WO2011134064A1 - Alarm system providing redundant alarm signalling over mobile handsets - Google Patents

Abstract

An alarm system and a method of signaling a sensed alarm event from the alarm system at a premises to a monitoring station is disclosed. The method includes, forming a plurality of messages at the system each indicative of the same alarm condition at the premises and concurrently dispatching each of said messages to said monitoring station over a data network using a different data network gateway, thereby providing redundant messages identifying said alarm condition. At least some of the data network gateways are only intermittently connected with the alarm system, by way of Bluetooth, 802.11 a/b/g/n or other wireless connection.

Description

ALARM SYSTEM PROVIDING REDUNDANT ALARM SIGNALLING OVER

MOBILE HANDSETS

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/327,840, filed April 26, 2010, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to alarm systems, and more particularly to alarm systems that provide redundant signalling of alarm

conditions by way of multiple data network gateways, that may be intermittently connected with the alarm system. In embodiments, the multiple data network gateways may take the form of mobile handsets connected to the alarm system by way of Bluetooth links other wireless connections.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is common for businesses and homeowners to have a security system for detecting alarm conditions at their premises and reporting these to a monitoring station. One of the primary functions of the monitoring station is to notify a human operator when one or more alarm conditions have been sensed by detectors installed at a monitored premise.

[0004] Detectors may vary from relatively simple hard-wired detectors, such as door or window contacts to more sophisticated battery operated ones, such as motion and glass break detectors. The detectors may all report to an alarm control panel at the premises. The control panel is typically installed in a safe location and is connected to a power supply. The control panel is further in communication with the individual detectors to communicate with or receive signals from individual detectors. The communication between the alarm control panel and the detectors can be one or two way, and may be wired or wireless.

[0005] Modern alarm systems use data networks in place of the more conventional telephone links to signal sensed alarm conditions to a central monitoring station. Unfortunately, data communication may not be entirely reliable. For example, data packets may not be quickly routed over a data network. Occasionally packetized messages are simply lost. In other cases, in the absence of electrical power at the premises, prevents alarm messages from reaching the monitoring center.

[0006] Backup networks and systems are known. For example, alarm equipment at the premises may be connected to a universal power supply. These systems, however, rely on costly equipment. Other alarm systems use the cellular network as a back-up network. These typically require a dedicated cellular network subscription. Moreover, such back-up networks are typically used in place of, and not in addition to, any existing network connections. As such, alarm systems relying on such back-up networks typically test a primary network for availability before using the back-up network. This may introduce delays that may be critical in the presence of particular alarm conditions - such as fire, sensed noxious gases, or the like.

[0007] Accordingly, there remains a need for methods and devices that provide back-up and redundant communications for alarm systems, without increasing costs and introducing delays.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of signaling a sensed alarm event from an alarm system at a premises to a monitoring station, the method comprising: forming a plurality of messages at the system each indicative of an alarm condition at the premises; concurrently dispatching each of the messages to the monitoring station over a data network using a different data network gateway, thereby providing redundant messages identifying the alarm condition; and wherein at least some of the data network gateways are only intermittently connected with the alarm system.

[0009] In another aspect of the invention, there is provided An alarm system for sensing and signaling a sensed alarm event at a premises, the alarm system comprising: at least one detector for sensing an alarm condition; a panel in communication with the at least one detector, the panel comprising at least one wireless handset interface, operable to connect to wireless handsets

intermittently as these come into proximity with the alarm system to allow the wireless handsets to act as wireless data network gateways for the alarm system, the panel operable to form a plurality of messages at the system each indicative of an alarm condition at the premises; and concurrently dispatch each of the messages to the monitoring station over a data network using a different one of the data network gateways, thereby providing redundant messages identifying the alarm condition to the monitoring center.

