Methods, Systems, and Products for Security Services

• US 20130120134A1
• Filed: 11/10/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• 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, John Alson III
• Granted Patent: US 8,902,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/501
• 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

Methods, systems, and products notify of alarms in security systems. Two separate communications paths are established from an alarm controller. Connectivity messages are sent from the alarm controller over each of the two separate communications paths. When a timer counts down to a final value, then more connectivity messages are sent from the alarm controller to report connectivity.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

establishing a first communications path from an alarm controller in a security system to a wireless network;

establishing a second communications path from the alarm controller over a wireline broadband connection to a data network;

sending a first connectivity message from the alarm controller over the first communications path and sending the first connectivity message from the alarm controller over the second communications path;

counting down a timer; and

sending more connectivity messages from the alarm controller when the timer counts down to a final value,

wherein the alarm controller reports connectivity of the first communications path and the second communications path.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising retrieving the final value of the timer from memory of the alarm controller.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising retrieving the final value of the timer associated with a business customer of the security system.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising retrieving the final value of the timer associated with a residential customer of the security system.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein establishing the first communications path comprises establishing a wireless cellular network connection from the alarm controller.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising counting down the timer after the first connectivity messages are sent from the alarm controller.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising identifying at least one of the first communications path and the second communications path in the first connectivity messages.

8. An alarm controller for use within a security system, the alarm controller comprising:

a processor; and

memory for storing code;

wherein the code, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform a method, the method comprising;

establishing a first communications path from an alarm controller in a security system to a wireless network;

establishing a second communications path from the alarm controller over a wireline broadband connection to a data network;

sending a first connectivity message from the alarm controller over the first communications path and sending the first connectivity message from the alarm controller over the second communications path;

counting down a timer; and

sending more connectivity messages from the alarm controller when the timer counts down to a final value,

wherein the alarm controller reports connectivity of the first communications path and the second communications path.

9. The alarm controller according to claim 8, further comprising code that causes the processor to retrieve the final value of the timer from the memory.

10. The alarm controller according to claim 8, further comprising code that causes the processor to retrieve the final value of the timer that is associated with a business customer of the security system.

11. The alarm controller according to claim 8, further comprising code that causes the processor to retrieve the final value of the timer that is associated with a residential customer of the security system.

12. The alarm controller according to claim 8, further comprising code that causes the processor to establish a wireless cellular network connection from the alarm controller.

13. The alarm controller according to claim 8, further comprising code that causes the processor to count down the timer after the first connectivity messages are sent.

14. The alarm controller according to claim 8, further comprising code that causes the processor to identify at least one of the first communications path and the second communications path in the first connectivity messages.

15. A computer readable medium for storing code which, when executed by a processor, perform a method, the method comprising:

establishing a first communications path from an alarm controller in a security system to a wireless network;

establishing a second communications path from the alarm controller over a wireline broadband connection to a data network;

sending a first connectivity message from the alarm controller over the first communications path and sending the first connectivity message from the alarm controller over the second communications path;

counting down a timer; and

sending more connectivity messages from the alarm controller when the timer counts down to a final value,

wherein the alarm controller reports connectivity of the first communications path and the second communications path.

16. The computer readable medium according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for retrieving the final value of the timer from memory of the alarm controller.

17. The computer readable medium according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for retrieving the final value of the timer associated with a business customer of the security system.

18. The computer readable medium according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for retrieving the final value of the timer associated with a residential customer of the security system.

19. The computer readable medium according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for establishing a wireless cellular network connection from the alarm controller.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for identifying at least one of the first communications path and the second communications path in the first connectivity messages.