Method and apparatus for using infrared sensors to transfer data within a security system

• US 20080031206A1
• Filed: 08/03/2006
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Safety Products Canada Limited (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Sharma, Raman Kumar
• Granted Patent: US 7,787,776 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/187 by interference of a radiation field
• 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 29/24 Self-calibration, e.g. compensating for environmental drift or ageing of components

Abstract

A security system comprises a system control panel for monitoring at least one device on a network. An infrared (IF) sensor located on the network has an IR transmitter and an IR receiver. The IR transmitter transmits control data packets and the IR receiver detects received data packets and IR data. A processor provides the control data packets to be transmitted by the IR transmitter. The processor determines that an external communication device is initiating communication with a target device over the network based on at least the received data packet received by the IR receiver. The processor establishes bi-directional communication over the network between the external communication device and the target device which is one of the processor, the system control panel and the at least one device.

Claims

1. A security system, comprising:

a system control panel for monitoring at least one device on a network;

an infrared (IR) sensor located on the network and having an IR transmitter and an IR receiver, the IR transmitter transmitting control data packets, the IR receiver detecting received data packets and IR data; and

a processor providing the control data packets to be transmitted by the IR transmitter, the processor determining that an external communication device is initiating communication with a target device over the network based on at least the received data packet received by the IR receiver, the processor establishing bi-directional communication over the network between the external communication device and the target device, the target device being one of the processor, the system control panel and the at least one device.

2. The system of claim 1, the processor comparing the control data packet and the received data packet, the processor establishing the bi-directional communication between the external communication device and the target device when the control data packet and the received data packet are different with respect to each other.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the IR sensor is located remote from at least one of the system control panel and the at least one device.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the target device sending target device data packets over the network to the processor; and

the IR transmitter transmitting the target device data packets wirelessly to the external communication device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control data packet comprises at least one of a beacon and a broadcast signal based on a predetermined two-way wireless communication protocol.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the received data packet further comprises external data packets transmitted from the external communication device, the processor identifying the target device based on the external data packets, the processor transferring at least a portion of the external data packets over the network to the target device.

7. The system of claim 1, at least one of the processor and the target device identifying an action requested by the external communication device based on the received data packets.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control panel mounted proximate to the IR sensor and the processor, the control panel further comprising at least one of a backlight, an interface device, and interface circuitry, the processor comparing the control data packet and the received data packet, the processor activating at least one of the backlight, the interface device and the interface circuitry when the control data packet and the received data packet are the same.

9. A method for using an infrared sensor interconnected with a security system to communicate with an external communication device, comprising:

transmitting a control data packet with an infrared (IR) transmitter of an IR sensor;

receiving a received data packet with an IR receiver of the IR sensor;

comparing the control data packet and the received data packet to determine whether an external communication device has transmitted the received data packet; and

establishing bi-directional communication between the external communication device and a target device based on the comparison of the control data packet and the received data packet, the target device being interconnected with the IR sensor and the security system on a network.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising locating the IR sensor remote from a system control panel used to control operation of the security system, the IR sensor and the control panel being interconnected with the network.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing identification codes to identify at least one external communication device approved to access the network; and

determining whether the external communication device is allowed to access the network based on information within the received data packet and the identification codes.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

generating target device data packets with the target device; and

transmitting the target device data packets with the IR transmitter to the external communication device.

13. The method of claim 9, the received data packets further comprising external data packets transmitted from the external communication device, further comprising:

storing system configuration data identifying devices interconnected on the network; and

identifying the target device based on information within the received data packet and the system configuration data.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining that an object is within a predetermined proximity to the IR sensor when the control data packet and the received data packet are the same.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising activating at least one of a program and a device when the control and received data packets are the same.

16. A security system, comprising:

a system control panel for monitoring at least one device on a network;

an infrared (IR) sensor having an IR transmitter and an IR receiver, the IR sensor located on the network, the IR receiver receiving external data packets from an external communication device; and

means for establishing bi-directional communication between the external communication device and a target device located on the network.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a control panel housing the IR sensor, wherein the target device comprises one of the system control panel, the at least one device, and the control panel.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the external data packets further comprise means for identifying the target device and means for identifying an action requested by the external communication device.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the IR transmitter having an active period and an idle period based on a duty cycle, the IR transmitter transmitting control data packets during the active period, the system further comprising means for determining that the external data packet is a reflected control data packet to detect proximity of an object.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the IR sensor is located on the network remote from at least one of the system control panel, the at least one device and the target device.