[0010] Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] In the figures which illustrate by way of example only, embodiments of the present invention,

[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an alarm system at a premises, exemplary of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a panel of the alarm system of FIG. 1 , exemplary of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a status table of paired handsets, paired with the system of FIG. 1 ;

[0015] FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a central monitoring station in the alarm system of FIG. 1 ;

[0016] FIG. 5 is diagram depicting the format of alarm messages dispatched from the panel of FIG. 2; and

[0017] FIGS. 6 and 7 are flow diagrams depicting steps performed at the alarm panel and central monitoring station of FIGS. 1 and 4, respectively, exemplary of embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary alarm system infrastructure 10 including an alarm panel 20 at a customer premises 22 communicating through a data network 24 such as the Internet, with a central monitoring center 26. As will be appreciated, data network 24 may be any combination of wired and wireless links capable of carrying packet switched traffic, and may span multiple carriers, and a wide geography. In one embodiment, data network 24 may simply be the public Internet. Panel 20 may be in communication with network 24 by way of Ethernet switch or router 28. Further access points, such as routers, DSL modems, and the like possibly interconnecting panel 20 with data network 24 are not illustrated.

[0019] At residential or business premises 22, alarm panel 20 may be in communication with one or more detectors 18. Each of detectors 18 provides information regarding the status of the monitored premises to local alarm panel 20. Detectors 18 may include, for example, motion detectors, glass break detectors, noxious gas sensors, smoke/fire detectors, microphones and contact switches. Detectors 18 may be hard wired to alarm panel 20 or may

communicate with alarm panel 20 wirelessly, in manners known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. Alarm panel 20 may further include other interfaces such as key pads, sirens, and the like, not specifically shown in FIG. 1.

[0020] As is typical, a plurality of cellular network handsets 30a, 30b, 30c (individually and collectively cellular handsets 30) may be at premises 22. Each handset 30 may include a cellular network radio, for transmitting and/or receiving voice and data to a cellular base station 12 of a cellular network. The cellular network may for example support GSM, LTE, 3G, 4G, CDMA, or other known cellular network standards. Each handset 30 may further include a wireless Bluetooth interface, and/or a wireless network interface, compliant for example with 802.1 1a/b/g/n (WiFi) or similar wireless data network standards. Paired with a suitable data providing device, cellular handsets 30 may therefore act as a wireless data network gateway, in the form of a Bluetooth (or 802.11 a/b/g/n) to cellular data network bridge, to allow packetized data to be transmit over data network 24, by way of the cellular network. Cellular handsets 30 may for example be conventional Research In Motion (RIM) Blackberry devices, Apple iPhones, cellular telephones running the Android operating system, cellular phones executing Microsoft Windows Mobile Phone operating system, or any other suitable cellular telephone, or combinations thereof. As used herein, handset is intended to refer to any portable cellular network device, including a conventional cellular handset, a cellular capable table or slate, a portable cellular router (e.g. a MiFi router - available from Novatel), or any cellular capable portable computing device that may act as an intermittently available data network gateway, as described herein - like a laptop or the like.

[0021] As illustrated in FIG. 2, a typical alarm panel 20 includes a processor 60 in communication with memory 62; a detector interface 66 for communication with detectors 18; and a network interface 64 for communication with data network 24. Panel 20 further includes a wireless handset interface 46. A power controller 48 may further be in communication with components of panel 20 to selectively disconnect power from those components. Other components, such as a keyboard, speaker, power supply, LCD/LED display and the like, may also form part of panel 20 but are not depicted.

[0022] Network interface 64 may be a standard network interface controller, and provides a further data network gateway to allow panel 20 to be

interconnected with network 24, by way of a standard Ethernet router 28 (FIG. 1). As such, network interface 64 may provide a persistent connection to network 24.

[0023] Wireless handset interface 46 includes at least one radio transceiver. In particular, wireless handset interface 46 may include a Bluetooth radio transceiver. Wireless handset interface 46 may further or alternatively include a wireless 802.1 1a/b/g/n or similar wireless network interface, or wireless interface. Wireless handset interface 46 allows panel 20 to establish one or more wireless data connections with network 24 over cellular handsets at premises 22, acting as data network gateways.

