Adaptive console for augmenting wireless capability in security systems

• US 6,243,010 B1
• Filed: 01/08/1998
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pittway Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Addy, Kenneth L., Linford, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/004,545
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/539, 340/531, 340/533, 340/825.06, 340/825.36, 340/825.32, 340/825.49, 340/825.31
• US Class Current: 340/539.16
• 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

Abstract

A security system comprising a plurality of remote wireless units, a central control unit and an adaptive console for translating messages in radio frequency signals into messages in signals suitable for transmission over a wire in order to augment the wireless capability of the system. The adaptive console has a wireless receiver for receiving the radio frequency signal, which includes identification and status information from a wireless remote units. The adaptive console also has a processing unit which translates the identification and status information from the radio frequency signal to corresponding function data derived from a mapping of valid identification and status information to function data, the function data emulating data generated by keypresses on a keypad that is representative of a function to be performed by the security system. The adaptive console also has a transmitter which transmits a signal over a wired connection which includes the corresponding function data to the central control unit or a wired security unit. The adaptive console may additionally have components enabling it to receive a signal from a wired connection, translate that signal to valid identification and status information, and then transmit a second radio frequency signal to the wireless remote units. Alternatively, the central control unit may contain the mapping and perform the translation from valid identification and status information to function data.

Claims

1. A method for augmenting the wireless capability of a security system, which comprises the steps of:

receiving a radio frequency signal comprising identification and status information;

translating said identification and status information derived from said radio frequency signal to corresponding function data derived from a mapping of valid identification and status information to function data, said function data emulating data generated by keypresses on a keypad that is representative of a function to be performed by said security system; and

transmitting said function data over a wired connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting said function data comprises transmitting said function data via a wire to a wired security unit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting said function data comprises transmitting said function data via a wire to a central control unit.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of performing a verification of the accuracy of said message in said radio frequency signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting further comprises transmitting said identification and status information derived from said radio frequency signal over said wired connection to a central control unit upon failure to find said corresponding function data in said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data, said step of translating said identification and status information to corresponding function data performed in said central control unit.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising

receiving from a wired connection second function data indicative of a function to be performed by said security system;

translating said second function data to corresponding valid identification and status information derived from said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data; and

transmitting a second radio frequency signal comprising said corresponding valid identification and status information to a wireless security device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said second function data is received from a wired security unit.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of receiving said second function data is received from a central control unit.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of translating said second function data further comprises:

deriving said second function data from said second signal suitable for transmission over a second wire;

indexing into said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data with said second function data;

obtaining said valid identification and status information corresponding to said second function data; and

converting said second signal suitable for transmission over a second wire into said second radio frequency signal comprising said corresponding valid identification and status information.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising an initial step of programming said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of programming further comprises

entering function data by a user corresponding to receipt of said radio frequency signal, said function data comprising keypress information;

associating said identification and status information in said radio frequency signal with said keypress information in said function data;

storing said identification and status information in association with said keypress information, thereby generating said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of translating further comprises:

converting said radio frequency signal into a converted signal;

deriving said identification and status information from said converted signal;

indexing into said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data with said identification and status information;

obtaining said function data representative of a function to be performed by said security system corresponding to said identification and status information; and

converting said converted signal into said signal suitable for transmission over a wire comprising said corresponding function data.

13. An adapter for augmenting the wireless capability of a security system, which comprises:

means for receiving a radio frequency signal, said radio frequency signal comprising identification and status information;

means for translating said identification and status information from said received radio frequency signal to corresponding function data derived from a mapping of valid identification and status information to function data, said function data emulating data generated by keypresses on a keypad that is representative of a function to be performed by said security system; and

means for transmitting a signal suitable for transmission over a wire comprising said corresponding function data.

14. The adapter of claim 13, wherein said means for transmitting said signal suitable for transmission over a wire is adapted to transmit said signal suitable for transmission over a wire to a wired security unit.

15. The adapter of claim 13, wherein said means for transmitting said signal suitable for transmission over a wire is adapted to transmit said signal suitable for transmission over a wire to a central control unit.

16. The adapter of claim 13, further comprising means for verifying accuracy of said message from said radio frequency signal.

17. The adapter of claim 13, wherein said signal suitable for transmission over said wire further comprises said identification and status information derived from said radio frequency signal, said signal suitable for transmission over said wire being transmitted to a central control unit upon failure to find said corresponding function data in said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data, said central control unit comprising a second means for translating said identification and status information to corresponding function data.

