Security system with intermittent alarm location detection
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for operating a merchandise security system wherein a plurality of sensors are attached to a plurality of objects to be secured, a set of sensors within the plurality of sensors being connected to a corresponding hub, each hub being connected to a security system controller, each sensor or hub generating an alarm event when separated from the controller or object to be secured, the method comprising the steps of:
- activating the controller to sense alarm events;
generating an alarm event when at least one sensor or hub is separated from the controller or object to be secured;
storing a location of a sensor or hub generating an alarm event; and
displaying the location of the sensor or hub generating the alarm event at the controller.
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Abstract
This invention provides a security system which remembers an alarm event until either the alarm event is intentionally reset or the condition causing the alarm event is corrected. The security system includes at least one sensor coupled to a hub and at least one hub. A serial chain of hubs is connected to a control unit having a controller. The controller sounding a main alarm when an alarm event is generated by the at least one sensor. After the main alarm is silenced and the security system is disarmed, the controller activates a hub annunciator of a hub connected to one of the sensors having generated an alarm event. When a predetermined period of time from disarming the security system expires, the controller sounds the main alarm if there are any alarm events that occurred during the predetermined period of time that are either not reset or the condition causing the alarm event is not corrected.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A method for operating a merchandise security system wherein a plurality of sensors are attached to a plurality of objects to be secured, a set of sensors within the plurality of sensors being connected to a corresponding hub, each hub being connected to a security system controller, each sensor or hub generating an alarm event when separated from the controller or object to be secured, the method comprising the steps of:
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activating the controller to sense alarm events;
generating an alarm event when at least one sensor or hub is separated from the controller or object to be secured;
storing a location of a sensor or hub generating an alarm event; and
displaying the location of the sensor or hub generating the alarm event at the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
arming a main alarm to trigger an alarm signal when an alarm event is detected;
triggering the alarm signal when an initial alarm event is detected;
disarming the main alarm to deactivate the alarm signal;
re-arming the main alarm to trigger the alarm signal when a subsequent alarm event is detected while continuing to store the location of the sensor or hub generating the initial alarm event.
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7. The method of claim 6, wherein the steps of disarming and re-arming are performed at the controller.
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8. A method for operating a merchandise security system wherein a plurality of sensors are attached to a plurality of objects to be secured, a set of sensors within the plurality of sensors being connected to a corresponding hub, each hub being connected to a security system controller, each sensor or hub generating an alarm event when separated from the controller or object to be secured, the method comprising the steps of:
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activating the controller to sense alarm events;
arming a main alarm to trigger an alarm signal when an alarm event is detected;
generating an alarm event when at least one sensor or hub is separated from the controller or object to be secured;
storing a location of a sensor or hub generating an initial alarm event;
triggering the alarm signal when the initial alarm event is detected;
disarming the main alarm to deactivate the alarm signal;
re-arming the main alarm to trigger the alarm signal when a subsequent alarm event is detected while continuing to store the location of the sensor or hub generating the initial alarm event. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for operating a merchandise security system wherein a plurality of sensors are attached to a plurality of objects to be secured, said sensors being connected to a security system controller, each sensor generating an alarm event when separated from the controller or object to be secured, the method comprising the steps of:
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activating the controller to sense alarm events;
generating an alarm event when at least one sensor is separated from the controller or object to be secured; and
storing an identifier of a sensor generating an alarm event using a microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
displaying the identifier of the sensor generating the alarm event at the controller.
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16. The method of claim 13, wherein the microprocessor is located within the controller.
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17. The method of claim 13, wherein each of said sensors includes an indication signal indicating that the sensor is capable of generating an alarm event if separated from the controller or object to be secured;
the indication signals on all of the sensors except for the sensor generating the alarm event being deactivated automatically by the controller upon the generation of the alarm event.
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18. A method for operating a merchandise security system wherein a plurality of sensors are attached to a plurality of objects to be secured, the sensors being connected to a security system controller, each sensor generating an alarm event when separated from the controller or object to be secured, the method comprising the steps of:
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activating the controller to sense alarm events;
arming a main alarm to trigger an alarm signal when an alarm event is detected;
generating an alarm event when at least one sensor is separated from the controller or object to be secured;
storing a location of the sensor generating the alarm event;
disarming the main alarm while continuing to store the location of the sensor generating the alarm event; and
retriggering the main alarm if a condition causing the alarm event is not corrected and a predetermined period of time has elapsed.
