Abstract:
A system for enabling or disabling one or more security system features of a security system platform allows manufactures to produce one security system platform. Such a system includes a controller configured for controlling the one or more security system features and an interface in communication with the controller. The system further includes an electronic device key for storing configuration data, the electronic device key being configured to electrically mate with the interface to establish communication between the electronic device key and the controller to transmit the configuration data to the controller to instruct the controller to enable or disable the one or more security system features of the security system platform.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The invention relates generally to security systems, and more particularly to a security system including a device key for enabling or disabling various security system features.  
       BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
       [0002]     Typically, manufactures of security systems provide various models of security systems ranging from a basic model with a few features and protection levels to a deluxe model with many features and many, higher protection levels. Two main problems exist with this approach. First, only a portion of each system includes components are common to all the models, while other components are specific to a particular model. This results in manufacturing inefficiency. Second, when a customer wants to upgrade his existing security system, all or part of the existing security system must be replaced with new equipment. This process is both time consuming and costly.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The invention relates generally to security systems, and more particularly to a security system including a device key for enabling or disabling various security system features.  
         [0004]     In one aspect, the invention involves a system for enabling or disabling one or more security system features of a security system platform. The system includes a control means configured for controlling the one or more security system features, an interface means in communication with the control means, and an electronic device key including a means for storing configuration data. The electronic device key is configured to electrically mate with the interface means to establish communication between the electronic device key and the control means to transmit the configuration data to the control means to instruct the control means to enable or disable the one or more security system features of the security system platform.  
         [0005]     In some embodiments, the means for storing the configuration data includes a microprocessor and/or flash memory. In another embodiment, the configuration data is encrypted. In one embodiment, the electronic device key communicates with the control means via an encrypted communication protocol. In yet another embodiment, the control means stores a unique identifier in a protected memory location on the electronic device key thereby configuring the electronic device key to function exclusively with a particular security system platform. In still another embodiment, the control means stores a unique identifier on the electronic device key thereby configuring the electronic device key to function with a plurality of security system platforms. In other embodiments the interface means includes an electrical pin header or an electrical socket, and the control means includes a microprocessor. In another embodiment, the electronic device key includes an electrical connector for electrically mating with the interface means.  
         [0006]     In another aspect, the invention involves an electronic device key for enabling or disabling one or more security system features of a security system platform. The electronic device key includes a body portion defining a cavity, a means for storing configuration data disposed in the cavity, and a connector portion coupled to the body portion and in electrical communication with the means for storing configuration data. The connector portion is configured to electrically mate with an interface means that is in electrical communication with a control means that controls the security system platform to communicate the configuration data to the control means to instruct the control means to enable or disable the one or more security system features of the security system platform.  
         [0007]     In some embodiments, the means for storing the configuration data includes a microprocessor, and the means for storing configuration data includes a flash memory.  
         [0008]     In still another aspect, the invention involves a method for enabling or disabling one or more security system features of a security system platform. The method includes providing control means configured for controlling the one or more security system features, and providing and interface means in communication with the control means. The method further includes providing an electronic device key that includes a means for storing configuration data. The electronic device key is configured to electrically mate with the interface means to establish communication between the electronic device key and the control means to transmit the configuration data to the control means to instruct the control means to enable or disable the one or more security system features of the security system platform.  
         [0009]     The foregoing and other objects, aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and from the claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an illustrative perspective view of a security system chassis including a motherboard, according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2A  is an illustrative front view of a security system chassis, according to another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2B  is an illustrative side view of the chassis shown in  FIG. 2A , according to still another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is an illustrative schematic top view of a motherboard, according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is an illustrative side view of a device key, according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is an illustrative cross-sectional view of the device key shown in  FIG. 4 , according to another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is an illustrative side view of a motherboard including an interface port, according to still another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is an illustrative side view of a motherboard shown in  FIG. 6  including a device key connected to the interface port, according to another embodiment of the invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]     The invention relates generally to security systems, and more particularly to a security system including a device key for enabling or disabling various security system features. The invention enables a security system manufacturer to produce a single security system platform with a single set of security features, rather than a number of security system platforms, each with a different set of security features. Customers configure the single security system platform based on their individual needs via an electronic device key, which enables or disables the various security system features accordingly.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 1  in one embodiment, the invention is implemented in a security system platform  100 , which includes a component cabinet or chassis  105 . The chassis  105  houses a motherboard  110 , which is disposed vertically within the chassis  105  in a slot or socket  115 . In other embodiments, the motherboard  110  is disposed horizontally within the chassis  105 . The chassis  105  further includes a display/control panel  125 , one or more connectors  120 ,  130 ,  135  for connecting to various security devices (not shown) such as cameras, monitors, alarms, keypads, telephone lines, wireless communication devices, and electronic door locks, for example. The connectors  120 ,  130 ,  135  and the display/control panel  125  are also connected to the motherboard  110  via cables  140 ,  141 ,  142 ,  143 , respectively. The motherboard  110 , via the display/control panel  125 , controls the various security devices. The motherboard  110  also includes a microprocessor  305  and a header or interface port  310 , and other various electronic components, and will be discussed in further detail below.  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , in alternative embodiment, a front panel  205  of the chassis  105  includes multiple display and control panels  205 ,  207 ,  208 . Further, a side panel  210  of the chassis  105  includes various connectors  212 ,  214 ,  216   a - c ,  217   a - b ,  218   a - b ,  219 ,  220 ,  221 , which can include serial ports, parallel ports, BNC connectors, Ethernet connectors, a phone jack, DB connectors with various pin counts, or any other type of electronic connector known in the art that is suitable for interfacing with various security devices.  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in one embodiment, the motherboard  110  is a typical printed circuit (PC) board and includes a microprocessor  305  in electrical communication with a header or interface port  310  via signal path  315  (e.g. wires or PC traces). The microprocessor  305  is the brain of the security system  100  and controls all of the various security features and security devices connected to the chassis  105 .  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in one embodiment, an electronic device key  400 , such as a dongle is shown. The electronic device key  400  includes a body portion  405  and a connector  410 . The body portion  405  defines a cavity  515 , which houses a microprocessor  505 , (or flash memory, or both). In one embodiment, the microprocessor includes on-chip memory  520 . In another embodiment, external memory is housed in the cavity  515  and is in electrical communication with the microprocessor  505 .  
