Security control and communication system and method

• US 6,999,562 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2003
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Winick, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAN, WING F
• Application Number:
  US10/410,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20030190906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 379 37- 51, 340506-508, 340531-533, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 34053914-53916, 340/539.19, 455/404.1, 455/418, 455/419
• US Class Current: 379/42
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

An integrated security control system and method which integrate the functions of a wireless security system control panel and a radio transceiver in an integrated security control system unit. The integrated control unit includes a first telephone communication system for communicating security system data by wired telephone communications, and a second radio frequency (RF) cellular communication system for communicating security system data by communications through an RF communication network. The cellular communication system is the primary communication network for reporting a security event, thereby leaving the first telephone communication system open for telephone communications during the reporting of a security event. A separate unit of the security system, such as a wireless RF status display or a wireless RF keypad, is provided with a beeper transducer for sounding entry and exit beeps. The separate unit is positioned at a separate location from the integrated security control system unit, such that the entry beeps do not alert an entering person to the location of the integrated security control system unit. When a security event is triggered, the control unit delays activating a security alarm sounder in the control unit until after the second RF communication system has finished transmitting the alarm message.

Claims

1. An integrated security control and communication system comprising:

an integrated security control system unit including a first telephone communication system for communicating security system data by wired telephone communications through a first communication network, and a second radio frequency (RF) communication system for communicating security system data by communications through an RF communication network, wherein the second RF communication system is the security system primary communication network for reporting a security event, thereby leaving the first telephone communication system open for telephone communications during the reporting of a security event, and a control system for determining under what circumstances communications are directed through the first telephone communication system and through the second RF communication system;

a separate unit of the security system includes a beeper transducer for sounding entry and exit beeps, to alert a person entering the premises to disarm the security system, and to alert a person leaving the premises that the security system has been properly armed, wherein the separate unit is positioned at a separate location from the integrated security control system unit, such that the entry beeps do not alert an entering person to the location of the integrated security control system unit, to prevent the entering person from possibly attempting to damage or destroy the integrated security control system unit, wherein the integrated security control system unit includes a security alarm sounder, and when a person enters the premises, the beeper transducer in the separate unit emits entry beeps to alert the entering person to disarm the security system before the expiration of a given time period, during which time period the integrated security control system unit transmits an RF security message alerting a security service center of the entry and then awaits receiving back an acknowledge RF message acknowledging the successful receipt by the security service center of the security message, and after receiving back the acknowledge RF message, if the entering person has not disarmed the alarm system within the given time period, the integrated security control system unit activates the alarm sounder to sound a security alarm, such that after the alarm sounder sounds a security alarm, even if the entering person attempts to damage or destroy the integrated security control system unit, the integrated security control system unit has already successfully transmitted a security alarm message.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the integrated security control system unit includes a microprocessor and control unit coupled to a modem and digital dialer unit, a long range cellular RF transceiver, a short range RF transceiver, a power supply and battery charger unit, and a security alarm sounder for sounding an alarm when a security event is detected.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the microprocessor and control unit is further coupled to a fixture power line control unit which uses a power line carrier communication protocol to communicate with and control other power line control units over the AC power supply line.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein when a security event is triggered, the control unit delays activating the security alarm sounder until the second RF communication system has finished transmitting the alarm message.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the security system further includes a short range RF transceiver for communicating with other components of the security system.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the separate unit comprises a wireless RF keypad which bidirectionally communicates with the short range RF transceiver.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the separate unit comprises a wireless RF status display which bidirectionally communicates with the short range RF transceiver.

8. The system of claim 5, further including a wireless RF key unit for transmitting arm and disarm messages to the short range RF transceiver.

9. The system of claim 1, further including a security system housing for enclosing the integrated security system control unit, wherein the housing includes an AC plug projecting from a back of the housing which plugs into an AC outlet receptacle to provide primary power for the integrated security control system unit, and the integrated security control system unit also includes a back up battery for continued operation during a power outage.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the integrated security control system unit further includes an AC power line control module which uses a power line carrier communication protocol to control at least one appliance in a premises protected by the security system.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the second RF communication system comprises a long range RF transceiver and a control channel cellular RF communication network which forwards data packets of a security message to a security service center, which then sends a security message through a separate communication network to a security monitor center which responds to the security message with an appropriate security action.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first telephone communication system includes a modem and digital dialer to provide bi-directional telephone communications.

