Systems and methods for transmitting signals to a central station

• US 6,608,557 B1
• Filed: 08/26/1999
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Royal Thoughts LLC
• Inventors: Menard, Raymond J., Quady, Curtis E.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/383,784
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/3.1, 340/539, 340/825.36, 340/825.44, 340/825.49
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems, structures, and methods are provided to transmit signals from a detection system to a central station. The described embodiments use an enhanced wireless system to send a message to alert the central station of an alarm event at a premise. Such message has the ability to be sent to alternative central station if the message cannot be sent to the intended central station.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a security alarm panel to provide an alarm signal; and

a transmitter adapted for reception of the alarm signal, the transmitter transmitting a message after receipt of the alarm signal, the message generated in a short burst message format compatible with the ReFLEX protocol and using at least one look-up table, the at least one look-up table to encode the alarm signal of the security alarm panel as one of a plurality of event types into a wireless message, wherein the look-up table includes a code for each event type, and wherein the message includes a destination string.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a network to pass a portion of the wireless message; and

a second look-up table accessible to the network, the second look-up table used to decode the destination string to determine a destination of the portion of the wireless message.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the network is substantially compatible with ReFLEX protocol.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

at least one central station adapted to receive the portion of the wireless message from the network; and

a third look-up table accessible to each of the at least one central station and used to decode the portion of the wireless message and produce a security code.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one central station further comprises a computer.

6. A method comprising:

receiving at least one alarm signal from a security alarm bus, the at least one alarm signal received by a wireless transmitter; and

encoding the at least one alarm signal into a wireless short burst message format compatible with the ReFLEX protocol and using at least one look up table, the wireless message including a code representing one of a plurality of event types, and further including a destination string.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving at least one alarm signal comprises receiving a first alarm signal having a first priority and receiving a second alarm signal having a second priority, the method further comprising classifying priority of the at least one alarm signal and encoding the first alarm signal before encoding the second alarm signal.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising decoding the wireless message to determine a destination for the wireless message based on the destination string.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising decoding the wireless message into a security code.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising passing the security code to an automation system of a central station.

11. A data structure for a message to be wirelessly transmitted using a communication system, the data structure comprising:

an event identifier to identify a security alarm event that generates an alarm; and

an event descriptor to describe the security alarm event in at least one detail;

wherein the message is a wireless pager message in a short burst format compatible with the ReFLEX protocol.

12. The data structure of claim 11, further comprising a location identifier to identify a location of interest.

13. The data structure of claim 12, wherein the location identifier identifies a premise where the security alarm event has occurred.

14. The data structure of claim 11, wherein the event identifier identifies a burglary event.

15. The data structure of claim 11, wherein the event identifier identifies a fire event.

16. The data structure of claim 12, wherein the event descriptor describes an area within the location of interest.

17. A data structure for a security alarm message to be wirelessly transmitted using a communication system, the data structure comprising:

a destination string to identify a primary destination where the security alarm message is to be transmitted upon detection of a security alarm event using a security alarm system;

a location identifier to identify a location of interest based on the detected security alarm event;

an event identifier to identify the security alarm event at the location of interest; and

an event descriptor to describe the security alarm event in at least one detail;

wherein the message is a pager message in a short burst format compatible with the ReFLEX protocol.

18. The data structure of claim 17, wherein the destination string identifies a secondary destination.

19. The data structure of claim 18, wherein the message is wireless transmitted to the secondary destination.

20. The data structure of claim 17, wherein the location identifier includes a capcode.

21. A method of communicating comprising:

receiving notification of a security event from an alarm panel;

encoding the security event into a short burst message, the short burst message including a code, the code selected as a function of the security event and the short burst message including a destination string, the destination string determined as a function of a destination; and

transmitting the short burst message using a wireless two way pager network.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the short burst message is compatible with ReFLEX protocol.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the short burst message comprises an 11 bit string.

24. A method of communicating comprising:

receiving a short burst message formatted in a two way paging protocol at a central station, the short burst message corresponding to a security event, wherein the central station is adapted for monitoring security alarms, further wherein the short burst message includes a code representing the security event, the short burst message including a destination string corresponding to the central station;

decoding the code representing the security event; and

generating a security code as a function of the code representing the security event.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the short burst message is compatible with ReFLEX protocol.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the short burst message comprises an 11 bit string.