Apparatus, method, and computer program for an alarm system

• US 7,522,039 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell International Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Rainnie, Hedley, Sutardja, Sehat, Janofsky, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang; Son M
• Application Number:
  US11/981,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20080088431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.17, 340/539.19, 340/539.22, 340/539.25, 340/539.26, 340/539.27, 340/539.28, 700 1- 27, 700/80, 700/84, 700/299, 700/300
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

An alarm monitor includes memory that stores an actuator schedule. An input circuit receives a sensor signal that indicates an alarm condition, the sensor signal originating from a sensor that is remote from the alarm monitor. A processor generates digital data based on the sensor signal and generates a first control signal to control an actuator based on the actuator schedule. An interface wirelessly transmits a report signal to a remote master unit based on the digital data and transmits the first control signal to the actuator.

Claims

1. An alarm monitor comprising:

memory that stores an actuator schedule;

an input circuit that receives a sensor signal that indicates an alarm condition, the sensor signal originating from a sensor that is remote from the alarm monitor;

a processor that generates digital data based on said sensor signal and that generates a first control signal to control an actuator based on said actuator schedule; and

an interface that wirelessly transmits a report signal to a remote master unit based on said digital data and that transmits said first control signal to said actuator.

2. The alarm monitor of claim 1 wherein said processor actuates a part of at least one of a window and a door via said actuator.

3. The alarm monitor of claim 2 wherein said part includes one of blinds, windowpanes, a sash, a sash cable, and a door panel.

4. The alarm monitor of claim 1 wherein said processor wirelessly transmits said first control signal to said actuator via said interface.

5. The alarm monitor of claim 1 wherein said processor at least one of opens, closes and obscures a physical portal based on said report signal via said actuator.

6. The alarm monitor of claim 1 wherein said processor signals said interface to transmit said report signal when said sensor signal is equal to a predetermined value.

7. The alarm monitor of claim 1 further comprising a receiver that receives a sensor calibration signal from said remote master unit,

wherein said processor calibrates an alarm sensor based on said sensor calibration signal.

8. The alarm monitor of claim 1 further comprising a media access controller that generates said report signal based on said digital data.

9. The alarm monitor of claim 8 wherein said media access controller generates an electronic mail (email) message comprising said digital data, and

wherein said interface transmits said email message to at least one of a personal computer and a portable device.

10. The alarm monitor of claim 8 further comprising a receiver that receives another signal comprising a destination address,

wherein said media access controller directs said email message to said destination address.

11. The alarm monitor of claim 1 wherein said processor is in a sleep mode when said sensor signal is equal to a predetermined value for a predetermined interval, and

wherein said processor transitions to an active mode and transmits said report signal via said interface when said sensor signal is no longer equal to said predetermined value.

12. The alarm monitor of claim 1 wherein said processor actuates a device that is connected to a physical portal based on said actuator schedule and independent of said digital data.

13. An alarm system comprising the alarm monitor of claim 2 and further comprising an alarm sensor that generates an alarm signal,

wherein said processor generates said digital data based on said alarm signal.

14. The alarm system of claim 13 wherein said alarm sensor comprises a camera, and

wherein said alarm signal comprises an image captured by said camera.

15. The alarm system of claim 13 wherein said alarm sensor comprises at least one of a seismometer, a barometer, a thermometer, a motion detector, a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, and a glass breakage detector.

16. An alarm system comprising the alarm monitor and said remote master unit of claim 1,

wherein said remote master unit generates a second control signal to control said actuator based on said report signal.

17. The alarm system of claim 16 wherein said remote master unit includes a network appliance.

18. The alarm system of claim 16 comprising a plurality of said alarm monitors that are in communication with said remote master unit.

19. The alarm system of claim 16 further comprising an intruder sensor that generates said sensor signal.

20. The alarm system of claim 16 further comprising a weather sensor that generates said sensor signal.

21. The alarm system of claim 16 further comprising:

a receiver that receives a sensor calibration signal,

wherein said processor calibrates said sensor based on said sensor calibration signal.

22. A controller comprising:

an input circuit that receives a sensor signal that indicates an alarm condition, the sensor signal originating from an alarm sensor that is remote from the controller and that receives a sensor calibration signal that is associated with said alarm sensor from a remote master unit;

a processor that generates digital data based on said sensor signal; and

a transmitter that wirelessly transmits a report signal to said remote master unit based on said digital data,

wherein said processor remotely calibrates said alarm sensor via said transmitter based on said sensor calibration signal.

