Abstract:
A two-way wireless security system network includes a security system including condition sensors. The security system generates a first signal type according to a first signal protocol in response to a condition detected by the sensors. A two-way wireless communication subsystem is in communication with the system and includes a microprocessor for converting the first signal into standard over-the-air wireless protocol. A wireless interface unit transmits a second signal type corresponding to the standard over-the-air wireless protocol to a wireless communications carrier service and receives over-the-air data from the communications carrier service, convertible to instructions and conveyable to the security system. A computing device communicates with the wireless communications carrier service and includes a database table for converting the second signal type into a predefined signal format usable by a monitoring company and includes a conveyance device for conveying the predefined signal format to the identified monitoring company.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional application No. 60/442,375 filed Jan. 24, 2003. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to security systems that monitor conditions within a defined environment or area. In particular, the present invention is a security system that employs wireless communications and which is operable without the use of hard-wired or land lines such as telephone lines or the like to convey signals between the monitored premises and the other off-premises elements of the system.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Electronic security systems are becoming more common and important in residential and commercial environments. Individuals and families, in particular, desire a security system that monitors a defined premise and/or environment, to prevent or deter theft, burglary and robbery. In addition, there is a desire to monitor and detect other defined conditions and, in response to a detected condition, generate a warning. These other potentially hazardous conditions or threats include, for example, fire hazards, carbon monoxide and power failure and electricity outages.  
           [0004]    A conventional security system for use in a home, for example, includes a keypad and a (possibly separate) central control panel. A number of sensors, for detecting various conditions are arranged in the home or premises and are connected to the control panel by wired or wireless means. The sensors may be of various types designed to detect a variety of conditions. The keypad allows a user to control the system. The user can use the keypad to “arm” or “disarm” the system in addition to selecting amongst the sensors to control. In the event of a false alarm, the homeowner may use the keypad to reset the alarm. The typical control panel includes a central microprocessor or an equivalent, which receives messages from the sensors including, for example, motion sensors, infrared sensors, magnetic or glass break sensors, fire sensors and carbon monoxide sensors. If the system is “armed” and one or more sensor is triggered, a signal is generated and received by the control panel. The control panel circuitry activates a built-in telephone communicator to contact the proper authority, for example law enforcement, firefighting and/or health professionals, and conveys, for example, a pre-recorded message providing relevant information related to the triggered sensor. Alternatively, the telephone communicator may contact a security company monitoring the system, for example ADT, and provide information about the event which triggered the alarm condition. The security company, in turn, relays the information to the proper authority.  
           [0005]    Each home may have zones each of which include an appropriate sensor. The signal generated by the security system may contain information indicating in which zone the sensor has been triggered. The security monitoring company requires a database which identifies what part of the premises the triggered zone corresponds to. The security monitoring company necessarily has a unique set of database entries for each home.  
           [0006]    In such a conventional security system, the built in telephone communicator uses a typical hard-wired telephone line to send and receive signals to and from the security system to various authorities and/or monitoring companies. A disadvantage of this type of a system becomes clear in the event a telephone line is interrupted or fails, for example by cutting or malfunction, whereby signals from the security system control panel can not be transmitted or received. Other methods of compromising the telephone lines are known without the need to damage the telephone line since many phone companies provide an accessible service port on the exterior of the building. As an attempt to bolster the reliability of the alarm reporting mechanism, the security industry introduced the wireless (typically cellular-based) backup system.  
           [0007]    However, such systems have drawbacks. -In operation, the security system will often not recognize when a phone line has been disabled until an alarm condition occurs and the system attempts to report the alarm via the phone line. Many seconds may pass before the system determines that the phone line is disabled and then executes an attempt to send a message by way of the backup system. During that period, an intruder may be able to locate and disable the security system.  
           [0008]    Although a few systems exist today that use wireless reporting as the primary means, they typically only provide capability to report alarms to a central monitoring facility and do not include a means to simultaneously inform the user of the alarm. Additionally, such systems typically only report alarm conditions and do not report non-emergency conditions. As a result, if a user is away from the secured premises for an extended period, and a condition occurs that does not invoke an alarm report, the user will be unaware of such condition until returning to the premises.  
           [0009]    Additionally, although some security systems do allow for a measure of remote control capability such as arming and disarming of the system, doing so requires the use of a hard-wired telephone line. Due to the lack of ease of use of such features in today&#39;s security systems, most security system installation companies do not even inform the user about such capabilities, as training the user is time consuming and expensive and is likely to continue to be an ongoing support issue. As a result, capabilities for remote control of the system go unused, even though they may be very useful to the user. What is needed in the industry is a convenient means for a user to remotely control his security system.  
