Abstract:
A security system user interface comprising a graphical display, a communication link, a memory, and a display controller. The communication link receives detector unit status data from detector units located at selected location on the premises protected by the security system. The memory stores floor plan diagram data and detector unit location data. Finally, the display controller generates a modified view of at least a portion of the floor plan diagram data in accordance with the detector unit status data to indicate the status data, and displaying the modified view on the graphical display. The invention also provides, in combination, a user interface and a user programming interface for transmitting the floor plan diagram data and the detector unit location data to the communications interface of the user interface.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of method and devices for interfacing with security systems assuring protection of buildings or other types of premises or locations. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Examples of prior art devices are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,8377 dated Nov. 2, 1993, D346,755, dated May 10, 1994, D357,638, dated Apr. 25, 1995 and the “Symphony” family of display products by ADEMCO (see www.ademco.com/press_releases/2002/pr081402f.htm). These documents show interfaces for a user to interact with a security system protecting a premise. The interface is used to enter, for example, arm/disarm codes, give information about individuals who have accessed the premise, give an indication of trouble areas, etc. 
     Security systems normally also include a central control panel or base unit and detectors installed in selected areas of the premise. The detectors include, for example, movement detectors and contact detectors. Generally, when one of the detectors is triggered (i.e., trouble is present), a signal is generated to produce an audible, visual or vibrating alarm. The premise&#39;s user interface may also receive a signal indicating in which area or zone the trouble is present. Each area or zone may be protected by one or more detector. Hence, in an area, a door and a window can be protected by contact detector and the space of the area can be protected by a movement detector. 
     One of the drawbacks with prior art devices is that they are not very user-friendly. For example, it may be difficult to enter information into them, to readily identify which protected zone is affected by trouble, and personalize the display for each user. Thus, there is a need in the industry for improved security system interfaces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a security system user interface that is easier to use and which has more functionality and better capability than prior art devices. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a user interface for a security system. The user interface comprises a graphical display, a communication link, a memory, and a display controller. The communication link receives detector unit status data from detector units located at selected location on the premises protected by the security system. The memory stores floor plan diagram data and detector unit location data. Finally, the display controller generates a modified view of at least a portion of the floor plan diagram data in accordance with the detector unit status data to indicate the status data, and displaying the modified view on the graphical display. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the invention provides a method of interfacing with a graphical display of a security system having detector units. The method comprises receiving detector unit status data over a security control detector unit communication link; storing floor plan diagram data and detector unit location data in a memory; generating a modified view of at least a portion of the floor plan diagram data in accordance with the detector unit status data to indicate said status data; and displaying the view on the display. 
     In another embodiment, the invention provides in combination, a user interface and a user programming interface. The user interface comprises a graphical display as described above having, in addition, a communications interface for communicating said floor plan diagram data and detector unit location data to said memory. The user programming interface comprises a floor plan drawing module and an upload module. The floor plan drawing module is adapted to specify the floor plan diagram data and the detector unit location data. The drawing module displays a view of the floor plan with detector units in location. The upload module for transmits the floor plan diagram data and the detector unit location data to the communications interface. 
     In yet another of the invention, a method for modifying a user interface for a security system. The method comprises inputting information to a drawing module to produce a floor plan diagram and detector unit location data. The drawing module displays a view of said floor plan with detector units in location. Finally, the method comprises transmitting the floor plan diagram data and the detector unit location data to the user interface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a security system protecting a premise; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a security system user interface and a user programming interface in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are top plan views of a security system interface in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a security system  10  protecting a location is shown. The location (not shown) could be, but is not limited to, for example, a building, a home, means of transportation, exterior grounds, etc. Security system  10  includes a user interface  12 , a control panel  14 , a user programming interface  13 , one or more alarm devices  15 , and detector units  16  installed in selected areas of the premise being protected. In other embodiments of the invention, the security system  10  may be connected to other devices, such as home lights, garage door, etc., or networks, such as a local network, cellular networks, land line telephone networks, or the Internet. 
     User interface  12  and control panel  14  are connected. Detector units  16  are connected to control panel  14 . One or more alarm devices  15  are connected to control panel  14 . Finally, a user programming interface may also be connected to control panel  14 . Communication links between security system  10  entities could be electrical, optical, infra-red or any other types of links which enable communication between the security system  10  entities. A person skilled in the art will understand that the security system  10  entities may also be interconnected in other configurations as would be the case if a bus was used instead of individual connection between each entity of the security system  10 . Embodiments (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) where detector units  16 , user programming interface  13 , and/or alarm devices  15  have direct communication links to the user interface are also contemplated. Such embodiments would include, for example, coaxial cable link for sending a video image of a visitor requesting entrance to the premises could be displayed on user interface  12 . Embodiments where some or all detector units  16  are connected in series are also contemplated. 