23. The controller of claim 22 further comprising a media access controller that generates said report signal based on said digital data.

24. The controller of claim 23 wherein said media access controller generates an electronic mail (email) message comprising said digital data, and

wherein said transmitter transmits said email message to at least one of a personal computer and a portable device.

25. The controller of claim 24 wherein said receiver receives another signal comprising a destination address, and

wherein said media access controller directs said email message to said destination address.

26. The controller of claim 22 wherein said processor transmits said report signal when said sensor signal is equal to a predetermined value.

27. The controller of claim 22 wherein said processor is in a sleep mode when said sensor signal is equal to a predetermined value for a predetermined interval, and

wherein said processor is in an active mode and transmits said report signal via said transmitter when said sensor signal is no longer equal to said predetermined value.

28. The controller of claim 22 wherein said alarm sensor includes at least one of a camera, a seismometer, a barometer, a thermometer, a motion detector, a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, and a glass breakage detector.

29. The controller of claim 22 wherein said processor actuates a part of at least one of a window and a door via said actuator.

30. The controller of claim 29 wherein said part includes one of blinds, windowpanes, a sash, a sash cable, and a door panel.

31. The controller of claim 22 wherein said processor wirelessly transmits said first control signal to an actuator.

32. The controller of claim 22 wherein said processor at least one of opens, closes and obscures a physical portal based on said report signal.

33. The controller of claim 32 further comprising an output circuit that generates a second control signal based on said first control signal to at least one of open, close and obscure said physical portal.

34. The controller of claim 22 wherein said processor is in a sleep mode when said sensor signal is equal to a predetermined value for a predetermined interval, and

wherein said processor transitions to an active mode and transmits said report signal via said transmitter when said sensor signal is no longer equal to said predetermined value.

35. The alarm system of claim 22 wherein said processor actuates a device that is connected to a physical portal based on an actuator schedule and independent of said digital data.

36. A monitor comprising:

an input circuit that receives a sensor signal originated from a remote sensor selected from at least one of a sunlight detector, a seismometer, a barometer, a wind detector and a moisture detector;

a processor that generates digital data based on said sensor signal and that generates a first control signal to control an mechanical actuator based on said digital data; and

an interface that wirelessly transmits a report signal to a remote master unit based on said digital data and that transmits said first control signal to said actuator.

37. The monitor of claim 36 wherein said processor actuates a part of at least one of a window and a door via said actuator.

38. The monitor of claim 37 wherein said part includes one of blinds, windowpanes, a sash, a sash cable, and a door panel.

39. The monitor of claim 36 wherein said processor wirelessly transmits said first control signal to said actuator via said interface.

40. The monitor of claim 36 wherein said processor at least one of opens, closes and obscures a physical portal based on said control signal via said actuator.

41. The monitor of claim 36 wherein said processor signals said interface to transmit said report signal when said sensor signal is equal to a predetermined value.

42. The monitor of claim 36 further comprising a receiver that receives a sensor calibration signal from said remote master unit,

wherein said processor calibrates said remote sensor based on said sensor calibration signal.

43. The monitor of claim 36 further comprising a media access controller that generates said report signal based on said digital data.

44. The monitor of claim 43 wherein said media access controller generates an electronic mail (email) message comprising said digital data, and

wherein said interface transmits said email message to at least one of a personal computer and a portable device.

45. The monitor of claim 43 further comprising a receiver that receives another signal comprising a destination address,

wherein said media access controller directs said email message to said destination address.

46. The monitor of claim 36 wherein said processor is in a sleep mode when said sensor signal is equal to a predetermined value for a predetermined interval, and

wherein said processor transitions to an active mode and transmits said report signal via said interface when said sensor signal is no longer equal to said predetermined value.

47. The monitor of claim 36 wherein said processor actuates a device that is connected to a physical portal based on an actuator schedule and independent of said digital data.

48. A system comprising the controller of claim 36 and further comprising an alarm sensor that generates an alarm signal,

wherein said processor generates said digital data based on said alarm signal.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein said alarm sensor comprises a camera, and

wherein said alarm signal comprises an image captured by said camera.

50. A system comprising the monitor and said remote master unit of claim 36,

wherein said remote master unit generates a second control signal to control said actuator based on said report signal.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein said remote master unit includes a network appliance.

52. The system of claim 50 comprising a plurality of said monitors that are in communication with said remote master unit.

53. The monitor of claim 36 further comprising:

a receiver that receives a sensor calibration signal,

wherein said processor calibrates said remote sensor based on said sensor calibration signal.