Alarm system and method

An alarm system includes a detector positioned to detect when an object experiences an unauthorized removal and which produces an alarm signal when the object experiences an unauthorized removal. The alarm system includes a cell phone with global positioning system (GPS) in communication with the detector which transmits wirelessly an alarm alert signal with coordinates of the cell phones location when the cell phone receives the alarm signal. The alarm system includes a power supply control portion in communication with the cell phone which controls power to the cell phone. A method for protecting an object.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to protecting an object with a detector which causes a cell phone to transmit an alarm when the object is removed without authorization. (As used herein, references to the “present invention” or “invention” relate to exemplary embodiments and not necessarily to every embodiment encompassed by the appended claims.) More specifically, the present invention is related to protecting an object with a detector which causes a cell phone to transmit an alarm when the object is removed without authorization and the coordinates of the cell phone using a GPS of the cell phone utilizing an automatic on/off battery saving control mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of the art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention. The following discussion is intended to provide information to facilitate a better understanding of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that statements in the following discussion are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

Typically, in the alarm industry, either a detection device has to be hard hardwired to an alarm CPU or connected to it via a small range wireless device because the detection device needs to be in close proximity to a reporting device. The typical alarm system supervised wireless device can only transmit about 1000 feet max in ideal conditions. When used indoors, the wireless range is substantially less due to having to pass the weak signal through various types of construction material. Many older buildings have metal lath walls and/or asbestos in their return air areas making running wires uneconomical and causing typical short range wireless transmitters to have a very limited range.

The system is able to overcome the small range problem as well as the problem of having a typical cell phone type of wireless device use up its standby battery life which usually is only a few days at most.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to an alarm system. The alarm system comprises a detector positioned to detect when an object experiences an unauthorized removal and which produces an alarm signal when the object experiences an unauthorized removal. The alarm system comprises a cell phone with global positioning system (GPS) in communication with the detector which transmits wirelessly an alarm alert signal with coordinates of the cell phones location when the cell phone receives the alarm signal. The alarm system comprises a power supply control portion in communication with the the cell phone which controls power to the cell phone

The present invention pertains to a method for protecting an object. The method comprises the steps of controlling power to a cell phone with a power supply control portion in communication with the cell phone which controls power to the cell phone. There is the step of detecting with a detector when the object experiences an unauthorized removal and which produces an alarm signal when the object experiences an unauthorized removal. There is the step of transmitting wirelessly with the cell phone with GPS in communication with the detector an alarm alert signal with coordinates of the cell phones location when the cell phone receives the alarm signal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to similar or identical parts throughout the several views, and more specifically toFIGS. 1aand 1bthereof, there is shown an alarm system10. The alarm system10comprises a detector12positioned to detect when an object experiences an unauthorized removal and which produces an alarm signal when the object experiences an unauthorized removal. The alarm system10comprises a cell phone14with global positioning system (GPS) in communication with the detector12which transmits wirelessly an alarm alert signal with coordinates of the cell phone's14location when the cell phone14receives the alarm signal. The transmission is typically at 1, 2 5, or 10 or even more than 100 miles to a receiver that receives the transmission and recognizes the alarm has been tripped (sounded) as well as the location of the cell phone14. The alarm system10comprises a power supply control portion11in communication with the the cell phone which controls power to the cell phone.

The power supply control portion11may include a timer16in communication with the detector12and a power supply18in communication with the timer16and the cell phone14. When the timer16receives the alarm signal, the timer16activates the power supply18for a predetermined period of time and the power supply18powers the cell phone14to an active state for a predetermined period of time to transmit the alarm alert signal; after the predetermined period of time, the power supply18turns off power to the cell phone14and the cell phone14turns off to a dormant state. This provides for automatic on/off battery saving control.

The system10may include a power supply18monitoring circuit20in communication with the power supply18and the timer16and the cell phone14which monitors the power supply18and produces a low battery signal when the power supply18monitoring circuit20detects the power supply18has a power level below a predetermined power level and provides the low battery signal to the timer16and the cell phone14causing the timer16to activate the power supply18for the predetermined period of time to power the cell phone14to the active state so the cell phone14transmits wirelessly a low battery alert signal with coordinates of the cell phone's14location when the cell phone14receives the low battery signal.

The system10may include a box22in which the cell phone14is disposed, and a box22tamper circuit23In communication the timer16and the cell phone14and the power supply18that detects when the box22is being tampered with and produces a box22tamper signal when the box22is tampered with and provides the box22tamper signal to the timer16and the cell phone14causing the timer16to activate the power supply18for the predetermined period of time to power the cell phone14to the active state so the cell phone14transmits wirelessly a box22tamper alert signal with coordinates of the cell phone's14location when the cell phone14receives the box22tamper alert signal.

