Abstract:
An adaptor for remote coupling a security system to a monitoring center is described. The adaptor includes both a wireless connection to an alarm panel and a remote wireless interface. The wireless connection to the alarm panel is configured such that the adaptor appears to the alarm panel as a control pad. The adaptor communicates with a central station using the remote wireless interface and is operable to translate messages between the alarm panel and the central station into an appropriate protocol.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED INFORMATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/644,001 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,970,364), filed Oct. 3, 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/542,518, filed Oct. 3, 2011, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of security alarm systems, and more particularly relates to coupling a legacy alarm system to a remote server within external network via two-way data communications between the remote server and the legacy alarm system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Security alarm systems comprise component parts designed to detect, determine and alert for unauthorized entry, activity, or other events. A security alarm system can detect events like motion, smoke or sound and then send a notification about the event, usually to a remote, centralized monitoring center, commonly referred to as a “central station” who will then notify responsible police or fire departments. The security alarm system components that detect activity are sensors that include door and window disturbance contacts, motion sensors, glass break detectors and panic buttons. 
         [0004]    Sensors of legacy systems are often connected to the premises&#39; security alarm system controller, most often referred to as an “alarm panel”, through wires although, starting in 1966 with U.S. Pat. No. 3,482,037 sensors were, in some installations, connected to the alarm panel with short range radio—“wireless”. In addition to sensors, a security system will typically include a keypad to enable an operator to control the security alarm system. The keypad typically installed near an entrance or exit of the monitored premise to facilitate the operator&#39;s ability to arm and disarm the system quickly upon entering the premises. 
         [0005]    By using a numerical code the operator can arm or activate the system as well as examine information about an event. Most modern keypads have an illuminated display that displays the status of the security alarm system with alphanumeric text. When a reportable event is detected by a security alarm system it will typically perform two primary actions in response to the event. The security alarm system can communicate to a remote central station monitoring center, and it can optionally activate alarm annunciators located at or near the monitored premises. Most legacy security alarm systems communicate events to a remote alarm central station monitoring center with tones via a dial-up wire-line telephone connection using the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). 
         [0006]    Some of the more modern prior-art security alarm systems communicate events to a remote alarm central station monitoring center with data messages via network connections, including the Internet or private network. In some cases, these network connections are conveyed by prior-art over commercial wireless data transport connections, such as cellular based, including such systems that utilize the GSM, CDMA, UMTS and LTE standards, using a dialer or communications port designed for that purpose. The dialer port being designed for the conveyance of alarm data has very little, if any, control capability. 
         [0007]    Typical security alarm systems incorporate a keypad, as mentioned above, with connection to the premises&#39; security alarm panel, via wires utilizing a serial data protocol that is, usually, proprietary the specific brand of security alarm system controller. An exemplary application would be the Ademco keypad model 6139. Some more modern legacy systems use keypads that connect to the alarm panel via a short range wireless connection instead of using a wired serial bus. An example of such is U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,338 that teaches a two-way wireless keypad that uses short range radio between the keypad and the alarm panel. patent &#39;338 simply teaches elimination of local premise wiring and fails to teach remote wireless communication of the keypad. 
         [0008]    It is advantageous to enable the remote alarm central station monitoring center, either directly or through an intermediate server, to be able to effect more control on a legacy security alarm system through a cost effective adjunct retrofit capability. U.S. Pat. No. 7,855,635 teaches one method of enabling a remote server to effect more control on a legacy security alarm system by connecting a remote server to a legacy alarm security system by interfacing a communications processor to the serial bus designed for interconnecting a premise alarm system&#39;s alarm panel to a co-located keypad, analyzing the serial digital protocol signals to attempt to determine the type of serial digital protocol being used and then interpreting the commands to be suitable for use for communication to a remote server over selected wired or wireless public telecommunications networks. Unfortunately the method of &#39;635 fails in that it is expensive to install due to labor costs associated with hardwire connections and failure prone and may encounter slow connections, due to the complexity of hardwire connections, as well as the complexity associated with interpretations of proprietary communication protocols. It is a goal of this invention to resolve these and other problems. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In a preferred embodiment, a system for remote coupling a security system to a monitoring center is described. The system includes an alarm panel connected to one or more alarm sensors and to one or more control pads, and an adaptor connected to the alarm panel such that the adaptor appears to the alarm panel as a control pad. The adaptor includes a remote communications interface used to communicate with a central station and is operable to translate messages between the alarm panel and the central station into an appropriate protocol. 