18. The adapter of claim 13 further comprising:

means for receiving a second signal suitable for transmission over a second wire comprising second function data to be performed by said security system;

means for translating said second function data in said second signal suitable for transmission over a second wire to corresponding valid identification and status information derived from said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data; and

means for transmitting a second radio frequency signal comprising said corresponding valid identification and status information.

19. The adapter of claim 18, wherein said means for receiving said second signal suitable for transmission over a second wire is adapted to receive said second signal suitable for transmission over a second wire from a wired security unit.

20. The adapter of claim 18, wherein said means for receiving said second signal suitable for transmission over a second wire is adapted to receive said second signal suitable for transmission over a second wire from a central control unit.

21. The adapter of claim 13, further comprising means for programming said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data.

22. The adapter of claim 21, wherein said means for programming further comprises a keypad and a display.

23. The adapter of claim 22, wherein a user enters function data on said keypad corresponding to receipt of said radio frequency signal by said means for receiving said radio frequency signal, said function data comprising keypress information, said means for programming associating said identification and status information in said radio frequency signal with said keypress information in said function data, said means for programming storing said identification and status information with said keypress information, thereby generating said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data.

24. An adapter for augmenting the wireless capability of a security system, which comprises:

a receiver which receives a radio frequency signal comprising identification and status information;

a processing unit which translates said identification and status information in said radio frequency signal to corresponding function data derived from a mapping of valid identification and status information to function data, said function data emulating data generated by keypresses on a keypad that is representative of a function to be performed by said security system; and

a transmitter which transmits a signal suitable for transmission over a wire comprising said corresponding function data.

25. The adapter of claim 24, wherein said transmitter is adapted to transmit said signal suitable for transmission over a wire to a wired security unit.

26. The adapter of claim 24, wherein said transmitter is adapted to transmit said signal suitable for transmission over said wire to a central control unit.

27. The adapter of claim 24, wherein said processing unit verifies accuracy of said message in said radio frequency signal.

28. The adapter of claim 24, wherein said transmitter transmits said identification and status information derived from said radio frequency signal over said wire to a central control unit upon failure to find said corresponding function data in said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data, said central control unit comprising a second processing unit which translates said identification and status information to corresponding function data.

29. The adapter of claim 24, further comprising:

a second receiver which receives a second signal suitable for transmission over a second wire comprising second function data to be performed by said security system;

a second processing unit which translates said second function data in said second signal suitable for transmission over a second wire to corresponding valid identification and status information derived from said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data; and

a second transmitter which transmits a second radio frequency signal comprising said corresponding valid identification and status information.

30. The adapter of claim 29, wherein said second receiver is adapted to receive said second signal suitable for transmission over a second wire from a wired security unit.

31. The adapter of claim 29, wherein said second receiver is adapted to receive said second signal suitable for transmission over a second wire from a central control unit.

32. The adapter of claim 24, further comprising a programming unit which enables said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data to be programmed.

33. The adapter of claim 32, wherein said programming unit further comprises a keypad and a display.

34. The adapter of claim 33, wherein a user enters function data on said keypad corresponding to receipt of said radio frequency signal by said receiver, said function data comprising keypress information, said programming unit associating said identification and status information in said radio frequency signal with said keypress information in said function data, said programming unit storing said identification and status information with said keypress information, thereby generating said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data.

35. The adapter of claim 33, wherein said processing unit comprises a microprocessor and memory.

36. An integral adaptive unit for augmenting the wireless capability of a security system, which comprises:

a receiver module which receives a radio frequency signal comprising identification and status information;

a processing module which translates said identification and status information in said radio frequency signal to corresponding function data derived from a mapping of valid identification and status information to function data, said function data emulating data generated by key presses on a keypad that is representative of a function to be performed by said security system;

mapping memory which stores said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data;

a console display/keypad module which enables a user to program and view said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data; and

a transmitter module which transmits a signal suitable for transmission over a wire comprising said corresponding function data.

37. The integral adaptive unit of claim 36, wherein said transmitter module is adapted to transmit said signal suitable for transmission over a wire to a wired security unit.

38. The integral adaptive unit of claim 36, wherein said transmitter module is adapted to transmit said signal suitable for transmission over a wire to a central control unit.

39. The integral adaptive unit of claim 36, wherein said processing module verifies accuracy of said message in said radio frequency signal using cyclic redundancy checks.

