Patent Publication Number: US-10319216-B2

Title: Systems for end user premise event notification

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to telecommunications and, more particularly, to methods and systems for notifying a party at an end-user premise when a particular event occurs at another end-user premise. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When an undesirable event such as a fire, an intrusion or a medical emergency occurs at a given premise (e.g., a residence or other building), phones, computers, alarm system devices and/or other pieces of equipment at the given premise can often be used to effect communications to report or otherwise deal with the undesirable event. 
     For example, in cases where a detector (e.g., a smoke detector, a glass break detector, etc.) of an alarm system at a given premise detects a fire or an intrusion, the alarm system may, in addition to emitting an audible alarm signal at the given premise, report the fire or intrusion to an alarm monitoring central. As another example, in cases where someone at a given premise experiences a medical emergency (e.g., a heart attack, a poisoning or some other acute injury or illness), a telephone at the given premise may be used to call emergency medical services. 
     Although this communication capability can be very useful, in some situations, it may be desirable and/or more appropriate to notify individuals at other premises of an undesirable event at a given premise. For example, in cases where a fire breaks out at a given premise, it may sometimes be desirable to notify individuals at neighboring premises such that they may proceed to evacuate in view of potential propagation of the fire. As another example, in cases where a person at a given premise experiences a medical emergency, it may be desirable to notify people at neighboring premises such that they can perhaps go and help the person in need until emergency medical personnel arrives on scene. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for solutions to notify a party at a given premise when a particular event occurs at another premise. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first broad aspect, the invention provides a method for notifying a party of a particular event at a first end-user premise. The method comprises: obtaining an indication of the particular event; establishing a wireless communication link between end-user equipment at the first end-user premise and a communication apparatus at a second end-user premise, the communication apparatus at the second end-user premise being connected to at least one end-user device at the second end-user premise; and causing the end-user equipment at the first end-user premise to transmit information to the communication apparatus at the second end-user premise via the wireless communication link such that, upon receiving the information, the communication apparatus at the second end-user premise directs the at least one end-user device at the second end-user premise to issue a notification concerning the particular event. 
     According to a second broad aspect, the invention provides apparatus for notifying a party of a particular event at a first end-user premise. The apparatus comprises a processing entity configured to obtain an indication of the particular event. The apparatus also comprises a notification entity configured to: establish a wireless communication link between end-user equipment at the first end-user premise and a communication apparatus at a second end-user premise, the communication apparatus at the second end-user premise being connected to at least one end-user device at the second end-user premise; and cause the end-user equipment at the first end-user premise to transmit information to the communication apparatus at the second end-user premise via the wireless communication link such that, upon receiving the information, the communication apparatus at the second end-user premise directs the at least one end-user device at the second end-user premise to issue a notification concerning the particular event. 
     According to a third broad aspect, the invention provides computer-readable media containing a program element executable by a computing system to perform a method for notifying a party of a particular event at a first end-user premise. The program element comprises: first program code for causing the computing system to obtain an indication of the particular event; second program code for causing the computing system to establish a wireless communication link between end-user equipment at the first end-user premise and a communication apparatus at a second end-user premise, the communication apparatus at the second end-user premise being connected to at least one end-user device at the second end-user premise; and third program code for causing the computing system to cause the end-user equipment at the first end-user premise to transmit information to the communication apparatus at the second end-user premise via the wireless communication link such that, upon receiving the information, the communication apparatus at the second end-user premise directs the at least one end-user device at the second end-user premise to issue a notification concerning the particular event. 
     According to a fourth broad aspect, the invention provides a method for notifying a party of a particular event at a first end-user premise, the party being located at a second end-user premise, the first end-user premise including a first communication apparatus connected to a communications network via a first communication link, the first communication apparatus controlling data routing within a first local network at the first end-user premise, the second end-user premise including a second communication apparatus connected to the communications network via a second communication link, the second communication apparatus controlling data routing within a second local network at the second end-user premise. The method is implemented by the first communication apparatus and comprises: obtaining an indication of the particular event based on information transmitted by an end-user device within the first local network; wirelessly joining the second local network to establish a wireless communication link between the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus; and transmitting information to the second communication apparatus via the wireless communication link such that, upon receiving the information transmitted via the wireless communication link, the second communication apparatus directs at least one end-user device within the second local network to issue a notification concerning the particular event. 
