WIRELESS VOIP NETWORK FOR SECURITY SYSTEM MONITORING

• US 20140016512A1
• Filed: 07/11/2013
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sierra Wireless America Incorporated (Sierra Wireless Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Numerex Corporation (Sierra Wireless Incorporated)
• Inventors: Elliot, Harvey Alexander, Field Elliot, Bryan, Elliot, Daniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,094,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/259
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40013 Details regarding a bus controller
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/413 with random access, e.g. carrier-sense multiple-access with collision detection [CSMA-CD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1013 Network architectures, gateways, control or user entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A Voice over IP (VoIP) module is used to connect an alarm system to a monitoring station over the Internet. A built-in wireless or Ethernet over A/C power component is described, such that the Voice-over-IP equipment can be placed at a distance from a router, without the need to run an Ethernet cable from the VoIP equipment to the router. This arrangement is useful, as in many cases, the customer'"'"'s security system is hidden within a closet, or else placed within the home or business at a significant distance from their Internet connection and router. The present invention accomplishes this by adding a built-in WiFi (wireless) radio, or a built-in Ethernet over Power circuit, into the Voice-over-IP equipment installed in the home or business.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

connecting an analog telephone interface of an alarm system to a dedicated Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) module that is connected to the Internet through a wireless connection;

establishing a VoIP session between the dedicated VoIP module and an alarm-monitoring server over the Internet; and

monitoring the alarm system at the alarm-monitoring server via the established VoIP session.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

at the alarm-monitoring server, monitoring the VoIP session for an interruption; and

responsive to detection of the interruption, issuing a notification from the alarm-monitoring server about potential tampering.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

at the alarm-monitoring server, monitoring the VoIP session for a session interruption; and

if the session interruption is detected, triggering an alarm.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

at the alarm-monitoring server, monitoring the VoIP session for a session interruption; and

if the session interruption is detected, issuing an alert from the alarm-monitoring server about loss of the connection between the alarm system and the Internet.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting analog audio signals indicative of alarm data via the VoIP session.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising

via the VoIP session, transmitting analog audio signals that are indicative of alarm data and that are distinct from voice signals.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless connection comprises WiFi.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the dedicated VoIP module comprises a VoIP modem.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the wireless connection comprises a router that is connected to the VoIP modem via WiFi.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the alarm-monitoring server comprises an alarm monitoring center.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising monitoring WiFi signal strength and sending a message from the VoIP modem to the alarm monitoring center about the monitored WiFi signal strength.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the alarm-monitoring server comprises an alarm monitoring center.

13. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving analog signals from an analog telephone interface of an alarm system disposed at a premises;

converting the received analog signals into VoIP formatted data;

transmitting the VoIP formatted data via WiFi to a router disposed at the premises; and

transmitting the VoIP formatted data from the router to a remote alarm monitoring center via the Internet.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a VoIP modem that is disposed at the premises performs the receiving and the converting steps.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the VoIP modem is dedicated to the analog telephone interface.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring WiFi signal strength at the premises; and

transmitting an indication of the WiFi signal strength from the router to the remote alarm monitoring center, wherein the remote alarm monitoring center sends a message about the WiFi signal strength to a user who is remote from the alarm monitoring center.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of transmitting the VoIP formatted data from the router to the remote alarm monitoring center via the Internet comprises processing the VoIP formatted data with an alarm-monitoring server that is remote from the premises.

18. A system comprising:

a VoIP modem comprising;

one or more first ports that are operable for sending and receiving analog signals for bidirectional communication with an analog telephone interface of a security system; and

one or more second ports that are operable for bidirectional communication with a router system using Ethernet over Power Line communication; and

the router system, comprising;

one or more third ports that are operable for bidirectional communication with the one or more second ports of the VoIP modem using the Ethernet-over-Power Line communication; and

one or more fourth ports that are operable for bidirectional communication with a remote alarm-monitoring server via the Internet.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the router system comprises a router facing the Internet and an Ethernet-over-Power Adapter facing the VoIP modem.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the one or more second ports are configured for coupling to an A/C power line, and wherein the one or more third ports are configured for coupling to the A/C power line.