Methods, systems, and products for security services

• US 9,990,835 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2016
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• 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, III, John Alson
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhao, Wei
• Application Number:
  US15/069,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20160196734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• 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

A security system notifies of an alarm situation. The security system has two separate communications paths. When the alarm situation is determined, the security system may select one of the two separate communications paths based on performance, cost, urgency, and other factors.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

generating, by a controller, an alarm message in response to an alarm condition determined by a security system;

determining, by the controller, two different communications paths available for sending the alarm message;

retrieving, by the controller, a decision parameter; and

selecting, by the controller based on the decision parameter, one of the two different communications paths that are available for sending the alarm message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating costs as the decision parameter, the costs associated with the two different communications paths.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating bandwidths as the decision parameter, the bandwidths associated with the two different communications paths.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating congestions as the decision parameter, the congestions associated with the two different communications paths.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating an urgency as the decision parameter, the urgency associated with the alarm condition determined by the security system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a message using the one of the two different communications paths.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting the alarm condition.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising sending the alarm message from the controller, the alarm message sent using the one of the two different communications paths.

9. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device, the memory device storing instructions, the instructions when executed causing the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

generating an alarm message in response to an alarm condition determined by a security system;

determining simultaneous dual connectivity associated with two different communications paths for sending the alarm message;

retrieving a decision parameter; and

selecting, based on the decision parameter, one of the two different communications paths having the simultaneous dual connectivity.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise evaluating costs as the decision parameter, the costs associated with the two different communications paths.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise evaluating bandwidths as the decision parameter, the bandwidths associated with the two different communications paths.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise evaluating congestions as the decision parameter, the congestions associated with the two different communications paths.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise evaluating an urgency as the decision parameter, the urgency associated with the alarm condition determined by the security system.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise sending a message using the one of the two different communications paths.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise detecting the alarm condition.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise sending the alarm message from the controller, the alarm message sent using the one of the two different communications paths.

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

generating an alarm message in response to an alarm condition determined by a security system;

determining simultaneous dual connectivity associated with two different communications paths for sending the alarm message;

retrieving a decision parameter; and

selecting, based on the decision parameter, one of the two different communications paths having the simultaneous dual connectivity.

18. The memory device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise evaluating costs as the decision parameter, the costs associated with the two different communications paths.

19. The memory device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise evaluating bandwidths as the decision parameter, the bandwidths associated with the two different communications paths.

20. The memory device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise evaluating congestions as the decision parameter, the congestions associated with the two different communications paths.