Abstract:
A home gateway system for home automation and security is described. An example home gateway system includes a wireless local loop transceiver to establish a wireless local loop point to point link to a geographically separated base station coupled to a public switched telephone network; a home automation controller to communicate with the wireless local loop transceiver; a home security controller, integrated with the home automation controller, to communicate with the wireless local loop transceiver; and a security signal to be monitored by the home security controller, wherein a status of the security signal causes the home gateway system to send a message over the wireless local loop.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/096,560, filed on Jun. 12, 1998, entitled “Home Gateway System for Home Automation and Security,” which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to home automation and security systems and more particularly to a home gateway system for home automation and security. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Because of increased security concerns many home owners have a home security system. In addition, many home owners have a variety of machines for receiving information services, such as a cable receiver box, several telephones, an answering machine, a caller ID box, a home Local Area Network (LAN), and a dial up connection to the internet. Unfortunately, only minimal integration has occurred between security systems and these information services. A number of additional features could be provided to a home owner if these services were integrated. 
     Thus there exists a need for a home gateway system that can integrate the security and home automation features with the information services already found in many homes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a home gateway system for home automation and security in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a home gateway system for home automation and security in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a home gateway system for home automation and security in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a voice processing system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart of the steps used in a home gateway system for home automation and security in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart of the steps used in a home gateway system for home automation and security in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  are a flow chart of the steps used in a home gateway system for home automation and security in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The home gateway system for home automation and security has a wireless local loop transceiver. A home automation controller is capable of sending and receiving a message with the wireless local transceiver. A home security controller is capable of sending and receiving a message with the wireless local loop transceiver and the home automation controller. The home gateway system for home automation and security integrates the home automation, home security and with a wireless local loop transceiver. This allows the security system and the automation system to be activated, deactivated and monitored remotely. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a home gateway system for home automation and security in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The home gateway system  20  is located inside a house  22 . The home gateway system  20  has an input to receive a cable television  24  input signal. The home gateway system  20  is also connected by a wireless local loop  26  and a base station  28 , to the public switch telephone network (PSTN)  30 . The antenna  32  for the wireless local loop  26  is shown in the attic of the house. The PSTN  30  provides access to an internet service provider (ISP)  34 , which provides access to the internet  36 . A telephone  38 , a television  40 , computer  42 , printer  44  can all be connected to the home gateway system  20 . In addition, appliances  46 , lights  48 , and sprinkling systems  50  can be connected to the home gateway system as part of the home automation features. A home security system  52  can also be connected to the home gateway system  20 . This allows the home automation and security features to be integrated into the home communication system. For instance, the computer  42  can be used to setup times of day for the sprinkling system to turn on or the computer can print a report of the activities of the appliances or the security system. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a home gateway system  60  for home automation and security in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The home gateway system  60  has a wireless local loop transceiver  62 . A home automation controller  64  is capable of sending and receiving messages from the wireless local loop transceiver  62 . A home security controller  66  is capable of sending and receiving messages from the wireless local loop transceiver  62 . 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a home gateway system  70  for home automation and security in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the transceiver  72  establishes a wireless local loop connection  74  with a base station  28 . The transceiver  72  is connected to a switch  76 . The switch  76  is connected to a voice bridge  77 , a processor  78  and a router  80 . The switch  76  also has a plurality of input lines  82 . Telephones, facsimile machines, and modems are among the devices that can be connected to the switch  76 . The router  80  allows a user to establish a local area network within his home. The router  80  in this embodiment is connected to a television processing system  82  and a home automation and security system  84 . The processor  78  is connected to a smart card interface  86 . The smart card interface is used as a keyless entry and to store certain home automation setups. A voice processing system  88  is connected to the processor  78 . The voice processing system  88  includes voice verification and speech recognition capabilities. The voice verification capability is used for remote access to the home automation and security system or is used for keyless entry. A caller identification system  90  is connected to the processor  78 . The caller identification system  90  can be used as part of a remote access screening. 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a voice processing system  88  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The voice processing system contains a speech recognition system  100 , a speaker verification system  102 , a speech synthesis system  104  and a voice mail memory system  106 . The control of the systems of the voice processing system  88  is performed in one embodiment by the processor  78 . The processor  78  coordinates the voice system  100 - 106  to provide machine reception for remote access to the home security system. 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart representing of the steps used in a home gateway system for home automation and security in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The process starts, step  120 , by receiving a request for access to home automation and security features from a user at step  122 . A speaker verification of the user is performed step  124 . When the user is verified, the user is allowed access to the home automation and security features at step  126 . At step  128 , a voiced instruction is received which ends the process at step  130 . 
