Secure fire/security/sensor transmitter system

• US 5,408,217 A
• Filed: 03/21/1994
• Issued: 04/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Globalstar Incorporated, M&FC Holding, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sanconix Inc.
• Inventors: Sanderford, Hugh B. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/210,431
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/505, 340/517, 340/518, 340/825.06, 340/825.31, 340/825.22, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.5
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/16 Security signalling or alarm systems, e.g. redundant systems

Abstract

A system for preventing unauthorized access to the programming and control features of a fire/security/control systems remote sensors. The exemplary embodiment of the present invention utilizes an association of transmitter identity/address with a central processor/control fire/security data base, which in turn is configured to securely program each transmitter with its location and function, or "personality". The various, individual sensors and central processor/control unit communicate individually via individual, repeatable pseudo randomization algorithms, producing a several bit result. The communicating central processor/control and each sensor must have a match on outgoing/incoming code before the transmitting sensor will accept the programming on its personality. The exemplary embodiment of the present invention also utilizes a randomization seed, which can altered occasionally, to further increase security.

Claims

1. The method of programming a sensor in a secure manner, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a programming station containing in memory sensor identification and function information comprising programming data bits, said programming station further containing in memory a scrambling algorithm;

b. providing an sensor containing in memory a scrambling algorithm identical to said programming station scrambling algorithm;

c. said programming station applying said scrambling algorithm to said programming data bits, producing security/randomization bits which are appended to said programming data bits, forming an outgoing programming message having programming data bits and appended security bits;

d. transferring said outgoing programming message from said programming station to said sensor, forming an incoming programming message to said sensor;

e. said sensor applying said scrambling algorithm in said memory to said incoming data bits in said incoming programming message, providing a scrambling result;

g. comparing said scrambling result to the security bits appended to said programming data bits in said incoming programming message;

h. upon a correct match of said scrambling result with said security bits, said transmitter accepting said programming data bits in said incoming programming message as from a valid, secure programmer;

g. programming said programming station sending a coded JAM command to said sensor, said sensor comparing said JAM command to said programming message and, upon verifying a match, said sensor permanently latching said jam command into a flip-flop in such a manner as to logically disconnect the programming connection so that future incoming programming command will be ignored.

2. The method of claim 1 whereby the linking of said programming station to said sensor is accomplished magnetically or optically.

3. The method of claim 1, whereby said scrambling algorithm may be alterable.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein there is provided the additional step in step "c" of said programming station, encrypting said programming data bits.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein there is provided the additional step in step "e" of said sensor decrypting said programming data bits.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein there is included after step "h" the additional step of said transmitter sending a verification burst to said programming station.

7. The method of programming a sensor in a secure manner, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a programming station containing in memory sensor identification and function information comprising programming data bits, said programming station further containing in memory a scrambling algorithm;

b. providing an sensor containing in memory a scrambling algorithm identical to said programming station scrambling algorithm;

c. said programming station applying said scrambling algorithm to said programming data bits, producing security/randomization bits which are appended to said programming data bits, forming an outgoing programming message having programming data bits and appended security bits;

d. transferring said outgoing programming message from said programming station to said sensor, forming an incoming programming message to said sensor;

e. said sensor applying said scrambling algorithm in said memory to said incoming data bits in said incoming programming message, providing a scrambling result;

g. comparing said scrambling result to the security bits appended to said programming data bits in said incoming programming message;

h. upon a correct match of said scrambling result with said security bits, said transmitter accepting said programming data bits in said incoming programming message as from a valid, secure programmer;

g. said programming station sending a coded JAM command to said sensor, said sensor comparing said JAM command compared to the incoming programming message and, upon verifying a match, said sensor initiating a means to disconnect the programming connection, preventing further programming of said sensor.

8. The method of claim 7 whereby the linking of said programming station to said sensor is accomplished magnetically or optically.

9. The method of claim 7, whereby said scrambling algorithm may be alterable.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein there is provided the additional step in step "c" of said programming station encrypting said programming data bits.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein there is provided the additional step in step "e" of said sensor decrypting said programming data bits.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein there is included after step "h" the additional step of said transmitter sending a verification burst to said programming station.

13. The method of programming a sensor in a secure manner, comprising the steps of:

a. providing sensor identification and function information comprising programming data bits;

b. applying a scrambling algorithm to said programming data bits, producing security/randomization bits, appending said security/randomization bits to said programming data bits, forming a programming message having programming data bits and security bits;

c. providing an sensor containing in memory a scrambling algorithm identical to said scrambling algorithm in step "b";

d. transferring said programming message to said sensor, forming an incoming programming message to said sensor;

e. said sensor applying said scrambling algorithm in said memory to said incoming programming data bits in said incoming programming message, providing a scrambling result;

g. comparing said scrambling result to the security bits appended to said programming data;

h. upon a correct match of said scrambling result with said security bits, said transmitter accepting said data bits in said incoming programming message as from a valid, secure programmer,

i. sending a coded JAM command to said sensor, said sensor comparing said JAM command with said programming message and, upon verifying a match, said sensor permanently latching said jam command into a flip-flop in such a manner as to logically disconnect the programming connection so that future incoming programming command will be ignored.

