Testing and installing sensors in a security system
First Claim
1. A method of operating a sensor in a security system having a control panel that receives transmissions from the sensor and the sensor has a user-operable test button that tests a condition sensing device in the sensor, the method comprising:
- generating, in response to actuation of the test button in the absence of a predetermined condition, a transmission from the sensor including information indicating that a test of the sensor has been conducted;
receiving by the control panel, in response to actuation of the test button in the presence of the predetermined condition, a transmission from the sensor indicating that the control panel should not report to a monitoring station; and
upon depressing the test button in the presence of the predetermined condition, generating a transmission from the sensor including information indicating the presence of a sensed condition sensed by the sensing device, wherein the transmission including information indicating the presence of the sensed condition does not include information indicating that a test of the sensor has been conducted.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A security system includes a sensor and a control panel that receives transmissions from the sensor. The sensor has a user-operable testing actuator that tests a condition sensing device in the sensor. A method of operating the sensor includes generating, in response to actuation of the testing actuator in the absence of a predetermined condition, a transmission from the sensor including information indicating that a test of the sensor has been conducted. The method further includes receiving by the control panel, in response to actuation of the testing actuator in the presence of the predetermined condition, a transmission from the sensor indicating that the control panel should not report to a monitoring station.
28 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method of operating a sensor in a security system having a control panel that receives transmissions from the sensor and the sensor has a user-operable test button that tests a condition sensing device in the sensor, the method comprising:
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generating, in response to actuation of the test button in the absence of a predetermined condition, a transmission from the sensor including information indicating that a test of the sensor has been conducted; receiving by the control panel, in response to actuation of the test button in the presence of the predetermined condition, a transmission from the sensor indicating that the control panel should not report to a monitoring station; and upon depressing the test button in the presence of the predetermined condition, generating a transmission from the sensor including information indicating the presence of a sensed condition sensed by the sensing device, wherein the transmission including information indicating the presence of the sensed condition does not include information indicating that a test of the sensor has been conducted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating a sensor in a security system having a central control panel that receives transmissions from the sensor, the sensor has first and second user-operable test buttons, at least one of the first and second test buttons test a condition sensing device in the sensor, the method comprising:
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generating, in response to actuation of the first test button, a transmission from the sensor including information indicating that a test of the sensor has been conducted; receiving by the control panel, in response to actuation of the first test button in the presence of a predetermined condition, a transmission from the sensor indicating that the control panel should not report to a monitoring station; and upon depressing the second test button in the presence of the predetermined condition, generating a transmission from the sensor including information indicating the presence of a sensed condition sensed by the sensing device, wherein the transmission including information indicating the presence of the sensed condition does not include information indicating that a test of the sensor has been conducted. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A sensor for use in a security system having a control panel that receives transmissions from the sensor, the sensor comprising:
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a sensing device for sensing a condition and having an output indicating whether or not the sensed condition is present; a test button that when actuated conducts a test of the sensing device and causes the sensing device output to indicate that the sensed condition is present if the sensor is working properly; and at least one control and communications application that receives the output of the sensing device and senses whether the test button has been actuated, wherein the control and communications application; transmits, in response to the sensing device output indicating that the sensed condition is present and that the test button was actuated in the absence of a predetermined condition, a signal for receipt by the control panel including information that the test button was actuated, and upon receiving the sensing device output indicating that the sensed condition is present and indicating that the test button was depressed in the presence of the predetermined condition, transmits a signal for receipt by the control panel including information that the sensing device output is indicating that the sensed condition is present but not that the test button was depressed. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A sensor for use in a security system having a control panel that receives transmissions from the sensor, the sensor comprising:
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a sensing device for sensing a condition and having an output indicating whether or not the sensed condition is present; first and second test buttons, when at least one of the first and second test buttons is depressed, a test button application conducts a test of the sensing device and causes the sensing device output to indicate that the sensed condition is present if the sensor is working properly; and at least one control and communications application that receives the output of the sensing device, wherein the control and communications application; transmits, in response to the sensing device output indicating that the sensed condition is present and that the first test button was actuated, a signal for receipt by the control panel including information that a test of the sensing device has been conducted; receives from the sensing device a signal for receipt by the control panel including information indicating that the control panel should not report to a monitoring station; and upon receiving the sensing device output indicating that the sensed condition is present and that the second test button was depressed in the presence of a predetermined condition, transmits a signal for receipt by the control panel including information that the sensing device output is indicating that the sensed condition is present, wherein the signal including information that the sensing device output is indicating that the sensed condition is present does not include information that a test of the sensing device has been conducted. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for use in a security system for a premises, the security system comprising a plurality of sensors that transmit to a control panel which in turn communicates with a remote monitoring station, the method comprising:
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receiving at the control panel a first type of transmission from one of the plurality of sensors, the first type of transmission including information that a test of a sensing device was conducted; when the control panel is operating in a first mode, upon receiving the first type of transmission having specific content, the control panel does not send a communication to the remote monitoring station indicating the presence of a condition at the premises; and when the control panel is operating in a second mode different than the first mode, upon receiving the first type of transmission with the specific content, the control panel sends a communication to the remote monitoring station indicating the presence of the condition at the premises and an identity of the one of the sensors that sensed the condition, wherein the identity distinguishes the one of the sensors from the remaining of the sensors. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for use in a security system for a premises, the security system comprising a sensor that transmits to a control panel which in turn communicates with a remote monitoring station, the method comprising:
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receiving, at the control panel and from a sensor, a transmission including an identity of the sensor; and forwarding in a verification mode, from the control panel to the remote monitoring station, the identity for the sensor, wherein the remote monitoring station is separate from the sensor and configured to dispatch an emergency department upon receiving an alarm condition, said forwarding occurs upon receiving a signal from the sensor indicating that a test of the sensor is conducted, and said forwarding in the verification mode occurs when the at least one sensor is installed within the security system.
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39. A control panel for a security system for a premises having at least one sensor that communicates with the control panel which communicates with a remote monitoring station, the control panel comprising:
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a receiver to receive transmissions from at least one sensor; a communications application to communicate with the remote monitoring station; a user settable mode selector to place the control panel in a verification mode; a controller; and memory having instructions stored thereon that when executed by the controller perform the following operations; upon receiving at least one identity of the at least one sensor, the controller stores in memory the at least one identity, and when in the verification mode, communicating the at least one identity to the remote monitoring station that is separate from the at least one sensor and the control panel and configured to dispatch an emergency department upon receiving an alarm condition, and said communicating the at least one identity occurs when the at least one sensor is installed within the security system and upon receiving at least one signal from the at least one sensor indicating that a test of the at least one sensor is conducted. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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Specification