Methods, systems, and products for security services

• US 8,847,749 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2011
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hicks, John Alson III
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US13/293,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20130120133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/501
• 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: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products notify of alarms in security systems. Two separate communications paths are established from an alarm controller. Bandwidths available from each communications path are measured. When an alarm condition is detected, an alarm message is sent from the alarm controller over a communications path having a greater bandwidth.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

establishing a first communications path from an alarm controller in a security system to a wireless network;

establishing a second communications path from the alarm controller over a wireline broadband connection to a data network;

measuring a bandwidth available from the first communications path;

measuring the bandwidth available from the second communications path;

detecting an alarm condition by the alarm controller;

selecting one communications path of the first communications path and the second communications path which has a greater bandwidth; and

sending an alarm message from the alarm controller over the one communications path to notify of the alarm condition.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising comparing the bandwidth to a performance threshold stored in memory of the alarm controller.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting a wireless cellular network connection from the alarm controller.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting the wireline broadband connection from the alarm controller.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a call at the alarm controller to verify the alarm condition.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising retrieving a notification address.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising sending an alarm notification over the one communication path having the greater bandwidth to the notification address to notify of the alarm condition.

8. An alarm controller for use within a security system, the alarm controller comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing code which when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

establishing a first communications path from the alarm controller into a wireless network;

establishing a second communications path from the alarm controller over a wireline broadband connection into a data network;

measuring bandwidths available from the first communications path and from the second communications path;

detecting an alarm condition;

selecting one communications path of the first communications path and the second communications path which has a greater bandwidth; and

sending an alarm message from the alarm controller over the one communications path to notify of the alarm condition.

9. The alarm controller according to claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise comparing the bandwidths to a performance threshold.

10. The alarm controller according to claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise selecting a wireless cellular network connection from the alarm controller into the wireless network.

11. The alarm controller according to claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise selecting the wireline broadband connection from the alarm controller.

12. The alarm controller according to claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a call at the alarm controller to verify the alarm condition.

13. The alarm controller according to claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving a notification address.

14. The alarm controller according to claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise sending an alarm notification over the one communication path having the greater bandwidth to the notification address to notify of the alarm condition.

15. A memory storing code which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

establishing a first communications path from an alarm controller in a security system into a wireless network;

establishing a second communications path from the alarm controller over a wireline broadband connection into a data network;

measuring bandwidths available from the first communications path and from the second communications path;

detecting an alarm condition;

selecting one communications path from the first communications path and the second communications path having a greater bandwidth; and

sending an alarm message from the alarm controller over the one communications path to notify of the alarm condition.

16. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise comparing the bandwidths to a performance threshold.

17. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise selecting a wireless cellular network connection from the alarm controller.

18. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise selecting the wireline broadband connection from the alarm controller.

19. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a call at the alarm controller to verify the alarm condition.

20. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise sending an alarm notification over the one communication path to a notification address to notify of the alarm condition.