           [0010]    Many alarm monitoring service providers charge the subscriber based on the number of monitored sensors. Hence if a user wishes to be notified on non-emergency conditions such as a defective backup battery in the security system, he will need to pay the alarm monitoring company an extra amount to provide that service for him, if it is even available at all. What is needed in the industry is a cost-effective means for a user to be notified of non-emergency conditions at the monitored space.  
           [0011]    In the case of business facilities, if the business owner operates several different facilities he will likely need to give out alarm disarming and arming codes to personnel since he may be unable to physically get to each facility in a timely manner at opening or closing. In these cases he runs the risk of a dishonest employee being able to enter the facility at any time, disable the security system, and take away company property. If the owner were able to arm or disarm the security system remotely, then the owner would not need to reveal the security system codes; thus, even if an employee had a key to the facilities, he would not be able to enter without the owner&#39;s knowledge without tripping the alarm. What is needed in the industry is a convenient means for a business owner to remotely arm and/or disarm the security system at a facility.  
           [0012]    The current methods of provisioning a new system at an alarm monitoring service provider require that the security system installer provide a detailed list of descriptions corresponding to each sensor that is assigned to a unique ‘zone’. Such a method is laborious and error-prone not only on the initial installation, but also creates a need to duplicate work if the installed system needs to be upgraded by adding or changing sensors or their zone assignments. What is needed in the industry is an automated method of reporting zone descriptions that does not require customized zone description lists for each installed security system.  
           [0013]    There are very few security systems on the market which are capable of keeping the premises owner informed about the condition of the premises, let alone informing them in an automated fashion when alarms occur. If a condition occurred that prevented an assigned alarm monitoring service from responding to an alarm condition that occurred, the owner would have no knowledge that such condition occurred and would not be able to take an alternate course to correct the problem. What is needed in the industry is a convenient means to notify facility owners of the status of their facilities.  
           [0014]    Current security systems rarely even have the capability to monitor and/or report the ambient temperature of the monitored space. As such, winter conditions in particular present a danger to facilities due to freeze-up of water pipes. What is needed in the industry is a means to measure ambient temperature, preferably inside a wall of the facility rather than in open rooms, as the inner wall temperature is more representative of what water pipes will see.  
           [0015]    In another case, computer server rooms are often not monitored for temperature at all. If air-conditioning equipment were to malfunction, there is a strong possibility not only of data loss but of permanent damage to equipment as temperatures inside the computer servers reach critical levels. Such rooms often need security monitoring as well, to protect confidential data. What is needed in the industry is a convenient means to be notified if the temperature of a monitored space exceeds a critical threshold, preferably such threshold being adjustable through a convenient means.  
           [0016]    What is needed in the industry is a convenient means for a user to be notified of both emergency and non-emergency conditions at the monitored space. What is further needed in the industry is an effective and more tamper-resistant mechanism and method of conveying alarm conditions occurring at a monitored facility to an alarm monitoring service provider. A demand therefore exists for a system and method that reduces or eliminates landline-based communication failures and addresses the above disadvantages. The present invention satisfies the demand.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0017]    The present invention includes a security monitoring system including various sensors, positioned within a facility, building or home to be monitored in combination with an interface to a 2-way wireless communication system for transporting sensed conditions as messages to and from the monitored facility.  
           [0018]    In one embodiment the interface includes a separate interface unit, security monitoring system and a separate 2-way communication system. In another embodiment, the invention includes a standard or customized security monitoring system capable of directly communicating with a standard or customized 2-way wireless communication system in the native communication protocol of the 2-way wireless communication system. In another embodiment, the invention includes a standard or customized 2-way wireless communication system capable of directly communicating with a standard or customized security monitoring system in the native communication protocol of the security monitoring system.  
           [0019]    The invention conveys event, and/or status, and/or control messages to and/or from the security monitoring system and/or other on-premises apparatus, with a 2-way communication system. The messages may contain a plurality of information rather than a single event and/or status and/or. control indication.  
           [0020]    The invention utilizes encoding techniques for reducing the quantity of data conveyed by means of the 2-way wireless communication system. The invention may utilize encryption techniques for enhancement of the security of the data being conveyed by the 2-way wireless communication system. The invention further includes a method of selectively conveying and optionally translating messages from the security system, to an alarm monitoring service provider. The provider receives the message in a format appropriate for their use, optionally with the aid of one or more computer server employed at one or more stages during the conveyance of the message.  
