Alarm system providing multiple network routing, interface module and method

• US 8,036,344 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2007
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Safety Products Canada Limited (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Frenette, Stephan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): El-Zoobi; Maria
• Application Number:
  US11/728,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20080240372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,660 Days
• Field of Search: 379/45, 379/221.01, 455/404.1, 455/411
• US Class Current: 379/52
• 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: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network

Abstract

In an alarm system, outgoing calls representing a sensed alarm condition are routed to one of several communications networks. The calls are routed by first initiating a telephone call to a defined number, in response to sensing the alarm condition, and then selecting one of plurality a plurality of available networks based on called number information. A communication over the chosen network is placed to signal the alarm condition. Routing may be performed at an interface module in communication with a conventional alarm panel.

Claims

1. In an alarm system, a method comprising:

sensing an alarm at a monitored premises;

initiating a telephone call from an alarm panel to a defined number, in response to sensing said alarm;

receiving called number information for said telephone call at an interface at said premises;

determining if a primary telephone network is available;

in response to determining that said primary telephone network is not available;

selecting one of a plurality of available secondary networks, based on said called number information;

placing a communication from said interface at said premises over said one of said plurality of available networks,

wherein said called number information identifying a telephone number used to signal said alarm and stored at said interface results in a communication over a specific one of said secondary networks to signal said alarm; and

wherein said called number information identifying a telephone number that is not stored at said interface results in a communication placed over a default one of said secondary networks.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a destination address for said communication based on said called number information.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving data from said telephone call signalling said alarm, and re-encoding said data for transmission over said default one of said plurality of available secondary networks, to signal said alarm.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said call is received from an alarm panel, and further comprising providing a handshake signal to said alarm panel to receive said data from said call.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of secondary networks comprise a wireless voice network and a wireless data network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting comprises comparing said called number information to stored called number information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said default one of said secondary networks comprises a cellular voice network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said called number information is encoded using DTMF codes.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said data is received as encoded DTMF tones.

10. In an alarm system at a monitored premises, a method comprising:

trapping signals signifying an outgoing call at an interface at said monitored premises;

determining if a primary telephone network is available;

in response to determining that said primary telephone network is not available;

selecting at said interface one of a plurality of available secondary networks, based on called number information in said signals;

placing a communication from said interface at said premises over said one of said plurality of available networks, as selected

wherein said called number information identifying a telephone number stored at said interface results in a communication over a specific one of said secondary networks to signal said alarm; and

wherein said called number information identifying a telephone number that is not stored at said interface results in a communication placed over a default one of said secondary networks.

11. A network interface module comprising:

a line interface for receiving communications to initiate outgoing calls from tip and ring connections of an alarm panel;

a plurality of communication network interfaces, each in communication with a communication network;

a selector to select connection with one of said communication network interfaces;

a processor in communication with said line interface, and said selector, and operable to determine if a primary telephone network is available, and in response to determining that said primary telephone network is not available, select one of said communication network interfaces in communication with a secondary communication network, in response to received an outgoing call at said line interface, based on called number information in said outgoing call;

wherein said called number information identifying a telephone number stored at said interface results in a communication over a specific one of said secondary communication networks to signal said alarm; and

wherein said called number information identifying a telephone number that is not stored at said interface results in a communication placed over a default one of said secondary communication networks.

12. The module of claim 11, wherein said plurality of communication network interfaces include a GPRS interface, a PSTN network interface, and a GSM network interface.

13. The module of claim 11, wherein said line interface comprises a loop current generator.

14. The module of claim 11, further comprising a DTMF decode in communication with said processor to decode said called number information.

15. The module of claim. 11, further comprising memory storing called number identifiers, and corresponding networks over which associated calls with said called number identifiers should be routed.

16. The module of claim 11, wherein said processor and line interface are further operable to provide a handshake signal by way of said line interface to an interconnected alarm panel to data from said outgoing call.

17. An alarm system comprising a panel operable to generate outgoing calls in response to sensed condition, and the interface module of claim 11 connected to said panel to receive said outgoing calls.