Fixed part-portable part communications network for a security network

• US 7,532,114 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The ADT Security Corporation (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LifeShield LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stilp, Louis A.
• Primary Examiner(s): La; Anh V
• Application Number:
  US11/321,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20060132301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.22, 340/572.1, 340/10.1, 340/3.1, 340/2.26, 340/2.24, 340/539.1, 709/208
• US Class Current: 340/539.22
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/03 with multiple-channel loop, i.e. redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/248 EAS system combined with another detection technology, e.g. dual EAS and video or other presence detection system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/004 Alarm propagated along alternative communication path or using alternative communication medium according to a hierarchy of available ways to communicate, e.g. if Wi-Fi not available use GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/005 Alarm destination chosen according to a hierarchy of available destinations, e.g. if hospital does not answer send to police station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/06 Monitoring of the line circuits, e.g. signalling of line faults
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/14 checking the detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/16 Security signalling or alarm systems, e.g. redundant systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/12 Marking faulty circuits "busy"; Enabling equipment to disengage itself from faulty circuits ; Using redundant circuits; Response of a circuit, apparatus or system to an error
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A communications network for a security network is disclosed. The communications network includes at least one master base unit, or fixed parts, and at least two slave base units, or portable parts. The communications network is configured such that each of the master base units is capable of communicating with each of the slave base units, and each of the slave base units is capable of communicating with each of the master base units. The network is also configured such that each of the master base units is capable of communicating with an outside telecommunications network, and each of the network slave base units are also capable of communicating with an outside telecommunications network. Such a communications network for a security network provides substantial redundancy and reliability in the event of one or more component failures.

Claims

1. A communications network for a security network comprising:

at least one master base unit configured to operate as a radio master;

at least one slave base unit;

each of the at least one master base units communicating with the at least one slave base unit, and communicating with a plurality of security network transponders; and

each of the at least one slave base units communicating with the at least one master base unit, and communicating with the plurality of security network transponders,

wherein each of the base units has a controller function that uses logic implemented in firmware or software to determine whether an alert condition exists and whether to prompt a signal indicating the existence of the alert condition, and wherein the controller function in the at least one slave base unit is subordinate to the controller function in the at least one master base unit as long as the at least one master base unit is operable but becomes primary when the at least one slave base unit determines that the at least one master base unit is no longer operable.

2. The communications network of claim 1 wherein each of the at least one master base unit communicates with an outside communications network.

3. The communications network of claim 1 wherein each of the at least one slave base units communicates with an outside communications network.

4. The communications network of claim 1 wherein each of the at least one master base unit and each of the at least one slave base units communicates with an outside communications network.

5. The communications network of claim 1 wherein a slave base unit is reconfigured to operate as a master base unit.

6. The communications network of claim 5 wherein when the slave base unit is reconfigured to operate as a master base unit, one of the at least one master base units is reconfigured to no longer operate as a master base unit.

7. The communications network of claim 6 wherein the at least one master base units reconfigured to no longer operate as a master base unit is reconfigured to operate as a slave base unit.

8. The communications network of claim 2 wherein the outside communications network is PSTN (“

Public Switched Telephone Network”

).

9. The communications network of claim 2 wherein the outside communications network is the Internet.

10. The communications network of claim 2 wherein the outside communications network is a broadband internet network.

11. The communications network of claim 10 wherein the broadband internet network is an Ethernet.

12. The communications network of claim 10 wherein the broadband internet network is a WiFi network.

13. The communications network of claim 2 wherein the outside communications network is a CMRS (“

Commercial Mobile Radio Service”

) network.

14. The communications network of claim 3 wherein the outside communications network is PSTN (“

Public Switched Telephone Network”

).

15. The communications network of claim 3 wherein the outside communications network is the Internet.

16. The communications network of claim 3 wherein the outside communications network is a broadband internet network.

17. The communications network of claim 16 wherein the broadband internet network is an Ethernet.

18. The communications network of claim 16 wherein the broadband internet network is a WiFi network.

19. The communications network of claim 3 wherein the outside communications network is a CMRS (“

Commercial Mobile Radio Service”

) network.

20. A communications network for a security network comprising:

a master base unit with a master controller function defined as logic implemented in firmware or software and running within the master base unit, said master base unit configured to operate as a radio master, said master base unit communicating with a plurality of security network transponders, said master base unit communicating with at least one external communications network, and said master base unit being reconfigurable to be a slave base unit; and

at least one slave base unit with a slave controller function defined as logic implemented in firmware or software and running within the at least one slave base unit, said at least one slave base unit communicating with the master base unit, said at least one slave base unit communicating with the plurality of security network transponders, said at least one slave base unit communicating with the at least one external communications network, and said at least one slave base unit being reconfigurable to be a master base unit;

wherein the controller function of the communications network comprises the master controller function and the slave controller function and determines whether an alert condition exists and whether to prompt a signal indicating the existence of the alert condition, and wherein the slave controller function is subordinate to the master controller function as long as the master base unit is operable but becomes primary when the at least one slave base unit determines that the master base unit is no longer operable, and wherein if a master base unit is reconfigured to no longer act as the master base unit, then a slave base unit is reconfigured to act as the master base unit.