Abstract:
An alarm system validates values of configuration variables, such as a programmed account code. If the variable(s) is/are not programmed upon exiting system programming, an audible and/or visual indication of such is provided. This may result in a decrease of the number of events signaled to a central station by alarm systems that are not programmed with the correct account code.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to alarm systems, and more particularly to alarm systems that allow for easier and more consistent installation and configuration. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Home and business alarms have become commonplace. Such alarms (often referred to as “security systems” or “alarm systems”) typically include several sensors used to monitor unauthorized entry and other conditions at monitored premises, such as fire, smoke, toxic gases, high/low temperature (e.g. freezing) or flooding, at a premises. In response to sensing an alarm condition, one or more of these sensors provides a signal to an alarm panel that in turn may sound and notify the occurrence of the alarm to occupants of the premises and remotely signal a monitoring station or other third party. 
         [0003]    Typically the occurrence of an alarm is signalled to a remote monitoring station that may then dispatch capable authorities to intervene at the premises. For example, in the case of sensing an unauthorized entry to the premises, the monitoring station may dispatch security personnel, typically in the form of private security guards or police officers. 
         [0004]    In order for the alarm system to properly signal the monitoring center, the system must be properly installed and configured. Installation requires installing a central panel; placing sensors; ensuring the sensors and panel are provided with a source of power; connecting the central panel with a communications network; pairing the sensors to the panel; and programming the panel to place a communication to the monitoring center in the case of an alarm. 
         [0005]    In view of the numerous steps involved to properly install and configure a typical alarm, errors are often made. In particular, the alarm system is often not correctly programmed to contact the monitoring center, and signal an alarm condition. 
         [0006]    For example, customers/installers often forget to program the account code. When this happens and a communication takes place, the panel dials the central station and logs the event. However this event is associated with the default account (such as FFFF). If this occurs at more than one panel, then multiple events all having the same account code are received at the central station. The central station cannot uniquely identify the alarmed premises and dispatch personnel This may create mass confusion and result in a field call to visit the site and program the account code. 
         [0007]    Accordingly there is a need for alarm systems that allow for more consistent installation and configuration. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Exemplary of embodiments of the present invention, an alarm system validates a programmed account code. If the account code is not programmed upon exiting system programming, an audible and/or visual indication of such is provided. This may result in a decrease of the number of events signaled to the central station by alarm systems that are not programmed correctly. 
         [0009]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of configuring an alarm system at a premises. The method comprises: placing the alarm system into a configuration mode; accepting through a keypad values of configuration variables in the configuration mode; sensing an exit condition from the configuration mode; upon the sensing the exit condition, validating at least some of the values of configuration variables, to ensure the alarm system has been adequately configured; and in response to determining that the alarm has not been adequately configured, signalling a configuration error condition audible or visible at the keypad. 
         [0010]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an alarm system at a monitored premises, comprising: a control panel; a plurality of sensors in communication with the control panel, each of the sensors for sensing a monitored alarm condition; a keypad for configuring the alarm system; a processor operable to place the alarm system into a configuration mode; accept through a keypad values of configuration variables; sense an exit condition; and upon the sensing the exit condition validate at least some of the values of configuration variables, to ensure the alarm system has been adequately configured. 
         [0011]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an alarm system at a premises. The monitored premises comprises: means for placing the alarm system into a configuration mode; means for accepting values of configuration variables in a configuration mode; means for sensing an exit condition for exiting the configuration mode; means for validating at least some of the values of configuration variables, to ensure the alarm system has been adequately configured upon the sensing said exit condition; and means for in response to determining that the alarm has not been adequately configured, signalling a configuration error condition audible or visible at the keypad. 
