Abstract:
A method of exchanging information through a wireless communication link, comprising the steps of sending activation instructions to at least one alarm detector and receiving and displaying data relating to status of at least said alarm detector in a wireless remote control device. The method includes the steps of detecting motion of said remote control device, enabling the displaying of data after detecting the motion of the remote control device, and enabling sending of instructions for disarming a selected group of alarm detectors after detecting the motion of the remote control device. 
     A system for exchanging information between a remote control device, at least one alarm detector and a gateway. The remote control device comprises a wireless communication unit, displays and inputs. Also included are motion detectors and an arming input for receiving arming instructions, wherein the arming input is operatively coupled to the wireless communication unit and wherein said gateway is set to a “Armed Home” state upon receipt of an arming instructions forwarded by the wireless communication unit.

Description:
[0001]    The embodiments of the invention relate to a method and a system for exchanging alarm information through a wireless link, and, more particularly, from a remote control device. 
       PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    Prior art remote control devices exist in different forms. One type of a remote control device includes a wireless communication unit and a simple switch used for sending an arming signal and a disarming signal, respectively, to the base station. Other devices include an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) which has the advantage that no battery or other power source needs to be included in the device. 
         [0003]    Battery powered devices suffer from a general disadvantage related to battery drain. Different measures have been suggested to lower the power consumption of such devices. Among such measures can be mentioned more efficient radio communication means and other low power electronic circuits. More sophisticated remote control devices are less frequently used since low power failures are considered more risky in alarm systems. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    An object of the embodiments of the present invention is to avoid the drawbacks set out above and to provide an improved method of exchanging information in an alarm system with the use of a remote control device. The remote control device is connected over a wireless link to a gateway, also referred to as a control panel or base station. Further advantageous features and improvements are described below. 
         [0005]    Various embodiments of a remote control device in accordance with the invention are operable in two different modes. In a first sleeping mode only a minor part of electronic components and other means are active. In the sleeping mode the power consumption is very low resulting in an extended life time of the batteries. In a second and active mode, display means and communication means included in the remote control device are activated and all relevant functions are available. 
         [0006]    In accordance with embodiments of the invention the mode of operation is changed when motion of the remote control device is detected and optionally when the gateway transmits selected alarm signals. After detecting such motion the remote control device will enter the active mode. When the display means is activated, different types of information previously received and stored in the remote control device are displayed to the user. This information may include that a detector included in the alarm system has detected fire, that a door or a window has been opened or any other desired condition. 
         [0007]    In the active mode it is further possible to arm and disarm the alarm system as set out below and to carry out voice information exchange with a central monitoring station. In the sleeping mode there still is a sporadic radio communication with the gateway so as to allow registration and indication of alarm conditions. The remote control device also may send an acknowledge signal to the gateway so as to confirm that it is operable. 
         [0008]    In various embodiments the remote control device is arranged to arm and disarm the alarm system only at selected levels, such as perimeter protection. By arming the alarm system, an internal state of the gateway is changed to an alarmed state. In the alarmed state, reporting of an alarm signal from alarm detectors results in forwarding of alarm information to the central monitoring station. The alarm state also may result in the generation of an alarm sound and/or other local indication of the alarm. The present alarm state of the gateway can be transferred to selected or all alarm detectors The remote control device preferably is designed to have a size and weight that will not encourage a user to bring it out of the premises. 
         [0009]    In case of an emergency situation or if other circumstances are fulfilled it is possible to establish a voice connection between the remote control device and the central monitoring station. In various embodiments the connection is established through the gateway. If the emergency situation arises at the location of the remote control device, the user initiates the connection by using input means of the remote control device. In a simple embodiment, the input means in this respect is an alarm button. Emergency situations and also other reasons allow the central monitoring station to initiate voice communication. 
         [0010]    An alarm signal also is transmitted to the central monitoring station to ensure that appropriate measures are taken. When the voice connection is established, the user is able to inform personnel at the central monitoring station about the present situation and an output device will output voice information that is received from the central monitoring station. In a simple embodiment the output device comprises a loudspeaker. 
         [0011]    The remote control device is provided also with other forms of output means. In various embodiments a graphic display unit is included and also symbol elements. The symbol elements can be provided with backlighting means that are activated and lit when there is a transition from the sleeping mode to the active mode. In various embodiments the symbol elements may include symbols depicting fire, an open door and a locked door. The graphic display unit can also be provided with backlighting means. 
