Methods, systems, and products for security services

• US 8,902,740 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2011
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• 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): Zhao, Wei
• Application Number:
  US13/293,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20130120134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 370/229, 340/501
• US Class Current: 370/229
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/22 Electrical actuation
• 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

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products notify of alarms in security systems. Two separate communications paths are established from an alarm controller. Connectivity messages are sent from the alarm controller over each of the two separate communications paths. When a timer counts down to a final value, then more connectivity messages are sent from the alarm controller to report connectivity.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

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

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

sending a first connectivity message from the alarm controller over the first communications path and sending the first connectivity message from the alarm controller over the second communications path;

counting down a timer; and

sending more connectivity messages from the alarm controller when the timer counts down to a final value,

wherein the alarm controller reports connectivity of the first communications path and the second communications path.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising retrieving the final value of the timer from memory of the alarm controller.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising retrieving the final value of the timer associated with a business customer of the security system.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising retrieving the final value of the timer associated with a residential customer of the security system.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein establishing the first communications path comprises establishing a wireless cellular network connection from the alarm controller.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising counting down the timer after the first connectivity message is sent from the alarm controller.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising identifying one of the first communications path and the second communications path in the first connectivity message.

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

a processor; and

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

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

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

sending a first connectivity message from the alarm controller over the first communications path and sending the first connectivity message from the alarm controller over the second communications path;

counting down a timer; and

sending more connectivity messages from the alarm controller when the timer counts down to a final value,

wherein the alarm controller reports connectivity of the first communications path and the second communications path.

9. The alarm controller according to claim 8, further comprising code that causes the processor to retrieve the final value of the timer from the memory.

10. The alarm controller according to claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining the security system is associated with a business customer;

retrieving a connectivity rule defining the final value of the timer that is associated with the business customer of the security system.

11. The alarm controller according to claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining the security system is associated with a residential customer;

retrieving a connectivity rule defining the final value of the timer that is associated with the residential customer of the security system.

12. The alarm controller according to claim 8, further comprising code that causes the processor to establish a wireless cellular network connection from the alarm controller.

13. The alarm controller according to claim 8, further comprising code that causes the processor to count down the timer after the first connectivity message is sent.

14. The alarm controller according to claim 8, further comprising code that causes the processor to identify one of the first communications path and the second communications path in the first connectivity message.

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 to a wireless network;

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

sending a first connectivity message from the alarm controller over the first communications path and sending the first connectivity message from the alarm controller over the second communications path;

counting down a timer; and

sending more connectivity messages from the alarm controller when the timer counts down to a final value,

wherein the alarm controller reports connectivity of the first communications path and the second communications path.

16. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving the final value of the timer from memory of the alarm controller.

17. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining the security system is associated with a business customer;

retrieving a connectivity rule defining the final value of the timer associated with the business customer of the security system.

18. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining the security system is associated with a residential customer;

retrieving a connectivity rule defining the final value of the timer associated with the residential customer of the security system.

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

20. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise identifying one of the first communications path and the second communications path in the first connectivity message.