[0024] Memory 62 stores program instructions and data used by processor 60 of alarm panel 20, to operate as described herein. Memory 62 may be a suitable combination of random access memory and read-only memory, and may host a suitable firmware, operating software, and may be organized as a file system or otherwise. Memory 62 further stores table 70 depicted in FIG. 3, and described further below.

[0025] Program instructions stored in memory 62 of panel 20 may further store software components allowing network communications and establishment of connections across data network 24, and data connections with cellular handsets 30. The software components may, for example include an internet protocol (IP) stack, a Bluetooth stack, as well as driver components for the various interface, including interfaces 46, 64 and 66. Other software

components suitable for establishing a connection and communicating across network 24 will be apparent to those of ordinary skill.

[0026] Program instructions stored in memory 62 of alarm panel 20, along with configuration data may control overall operation of panel 20. In particular, one or more data network addresses may be stored in memory 62 of alarm panel 20. These network addresses may include the IP network addresses by which monitoring station 26 may be reached. Alarm panel 20 may send data

associated with sensed alarm conditions sensed at premises 22 to central monitoring station 26 over data network 24 using available data network gateways. The data may be packaged as alarm messages, as further detailed below.

[0027] Example alarm panels may comprise DSC® models PC1864 and PC9155, SCW915x suitably modified to operate as described herein.

[0028] Central monitoring station 26 is more particularly illustrated in FIG. 4. Monitoring station 26 is depicted as a single monitoring station in FIG. 1 ;

however, it could alternatively be formed of multiple monitoring stations, each at a different physical location, and each in communication with data network 24. In particular, in order to process a high volume of alarm conditions from a large number of subscribers, central monitoring station 26 includes one or more monitoring server(s) 32. Monitoring server 32 processes alarm messages from panels 20 of subscribers serviced by monitoring station 26. Optionally, monitoring server 32 may take part in two-way audio communications or otherwise communicate over network 24, with an interconnected panel 20.

[0029] Monitoring server 32 may include a processor 38, network interface 34 and memory 42. Monitoring server 32 may physically take the form of a rack mounted card. Monitoring server 32 may be in communication with one or more operator terminals 50. An example monitoring server 32 may comprise a SUR- GARD™ SG-System III Virtual Receiver, available from DSC, modified to function as described herein. [0030] Processor 38 of each monitoring server 32 acts as a controller for each monitoring server 32, and is in communication with, and controls overall operation, of each server 32. Processor 38 may include, or be in communication with memory 42 that stores processor executable instructions controlling the overall operation of monitoring server 32. Suitable software enabling each monitoring server 32 to process alarm messages may be stored within memory 42 of each monitoring server 32. Software may include a suitable internet protocol (IP) stack and applications/clients.

[0031] Monitoring server 32 of central monitoring station 26 may be

associated with an IP address and port(s) by which it can be contacted by alarm panels 20 to report alarm events over data network 24, and establish other IP connections. In the depicted embodiment, monitoring server 32 is associated with IP address 216.0.0.1. This address may be static, and thus always identify a particular one of monitoring server 32 to the computing devices, panels, etc. communicating over network 24. Alternatively, dynamic addresses could be used, and associated with static domain names, resolved through a domain name service.

[0032] Network interface 34 may be a conventional network interface that interfaces with communications network 24 (FIG. 1) to receive incoming signals, and may for example take the form of an Ethernet network interface card (NIC). Terminal(s) 50 may be computers, thin-clients, or the like, to which received data representative of an alarm event is passed for handling by human operators. Each terminal 50 may include a monitor, a keyboard, microphone, and an audio transducer/speaker. An operator at terminal 50 may further be able to establish outgoing telephone calls, to the police or third party security personnel. To that end, terminal 50 may be proximate a PSTN telephone, or may include or have access to voice-over-IP software (running at server 32, or elsewhere) allowing establishment of outgoing telephone calls to parties associated with the premises 20 (as identified in database 44), third parties, such as police, security personnel, or the like. [0033] Monitoring station 26 may further include, or have access to, a subscriber database 44 that includes a database under control of a database engine. Database 44 may contain entries corresponding to the various

subscribers, having panels like panel 20, serviced by monitoring station 26.