         [0012]    Besides an alarm button and/or other alarm activating means the input means in various embodiments include an arm and disarm button, or separate buttons for arming and disarming the alarm system, and a talk symbol indicating that voice communication is available. 
         [0013]    The detection of motion of the remote control device can be provided by any type of accelerometer, including those based on piezoelectric effect, changes in capacitance, piezoresistive effect and inertially responsive spring-mass systems. The term accelerometer is used herein for any device that will produce a signal responsive of tilting and/or moving the remote control device. In various embodiments the accelerometer is sensitive also to shock or freefall and capable of discriminating between a normal lift up of the device and a situation where the device is dropped or when a person carrying it is falling. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    In order that the manner in which the above recited and other advantages and objects of the invention are obtained will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. 
           [0015]    Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of an installation including one embodiment of a system in accordance with the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of an installation including an embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1  and an associated central monitoring station. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a remote control device in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    The installation shown in  FIG. 1  is arranged in a conventional manner in a room. A remote control device  10  is shown schematically as carried by a user. The installation includes a plurality of wireless alarm detectors, including a smoke detector  14 , a first perimeter alarm detector  16 , a second perimeter alarm detector  18  and a first infrared detector  20  or similar photodetector. Alarm signals from smoke detector  14  and detectors for gas or water leakage normally result in an alarm state, irrespective of the alarm system being armed or not. 
         [0020]    The first infrared detector  20  is an interior detector. Alarm signals from the detectors are transmitted to a wireless control panel or gateway  22 . Detectors and the gateway form an alarm system. When the alarm system is armed the gateway will transmit an alarm signal to a central monitoring station (not shown) and normally also generate a sound alarm when an alarm signal from a detector is received. The smoke detector  14  is always armed. Arming of the system normally is requested using a keypad  23  arranged by the door  12 . Normally inputting of a code such as a PIN code is required to arm and to disarm the alarm system. 
         [0021]    The smoke detector  14  is mounted in the ceiling of the premises and the infrared detector  18  is mounted on a wall. The first perimeter alarm detector  16  is installed above a door  12  to detect when the door is opened. A corresponding second perimeter alarm detector  18  is installed by a window  13 . In the shown embodiment the keypad  23  is arranged by the door  12 . The gateway  22  is mounted in a room separated from the entrance of the premises. In the shown embodiment a second infrared detector  21  is arranged to cover the gateway  22 , so as to ensure that an intruder cannot tamper with the gateway  22  when the system is armed. The second infrared detector  21  is an interior detector. 
         [0022]    The alarm system can be armed in different ways and into different alarm system states, such as “Disarmed”, “Armed Home” and “Armed Away”. If the system is set to “Disarmed” it will not alarm to perimeter or interior detectors. If the alarm system is set to “Armed Home” the alarm system will generate an alarm at the occurrence of a breach of perimeter detectors and selected interior detectors, but not to a breach of the interior detectors in general. If the system is set to “Armed Away” it will alarm to a breach of the perimeter or interior detectors. 
         [0023]    The state of the system is determined by the needs of the occupants of the premises. If all of the occupants are leaving the premises then the alarm system should be set to “Armed Away”. If the occupants will be staying within the premises for an extended period of time then the alarm system should be set to “Armed Home”. For all other scenarios the alarm system should be set to “Disarmed”. In the “Armed Home” state a selected group of detectors is armed. In various embodiments the selected group of detectors includes the perimeter detectors and interior detectors covering sections of the premises that are not used by the occupants. Each installation can be set up with different detectors included in the selected group. 
         [0024]    Preferably alarm system is armed into the “Armed Away” state by the keypad  23  only, or by an additional mobile arming and disarming device (not shown). Different arming states can be selected by pressing an associated button in connection with entering the code. The remote control device  10  is used for arming the system into the “Armed Home” state only and is intended to be used by the bed or otherwise in a more stationary way than other mobile devices. If the alarm system has been armed to the state “Armed Away,” the remote control device  10  cannot be used to disarm the system. Normally, smoke detectors and other similar alarm detectors are active and will produce alarms when triggered irrespective of the present state of the alarm system. 
