ALARM SYSTEM RESPONSE TIME REDUCTION

• US 20170236404A1
• Filed: 02/14/2017
• Published: 08/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kontra Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kontra Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Skolnik, Jay, Skolnik, Daniel, Harness, Connor, Lee, Jun-Min
• Granted Patent: US 10,062,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/003 Signalling to neighbouring houses

Abstract

An alarm system is monitored, by an alert system that supplements the capabilities of the alarm system. The sensors, such as door, window, fire, and CO sensor can be monitored by the alarm system which can raise an alarm when a sensor is triggered. The alert system detects that the alarm system has raised an alarm. The alert system can then communicate the alarm locally to other alert system installations. People at those other alert system installations are thereby alerted to the alarm and can respond to it.

Claims

1. An alert system that enhances an alarm system, wherein the alarm system comprises a control unit and at least one sensor, the alert system comprising:

an alarm monitor wherein a triggered sensor detects a triggering, event, wherein the triggered sensor is one of the at least one sensor, wherein the triggered sensor informs the control unit of the triggering event, wherein the alarm system responds to the triggering event by changing the state of a control signal, wherein the alarm monitor detects that the control signal has changed state, wherein the alarm monitor produces an alarm sensed output in response to detecting that the control signal has changed state, and wherein the control signal does not comprise the alarm sensed output;

a wireless transmitter wherein the alarm sensed output causes the wireless transmitter to transmit an alert signal; and

a remote console wherein the remote console receives the alert signal and generates an alert, wherein the alert is perceptible by a person, and wherein the alert informs the person of the triggering event.

2. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the alarm system further comprises a reporting unit wherein the reporting unit receives the control signal, wherein the reporting unit informs a remote monitoring center of the triggering event, wherein the alert system does not comprise the reporting unit, and wherein the remote console is not located at the remote monitoring center.

3. The alert system of claim 2 wherein the alarm monitor directly monitors the control signal.

4. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the alarm system further comprises an audible alarm unit, wherein the audible alarm unit responds to the control signal by producing an audible alarm, and wherein the alarm monitor senses the control signal on a wired connection between the control unit and the audible alarm unit.

5. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the alarm system further comprises an audible alarm unit, wherein the audible alarm unit responds to the control signal by producing, an audible alarm, and wherein the alarm monitor detects that the control signal has changed state by detecting the audible alarm.

6. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the alarm system further comprises an audible alarm unit, wherein the audible alarm unit responds to the control signal by providing an alarm signal to a sonic transducer that converts electrical energy to sonic energy, and wherein the alarm monitor detects that the control signal has changed state by directly detecting the alarm signal.

7. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the alarm monitor is connected to the alarm system by a wired connection.

8. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmitter transmits, the alert signal directly to the remote console.

9. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the alert signal traverses a wireless mesh network before reaching the remote console.

10. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the alert signal traverses a cellular network before reaching the remote console.

11. An alert system that enhances an alarm system, wherein the alarm system comprises a control unit and at least one sensor, the alert system comprising:

an alarm monitor wherein a triggered sensor detects a triggering event, wherein the triggered sensor is one of the at least one sensor, wherein the triggered sensor informs the control unit of the triggering event, wherein the alarm system responds to the triggering event by changing the state of a control signal, wherein the alarm monitor detects that the control signal has changed state, wherein the alarm monitor produces an alarm sensed output in response to detecting that the control signal has changed state, and wherein the control signal does not comprise the alarm sensed output;

a rules engine storing a plurality of alert rules, wherein the rules engine accepts at least one rules engine input, wherein the rules engine produces at least one alert response by testing the at least one rule engine input against at least one condition, and wherein the at least one rule engine input comprises the alarm sensed output; and

wherein the alert system sends a message to a recipient based on the at least one alert response.

12. The alert system of claim 11 further comprising:

a wireless transmitter that transmits the message to a remote console wherein the remote console receives the message and generates an alert, wherein the alert is perceptible by a person, and wherein the alert informs the person of the triggering event;

wherein the alarm system further comprises a reporting unit wherein the reporting unit receives the control signal, wherein the reporting unit informs a remote monitoring center of the triggering event, wherein the alert system does not comprise the reporting unit, and wherein the remote console is not located at the remote monitoring center.

13. The alert system of claim 11 wherein the recipient is a smartphone or tablet computer and wherein the recipient produces an alert that is perceptible by a person.

14. The alert system of claim 11 wherein a person manipulates an alerting device to thereby produce a personal alert, and wherein the at least one rule engine input comprises the personal alert.

15. The alert system of claim 14 further comprising:

a wireless transmitter that transmits the message to a remote console wherein the remote console receives the message and generates an alert, wherein the alert is perceptible by a person, and wherein the alert informs the person of the triggering event;

wherein the alarm system further comprises a reporting unit wherein the reporting unit receives the control signal, wherein the reporting unit informs a remote monitoring center of the triggering event, wherein the alert system does not comprise the reporting unit, and wherein the remote console is not located at the remote monitoring center;

wherein the alert system sends another message to another recipient based on the at least one alert response, wherein the other recipient is a smartphone or tablet computer and wherein the other recipient produces an alert that is perceptible by a person;

wherein the alert system sends a third message to a third recipient based on the at least one alert response, wherein the other recipient is a smartphone or tablet computer, wherein the other recipient produces an alert that is perceptible by a person, and wherein the third message traverses a cellular network;

wherein the alarm monitor is connected to the alarm system by a wired connection between the control unit and the alarm unit and wherein the alarm monitor senses the control signal on the wired connection;

wherein the wireless transmitter transmits the alert signal directly to the remote console;

wherein the other message traverses a wireless mesh network before reaching the other recipient; and

wherein the alarm system further comprises an audible alarm unit, wherein the audible alarm unit responds to the control signal by providing an alarm signal to a sonic transducer that converts electrical energy to sonic energy to produce an audible alarm, wherein the alarm monitor directly detects the alarm signal, and wherein the alarm monitor detects the audible alarm.

16. A method for monitoring an alarm system, wherein the alarm system comprises a control unit and at least one sensor, the method comprising:

detecting a control signal has changed state, wherein a triggered sensor detects a triggering event, wherein the triggered sensor is one of the at least one sensor, wherein the triggered sensor informs the control unit of the triggering event, wherein the alarm system responds to the triggering event by changing the control signal;

producing an alarm sensed output in response to detecting that the control signal has changed state, and wherein the control signal does not comprise the alarm sensed output; and

transmitting an alert signal to a remote console wherein the remote console receives the alert signal and generates an alert, wherein the alert is perceptible by a person, and wherein the alert informs the person of the triggering event.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein alarm system further comprises a reporting unit, wherein the reporting unit receives the control signal, wherein the reporting unit informs a remote monitoring center of the triggering event, wherein the alert system does not comprise the reporting unit, and wherein the remote console is not located at the remote monitoring center.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

storing a plurality of alert rules that test at least one rule engine input against at least one condition;

producing at least one alert response by interpreting the alert rules wherein the at least one rule engine input comprises the alarm sensed output; and

sending a message to a recipient based on the at least one alert response.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the at least one alert response comprises the alarm sensed output and wherein the message is the alert signal.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the recipient is a smartphone or tablet computer and wherein the recipient produces an alert that is perceptible by a person.

21. The alert system of claim 18 wherein a person manipulates an alerting device to thereby produce a personal alert, and wherein the at least one rule engine input comprises the personal alert.