Communications control in a security system

• US 20040160309A1
• Filed: 02/14/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LifeShield LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LifeShield LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stilp, Louis A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,091,827 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/002 Generating a prealarm to the central station
• 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 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/20 for contactless carriers, e.g. RFID carriers record carriers with integrated circuit chips including means for preventing undesired reading or writing from or to record carriers by hindering electromagnetic reading or writing G06K19/07318; arrangements for sensing record carriers including arrangements for protecting the interrogation against piracy attacks G06K7/10257
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/32 including a particular configuration of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/222 wherein jamming detection includes detecting the absence or impossibility of intelligible communication on at least one channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/224 with countermeasures at transmission and/or reception of the jammed signal, e.g. stopping operation of transmitter or receiver, nulling or enhancing transmitted power in direction of or at frequency of jammer
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/226 Selection of non-jammed channel for communication spectrum sharing arrangements H04W16/14; selection of wireless resources by user or terminal H04W72/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/88 related to allowing or preventing alarm transmission

Abstract

A system and method for controlling communications in a security system based upon RFID techniques. The RFID reader of the security system can be provided with multiple modulation techniques, multiple antennas, and the capability to vary its power level and carrier frequency. The controller of the security determines which RFID readers may transmit, at what times, and the parameters with which to transmit. The RFID transponders of the security system limit their transmissions to responses only, and only when information to transmit exists. The controller may vary the parameters used by the RFID reader based upon the RFID transponder that is being addressed. The RFID reader can detect interference or jamming, and respond.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the communications in a security system containing at least a first controller, at least a first RFID reader, and at least a first RFID transponder, comprising the steps of:

Sending a wireless communications from the said first RFID transponder to the said first RFID reader only in response to a wireless communications from the said first RFID reader.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the said first RFID reader only sends a wireless communications in response to a command from the said first controller.

3. The method of claim 1, including a second RFID reader, wherein the said first RFID reader sends a wireless communications to the first RFID transponder, and both the first and second RFID reader receive the response wireless communications from the RFID transponder.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the controller processes only valid messages contained in any response wireless communications from the RFID transponder received at any of the first and second RFID readers.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first RFID reader interprets the response wireless communications from the RFID transponder for the presence of interference.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first RFID reader further interprets the response wireless communications from the RFID transponder for the presence of a jamming signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the said first controller determines the radio frequency at which the said first RFID reader shall center the carrier of its wireless communications.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the said first controller determines the modulation technique which the first RFID reader shall use for its wireless communications.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first controller determines the radio frequency at which the said first RFID reader shall center the carrier of its wireless communications by selecting from a predetermined list of available radio frequencies.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the said first controller determines the modulation technique which the first RFID reader shall use for its wireless communications by selecting from a predetermined list of available modulation techniques.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the criteria for selecting the radio frequency includes the identity of the RFID transponder to whom the wireless communications is directed.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the criteria for selecting the modulation technique includes the identity of the RFID transponder to whom the wireless communications is directed

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the criteria for selecting the radio frequency includes whether interference is present.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the criteria for selecting the modulation technique includes whether interference is present.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the first RFID reader contains more than one antenna with which to communicate, and the said first controller determines the antenna that the first RFID reader shall use for its wireless communications.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the criteria for selecting the antenna includes the identity of the RFID transponder to whom the wireless communications is directed.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the criteria for selecting the antenna includes whether interference is present.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first RFID reader can adjust its transmit power level within a predetermined range, and the said first controller determines the transmit power level that the first RFID reader shall use for its wireless communications.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the criteria for selecting the transmit power level includes the identity of the RFID transponder to whom the wireless communications is directed.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the criteria for selecting the transmit power level includes whether interference is present.

21. A security system for use in a building to be monitored for intrusion, containing:

At least a first controller,

At least a first RFID transponder,

At least a first RFID reader, capable of wireless communications with at least the said first RFID transponder, and in communications with at least the first controller,

Wherein the first RFID transponder returns a wireless communications to the said first RFID reader only in response to a wireless communications from the said first RFID reader.

22. The security system of claim 21, wherein the said first RFID reader only sends a wireless communications in response to a command from the said first controller.

23. The security system of claim 21, wherein the said first RFID reader can send its wireless communications with its carrier centered at more than one radio frequency.

24. The security system of claim 21, wherein the said first RFID reader can send its wireless communications using more than one modulation technique.

25. The security system of claim 21, wherein the said first RFID reader can send its wireless communications using more than one antenna.

26. The security system of claim 21, wherein the said first RFID reader can send its wireless communications using more than one power level.

27. The security system of claim 23, wherein the said first controller determines the radio frequency at which the said first RFID reader shall center the carrier of its wireless communications.

28. The security system of claim 23, wherein the criteria for selecting the radio frequency includes the identity of the RFID transponder to whom the wireless communications is directed.

29. The security system of claim 24, wherein the said first controller determines the modulation technique which the said first RFID reader shall use for its wireless communications.

30. The security system of claim 24, wherein the criteria for selecting the modulation technique includes the identity of the RFID transponder to whom the wireless communications is directed.

31. The security system of claim 25, wherein the said first controller determines the antenna that the said first RFID reader shall use for its wireless communications.

32. The security system of claim 25, wherein the criteria for selecting the antenna includes the identity of the RFID transponder to whom the wireless communications is directed.

33. The security system of claim 26, wherein the said first controller determines the transmit power level that the said first RFID reader shall use for its wireless communications.

34. The security system of claim 26, wherein the criteria for selecting the transmit power level includes the identity of the RFID transponder to whom the wireless communications is directed.

35. The security system of claim 21, wherein the said first RFID reader can determine whether interference is present in the wireless communications returned from the said first RFID transponder.

36. The security system of claim 21, wherein the said first RFID reader can determine whether jamming is present in the wireless communications returned from the said first RFID transponder.