Object locator feature as part of a security system

• US 7,551,076 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2003
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Tyroler, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins; Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAI, ANNE VIET NGA
• Application Number:
  US10/702,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20050099293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,056 Days
• Field of Search: 3405391-53932, 340/541, 3405681-5721, 340/573.4, 340/825.49, 340/3.1, 340/506
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0238 adding new units to the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

An object locator feature is incorporated into a security system that includes a user interface device with a display, keypad and associated transmitter. Wireless RF electronic tags with sounders are attached to different objects, e.g., an inanimate object, or a living being such as a child or pet. Each tag has an identifier such as a serial number that is learned to the user interface device by the user typing in the identifier of each tag. The user also types in descriptive information regarding the object with which the tag is associated, The user can edit the entries by adding or deleting objects, or changing the descriptive information. In a search mode, the user can select an object by its name or an assigned sequence number. In a polling mode, the electronic tags are periodically polled to confirm the presence of the associated object to the user.

Claims

1. A security system with an object locator feature, comprising:

a user interface device including a user output component and a user input component, said user input component is adapted to generate an instruction for controlling at least an operational status of the security system and generate an instruction for producing an alarm signal;

a memory associated with the user interface device for storing identifiers for electronic tags associated with a plurality of objects, and storing descriptive information for the plurality of objects;

wherein the user output component provides the descriptive information to a user to enable the user to select at least one of the plurality of objects via the user input component;

a control responsive to the user input component for retrieving, from the memory, the identifier for the electronic tag that is associated with the at least one selected object and for controlling the security system based upon the instruction from the user input component; and

a transmitter responsive to the control for transmitting a wireless signal encoded with the retrieved identifier,

wherein said user interface device, said transmitter and control are integrated in a security system keypad.

2. The security system of claim 1, wherein:

the control controls security system components in the security system said security system components including at least a sensor and a siren device.

3. The security system of claim 1, wherein:

the transmitter transmits a wireless signal to at least one security system component in the security system.

4. The security system of claim 1, wherein:

the user output component comprises a display.

5. The security system of claim 1, wherein:

the descriptive information for the plurality of objects is editable by the user via the user input component.

6. The security system of claim 1, wherein:

the memory stores the identifiers for the electronic tags responsive to inputs provided by the user via the user input component.

7. The security system of claim 1, wherein:

the user enters a string of characters comprising at least one of numbers and letters via the user input component to provide the identifiers for the electronic tags that are stored by the memory.

8. The security system of claim 1, wherein:

the objects comprise at least one inanimate object.

9. The security system of claim 1, wherein:

the objects comprise at least one living being.

10. A method for providing an object locator feature for a security system, comprising:

receiving a unique passcode from a user interface device;

determining whether the unique passcode matches a preset passcode and allowing access to the security system based upon said determination;

storing identifiers for electronic tags associated with a plurality of objects, and storing descriptive information for the plurality of objects, in a memory associated with the user interface device of the security system;

providing the descriptive information to a user via a user output component of the user interface device to enable the user to select at least one of the plurality of objects via a user input component of the user interface device;

retrieving, from the memory, the identifier for the electronic tag that is associated with the at least one selected object;

generating a wireless enable signal at the user interface, said wireless enable signal is encoded with the retrieved identifier;

transmitting the wireless enable signal to a remote security system control panel; and

transmitting a wireless activation signal from the remote security system control panel, said wireless activation signal is encoded with the retrieved identifier.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

inputting the identifiers via the user input component.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

inputting the descriptive information via the user input component.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

editing the descriptive information via the user input component.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the user enters a string of characters comprising at least one of numbers and letters via the user input component to provide the identifiers for the electronic tags for use in said storing step.

15. A program storage device, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform a method for providing an object locator feature for a security system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a unique passcode from a user interface device;

determining whether the unique passcode matches a preset passcode and allowing access to the security system based upon said determination;

storing identifiers for electronic tags associated with a plurality of objects, and storing descriptive information for the plurality of objects, in a memory associated with a user interface device of the security system;

providing the descriptive information to a user via a user output component of the user interface device to enable the user to select at least one of the plurality of objects via a user input component of the user interface device;

retrieving, from the memory, the identifier for the electronic tag that is associated with the at least one selected object;

generating a wireless enable signal at the user interface, said wireless enable signal is encoded with the retrieved identifier;

transmitting the wireless enable signal to a remote security system control panel; and

transmitting a wireless activation signal from the remote security system control panel, said wireless activation signal is encoded with the retrieved identifier.

16. The program storage device of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

inputting the identifiers via the user input component.

17. The program storage device of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

inputting the descriptive information via the user input component.

18. The program storage device of claim 15, wherein:

the descriptive information comprises a name and number for each object.

19. The program storage device of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

editing the descriptive information via the user input component.

20. The program storage device of claim 15, wherein:

the user enters a string of characters comprising at least one of numbers and letters via the user input component to provide the identifiers for the electronic tags for use in said storing step.

21. An electronic tag for use with an object locator feature of a security system, comprising:

a memory for storing an identifier;

a receiver for receiving a wireless signal encoded with an identifier that was retrieved by a security system keypad from a memory of the security system, said security system keypad adapted to generate an instruction for controlling at least an operational status of the security system;

a control for comparing the stored identifier to the received identifier; and

a sounder responsive to the control for emitting an audible sound when the stored identifier matches the received identifier.

22. The electronic tag of claim 21, wherein

the identifier that was retrieved by the security system keypad from the memory of the security system is retrieved in response to a user input component of the security system.

23. The electronic tag of claim 21, wherein

the identifier that was retrieved by the security system keypad from the memory of the security system is retrieved in response to a polling schedule of the security system.

24. The electronic tag of claim 21, wherein the electronic tag periodically wakes up to check for a wireless signal.

25. A security system with an object polling feature, comprising:

a security system keypad includes user interface device, a memory and first control section, the user interface device including a user output component and a user input component, said user input component adapted to generate an instruction for controlling at least an operational status of the security system, the memory storing identifiers for electronic tags associated with a plurality of objects, and storing descriptive information for the plurality of objects, the user output component provides the descriptive information to a user to enable the user to select at least one of the plurality of objects via the user input component and the user interface device activates a polling feature,

the first control section responsive to the user input component for retrieving, from the memory, the identifier for the electronic tag that is associated with the at least one selected object, said first control section generates a wireless enable signal; and

security system control panel including a second control section and a transmitter, said second control section responsive to the wireless enable signal, the

transmitter responsive to the second control section for transmitting a wireless signal encoded with the retrieved identifier according to a polling schedule associated with the polling feature, wherein said security system control panel is remotely located from the security system keypad.

26. The security system of claim 25, wherein

the user interface device receives setting instructions for the polling feature.