Security apparatus and method

• US 8,773,263 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2011
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolink Intelligent Technology Inc. (Universal Electronics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolink Intelligent Technology Inc. (Universal Electronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thibault, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Casillashernandez, Omar
• Application Number:
  US13/281,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20130057404A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 340/545.1, 340/545.2, 49/13, 116/86, 200/61.93
• US Class Current: 340/545.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/185 Signal analysis techniques for reducing or preventing false alarms or for enhancing the reliability of the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/22 Provisions facilitating manual calibration, e.g. input or output provisions for testing; Holding of intermittent values to permit measurement

Abstract

A security method and apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for providing an alarm for a window by a security apparatus comprises calculating a first distance between a detector mounted within a movable portion of the window and a window frame edge and calculating a second distance between the detector and the window frame edge. The method further comprises determining whether the movable portion of the window has remained stationary for more than a predetermined time period based on the first distance and the second distance and, if the movable portion has remained stationary for more than the predetermined time period, storing the second distance in a memory, placing the security apparatus into an active alarm state, calculating a third distance observed by the detector, determining a change between the third distance and the second distance, determining whether the change exceeds a predetermined distance, and generating an alarm signal if the change exceeds the predetermined distance.

Claims

1. A method for providing an alarm for a window by a security apparatus, comprising:

calculating a first distance between a detector mounted within a movable portion of the window and a window frame edge;

calculating a second distance between the detector and the window frame edge;

determining whether the movable portion of the window has remained stationary for more than a predetermined time period based on the first distance and the second distance;

if the movable portion has remained stationary for more than the predetermined time period;

storing the second distance in a memory;

placing the security apparatus into an active alarm state;

calculating a third distance between the detector and an object inserted between the detector and the window frame edge;

determining whether the third distance is less than a predetermined distance; and

generating an alarm signal if the third distance is less than the predetermined distance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the alarm signal is generated if the third distance is determined to be less than the predetermined distance within a second predetermined time period after the second distance calculation.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the alarm signal to a remote location for further processing.

4. An apparatus for providing an alarm for a window, comprising:

a detector for determining a first distance between the detector mounted within a movable portion of the window and a window frame edge, for determining a second distance between the detector and the window frame edge, and for determining a third distance between the detector and an object located between the detector and the window frame edge;

a processor; and

a memory for storing at least the second distance and processor-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

determine whether the movable portion of the window has remained stationary for more than a predetermined time period based on the first distance and the second distance;

if the movable portion has remained stationary for more than the predetermined time period;

store the second distance in the memory;

place the security apparatus into an active alarm state;

calculate the third distance;

determine whether the third distance is less than a predetermined distance; and

generate an alarm signal if the third distance is less than the predetermined distance.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising instructions to cause the apparatus to:

generate the alarm signal if the third distance is determined to be less than the predetermined distance within a second predetermined time period after the second distance is calculated.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the object comprises a human body part.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting the alarm signal to a remote location for further processing.

8. A method of monitoring one or more security devices each attached to a respective window by a central security monitoring device to detect an alarm condition, comprising:

receiving status information from a security device associated with a window;

determining that the window is open from the status information;

determining that a movable portion of said window has remained stationary for a predetermined time period; and

if said movable portion of said window has remained stationary for said predetermined time period;

receiving a command to arm the central security monitoring device apparatus;

arming the central security monitoring device apparatus;

receiving subsequent status information from the security device; and

sending an alarm to a remote monitoring station if the alarm condition has occurred based on the subsequent information, the alarm condition comprising a reduction in a distance determined by one of the security devices.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein sending the alarm occurs only if the reduction in distance occurs within a predetermined time period.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

notifying a user of the central security monitoring device that the window is open; and

displaying a confirmation request to the user in response to receiving the arm command requesting a confirmation from the user to arm the central security monitoring device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the status information comprises a distance calculated by the security device.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the distance determined by one of the security devices comprises a distance related to an actual or perceived movement of the window towards a closed position.

12. A central security monitoring device apparatus for monitoring one or more security devices each attached to a window to detect an alarm condition, comprising:

a receiver for receiving status information from one of the security devices

associated with one of the windows;

a processor; and

a memory for storing processor-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

determine that the window is open from the status information;

determining that a movable portion of said window has remained stationary for a predetermined time period; and

if said movable portion of said window has remained stationary for said predetermined time period;

receive a command to arm the central security monitoring device apparatus;

arm the central security monitoring device apparatus;

receive subsequent status information from the security device; and

send an alarm to a remote monitoring station if the alarm condition has occurred based on the subsequent information, the alarm condition comprising a reduction in a distance determined by one of the security devices the window moving towards a closed position by more than a predetermined distance.

13. The central security monitoring device of claim 12, further comprising instructions for the central security monitoring device to send the alarm only if the reduction in distance occurs within a predetermined time period.

14. The central security monitoring device apparatus of claim 12, further comprising instructions for the apparatus to:

notify a user of the central security monitoring device that the window is open; and

display a confirmation request to the user in response to receiving the arm command requesting a confirmation from the user to arm the central security monitoring device.

15. The central security monitoring device of claim 12, wherein the status information comprises a distance calculated by the security device.

17. The central security monitoring device of claim 12, wherein the distance determined by one of the security devices comprises a distance related to an actual or perceived movement of the window towards a closed position.