Integrated security network with security alarm signaling system

• US 8,963,713 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Dawes, Paul J., Decenzo, Chris, Wales, Carolyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US13/244,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20120188072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 340/500, 340/506, 340/541, 340/539.1, 379/44, 379/32.01
• US Class Current: 340/545.6
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/08 Construction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

An integrated security system that includes a security alarm reporting system (SARS) that is resilient to equipment failure and, as such, provides a comprehensive solution to the problem of an intruder attempting to disable an alarm reporting system. The integrated security system includes a gateway/touchscreen coupled to a security system. The gateway/touchscreen and the security system are at a first location and manage a variety of security and network devices at the first location. A security server at a second location is coupled to the security system and receives a first signal from the security system. A heartbeat signal is initiated that monitors health of the security system. The heartbeat signal may be initiated in response to the first signal. The security server detects a failure of the heartbeat signal and generates a report and sends the report to a central monitoring station. The report is an electronic report that indicates failure of the security system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving at a security server a first signal from a security system;

initiating a heartbeat signal that monitors health of the security system; and

detecting a failure of the heartbeat signal and, in response, generating at the security server a report that is an electronic report that indicates failure of the security system; and

receiving a second signal indicating a potential alarm event is pending, and generating at the security server a second report when the detecting of a failure occurs after receipt of the second signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first signal indicates arming of the security system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first signal indicates a pending alarm of the security system.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising generating an alarm in response to the report.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving the second signal at the security system, and sending data of the second signal to the security server.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising sending the second report to the central monitoring station when the detecting of a failure occurs after receipt of the second signal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second report is an electronic report that indicates failure of the security system while the potential alarm event is pending.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising receiving a third signal from the security system and, in response, terminating the heartbeat signal, the third signal indicating disarming of the security system.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising generating an alarm in response to the second report when the third signal fails to be received within a time period.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the security server initiates the heartbeat signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the security system monitors for the heartbeat signal.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the central monitoring station initiates the heartbeat signal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the security system monitors for the heartbeat signal.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the security system initiates the heartbeat signal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the security server monitors for the heartbeat signal.

16. A method comprising:

receiving at a security server a first signal from a security system, the first signal indicating arming of the security system;

initiating a heartbeat signal that monitors health of the security system;

detecting a failure of the heartbeat signal and, in response, generating at the security server a report that is an electronic report that indicates failure of the security system; and

receiving a second signal indicating a potential alarm event is pending, and generating at the security server a second report when the detecting of a failure occurs after receipt of the second signal.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising generating an alarm in response to the report.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising receiving the second signal at the security system, and sending data of the second signal to the security server.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising sending the second report to the central monitoring station when the detecting of a failure occurs after receipt of the second signal.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the second report is an electronic report that indicates failure of the security system while the potential alarm event is pending.

21. The method of claim 20, comprising receiving a third signal from the security system and, in response, terminating the heartbeat signal, the third signal indicating disarming of the security system.

22. The method of claim 21, comprising generating an alarm in response to the second report when the third signal fails to be received within a time period.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the security server initiates the heartbeat signal.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the security system monitors for the heartbeat signal.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein the central monitoring station initiates the heartbeat signal.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the security system monitors for the heartbeat signal.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein the security system initiates the heartbeat signal.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the security server monitors for the heartbeat signal.

29. A method comprising:

generating a heartbeat signal between at least one of a security system, a security server, and a central monitoring station, wherein the heartbeat signal monitors health of the security system; and

detecting a failure of the heartbeat signal and, in response, generating at the security server a report that indicates failure of the security system; and

receiving a potential alarm event signal, and generating at the security server a second report when the detecting of a failure occurs after receipt of the potential alarm event signal.

30. The method of claim 29, comprising receiving at the security server a first signal from the security system, the first signal indicating arming of the security system, wherein the generating of the heartbeat signal is in response to the first signal.

31. The method of claim 29, comprising receiving at the security server a first signal from the security system, the first signal indicating a pending alarm of the security system, wherein the generating of the heartbeat signal is in response to the first signal.

32. A system comprising:

a gateway coupled to a security system, wherein the gateway and the security system are at a first location; and

a security server at a second location different from the first location, wherein the security server is coupled to the security system and receives a first signal from the security system via at least one remote network, wherein, in response to the first signal, a heartbeat signal is initiated that monitors health of the security system, wherein the security server detects a failure of the heartbeat signal and generates a report and sends the report to a central monitoring station, wherein the report is an electronic report that indicates failure of the security system, wherein the security server receives a second signal and generates a second report when the detecting of a failure occurs after receipt of the second signal.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the first signal indicates arming of the security system.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the first signal indicates a pending alarm of the security system.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein the central monitoring station generates an alarm in response to the report.