     According to a fifth broad aspect, the invention provides apparatus for notifying a party of a particular event at a first end-user premise, the party being located at a second end-user premise, the apparatus being located at the first end-user premise and being connected to a communications network via a first communication link, the apparatus controlling data routing within a first local network at the first end-user premise, the second end-user premise including a communication apparatus connected to the communications network via a second communication link, the communication apparatus controlling data routing within a second local network at the second end-user premise. The apparatus comprises a processing entity configured to obtain an indication of the particular event based on information transmitted by an end-user device within the first local network. The apparatus also comprises a notification entity configured to: cause the apparatus to wirelessly join the second local network to establish a wireless communication link between the apparatus and the communication apparatus; and transmit information to the communication apparatus via the wireless communication link such that, upon receiving the information transmitted via the wireless communication link, the communication apparatus directs at least one end-user device within the second local network to issue a notification concerning the particular event. 
     According to a sixth broad aspect, the invention provides computer-readable media containing a program element executable by a computing system to perform a method for notifying a party of a particular event at a first end-user premise, the party being located at a second end-user premise, the first end-user premise including a first communication apparatus connected to a communications network via a first communication link, the first communication apparatus controlling data routing within a first local network at the first end-user premise, the second end-user premise including a second communication apparatus connected to the communications network via a second communication link, the second communication apparatus controlling data routing within a second local network at the second end-user premise, the computing system being implemented by the first communication apparatus. The program element comprises: first program code for causing the computing system to obtain an indication of the particular event based on information transmitted by an end-user device within the first local network; second program code for causing the computing system to cause the first communication apparatus to wirelessly join the second local network to establish a wireless communication link between the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus; and third program code for causing the computing system to transmit information to the second communication apparatus via the wireless communication link such that, upon receiving the information transmitted via the wireless communication link, the second communication apparatus directs at least one end-user device within the second local network to issue a notification concerning the particular event. 
     According to a seventh broad aspect, the invention provides a method for notifying a party of a particular event at a first end-user premise, the first end-user premise including first end-user equipment connected to a communications network via a first communication link. The method comprises: obtaining an indication of the particular event; establishing a wireless communication link between the first end-user equipment and second end-user equipment at a second end-user premise, the second end-user equipment being connected to the communications network via a second communication link; and causing the first end-user equipment to transmit information to the second end-user equipment via the wireless communication link to instruct the second end-user equipment to issue a notification concerning the particular event. 
     According to an eighth broad aspect, the invention provides apparatus for notifying a party of a particular event at a first end-user premise, the first end-user premise including first end-user equipment connected to a communications network via a first communication link. The apparatus comprises a processing entity configured to obtain an indication of the particular event. The apparatus also comprises a notification entity configured to: establish a wireless communication link between the first end-user equipment and second end-user equipment at a second end-user premise, the second end-user equipment being connected to the communications network via a second communication link; and cause the first end-user equipment to transmit information to the second end-user equipment via the wireless communication link to instruct the second end-user equipment to issue a notification concerning the particular event. 
     According to a ninth broad aspect, the invention provides computer-readable media containing a program element executable by a computing system to perform a method for notifying a party of a particular event at a first end-user premise, the first end-user premise including first end-user equipment connected to a communications network via a first communication link. The program element comprises: first program code for causing the computing system to obtain an indication of the particular event; second program code for causing the computing system to establish a wireless communication link between the first end-user equipment and second end-user equipment at a second end-user premise, the second end-user equipment being connected to the communications network via a second communication link; and third program code for causing the computing system to cause the first end-user equipment to transmit information to the second end-user equipment via the wireless communication link to instruct the second end-user equipment to issue a notification concerning the particular event. 
     These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description of example embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A detailed description of certain embodiments of the invention is provided herein below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows an example of an architecture comprising a communications network allowing end-user equipment located at respective end-user premises to effect various communications, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows an example of potential contents of a database of a communication apparatus of the communications network shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows a communication apparatus of the end-user equipment located at one of the end-user premises shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows an example of potential contents of a database of the communication apparatus shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  show an example in which a wireless communication link is established between the end-user equipment at a first one of the end-user premises and the end-user equipment at a second one of the end-user premises in order to allow the end-user equipment at the second one of the end-user premises to issue a notification concerning a particular event at the first one of the end-user premises; and 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  show a variant of the example considered in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . 
