Methods, Systems, and Products for Notifications in Security Systems

• US 20130049950A1
• Filed: 08/24/2011
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: WOHLERT, RANDOLPH
• Granted Patent: US 8,618,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/531
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/005 Alarm destination chosen according to a hierarchy of available destinations, e.g. if hospital does not answer send to police station
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1845 broadcast or multicast in a specific location, e.g. geocast protocols for adapting network applications to user terminal location H04L67/52; services specially adapted for wireless communication networks making use of the location of users or terminals H04W4/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for notification of alarms in security systems. When an alarm is detected, a contact list is retrieved and a presence database is queried. A location and availability is retrieved for each contact address in the contact list. A contact address is selected in a vicinity of the security system and having the availability to receive an electronic notification. The electronic notification is sent to the contact address to alert of the alarm.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an alarm message describing an alarm detected by a security system;

associating the security system to a profile;

retrieving a contact list from the profile;

querying a presence database for each contact address in the contact list;

retrieving a location and an availability for each contact address in the contact list;

selecting a contact address in a vicinity of the security system and having the availability to receive an electronic notification; and

sending the electronic notification to the contact address to alert of the alarm.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising retrieving a notification address from the profile.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising sending the electronic notification to the notification address to alert of the alarm.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising granting authority in the electronic notification for remote resolution of the alarm.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising retrieving an electronic key from the profile that allows physical entry to resolve the alarm.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising retrieving a location of a physical key for physical entry to resolve the alarm.

7. A system, comprising:

a processor executing code stored in memory that causes the processor to;

receive an alarm message describing an alarm detected by a security system;

associate the security system to a profile;

retrieve a notification address from the profile;

send an electronic notification to the notification address to alert of the alarm;

initialize a timer that counts to a final value;

retrieve a contact list from the profile when no response is received by the final value;

query a presence database for each contact address in the contact list;

retrieve a location and an availability for each contact address in the contact list;

select a contact address in a vicinity of the security system and having the availability to receive an electronic notification; and

send the electronic notification to the contact address to alert of the alarm.

8. The system according to claim 7, further comprising code that causes the processor to include authority in the electronic notification for remote resolution of the alarm.

9. The system according to claim 7, further comprising code that causes the processor to determine the alarm cannot be remotely resolved.

10. The system according to claim 9, further comprising code that causes the processor to retrieve an electronic key from the profile that allows physical entry to an electronic lock to resolve the alarm.

11. The system according to claim 10, further comprising code that causes the processor to include the electronic key in the electronic notification for the physical entry to resolve the alarm.

12. The system according to claim 10, further comprising code that causes the processor to retrieve a device capability associated with the contact address.

13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising code that causes the processor to determine the contact address is available based on network presence and the device capability.

14. The system according to claim 12, further comprising code that causes the processor to retrieve a set of conditions when the alarm message is received.

15. The system according to claim 14, further comprising code that causes the processor to query the set of conditions for the alarm.

16. The system according to claim 15, further comprising code that causes the processor to retrieve a condition associated with the alarm.

17. A computer readable medium storing processor executable instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:

receiving an alarm message describing an alarm detected by a security system;

associating the security system to a profile;

retrieving a notification address from the profile;

sending an electronic notification to the notification address to alert of the alarm;

initializing a timer that counts to a final value;

retrieving a contact list from the profile when no response is received by the final value;

querying a presence database for each contact address in the contact list;

retrieving a location and an availability for each contact address in the contact list;

selecting a contact address in a vicinity of the security system and having the availability to receive an electronic notification; and

sending the electronic notification to the contact address to alert of the alarm.

18. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, further comprising code for including authority in the electronic notification for remote resolution of the alarm.

19. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, further comprising code for determining the alarm must be resolved by physical entry.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, further comprising code for at least one of:

retrieving an electronic key from the profile that allows physical entry to an electronic lock to resolve the alarm; and

retrieving a location of a spare physical key that permits the physical entry to resolve the alarm.