Alarm system with programmable device control

• US 6,310,547 B1
• Filed: 05/26/2000
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyco Safety Products Canada Limited (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Digital Security Controls Limited (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Parker, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US09/579,526
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/506, 340/505, 340/310.06, 340/825.06, 340/825.07, 700/17, 700/83
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 13/023 Adjusting the duration or amplitude of signals
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0076 in which the time in another time-zone or in another city can be displayed at will
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

An alarm system providing programmable remote control of electrically controlled devices, such as lights, is provided. Geographic site and date information is provided to the alarm system. The parameters used to dictate the activation and deactivation of the controlled devices include the geographic site location and the sunrise and sunset times for the current date at that site. Accordingly, the activation and deactivation times of the controlled devices be programmed to automatically track the shifting sunset and sunrise times at the site.

Claims

1. In an alarm security system at a geographic location connected to a central reporting station, a programmable control system for selectively activating a plurality of ancillary devices, said control system comprising

a plurality of controllers each connected to said plurality ancillary devices for selectively activating and deactivating said plurality of ancillary devices;

programmable activation means to selectively activate and deactivate each of said plurality of controllers according to programmable parameters comprising user-defined timing parameters, current time, current date and yearly sunrise and sunset times for said geographic location;

selection means to set said geographic location of said alarm security system for said programmable activation means; and

wherein said selection means is based on a telephone number and area code associated with said alarm security system.

2. The programmable control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said yearly sunrise and sunset times are stored at said central reporting station and said programmable control system communicates with said central reporting station to retrieve said yearly sunrise and sunset times for utilization by said programmable activation means.

3. The programmable control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said programmable parameters further comprise a time randomizing factor.

4. The programmable control system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said plurality of properties on which said programmable activation means operates further comprises a time randomizing factor.

5. The programmable control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said yearly sunrise and sunset times are stored at said alarm panel.

6. The programmable control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of controllers selectively control the flow of electricity to said plurality of ancillary devices.

7. The programmable control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said programmable activation means is responsive to operation modes of said alarm security system to selectively control said ancillary devices.

8. The programmable control system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said plurality of properties further comprises actual sunrise/sunset times for a specific date provided to said alarm security system.

9. In an alarm security system connected to a central reporting station, a programmable control system for selectively activating a plurality of ancillary devices, said control system comprising

a plurality of controllers each connected to said plurality ancillary devices;

a microprocessor;

accessible data for sunrise and sunset times for different times of the year for a plurality of geographic locations;

selection means to set a specific geographic location for said alarm panel from said plurality of geographic locations;

a program operating on said microprocessor, said program comprising an activation module causing selective activation and deactivation of said plurality of controllers based on a plurality of properties comprising identification of said geographic location, current time, current date, and yearly sunrise and sunset times for said geographic location; and

wherein said geographic location is established via a telephone number and area code associated with said alarm security system.

10. The programmable control system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said yearly sunrise and sunset times are stored at said central reporting station and said programmable control system communicates with said central reporting station to retrieve said sunrise and sunset times for utilization by said programmable activation module.

11. The programmable control system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said programmable parameters comprise a time randomizing factor.

12. The programmable control system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said program adjusts activation and deactivation times of said plurality of controllers at most on a daily basis.