Portable alarm and methods of transmitting alarm data

• US 8,410,925 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2012
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tattletale LLC
• Original Assignee: Tattletale Portable Alarm Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Hess, Brian K.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US13/404,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20120146785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.12
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/1016 Remote signals alerting owner or authorities, e.g. radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/00 Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1965 the vehicle being an aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• 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 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

A portable alarm system includes a wireless receiver configured to receive signals from remote wireless devices and a processor in communication with the wireless receiver, wherein the processor is configured to receive the signals from the wireless receiver. The system further includes an intelligent communications interface in communication with the processor, the intelligent communications interface being configured to receive and translate into wireless digital data at least a portion of the signals from the processor, and transmit the wireless digital data to an external location.

Claims

1. A portable alarm system, comprising:

a wireless receiver configured to receive signals from remote wireless sensors;

a processor in communication with said wireless receiver, said processor being configured to receive said signals from said wireless receiver; and

a communications interface in communication with said processor, said communications interface being configured to receive said signals from said processor and translate at least a portion of said signals from said processor into wireless digital data, and wirelessly transmit said wireless digital data to an external portable electronic device; and

said communications interface further configured to wirelessly receive a control signal from the external portable electronic device and communicate the control signal to said processor;

said processor further configured to control at least one function of said alarm system based at least in part on said control signal.

2. The alarm system of claim 1, wherein said communications interface includes a radio component configured to transmit and receive one or more types of wireless digital data.

3. The alarm system of claim 2, wherein said wireless digital data is configured to transmit across any wireless network.

4. The alarm system of claim 2, wherein said radio component utilizes at least one data packet transport method.

15. The portable alarm system of claim 1, wherein said portable electronic device is selected from the group comprising:

a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and an internet enabled personal computer.

5. A portable alarm system, comprising:

a processor configured to receive and process alarm signals;

a communications interface in communication with said processor, said communications interface being configured to receive said alarm signals from said processor and translate at least a portion of said alarm signals into wireless digital data, and further configured to transmit said wireless digital data to a portable electronic device external to the alarm system;

wherein said communications interface is configured to wirelessly receive a control signal from the portable electronic device to communicate the control signal to said processor; and

wherein said processor is further configured to receive the control signal and control said portable alarm system based at least in part on said control signal.

6. The alarm system of claim 5, wherein said communications interface includes a radio component configured to transmit and receive one or more types of wireless digital data.

7. The alarm system of claim 6, wherein said wireless digital data is configured to transmit across any wireless network.

8. The alarm system of claim 6, wherein said radio component utilizes at least one data packet transport method.

16. The portable alarm system of claim 5, wherein said portable electronic device is selected from the group comprising:

a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and an internet enabled personal computer.

9. A method for transmitting alarm data comprising:

receiving alarm data from at least one alarm sensor;

translating at least a portion of said alarm data into wireless digital data;

wirelessly transmitting said wireless digital data to a remote portable electronic device; and

wirelessly receiving at least one wireless digital control data from said remote portable electronic device to control the at least one alarm sensor.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting said wireless digital data includes utilizing at least one data packet transport method.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said wireless digital data is transported across any wireless network.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of wirelessly transmitting comprises wirelessly transmitting said wireless data to a portable electronic device selected from the following group:

a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and an internet enabled personal computer.

12. A method for communicating with an alarm system comprising:

obtaining alarm data from at least one alarm sensor;

translating at least a portion of said alarm data into wireless digital data;

wirelessly transmitting said wireless digital data to a remote portable electronic device configured to wirelessly transmit an alarm control data; and

receiving said control data from said portable electronic device to remotely control said alarm system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein transmitting said wireless digital data includes utilizing at least one data packet transport method.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said wireless digital data is transported across any wireless network.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of wirelessly transmitting comprises wirelessly transmitting said wireless data to a portable electronic device selected from the following group:

a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and an internet enabled personal computer.