36. The system of claim 32, wherein the security system receives the second signal and sends data of the second signal to the security server, the second signal indicating a potential alarm event is pending.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the security server generates the second report and sends the second report to the central monitoring station.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the second report is an electronic report that indicates failure of the security system while the potential alarm event is pending.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein a third signal is received from the security system and, in response, the heartbeat signal is terminated, the third signal indicating disarming of the security system.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein an alarm is generated in response to the second report when the third signal fails to be received within a time period.

41. The system of claim 32, wherein the security server initiates the heartbeat signal.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the security system monitors for the heartbeat signal.

43. The system of claim 32, wherein the central monitoring station initiates the heartbeat signal.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the security system monitors for the heartbeat signal.

45. The system of claim 32, wherein the security system initiates the heartbeat signal.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the security server monitors for the heartbeat signal.

47. The system of claim 32, comprising a security network that includes the gateway coupled to a controller of the security system, wherein the security system includes the controller coupled to a plurality of security system components and sensors installed at the first location, the security network comprising a plurality of premise devices at the first location coupled to the gateway, wherein the gateway electronically integrates data of the controller and the security system components that controls operation of the security system and interoperability of the security system components, wherein the gateway controls an exchange of data between the plurality of premise devices and the security system components and sensors, wherein the security server is coupled to the security network via the gateway.

48. The system of claim 47, comprising a touchscreen that includes the gateway as a component of the touchscreen.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the security system is integrated into the touchscreen, the integrating comprising embedding an operating system of the security system in at least one component of the touchscreen, the operating system controlling operation of the security system.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein a second component of the touchscreen dynamically updates and replaces the operating system of the security system using at least one file received via the at least one remote network.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein the touchscreen is coupled to a subnetwork in the premise, wherein the subnetwork includes the plurality of premise devices and is independent from the security network.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the touchscreen automatically discovers and learns the plurality of premise devices into the security network, wherein the gateway separately controls communications between the plurality of premise devices and the plurality of security system components.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein the at least one component of the touchscreen generates the subnetwork.

54. The system of claim 49, wherein the at least one component of the touchscreen controls an exchange of data between a first component of the security network and a second component of one of the subnetwork and the remote network.

55. The system of claim 47, wherein the security server stores and maintains objects corresponding to at least one of the plurality of security system components and the plurality of premise devices.

56. The system of claim 47, wherein the gateway is learned into the security system.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the gateway is a control device for controlling the security system.

58. The system of claim 47, wherein the gateway discovers existence of the plurality of security system components and sensors, learns capabilities of the plurality of security system components and sensors, and stores at the gateway information of the plurality of security system components and sensors.

59. The system of claim 47, wherein the gateway is learned into the security system, wherein the gateway discovers existence of the plurality of security system components and sensors, learns capabilities of the plurality of security system components and sensors, and stores at the gateway information of the plurality of security system components and sensors.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the information of the plurality of security system components and sensors is stored at the gateway.

61. The system of claim 59, wherein the information of the plurality of security system components and sensors is stored at the security server.

62. The system of claim 59, wherein the information of the plurality of security system components and sensors is stored at the gateway and the security server.

63. The system of claim 47, wherein the gateway monitors data traffic of the security system that includes sensor updates, state changes and supervisory signals, wherein the data traffic comprises data flowing to and from the plurality of security system components and sensors, wherein the gateway maintains a current state of the first location using the data traffic of the security system.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the gateway sends information representing the data traffic to the security server.

65. The system of claim 48, comprising a portal coupled to the gateway, wherein the portal provides access to the communications and the functions of the security network via remote client devices.

66. The system of claim 65, comprising an interface coupled to the security network, wherein the interface allows control of the functions of the security network from the remote client devices, wherein the remote client devices include one or more of personal computers, personal digital assistants, cellular telephones, and mobile computing devices.

67. The system of claim 47, wherein the gateway automatically discovers the security system components.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein the gateway includes protocols of the security system from the security server and uses the protocols to discover the security system components.

69. The system of claim 47, wherein the gateway automatically establishes the communications with the security system components.

70. The system of claim 47, wherein the gateway includes a connection management component, the connection management component automatically establishing a coupling with the security system including the security system components.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein the connection management component automatically discovers the premise devices and automatically installs the premise devices in the security network.

72. The system of claim 70, wherein the connection management component automatically configures the premise devices for operation in the security network.

73. The system of claim 47, wherein the gateway includes a rules component that manages rules of interaction between the gateway, the security system components, and the premise devices.

74. The system of claim 47, wherein the gateway includes a device connect component that includes definitions of the security system components and the premise devices.

75. The system of claim 47, wherein the gateway is connected to a premise local area network, and the premise local area network is coupled to a wide area network via a premise router/firewall.

76. The system of claim 47, wherein the gateway is coupled to premise local area network via a premise router/firewall, and the gateway is coupled to a wide area network.

