INTERACTIVE CONTROL OF ALARM SYSTEMS BY TELEPHONE INTERFACE USING AN INTERMEDIATE GATEWAY

• US 20120275588A1
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Numerex Corporation (Sierra Wireless Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Numerex Corporation (Sierra Wireless Incorporated)
• Inventors: GREGORY, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,705,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/102.02
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/00 Alarm systems in which the alarm condition is signalled from a central station to a plurality of substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling

Abstract

An interface for interactive control of alarm systems using an intermediate gateway. A request for access to an account for interactive alarm system control is received from a remote device by an intermediate gateway. The request for access from the remote device is authenticated by the intermediate gateway based on an authentication parameter. After authenticating, the intermediate gateway identifies an alarm system and attributes of the alarm system associated with the request for access. Here, for example, the intermediate gateway identifies the operating characteristics for remote access to the alarm system. Further, the interactive gateway may receive a prompt from the remote device. Based on the prompt, the intermediate gateway may communicate with the alarm system according to its identified attributes and in response to the prompt, to query or update at least one setting of the alarm system.

Claims

1. A method for interactive control of alarm systems, comprising:

receiving, by a computer, a request for access to an account for interactive alarm system control from a remote device;

authenticating, by the computer, the request for access from the remote device based on an authentication parameter;

after the authenticating, identifying, by the computer, an alarm system and attributes of the alarm system associated with the request for access;

receiving, by the computer, a prompt associated with the alarm system from the remote device, the prompt comprising one of a query and a command; and

communicating, by the computer, with the alarm system via a PSTN interface of the alarm system according to the identified attributes of the alarm system and in response to the prompt, to query or update at least one setting of the alarm system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising,

when the prompt comprises a query, communicating, by the computer, with the alarm system via the PSTN interface of the alarm system to identify a current state of the alarm system;

and

forwarding, by the computer, the current state of the alarm system to the remote device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising,

when the prompt comprises a command, instructing, by the computer, the alarm system to update the at least one setting of the alarm system via the PSTN interface of the alarm system;

and

forwarding, by the computer, a confirmation of the update of the at least one setting of the alarm system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising

determining, by the computer, whether a new prompt has been received;

and

if no new prompt has been received, determining whether communications with the remote device have been idle for greater than a predetermined time.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing, by the computer, the account for interactive alarm system control.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein establishing the account for interactive alarm system control comprises

receiving, by the computer, a model identifier of the alarm system;

retrieving, by the computer, operating characteristics of the alarm system based on the model identifier of the alarm system; and

associating, by the computer, the operating characteristics of the alarm system to the account for interactive alarm system control.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein establishing the account for interactive alarm system control further comprises

receiving, by the computer, a communications address and an access code of the alarm system;

and

associating, by the computer, the communications address and the access code of the alarm system to the account for interactive alarm system control.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication parameter comprises a username and a password.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating with the alarm system according to the attributes of the alarm system includes contacting, by the computer, the alarm system via the PSTN interface, establishing a DTMF, modem, or other connection, and providing an access code.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the current state includes at least one of an armed-state and an alarm-state.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein instructing the alarm system to update the at least one setting includes an instruction to arm, disarm, bypass a zone, un-bypass a zone, abort, and cancel.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote device interfaces with the computer by a standard hypertext transfer protocol browser, text messaging, or voice prompt.

13. A gateway for interactive control of alarm systems, comprising:

a communications module configured to receive, from a remote device, a request for access to an account for interactive alarm system control and a prompt associated with an alarm system, the prompt comprising one of a query and a command; and

a processor configured to

authenticate the request for access from the remote device based on an authentication parameter,

after the authentication, identify the alarm system and attributes of the alarm system associated with the request for access, and

direct the communications module to communicate with the alarm system via a PSTN interface of the alarm system according to the identified attributes of the alarm system and in response to the prompt, to query or update at least one setting of the alarm system.

14. The gateway of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to,

when the prompt comprises a query, direct the communications module to communicate with the alarm system via the PSTN interface of the alarm system to identify a current state of the alarm system, and

forward the current state of the alarm system to the remote device.

15. The gateway of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to,

when the prompt comprises a command, direct the communications module to instruct the alarm system to update the at least one setting of the alarm system via the PSTN interface of the alarm system, and

forward a confirmation of the update of the at least one setting of the alarm system.

16. The gateway of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to

determine whether a new instruction has been received, and

if no new instruction has been received, determine whether communications with the remote device have been idle for greater than a predetermined time.

17. The gateway of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to establish the account for interactive alarm system control.

18. The gateway of claim 17, wherein, to establish the account for interactive alarm system control, the processor is further configured to

receive a model identifier of the alarm system,

retrieve operating characteristics of the alarm system based on the model identifier of the alarm system, and

associate the operating characteristics of the alarm system to the account for interactive alarm system control.

19. The gateway of claim 18, wherein, to establish the account for interactive alarm system control, the processor is further configured to

receive a communications address and an access code of the alarm system, and

associate the communications address and the access code of the alarm system to the account for interactive alarm system control.

20. The gateway of claim 13, wherein the authentication parameter comprises a username and a password.

21. The gateway of claim 14, wherein the current state includes at least one of an armed-state and an alarm-state.

22. The gateway of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to, when the prompt comprises a command, instruct the alarm system to arm, disarm, bypass a zone, un-bypass a zone, abort, and cancel.

23. The gateway of claim 13, wherein the remote device interfaces with the gateway by a standard hypertext transfer protocol browser, text messaging, or voice prompt.

24. A method for interactive control of alarm systems, comprising:

authenticating, by a computer, a request for access to an account for interactive alarm system control from a remote device and identifying attributes of an alarm system associated with the request for access;

receiving, by the computer, a prompt associated with the alarm system from the remote device, the prompt comprising one of a query and a command; and

communicating, by the computer, with the alarm system via a PSTN interface of the alarm system according to the identified attributes of the alarm system and in response to the prompt, to query or update at least one setting of the alarm system.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising,

when the prompt comprises a query, communicating, by the computer, with the alarm system via the PSTN interface of the alarm system to identify a current state of the alarm system;

and

forwarding, by the computer, the current state of the alarm system to the remote device.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising,

when the prompt comprises a command, instructing, by the computer, the alarm system to update the at least one setting of the alarm system via the PSTN interface of the alarm system;

and

forwarding, by the computer, a confirmation of the update of the at least one setting of the alarm system.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising

determining, by the computer, whether a new prompt has been received;

and

if no new prompt has been received, determining whether communications with the remote device have been idle for greater than a predetermined time.