           [0021]    The invention may further include a method and device for selectively conveying and optionally translating messages from the security system, to one or more users, by a variety of communication devices in a plain language format, optionally with the aid of one or more computer server being employed at one or more stages during the conveyance of the message. The invention may further include a method and device for accepting control input from one or more users through a communication device, like a telephone, and translating the input into an appropriate format and conveying the formatted input to the security monitoring system or other apparatus at the monitored premises by the 2-way wireless communication system, optionally with the aid of one or more computer server being employed at one or more stages during the conveyance of the message.  
           [0022]    The invention may include the presence or use of a hard-wired connection to the monitored premises. Such may indeed optionally be present and may function as a backup for some or all of the 2-way wireless communication system messages and/or for conveying separate information from that conveyed by the 2-way wireless communication system.  
           [0023]    The invention may optionally includes a wireless communication subsystem including a battery and the 2-way communication system and any other apparatus necessary for generating messages to be transmitted and/or received through the use of the 2-way communication system and operating in a stand-alone manner. The subsystem is capable of using the battery to provide operating power for the subsystem, such that if the subsystem were disconnected from an external power source and/or could no longer communicate with the security monitoring system, the subsystem would be capable of generating and transmitting a related status message while operating in the stand-alone mode.  
           [0024]    The invention optionally includes a subsystem including an enclosure, a compact antenna, the 2-way communication system, a battery, and any other devices for generating messages to be transmitted and/or received through the use of the 2-way communication system and operating in a stand-alone manner. The subsystem would be more resistant to attempts to tamper with or disable the subsystem due to the restriction of access to vulnerable elements of the subsystem afforded by enclosing the vulnerable elements in a manner suitable for restricting access thereto.  
           [0025]    An aspect of the invention is to provide a security system that is not dependant on a telephone line. To this end, the system includes an interface unit which transmits and receives wireless signals to permit communication between the security system and a remote party. In this manner, the security system is able to transmit alerts and status signals to a remote party or location without relying on a conventional wired phone system, and is also able to receive instructions from a remote party or location for the security system.  
           [0026]    Another aspect of the invention includes voice activation or touch activation, or both, to provide information to an individual, a system, or central monitoring device by using a wireless primary reporting link. Another aspect of the invention includes controlling the security system off-site or off the premises where the security system is located. The invention may include a portable communication device, such as a pager, that can be easily carried by the user. The portable communication device can notify the user of triggers such as a latchkey disarming or fire by calling and leaving a clear, concise voice or text message. The user can remotely arm or disarm the security system and/or control other features of the security system.  
           [0027]    Another aspect of the invention includes the ability to optionally control and/or monitor other sensors and devices through the use of the wireless link, where the devices are not a typical element of the connected security system. Such sensors and/or devices may include, for example, temperature sensors, lamps, appliances, thermostats and other devices or sensors.  
           [0028]    Another aspect of the invention includes an antenna that is contained entirely within the enclosure of the wireless communication module, rendering it difficult to defeat due to its concealed nature. Another aspect of the invention includes optional use of an external, remotely located directional antenna that is less susceptible to jamming attacks due to the inherent ability of such an antenna to reject jamming signals originating from outside the directional antenna&#39;s lobes of sensitivity.  
           [0029]    Further, the invention optionally includes circuitry and/or software that allows for adapting the wireless communication interface to existing security systems to alleviate the need to purchase an entire new system. The wireless communication interface can connect to a variety of electronic equipment via flexible generic software and hardware interfaces.  
           [0030]    Furthermore, the invention provides for the reporting of telephone line problems for those systems providing information based on a system that uses a telephone line. The invention provides for the reporting of power loss at the security system by the wireless communication interface, whether or not the security system itself is capable of detecting and/or reporting any such power loss. The wireless communication interface is adapted to monitor itself for malfunctions such as loss of communication with the security system or other hardware or software problems, and to report these problems.  
           [0031]    These, together with other aspects and advantages will be further understood in the details of the construction and operation of the invention as more fully hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like part throughout. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0032]    [0032]FIG. 1 is a wireless security network including a wireless security system according to the present invention; and  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 2 is a security system and wireless communication interface according to the present invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0034]    [0034]FIGS. 1 and 2 show a wireless security network  10  according to the present invention. The wireless security network  10  in broad overview includes a conventional security system  12  in communication with a monitoring service provider  50  through a wireless enabled network  66  such as SkyTel Telemetry Services or ARCH, for example. The wireless communication between a security system  12  and a security monitoring company  50  is effected by aspects of a wireless communication subsystem  14  having a 2-way wireless communication system  22 .  