77. The system of claim 47, wherein the gateway is coupled to the premise devices using a wireless coupling.

78. The system of claim 47, wherein the gateway is coupled to the security server via the internet.

79. The system of claim 47, wherein the gateway is coupled to a central monitoring station corresponding to the security system, wherein the central monitoring station is located at a third location different from the first location and the second location.

80. The system of claim 47, wherein the security system is coupled to a central monitoring station via a primary communication link, wherein the gateway is coupled to the central monitoring station via a secondary communication link that is different than the primary communication link.

81. The system of claim 80, wherein the gateway transmits event data of the security system components and the premise devices to the central monitoring station over the secondary communication link.

82. The system of claim 81, wherein the event data comprises changes in device states of at least one of security system components and premise devices, data of at least one of security system components and premise devices, and data received by at least one of security system components and premise devices.

83. The system of claim 80, wherein the gateway transmits event data of the security system to the central monitoring station over the secondary communication link when the primary communication link is unavailable.

84. The system of claim 80, wherein the secondary communication link includes a broadband coupling.

85. The system of claim 80, wherein the secondary communication link includes a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) coupling.

86. The system of claim 80, wherein the gateway transmits messages comprising event data of the security system components and the premise devices to remote client devices over the secondary communication link.

87. The system of claim 86, wherein the event data comprises changes in device states of at least one of security system components and premise devices, data of at least one of security system components and premise devices, and data received by at least one of security system components and premise devices.

88. The system of claim 47, wherein the security server creates, modifies and terminates users corresponding to the security system.

89. The system of claim 47, wherein the security server creates, modifies and terminates couplings between the gateway and the security system components.

90. The system of claim 47, wherein the security server creates, modifies and terminates couplings between the gateway and the premise devices.

91. The system of claim 47, wherein the security server performs creation, modification, deletion and configuration of the security system components.

92. The system of claim 47, wherein the security server performs creation, modification, deletion and configuration of the premise devices.

93. The system of claim 47, wherein the security server creates automations, schedules and notification rules associated with the security system components.

94. The system of claim 47, wherein the security server creates automations, schedules and notification rules associated with the premise devices.

95. The system of claim 47, wherein the security server manages access to current and logged state data for the security system components.

96. The system of claim 47, wherein the security server manages access to current and logged state data for the premise devices.

97. The system of claim 47, wherein the security server manages access to current and logged state data for couplings among the gateway, the security system components and the IP devices.

98. The system of claim 47, wherein the security server manages communications with the security system components.

99. The system of claim 47, wherein the security server manages communications with the premise devices.

100. The system of claim 47, wherein the security server generates and transfers notifications to remote client devices, the notifications comprising event data.

101. The system of claim 100, wherein the event data is event data of the security system components.

102. The system of claim 100, wherein the event data is event data of the premise devices.

103. The system of claim 47, wherein the security server transmits event data of the security system components and the premise devices to a central monitoring station of the security system over the secondary communication link.

104. The system of claim 47, wherein the security system components include one or more of sensors, cameras, input/output (I/O) devices, and accessory controllers.

105. The system of claim 47, wherein the plurality of premise devices include one or more of an Internet Protocol (IP) device, a camera, a touchscreen, a device controller that controls an attached device, and a sensor.

106. A system comprising:

a gateway coupled to a security system, wherein the gateway and the security system are at a first location; and

a security server at a second location different from the first location, wherein the security server is coupled to the security system and receives a first signal from the security system, the first signal indicating arming of the security system, wherein, in response to the first signal, a heartbeat signal is initiated that monitors health of the security system, wherein the security server detects a failure of the heartbeat signal and generates a report and sends the report to a central monitoring station, wherein the report is an electronic report that indicates failure of the security system, wherein the security server receives a second signal and generates a second report when the detecting of a failure occurs after receipt of the second signal.

107. The system of claim 106, wherein the central monitoring station generates an alarm in response to the report.

108. The system of claim 106, wherein the security system receives the second signal and sends data of the second signal to the security server, the second signal indicating a potential alarm event is pending.

109. The system of claim 108, wherein the security server generates the second report and sends the second report to the central monitoring station.

110. The system of claim 109, wherein the second report is an electronic report that indicates failure of the security system while the potential alarm event is pending.

111. The system of claim 110, wherein a third signal is received from the security system and, in response, the heartbeat signal is terminated, the third signal indicating disarming of the security system.

112. The system of claim 111, wherein an alarm is generated in response to the second report when the third signal fails to be received within a time period.

113. The system of claim 106, wherein the security server initiates the heartbeat signal.

114. The system of claim 113, wherein the security system monitors for the heartbeat signal.

115. The system of claim 106, wherein the central monitoring station initiates the heartbeat signal.

116. The system of claim 115, wherein the security system monitors for the heartbeat signal.

117. The system of claim 106, wherein the security system initiates the heartbeat signal.

118. The system of claim 117, wherein the security server monitors for the heartbeat signal.