     
    
    
     It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for the purpose of illustration of example embodiments of the invention and are an aid for understanding. They are not intended to be a definition of the limits of the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows an example of an architecture comprising a communications network  12  allowing end-user equipment  10   1 - 10   N  located at respective end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  to effect various communications, including telephone calls, accesses to data network sites (e.g., websites), alarm system communications, and/or other communications (e.g., television signals), in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Each of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  may be a residence (such as a house or an apartment) or other building (or a part thereof). 
     The end-user equipment  10   x  (1≤x≤N) at the end-user premise  18   x  is connected to the communications network  12  via a respective one of a plurality of communication links  21   1 - 21   N  that reach corresponding ones of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N . In this embodiment, the communication links  21   1 - 21   N  are part of an access network  13  that is provided by a service provider providing communication services to the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N . The access network  13  leads to a core network  30  provided by the service provider to enable the end-user equipment  10   1 - 10   N  at the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  to effect communications over various networks of the communications network  12 , including a packet-switched network  32  (e.g., the Internet), a circuit-switched network  34  (e.g., the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)) and a mobile network  36  (e.g., a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network or other cellular network). 
     More particularly, in this embodiment, each of the communication links  21   1 - 21   N  comprises a metallic twisted-pair cable (e.g., a copper twisted-pair cable) or a coaxial cable that is connected to a network element  31  of the access network  13 . Also, in this embodiment, the access network  13  is based on a fiber-to-the-node or -neighborhood (FTTN) infrastructure such that the network element  31  comprises a FTTN platform (e.g., an Alcatel 7330 Intelligent Services Access Manager (ISAM) Fiber to the Node (FTTN) platform) which, in addition to being connected to the communication links  21   1 - 21   N , is connected to optical fiber cabling of the access network  13 . The optical fiber cabling is connected to other components of the access network  13  (e.g., one or more routers or switches, an optical Ethernet network, etc.) that interface with the core network  30 . 
     The access network  13  and the communication links  21   1 - 21   N  may be implemented in various other ways in other embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, the access network  13  may be based on a fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC) infrastructure and the network element  31  may be a FTTC platform. In other embodiments, the network element  31  may be omitted depending on the nature of the access network  13 . For instance, in some embodiments, the access network  13  may be based on a fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) infrastructure (e.g., fiber-to-the-building (FTTB) or fiber-to-the-house (FTTH) infrastructures) in which case the communication links  21   1 - 21   N  may comprise optical fiber cables leading to optical network terminals (ONTs) that may be part of the end-user equipment  10   1 - 10   N  at the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N . In yet other embodiments, the communication links  21   1 - 21   N  may comprise a wireless link portion (e.g., a WiMAX link, a satellite-based link). 
     The core network  30  comprises a communication apparatus  40  configured to perform various operations when a communication, such as a telephone call, an access to a data network site or an alarm system communication, is originated by, destined for, in progress at certain end-user equipment (such as any of the end-user equipment  10   1 - 10   N ). The communication apparatus  40  comprises suitable hardware, firmware, software or a combination thereof for implementing a plurality of functional entities, including a processing entity  42 , a routing entity  44  and a database  48 . 
     The processing entity  42  implements a processing logic to process communications originated by, destined for, or in progress at end-user equipment (such as any of the end-user equipment  10   1 - 10   N ). The processing logic may be defined by a sequence of decisions to be taken with respect to a given communication, which may lead to one or more actions being performed based on those decisions. Each decision taken with respect to the given communication may be based on one or more factors. One example of such a factor is an origin of the given communication which, for instance, may be specified by: a telephone number, an Internet Protocol (IP) address, a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) (e.g., a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) URI), and/or another identifier identifying a device that originated the given communication; a name or other identifier of a party that originated the given communication; a time at which the given communication was originated (e.g., a day, hour, minute, etc.); and/or a location (e.g., a civic address) where the given communication was originated. Another example of such a factor is a destination of the given communication which, for instance, may be specified by: a telephone number, an IP address, a URI (e.g., a SIP URI), and/or another identifier identifying a device for which the given communication is destined; a name or other identifier of a party for which the given communication is destined; and/or a location (e.g., a civic address) for which the given communication is destined. In some cases, a factor on which may be based a decision to be taken with respect to the given communication may also be defined in terms of certain information included in the database  48  that may be accessed by the processing entity  42  (e.g., where the given communication is a telephone call, certain information in the database  48  on how to process calls involving a party having originated the telephone call or for which the telephone call is destined may be used by the processing entity  42 ). 
