Abstract:
A security system including devices generating persistent data, a local control system (LCS) including a microprocessor and non-volatile memory and receiving persistent data from the devices, and a server remote from the LCS. The remote server is in communication with the LCS microprocessor which periodically transmits logical portions of persistent data (each including a timestamp) to the remote server where it is saved. The microprocessor also periodically saves the persistent data portions in LCS non-volatile memory less frequently than the persistent data portions are periodically saved in the remote data storage, and saves the timestamp in the local data storage for each persistent data portion saved only at the remote server. When rebooting the LCS, the microprocessor retrieves from the remote data storage only the persistent data portions having timestamps subsequent to the timestamp saved in the local data control system non-volatile memory.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       FIELD 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to a security system, and more particularly to a security system and method for remotely monitoring one or more specified areas. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0005]    Typical currently known security systems generally include an on site control device such as a control panel. The control panel may include a microprocessor with software or firmware designed for monitoring one or more sensors designated to specified areas. The sensors may be divided into security zones which are all monitored by the central control panel. The control panel is a significant cost of the security system. The security system, including the control panel, requires installation, inspections, maintenance, repairs, and upgrades. The control panel hardware can be expensive and the installation requires the time of a skilled technician. Further, when updating the software or firmware, a technician has to visit the site where the security system and control panel are located, which is costly and time consuming. Additionally, it is possible that upgrading the security system requires additional hardware or changing hardware to enable new features or functions, which can be costly and require the time of a skilled technician. Further, a supplier and/or warehouse may have to stock large quantities of various panel types to meet demand, thus incurring cost. 
         [0006]    In many such security systems, persistent storage has been required, with such requirements met by battery-backed RAM systems or EEPROM memory devices. However, as the memory/storage requirements for such systems have grown, such systems have increasingly used flash IC storage systems. While flash IC storage systems provide more storage capacity per cost unit, they are more limited that the RAM systems and EEPROM memory devices. Thus, while RAM systems will almost instantaneously save data an unlimited number of times and EEPROM memory devices (though slower than RAM systems) are capable of writing millions of individual bytes or words per memory cell, the advantageously relatively inexpensive flash storage systems are slower still (taking longer to erase and write). Further, the flash storage systems have a limited writable lifespan and require that data be erased and written in large blocks or pages. As a result, in order to use such flash storage systems in security systems, complex management has been necessary to handle and write data efficiently in order to be able to minimize the read/write cycles which occur during normal operation of the security system, 
         [0007]    United States Patent Publication No. U.S. 2009/0322527 A1 (entitled “Server Based Distributed Security System”, published Dec. 31, 2009) discloses one system which may be used for handling the memory requirements of security systems. 
         [0008]    The present invention is directed to providing the memory and data storage requirements of a security system whereby the life of the hardware may be maximized. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    In one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for storing persistent data for a security system having a local control panel in communication with a remote server, where the local control panel has local data storage and the remote server has storage remote from the local data storage. The method includes the steps of (1) periodically saving logical portions of existing persistent data at the remote server, (2) periodically saving the logical portions of existing persistent data at the local data storage, where the logical portions of current persistent data each include a distinguishing data element, (3) saving the distinguishing data element in the local data storage of each logical portion of existing persistent data saved only at the remote server; and (4) reconstructing the persistent data on the local control panel after rebooting the local control panel. The periodic saving at the local data storage is performed less frequently than the periodic saving at the remote server. During the reconstructing step, only the logical portions of existing persistent data having distinguishing data elements subsequent to the distinguishing data element saved at the local data storage are written from the remote storage and saved at the local data storage. 
         [0010]    In one form of this aspect of the present invention, the distinguishing data elements are time stamps. 
         [0011]    In another form of this aspect of the present invention, the local data storage is non-volatile memory. In a further form, the local data storage is flash memory. 
         [0012]    In still another form of this aspect of the present invention, the remote data storage is at least one of RAM and EEPROM memory devices. In a further form, the local data storage is flash memory. 
