Auto connect virtual keypad

• US 7,679,503 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Romanczyk, Piotr, Babich, Thomas S., Mason, Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): KING, CURTIS J
• Application Number:
  US11/705,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20080191861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• 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 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

An auto-connect virtual keypad in one aspect allows for automatic notification of events occurring at a security system control panel to a remote consumer device and/or provides remote access to the control panel from a consumer device by providing a virtual keypad interface on the consumer device. The consumer device in one aspect may include a mobile device or desktop.

Claims

1. A method for automatically connecting a virtual keypad, comprising:

detecting an event occurring at a control panel device associated with a security system securing a premise, the control panel device including a keypad;

determining one or more devices to which to notify that the event has occurred;

notifying the one or more devices of the event; and

downloading a virtual keypad interface to the one or more devices, the virtual keypad interface emulating the control panel device keypad on the one or more devices and the virtual keypad interface being operable from the one or more devices to display status of the control panel and to remotely control the control panel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a virtual keypad interface includes providing a web interface operable to control the control panel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more devices includes a mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more devices includes personal computer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting includes:

receiving a message from the control panel device of the event.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of notifying includes:

sending an email message to the one or more devices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of notifying includes:

sending a notification message; and

sending access to the virtual keypad.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of notifying includes sending a notification with information for accessing the virtual keypad.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a virtual keypad interface includes:

providing a link for accessing the virtual keypad; and

allowing downloading of the virtual keypad from the link to the one or more devices.

10. The method of claim 1, further including:

receiving keypad input entered on the virtual keypad interface from the one or more devices.

11. The method of claim 10, further including:

forwarding the keypad input to the control panel.

12. A system for automatically connecting a virtual keypad, comprising:

a control panel device associated with a security system for securing a premise, the control panel operable to detect one or more events occurring at the securing system, and the control panel device including a keypad;

a server operable to receive information associated with the one more events occurring a the control panel, the server further operable to notify one or more remote devices of the event,

a virtual keypad interface downloaded to the one or more remote devices where a virtual keypad of the virtual keypad interface emulates the control panel keypad, the server further operable to provide remote control of the control panel from the one or more devices via the virtual keypad interface.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the server is operable to provide the keypad interface on the one or more remote devices, receive input entered through the keypad interface, and forward the input to the control panel.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the control panel is further operable to perform one or more operations based on the input.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the keypad interface is a web-enabled keypad interface.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more remote devices include a mobile device.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more events are predefined.

18. A system for automatically connecting a virtual keypad, comprising:

a control panel device associated with a security system for securing a premise, the control panel device including a keypad;

means for relaying information associated with one or more events detected at the control panel device, the one or more events associated with a status of the security system;

means for receiving the information and notifying one or more remote devices; and

a virtual keypad interface downloaded to the one or more remove devices, the means for receiving providing the virtual keypad interface to the one or more remote devices and receiving input entered via the virtual keypad interface, the virtual keypad interface emulating and remotely controlling the control panel device keypad.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for receiving further forwards the input to the control panel device for performing one or more operations on the security system according to the input.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for relaying is integrated in the control panel device.

21. A method for automatically connecting a virtual keypad, comprising:

detecting an event occurring at a control panel device associated with a security system securing a premise, the control panel device including a keypad;

determining one or more devices to which to notify that the event has occurred; and

downloading a virtual keypad interface to the one or more devices, the virtual keypad interface emulating the control panel device keypad;

the virtual keypad interface automatically connecting to a control center of the control panel device; and

the virtual keypad interface remotely controlling the control panel.

22. A method for automatically connecting a virtual keypad, comprising:

receiving a request from a device to download to the device, a virtual keypad interface emulating a keypad associated with a control panel securing a premise;

the virtual keypad interface within the device automatically connecting to a control center of the control panel;

querying the control panel;

receiving a current status associated with the control panel; and

downloading the virtual keypad interface and displaying the current status associated with the control panel on the device, the virtual keypad interface remotely controlling the control panel.