System and method for wireless transmission of security alarms to selected groups
First Claim
1. A security system for providing notification of alerts, the system having a plurality of sensors installed within a facility, each sensor configured to detect a condition and generate an alert thereupon, the system comprising:
- a central computer hosting a database, the central computer asynchronously receiving the alert and querying the database to provide a communications channel indicator associated with the alert and a textual message associated with the alert, the central computer having a means to convert the textual message into a synthesized voice message;
one or more radio transmitters, each radio transmitter capable of selectively transmitting on a plurality of communications channels, each communications channel assigned to only one radio transmitter;
one or more handheld radios, each handheld radio assigned to and carried by a recipient, each handheld radio configured to receive on a first communications channel and to transmit on a second communications channel, wherein the second and the first communications channels are different communications channels;
a single radio receiver receiving transmissions on the second communications channel, wherein the second communications channel is common to all handheld radios; and
a communications interface having a means to select a communications channel in response to receiving the communications channel indicator sent by the central computer, the communications interface having a means to configure the radio transmitter associated with the selected communications channel to transmit on the selected communications channel, the communications interface having a means to transmit on the selected communications channel the synthesized voice message received from the central computer, the communications interface having a means to detect an acknowledgement received on the radio receiver and sending the acknowledgement to the central computer.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, apparatus, methods, and computer program products for a security system to automatically notify by wireless communications means selected classes of recipients of the occurrence an alarm event, receiving acknowledgment of the receipt of the alert by the recipient, receiving either a digital or a vocal message, and responding appropriately to the reception. The recipients may be provided with handheld transceivers that have been assigned to one of a plurality of communications channels. The system includes a communications interface that allows a central computer, in response to an alarm, to locate a communications channel and message text for transmission to a selected group of recipients. The computer system may then programmatically select the communications channel, convert the message text into an audio, synthesized voice message, and send the message to the recipients on the selected communications channel. The recipients may respond to the message with a code entered on a keypad of their handheld transceivers.
138 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A security system for providing notification of alerts, the system having a plurality of sensors installed within a facility, each sensor configured to detect a condition and generate an alert thereupon, the system comprising:
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a central computer hosting a database, the central computer asynchronously receiving the alert and querying the database to provide a communications channel indicator associated with the alert and a textual message associated with the alert, the central computer having a means to convert the textual message into a synthesized voice message; one or more radio transmitters, each radio transmitter capable of selectively transmitting on a plurality of communications channels, each communications channel assigned to only one radio transmitter; one or more handheld radios, each handheld radio assigned to and carried by a recipient, each handheld radio configured to receive on a first communications channel and to transmit on a second communications channel, wherein the second and the first communications channels are different communications channels; a single radio receiver receiving transmissions on the second communications channel, wherein the second communications channel is common to all handheld radios; and a communications interface having a means to select a communications channel in response to receiving the communications channel indicator sent by the central computer, the communications interface having a means to configure the radio transmitter associated with the selected communications channel to transmit on the selected communications channel, the communications interface having a means to transmit on the selected communications channel the synthesized voice message received from the central computer, the communications interface having a means to detect an acknowledgement received on the radio receiver and sending the acknowledgement to the central computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A wireless communications interface apparatus for a security system, the system having a plurality of sensors installed within a facility, each sensor configured to detect a condition and generate in response an alert, the system further having a central computer hosting a database, the central computer asynchronously receiving the alert and responsively providing a communications channel identifier associated with the alert and a synthesized voice message associated with the alert, the synthesized voice message to be received by one or more handheld radios, each handheld radio assigned to and carried by a recipient, each handheld radio configured to receive on a first communications channel and to transmit on a second communications channel, the second and the first communications channels being different communications channels;
- the wireless communications interface apparatus comprising;
one or more radio transmitters, each radio transmitter capable of selectively transmitting on a plurality of first communications channels, each first communications channel assigned to only one radio transmitter; a single radio receiver receiving transmissions on the second communications channel, wherein the second communications channel is common to all handheld radios; and a communications interface receiving from the central computer both the communications channel identifier and the synthesized voice message, the communications interface selecting a communications channel identified by the communications channel identifier, the communications interface configuring the radio transmitter associated with the selected first communications channel for transmission on the selected first communications channel, the communications interface transmitting on the selected first communications channel the synthesized voice message, the communications interface detecting an acknowledgment received on the radio receiver, the communications interface sending the acknowledgement to the central computer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- the wireless communications interface apparatus comprising;
Specification