Initialization of a wireless security system

• US 5,907,279 A
• Filed: 02/10/1997
• Issued: 05/25/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Bruins, Johannes D., Nicora, Mario R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/799,615
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/539, 340/825.69, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/003 Address allocation methods and details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

In a security system, detector apparatuses (101, 102, 103) transmit an alarm message to a central apparatus 100 via RF in response to detecting an alarm condition. The message comprises a source identification uniquely identifying the transmitting apparatus. The central apparatus 100 raises an alarm if the alarm message is sent by a detector apparatus, which is part of the system. To this end, the central apparatus 100 only processes an alarm message if the source identification of the alarm message is stored in a memory means 200 of the central apparatus. For a new detector apparatus to be accepted as part of the system, the identification of the detector apparatus needs to be stored in the memory means 200 of the central apparatus. To reduce the chance of identifications of neighboring apparatuses inadvertently being stored, a detector apparatus transmits a learn-detector message in response to a learn trigger, for instance from a user. The central apparatus 100 stores the source identification of a received learn-detector message only if the central apparatus 100 is in a learning mode.

Claims

1. A security system, comprising a central apparatus and at least one detector apparatus;

the detector apparatus comprising transmission means for wirelessly transmitting a message comprising a source identification uniquely identifying the transmitting apparatus, and detection means for detecting an alarm condition and in response causing the transmission means to transmit a message;

the central apparatus comprising;

memory means for storing a source identification of at least one detector apparatus;

alarm means for raising an alarm;

user interface means for bringing the central apparatus in a selected one of a plurality of modes, including an operational mode and a learning mode; and

reception means for receiving a wirelessly transmitted message, for storing, in the learning mode, the source identification of a received message in the memory means, and for causing, in the operational mode, the alarm means to raise an alarm if the source identification of a received message is stored in the memory means, characterised

in that the detection means is adapted to cause the transmission means to transmit an alarm message in response to detecting an alarm condition;

in that the detector apparatus comprises means for causing the transmission means to transmit a learn-detector message in response to a learn trigger;

said learn-detector message being distinct from said alarm message;

in that the reception means is adapted to cause the alarm to be raised in response to receiving an alarm message, and to store the source identification only of a received learn-detector message.

2. A security system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a user input means of the detector apparatus is conceived to bring the detector apparatus in a selected one of a plurality of modes, including an operational mode and a learning mode;

in that the detection means is conceived to only cause the transmission means to transmit the alarm message if the detector apparatus is in the operational mode; and

in that the user input means of the detector apparatus is conceived to only cause the transmission means to transmit the learn-detector message if the detector apparatus is in the learning mode.

3. A security system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system comprises a plurality of different types of detector apparatuses;

each type of detector apparatus detecting a different type of alarm condition external to the detector apparatus, characterised in that the learn-detector message comprises type information identifying the type of detector apparatus; and

in that the alarm means is conceived to raise a type-specific alarm.

4. A security system as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the source identification corresponds to one of a plurality of groups of source identifications;

each group corresponding to one of the different types of detector apparatuses and in that the alarm means derives the type information from the source identification of a received alarm message.

5. A security system as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the alarm and learn-detector message comprise a first field comprising the source identification and a second field comprising the type information;

and in that the reception means is conceived to also store, in the learning mode, the type information of a received learn-detector message.

6. A security system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system comprises a plurality of different types of detector apparatuses;

each type of detector apparatus detecting a different type of alarm condition external to the detector apparatus, characterised in that the detection means is conceived to cause the transmission means to select and transmit a type-specific alarm message; and

in that the alarm means is conceived to raise a type-specific alarm.

7. A security system as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the detector apparatus comprises a plurality of different types of detection means for detecting different types of alarms conditions external to the detector apparatus;

in that the detection means is conceived to cause the transmission means to select and transmit a type-specific alarm message in response to detecting an alarm condition; and

in that the alarm means is conceived to raise a type-specific alarm.

10. A security system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system comprises a remote control;

the remote control comprising transmission means for wirelessly transmitting a message comprising a source identification uniquely identifying the transmitting remote control, and user input means for causing the transmission means to transmit in response to a user trigger a trigger-specific user-input message to the central apparatus, characterised;

in that the memory means comprises a plurality of memory locations for storing source identifications of remote controls;

in that the user interface means of the central apparatus is conceived to, in response to a user trigger, remove all source identifications of remote controls from the memory;

in that the user input means of the remote control is conceived to cause the transmission means to transmit a learn-remote message in response to a learn trigger from a user;

in that the reception means of the central apparatus is conceived to store the source identification of a received learn-remote message if the memory comprises no source identification of a remote control yet; and

in that the reception means of the central apparatus is conceived to relay a received user-input message to the user interface means for further processing if the source identification of the message is stored in the memory.

11. A security system as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that the reception means of the central apparatus is conceived to bring the central apparatus into a learn-remote mode in response to receiving a first learn-remote message if the source identification of the first learn-remote message is stored in the memory, and in that the reception means of the central apparatus is conceived to store the source identification of a received second learn-remote message if the central apparatus is in the learn-remote mode.

12. A security system as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the central apparatus comprises timing means for taking the central apparatus out of the learn-remote mode after a predetermined period.

13. A security system as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that the user input means of the remote control is conceived to cause the transmission means to repeatedly transmit the learn-remote message in response to a prolonged duration of the learn trigger;

and

in that the reception means of the central apparatus is conceived to only process the first learn-remote message further after repeatedly receiving the first learn-remote message for a predetermined period.

14. A security system as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each message comprises a checksum;

in that each transmission means is conceived to transmit a message a predetermined plural number of times, within a predetermined time frame;

in that the reception means is conceived to verify whether a message has been received correctly and to only process a message further if the same message is at least twice received correctly within the predetermined time frame.

15. A security system as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that the transmission means comprises timing means for, after a delay of at least two seconds, causing the transmission means to repeat transmitting the message the predetermined plural number of times, within the predetermined time frame.

16. A security system as claimed in claim 15, characterised in that the delay is chosen randomly within a predetermined time window.

17. A security system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the central apparatus comprises a motion detector.

8. A security system as claimed in characterised in that the system comprises a confirmation apparatus;

in that the central apparatus comprises transmission means for selecting one of a plurality of distinct messages, said plurality including a status message indicating a status of the system and a learn-central-apparatus message;

the message comprising a source identification uniquely identifying the central apparatus; and

for wirelessly transmitting the selected message;

in that the user interface means of the central apparatus is conceived to cause the transmission means to select and transmit the learn-central-apparatus message in response to a user trigger;

in that the confirmation apparatus comprises user interface means for bringing the confirmation apparatus in a selected one of a plurality of modes, including an operational mode and a learning mode in response to user input;

in that the confirmation apparatus comprises reception means for receiving a wirelessly transmitted message, for storing the source identification of a received learn-central-apparatus message in a memory only if the confirmation apparatus is in the learning mode, and for causing the user interface means to indicate the status of the system in response to receiving a status message whose source identification is stored in the memory.

9. A security system as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the user interface means of the central apparatus is conceived to only cause the transmission means to select and transmit the learn-central-apparatus message if the central apparatus is in the learning mode.