Method and system for logging security event data

• US 9,147,337 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Cohn, Alan Wade, Faulkner, Gary Robert, Kitchen, James Edward, Proft, David Leon, Quain, Corey Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US12/971,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20120154138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,747 Days
• Field of Search: 340/501, 340/506, 340521-523, 340/532, 340/539, 340/539.16, 340/539.17, 726/25, 709/223, 709/226
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

Through the use of a persistent connection between security, monitoring and automation controller devices and provider supported servers in an operator domain, recordation of sensor fault events, SMA controller events, and communication events is provided. Servers in the operator domain can record events and provide a filtered log of events surrounding an alarm event or other selected timeframe.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an alarm system controller comprising,

an alarm system processor configured to generate event data of events detected by the processor, wherein the events include alarm events, non-alarm events, communication channel events and alarm system controller entry delay status, and generate an alarm system information packet comprising the event data, and

a first network interface, coupled to the processor and a network, and configured to transmit the alarm system information packet on the network; and

a remote server system comprising,

a second network interface, coupled to the network, and configured to receive the alarm system information packet,

a memory, and

a server processor, coupled to the second network interface and the memory, configured to interpret the event data of the alarm system information packet, and store the interpreted event data of the alarm system information packet in the memory, wherein the memory is configured to store data associated with each alarm system information packet received from a plurality of alarm system controllers coupled to the network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the alarm system processor is configured to generate an alarm system information packet in response to a change of state in the alarm system controller.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote server system comprises:

the server processor configured to generate a central station information packet comprising data associated with the alarm system information packet, if the event associated with the alarm system information packet is classified as an alarm event; and

a third network interface, coupled to a second network and the server processor, and configured to transmit the central station information packet on the second network to a central station alarm monitoring system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote server system comprises the memory configured to store the interpreted data associated with the alarm system information packet in a database, wherein an entry of the database comprises an identifier associated with the alarm system controller, an identifier associated with the event, and a time stamp.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the server processor is configured to generate a report comprising one or more events associated with an alarm system controller identifier from data recorded in the database.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the server processor is configured to generate an alarm session report by virtue of being configured to search for records associated with an account identifier from data recorded in the database, and filter the records associated with the account identifier to include records comprising an event identifier associated with an alarm event and events comprising a time stamp within a predetermined range of the alarm event time stamp.

7. The system of claim 1, comprising:

the second network interface configured to sense a loss of communication with the first network interface and a restoration of communication with the first network interface; and

the server processor configured to store data in the memory associated with the loss of communication and restoration of communication.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the events include alarm system controller status.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the events include alarm system processor status.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the events include communication channel status of at least one communication channel of the network.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the events include loss of connectivity between the remote server system and the alarm system controller and regaining connectivity between the remote server system and the alarm system controller.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the events include at least one action taken by the server processor.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the events include zone faults.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the events include arming events and disarming events.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the detecting of the events by the processor comprises the processor receiving and interpreting an event signal transmitted by a sensor device.

16. A method comprising:

generating event data of events detected by a remote alarm system controller, wherein the events include alarm events, non-alarm events, communication channel events and alarm system controller entry delay status, and generating and transmitting an alarm system information packet comprising the event data;

receiving the alarm system information packet from the remote alarm system controller;

processing the alarm system information packet to interpret the event data of the alarm system information packet; and

storing the interpreted event data in a memory, wherein the memory is configured to store alarm system information packet data from a plurality of remote alarm system controllers.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising:

generating a central station information packet comprising data associated with the alarm system information packet, if the event described in the alarm system information packet relates to an alarm event; and

transmitting the central station information packet to a central station alarm monitoring system.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the storing the interpreted data in the memory comprises storing the interpreted data as an entry in a database, wherein the entry comprises an identifier associated with the remote alarm system controller, an identifier associated with the event, and a time stamp.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising generating a report comprising one or more events associated with a remote alarm system controller identifier from data recorded in the database.

20. The method of claim 18, comprising generating an alarm session report, the generating comprising searching for records associated with an account identifier from data recorded in the database, and filtering the records associated with the account identifier to include records comprising an event identifier associated with an alarm event and events comprising a time stamp within a predetermined range of the alarm event time stamp.

21. The method of claim 16, comprising:

sensing a loss of communication with the remote alarm system controller;

storing information in the memory associated with the loss of communication; and

storing information in the memory associated with any actions taken related to the loss of communication.

22. The method of claim 21, comprising:

sensing a restoration of communication with the remote alarm system controller; and

storing information in the memory associated with the restoration of communication.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the events include remote alarm system controller status.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the events include communication channel status of at least one communication channel of the remote alarm system controller.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein the events include loss of connectivity with the remote alarm system controller and regaining connectivity with the remote alarm system controller.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the events include at least one action taken as a result of the processing.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein the events include zone faults.

28. The method of claim 16, wherein the events include arming events and disarming events.

29. An apparatus comprising:

a network interface, coupled to a network, and configured to receive an alarm system information packet from a remote alarm system controller, wherein the alarm system information packet is generated to include event data of events detected by the remote alarm system controller, wherein the events include alarm events, non-alarm events, communication channel events and alarm system controller entry delay status; and

at least one application running on at least one processor, the at least one application,

interpreting the event data of the alarm system information packet; and

storing the interpreted event data in a memory, wherein the memory is configured to store data associated with each alarm system information packet received from a plurality of alarm system controllers coupled to the network.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, the at least one application:

generating a central station information packet comprising data associated with the alarm system information packet, if the event is classified as an alarm event; and

transmitting the central station information packet to a central station alarm monitoring system.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, comprising the memory configured to store the interpreted data associated with the alarm system information packet in a database, wherein an entry of the database comprises an identifier associated with the alarm system controller, the at least one application generating a report comprising one or more events associated with a remote alarm system controller identifier from data recorded in the database.

32. The apparatus of claim 29, comprising the memory configured to store the interpreted data associated with the alarm system information packet in a database, wherein an entry of the database comprises an identifier associated with the alarm system controller, an identifier associated with the event, and a time stamp, the at least one application generating an alarm session report, searching for records associated with an account identifier from data recorded in the database, and filtering the records associated with the account identifier to include records comprising an event identifier associated with an alarm event and events comprising a time stamp within a predetermined range of the alarm event time stamp.

33. The apparatus of claim 29, the at least one application:

sensing a loss of communication with the remote alarm system controller;

storing information in the memory associated with the loss of communication; and

storing information in the memory associated with any actions taken related to the loss of communication.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, the at least one application:

sensing a restoration of communication with the remote alarm system controller; and

storing information in the memory associated with the restoration of communication.