Mobile security system

• US 8,933,804 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2011
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Causey, Mark Edward, Andrus, Scott, Luu, Adrianne Binh, Jones, Kevin W., Henry, Coulter C. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US13/092,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20110210846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.17, 340/426.1, 340/506, 340/517, 340/539.22, 340/539.25, 340/539.26, 340/541, 340/545.2, 340/545.1, 340/565
• US Class Current: 340/539.17
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/002 Generating a prealarm to the central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

A mobile security system is described herein. A detector communicates with a mobile device if an event has occurred. The event may be various types of events, such as fire or motion. Once the mobile device receives the communication of the event occurrence, the mobile device may, among others, sound an alarm or communicate with a central monitoring system to notify emergency services of the occurrence. The mobile device may also communicate with another communication device, such as another cell phone or a computer, using various forms of communication. The detector may be an integral part of the mobile device, i.e. fixed part of the mobile device, or may be detachable. The detector may also be wholly separate.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting, by a detachable sensor of a first device, an indication of an event, the first device being configured to directly communicate with a mobile security device via a first communication protocol and indirectly communicate with the mobile security device via a second communication protocol;

generating an event signal indicative of the indication of the event;

determining, by the first device, whether to send the event signal directly or indirectly to the mobile device; and

sending the event signal, directly or indirectly, to the mobile device based on the determination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the event signal is sent to a cellular network for forwarding to the mobile device based on a determination that the event signal is to be sent to the mobile device indirectly.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the event signal is sent to the mobile device directly via a near field wireless communication protocol.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a second indication of a second event; and

activating a camera upon detecting the second indication of the second event.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises at least one of sound, heat, light, infrared, or vibration.

6. A storage medium having stored thereon instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:

detecting, by a detachable sensor of a first device, an indication of an event, the first device being configured to directly communicate with a mobile security device via a first communication protocol and indirectly communicate with the mobile security device via a second communication protocol;

generating an event signal indicative of the indication of the event;

determining, by the first device, whether to send the event signal directly or indirectly to the mobile device; and

sending the event signal, directly or indirectly, to the mobile device based on the determination.

7. The storage medium of claim 6, wherein the event signal is sent to a cellular network for forwarding to the mobile device based on a determination that the event signal is to be sent to the mobile device indirectly.

8. The storage medium of claim 6, further comprising:

detecting a second indication of a second event; and

activating a camera upon detecting the second indication of the second event.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising;

detecting, by a detachable sensor of a first device, an indication of an event, the first device being configured to directly communicate with a mobile security device via a first communication protocol and indirectly communicate with the mobile security device via a second communication protocol;

generating an event signal indicative of the indication of the event;

determining, by the first device, whether to send the event signal directly or indirectly to the mobile device; and

sending the event signal, directly or indirectly, to the mobile device based on the determination.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the event signal is sent to a cellular network for forwarding to the mobile device based on a determination that the event signal is to be sent to the mobile device indirectly; and

the event signal is sent to the mobile device directly via a near field wireless communication protocol.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

detecting a second indication of a second event; and

activating a camera upon detecting the second indication of the second event.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the indication comprises at least one of sound, heat, light, infrared, or vibration.

13. A mobile security system comprising:

a mobile security device comprising a cellular transceiver, wherein the mobile security device is configured to communicate with a cellular network; and

a first detachable detector configured to;

directly communicate with the mobile security device via a first communication protocol and indirectly communicate with the mobile security device via a second communication protocol,

detect a first indication of an event;

determine whether to send a first event signal indicative of the first indication of the event directly or indirectly to the mobile security device; and

send the first event signal to the mobile security device directly or indirectly based on the determination.

14. The mobile security system of claim 13, wherein the first detector is configured to transmit the first event signal to a cellular network for forwarding to the mobile security device via the cellular network.

15. The mobile security system of claim 13, further comprising a second detector configured to send a second event signal to the mobile security device and the first detector if the second detector detects the event, wherein the first detector is configured to retransmit the second event signal to the mobile security device.

16. The mobile security system of claim 15, wherein the first detector is configured to detect a first type of events, and the second detector is configured to detect a second type of events.

17. A mobile security apparatus comprising:

a detachable detector that detects an indication of an event;

a processor that;

generates an event signal upon detection of the event; and

determines whether to send the event signal directly or indirectly to a mobile device; and

a transceiver that is configured to directly communicate with the mobile security device via a first communication protocol and indirectly communicate with the mobile security device via a second communication protocol; and

based on the determination, sends the event signal, directly or indirectly, to the mobile device.

18. The mobile security apparatus of claim 17, wherein the detector detects at least one of sound, heat, light, infrared, or vibration.

19. The mobile security apparatus of claim 17, wherein the transceiver transmits the event signal to a cellular network for forwarding to the mobile device via the cellular network.

20. The mobile security apparatus of claim 17, wherein the transceiver transmits the event signal using a near field wireless communication protocol.

21. The mobile security apparatus of claim 17, wherein the mobile security apparatus is attachable to the mobile device.