and interpret an event signal transmitted by a sensor device, and

generate an alarm system information packet comprising data associated with the event, and

a first network interface, coupled to the processor and a network, and configured to transmit the alarm system information packet on the network; and

a remote server system comprising

a second network interface, coupled to the network, and configured to receive the alarm system information packet,

a memory, and

a server processor, coupled to the second network interface and the memory, configured to

interpret the data associated with the alarm system information packet, and

store the interpreted data associated with the alarm system information packet in the memory, wherein

the memory is configured to store data associated with each alarm system information packet received from a plurality of alarm system controllers coupled to the network.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the alarm system processor is further configured to generate an alarm system information packet in response to a change of state in the alarm system controller.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote server system further comprises:

the server processor further configured to generate a central station information packet comprising data associated with the alarm system information packet, if the event associated with the alarm system information packet is classified as an alarm event; and

a third network interface, coupled to a second network and the server processor, and configured to transmit the central station information packet on the second network to a central station alarm monitoring system.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote server system further comprises:

the memory further configured to store the interpreted data associated with the alarm system information packet in a database, wherein

an entry of the database comprises an identifier associated with the alarm system controller, an identifier associated with the event, and a time stamp.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the server processor is further configured to generate a report comprising one or more events associated with an alarm system controller identifier from data recorded in the database.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the server processor is further configured to:

generate an alarm session report by virtue of being further configured to

search for records associated with an account identifier from data recorded in the database, and

filter the records associated with the account identifier to include records comprising an event identifier associated with an alarm event and events comprising a time stamp within a predetermined range of the alarm event time stamp.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

the second network interface is further configured to sense a loss of communication with the first network interface and a restoration of communication with the first network interface; and

the server processor is further configured to store data in the memory associated with the loss of communication and restoration of communication.

8. A method comprising:

receiving an alarm system information packet from a remote alarm system controller, wherein the alarm system information packet is associated with an event reported to the remote alarm system controller;

processing the alarm system information packet to interpret data associated with the alarm system information packet; and

storing the interpreted data in a memory, wherein the memory is configured to store alarm system information packet data from a plurality of remote alarm system controllers.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

generating a central station information packet comprising data associated with the alarm system information packet, if the event described in the alarm system information packet relates to an alarm event; and

transmitting the central station information packet to a central station alarm monitoring system.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said storing the interpreted data in the memory comprises:

storing the interpreted data as an entry in a database, wherein the entry comprises an identifier associated with the remote alarm system controller, an identifier associated with the event, and a time stamp.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

generating a report comprising one or more events associated with a remote alarm system controller identifier from data recorded in the database.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

generating an alarm session report, said generating comprising

searching for records associated with an account identifier from data recorded in the database, and

filtering the records associated with the account identifier to include records comprising an event identifier associated with an alarm event and events comprising a time stamp within a predetermined range of the alarm event time stamp.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

sensing a loss of communication with the remote alarm system controller;

storing information in the memory associated with the loss of communication; and

storing information in the memory associated with any actions taken related to the loss of communication.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

sensing a restoration of communication with the remote alarm system controller; and

storing information in the memory associated with the restoration of communication.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a network interface, coupled to a network, and configured to receive an alarm system information packet from a remote alarm system controller, wherein the alarm system information packet is associated with an event reported to the remote alarm system controller;

means for interpreting data associated with the alarm system information packet; and

means for storing the interpreted data in a memory, wherein the memory is configured to store data associated with each alarm system information packet received from a plurality of alarm system controllers coupled to the network.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

means for generating a central station information packet comprising data associated with the alarm system information packet, if the event is classified as an alarm event; and

means for transmitting the central station information packet to a central station alarm monitoring system.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

the memory further configured to store the interpreted data associated with the alarm system information packet in a database, wherein

an entry of the database comprises an identifier associated with the alarm system controller; and

means for generating a report comprising one or more events associated with a remote alarm system controller identifier from data recorded in the database.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

the memory further configured to store the interpreted data associated with the alarm system information packet in a database, wherein

an entry of the database comprises an identifier associated with the alarm system controller, an identifier associated with the event, and a time stamp; and

means for generating an alarm session report, said means for generating comprising

means for searching for records associated with an account identifier from data recorded in the database, and

means for filtering the records associated with the account identifier to include records comprising an event identifier associated with an alarm event and events comprising a time stamp within a predetermined range of the alarm event time stamp.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

means for sensing a loss of communication with the remote alarm system controller;

means for storing information in the memory associated with the loss of communication; and

means for storing information in the memory associated with any actions taken related to the loss of communication.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising:

means for sensing a restoration of communication with the remote alarm system controller; and

means for storing information in the memory associated with the restoration of communication.