         [0035]    The present invention relates to a system and method for control of a security system. The security system network  10  uses a wireless 2-way system or module  22  as the primary mechanism to report alarm, trouble, status and system messages, for example, but also to remotely and wirelessly control the security system  12  (arm, disarm) and any auxiliary circuits.  
         [0036]    The security system  12  is installed in a facility  17 , such as a home or commercial building or the like, to be monitored with conventional condition sensors  13  and provided with other equipment, such as necessary power backup systems (not shown) and so on as is practiced in the field.  
         [0037]    The invention includes a security system network, shown generally at  10 , including a standard security panel  12 , such as a standard GE Simon model of security panel, including the capability of detecting defined conditions with standard sensors ( 13 , FIG. 2) and generating a signal responsive to the condition. Examples of these conditions and messages include alarm trip (with zone identifiers), power failure (AC), total power loss of AC and system, backup battery malfunction, low backup battery alert, wakeup message, status request reply, duress alarm, tamper warning, supervisory warnings, RF jam attempt, latchkey alerts, and so on.  
         [0038]    The invention includes a subsystem  14  capable of wireless communication with an outside entity including a security operations center  50 . The subsystem is positioned within an enclosure  16 . An interface unit  18  is positioned within the enclosure  16 . The interface unit  18  includes a microprocessor-based computing device  21  and standard connectors  23  to enable one or both of power conveyance and signal communication with the security monitoring system  12  and communication with the 2-way wireless communication system  22 . The interface unit  18  includes a rechargeable battery  20 , a 2-way wireless communication system  22  provided with a compact antenna  24 . The subsystem  14  optionally includes an interface  26  to an external X-10™ powerline communication module.  
         [0039]    The subsystem  14  optionally includes a location-awareness module  28  (GPS or equivalent) with either an internal antenna  30  or connections to an external antenna  32  or both for redundancy. The subsystem  14  also optionally includes a plurality of configurable electrical signal lines  34  which may be configured through operating software of the interface unit  14  operatively associated with the microprocessor  21 . The configurable electrical signal lines  34  may be connected to the monitoring system  12  and various ancillary equipment (not shown), such as electric relays for controlling external devices, or electrical input signals possibly not related to security functions, or for interfacing with utility measuring equipment such as gas, water or electric meters, or tamper sensors for the subsystem  14  itself. The subsystem  14  also optionally includes a temperature sensor  36  to allow monitoring of the ambient temperature of the premises to detect and report overtemperature conditions in computer server rooms, or undertemperature conditions in a home such as may present an early warning of water pipe freeze-up due to heating system failure. The enclosure  16  is preferably constructed of a material or in a manner which will not impact the operation of the 2-way wireless communication system  22  while also preventing tampering.  
         [0040]    The microprocessor  21  allows the interface unit  18  to be configured to accommodate the protocol used to communicate with the specific type of connected security monitoring system  12 . The microprocessor  21  also allows the interface unit  18  to be configured to accommodate the protocol used to communicate with the specific type of connected 2-way wireless communication system  22 .  
         [0041]    The interface unit  18  includes a power supply system  56  capable of adapting an externally supplied power source for use by the elements of the wireless subsystem  14 . In the preferred embodiment, the external power source is provided by the connected security monitoring system  12 . The interface unit  18  includes configurable interfacing and power supply circuitry  23  to allow interfacing to one of a variety of 2-way wireless communication systems  22  which each may require different electrical signaling input and/or different operating power requirements. To this end, the interface unit  14  includes a computing device  21 , which allows the interface unit to be configured to accommodate the protocol used to communicate with the specific type of connected 2-way communication system  22 . The computing device  21  allows the interface unit to be configured to accommodate an optional encoding and/or decoding method when constructing or deconstructing messages (commonly referred to as an over-the-air protocol) conveyed by the use of the 2-way communication system  22 .  
         [0042]    The interface unit  14  optionally includes circuitry  34  for interfacing to an external X-10™ powerline communication system (not shown). X-10 is a communications “language” that allows compatible products to talk to each other using the existing electrical wiring in the home. Most X-10 compatible products are very affordable and the fact that they talk over existing wires in the home means that no costly rewiring is necessary. Installation is simple, a transmitter plugs (or wires) in at one location in the home and sends its control signal (on, off, dim, bright, etc.) to a receiver which plugs (or wires) into another location in the home. These products add the convenience of a radio frequency link (e.g. signals which travel through the air) to X-10 products. Popular products in this class include wireless hand-held remote controls and wireless motion detectors. A plug-in unit with an antenna is required to catch the radio signal from the wireless unit and puts the X-10 signal onto the line Oust like a garage door remote activates the opener).  