         [0025]    The remote control device  10  has a size and thickness that makes it less suitable to be carried in a pocket. It is provided with a display  24  and further display symbols  26 . Preferably the display symbols are indicators of higher priority, such as a fire symbol  28  and an open symbol  30  indicating that a door or window or other perimeter entrance has been or is opened. The display  24  can be used for indicating more detailed information or information of lower priority. In various embodiments the display is used to indicate whether the alarm system is in an armed or disarmed state. A further display symbol is a talk symbol  32  indicating that a voice connection to a central monitoring station is open. This function is further explained below. The display symbols may all or at least some of them be provided with backlight means, so as to be distinctively observable also without ambient light. 
         [0026]    The remote control device  10  is provided with a set of input means including a panic or assault button  34 . By pressing the panic button  34  an alarm signal forwarded to the central monitoring station irrespective of the present state of the remote control device. The remote control device is further provided with an arming button  36  and a disarming button  38 . In various embodiments the arming button  36  is combined with the disarming button  38  in a single button and the function is toggled between arming and disarming. When the remote control device  10  is used for arming only one or a plurality of perimeter alarm detectors or another group of selected alarm detectors are armed, the alarm system will be armed to the “Armed Home” state. A group of selected alarm detectors may include one alarm detector only. By limiting the function of the remote control device as described it is ensured that the alarm system is not fully but partly armed when a user still is present in the premises. Furthermore, it also ensured that an intruder will not be able to disarm the alarm from an “Armed Away” state even if the intruder gains access to the remote control device. 
         [0027]    A lamp  40  can be used in emergency situations and when the remote control device  10  is operated in the night-time. A switch (not shown) can be used to manually switch on the light. In various embodiments the lamp is switched on automatically in case of fire and other high priority alarm situations. A separate power source, such as a battery, is coupled to the lamp when power consumption is especially considered. Alarm signals and other sounds are generated in a loudspeaker  42 . The loudspeaker  42  is used also during voice communication as described below. The remote control device is provided with a microphone  43  for capturing voice signals when a user talks. Display  24 , display symbols  26 , fire symbol  28 , open symbol  30  and the loudspeaker are all indicating means used to inform a user of present conditions and status. 
         [0028]    The remote control device  10  normally is placed in a horizontal position on a table such as a bedside table. When left in a stationary position for a predetermined and adjustable time period, the remote control device enters a sleeping mode. All power consuming circuits and display units are switched off or put into a low power state to reduce the power consumption. Also, when in the sleeping mode, a wireless connection still is maintained with the gateway  22 . The wireless connection during sleeping mode mainly is a short beacon signal to establish a confirmation that the remote control device  10  is operable. 
         [0029]    In various embodiments a wireless connection is established during a short time period followed by a longer time period without any signalling. The short time period can have a duration of 4 ms while the longer time period can last for 2 seconds. During a previous phase, such as during installation, an accurate synchronization between the remote control device and the gateway is carried out. A similar synchronization can be carried out also between the gateway and the alarm detectors. 
         [0030]    Should an alarm signal be sent from an alarm sensor to the gateway and the alarm system is in armed state a wake up signal is sent from the gateway to the remote control device. After receiving the wake up signal, the remote control device will enter the active mode and display information regarding the present alarm situation. The displaying of information can include switching on the backlight means corresponding to the appropriate alarm symbol. High priority alarms, such as fire alarms, normally also result in activation of a sound alarm. In various embodiments also the lamp  40  will be switched on to facilitate movements in the premises. 
         [0031]    The remote control device  10  also will change from sleeping mode to active mode when motion of the remote control device is detected. A motion corresponding to a lower level of acceleration, such as when the remote control device is lifted or tilted, will force the remote control device into the active mode and switch on backlight and display unit. A motion detector  60  is provided in the remote control device. 
         [0032]    Status of alarm detectors and other information previously received from the gateway will be displayed during a predetermined time period. The lamp  40  can be switched on manually if desired. When a predetermined and adjustable time period has expired without any alarms or movements of the remote control device the status is reset to sleeping mode to save power. 
         [0033]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  the alarm system comprising a remote control device  10 , a first perimeter alarm detector  16 , a second perimeter alarm detector  18 , an infrared detector  20  and a smoke detector  14  is operatively coupled to a central monitoring station  44  through the gateway  22  and a network connection  46 . In various embodiments a plurality of interconnected smoke detectors are provided. Interconnected smoke detectors will forward alarm signals to each other and thus improve the alarm signalling throughout the premises. The network connection  46  can be the internet, a wired telephone connection, a cellular telephone connection or any other suitable connection or combination of connections. The gateway  22  is provided with a self-contained power supply such as a battery so as to ensure communication and operation generally also during power failures. 