     Detector units  16  may include, for example, movement detectors, contact detectors, weight detectors, surveillance cameras or any other type of detectors considered useful by a person skilled in the art of security systems. In an embodiment of the invention, when one of the detector units  16  is triggered (i.e., trouble is present) and the security system  10  is armed, a signal is generated and sent over link  19  to control panel  14 . Control panel  14  sends a signal to an alarm device  15  to produce an audible, visual or vibrating alarm. It is also possible to send an alarm signal over a network to communicate to the user, by phone, email, or other means, that the alarm has been triggered. In an embodiment, user interface  12  receives a signal indicating in which area or zone the trouble is present. Each area or zone may be protected by one or more detector units  16 . Hence, in an area, a door and a window can be protected by contact detector and the space of the area can be protected by a movement detector. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 2 , a security system user interface  12  connected to a user programming interface  40  via a communication link  30  is shown. User interface  12  may be used to enter, for example, arm/disarm codes, give information about individuals who have accessed the premise, give an indication of trouble areas, show reminders for special events, display information from the Internet, display images, etc. 
     User interface  12  comprises a graphical display  20 , a keypad  21 , a display controller  22 , a memory  24 , and a communication interface  27 . The entities of user interface  12  are interconnected via bus  26 . Other means of interconnecting said entities know to those skilled in the art are considered part of other embodiments of the invention. A security control detector unit communication link  28  is also connected to user interface  12  for receiving detector unit  16  status data. It is conceivable that memory  24  and display controller  22  be external the user interface  12 . Details regarding graphical display  20  and keypad  21  are given hereinbelow with the description of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     Memory  24  is used to store floor plan diagram data and detector unit location data. Memory  24  may also record events from detectors  16 . The recorded events could be as simple as the triggering of a detector or as complex as video images. 
     The user programming interface  40  comprises an upload module  42 , a drawing module  44  and a programming module display  46  interconnected by a bus  45 . The drawing module  44  accepts user input  48 . The user specifies a floor plan diagram as well as detector unit location data (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). The drawing module  44  enables the display of the floor plan diagram with detector units in location via a programming module display  46 . The upload module  42  transmits the floor plan diagram data and the detector unit location data to the communication interface  27 . Communications interface  27  communicates floor plan diagram data and detector unit location data to memory  24 . 
     Communications interface  27  may also restricts access to user interface  12  so as to allow only memory  24  to be updated. Display controller  22  displays a text-based message providing status data when a condition is to be reported concerning one of detector units  16  and one of detector units  16  is not defined by detector unit location data in memory  24 . 
       FIG. 3  shows security system interface  12  in accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention. User interface  12  is in a mode where a floor plan diagram  56  is shown on graphical display  20 . Divisions are shown along with icons  58  (e.g., triangles) indicating location of detector units  16 . Various icons  58  could be used to represent the different type of detectors  16 . A text-based message  54  corresponding to the status of a particular detector  16  (“Open”) in a specified area (“John&#39;s Office”) is also present on graphical display  20 . In a particular embodiment of the invention, a user navigates through zones and/or detectors and other menus using keys  23 . 
     User interface  12  may receive detector unit status data from a number of detector units  16  each covering a protected zone. When status data indicate a condition to be reported in one of the protected zones, a modified view of the floor plan diagram  56  includes the foregoing protected zones It is also envisaged that display controller  22  will automatically switch from a stand-by display to the foregoing modified view in response to an indication of a condition to be reported. The foregoing condition may be one of a trouble condition and an alarm condition. The foregoing modified view may show one of the protected zones by at least one of flashing, color change and symbol change. The modified view may show either one of a protected zones and a text representation of status data of a detector unit  16 . 
     The user interface  12  may be configured such that when status data indicate a condition to be reported in two or more protected zones and the two or more protected zones cannot be shown on said display efficiently in a single view, the display controller  22  alternates between a plurality of views indicating status data for the two or more protected zones. 
       FIG. 4  shows security system interface  12  in accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention. User interface  12  is in a mode where icons  50  for controlling the security system  10  are shown on graphical display  20 . A text-based message  52  corresponding to the selected icon  50  is also present on graphical display  20 . In a particular embodiment of the invention, icons  50  and other menus are selected using keys  23 . 
       FIG. 4  also shows a housing  60  for holding keypad  21  and graphical display  20  in a single unit. In an embodiment of the invention, graphical display  20  comprises a touch screen, and keypad  21  is provided using the touch screen. Graphical display  20  may comprise a liquid crystal display. In an embodiment of the invention, the physical arrangement of the keypad  21  adjacent the graphical display  20  in the housing  60  is detailed in the applicant&#39;s U.S. design application Ser. No. 29/177,157 filed on the same date as the present utility application, the specification of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Display controller  22  may be configured to display a text-based message (not shown) providing status data when a condition is to be reported concerning one of the detector units and wherein the foregoing detector unit is not defined by detector unit location data in memory  24 . 
     User interface  12  may also comprise a time clock (not shown) and a message manager unit (not shown) storing special graphics message data and related display time data. The message manager unit will cause graphical display  20  to display the special graphics message data according to the display time data. User interface  12  may also comprise a sound generator (not shown). The foregoing special graphics message data include music data to be played by the message manager unit. 
     Although some preferred implementations of various methods and arrangements have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the exemplary implementations disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions as set forth and defined by the following claims.