         [0043]    The computing device  21  allows the interface unit to be optionally configured to accommodate the protocol used to communicate with an X-10™ powerline communication system  26 . In a preferred embodiment the X-10™ interface  8  is not provided due to similar functionality being available as an optional feature of the preferred variety of security monitoring system  12 .  
         [0044]    The interface unit  14  optionally includes circuitry for interfacing to a internal location-awareness system  28 , which may include either an internal antenna  30  and/or connection for an external antenna  30 . The interface unit  14  includes a computing device  21 , which allows the interface unit to be optionally configured to accommodate the protocol used to communicate with the specific type of connected location-awareness system  28 . In the preferred embodiment, a GPS receiver is optionally employed as the location-awareness system  28 .  
         [0045]    The interface unit  14  optionally includes a temperature sensor  36  for measuring the ambient temperature of the subsystem  14 . The computing device  21  allows the interface unit  14  to be configured to measure and optionally report the reading of the temperature sensor  36 . The computing device  21  is configurable to automatically generate low temperature and/or high temperature warning messages which are transmitted by use of the 2-way wireless communication system  22 . The interface unit  14  optionally includes a configurable interface to unspecified electrical signal inputs and/or outputs  34 . The computing device  21  allows the electrical input/output signal interface  34  to be configured, controlled and/or measured by the computing device  21  in response to messages sent and/or received by the 2-way wireless communication system  22 .  
         [0046]    The interface unit  14  may include a data storage device  58  for storing information including software downloads for updating the software of the computing device  21 . The computing device  21  allows the data storage device  58  to be written and read by means of the microprocessor  21  with information received from a local data connection or from data received by means of the 2-way wireless communication system  22 . The computing device  21  is optionally further capable of reconfiguring itself using the information present in the data storage device  58 . Information held in the storage device  58  is also optionally encrypted using standard encryption methods.  
         [0047]    The preferred embodiment of the invention further includes a wireless communications carrier service infrastructure  66 , an internet-based message conveyance  52  (a computer), a paging message conveyance  42  (a pager), one or more computer server  44 , one or more telephony interface  46  for use by the computer server  44 , a land line telephone  48  or cellular phone  49 , and an alarm monitoring and response service  50 .  
         [0048]    Operatively associated and connected to the security system  12  is an interface unit  18  capable of a variety of novel functions and, in general, is responsible for the wireless transmission and reception of signals between the security system  12  and the monitoring service provider  50  as well as a user  60  as will be explained more fully below. The interface unit  18  connects to a wireless data transceiver  22  that transmits and receives data and resides in the location  17  to be monitored.  
         [0049]    The 2-way wireless communication system  22  may be a “CreataLink XT” manufactured by SmartSynch Corp., a California Barran module from Advantra International (Belgium) or an OmniData module from Percomm Inc. Canada. The interface unit  14  may also be configured to receive messages from cellular, GPRS, packet radio and other 2-way sources.  
         [0050]    One example of operation of a preferred embodiment of the invention is described as follows. The security system  12  detects an alarm or non-alarm event and conveys this to the interface unit  14 , or the interface unit  14  will detect an alarm or non-alarm event from a source other than the security system  12 . The interface unit  14  decides if the event is to be transmitted using the 2-way wireless communication system  22 , and if so, will generate a message in a standard format and pass it to the 2-way system  22  along with the address of the desired server  44 . The 2-way wireless communication system  22  will transmit the message to the wireless carrier&#39;s infrastructure system  66 , which will then forward the message to the server  44  as designated by the ‘address’ in the wirelessly-transmitted message. The server  44  will in turn decode the message and determine whether to report it to one, both or neither of the users  60  and the alarm monitoring service  50 , and will also keep an internal log of the message and if, necessary will react internally to the message contents (as happens for certain types of maintenance messages). The server  44  can use a variety of methods to convey messages to the user(s)  60  and/or the alarm monitoring service  50 , including, for example, internet-based messages, telephony-based alarm and including Contact-ID messages or paging messages.  