       FIG. 2  shows an example of potential contents of the database  48 . In this example, the database  48  stores a plurality of records  200   1 - 200   N , where each of these records is associated with a subscription to communication services provided by the service provider to a respective one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N . In other words, each of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  is associated with a different subscriber (i.e., a person or a group of persons) to which the service provider provides communication services. The database  48  may store other records associated with other subscriptions that are associated with other end-user premises which are served by the service provider. 
     The record  200   x  is associated with the subscriber to which communication services are provided at the end-user premise  18   x  and includes various types of information. More particularly, in this example, the record  200   x  includes:
         subscriber identification information  19  identifying the subscriber. For example, the subscriber identification information  19  may include an account number (e.g., a phone number) and/or another subscriber identifier (e.g., a name);   location information  23  indicating a physical location of the end-user premise  18   x . For example, the location information  23  may include a civic address, a set of geo-coordinates, and/or any other information that indicates the physical location of the end-user premise  18   x ;   end-user equipment information  27  regarding the end-user equipment  10   x  at the end-user premises  18   x , which includes information regarding each of one or more pieces of equipment of the end-user equipment  10   x . For example, the information regarding a given piece of equipment of the end-user equipment  10   x  may include an identifier of the given piece of equipment, such as: a Media Access Control (MAC) address, an Ethernet hardware address (EHA), or another hardware identifier of the given piece of equipment; an IP address assigned to the given piece of equipment; a URI (e.g., a SIP URI) identifying the given piece of equipment; or any other information that identifies the given piece of equipment; and   service information  25  regarding one or more communication services provided to the subscriber by the service provider. For example, the service information  25  may comprise call processing information that is related to processing of calls destined for or originated by the subscriber and that is used by the communication apparatus  40  to process such calls. In some cases, the call processing information may relate to one or more telephony features (e.g., call forwarding, call waiting, calling line identification (CLID) display, etc.) that may be subscribed to by the subscriber.       

     While this example illustrates certain information that can be included in the records  200   1 - 200   N  of the database  48 , various other information may be included in these records in other embodiments. In addition, while it is depicted in  FIG. 1  as being one component, the database  48  may be distributed in nature. For example, in some embodiments, the database  48  can have portions of its content stored in different data storage media possibly located in different components of the communication apparatus  40  that are linked by one or more physical (i.e., wired or wireless) links. 
     The routing entity  44  is operative to cause one or more actions to be performed based on one or more decisions taken by the processing entity  42  with respect to a given communication, such as route information conveyed by the given communication to a certain piece of equipment which may be, for instance, a certain end-user device or a certain network element (e.g., a router). For example, the routing entity  44  may cause information pertaining to the given communication to be routed via the packet-switched network  32 , the circuit-switched network  34 , or the mobile network  36 . To that end, the routing entity  44  may interact with one or more gateways interfacing with the packet-switched network  32 , the circuit-switched network  34 , and the mobile network  36   
     In some embodiments, the processing entity  42 , the routing entity  44  and the database  48  may be implemented by a common network component. For example, in some embodiments, the processing entity  42 , the routing entity  44  and the database  48  may be implemented by a softswitch or other computer platform. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the processing entity  42 , the routing entity  44  and the database  48  may be implemented by two or more different network components that are linked by one or more physical (i.e., wired or wireless) links. For example, in some embodiments, the processing entity  42 , the routing entity  44  and the database  48  may be implemented by two or more softswitches or other computer platforms. 