13. A method of operating an integrated security control and communication system comprising:

providing an integrated security control system unit with a first telephone communication system for communicating security system data by wired telephone communications through a first communication network, and a second radio frequency (RF) communication system for communicating security system data by communications through an RF communication network;

utilizing the second RF communication system as the security system primary communication network for reporting a security event, thereby leaving the first telephone communication system open for telephone communications during the reporting of a security event;

controlling which communications are directed through the first telephone communication system and which communications are directed through the second RF communication system;

providing a separate unit of the security system with a beeper transducer for sounding entry and exit beeps, to alert a person entering the premises to disarm the security system, and to alert a person leaving the premises that the security system has been properly armed;

positioning the separate unit at a separate location from the integrated security control system unit, such that the entry beeps do not alert an entering person to the location of the integrated security control system unit, to prevent the entering person from possibly attempting to damage or destroy the integrated security control system unit; and

providing the integrated security control system unit with a security alarm sounder, and when a person enters the premises, the beeper transducer in the separate unit emits entry beeps to alert the entering person to disarm the security system before the expiration of a given time period, during which time period the integrated security control system unit transmits an RF security message alerting a security service center of the entry and then awaits receiving back an acknowledge RF message acknowledging the successful receipt by the security service center of the security message, and after receiving back the acknowledge RF message, if the entering person has not disarmed the alarm system within the given time period, the integrated security control system unit activates the alarm sounder to sound a security alarm, such that after the alarm sounder sounds a security alarm, even if the entering person attempts to damage or destroy the integrated security control system unit, the integrated security control system unit has already successfully transmitted a security alarm message.

14. The method of claim 13, including providing the integrated security control system unit with an AC power line control module which uses a power line carrier communication protocol to control at least one appliance in a premises protected by the security system.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein a component of the security system for disarming the security system by simply pressing a button is a separate component which is positioned at a separate nonobvious location from a component for arming the security system or having the beeper transducer.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the second RF communication system comprises a long range RF transceiver and a control channel cellular RF communication network which forwards data packets of a security message to a security service center, which then sends a security message through a separate communication network to a security monitor center which responds to the security message with an appropriate security action.

17. The method of claim 13, including providing the first telephone communication system with a modem and digital dialer to provide bi-directional telephone communications.

18. The method of claim 13, including providing the security system with a short range RF transceiver for communicating with other components of the security system.

19. The method of claim 18, including providing the separate unit as a wireless RF keypad which bidirectionally communicates with the short range RF transceiver.

20. The method of claim 18, including providing the separate unit as a wireless RF status display which bidirectionally communicates with the short range RF transceiver.

21. The method of claim 18, including providing a wireless RF key unit for transmitting arm and disarm messages to the short range RF transceiver.

22. The method of claim 13, including providing a security system housing for enclosing the integrated security system control unit with an AC plug projecting from a back of the housing, and plugging the AC plug into an AC outlet receptacle to provide primary power for the integrated security control system unit, and providing the integrated security control system unit with a back up battery for continued operation during a power outage.

23. A method of programming an integrated security control system unit including a telephone communication system for communicating security system data by wired telephone communications through a communication network, the method comprising:

providing a web site hosted by a security system service center, and storing configuration data at the web site which can be accessed through the internet;

accessing the web site through the internet by a web browser of a security system end user computer to provide access to end user configuration data, both for security system information and for programming of the security system;

the control system initiates a telephone call through the telephone communication system to access the security system service center through the telephone network to complete a secure data connection to transmit updated configuration data to the control system.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein a security system monitoring center controls what features and data the end user can access through the end user computer and the internet.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the end user computer and a security system monitoring center are supplied with forms and enables a complete system feature configuration via their web browser.

26. A method of programming an integrated security control system unit including a first telephone communication system for communicating security system data by wired telephone communications through a first communication network, and a second radio frequency (RF) communication system for communicating security system data by communications through a radio frequency (RF) communication network, wherein the second RF communication system is the security system primary communication network for reporting a security event, thereby leaving the first telephone communication system open for telephone communications during the reporting of a security event, and a control system for determining under what circumstances communications are directed through the first telephone communication system and through the second RF communication system, the method comprising:

providing a web site hosted by a security system service center, and storing configuration data at the web site which can be accessed through the internet;

accessing the web site through the internet by a web browser of a security system monitoring center to provide access to security system monitoring center configuration data, both for security system information and for programming of the security system;

accessing the web site through the internet by a web browser of a security system end user computer to provide access to end user configuration data, both for security system information and for programming of the security system;

the security system service center signals the control system through the radio communication network that configuration data is waiting to be downloaded to program the control system;

the control system then initiates a telephone call through the first telephone communication system to access the security system service center through the telephone network to complete a secure data connection to transmit updated configuration data to the control system.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the end user computer and the security system monitoring center are supplied with forms and tables to enable a complete system feature configuration via their web browsers.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the security system monitoring center controls what features and data the end user can access through the end user computer and the internet.

29. A method of programming an integrated security control system unit including a telephone communication system for communicating security system data by wired telephone communications through a communication network, the method comprising:

providing a web site hosted by a security system service center, and storing configuration data at the web site which can be accessed through the internet;

accessing the web site through the internet by a web browser of a security system monitoring center to provide access to security system monitoring center configuration data, both for security system information and for programming of the security system; and

a communication is initiated through the telephone communication system to access the security system service center through the telephone network to complete a secure data connection to transmit updated configuration data to the control system.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein an end user computer and the security system monitoring center are supplied with forms and tables to enable a complete system feature configuration via their web browsers.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the security system monitoring center controls what features and data the end user can access through an end user computer and the internet.