         [0051]    Another example of operation of the preferred embodiment is described as follows. The user will use telephony device  49  to contact the computer server  44  though telephony interface  46 . The server  44  may optionally identify the specific user by use of ANI (Automatic Number Identification, commonly referred to as Caller-ID™), or may request the caller to identify themselves through some other identifier. The server  44  will then collect a command from the user  60 , generate an appropriately formatted message to convey the command, and forward this to the wireless carrier&#39;s infrastructure system  66  along with a designator to identify the specific destination 2-way wireless system  14 . The carrier  38  will transmit the message, which is then received by the 2-way wireless system  22  at the premises  17 . The interface unit  18  will detect the incoming message, receive it from the 2-way wireless system  22 , decode it, and decide what action needs to be taken. If the message is intended to control the security system  12 , such as requesting it to arm itself, the interface unit  18  will translate and transfer the message as necessary into the protocol of the security monitoring system  50 . If the message was a request to control one of the ‘spare’ input/output electrical signals  34  then the interface unit  18  would take such action. If the message was a request for specific information from the system  12 , the interface unit  18  would collect such information as necessary, format it for transmission, and pass it to the 2-way system  18 . The message would eventually reach the user  60  through the same steps previously described.  
         [0052]    In operation, in yet another example of a forward path event, the security system  12  registers information from the sensors  13 . For example, if a window has been broken, sensor  13  generates a signal which is detected by the security system  12 . The security system  12  conveys a message to the interface unit  18 . The interface unit  18  examines the message and reformats it into a standardized format (described in more detail below) as necessary to be conveyed wirelessly, and conveys the result to the transceiver ( 22 ). This message is transmitted from the 2-way wireless communication system  22  via antenna  24  to a wireless enabled network (SkyTel)  66 . The wireless enabled network  66  receives the message which is forwarded via a communications infrastructure  38  and  62  to a computer server  44 . The computer server  44  interprets the message and reformats it into a format which can be analyzed by a monitoring service provider  50 . The monitoring service provider  50  analyzes the message and takes appropriate action. In the alternate, and dependent upon the nature of the signal and options set up by the user  60 , the signal may be routed to the user via telephone  48 , cell phone  49 , pager  42  or computer  52 , for example via conventional routing devices, such as an communication or internet router  44  or PSTN  46 .  
         [0053]    In operation, in yet another example of a reverse path event, a control signal may be generated by a user  60  or the monitoring service provider  50  and transmitted by wireless enabled network  66  to the wireless communication subsystem  14 , processed and a system control function effected such as, for example the system turning on a kitchen light in the residence  17  or disarming the security system  12 , as will be explained more fully below.  
         [0054]    It will be understood that the invention, in order to be compatible with any security system  12  as a “front end” and using a 2-way communications module  22  to convey messages to and from the security system monitoring company  50  through the wireless network  66  preferably uses a standard over-the-air wireless protocol (OTAP). To this end, signals from the security system  12  are converted from the system  12 . The Simon® available from GE Interlogix keeps descriptions internally. These signals are of 2 bytes, which are subdivided into 4 separate fields. These are retrieved by the interface unit  18 , and translated via tables (not shown) into the 3 bytes used in the 10-byte OTAP. An Ademco security module  12  sends bit-patterns for display on the LCD. In this case, the LCD patterns are gathered and converted via table to ASCII, then multiple ASCII characters are collected together into words, then a table is searched to convert this data into the 10-byte OTAP (See Table 1).  
                         TABLE 1                       STANDARD ZONE NUMBER ASSIGNMENTS FOR ALL ACCOUNTS       The following assumes the use of Contact-ID messaging.       ZONE DESCRIPTION       NUMBER OF SENSOR                                000   System       001   User #1       002   User #2       003   User #3       004   User #4       005   User #5       006   Dealer       007   Installer       008   Master User       009   Duress       010   North Front Door       011   North Back Door       012   North Side Door       013   North Garage Door       014   North Upstairs Door       015   North Downstairs Door       016   North Basement Door       017   North Attic Door       018   North Hallway Door       019   North Bedroom Door       01B   North Closet Door       01C   North Medicine Cabinet Door       01D   North Outside Door       01E   North 2nd Garage Door       01F   North Master Bedroom Door       020   North Guest Room Door       021   North Child&#39;s Room Door       022   North Utility Room Door       023   North Living Room Door       024   North Dining Room Door       025   North Bathroom Door       026   North Laundry Room Door       027   North Kitchen Door       028   North Porch Door       029   North Patio Door       02B   North Office Door       02C   North Den Door                  
 
         [0055]    The converted data is conveyed through the wireless network  66  to a server  44 . The server  44  receives the 10-byte OTA protocol messages, along with an identifier indicating the unique source. A database table is used to convert from the Skytel ‘pin’ number (such as 1531019) not the set of user information (such as name, address, phone number, email address, etc.). The message is decoded using a visual basic program which has access to a set of database tables. It will be understood that other methods could easily be used. In order to convert to a Contact-ID format usable by a particular security monitoring company  50 , tables are used to convert the contents of the descriptor bytes into the three separate digits available as the zone number in the Contact-ID protocol. The actual choices of what zone numbers get what descriptors are not critical. Other pieces of the Contact-ID message are either fixed-content or are derived from the sensor status byte or a monitoring account number attached to that particular user/Skytel PIN number. Specific formatting is added and the phone number that needs to be dialed, and the completed message is sent to a serial port of the server  44 , where it is sent out to the monitoring company  50  via a dial-up phone line.  
