Server-based notification of alarm event subsequent to communication failure with armed security system

• US 8,635,499 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2010
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Cohn, Alan Wade, Faulkner, Gary Robert, Kitchen, James Edward, Proft, David Leon, Quain, Corey Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, LOAN
• Application Number:
  US12/770,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20100281312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 714/43, 714/49, 340/506, 340/501
• US Class Current: 714/43
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0736 in functional embedded systems, i.e. in a data processing system designed as a combination of hardware and software dedicated to performing a certain function testing or monitoring of automated control systems G05B23/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0757 by exceeding a time limit, i.e. time-out, e.g. watchdogs
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/00 Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems
• 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 25/004 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 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/02 Monitoring continuously signalling or alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/08 Signalling of tampering with the line circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/16 Security signalling or alarm systems, e.g. redundant systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2807 Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving network analysis for automatically determining the actual topology of a network H04L41/12; hardware or software tools for network management using graphical user interfaces H04L41/22; address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 : Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 : Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2832 : Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks single bridge functionality H04L12/4625
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 : Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 : for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/26 : Special purpose or proprietary protocols or architectures network applications for proprietary or special purpose networking environments H04L67/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/28 : for reactive routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/34 : Modification of an existing route
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 : for emergency connections

Abstract

A server-based environment for reporting a status of a security, monitoring and automation controller is provided. Detecting cessation of an always-on persistent network connection between the SMA controller and the server is also provided. Reporting the cessation of the network connection to an end user and defined others is further provided. A further aspect provides for automatically reporting an alarm event to a central station, the end user, and others, in the event the cessation of the network connection occurs while the SMA controller is armed and after a zone fault event, and not receiving a disarm notification prior to expiration of a preset entry delay.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving state information of a remote network node by a server over a first network connection;

the server receiving an entry delay timer initiation notification message from the remote network node;

the server initiating a delay window timer in response to the entry delay timer initiation notification message;

determining that a loss of communication has occurred between the remote network node and the server over the first network connection after the server initiates the delay window timer;

in response to the determining and in response to an expiration of the delay window timer, transmitting a message to a second remote device over a second network connection, wherein the content of the message is defined by the state information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote network node is a security, monitoring and automation controller.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising:

receiving a sensor event notification message from the remote network node, wherein the receiving the sensor event notification message and entry delay timer initiation message occurs prior to the loss of communication; and

defining the content of the message to the second remote device as an alarm message.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second remote device comprises an alarm monitoring central station.

5. The method of claim 3, comprising defining the delay window timer value to correspond to a customer service tier associated with an end user of the remote network node.

6. The method of claim 3, comprising defining the delay window timer value in accord with a value purchased by an end user of the remote network node.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the second remote device comprises one or more of a portal server, a mobile network device, and a remote user'"'"'s computer.

8. The method of claim 2, comprising defining the content of the message as an information message, wherein the information comprises one or more of the received state information of the remote network device and the status of the first network connection.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a first communication interface coupled to a first network connection, wherein the first communication interface is configured to receive state information of a remote network node over the first network connection and an entry delay timer initiation notification message from the remote network node;

a second communication interface coupled to a second network connection, wherein the second communication interface is configured to communicate with a second remote device over the second network connection;

a processor coupled to the first and second communication interfaces, the processor configured to initiate a delay window timer in response to the apparatus receiving the entry delay timer initiation notification message, determine that a loss of communication has occurred between the remote network node and the apparatus after the apparatus receives the entry delay timer initiation notification message, and, in response to the determining and in response to an expiration of the delay window timer, generate a message comprising data defined by the state information, and transmit the message to the second remote device using the second communication interface.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the remote network node is a security, monitoring and automation controller.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, comprising the first communication interface receiving a sensor event notification message, wherein the sensor event notification message and the entry delay timer initiation message are received prior to the loss of communication, wherein the processor defines the content of the message as an alarm message.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second remote device comprises an alarm monitoring central station.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, comprising the processor using the delay window timer value defined to correspond to a customer service tier associated with an end user of the remote network node.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, comprising the processor using the delay window timer value defined in accord with a value purchased by an end user of the remote network node.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second remote device comprises one or more of a portal server, a mobile network device, and a remote user'"'"'s computer.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, comprising the processor defining the content of the message as an information message, wherein the information comprises one or more of the received state information of the remote network device and the status of the first network connection.

17. A system comprising:

a remote network node coupled to a server by a first network connection, wherein the remote network node transmits state information and an entry delay timer initiation notification message to the server using the first network connection;

a second remote device coupled to the server by a second network connection;

the server determining that a loss of communication has occurred between the remote network node and the server over the first network connection, initiating a delay window timer in response to the server receiving the entry delay timer initiation notification message, and, in response to the determining and in response to an expiration of the delay window timer, generating a message comprising content defined by the state information, and transmitting the message to the second remote device.

18. The system of claims 17, wherein the remote network node comprises a security, monitoring and automation controller, wherein the remote network node transmits a sensor event notification message, wherein the server defines the content of the message as an alarm message.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the second remote device comprises an alarm monitoring central station.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor defines the content of the message as an information message, wherein the information comprises one or more of the received state information of the remote network device and the status of the first network connection.