         [0012]    Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    In the figures which illustrate by way of example only, embodiments of the present invention, 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an alarm system at a monitored premises, exemplary of an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of an alarm panel of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of a keypad of the alarm system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0017]      FIGS. 4A-4C  are flow charts of the execution of software blocks at the alarm system of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]      FIG. 1  depicts a residential or business premises  10  guarded by an alarm system  100  including a central panel  20  in communication with a plurality of sensors  18 . System  100  may, for example, take the form of a DSC® Powersystem alarm, such as a DSC® Power632; Power832; Power864; DSC® PC1616, PC1832 or PC1864, or other similar commercially available alarm systems, modified in manners exemplary of embodiments of the present invention 
         [0019]    Sensors  18  may be entry sensors, flood sensors, motion detectors, smoke detectors, glass breakage sensors, or any other sensors to be monitored, as appreciated by those of ordinary skill. Alarm system  100  further includes a keypad  22  that is interconnected with panel  20 . In the depicted embodiment, keypad  22  is physically separate from panel  20 , but could otherwise be integrated with panel  20 . Sensors  18  and keypad  22  may be in communication with panel  20 , wirelessly, by a wired interconnect, through the electric wiring of premises  10 , or otherwise. Alarm system  100  may further include other interfaces such as additional key pads, sirens, and the like, not specifically illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0020]    Panel  20  is further interconnected with a conventional communications network. In the depicted embodiment, panel  20  is interconnected with the public switched telephone network (the PSTN)  12  and may be in communication with one or more other communication network(s), through a network interface module  28 . Alternatively, or additionally panel  20  may be interconnected with another network (not specifically illustrated) in the form of a cellular telephone network or data network, or the like. A suitable cellular network may, for example, be a GPRS/GSM cellular network, and as such be considered a GSM network and GPRS network. A suitable data network may take the form of a wide area wireless data network, a wired data network such as the internet, or the like. 
         [0021]    Telephones  16  at premises  10  may be interconnected through control panel  20  to PSTN  12 . In this way, control panel  20  may disconnect telephones  24  from PSTN  12 , and have unfettered access to PSTN  12 . 
         [0022]    A monitoring center  14  is also in communication with PSTN  12  and optionally the other communication network. Monitoring center  14  is depicted as a single monitoring center in  FIG. 1 . Monitoring center  14  could be formed of multiple monitoring stations, each different at physical locations. For example, some monitoring stations could be in communication with the alternate communications network, others in communication with PSTN  12 . Monitoring center  14  is associated with one or more PSTN telephone numbers, and optionally other network addresses, such as a cellular network or data address, that may be used to contact monitoring center  14  to provide data indicative of a monitored event, at a monitored alarm system, such as the alarm system including panel  20  at premises  10 . Typically, monitoring center  14  is manned with personnel, equipped to respond to signalled alarms from premises  10  (and other similarly equipped premises) and dispatch police, fire or other emergency personnel. 
         [0023]    Example alarm panel  20  is more particularly illustrated in  FIG. 2 . As illustrated, alarm panel  20  includes a central processor  32  in communication with memory  30  and a sensor interface  26 . A network interface  28  is further in communication with processor  32 . Network interface  28  may be interconnected with telephone feed for the remainder of premises  10  and PSTN  12 . Sensor interface  26  may communicate with sensors  18  by wires, wirelessly, over electrical wiring, or otherwise. A general purpose input/output interface  24  may connect keypad  22  to panel  20 . Panel  20  may further include conventional components (not shown), such as a power supply, antennal, and the like. 
         [0024]    Software controlling the operation of processor  32 , and hence panel  20 , may be embedded in processor  32  or may be stored in memory  30  external to processor  32 . Memory  30  may be any suitable combination of persistent storage memory (e.g. ROM, flash memory, disk memory, or the like) and random access memory (e.g. flash random access memory, dynamic random access memory, or the like). This software may control overall operation of panel  20 , including its interaction with sensors  18  and keypad  22 . More specifically, the software causes alarm panel  20 , through interface  28  to place one or more outgoing telephone calls after detection of an alarm event. Prior to placing the outgoing call, interface  28  may disconnect the telephones  16  from PSTN  12 . Typically, the alarm event represents the tripping of one of sensors  18  when alarm panel  20  is in its armed state. 