The system10may include a supervisory circuit24in communication with the timer16and the cell phone14and the power supply18which produces at predetermined intervals a status signal that indicates the system10is operating properly, and provides the status signal to the timer16and the cell phone14causing the timer16to activate the power supply18for the predetermined time period to power the cell phone14to the active state so the cell phone14transmits wirelessly a status alert signal with coordinates of the cell phone's14location when the cell phone14receives the status signal.

The system10may include a camera26in communication with the detector12and the power supply18and the cell phone14which takes a picture of the object when the camera26receives the alarm signal and provides the picture to the cell phone14for the cell phone14to transmit wirelessly the picture as part of the alarm alert signal.

The alarm alert signal, the low battery alert signal and the status alert signal each may include a respective recorded text message. The alarm alert signal, the low battery alert signal and the status alert signal each includes a respective recorded voice message.

The present invention pertains to a method for protecting an object. The method comprises the steps of controlling power to a cell phone with a power supply control portion in communication with the cell phone which controls power to the cell phone. There is the step of detecting with a detector12when the object experiences an unauthorized removal and which produces an alarm signal when the object experiences an unauthorized removal. There is the step of transmitting wirelessly with the cell phone14with GPS in communication with the detector12an alarm alert signal with coordinates of the cell phone's14location when the cell phone14receives the alarm signal.

In the operation of the invention, for instance, the fiber optic loop of a LightGard detector12pulses some visible light about twice a second. If the detector12does not receive the pulse at the same time that the sender sends the light pulse, then that becomes an alarm.

The timer16just sits there un-energized. When the LightGard or other type of detector12senses an alarm situation it also allows or sends power to the timer16which in turn allows power to the cell phone14. Likewise, if a tamper sensor trips it also sends power to the timer16to allow power to start the cell phone14. Another adjustable timer16is timing the supervisory circuit24which may only make the cell phone14call once a day to say everything is OK. If the low battery sensor senses a low battery which may not occur for 4 years, then it starts the timer16to allow the power supply18to send power to the cell phone14.

The timer16does not have to pulse on every few seconds. The timer16just sits there and waits for a voltage that turns it on. It then is set to remain on long enough for the cell phone14to receive power from the power supply18long enough to send its message and then turns off to save battery life. The initiating voltage would arrive if any of the various alarm sensors sends it.

If the timer16receives an alarm signal because the detector12has detected an alarm condition, or the timer16has received a low battery indication signal from the power supply18monitoring circuit20, or the timer16has received an “okay” signal from the supervisory circuit24timer16, or the timer16has received a box22tamper signal from the box22tamper sensor that the box22has been tampered with, the timer16sends an activation signal, such as a voltage signal, to the power supply18to cause the power supply18to provide power to the cell phone14to activate the cell phone14. The cell phone14will then transmit a text or voice message stored in the memory of the cell phone14associated with the activation signal that triggered the timer16to activate the power supply18. If it is an alarm signal, or a low battery signal, or a supervisory “okay” signal, or a box22tamper signal that activated the timer16, then the cell phone14will transmit a text or voice message that has been pre-recorded associated with an alarm signal or a low battery signal or an “I'm okay” signal or a box22tamper signal, respectively. Along with whatever text or voice message is transmitted, will also be the GPS coordinates of the system10at the time of transmission.

If desired, there can be a camera26in communication with the box22housing the system10components that takes either a still picture, or a video picture of the object or objects being protected and provides such picture also to the cell phone14to be transmitted by the cell phone14along with the text or voice message and the GPS coordinates. The camera26can take several still photos over the course of about a minute, or several short videos over several minutes and provides them to the cell phone14to be transmitted. The camera26would be positioned in such a way that it would have a view of the object or objects being protected. The camera26can be disposed within the box22, where the box22has a transparent portion that allows the camera26to see through the box22wall, or the camera26can be positioned separately from the box22and connected to the processor of the cell phone14by a cable or wirelessly. The camera26is electrically connected to the power supply18to receive power from the power supply18when the timer16is activated.

After a predetermined period of time has passed from the time the timer16has received the activation signal, the timer16will revert back to its steady-state mode where it waits and watches for another activation signal and turns off the power supply18from powering the cell phone14and the camera26.

The box22that houses the component circuitry will most likely be a plastic NEMA style waterproof box22. Being plastic will allow the radio signal from the cell phone14to be transmitted out of the box22. The box22tamper of the box22is disposed inside the box22and detects if the box22is opened in any way other than with the proper key or combination opening the box22.