Database 44 may, for example, include the names and addresses, phone number, contact phone number, for each subscriber at premises 22 (FIG. 1). As well, database 44 may include the particulars of each detector 18, the unique identifier of each panel 20 assigned to a particular subscriber; account

information; and the like. Database 44 may further log or archive alarm data received from panel 20.

[0034] Monitoring station 26 receives and processes incoming messages from panel 20. Extracted data from the incoming messages may, for example, be overhead, or alarm data. The alarm data may be passed to processor 38, which, in turn, may make decisions under software control based upon that data. In particular, processor 38 may be programmed to initiate certain alarm handling procedures based on the received data.

[0035] The format of a sample alarm data message is illustrated in FIG. 5. As illustrated, an alarm data message 80 may include a unique panel identifier field 82, a sensor identifier field 84, and a communication interface identifier field 86, and a time stamp 88. Alarm message 80 may further include an auxiliary data field 90. As will become apparent, auxiliary data field 90 may be used to identify the data network gateway used by panel 20 to dispatch an alarm message.

Database 44 stores records including the unique panel identifier of panels, such as panel 20 serviced by monitoring center 26, and included in field 82. Message 80 may additionally packaged as a TCP/IP or UDP packet, and may further include appropriate TCP or UDP overhead (source IP address, destination IP address, etc.).

[0036] For example, alarm data extracted from one or more incoming alarm data messages may specify that a particular detector 18 at a particular monitored premises 22 was tripped. Processor 38 may be programmed to extract associated data from database 44 identifying the premises 22, and notify a human operator at a terminal 50 using the alarm data, for further action. Further action may include the human operator consulting, and calling, one of a list of phone numbers associated with that particular monitored premise, stored in database 44. Database 44 may, for example, include the telephone number(s) of the homeowner and occupants, and the operator may call the homeowner to determine what the problem was/is.

[0037] Now, prior to use panel 20 may be properly configured by a qualified installer. Configuration of panel 20 may include pairing of sensors 18, as well the programming of the network address of monitoring center 26. At monitoring center 26, database 44 may be updated to include a record identifying particulars associated with each alarm panel 20 including the address of premises 22, the identity of the subscriber at premises 20, and one or more call-back phone numbers that may be used to reach contact individuals associated with panel 20. The phone numbers may be those of residents at premises 22, or alternate contact phone numbers including those of cell handsets 30. Each record of database 44 may further store the identity of other residents at premises 22, as well as their cellular telephone numbers and unique cellular telephone identifiers (such as the international mobility equipment identity (I EI) of cellular handsets 30).

[0038] At premises 22, handsets 30 may be paired with panel 20. More specifically, panel 20 and a handset 30 may be placed in a Bluetooth pairing mode at the premises, as for example detailed in the Bluetooth specification. Memory at handset 30 may be updated to reflect the pairing. Pairing may be effected by an installer or by owners/users at premises 22.

[0039] Likewise, table 70 illustrated in FIG. 3 maintained at panel 20 may be updated to include the identity of each paired handset 30, including the IMEI, Bluetooth ID and other cellular telephone number of each paired phone. As illustrated, table 70 further includes an entry for the status of each paired cellular handset. Also, table 70 may include a battery status for each paired device, queried from the cellular device any time a paired device connects with panel 20, using a conventional Bluetooth command.

[0040] In normal operation, panel 20 is interconnected, and in communication with, data network 24 by way of router 28. As will be appreciated, handsets 30 may come and go, as their owners enter and leave premises 22, and are thus only intermittently connected with panel 20. When a handset 30 that has been paired with panel 20 is within radio distance of panel 20, panel 20 will attempt to connect to the paired handset, using conventional Bluetooth pairing. Software at panel 20, accordingly updates table 70 to reflect a connection to the paired handset(s) 30. As such, table 70 includes a current list of handsets 30 paired and connected to panel 20, including at least one identifier of each handset - by for example cellular phone number, Bluetooth ID, or IMEI.