     In one embodiment, the step of receiving a request for access to the home automation and security features further includes inputting an electronic address of the home gateway system. Next, an electronic connection is established with the home gateway system. The user is then presented with a plurality of options including the home automation and security features. In one embodiment, the step of entering the electronic address is performed by dialing a phone number. In another embodiment, the electronic connection is a wireless local loop telephony connection. 
     In yet another embodiment, the electronic connection is an internet connection and the user clicks on the home automation and security features option. The internet connection can be carried over the wireless local loop or over the cable TV link. 
     In one embodiment, the speaker verification step further includes requesting a user to speak an access code. The access code is recognized using speech recognition. When the access code is valid and belongs to a set of approved access codes, a speaker verification is performed. When the speaker verification fails, the user is requested to enter a personal identification number. When the personal identification is valid, the user is allowed access to the home automation and security features. When the personal identification is not valid the user is denied access to the home automation and security features. 
     In a further embodiment, the voiced instruction is recognized using the speech recognition system. The recognized instruction is converted into an electronic instruction that the home automation and security system can understand. The electronic instruction is then be sent to the home automation and security controller. 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart of the steps used in a home gateway system for home automation and security in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The process starts, step  150 , by monitoring a parameter step  152 . When the parameter exceeds a defined range, a message is sent containing an electronic address to a processor at step  154 . A communication link to the electronic address is established over a wireless local loop at step  156 . At step  158  the message is transmitted step  158  to the electronic address, which the process at step  160 . 
     In one embodiment, the parameter is a forceful entry signal and the message contains a police telephone number. In another embodiment, a portion of the message is speech synthesized to form an audio message. The audio message is transmitted to the electronic address. For instance, the audio message could include the street address of house and which sensor which tripped. In addition, the message could tell the police if the owners are home. 
     In another embodiment, the message includes an internet address of the police. A message is sent to a police computer and includes the street address of house and which sensor was tripped. In yet another embodiment, the parameters monitored can be an appliance. The data points for the parameter can be sent over the internet to the owner at a remote location. This would allow a homeowner to determine if a sprinkler was left on or the furnace had quit working. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  are a flow chart of the steps used in a home gateway system for home automation in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The process starts, step  180 , by the user dialing a telephone number of the home gateway system at step  182 . A wireless local loop connection is established with the home gateway at step  184 . The user then selects the home automation and security features from a plurality of options at step  186 . A speaker verification is performed of the user at step  188 . When the user is verified, the user is allowed access to the home automation and security features at step  190 . A voice instruction is received from the user to setup the home security controller in a warning mode at step  192 . A forceful entry signal is monitored at step  194 . When the forceful entry signal exceeds a defined range, a message containing a police telephone number is sent to a processor at step  196 . A communication link to the police telephone number is established over wireless local loop at step  198 . At step  200 , the message is transmitted to the police telephone number, which ends the process at step  202 . 
     Using the invention described herein, the communication functions are integrated with a home automation and security system to allow remote access to the home automation and security system. In addition, the home automation and security system can automatically send messages to the police, fire department, hospital, or to an owner at work. 
     The methods described herein can be implemented as computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium that when executed by a computer will perform the methods described herein. 
     While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alterations, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations in the appended claims.