Methods, systems, and products for security services

• US 9,277,381 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2011
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• 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): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Akhter, Sharmin
• Application Number:
  US13/293,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20130120132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,573 Days
• Field of Search: 340501-53817
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products notify of alarms in security systems. An alarm condition is detected and an alarm message is sent from an alarm controller. A call is received to a unique network address of the alarm controller to verify the alarm condition. If a calling address matches a predetermined address, then the alarm controller accepts the call.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting, by an alarm controller of a security system, an alarm condition;

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

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

selecting, by the alarm controller, one communications path of the first communications path and the simultaneous second communications path based on a performance threshold;

sending, by the alarm controller, an alarm message using the one communications path to notify of the alarm condition, a header portion of the alarm message identifying an Internet protocol network address assigned to the alarm controller;

receiving, by the alarm controller, a call to the Internet protocol network address to verify the alarm condition, the call being made from a calling address;

comparing, by the alarm controller, the calling address to a predetermined address stored in memory of the alarm controller;

determining, by the alarm controller, a match between the calling address and the predetermined address;

accepting, by the alarm controller, the call in response to the match;

receiving, by the alarm controller, a query addressed to the Internet protocol network address, the query requesting video data associated with the alarm condition; and

executing, by the alarm controller, a rule in response to the video data, the rule instructing the alarm controller to dedicate the video data over the one communications path based on the performance threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising rejecting the call in response to a failure of the match.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving a notification address.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising sending an alarm notification to the notification address to notify of the alarm condition.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the call comprises receiving a voice-over internet protocol call.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising broadcasting the call from a base station interfacing with the alarm controller.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising establishing a wireless telephony connection between the base station and a portable handset.

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

a processor; and

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

detecting an alarm condition;

establishing a first communications path from the alarm controller into a private wireless network identified by an access point name;

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

selecting one communications path of the first communications path and the simultaneous second communications path based on a performance threshold;

sending an alarm message using the one communications path from the alarm controller to notify of the alarm condition, the alarm message having a header identifying an Internet protocol address assigned to the alarm controller in one of the private wireless network and the private data network;

receiving the call to the Internet protocol network address to verify the alarm condition;

comparing a calling address of the call to a predetermined address;

determining a match between the calling address and the predetermined address;

accepting the call in response to the match;

receiving a query for video data associated with the alarm condition; and

executing a rule in response to the video data, the rule instructing the alarm controller to dedicate the video data over the one communications path based on the performance threshold.

9. The alarm controller according to claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise rejecting the call in response to a failure of the match.

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

11. The alarm controller according to claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise sending an alarm notification to the notification address to notify of the alarm condition.

12. The alarm controller according to claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a voice-over internet protocol call to the alarm controller.

13. The alarm controller according to claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise broadcasting the call from a base station interfacing with the alarm controller.

14. The alarm controller according to claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise establishing a wireless telephony connection between the base station and a portable handset.

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

detecting an alarm condition by an alarm controller of a security system;

establishing a first communications path from the alarm controller into a public wireless network identified by an access point name;

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

selecting one communications path of the first communications path and the simultaneous second communications path based on a performance threshold;

sending an alarm message using the one communications path from the alarm controller to notify of the alarm condition, the alarm message having a header identifying an Internet protocol address assigned to the alarm controller in one of the private wireless network and the private data network;

receiving the call to the Internet protocol network address to verify the alarm condition;

comparing a calling address of the call to a predetermined address;

determining a match between the calling address and the predetermined address;

accepting the call in response to the match;

receiving a query for video data associated with the alarm condition; and

executing a rule in response to the video data, the rule instructing the alarm controller to dedicate the video data over the one communications path based on the performance threshold.

16. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise rejecting the call in response to a failure of the match.

17. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving a notification address.

18. The memory device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise sending an alarm notification to the notification address to notify of the alarm condition.

19. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a voice-over internet protocol call to the alarm controller.

20. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise broadcasting the call from a base station interfacing with the alarm controller.