[0041] In operation, and exemplary of embodiments of the present invention, audio sensed at detector 18 at premises 22 is buffered prior to signalling a sensed alarm condition. In particular, steps performed at panel 20 are illustrated in FIG. 6. Complementary steps performed at monitoring server 32 are depicted in FIG. 7.

[0042] In the presence of an alarm condition at panel 20 sensed in block

S602, panel 20 generates an alarm message in block S604 and dispatches it to the assigned monitoring server 32 for that panel 20 in block S606 using persistently connected network interface 64 and network 24, and the network address (e.g. IP address) of server 32 assigned to that panel. Each alarm message includes at least an identifier of panel 20 originating the message and in field 82, and an identifier of the sensed condition/sensor 18 giving rise to the alarm condition in field 84.

[0043] As well, software at panel 20 additionally forms and dispatches an equivalent alarm message over any connected handset 30 listed in table 66 that may act as data network gateways in blocks S608-S614, thereby providing a redundant notification of the sensed alarm condition to monitoring station 26. In particular, in block S608, software at panel 20 causes processor 60 to examine table 70 to determine which paired handsets 30 are currently connected to panel 20, and dispatches alarm messages over network 24, using wireless handset interface 46 to each available handset 30/data network gateway in blocks S610- S612. Each of these messages may include in interface field 86 an identifier of the specific data network gateway/wireless handset 30 used as a data network gateway to dispatch the message, as well as optional information about the handset in field 90, including for example the handset's battery status. The identifier of data network gateway/wireless handset 30 may be an IMEI of the handset, the Bluetooth ID, and/or the cellular telephone number of handset 30. The optional information may be queried from a respective handset 30, or simply read from table 70. Conveniently, messages may be generated for each paired handset 30, and dispatched concurrently, regardless of which other network gateways are available.

[0044] Wireless handset interface 46 of panel 20 may dispatch the message to each handset 30 over the established wireless link - Bluetooth link, WiFi, or the like - for dispatch over the cellular network, using for example IP packets over GPRS, 1x, over for example, a GSM, CDMA 1xRTT, EDGE, HSDPA, EVDO, LTE, or other cellular network.

[0045] Processor 38 of monitoring server 32, upon receipt of an alarm message in block S702 may extract alarm data from the message in block S704. Using the extracted data, processor 38 may identify the panel 20 from the contents of field 82, and extract corresponding data from database 44 in block S706. Now, server 32 may determine if a signalled alarm is currently being handled by an operator in block S707. If not, a message or communication may be generated for dispatched to an operator at one of terminals 50, for further handling. The data network gateway used to signal the alarm message at premises 22 may be extracted from field 86. Database 44 may be updated to indicate that the alarm condition has been/is being signalled to a terminal 50.

[0046] An operator at terminal 50 of monitoring center 26 may be presented with the user interface at terminal 50 in block S708 to allow the operator to see status information about a signalled alarm condition- including the address of the premises, the name of the occupant(s), call back numbers, etc., as well as the particular interface used to dispatch the message. The user interface may be generated by software at terminal 50, or by or in conjunction with software at server 32. For example, a user interface may be provided as an HTML page using HTML code stored at server 32 and presented by a browser hosted at terminal 50. The user interface at terminal 50 could be presented using terminal emulation or custom software at terminal 50, or in any other way apparent to those of ordinary skill.

[0047] If the sensed alarm condition has already been signalled to an operator as determined block S707, then a further message identifying an additional alarm message dispatched through another handset 30 may be dispatched to terminal 50. The user interface at terminal 50 presented in block S708 may be updated in block S710 to include the identity of the data network gateway/handset 30 from which the message was received. In particular, the cellular telephone number and identity of the owner of the handset may be queried from database 44, and if available presented at terminal 50. A message indicating that the data network gateway/handset 30 from which the message was sent should be called may be generated. If call-back numbers are queued, the cellular telephone number of the handset 30/data network gateway over which the received alarm message was sent may be promoted in the queue for immediate, or near immediate call back. Similarly, if the battery status or other information from a handset has been queried it may be presented to the user interface at terminal 50.