         [0013]    In another aspect of the present invention, a security system is provided, including security devices generating persistent data, a local control system receiving the persistent data from the security devices, the local control system including a microprocessor and a non-volatile memory, and a server remote from the local control system. The remote server has remote data storage and is in communication with the local control system microprocessor. The microprocessor periodically transmits logical portions of current persistent data to the remote server for saving in the remote data storage, where the logical portions of current persistent data each include a distinguishing data element. The microprocessor also periodically saves the logical portions of current persistent data in the local control system non-volatile memory less frequently than the persistent data is periodically saved in the remote data storage, and saves the distinguishing data element in the local data storage for each logical portion of existing persistent data saved only at the remote server. When rebooting the local control system, the microprocessor retrieves from the remote data storage only the logical portions of existing persistent data having distinguishing data elements subsequent to the distinguishing data element saved in the local data control system non-volatile memory. 
         [0014]    In one form of this aspect of the present invention, the distinguishing data elements are time stamps. 
         [0015]    In another form of this aspect of the present invention, the non-volatile memory comprises flash IC storage. 
         [0016]    In still another form of this aspect of the present invention, the remote data storage is at least one of RAM and EEPROM memory devices. In a further form, the non-volatile memory is flash IC storage. 
         [0017]    Other features and advantages will become apparent from a review of the entire specification, including the appended claims and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The Figure is a schematic view of a security system according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    A security system  10  according to the present invention is shown in the Figure. The security system  10  includes a local control system  20  (e.g., a control panel) including a microprocessor/microcontroller  22  and a non-volatile memory  26 . 
         [0020]    As should be appreciated when a full understanding of the present invention is had, the non-volatile memory  26  can advantageously be, for example, relatively inexpensive flash storage devices, even though such devices are generally slower, have a more limited writable lifespan, and require more complex management, than other (more expensive) memory devices. The cost savings of using, and preserving, inexpensive non-volatile memory  26  is becoming increasingly valuable as the memory requirements of security systems  10  continue to grow. 
         [0021]    The microprocessor  22  is in communication via data links  30  (which can be any suitable communication link, whether wired or wireless) to other security system devices  40 ,  42  such as alarms, status monitors, motion detectors, etc. 
         [0022]    The microprocessor is also in communication via data links  50  (which also can be any suitable communication link for transmitting data) to a remote server  60  which is linked to remote data storage  70 . 
         [0023]    The data links  50  may advantageously be ‘always-on’ data connection to a remote server, allowing the remote server  60  to advantageously run software to store alarm panel configuration, and send this configuration to, for example, an alarm panel. However, it should be appreciated that the connection via data links  50  could alternatively be an ‘on-demand’ data connection (e.g. PSTN ‘dial-up’), and/or data could be cached and periodically sent via a periodic or less than ‘on-demand’ connection. If “on-demand” data links  50  are used, the links  50  preferably should have a low connection time in order to not potentially burden the local control system  20  with a local data buffer/cache. 
         [0024]    Further, it should be appreciated that a ‘keep-alive’ or ‘heat-beat’ signal between the local control system  20  and the remote server  60  might be advantageously provided in operation, whereby a fault would be signalled to an alarm receiving (monitoring) center if data communication over the links  50  is not available. 
         [0025]    It should also be appreciated that the data links  50  may be “dual path signalling” or multi-path signalling in order to increase the robustness of the data connection to the remote server  60 . Further, connection types could be mixed within the scope of the present invention with, for example, a primary communication path “always-on” with secondary and tertiary connections being “on-demand” connections. Of course, suitable encryption and authentication methods may also be advantageously used with data communications over the data links  50  for security reasons. 
         [0026]    The remote data storage  70  may be PC hard drive(s), or advantageously, for example, battery-backed RAM systems (which allow almost instantaneous save with unlimited writes) or EEPROM memory devices (which allow millions of writes per memory cell, and such writes can be per individual byte or word). Further, it should be appreciated that in accordance with the present invention the remote data storage  70  could also be advantageously implemented by, for example, a server PC (either at a physically remote location or on the local site—for large sites that have several systems) but not next to the actual control system, a collection of server PCs that share workload (e.g., a server farm), processing storage implemented by Cloud computing, or a dedicated machine that provides the storage services. 
         [0027]    Advantageous operation of the security system  10  of the present invention is as follows. 
         [0028]    The security system devices  40 ,  42  provide data including events (and logs of the events), run-time data (such as set/armed status) and system configuration data updates (all hereinafter referred to as “persistent data”) to the local control system  20 . 
         [0029]    The microprocessor  22  sends existing received persistent data (either in its entirety or in logical portions or divisions of the data) directly to the remote server  60  via data link  50 , where the persistent data is written and saved in the remote data storage  70 . 