14. The method of claim 13 whereby the linking of said programming station to said sensor is accomplished magnetically or optically.

15. The method of claim 13, whereby said scrambling algorithm may be alterable.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein there is provided the additional step in step "b" of encrypting said programming data bits.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein there is provided the additional step in step "e" of said sensor decrypting said encrypted programming data bits.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein there is included after step "h" the additional step of said transmitter sending a verification burst to the programmer.

19. The method of claim 13, said programming message in step "b" is stored on a bar code.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein said programming message in step "b" is stored on a magnetic strip.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein said programming station is portable.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein said programming station is part of a control panel.

23. The method of programming a sensor in a secure manner, comprising the steps of:

a. providing sensor identification and function information comprising programming data bits;

b. applying a scrambling algorithm to said programming data bits, producing security/randomization bits, appending said security/randomization bits to said programming data bits, forming a programming message having programming data bits and security bits;

c. providing an sensor containing in memory a scrambling algorithm identical to said scrambling algorithm in step "b";

d. transferring said programming message to said sensor, forming an incoming programming message to said sensor;

e. said sensor applying said scrambling algorithm in said memory to said incoming programming data bits in said incoming programming message, providing a scrambling result;

g. comparing said scrambling result to the security bits appended to said programming data;

h. upon a correct match of said scrambling result with said security bits, said transmitter accepting said data bits in said incoming programming message as from a valid, secure programmer,

i. sending a coded JAM command to said sensor, said sensor comparing said JAM command with said programming message and, upon verifying a match, said sensor initiating a means to disconnect the programming connection, preventing further programming of said sensor.

24. The method of claim 23 whereby the linking of said programming station to said sensor is accomplished magnetically or optically.

25. The method of claim 23, whereby said scrambling algorithm may be alterable.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein there is provided the additional step in step "b" of encrypting said programming data bits.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein there is provided the additional step in step "e" of said sensor decrypting said encrypted programming data bits.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein there is included after step "h" the additional step of said transmitter sending a verification burst to the programmer.

29. The method of claim 23, said programming message in step "b" is stored on a bar code.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein said programming message in step "b" is stored on a magnetic strip.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein said programming station is portable.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein said programming station is part of a control panel.

33. A method of programming a sensor transmitter in a secure fashion, comprising the steps of:

a. placing a transmitter within a reception range of a receiver;

b. said receiver being set into a mode by which it can accept programming data via transmitted programming information from said transmitter;

c. providing secure programming means for preventing unauthorized programming of said transmitter;

d. said transmitter having a random number generator means for generating random numbers;

e. placing said transmitter in a programming mode, selectively generating a security/randomization bit for said transmitter by initiating said random number generator means, and designating said random number generated as said security/randomization bit, and transmitting said bit to said receiver as a programming message indicating a proposed device ID/address;

f. said receiver imputing said programming message and determining if said programming message corresponds to a preexisting device ID/address;

wherein,

g. if said programming message is acceptable, utilizing said programming message to provide a new device ID/address;

h. if said proposed device ID/address in said programming message is not acceptable, an appropriate indication is so made;

i. step e is repeated until step g is met, once met the transmitter is removed from said programming mode.

34. The method of programming a sensor/transmitter of claim 33, wherein after step "g" there is provided the additional step of said receiver inputting said transmission and appending said security/randomization bit to programming data including new device ID/address, forming a programming message, and transmitting said programming message to said transmitter.

35. The method of programming a sensor/transmitter of claim 33 wherein in step "e" there is included the extra step of providing a programming button for initializing said random number generator.

36. The method of programming a sensor/transmitter of claim 35 wherein, once the device ID/address is programmed with the transmitter, said programming button for generating said random number generator feature is configured to reprogram to allow said switch to be utilized to program the spread spectrum code or frequency channel or the like, by depressing said button in increments for selecting the desired channel.

37. The method of programming a sensor/transmitter of claim 35 wherein there is provided the additional step of adding means to disable the functionality of the programming button in order to prevent tampering with the transmitter.

38. The method of programming a sensor/transmitter of claim 33, wherein there is provided the additional step of said transmitter having provided therein a transmitter type code indicating the type of said transmitter, and the further step of transferring said transmitter type code from said transmitter to said receiver for programming of said receiver.