The system10is designed to overcome the problem of having to have a detection device in close proximity to a reporting device. Typically, in the alarm industry, either a detection device has to be hard hardwired to an alarm CPU or connected to it via a small range wireless device. The typical alarm system10supervised wireless device can only transmit about 1000 feet max in ideal conditions. When used indoors, the wireless range is substantially less due to having to pass the weak signal through various types of construction material. Many older buildings have metal lath walls and/or asbestos in their return air areas making running wires uneconomical and causing typical short range wireless transmitters to have a very limited range.

The system10is able to overcome the small range problem as well as the problem of having a typical cell phone14type of wireless device use up its standby battery life which usually is only a few days at most. With the system10, the cell phone14remains dormant until it is required to transmit. At the time that it does transmit, it only uses a small portion of its battery life since it is only allowed to remain on for a few seconds as it transmits its prerecorded information. The anticipated battery life will therefore be extended to perhaps 4 to 5 years.

InFIGS. 1aand 1b, which are a block diagram of the system10, a typical LightGard Fiber Optic security detector12is used, since it has so many unique applications. However, any type of detector12could be used. Shown on the block diagram are a number of items that the Fiber Optic Loop type of detection is uniquely adept at monitoring. Guns, Nuclear Storage Tanks, 18 Wheeler Truck Doors, Farm Equipment, Navigation Equipment on Boats, Construction Tools and Equipment at remote Construction Sites, Water Storage Hatch Doors, Golf Carts, Computers, Medical Equipment, Lab Equipment, Video Projectors, Jet Skis, Bicycles mounted on Cars, Boats, Motors, Snow boards and Skis on car roof or rear racks, and many more types of items.

When the detector12detects a violation, the timer16is started which allows the standby battery power to supply battery power to the cell phone14for a limited time while the cell phone14reports its data. The alarm signal also is transmitted to the cell phone14so the violation can be reported.

There is a Power supply18monitoring circuit20that monitors the status of the battery and sends an alarm signal to the cell phone14when the battery voltage is getting low. This circuit also starts the Timer16that turns on the Power supply18to the Cell Phone14.

There also is a Supervisory circuit24Timer16that turns on the Timer16to power the Cell Phone14and to have the Cell Phone14send a signal that the system10is alive and well. This can be programmable so that the User can program how often these supervisory signals are to be sent.

The Cell Phone14has the capability of GPS location, Text Messaging, Voice, Microphone, and Video. Appropriate Messages are recorded in Voice or Text to report whatever the situation is. These typically will be Alarm, and yourself Low Battery, and Supervisory (I'M OK), or Video of what is taking place.

The Cell Phone14that receives these messages will have the ability to Read or Hear or See the messages as well as the ability to display a Google Map of the location of the GPS signal that is sent by the Cell Phone14.

What this system10provides is a way to report from remote locations (provided that there is Cell Phone14and GPS coverage) over long distances. A typical Water Storage Tank is out in the woods on top of a hill somewhere without any AC power to provide power to an Alarm system10. With this new system10, the storage area can be miles and miles away from the person monitoring it. It also provides for coverage of an 18 Wheeler Truck that is traveling across the country and its cargo can be monitored for theft. Likewise, an expensive Bicycle or Skis or Snowboards that might be carried on the top of back of a car can be protected and monitored when the owner stops at a restaurant for a meal. Boats with expensive Navigation Equipment can be docked at a Marina and valuable accessories can be monitored even though the boat may move from one Marina to another. Construction Equipment or Farm Equipment out in a field can be monitored. Medical Equipment with Nuclear Core Devices can be moved around inside of a Hospital and be monitored wherever they are. Computers might be located in the stack area of a large library and still be monitored even though they are far removed from the checkout desk at the lobby. The system10is not limited to the above examples.

In regard to the multitude of applications for the system10, such as the ones described in the previous paragraph as well as many others, typically the system10is used in the following way. A detector12, such as the LightGard detector12, has its fiber optic cable extend about the object or objects being protected. This is commonly done with an attachment that fits to the object and holds the fiber optic cable to the object. If the object is stolen, the fiber optic cable is broken, causing an alarm signal to be produced by the detector12. See U.S. Pat. No. 6,927,690, incorporated by reference herein. The LightGard detector12is but one type of detector12from which essentially any type of detector12may be used with the system10.

Typically, with this system10there is NO need to pay a Monitoring Service a monthly fee which today usually is $20 to $30 per month.