Dynamically bypassed alarm system

• US 6,057,764 A
• Filed: 08/20/1998
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ByPass Security, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Melvin P. Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Melvin P.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN III, GLEN R
• Application Number:
  US09/136,278
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340/501, 340/505, 340/540, 340/573.4, 340/572.1, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 340/825.34, 340/825.54
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system

Abstract

An alarm system having motion violation sensors (motion or other presence detectors and door and window switches) can have a potential alarm condition be determined to not be a violation of the secured space in response to an authorization code transmitted by a personal device worn by a user. In one embodiment, the personal device transmits an authorization code periodically to bypass sensors in that room for an interval slightly longer than the period between transmissions. In another embodiment, a request for authorization is transmitted in response to a potential alarm condition, in response to which the device transmits the code. In one embodiment, a single authorization code is changed each time the alarm is disarmed, thereby to prevent recordation and subsequent use thereof. Another embodiment responds to plural authorization codes, such as ID numbers of authorized personnel.

Claims

1. An alarm system comprising:

one or more motion detectors for providing a violation signal indicative of a potential alarm in response to sensing motion within a space;

a transmitter for transmitting, in response to said violation signal, an inquiry message within said space;

a portable device including a transmitter and a receiver for receiving said inquiry message and, in response thereto, transmitting said authorization code;

signal processing means for comparing said authorization code with one or more predetermined codes, and, if said authorization code is identical with one said predetermined code, providing a dynamic bypass signal, said signal processing means responsive to said violation signal for causing an alarm indication signal in response to the presence of said violation signal concurrently with the absence of said dynamic bypass signal, but not providing said alarm indication signal in response to the presence of said violation signal concurrently with said dynamic bypass signal; and

a control panel having keys for entering a personal identification number and selecting a function, one function being setting said predetermined code into said portable device for transmission thereafter as said authorization code; and

wherein

said signal processing means comprises means responsive to said code setting function for transmitting said predetermined code; and

said portable device, in response to receipt of said predetermined code, sets said authorization code equal to said predetermined code.

2. An alarm system according to claim 1 wherein said portable device, in response to receipt of said predetermined code, sets said authorization code equal to said predetermined code and transmits said authorization code;

and

said signal processing means comprises means for comparing said predetermined code with said authorization code sent in response to receipt of said predetermined code and providing an indication that the code is set when the two codes agree.

3. An alarm system according to claim 1 wherein said signal processing means comprises means for comparing said authorization code with a plurality of predetermined codes.

4. An alarm system according to claim 3 wherein said predetermined codes are respective identification numbers of persons authorized to be in the space corresponding to said violation sensor.

5. An alarm system comprising:

one or more motion detectors for providing a violation signal indicative of a potential alarm in response to sensing motion within a space;

a portable device including a transmitter for transmitting an authorization code; and

signal processing means for comparing said authorization code with one or more predetermined codes, at least one said predetermined code being changed each time that said alarm is disarmed, and, if said authorization code is identical with one said predetermined code, providing a dynamic bypass signal, said signal processing means responsive to said violation signal for causing an alarm indication signal in response to the presence of said violation signal concurrently with the absence of said dynamic bypass signal, but not providing said alarm indication signal in response to the presence of said violation signal concurrently with said dynamic bypass signal.

6. An alarm system according to claim 5 wherein said signal processing means comprises means for comparing said authorization code with a plurality of predetermined codes.

7. An alarm system according to claim 6 wherein said predetermined codes are respective identification numbers of persons authorized to be in the space corresponding to said violation sensor.

8. An alarm system comprising:

one or more motion detectors for providing a violation signal indicative of a potential alarm in response to sensing motion within a space;

a portable device including a transmitter for transmitting an authorization code on a periodic basis; and

signal processing means for comparing said authorization code with one or more predetermined codes, and, if said authorization code is identical with one said predetermined code, providing a dynamic bypass signal, in response to each receipt of said authorization code that is identical with said predetermined code, for a period of time which is just slightly in excess of the period between successive transmissions of said authorization code, said signal processing means responsive to said violation signal for causing an alarm indication signal in response to the presence of said violation signal concurrently with the absence of said dynamic bypass signal, but not providing said alarm indication signal in response to the presence of said violation signal concurrently with said dynamic bypass signal.

9. An alarm system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a control panel having keys for entering a personal identification number and selecting a function, one function being setting said predetermined code into said alarm system by means of said keys; and

for assisting in and verification of setting the same code into said personal device for transmission thereafter as said authorization code; and

said signal processing means comprising means for providing prompt displays to the panel user to assist in entering the same code into said panel and into said personal device, and for providing an indication that the code is set when the first periodic transmission of said authorization code agrees with said predetermined code.

10. An alarm system according to claim 9 wherein:

said signal processing means comprises means for setting said predetermined code to a specific value each time said alarm system is disarmed and, in response to said specific value, prevents the reception of said authorization code from providing said bypass signal, whereby a new predetermined code must be established for each arming of the alarm in order to utilize selective bypass.

11. An alarm system according to claim 10 wherein:

said signal processing means comprises means for setting said predetermined code to a first specific value each time said alarm system is disarmed, and said authorization code in said device is initialized, each time said device is turned on, to a second specific value which is different than said first specific value.

12. A method of dynamically bypassing portions of a security alarm system in a secured space having one or more motion detectors, comprising:

providing an authorized user of the secured space with a device to be borne by the user, said device transmitting an authorization code periodically;

comparing said authorization code with one or more predetermined codes; and

if said authorization code is identical with one said predetermined code, bypassing at least one said motion detector in the vicinity of said device for a short period of time which is slightly in excess of the period of time between transmissions of said authorization code.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein said authorization code is compared with a plurality of predetermined codes.

14. A method according to claim 12 wherein said predetermined codes are respective identification numbers of persons authorized to be in the space corresponding to said violation sensor.

15. A method of dynamically bypassing portions of a security alarm system in a secured space having one or more motion detectors, said alarm system having a control panel with keys for numerical entry and for function selection, comprising:

providing an authorized user of the secured space with a device to be borne by the user, said device transmitting an authorization code;

entering one or more predetermined codes into said control panel with said keys of said panel;

comparing said authorization code with said one or more predetermined codes; and

if said authorization code is identical with one said predetermined code, bypassing at least one said motion detector in the vicinity of said device for at least a short period of time.

16. A method of dynamically bypassing portions of a security alarm system in a secured space having one or more motion detectors, comprising:

providing an authorized user of the secured space with a device to be borne by the user, said device having keys for numerical entry,

entering an authorization code into said device with said keys of said device, said device transmitting said authorization code;

comparing said authorization code with one or more predetermined codes; and

if said authorization code is identical with one said predetermined code, bypassing at least one said motion detector in the vicinity of said device for at least a short period of time.

17. A method of dynamically bypassing portions of a security alarm system in a secured space having one or more motion detectors, comprising:

providing an authorized user of the secured space with a device to be borne by the user, said device transmitting an authorization code;

comparing said authorization code with one or more predetermined codes, at least one said predetermined code being changed each time that said alarm system is disarmed, and

if said authorization code is identical with one said predetermined code, bypassing at least one said motion detector in the vicinity of said device for at least a short period of time.