         [0010]    In another preferred embodiment, an adaptor for remote coupling a security system to a monitoring center is described. The adaptor includes a wireless connection to an alarm panel, the wireless connection configured such that the adaptor appears to the alarm panel as a control pad, and a remote wireless interface to communicate with a central station. The adaptor is operable to translate messages between the alarm panel and the central station into an appropriate protocol. 
         [0011]    In yet another embodiment, a system for remote coupling a security system to a monitoring center is described that includes an alarm panel housing the control electronics for the security system, one or more alarm sensors monitoring conditions for the security system, and one or more control pads providing a user interface between the alarm panel and a user. An adaptor is connected to the alarm panel using a first wireless interface such that the adaptor appears to the alarm panel as a control pad. The adaptor also includes a second wireless interface for remote communications. The adaptor communicates with a central station using the second wireless interface and is operable to translate messages between the alarm panel and the central station into an appropriate protocol. 
         [0012]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a prior art alarm system; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of an alarm system according to the concepts described herein; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an alternate embodiment of an alarm system according to the concepts described herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The present invention enables an alarm central station monitoring center, either directly or through an intermediate server, to be able to effect more control on a legacy security alarm system through a cost effective adjunct retrofit capability that utilizes standard interfaces and does not rely upon the interpretation of proprietary communication protocols. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates a typical legacy security alarm system as currently practiced. The premises&#39; security alarm system controller (referred to as the “alarm panel”)  1  possesses two interfaces for interfacing sensors  2 ,  5  and keypad(s)  8 . Sensor  2  is connected via wire  3  to the wired sensor input/out port  4  of alarm panel  1 . Sensor  5  is connected via short-range radio signal  6  to the wireless sensor input/out port  7  of alarm panel  1 . When an event triggers sensor  2  it alters electrical connectivity through wires  3  to the wired sensor input/out port  4  of alarm panel  1  so as to stimulate a report of the event. Similarly, when an event triggers sensor  5  it transmits a data packet short-range radio signal  6  to the wireless sensor input/out port  7  of alarm panel  1  so as to store a report of the event. 
         [0019]    Keypad  8  enables a user at or near the premise to enter a predetermined code that, if correct, causes keypad  8  to send a signal over the two-way wired keypad bus  9  to alarm panel  1  via the wired sensor input/out port  4  to instruct alarm panel  1  of the user&#39;s response to that particular event signal, such as canceling or ignoring an event. Alternatively, in some installations keypad  8  interfaces with alarm panel  1  with a short range radio signal  17  via local wireless I/O  7  with functionality being the same as described above. 
         [0020]    Alarm panel  1 , upon receipt of an event detected by a sensor  2  and/or  5 , transmits an alarm signal to server  13  via public telecommunications channel  10  hosted by telecommunications service provider  11 , which can be a wired telephone line but, in some cases, will be wireless telecommunications using cellular telephony, Short Message Service (SMS) or TCP/IP over either public cellular telecommunications data channels, such as GPRS or LTE, or wired networks, such as ADSL or even VOIP. The communications path  12  from telecommunications service provider  11  to server  13  can be any type of connection, but is most often a dial-up or dedicated wireline telephone circuit provided by telecommunications service provider  11 . It may also be wireless telecommunications using cellular telephony, Short Message Service (SMS) or TCP/IP over either public cellular telecommunications data channels, such as GPRS or LTE, or wired networks, such as ADSL or even VOIP. Once the event is received by server  13  the identity of alarm panel  1  is used to query a database of server  13  to determine which central station  16  is to receive the event report and what communications path and protocol should be used. After making this determination, server  13  transmits the event data to alarm receiver  15 , which is a part of central station  16 , via communications circuit  14 . 