     The end-user equipment  10   x  at the end-user premise  18   x  comprises various pieces of equipment that can be used to effect communications, including telephone calls, accesses to data network sites, alarm system communications, and/or other communications (e.g., television signals). More particularly, the end-user equipment  10   x  at the end-user premise  18   x  comprises one or more end-user devices configured to effect communications, such as: one or more telephones, each of which may be, for instance, a wired Plain Old Telephony System (POTS) phone (including a cordless phone), a Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone, a POTS phone equipped with an analog terminal adapter (ATA), a softphone (i.e., a computer equipped with telephony software), or a telephony-enabled television unit (e.g., a set-top box connected to a television and a remote control); one or more computers, each of which may comprise, for instance, a desktop computer, a laptop computer or another personal computer (PC); one or more alarm system devices of an alarm system (sometimes also referred to as a “security system”), each of which may comprise, for instance, a door or window opening detector, a smoke detector, a motion detector, a glass break detector and/or another detector, a controller, and/or another piece of equipment of the alarm system; and/or one or more other end-user devices (e.g., a television unit). 
     Also, in this embodiment, the end-user equipment  10   x , at the end-user premise  18   x  comprises a communication apparatus  20   x  that is connected to the one or more end-user devices at the end-user premise  18   x  and to the communication link  21   x  reaching the end-user premise  18   x  in order to allow these one or more end-user devices to communicate over the communications network  12  via the communication link  21   x . The communication apparatus  20   x  at the end-user premise  18   x  can thus be viewed as a communications center or hub through which communications originated by, destined for, or in progress at the one or more end-user devices at the end-user premise  18   x  are effected via the communication link  21   x  reaching the end-user premise  18   x . Also, as they are interconnected via one or more wired links and/or wireless links at the end-user premise  18   x , the communication apparatus  20   x , and the one or more end-user devices at the end-user premise  18   x  are part of a local network at the end-user premise  18   x . 
     In some situations, an undesirable event such as a fire, an intrusion or a medical emergency may occur at the end-user premise  18   x . In such situations, phones, computers, alarm system devices and/or other pieces of equipment of the end-user equipment  10   x  at the end-user premise  18   x  may be used to effect communications to report or otherwise deal with the undesirable event. For example, if a detector (e.g., a smoke detector, a glass break detector, etc.) of an alarm system of the end-user equipment  10   x  detects a fire or an intrusion at the end-user premise  18   x , the alarm system may, in addition to emitting an audible alarm signal at the end-user premise  18   x , report the fire or intrusion to an alarm monitoring central. As another example, if someone at the end-user premise  18   x  experiences a medical emergency (i.e., an injury or illness that is acute and poses an immediate risk to that person&#39;s life or long term health), a telephone of the end-user equipment  10   x  may be used to call emergency medical services. 
     However, it may sometimes be desirable and/or more appropriate to notify individuals at other ones of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  of an undesirable event at the end-user premise  10   x . For example, if a fire breaks out at the end-user premise  10   x , it may be desirable to notify individuals at neighboring ones of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  such that they may proceed to evacuate in view of potential propagation of the fire. As another example, if a person at the end-user premise  10   x , experiences a medical emergency, it may be desirable to notify people at neighboring ones of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  such that they can perhaps go and help the person in need until emergency medical personnel arrives on scene. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, and as further discussed below, upon occurrence of a particular event at the end-user premise  18   x , the communication apparatus  20   x  of the end-user equipment  10   x  at the end-user premise  18   x  can cause a wireless communication link to be established between the end-user equipment  10   x  and the end-user equipment  10   y  (1≤y≤N; y≠x) at the end-user premise  18   y  in order transmit information to the end-user equipment  10   y  via this wireless communication link to instruct the end-user equipment  10   y  to issue a notification concerning the particular event. For example, the notification may comprise a message displayed on a screen of an end-user device (e.g., a phone, a computer, a television unit, etc.) of the end-user equipment  10   y  and/or an audible alarm signal emitted by a speaker of the end-user device  10   y  to notify a party (i.e., a person or group of persons) at the end-user premise  18   y  of the particular event at the end-user premise  18   x  and/or of a certain action to be performed with respect to the particular event at the end-user premise  18   x  (e.g., evacuate the end-user premise  18   y , check on the end-user premise  18   x  and/or someone at the end-user premise  18   x , etc.). This provides a “local” notification mechanism that may assist in avoiding negative, and in some cases, harmful or fatal consequences. 
