Method and system for coupling an alarm system to an external network

• US 7,855,635 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Icon Acquisitions LLC
• Original Assignee: uControl, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Shumate, Scott William, Battles, Ronald E., Cohn, Alan Wade, Proft, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood; Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US11/712,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20080204219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,392 Days
• Field of Search: 340500-513, 340541-567, 3406911-6916, 3406935-69312, 340 32- 332, 340/3.7, 340/3.9, 34082536- 761, 340/286.01, 340/286.02, 340/815.48, 340/815.49, 709/22, 709/23, 370/230, 370/245, 370/250, 370/257, 341/22, 341/26
• US Class Current: 340/506
• 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 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/16 Security signalling or alarm systems, e.g. redundant systems

Abstract

A communication system is provided that can be added to a legacy alarm system to provide a plurality of communication modes to a remote server system from the legacy alarm system and provide remote control and monitoring to a user of the system via two-way communication links. The communication system can be configured to communicate with an alarm processor of the legacy alarm system through use of a keypad bus typically used by the legacy alarm system for communications between the alarm processor and one or more keypads. Communication modes that can be provided by embodiments of the present invention can include, for example, communication over a public switched telephone network, cellular transmission, broadband transmission, wireless broadband, and the like. The communication system can monitor all configured communication modes and determine which communication mode is the best for providing communication between the alarm system and the remote server. Through these communication modes and by virtue of being coupled to the alarm processor via the keypad bus, the communication system can provide both transmission to the remote server of the status and alarm condition of the legacy alarm system as well as provide control signals from the remote server to the legacy alarm system.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an alarm system comprising a keypad bus directly connected to an alarm processor and a keypad processor, wherein the keypad bus provides communication between the alarm processor and the keypad processor; and

a communications processor directly connected to the keypad bus and configured to

communicate with a network external to the system using a plurality of communication modes, and

communicate with the alarm processor using the keypad bus connection to the alarm processor.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the keypad bus comprises a serial digital protocol bus.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the communications processor is further configured to

detect a communication protocol used on the keypad bus;

and

communicate with the alarm processor using the detected communication protocol.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein

the communications processor automatically performs said detecting the communication protocol.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein

the communications processor performs said detecting the communication protocol by analyzing timing parameters of a serial digital signal provided on the keypad bus.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein

the communication modes comprise two or more of public switched telephone network (PSTN), cellular transmission, and broadband transmission.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the communications processor is further configured to

monitor a status of each of the plurality of communication modes.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the communications processor is further configured to

select one of the plurality of communication modes in response to said monitoring of the status of each of the plurality of communication modes;

and

perform said communication with the external network using the selected one of the plurality of communication modes.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the communications processor is further configured to

receive a first signal from the alarm processor on the keypad bus;

and

transmit a second signal to the external network using a selected one of the plurality of communication modes, in response to said receiving the first signal.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein

the second signal is transmitted to a server coupled to the external network.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein

the alarm processor is configured to communicate using a telephone system coupling, and

the communications processor is further coupled to the alarm processor using the telephone system coupling, and

the communications processor is configured to communicate with the alarm processor using the telephone system coupling.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the communications processor is further configured to:

receive alarm processor data from the telephone system coupling; and

transmit a signal to the external network on a selected one of the plurality of communication modes, in response to said receiving the alarm processor data.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein

the signal is transmitted to a server coupled to the external network.

14. A method comprising:

receiving, by a communications processor, a first signal on a keypad bus, wherein

the keypad bus is directly connected to an alarm processor and a keypad processor, and provides a communication link between the alarm processor and the keypad processor, and

the communications processor is directly connected to the keypad bus; and

transmitting a second signal to an external network using a selected one of a plurality of communication modes, wherein

said transmitting is performed in response to said receiving the first signal, and

said transmitting is performed by the communications processor.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the source of the first signal is the alarm processor coupled to the keypad bus.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the first signal comprises data associated with a status of an alarm system comprising the alarm processor and the keypad bus.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

monitoring a status of each of the plurality of communication modes.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

selecting the selected one of the plurality of communication modes, wherein said selecting is performed in response to said monitoring.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

detecting, by the communications processor, a communication protocol used for communications on the keypad bus; and

transmitting, by the communications processor, a third signal to the alarm processor using the communication protocol.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said detecting is performed automatically.

21. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a first signal on a keypad bus, wherein

the keypad bus is directly connected to an alarm processor and a keypad processor and provides a communication link between the alarm processor and the keypad processor, and

said means for receiving is directly connected to the keypad bus; and

means for transmitting a second signal to an external network using a selected one of a plurality of communication modes, wherein

said transmitting is performed in response to receiving the first signal.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the source of the first signal is the alarm processor coupled to the keypad bus.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the first signal comprises data associated with a status of an alarm system comprising the alarm processor and the keypad bus.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising:

means for monitoring a status of each of the plurality of communication modes.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising:

means for selecting the selected one of the plurality of communication modes, wherein

said selecting is performed in response to said monitoring.

26. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising:

means for detecting a communication protocol used for communications on the keypad bus; and

means for transmitting a third signal to the alarm processor using the communication protocol.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said means for detecting comprises:

a means for automatically performing said detecting.