SYSTEM AND METHOD TO PROTECT AGAINST LOCAL CONTROL FAILURE USING CLOUD-HOSTED CONTROL SYSTEM BACK-UP PROCESSING

• US 20130285799A1
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Probin, Robert John, Zakrewski, David S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,575,476 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/12.22
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23043 Remote and local control panel, programming unit, switch
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25168 Domotique, access through internet protocols

Abstract

Systems and methods that use cloud-hosted control system back-up processing to replace the functionality of a failed control panel are provided. Systems can include a remote monitoring station, a remote control panel device, and a local control system installed in a region, the local control system including a local control panel and at least one device. When operating in a normal mode, the at least one device can communicate with the control panel, the control panel can communicate with the remote monitoring station, and the remote control panel device can be inactive. When operating in a back-up mode, the remote control panel device can be active, the at least one device can communicate with the remote control panel device, the remote control panel device can communicate with the remote monitoring station, and the control panel can be inactive.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a message indicating control panel failure in a remote control system;

responsive to the message indicating control panel failure in the remote control system, transitioning from an inactive mode to an active mode; and

remotely controlling the remote control system, absent the control panel.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein remotely controlling the remote control system includes transmitting or receiving at least one initiating communication message to or from the remote control system.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein transmitting or receiving the at least one initiating communication message includes transmitting or receiving the at least one initiating communication message to or from a sensor, an output device, or a communication device in the remote control system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein remotely controlling the remote control system includes transmitting or receiving at least one monitoring communication message to or from the remote control system.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein transmitting or receiving the at least one monitoring communication message includes transmitting or receiving the at least one monitoring communication message to or from a sensor, an output device, or a communication device in the remote control system.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a first communication device in a plurality of communication devices in the remote control system to be a primary communication device.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a message indicating control panel restoral in the remote control system; and

responsive to the message indicating control panel restoral, transitioning from the active mode to the inactive mode.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the message indicating control panel failure includes receiving the message indicating control panel failure from a remote monitoring station or from the remote control system.

9. A system comprising:

a transceiver;

a programmable processor; and

executable control software stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium,

wherein the transceiver receives a message indicating control panel failure in a remote control system,

wherein, responsive to the message indicating control panel failure in the remote control system, the programmable processor and the executable control software transition from an inactive mode to an active mode, and

wherein, when in the active mode, the programmable processor and the executable control software remotely control the remote control system, absent the control panel.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the programmable processor and the executable control software remotely controlling the remote control system includes the programmable processor and the executable control software transmitting or receiving at least one initiating communication message to or from the remote control system.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the programmable processor and the executable control software transmitting or receiving the at least one initiating communication message includes the programmable processor and the executable control software transmitting or receiving the at least one initiating communication message to or from a sensor, an output device, or a communication device in the remote control system.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the programmable processor and the executable control software remotely controlling the remote control system includes the programmable processor and the executable control software transmitting or receiving at least one monitoring communication message to or from the remote control system.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the programmable processor and the executable control software transmitting or receiving the at least one monitoring communication message includes the programmable processor and the executable control software transmitting or receiving the at least one monitoring communication message to or from a sensor, an output device, or a communication device in the remote control system.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the programmable processor and the executable control software determine a first communication device in a plurality of communication devices in the remote control system to be a primary communication device.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the transceiver receives a message indicating control panel restoral in the remote control system, and, responsive to the message indicating control panel restoral, the programmable processor and the executable control software transition from the active mode to the inactive mode.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein the transceiver receives the message indicating control panel failure from a remote monitoring station or from the remote control system.

17. A system comprising:

a local control system installed in a region, the local control system including a local control panel and at least one device;

a remote monitoring station; and

a remote control panel device,

wherein, when operating in a normal mode, the at least one device communicates with the control panel, the control panel communicates with the remote monitoring station, and the remote control panel device is inactive, and

wherein, when operating in a back-up mode, the remote control panel device is active, the at least one device communicates with the remote control panel device, the remote control panel device communicates with the remote monitoring station, and the control panel is inactive.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising at least one communication device in the region,

wherein, when operating in the normal mode, the communication device bridges communication between the control panel and the remote monitoring station, and

wherein, when operating in the back-up mode, the communication device bridges communication between the at least one device and the remote control panel device.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein, when operating in the normal mode, communication between the control panel and the remote monitoring station is via Internet, and, when operating in the back-up mode, communication between the at least one device and the remote control panel device is via the Internet.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein, when operating in the normal mode, communication between the communication device and the remote monitoring station is via Internet, and, when operating in the back-up mode, communication between the communication device and the remote control panel device is via the Internet.