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19. A method for operating a merchandise security system wherein a plurality of sensors are attached to a plurality of objects to be secured, and sensors being connected to a security system controller, each sensor generating an alarm event when separated from the controller or object to be secured, the method comprising the steps of:
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activating the controller to sense alarm events;
arming a main alarm to trigger an alarm signal when an alarm event is detected;
generating an alarm event when a sensor is separated from the controller or object to be secured;
storing an identifier of a sensor generating an initial alarm event;
triggering the alarm signal when the initial alarm event is detected;
disarming the main alarm to deactivate the alarm signal; and
re-arming the main alarm to trigger the alarm signal when a subsequent alarm event is detected while continuing to store the identifier of the sensor generating the initial alarm event. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
displaying the identifier of the sensor generating the initial alarm event;
correcting a condition causing the initial alarm event; and
displaying an identifier of a sensor generating the subsequent alarm event in place of the identifier of the sensor generating the initial alarm event.
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21. The method of claim 19, wherein each of the sensors includes an indication signal indicating that the sensor is capable of generating an alarm event;
the indication signals on all of the sensors except for the sensor generating the initial alarm event being deactivated automatically by the controller upon the generation of the initial alarm event.
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22. The method of claim 19, wherein said arming and disarming steps are performed by entering a code at said controller.
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23. The method of claim 22, further including:
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changing said code by accessing a reset button mounted within said controller by disassembling said controller;
depressing said reset button; and
entering a sequence of characters on a keypad of said controller.
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24. A method for operating a merchandise security system wherein a plurality of sensors are attached to a plurality of objects to be secured, the sensors being connected to a security system controller, each sensor generating an alarm event when separated from the controller or object to be secured, the method comprising the steps of:
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configuring the security system to determine a current system configuration by storing a current number of sensors attached to the controller;
activating the controller to sense alarm events and changes within the current system configuration;
automatically reconfiguring the current system configuration to an updated system configuration whenever additional sensors are connected to the controller; and
continuing to sense alarm events and changes within the updated system configuration. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A method for operating a merchandise security system wherein a plurality of sensors are attached to a plurality of objects to be secured, the sensors being connected to a security system controller, each sensor generating an alarm event when separated from the controller or object to be secured, the method comprising the steps of:
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configuring the security system to determine a current system configuration by storing a current number of sensors attached to the controller;
activating the controller to sense alarm events and changes within the current system configuration;
arming a main alarm to trigger an alarm signal when an alarm event is detected;
storing a location of a sensor generating an alarm event;
determining whether there are any stored alarm events;
disarming the main alarm when there are no stored alarm events;
changing the location of sensors attached to the controller or reducing the number of sensors;
reconfiguring the system to determine an updated system configuration by storing the changed number of sensors and the location of each sensor; and
re-arming the main alarm to trigger the alarm signal when alarm events are detected within the updated system configuration. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A method for operating a merchandise security system wherein a plurality of sensors are attached to a plurality of objects to be secured, the sensors within the plurality of sensors being connected to a security system controller, each sensor generating an alarm event when separated from the controller or object to be secured, the method comprising the steps of:
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activating the controller to sense alarm events;
arming a main alarm to trigger an alarm signal when an alarm event is detected;
generating an alarm event when at least one sensor is separated from the controller or object to be protected, thereby activating the main alarm;
storing a location of the sensor generating the alarm event;
activating an indication signal on each of the plurality of sensors after the controller is activated; and
deactivating the indication signals on all sensors except for the indication signal on the sensor that generated the alarm event.