         [0025]    An example keypad  22  is depicted in  FIG. 3 . As illustrated, example keypad  22  includes a display  40  such as an LCD or LED display capable of presenting several lines of text. Keypad  22  serves to arm and disarm panel  20 , and signal status of alarm system  100 . As will become apparent, keypad  22  also allows an installer to configure alarm system  100 . Example keypad  22  is wired to panel  20 . Notably, keypad  22  further includes numeric entry keys  44 , scroll forward key  46 , scroll backward key  48 , exit key  50 , and arm/disarm key  52 ,  54 . Keypad  22  may further include other keys providing a specialized user interface functions (not specifically detailed herein). Keypad  22  may include a display driver (not shown) to drive display  40 , and a keyboard interface (also not specifically shown), each of which may be formed as integrated circuits. Each key stroke may be communicated to panel  20  by the keyboard interface, and panel  20  may in turn control presentation of text and the like on display  40 . Keypad  22  may also include an audio transducer, such as a speaker or piezo electric transducer useful for generating audible signals at keypad  22 . Also, keypad  22  may include a separate light, such as an LED  56  for producing a visible signal at keypad  22 . 
         [0026]    Installation and programming of panel  20  and sensors  18  may be effected in a conventional manner. For example, installation of the DSC® Power1864 alarm system is detailed in DSC® Power1864 Installation Manual, and DSC® Power1864 Programming Worksheets, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0027]    Once panel  20  and sensors  18  have been physically installed at premises  10  to be monitored by an installer, system  100  may also be configured by the installer. As will be appreciated, installation of panel  20  and sensors  18  may require physical installation of panel  20  and sensor  18 , their interconnection, and where required, interconnection with a source of power. 
         [0028]    Software blocks S 400  executed by system  100  during configuration are illustrated in  FIGS. 4A-4C . 
         [0029]    As illustrated, in  FIG. 4A , system  100  may be placed into armed/disarmed operating modes, or a configuration mode from keypad  22 . Operating modes will not be further detailed herein. 
         [0030]    Configuration mode, allowing configuration of system  100  may be achieved by entering an operator code at panel  22 , received at keypad  22  and panel  20  in block S 402  Once configuration mode has been entered in blocks S 404  and onward, panel  20  causes display  40  to display a value and a name/significance of a variable to be configured in block S 404 . Values of variables may be used by software controlling operation of panel  20 , and may be stored in memory  30 . An installer may, for example, change the value of the configuration variable using numeric entry keys  44  in block S 406 . The operator may also selectively scroll through multiple configuration and alter each of the various configuration settings using scroll forward/back keys  46 ,  48 , or other suitable keys as detected in block S 410 . In response the current variable being configured is advanced, or moved back in block S 418  and blocks S 404  and onward are repeated for the next current variable. 
         [0031]    Example variable values may be numeric, alphanumeric or binary. Each variable may have a defined bit or byte size, governed by the software controlling operation of system  100 . Example variables that may be set include alarm zones, installer and operator codes, system timers, phone numbers to be dialled in case of an alarm; account codes; alarm reporting codes, custom reporting codes, communication format options, tamper reporting codes; and the like. Additional codes may be system dependent. Example configuration variables are again detailed in DSC® Power1864 Programming Worksheets. As each configuration variable is altered or set, the new variable valuable may be stored within memory  30  in block S 414 . Input for a particular configuration variable may be assessed as complete in block S 412 , as a consequence of entering a pre-defined number of keystrokes or pressing a non-numeric key (e.g. #, *) or otherwise. The current variable may be advanced in S 416 , and blocks S 404  and onward may be repeated. 
         [0032]    Now, to end configuration, an exit event signalling an exit from the configuration mode may be signalled at keypad  22  and sensed in block S 408 . For example, exit key  50  may be pressed, or an exit event may otherwise be signalled. For example pressing the arm/disarm keys  52 ,  54  may signal an exit event. Pressing a reset key may signal an exit event. Or closing a cover of keypad  22  may signal an exit event. Likewise, lack of operator interaction for a defined time period may signal an exit event. 
