Methods, Systems, and Products for Security Services

• US 20140203929A1
• Filed: 02/13/2014
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SimpliSafe Incorporated (Hellman & Friedman LLC)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hicks, John Alson
• Granted Patent: US 9,135,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/501
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 23/00 Alarms responsive to unspecified undesired or abnormal conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/003 Address allocation methods and details
• 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 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products notify of alarms in security systems. Sensor data is received from an alarm sensor, and an alarm condition is determined by an alarm controller. Video data associated with the alarm sensor is retrieved. An alarm message may be sent over a wireless network connection, while the video data may be sent over a wireline broadband connection.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining an alarm condition by an alarm controller of a security system;

sending, from the alarm controller, an alarm message to notify of the alarm condition, the alarm message having a header portion that identifies a network address assigned to the alarm controller; and

receiving a call from a calling address to the network address to verify the alarm condition.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising matching the calling address to an acceptable address from which the alarm controller is permitted to accept the call.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising accepting the call by the alarm controller.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the call comprises receiving a voice-over Internet Protocol call.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising querying for video data captured prior to the determining the alarm condition.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising querying for video data captured after the determining the alarm condition.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising rejecting the call in response to failing to match the calling address to an acceptable address.

8. An alarm controller for use by a security system, the alarm controller comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing code that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

determining an alarm condition;

sending, from the alarm controller, an alarm message to notify of the alarm condition, the alarm message having a header portion that identifies a network address assigned to the alarm controller; and

receiving a call from a calling address to the network address to verify the alarm condition.

9. The alarm controller of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise matching the calling address to an acceptable address from which the alarm controller is permitted to accept the call.

10. The alarm controller of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise accepting the call by the alarm controller.

11. The alarm controller of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a voice-over Internet Protocol call.

12. The alarm controller of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise querying for video data captured prior to the determining the alarm condition.

13. The alarm controller of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise querying for video data captured after the determining the alarm condition.

14. The alarm controller of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise rejecting the call in response to failing to match the calling address to an acceptable address.

15. A memory storing code which when executed causes a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

determining an alarm condition;

sending, from the alarm controller, an alarm message to notify of the alarm condition, the alarm message having a header portion that identifies a network address assigned to the alarm controller; and

receiving a call from a calling address to the network address to verify the alarm condition.

16. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise matching the calling address to an acceptable address from which the alarm controller is permitted to accept the call.

17. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise accepting the call by the alarm controller.

18. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a voice-over Internet Protocol call.

19. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise querying for video data captured prior to the determining the alarm condition.

20. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise rejecting the call in response to failing to match the calling address to an acceptable address.