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29. A method for operating a merchandise security system wherein a plurality of sensors are attached to a plurality of objects to be secured, the sensors being connected to a security system controller, each sensor generating an alarm event when separated from the controller or object to be secured, the method comprising the steps of:
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activating the controller to sense alarm events; and
indicating that a sensor is capable of generating an alarm event by activating an indication signal on the sensor, the indication signal being a sequence of signals, the number of signals within the sequence indicating a location of the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A merchandise security system comprising:
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a controller for sensing alarm events;
one or more hubs connected to the controller;
a plurality of sensors capable of attachment to a plurality of objects to be secured, a set of sensors within the plurality of sensors being attached to a corresponding hub, each sensor or hub generating an alarm event when separated from the controller or object to be secured;
wherein the controller stores the location of the sensor or hub generating the alarm event and displays the location of the sensor or hub generating the alarm event at the controller. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A merchandise security system comprising:
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a controller for sensing alarm events;
one or more hubs connected to the controller;
a plurality of sensors capable of attachment to a plurality of objects to be secured, a set of sensors within the plurality of sensors being attached to a corresponding hub, each sensor or hub generating an alarm event when separated from the controller or object to be secured;
wherein the controller arms a main alarm to trigger an alarm signal when an alarm event is detected;
stores a location of a sensor or hub generating an initial alarm event;
triggers the alarm signal when the initial alarm event is detected;
allows an operator to disarm the main alarm to deactivate the alarm signal; and
allows an operator to re-arm the main alarm to trigger the alarm signal when a subsequent alarm event is detected while continuing to store the location of the sensor or hub generating the initial alarm event.- View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A merchandise security system comprising:
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a controller for sensing alarm events;
a plurality of sensors capable of attachment to the controller and a plurality of objects to be secured, each sensor generating an alarm event when separated from the controller or object to be secured;
wherein the controller includes a microprocessor for storing a location of an initial sensor generating an alarm event and for continuing to sense subsequent alarm events while continuing to store the location of the initial sensor.
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44. A merchandise security system comprising:
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a controller for sensing alarm events;
a plurality of sensors capable of attachment to the controller and a plurality of objects to be secured, each sensor generating an alarm event when separated from the controller or object to be secured;
wherein the controller triggers a main alarm upon detecting an alarm event, stores the location of the sensor generating the alarm event, and re-triggers the main alarm if a condition causing the alarm event is not corrected and a predetermined period of time has elapsed.
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45. A merchandise security system comprising:
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a controller for sensing alarm events;
a plurality of sensors attached to a plurality of objects to be secured, and connected to the security system controller, each sensor generating an alarm event when separated from the controller or object to be secured;
wherein the controller arms a main alarm to trigger an alarm signal when an alarm event is detected;
stores an identifier of a sensor generating an initial alarm event;
triggers the alarm signal when the initial alarm event is detected;
allows an operator to disarm the main alarm to deactivate the alarm signal; and
allows the operator to re-arm the main alarm to trigger the alarm signal when a subsequent alarm event is detected while continuing to store the identifier of the sensor generating the initial alarm event.
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46. A merchandise security system comprising:
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a controller for sensing alarm events;
a plurality of sensors capable of attachment to the controller and a plurality of objects to be secured, each sensor generating an alarm event when separated from the controller or object to be secured;
wherein the controller configures the security system to determine a current system configuration by storing a current number of sensors and a location of each sensor;
the controller sensing alarm events and changes within the current system configuration; and
the controller automatically reconfiguring the current system configuration to an updated system configuration whenever additional sensors are added, the controller continuing to sense alarm events and changes within the updated system configuration.
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47. A merchandise security system comprising:
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a controller for sensing alarm events;
a plurality of sensors capable of attachment to the controller and a plurality of objects to be secured, each sensor generating an alarm event when separated from the controller or object to be secured;
wherein the controller;
configures the security system to determine a current system configuration by storing a current number of sensors and a location of each sensor;
arms a main alarm to trigger an alarm signal when an alarm event is detected;
stores a location of a sensor generating an alarm event; and
allows disarming of the main alarm and reconfiguring of the current system configuration to an updated system configuration when there are no stored alarm events and when the location of a sensor is changed or the number of sensors has been reduced from the current system configuration.
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48. A merchandise security system comprising:
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a controller for sensing alarm events;
a plurality of sensors capable of attachment to the controller and a plurality of objects to be secured, each sensor generating an alarm event when separated from the controller or object to be secured;
wherein the controller stores a location of the sensor generating an alarm event; and
an alarm signal is activated when an alarm event is detected;
wherein each sensor includes an indication signal indicating that the sensor is capable of generating an alarm event, the indication signal on all sensors being deactivated when the alarm signal is activated, except for the sensor that generated the alarm event.
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Specification