         [0033]    In manners exemplary of embodiments of the present invention, an exit event causes processor  32  to validate some or all configuration variable values, as illustrated in  FIG. 4C . Typically, at least enough configuration variable values may be validated to ensure that system  100  has been adequately configured to meaningfully operate. For example, processor  32  may validate variable values stored within memory  30 . All or selected variable values may be validated. For example, the installer entered system account code may be validated to ensure that a factory preset default code has been replaced with another account code. Alternatively or additionally, the format of the account code or other variable values could be verified to ensure it conforms to an expected format. For example, the account code could be verified to have certain properties—e.g. check sum; number of zeros; parity; upper or lower value; or the like. Other variable values may be similarly validated in block S 420 . Likewise, phone numbers to be dialled may be validated to verify that factory settings at panel  20  have been updated. Optionally, as the account code is only (or primarily) used to identify alarm system  100  to a monitoring center, verification of the account code may only be performed after the phone number(s), network address, or other network identifier, of the monitoring center to be contacted upon sensing an alarm condition has(ve) been verified. 
         [0034]    If the variable values are validated successfully—i.e. if variable values meet expected criterion or criteria as determined in block S 422 —panel  20  may exit its configuration mode and may again await being placed into one of its operating mode or configuration mode in block S 402  ( FIG. 4A ). Any previously signalled configuration error may also be cleared (e.g. a message may be turned off or an illuminated light may be extinguished). 
         [0035]    If the variable values are not successfully validated, as determined in block S 422 , panel  20  may signal a configuration error in block S 424 , by for example generating a suitable message at keypad  22  for display on display  40 . Alternatively, another visual or audible indicator could be provided at keypad  22 . For example, a light, such as LED  56  could be lit. An error condition could be sounded at a piezo or speaker of keypad  22 , or the like. At the same time, panel  20  may prevent the installer from exiting the configuration menu, and block S 404  and onward may be repeated ( FIG. 4B ). In particularly, the mis-configured variable could be treated as the current variable and be presented in block S 404 . As blocks S 404  are repeated, alarm system  100  is effectively prevented from assuming its normal operating state (e.g. armed or disarmed). 
         [0036]    In this way, an installer is made aware of a failure to properly configure system  100 /panel  20 , and may also be prevented from arming system  100 , thereby signalling an incomplete installation process. 
         [0037]    Once armed, sensors  18  and panel  20  interact in a conventional manner. As a particular sensor  18  is tripped signifying a sensed condition, the sensor provides a signal, wirelessly or through wired interconnect to panel  20 . Panel  20 , in turn, places a network communication, typically in the form of a call, to a pre-programmed telephone number to contact monitoring center  14 , typically by way of PSTN  12 . 
         [0038]    The outgoing telephone call or calls may be placed to monitoring center  14  or any other alternate number (such as a subscriber number) by dialling a stored PSTN telephone number. Different sensed conditions may be associated with different PSTN number(s), thereby allowing different sensed conditions to be signalled to different monitoring stations, alternate numbers, or the like. 
         [0039]    Once a pre-programmed number has been called, processor  32  generates a suitable message to the recipient. For example, if the called numbed is a monitoring center (such as monitoring center  14 ), data representative of the sensed alarm may be generated, encapsulated, and passed to monitoring center  14 . The data, for example, may be encapsulated using any one of a number of modulation techniques. For example, the data may be passed to the monitoring center as a series of dual-tone, multi-frequency (“DTMF”) tones using, for example, the SIA Protocol (as specified in the ANSI SIA DC-03-1990.01 Standard, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference), the ContactID Protocol, or as modulated data, modulated as pulses, or on a carrier frequency. If the number called is a subscriber number, processor  32  may generate a voice message to be heard by the subscriber. 
         [0040]    The message to monitor center  14  includes the unique system account code of panel  20 , as entered during configuration and validated in blocks S 400 . At monitoring center  14 , the unique system account codes may be used as a key to identify records associated premises  10 . In this way, the alarm system  100  originating the message may be uniquely identified at monitoring center  14 , among many alarm systems. 
         [0041]    Once an alarm has been signalled, monitoring center  14  may dispatch personnel or the police to premises  10 . Data stored at monitoring center  14  may identify the address of premises  10 . Monitoring center  14  may further place a call to one or more designated telephone numbers (also stored at monitoring center  14 ) to notify the owner of premises  10  (or his/her designee) of the sensed alarm condition. 
         [0042]    Of course, the above described embodiments are intended to be illustrative only and in no way limiting. The described embodiments of carrying out the invention are susceptible to many modifications of form, arrangement of parts, details and order of operation. The invention, rather, is intended to encompass all such modification within its scope, as defined by the claims.