Methods, systems, and products for security services

• US 9,318,005 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2014
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• 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): Zhao, Wei
• Application Number:
  US14/528,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20150054645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 370/229
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

Security systems notify of alarms. Two separate communications paths are established from an alarm controller. One of the communications paths is selected based on performance, cost, or urgency.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

establishing, by a controller associated with a security system, a first communications path via a wireless network;

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

detecting, by the controller;

an alarm condition;

generating, by the alarm controller, an alarm message in response to the alarm condition;

retrieving, by the controller, a decision parameter;

selecting, by the controller, one of the first communications path and the simultaneous second communications path based on the decision parameter; and

sending, by the alarm controller, the alarm message to alert of the alarm condition, the alarm message sent via the one of the first communications path and the simultaneous second communications path based on the decision parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating costs as the decision parameter.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating bandwidths as the decision parameter.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating congestion as the decision parameter.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating an urgency as the decision parameter.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a connectivity message via the one of the first communications path and the simultaneous second communications path.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a timer.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising retrieving a final value associated with the timer.

9. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

establishing a first communications path from a controller associated with a security system via a wireless network;

establishing a simultaneous second communications path from the controller associated with the security system via a wireline broadband connection to a data network;

detecting an alarm condition;

generating an alarm message in response to the alarm condition;

retrieving a decision parameter;

selecting one of the first communications path and the simultaneous second communications path based on the decision parameter; and

sending the alarm message to alert of the alarm condition, the alarm message sent via the one of the first communications path and the simultaneous second communications path based on the decision parameter.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise evaluating costs as the decision parameter.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise evaluating bandwidths as the decision parameter.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise evaluating congestion as the decision parameter.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise evaluating an urgency as the decision parameter.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise sending a connectivity message via the one of the first communications path and the simultaneous second communications path.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise establishing a timer.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving a final value associated with the timer.

17. A memory device storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

establishing a first communications path from a controller associated with a security system via a wireless network;

establishing a simultaneous second communications path from the controller associated with the security system via a wireline broadband connection to a data network;

detecting an alarm condition;

generating an alarm message in response to the alarm condition;

retrieving a decision parameter;

selecting one of the first communications path and the simultaneous second communications path based on the decision parameter; and

sending the alarm message to alert of the alarm condition, the alarm message sent via the one of the first communications path and the simultaneous second communications path based on the decision parameter.

18. The memory device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise evaluating costs as the decision parameter.

19. The memory device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise evaluating bandwidths as the decision parameter.

20. The memory device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise evaluating congestion as the decision parameter.