Security system with call management functionality

• US 8,705,701 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2011
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, Raymond Walden III, Beardsley, John Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Jamal, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US13/307,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20120069972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 379/37, 379/38, 379/42, 379/211.02
• US Class Current: 379/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A security system with call management functionality includes a security controller having at least one first interface to at least one user identification device and a second interface to a call management controller. The security controller also includes logic to determine a security status of a user based on identification information received from the at least one user identification device and to communicate the security status of the user to the call management controller. The call management controller enables, disables, or modifies a communication service based on the security status of the user.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a call management controller to configure a telephone service based on a security status of a user; and

a first security controller configured to perform operations comprising;

receiving first identification information of the user from a user identification device located at a first location;

receiving second identification information of the user from a second security controller located at a second location that is remote from the first location;

determining the security status of the user based on the first identification information and the second identification information, wherein the security status of the user indicates whether the user is present at one of the first location and the second location and whether outbound calling by the user is restricted; and

communicating the security status of the user to the call management controller, wherein the call management controller and the first security controller are located at the first location.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the call management controller is further configured to:

receive the security status of the user from the first security controller;

receive an incoming call associated with the user via an interface to a network; and

route the incoming call based on the security status of the user.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the incoming call is routed to a device located at the second location when the security status of the user indicates that the user is present at the second location.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the incoming call is routed to a device located at the first location when the security status of the user indicates that the user is present at the first location.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the incoming call is routed to a mobile communication device associated with the user when the security status of the user indicates that the user is not present at the first location and that the user is not present at the second location.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the incoming call is routed to a voice mail service associated with the user when the security status of the user indicates that the user is not present at the first location and that the user is not present at the second location.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second security controller is located at a home location of the user, and wherein the first security controller is located at one of a work location of the user and a home location of a neighbor of the user.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first security controller is located at a home location of the user, and wherein the second security controller is located at one of a work location of the user and a home location of a neighbor of the user.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the user identification device includes a keypad to receive entry of a user passcode, a card reading device to read a magnetic user identification card, a radio frequency receiver to receive a radio frequency signal from a transponder, a voice processing system to receive voice commands, or any combination thereof.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first security controller is further configured to provide a home security function based on home security information received from a security sensor, wherein the security sensor includes a door position sensor, a window position sensor, or a motion detector.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first security controller is further configured to contact a public safety answering point of an emergency-calling system or a private emergency monitoring center based on the home security information.

12. A call management controller, comprising;

a first interface to a communication service network;

a second interface to receive identification information from a plurality of security controllers associated with a plurality of security systems, wherein a first security system of the plurality of security systems is associated with a home location of a user, wherein the identification information includes first identification information and second identification information, wherein the first identification information is received from the first security system, and wherein the second identification information is received from a second security system located at a second location that is remote to the home location; and

logic configured to;

determine a security status of the user based on the first identification information and the second identification information, wherein the security status of the user indicates whether the user is present at one of the home location of the user and the second location and whether outbound calling by the user is restricted;

communicate the security status of the user to a call management controller that is located at the home location; and

enable, disable, or modify a phone service of the call management controller based on the security status of the user.

13. The call management controller of claim 12, wherein a particular security controller of the plurality of security controllers receives the identification information from a user identification device accessible to the particular security controller.

14. The call management controller of claim 12, wherein the telephone service includes a follow-me service, and wherein the logic is further configured to:

receive an incoming call associated with the user via the first interface; and

route the incoming call based on the security status of the user.

15. The call management controller of claim 14, wherein the logic routes the incoming call to a first device located at the home location of the user when the security status of the user indicates that the user is present at the home location, and wherein the logic routes the incoming call to a second device located at a second location when the security status of the user indicates that the user is present at the second location, wherein the second location is associated with a security controller of the plurality of security controllers.

16. The call management controller of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of security controllers includes first interface to a security sensor, wherein the security sensor includes a door position sensor, a window position sensor, a motion detector, or any combination thereof, and wherein each of the plurality of security controllers further includes second interface to a communication path to contact a public safety answering point of an emergency-calling system or a private emergency monitoring center.

17. A method comprising:

receiving, at a first security controller, first identification information of a user from a user identification device located at a first location;

receiving, at the first security controller, second identification information of the user from a second security controller located at a second location that is remote from the first location;

determining a security status of a user based on the first identification information and the second identification information, wherein the security status of the user indicates whether the user is present at one of the first location and the second location and whether outbound calling of the user is restricted;

communicating the security status of the user to a call management controller that is located at the first location; and

configuring a communication service of the call management controller based on the security status of the user.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving, at the call management controller, an incoming call associated with the user via an interface to a communications network; and

routing the incoming call based on a configuration of the communication service.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising forwarding the incoming call to a device located at the second location when the security status indicates that the user is not present at the first location and when the security status indicates that the user is present at the second location, wherein the second location includes a work location, a neighbor location, a car location, or a business location.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the communication service includes a night mode privacy service, an automated attendant service, a follow-me service, a kid control service, a maid minder service, a voice mail delivery service, or any combination thereof.