Digital control of a security system

• US 6,266,396 B1
• Filed: 09/22/1999
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Everitt O. Johnson
• Original Assignee: Everitt O. Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, Everitt O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/401,049
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 379/37, 379/38, 379/39, 379/40, 379/41, 379/42, 379/43, 379/44, 379/45, 379/93.02, 379/93.03, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 340/825.06, 340/506
• US Class Current: 379/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2823 Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A method of remotely monitoring and operating a home and personal security system with the aid of digital computer manned by human operator, wherein the security system recognizes alarm conditions and responds to the alarm conditions comprising the steps of a) providing a computer for receiving and transmitting signals and including a database comprising user data, including at least one name, address, and telephone number of at least one user, at least one pass code, unique to and identifying each user, at least one alarm code representing a pre-identified alarm condition, operator data, including at least one telephone number of at least one human operator chosen from a pool of operators, emergency data including at least one telephone number of at least one emergency response unit. The method further comprises the steps of b) establishing a communication link between the data transmission device and the computer wherein the user enters a pass code and alarm code into the data transmission device and the device sends a signal to the CPU establishing a communication link and transmitting the entered pass code and alarm code to the computer; c) searching the computer data base and matching the transmitted pass code to the user data identifying the user'"'"'s name, address and telephone number, and matching the transmitted alarm code to the pre-identified alarm condition; d) establishing telephone communication and at least one operator, and transmitting the identified user data and pre-identified alarm condition to the operator; e) establishing further telephone communication between at least one operator and at least one emergency response unit; f) transmitting the identified user data and pre-identified alarm condition to at least one emergency response unit.

Claims

1. A method of remotely monitoring and operating a home and personal security system with the aid of a digital computer manned by a human operator, chosen from a pool of operators, said security system recognizing alarm conditions and responding to said alarm conditions, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a computer for receiving and transmitting signals and including a database comprising;

user data, including at least one name, address, and telephone number of at least one user;

at least one pass code, unique to and identifying each user;

at least one alarm code, representing a pre-identified alarm condition;

operator data, including at least one telephone number of at least one human operator chosen from said pool of operators;

emergency data, including at least one telephone number of at least one emergency response unit;

b) establishing a communication link between a data transmission device and said computer, wherein said at least one user enters said at least one pass code and said at least one alarm code into said data transmission device and said data transmission device sends a signal to said computer establishing said communication link and transmitting said entered pass code and alarm code to said computer;

c) searching said computer database and matching said transmitted pass code to said user data identifying said at least one users'"'"' name, address and telephone number, and matching said transmitted alarm code to said pre-identified alarm condition;

d) establishing telephone communication between said computer and said at least one operator, and transmitting said identified user data and said pre-identified alarm condition to said at least one operator;

e) establishing further telephone communication, through said computer, between said at least one operator and said at least one emergency response unit;

f) transmitting said identified user data and pre-identified alarm condition to said at least one emergency response unit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein step d) further comprises the step of confirming by said operator the accuracy of said identified user data and said pre-identified alarm condition with said user, and transmitting said confirmation to said computer, prompting said computer to initiate step e).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of confirming by said operator comprises the step of establishing telephone communication, through said computer, between said operator and said user.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of g) entering a badge number by said operator into said computer, wherein said badge number identifies a person from said at least one emergency response unit responding to said pre-identified alarm condition.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein said computer database further comprises contact data, including at least one telephone number of at least one contact person associated with said at least one user, and further comprising the steps of h) establishing telephone communication between said computer and said at least one contact person;

and i) transmitting said identified user data and pre-identified alarm condition to said at least one contact person.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said emergency response unit comprises one of a police unit, fire unit, ambulance unit, central dispatching center, and doctor'"'"'s office.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said data transmission device comprises one of a touch tone telephone, fax machine, computer, and burglar alarm system.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said data transmission device is further pre-programmed with a telephone number linked to said computer of said security system.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said at least one pass code is comprised of three digits, said at least one alarm code comprised of one digit, and said data transmission device is preprogrammed with said at least one pass code and said at least one alarm code.