Security system and method

• US 9,589,441 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2016
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The ADT Security Corporation (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADT US Holdings, Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shapiro, Steven, North, Raymond, Rader, Timothy Albert, Perdomo, Jorge, Rouse, Anne-Marie, Black, James Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAI T
• Application Number:
  US15/058,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20160189515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.14, 340/506, 340/531, 340/540, 340/541, 340/517, 340/567
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• 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 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/002 in which a reserve is maintained in an energy source by disconnecting non-critical loads, e.g. maintaining a reserve of charge in a vehicle battery for starting an engine
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24

Abstract

A security control apparatus, system and method are provided. The security control apparatus includes a wireless communication element that supports a plurality of wireless communication protocols. The wireless communication element is configured to provide wireless communications with a user interface device and at least one premise-based device. A remote communication element is configured to provide remote communications with a monitoring center. A processor is in communication with the local wireless communication element and the remote communication element. The processor is configured to use the wireless communication element to communicate with the user interface device to receive local control and configuration data. The processor is also configured to use the remote communication element to communicate data associated with at least one of a life safety feature and life style feature with the monitoring center.

Claims

1. A security control apparatus supporting at least one each of a life safety feature and life style feature, the security control apparatus comprising:

a local wireless communication element supporting a plurality of local wireless communication protocols, the local wireless communication element configured to provide local wireless communications with a user interface device and at least one premises-based device;

a remote communication element configured to provide remote communications with a monitoring center; and

a processor in communication with the local wireless communication element and the remote communication element, the processor configured to;

use the local wireless communication element to;

discover at least one premises-based device;

receive information associated with the discovered at least one premises-based device; and

use the remote communication element to;

send, to the monitoring center, data based on information received from at least one premises-based device and associated with at least one each of the life safety feature and life style feature;

send, to the monitoring center, the information associated with the discovered at least one premises-based device; and

receive enrollment data, from the monitoring center, for the discovered at least one premises-based device; and

cause enrollment of the discovered at least one premises-based device based on the received enrollment data for the discovered at least one premises-based device.

2. The security control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discovering of at least one premises-based device, the sending of information associated with the discovered at least one premises-based device, the receipt of enrollment data for the discovered at least one premises-based device and the causing enrollment of the discovered at least one premises-based device based on the received enrollment data is performed automatically.

3. The security control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to use the local wireless communication element to receive, from the discovered at least one premises-based device, data associated with one of the life safety feature and life style feature.

4. The security control apparatus of claim 3, wherein the data, from the discovered at least one premises-based device, that is associated with one of the life safety feature and life style feature includes at least one of a carbon monoxide reading, smoke detection reading and sensor location.

5. The security control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

use the local wireless communication element to;

discover at least one user interface device; and

receive information associated with the discovered at least one user interface device; and

use the remote communication element to;

send, to the monitoring center, the information associated with the discovered at least one user interface device; and

receive, from the monitoring center, enrollment data for the discovered at least one user interface device;

cause enrollment of the discovered at least one user interface device based on the received enrollment data for the discovered at least one user interface device.

6. The security control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remote communications are provided at least by 1) at least one of an Ethernet communication link and Wi-Fi communication link and 2) a cellular communication link.

7. The security control apparatus of claim 6, wherein the cellular communication link is used for remote communications when at least one of the Ethernet communication link and Wi-Fi communication link is unavailable.

8. The security control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the premises-based device is at least one of a sensor, video camera, thermostat and appliance.

9. The security control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of local wireless communication protocols includes at least one of a ZigBee protocol, Z-Wave protocol and Wi-Fi protocol.

10. A method for a security control apparatus, the security control apparatus supporting at least one each of a life safety feature and life style feature, the security control apparatus having a local wireless communication element and a remote communication element, the method comprising:

using the local wireless communication element to;

provide local wireless communications with a user interface device and at least one premises-based device;

discover at least one premises-based device;

receive information associated with the discovered at least one premises-based device; and

using the remote communication element to;

provide remote communications with a monitoring center;

send, to the monitoring center, data based on information received from at least one premises-based device and associated with at least one each of a life safety feature and life style feature;

send, to the monitoring center, the information associated with the discovered at least one premises-based device; and

receive enrollment data, from the monitoring center, for the discovered at least one premises-based device;

causing enrollment of the discovered at least one premises-based device based on the received enrollment data for the discovered at least one premises-based device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the discovering of at least one premises-based device, the sending of information associated with the discovered at least one premises-based device, the receipt of enrollment data for the discovered at least one premises-based device and the causing enrollment of the discovered at least one premises-based device based on the received enrollment data is performed automatically.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising using the local wireless communication element to receive, from the discovered at least one premises-based device, data associated with one of the life safety feature and life style feature.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the data associated with one of the life safety feature and life style feature includes at least one of a carbon monoxide reading, smoke detection reading and sensor location.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

using the local wireless communication element to;

discover at least one user interface device; and

receive information associated with the discovered at least one user interface device; and

using the remote communication element to;

send, to the monitoring center, the information associated with the discovered at least one user interface device; and

receive, from the monitoring center, enrollment data for the discovered at least one user interface device; and

causing enrollment of the discovered at least one user interface device based on the received enrollment data for the discovered at least one user interface device.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the remote communications are provided at least by 1) at least one of an Ethernet communication link and Wi-Fi communication link and 2) a cellular communication link.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the cellular communication link is used for remote communications when at least one of the Ethernet communication link and Wi-Fi communication link is unavailable.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the premises-based device is at least one of a sensor, video camera, thermostat and appliance.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the local wireless communication element supports a plurality of local wireless communication protocols, the plurality of local wireless communication protocols includes at least one of a ZigBee protocol, Z-Wave protocol and Wi-Fi protocol.

19. A security control apparatus for monitoring a premises, the security control apparatus supporting at least one each of a life safety feature and life style feature, the security control apparatus comprising:

a local wireless communication element supporting a plurality of local wireless communication protocols, the plurality of local wireless communication protocols including at least one of a ZigBee protocol, Z-Wave protocol and Wi-Fi protocol, the local wireless communication element configured to provide local wireless communications with a user interface device and at least one premises-based device;

a remote communication element configured to provide remote communications with a monitoring center; and

a processor in communication with the local wireless communication element and the remote communication element, the processor configured to;

use the local wireless communication element to;

discover at least one premises-based device;

receive information associated with the discovered at least one premises-based device; and

use the remote communication element to;

send, to the monitoring center, data based on information received from at least one premises-based device and associated with at least one each of the life safety feature and life style feature;

send, to the monitoring center, the information associated with the discovered at least one premises-based device; and

receive, from the monitoring center, enrollment data for the discovered at least one premises-based device; and

cause enrollment of the discovered at least one premises-based device based on the received enrollment data for the discovered at least one premises-based device;

use the local wireless communication element to receive, from the discovered at least one premises-based device that was enrolled, data associated with at least one of the life safety feature and life style feature.

20. The security control apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to:

use the local wireless communication element to;

discover at least one user interface device; and

receive information associated with the discovered at least one user interface device; and

use the remote communication element to;

send, to the monitoring center, the information associated with the discovered at least one user interface device; and

receive, from the monitoring center, enrollment data for the discovered at least one user interface device;

cause enrollment of the discovered at least one user interface device based on the received enrollment data for the discovered at least one user interface device.