         [0030]    The microprocessor  22  also causes the persistent data to be periodically written and stored locally on the non-volatile memory  26 . However, in accordance with the present invention, such persistent data is saved in the local non-volatile memory  26  less frequently than it is saved in the remote data storage  70 . Whenever the less frequent storage of persistent data is done at the local non-volatile memory  26 , the microprocessor  22  saves a data element which distinguishes that saved persistent data from other persistent data (e.g., a timestamp, or sequential index numbers, including separate index numbers for different subsystems) and sends that distinguishing data element to the remote data storage  70  as well. 
         [0031]    It should be appreciated, however, that variations from the above described storage at the local control system  20  may be desirable. For example, when events are detected which indicate a possible problem or cessation of normal operation (e.g., communication via the data links  50  are not available, the system detects tampering, a power loss occurs, a battery loss or battery fault occurs, a shutdown command by authorised service personnel is received, and/or the system  10  recognizes that it will shutdown shortly), the persistent data may be saved at the local control system non-volatile memory  26  rather than wait for the next scheduled periodic write. 
         [0032]    When the local control system  20  is rebooted, as is done from time to time, the microprocessor  22  updates its local non-volatile memory  26  by synchronizing its last known distinguishing data element with the remote server  60 . That is, during such rebooting process, the microprocessor  22  determines whether the remote data storage  70  has more recent persistent data than is included in the local non-volatile memory  26 . If there is any more recent persistent data at the remote data storage  70 , the remote server  60  communicates only that more recent persistent data via communications link  50  to the local control system  20  for storage of that more recent data on the local non-volatile memory  26 , thereby bringing the local control system  20  up to date for continued operation as described above. 
         [0033]    Additionally, it should be appreciated that extra data which is not normally held at the panel can use this system  10  to extend the availability of non-volatile storage  26  at the local control system  20 . 
         [0034]    It should thus be appreciated that security systems  10  configured and operating according to the present invention will reduce the frequency of persistent data writing to the non-volatile memory  26  (e.g., flash storage devices), which will increase the lifetime of that memory. Further, such operation, by storing the persistent data always at the remote data storage  70  can avoid write time delays such as occur with flash storage devices at the local control system  20 , and similarly avoids chip erasing times (which can be problematic) and reduces the need for complex flash management (by reducing use of local flash memory  26 ). All of this can potential reduce the cost of local control panels  20  since they require less local memory. 
         [0035]    It should also be appreciated that full storage of persistent data at the remote data storage  70  according to the present invention will increase the security of key data (e.g., destroying the local control system will not remove the comprehensive event log), as well as potentially reducing the amount of event storage required locally, while still maintaining persistent data accessible. Further, authorized service personnel get access to the event log data from the remote server  60 , obviating the need to contact a local control system  20  directly. A remote location is likely to have a higher bandwidth connection (and/or can be provided without the need or expense of providing such high speed connections to local control systems  20 ), thereby reducing the time and cost of, for example, an installation company to get access to that data. Such data availability also will advantageously more easily allow statistical and other analysis of panel data and other information not previously accessible (e.g., installation personnel configuration methodology and efficiency [from data mining both events and recording timestamp information of system configuration changes], event log trends for certain types of events, and set/unset status trends). 
         [0036]    It should still further be appreciated that security systems  10  according to the present invention may have access to considerably more memory (at the remote data storage  70 ) for future expansion, largely without limit. As already noted, such data can still be accessed by the local control system  20 , providing access, for example, to large amounts of data such as video/picture data and event log size. 
         [0037]    Moreover, the security system  10  of the present invention adds redundancy to system configuration, run-time data and event log data since normally the data is stored at two places: the local control system non-volatile memory  26  and the remote data storage  70  (in addition to any installer copy, which is likely out of date by months). Such extra copies are easily and inexpensively maintained, as they are made automatically during normal operation of the system  10 . 
         [0038]    Still further, it should be appreciated that the system  10  of the present invention enables extra data that is non-critical to system operation (and is normally not stored locally because of local storage constraints) to be safely saved remotely at the remote data storage  70 . Such data useful for historical record and analytics can include, for example, a historical record of AC Mains power supply input state, voltage levels and any voltage spikes, ambient temperature, window/door state, wired or wireless local ‘bus-device’ communication quality, input (“Zone”) resistance readings and variations and state change time-stamping, local noise levels, ambient light levels, picture storage for entry systems, and gas monitoring (e.g., natural gas, CO 2 , O 2 ).