         [0021]    When central station  16  receives the reported event data it takes action based upon predetermined criteria which may include alerting police or fire departments, as appropriate to the type of event. In addition to the above described transmission of event data from alarm panel  1  to server  13  and ultimately central station  16 , alarm panel  1  also sends a version of the same event data to keypad  8 , in most cases simultaneously but in some cases prior to sending it to server  13  and ultimately central station  16  so as to provide a user at the premise to cancel the event transmissions, such as when the user enters the premise via a door identified in the database of alarm panel  1  as a delayed action sensor. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , a preferred embodiment of the invention according to the concepts described herein is described, including the sequence and method of interaction therein. The premises&#39; security alarm system controller (alarm panel)  21  possesses two interfaces for interfacing sensors  22 ,  25  and keypad(s)  28 . Sensor  22  is connected via wire  23  to the wired sensor input/out port  24  of alarm panel  21 . Sensor  25  is connected via short-range radio signal  26  to the wireless sensor input/out port  27  of alarm panel  21 . When an event triggers sensor  22  it alters electrical connectivity through wires  23  to the wired sensor input/out port  24  of alarm panel  21  so as to stimulate a report the event. 
         [0023]    Similarly, when an event triggers sensor  23  it transmits a data packet short-range radio signal  26  to the wireless sensor input/out port  27  of alarm panel  21  so as to stimulate a report of the event. Keypad  28  enables a user at or near the premise to enter a predetermined code that, if correct, causes keypad  28  to send a signal either over the two-way wired keypad bus  29  to alarm panel  21  via the wired sensor input/out port  24  to instruct alarm panel  21  of the user&#39;s response to the event signals, such as canceling or ignoring an event. Alternatively, in some installations keypad  28  interfaces with alarm panel  21  with a short range radio signal  24  via local wireless I/O  27  with functionality being the same as described above. 
         [0024]    Alarm panel  21 , upon receipt of an event detected by a sensor  22  and/or  25 , transmits event data to keypad  28  via the two-way wired keypad bus  29  or short range radio signal  41 , depending upon the configuration. A user at the premise may, optionally, cancel or alter the event transmissions, such as when the user enters the premise via a door identified in the database of alarm panel  21  as a delayed action sensor. Simultaneous with alarm panel  21  sending event data to keypad  28 , as described above, alarm panel  21  also transmits the event data over short range radio signal  39  to adapter  37  via the local wireless I/O  38  of adapter  37 . Adapter  37  is designed to appear to local wireless I/O  27  of alarm panel  21  as an additional two-way keypad but in reality firmware within adapter  37  translates event data from alarm panel  21  and keypad messages to alarm panel  21  to and from an internal messaging queue. 
         [0025]    Adapter  37  in reaction to receipt of messages from alarm panel  21  via short range radio signal  39  translates such messages to/from protocols understood by server  33  and then sends the event data to server  33  over wireless telecommunications channel  30  and wireless data-communications service provider  31 , which may be any combination of cellular radiotelephone data, Short Message Service (SMS) or TCP/IP over either public cellular telecommunications data channels, such as GPRS or LTE. The communications link  32  from wireless data-communications service provider  31  to server  33  may be dial-up or dedicated wireline telephone circuit but may also be wireless telecommunications using cellular telephony, Short Message Service (SMS) or TCP/IP over either public cellular telecommunications data channels, such as GPRS or LTE, or wired networks, such as ADSL or even VOIP. Similar to the process described for  FIG. 1 , once the event is received by server  33  the identity of alarm panel  21  is used to query a database of server  33  to determine which central station  36  is to receive the event report and what communications path and protocol should be used. After making this determination, server  33  transmits the event data to alarm receiver  35 , which is a part of central station  36 , via communications circuit  34 , which is typically a dial-up telephone line but may also be wireless telecommunications using cellular telephony, Short Message Service (SMS) or TCP/IP over either public cellular telecommunications data channels, such as GPRS or LTE, or wired networks, such as ADSL or even VOIP. 
         [0026]    When central station  36  receives the reported event data it takes action based upon predetermined criteria which may include alerting police or fire departments, as appropriate to the type of event. In addition to the above described transmission of event data from alarm panel  21  to server  33  and ultimately central station  36 . Messages that can be transmitted from alarm panel  21  to server  33  include but are not limited to alarm events, non-alarm sensor events, system status changes, replies to commands, arm and disarm events, test signals. Messages that can be transmitted from server  33  to alarm panel  21  include but are not limited to status request, success/failure of event delivery, arm and disarm commands, automation commands (dim lights, change thermostat temperature, lock door) and test signals. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of the invention where the functionality of  FIGS. 1 and 2  are combined such that there is a choice of paths for delivery of event data to server  53 , either via telecommunications provider  51  using communications paths  50 ,  52  or wireless data-communications provider  22 . Thereafter, the communications are sent to central station  36  over communications path  54 , as is described above. 
         [0028]    Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.