         [0034]    The remote control device  10  will change mode from sleeping mode to active mode when the panic button is pressed on the remote control device. When the panic button is pressed by a user  47  a panic alarm signal will be transmitted to the gateway  22  and then further on to the central monitoring station  44 . The central monitoring station initiates a voice communication between a supervisor  48  or other personnel and the user  47 . A voice channel between the central monitoring station and the remote control device can be established also during other conditions and in either direction. 
         [0035]    In various embodiments the voice communication is a half-duplex communication system and communication will be possible in both directions, but only in one direction at a time. While the supervisor  48  is talking the communication system will transfer voice signals from the central monitoring station  44  to the remote control device  10 . Sound signals will be emitted through the loudspeaker  42 . In the shown embodiment the transfer of voice signals will go through the gateway  22 . In other embodiments there will be a direct connection between the remote control device and the central monitoring station for the voice communication. An audio unit  50  at the central monitoring station  44  is used by the supervisor. 
         [0036]    The user is invited to talk and to transfer voice information in the reverse direction when the talk symbol of the remote control device is switched on. Normally, the supervisor or the central monitoring station will control the direction of communication switch on the talk symbol. Voice signals from the user are captured by the microphone  43 . 
         [0037]    A basic configuration of the remote control device  10  is shown in  FIG. 3 . A central processing unit  52  is coupled to an input unit  54  and an output unit  56 . The input unit  54  is coupled to the arming button  36 , the disarming button  38  and the panic button. In the shown embodiment the input unit  54  also is coupled to and receives voice signals from the microphone  43 . In various embodiments the central processing unit  52  is arranged also to code and to decode voice signals during voice communication. 
         [0038]    An output unit  56  is coupled to the central processing unit  52  and also to the display  24  and to the display symbols  26 . The output unit  56  also is coupled to the talk symbol  32  and the loudspeaker  43 . During voice communication the output unit  56  receives decoded voice signals from the central processing unit  52  or a separate voice handling unit (not shown). 
         [0039]    All communication to and from the gateway  22  is handled in a wireless communications unit  58  coupled to the central processing unit  52 . In various embodiments the communications unit  58  comprises circuits and electronic devices that are suitable for radio communication at available frequencies, including circuits for coding/decoding, encryption/decryption, power adjustments. The communications unit  58  together with the central processing unit  52  are arranged to handle an authentication process between the wireless units, so as to ensure that wireless units not belonging to the alarm system interfere in or endanger the function of the alarm system. 
         [0040]    A motion detector  60  is coupled to the central processing unit  52  to give an alert signal when predetermined levels of motion of the remote control device are detected. In various embodiments the motion detector comprises an accelerometer that can be based on different physical properties. The accelerometer can include a solid state detector utilizing a piezoelectric effect, changes in capacitance, piezoresistive effect and inertially responsive spring-mass systems for example. 
         [0041]    A first level of motions where the acceleration corresponds to lifting or tilting the remote control device  10  sets the remote control device into the active mode to energize backlight and other display functions. Arming of a selected group of alarm detectors is now possible. A second level of motions corresponds to dropping the remote control device or the acceleration that will be detected when a person carrying the remote control device falls. In various embodiments detection of the second level of motions results in transmitting a panic message to the central monitoring station and opening of the voice communication. 
         [0042]    The central processing unit  52  comprises a clock circuit (not shown) that is used for timing purposes, such as determining time intervals between radio communications with the gateway when the remote control device is in the sleeping mode. A general power supply unit  62  is coupled to all unit power consuming units of the remote control device  10 . In various embodiments the general power supply unit  62  comprises a battery. As long as the remote control device is in the sleeping mode the total power consumption of the remote control device is very low and also standard batteries will last for at least one year and preferably at least three years at normal use. 
         [0043]    An optional power supply  63  can be provided for the lamp  40 . In accordance with such an embodiment the useful life of the general power supply will be more predictable. The optional power supply  63  can be a battery that is readily available through a cover of a housing of the remote control device. 
         [0044]    While certain illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in particularity, it will be understood that various other modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the claims appended hereto be limited to the description set forth herein but rather that the claims be construed as encompassing all equivalents of the embodiments of the present invention which are apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.