         [0056]    Table 1 is a partial, incomplete example of the types of descriptors and it will be understood that the actual table will be longer to include all of the various specific sensor sites possible within a monitored site. The above table is loaded into a database at the monitoring company  50 , and is usable for all customers regardless of the security system  12  protocol and the protocol used by the monitoring company. This saves the work of manually entering customized zone assignment lists for each individual customer, and also eliminates the need for a system installer to keep track of what sensor is on what zone at the house  17 . The descriptions are used alone, and the particular zone number is not critical to operation of the system.  
         [0057]    When an alarm or other condition is detected and reported by the security system, the interface unit gathers the zone description information from the security system  12 . This will vary from one alarm panel to the next. For GE, the zone descriptions are held inside the unit; the alarm report indicates a zone number, then the interface unit looks up the description for that zone number in a database inside the alarm panel (in other words, the security system does not inherently provide the description; it must be obtained). For Ademco, the description is intercepted from that which is sent to the LCD display on the user  60  alarm control panel. Other systems may not have any descriptor information; in which case, the zone number is forwarded as in the prior art. Once the description is in some form, it is translated into the Over-The-Air ten-byte protocol. This includes 10 bytes with the following meanings:  
         [0058]    Byte  1 : type of system &amp; protocol (example: 0×7E=GE Simon®, sent using ASCII rather than binary data)  
         [0059]    Byte  2 : revision # of the wireless interface module (in case it is necessary to make a change later that makes the rest of the message contents incompatible with the initial system, whereas it is possible to process the remainder of this message differently as required).  
         [0060]    Byte  3 : Zone Number (as reported by the security system). This information is used in certain cases currently, such as to identify which user key fob is being used to arm or disarm the system. It is not normally used when reporting alarm conditions to the monitoring company  50 .  
         [0061]    Byte  4 : Source location/direction. This is part of the ‘zone description’ information. This byte contains data like front, back, downstairs, utility Room, garage, etc.  
         [0062]    Byte  5 : Qualifiers. Part of the ‘zone description’ information. This byte contains data like north, south, east, west, floor, and ceiling, open, close.  
         [0063]    Byte  6 : Event Source Descriptor. Identifies what ‘type’ of sensor is reporting, e.g., door, window, smoke, fire, tamper, AC power failure, temperature alarm, etc.  
         [0064]    Byte  7 : SENSOR status. This includes information about that specific sensor being reported, e.g., alarm trigger, low battery, supervisory alert, cancel alarm (like when smoke clears from a smoke sensor), tamper alarm, and others.  
         [0065]    Byte  8 : SYSTEM status. This indicates overall status of the security system, e.g., armed/disarmed, triggered, low-temperature warning, high-temperature warning, phone line broken (if available).  
         [0066]    Byte  9 : Current temperature of the module. This is provided as a feature to help prevent water pipe freeze-ups as one example. The interface unit  18  may be installed inside a wall where the security system  12  is mounted, to make it harder to disable it. Another application would be if this were part of a security system for a computer server room, the unit  18  could alternately be used as a HIGH-temperature alarm indicator simply by changing the trip temperature, which can be changed through the wireless connection.  
         [0067]    Byte  10 : Software revision # of the connected security system  12 . This would be useful in case certain features are not available in older/newer versions of a particular security system model; if the main server  44  has data regarding which software version of the security system  12  is installed, the unit  18  can avoid requesting things of the panel that the security system  12  cannot do, or alternately a different way of accomplishing the same thing might be enacted.  
         [0068]    Note that the above constitutes the messaging from the unit  18  to the server  44 . In the reverse direction, a different protocol is used.  
         [0069]    Byte  1 : Indicates what type of alarm panel this message is intended for. For Simon®, use ‘˜’. In case an interface unit  18  connected to an Ademco panel gets this message, it will ignore it.  
         [0070]    Byte  2 : Command Code. For example, ‘A’ means ARM the system, ‘L’=control the lights, ‘D’=DISARM the system, ‘P’=program an option flag (that changes other behaviors of the module, such as enabling it to report all ARM and DISARM actions by users, or NOT reporting any arm/disarm actions.  
         [0071]    Byte  3 - 10 : The rest of the bytes are parameters to go along with the Command Code.  