40. The integral adaptive unit of claim 36, wherein said signal suitable for transmission over said wire further comprises said identification and status information derived from said radio frequency signal, said signal suitable for transmission over said wire being transmitted to a central control unit upon failure to find said corresponding function data in said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data, said central control unit comprising a second processing module which translates said identification and status information to corresponding function data.

41. The integral adaptive unit of claim 36, further comprising

a second receiver module which receives a second signal suitable for transmission over a second wire comprising second function data to be performed by said security system;

a second processing module which translates said second function data in said second signal suitable for transmission over a second wire to corresponding valid identification and status information derived from said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data; and

a second transmitter module which transmits a second radio frequency signal comprising said corresponding valid identification and status information.

42. The integral adaptive unit of claim 41, wherein said second receiver module is adapted to receive said second signal suitable for transmission over a second wire from a wired security unit.

43. The integral adaptive unit of claim 41, wherein said second receiver module is adapted to receive said second signal suitable for transmission over a second wire from a central control unit.

44. The integral adaptive unit of claim 36, wherein a user enters function data on said keypad corresponding to receipt of said radio frequency signal by said receiver module, said function data comprising keypress information, said processing module associating said identification and status information in said radio frequency signal with said keypress information in said function data and storing said identification and status information with said keypress information in said mapping memory, thereby generating said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data.

45. A security system comprising:

a plurality of wireless remote units;

a control unit; and

an adaptive console comprising

a receiver module which receives a radio frequency signal comprising identification and status information from said plurality of wireless remote units,

a processing module which translates said identification and status information in said radio frequency signal to corresponding function data derived from a mapping of valid identification and status information to function data, said function data emulating data generated by keypresses on a keypad that is representative of a function to be performed by said security system,

mapping memory which stores said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data,

a console display/keypad module which enables a user to program said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data,

a transmitter module which transmits a signal suitable for transmission over a wire comprising said corresponding function data to said control unit, said transmitter module transmitting said signal suitable for transmission over said wire comprising said identification and status information upon failure to find said identification and status information in said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data;

a second receiver module which receives a second signal suitable for transmission over a second wire comprising second function data to be performed by said security system from said control unit, said processing module translating said second function data in said second signal suitable for transmission over a second wire to corresponding valid identification and status information derived from said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data, and

a second transmitter module which transmits a second radio frequency signal comprising said corresponding valid identification and status information to said plurality of wireless remote units.

46. The security system of claim 45, wherein said transmitter module is adapted to transmit said signal suitable for transmission over a wire to a wired security unit.

47. The security system of claim 45, wherein said processing module verifies accuracy of said message in said radio frequency signal using cyclic redundancy checks.

48. The security system of claim 45, wherein said second receiver module is adapted to receive said second signal suitable for transmission over a second wire from a wired security unit.

49. The security system of claim 45, wherein a user enters function data on said console display/keypad corresponding to receipt of said radio frequency signal by said receiver module, said function data comprising keypress information, said processing module associating said identification and status information in said radio frequency signal with said keypress information in said function data and storing said identification and status information with said keypress information in said mapping memory, thereby generating said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data.

50. A security system comprising:

a plurality of wireless remote units;

an adaptive console comprising

a receiver module which receives a radio frequency signal comprising identification and status information from said plurality of wireless remote units,

a transmitter module which transmits a signal suitable for transmission over a wire comprising said identification and status information;

a second receiver module which receives a second signal suitable for transmission over a second wire comprising second identification and status information to be performed by said security system, and

a second transmitter module which transmits a second radio frequency signal comprising said identification and status information to said plurality of wireless remote units; and

a control unit comprising

a processing module which translates said identification and status information in said signal suitable for transmission over said wire transmitted from said transmitter module to corresponding function data derived from a mapping of valid identification and status information to function data, said function data emulating data generated by keypresses on a keypad that is representative of a function to be performed by said security system,

mapping memory which stores said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data.

51. The security system of claim 50, wherein said control unit further comprises a console display/keypad module which enables a user to program said mapping of valid identification and status information to function data.

52. The security system of claim 50, wherein said transmitter module is adapted to transmit said signal suitable for transmission over a wire to a wired security unit.

53. The security system of claim 50, wherein said adaptive console further comprises a second processing module which verifies accuracy of said message in said radio frequency signal using cyclic redundancy checks.

54. The security system of claim 50, wherein said second receiver module is adapted to receive said second signal suitable for transmission over a second wire from a wired security unit.