[0048] Conveniently, in the presence of multiple data network gateways formed by handset 30 and/or network interface 64 (FIG. 2), panel 20 may dispatch alarm messages signalling the same sensed alarm event. The likelihood that at least one of the messages arrives at panel 20 will increase. Likewise, if any one of the data network gateways (e.g. network interface 64) is not available/connected, the alarm condition may still be signalled expediently using one of the other data network gateways. This may be of benefit for sensed alarm conditions for which time may be of the essence - such as the detection of fire, smoke, noxious gases or the like.

[0049] As well, as will be appreciated handsets 30 are only used when present at premises 32, and only those connected handsets 30 are used. As such, a separate dedicated cellular network connection is not used/required. Only intermittently available connections are used. This reduces cost. However, as Bluetooth (or similar) capable cellular handsets have become widely available, one or more further connections to a data network is/are often available.

[0050] Additionally, information about the data network gateways may be used to identify occupants at premises 22. In this way, an operator at terminal 50 may be able to notify emergency personnel of the number of cellular telephones and their owners at premises 22.

[0051] Optionally, in the presence of a power failure at premises 22, a small back-up power supply may continue to power panel 20 and detectors 18. Power controller 48 may optionally disconnect network interface 64, on the assumption that Ethernet router 28 (and any other network access point - such as a DSL modem) will be without power and unavailable.

[0052] Of course, the above described embodiments are intended to be illustrative only and in no way limiting. The described embodiments of carrying out the invention are susceptible to many modifications of form, arrangement of parts, details and order of operation. The invention, rather, is intended to encompass all such modification within its scope, as defined by the claims

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of signaling a sensed alarm event from an alarm system at a premises to a monitoring station, said method comprising: forming a plurality of messages at the system each indicative of an alarm condition at the premises; concurrently dispatching each of said messages to said monitoring station over a data network using a different data network gateway, thereby providing redundant messages identifying said alarm condition; and wherein at least some of the data network gateways are only intermittently connected with said alarm system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of messages

comprises an identifier of said panel, and an identifier of the data network gateway used to dispatch said message.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least some of said data network

gateways comprise cellular handsets.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least some of said data network

gateways are intermittently connected to said panel using a Bluetooth link.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least some of said network interfaces are intermittently connected to said panel over a wireless data network connection.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein at least some of said data network

gateways are intermittently connected to said panel using a WiFi connection.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said different data networks comprises a cellular telephone network.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving said plurality of

messages at a monitoring center and notifying an operator at said monitoring station of said plurality of messages.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising identifying the identity of owners of said cellular handsets at the premises at the monitoring center.

10. An alarm system for sensing and signaling a sensed alarm event at a

premises, said alarm system comprising: at least one detector for sensing an alarm condition; a panel in communication with said at least one detector, said panel comprising at least one wireless handset interface, operable to connect to wireless handsets intermittently as these come into proximity with said alarm system to allow said wireless handsets to act as wireless data network gateways for said alarm system, said panel operable to form a plurality of messages at the system each indicative of an alarm condition at the premises; and concurrently dispatch each of said messages to said monitoring station over a data network using a different one of said data network gateways, thereby providing redundant messages identifying said alarm condition to said monitoring center.

11. The alarm system of claim 10, further comprising a network interface

controller for persistently connecting said panel to a data network.

12. The alarm system of claim 10, wherein each of said plurality of messages comprises an identifier of said panel, and an identifier of the data network gateway used to dispatch said message.

13. The alarm system of claim 10, wherein said at least one wireless handset interface comprises a Bluetooth interface.

14. The alarm system of claim 10, wherein said at least one wireless handset interface comprises a wireless network interface.

15. The alarm system of claim 14, said at least one wireless handset interface comprises a WiFi interface.

16. The alarm system of claim 11 , further comprising a power controller for disconnecting power to said network interface controller in the presence of a power failure.