         [0072]    In order to generate a plain-text message (opposed to a Contact ID message) the email address is used provided for that particular user  60 , and using different tables from the various bytes of the OTAP message are converted into English-language equivalents; for instance, converting “11A@” into “Front North Door Alarm trigger”. The output from the server  44  is handled by a conveyance device, also known in one embodiment, as a contact ID box  68 . This contact ID box  68  contains a microcontroller with a serial port (UART &amp; RS232 converter), as well as an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), as well as a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) peripheral (not shown). It also has circuitry for connecting to a phone line (transformer, relay, etc.) (not shown). The UART receives the messages from the server  44 , and stores them. Software then splits the message up into its various pieces and verifies the completeness of the received message. If the phone line is not already in use by the contact ID box  68 , it closes the relay to essentially ‘pick up’ the line (go off-hook). Using the ADC and digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms, the processor listens for dial tone, then generates DTMF signals (by use of the PWM peripheral) to ‘dial’ the phone number that was received from the server  44 .  
         [0073]    Using the ADC &amp; DSP, the processor ‘listens’ for busy signal, ring tones or Contact-ID answer tones. After detecting the answer tones, the processor then generates DTMF signals which directly correlate to the Contact-ID message contents. When the receiver at the monitoring company  50  has fully received the message, an acknowledgement tone is sent back, then a hang up is executed. When the processor in the contact ID box  68  receives the tone, it also hangs up the line. The box  68  holds onto the message until it is able to get it all the way through to the monitoring company, including hanging up and redialing if needed. There are also provisions for redundancy by having multiple Contact-ID processor boards interconnected and able to monitor each other&#39;s condition and take over if one board fails.  
         [0074]    Alternate embodiments may include the ability for one or more users  60  to send commands to the computer server  44  by way of SMS messaging, Smartphone™ internet browsers, email messages, 2-way pager messages or other currently available devices to the user(s), for the commands to be optionally translated and further forwarded to the premises  17  by means of the 2-way communication system  22 .  
         [0075]    Alternate embodiments may eliminate one use of the computer server  44  in the preferred embodiment by providing for one or more users  60  to send appropriately formatted command messages, through the use of standard communications devices available to the user(s), which may include internet messaging, paging, emails or other standard devices available to the user(s), directly to the premises&#39; 2-way communication system  22 .  
         [0076]    Alternate embodiments may include alternate devices for 2-way wireless communications, including satellite, cellular, paging, telemetry, Low Earth Orbit, GPRS, Broadband, 802.XXX networks, packet data radio, and any other system capable of communicating 2-way data.  
         [0077]    Alternate embodiments may include devices for connecting the interfaced 2-way communication system  22  subsystem  14  to a security monitoring system  50  by short-range wireless 2-way communications, including ZIGBEE™, Bluetooth™ or other proprietary or open wireless communication methods, rather than using a wired connection between the subsystem  14  and the security monitoring system  50 .  
         [0078]    Alternate embodiments may include a plurality of security monitoring systems  50 , possibly interconnected through a network, rather than being limited to a single security monitoring system  50 .  
         [0079]    Alternate embodiments may eliminate one use of the computer server  44  in a preferred embodiment by sending appropriately formatted wireless messages directly from the 2-way communication system  22  to an alarm monitoring service means  50  which is capable of receiving messages which may include internet messaging or other systems available to be used from the 2-way communication system  22 .  
         [0080]    Alternate embodiments may eliminate one use of the computer server  44  in the preferred embodiment by sending appropriately formatted wireless messages directly from the 2-way communication system means  22  to the communications devices ( 42 ,  48 ,  49 ,  52 ) of one or more users  60  through, for example, internet messaging, paging, emails or other means available to be used from the 2-way communication system  22 .  
         [0081]    Alternate embodiments of the invention may include the interface unit  18  providing destination indicators which include addresses other than or in addition to the computer server  44 , such as email addresses of users  60 , cell-phone email addresses, SMS messaging addresses, pager addresses, addresses monitored by the alarm monitoring and response services means, or others, thereby potentially eliminating the need for a computer server  44 .  
         [0082]    In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the 2-way wireless communication system  22  and the associated RF communications carrier  66  may convey messages in one of a plurality of formats, including email messaging, internet messaging, TCP/IP messaging, SMS messaging, packet radio protocols, paging protocols or others. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, any communicating element of the system may convey messages in an encrypted manner.  
         [0083]    Thus, while the invention has been described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that there are modifications, substitutions and other changes that can be made, yet will still fall within the intended scope of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.