         [0024]     The microprocessor  505  is in electrical communication with the connector  410  via signal path  510 . The connector  410  can be any type of connector that is suitable for electrically mating with the interface port  310 . The interface port  310  includes a power and ground connection that provides power and ground to the microprocessor  505  (or flash memory) in the electronic device key  400  when the electronic device key  400  is electrically mated to the interface port  310 .  
         [0025]     A security system configuration data file is stored on the microprocessor  505  on-chip memory  520  (or flash memory), or on memory associated with, and in communication with, the microprocessor  505 . The configuration data file is used to configure the security system platform  100  by providing instructions to the microprocessor  305  regarding enabling or disabling various security system features. Further, the configuration data file stored on a particular electronic device key  400  is unique and is its contents is determined by the particular security system features to be enabled or disabled. The security system features that are enabled or disabled are determined by a customer&#39;s particular security needs. More specifically, the customer selects a subset (or the total set) of security features from the total set of security features available on the security system platform  100 . The security features selected will determine the particular configuration data file that is stored on the electronic device key  400 .  
         [0026]     After the electronic device key  400  is mated with the interface port  310 , the configuration data file is transmitted (downloaded) to the microprocessor  305  on the motherboard  110 . The microprocessor  305  uses the information in the configuration data file to configure the security system platform  100  by enabling or disabling various security system features. The customer can scale up or down the number of security system features that are enabled by simply changing the electronic device key  400 .  
         [0027]     In another embodiment, the configuration data file stored on the microprocessor  505  is encrypted. Further, the configuration data file is transmitted to the microprocessor  305  using a serial peripheral interface (SPI) communication protocol, or some other suitable communication protocol, and AES 128/256 encryption, or some other suitable encryption method.  
         [0028]     In another embodiment, after the electronic device key  400  in connected to the interface port  310 , a unique identifier is written by the microprocessor  305  to a protected memory location within the memory  520  of the microprocessor  505  (or flash memory), or a protected memory location in memory external to the microprocessor  505  and within the device key  400 . The unique identifier is used configure the electronic device key  400  to function exclusively with a particular security system platform  100  (i.e. system specific). In still another embodiment, the unique identifier is used to configure the electronic device key  400  to function with any security system platform  100  (i.e. system independent).  
         [0029]     In other embodiments, if the electronic device key  400  is disconnected from the interface port  310 , an alarm is engaged, or an alert message is generated by the microprocessor  305  and displayed to the customer on a monitor, for example. This feature provides added security and prevents unauthorized removal of the electronic device key  400 .  
         [0030]     It should be noted that the depicted form factor of the electronic device key  400  is for illustrative purposes only. The electronic device key  400 , in other embodiments, can be any form factor that is reasonable for the application and known to those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the body portion  405  can be made of plastic, rubber, or metal, or any other material suitable for housing electronic components.  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , in one embodiment, the electronic device key  400  electronically mates with the interface port  310 . It should be noted that the electronic device key  400  can be electrically mated with the interface port  310  in any way that is reasonable for the application and known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0032]     Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 7 , in one embodiment, in operation, the security system platform  100  is first installed at a customer site. The customer selects a particular level of security and associated security devices, such as cameras, monitors, alarms, keypads, telephone lines, wireless communication devices, and electronic door locks, for example. The particular level of security and associated security devices selected are determined by the customer&#39;s particular needs. After the customer&#39;s particular security system configuration is determined, the manufacturer stores an appropriate configuration data file in the microprocessor  505  on-chip memory  520  (or flash memory). The electronic device key  400  including the appropriate configuration data file is then mated with (connected to) the interface port  310 . Thereafter, the configuration data is transmitted to the microprocessor  305 . The microprocessor  305  then enables the particular features selected by the customer. The customer can add or remove security system features simply by obtaining a new electronic device key  400  from the security system manufacturer. There is no need for a technician to change the chassis  105  or the motherboard  110  for each change in the security system configuration, thus saving the customer time and expense. Further, the manufacture reduces expenses by only having to produce a single security system platform  100 . The single security system platform  100  is configurable based on the customer&#39;s needs via the electronic device key  400 , which includes a system configuration data file.  
         [0033]     Variations, modifications, and other implementations of what is described herein may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be defined only by the preceding illustrative description.