Security system and method using mobile-telephone technology

• US 8,842,006 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2007
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: J & C Investments, LLC, J & CP Investments, LLC
• Original Assignee: J & C Investments, LLC
• Inventors: Anderson, Micah Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US11/834,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20080272910A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,605 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340/426.18, 340/5.2, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.23, 340/539.25, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/539.26, 340/565, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 340/539.26
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation

Abstract

Disclosed is a security and alarm system. When sensors detect something of note, they alert a master unit which in turn captures pertinent information (e.g., an image or sound) and places a mobile-telephone call to deliver the alert and the captured information. The recipient of the call (for example, an owner of the system or a security service) evaluates the information and takes appropriate action such as alerting a local police department. Some embodiments offer two-way service: In addition to delivering alerts, the system responds to calls from an authorized user requesting current information. Two-way communications allow some embodiments to deliver “Breach of Peace” alerts to users. In one scenario, a public security service sends out a warning within a geographical area that the peace has been breached. The system receives the warning and alerts its user to the situation. The user then takes appropriate action.

Claims

1. A master alarm unit configured for use with an alarm system, the master alarm unit comprising:

a first communications port for receiving an alert of a first, type and for receiving entry-detection information from an entry sensor that controls and makes records of entrance;

a second communications port for communicating with an information-capture module; and

a transmitter/receiver configured for transmitting over a mobile-telephone network an alert of a second type along with information received over the second communications port, the alert of a second type being sent to a cellphone of everyone on said records of entrance identified by the entry-detection information;

wherein the alert of a second type is a “

Breach of Peace”

alert.

2. The master alarm unit of claim 1 wherein the first and the second communications ports are selected from the group consisting of:

a wired serial port, a radio port, a Bluetooth port, a USB port, and an infrared port.

3. The master alarm unit of claim 1 wherein the transmitter/receiver is selected from the group consisting of a radio transmitter/receiver, a cellular transmitter/receiver, a satellite transmitter/receiver, and a GSM transmitter/receiver.

4. The master alarm unit of claim 1 further configured for removable placement in a docking station, wherein the first and the second communications ports connect to the docking station when the master alarm unit is docked.

5. The master alarm unit of claim 1 further configured for permanent installation, wherein the master alarm unit further comprises a connection for an emergency battery.

6. The master alarm unit of claim 1 further configured for:

receiving a request to capture information;

issuing a command over the second communications port to capture the requested information;

receiving the captured information over the second communications port; and

transmitting the captured information.

7. The master alarm unit of claim 6 further configured for:

receiving authentication information;

attempting to verify the received authentication information; and

responding to the request only if the authentication information is successfully verified.

8. A method of operation of a. master alarm unit configured for use with an alarm system, the method comprising:

receiving an alert of a first type;

receiving entry-detection information from an entry sensor that controls and makes records of entrance;

in response to receiving the alert of a first type, capturing information; and

via a mobile-telephone network, transmitting an alarm of a second type along with the captured information, the alarm of a second type being sent to a cellphone of everyone on said records of entrance identified by the entry-detection information;

wherein the alarm of a second type is a “

Breach of Peace”

alert.

9. The method of operation of a master alarm unit of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving a request to capture information;

capturing the requested information; and

transmitting the captured information.

10. The method of operation of a master alarm unit of claim 9 further comprising:

receiving authentication information;

attempting to verify the received authentication information; and

responding to the request only if the authentication information is successfully verified.

11. The method of operation of a master alarm unit of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving ;

a request to configure an information-capture module; and

issuing a configuration command to an information-capture module.

12. The method of operation of a master alarm unit of claim 8 further comprising:

repeatedly capturing an image and transmitting the captured images.

13. The method of operation of a master alarm unit of claim 8 further comprising:

continually capturing video images and transmitting the captured video images.