     With additional reference to  FIG. 3 , the communication apparatus  20   x  of the end-user equipment  10   x  at the end-user premise  18   x  comprises suitable hardware, firmware, software or a combination thereof for implementing a plurality of functional entities, including, in this embodiment, a network interface  50 , a plurality of connectors  52   1 - 52   M , a wireless interface  80 , a wireless interface  70 , a processing entity  54 , a notification entity  68 , a routing entity  62 , a database  66 , and a power supply  56 . In some embodiments, these entities of the communication apparatus  20   x  may be integrated into a terminal installed at a suitable location (e.g., a basement or other location) at the end-user premise  18   x . In other embodiments, these entities of the communication apparatus  20   x  may be part of two or more devices interconnected to one another via one or more physical links. 
     The network interface  50  is connected to the communication link  21   x  reaching the end-user premise  18   x  in order to provide an interface between the end-user equipment  10   x  and the communications network  12 . For example, in some embodiments, the network interface  50  may be implemented by a network interface device (NID) and a channel service unit/data service unit (CSU/DSU). In other embodiments, the network interface  50  may be implemented in various other manners depending on the nature of the communication link  21   x . 
     The connectors  52   1 - 52   M  enable connection of one or more end-user devices of the end-user equipment  10   x  to the communication apparatus  20   x . For example, each of the connectors  52   1 - 52   M  may be an RJ11 connector (e.g., for connecting a wired POTS phone), an RJ45 connector (e.g., for connecting a computer or a VoIP phone), an alarm system connector for connecting an alarm system device (e.g., a controller or a detector of an alarm system) or any other type of connector (e.g., a connector for connecting a television set-top box). 
     The wireless interface  80  is configured to wirelessly exchange information with one or more end-user devices of the end-user equipment  10   x  at the end-user premise  18   x . More particularly, the wireless interface  80  comprises a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver to wirelessly exchange information with one or more end-user devices of the end-user equipment  10   x . For example, in some embodiments, the wireless interface  80  may be implemented by a wireless router based on WiFi (IEEE 802.11) technology or other wireless communication technologies. 
     The wireless interface  70  can be used to establish a wireless communication link between the end-user equipment  10   x  at the end-user premise  18   x  and the end-user equipment  10   y  at the end-user premise  18   y . More particularly, the wireless interface  70  comprises a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver to wirelessly exchange information with the end-user equipment  10   y  at the end-user premise  18   y , For example, in some embodiments, the wireless interface  70  may be based on WiFi technology or other wireless communication technologies. 
     The processing entity  54  is configured to receive requests for communications originated by one or more end-user devices of the end-user equipment  10   x . For example, the processing entity  54  may receive a request for a telephone call originated by a telephone of the end-user equipment  10   x , a request for an access to a data network site originated by a computer of the end-user equipment  10   x , a request for an alarm system communication originated by an alarm system device, and/or a request for another type of communication originated by another end-user device of the end-user equipment  10   x . 
     The processing entity  54  is also configured to process information pertaining to communications effected by the end-user equipment  10   x . More particularly, in this embodiment, the processing entity  54  comprises a modem  60  and an analog telephony adapter (ATA)  64 . The modem  60  is configured to modulate an analog carrier signal to encode digital information for transmission via the network interface  50  and to demodulate an analog carrier signal received via the network interface  50  to decode information it conveys. For example, in some embodiments, the modem  60  may be a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem or a cable modem, depending on the nature of the communication link  21   x . The ATA  64  is configured to convert analog telephony signals from any wired POTS phone that may be part of the end-user equipment  10   x  and connected to one of the connectors  52   1 - 52   M  into digital information to be processed by the routing entity  62  and the modem  60 , and vice versa. 
     The routing entity  62  is configured to cause information transmitted by or destined for the end-user equipment  10   x  to be exchanged over the communications network  12 . More particularly, in this embodiment, the routing entity  62  routes information received via the connectors  52   1 - 52   M  and/or the wireless interface  80  towards the modem  60  for transmission via the network interface  50  and routes information received from the modem  60  towards the connectors  52   1 - 52   M  and/or the wireless interface  80  for transmission to one or more end-user devices of the end-user equipment  10   x . 
     When certain events occur at the end-user premise  18   x , the processing entity  54  is configured to obtain indications of these events. For instance, in some embodiments, the processing entity  54  may obtain an indication of a particular event at the end-user premise  18   x  based on information received at the communication apparatus  20   x  in relation to the particular event, such as information transmitted by one or more end-user devices of the end-user equipment  10   x  that are used in relation to the particular event. For example, if a detector (e.g., a smoke detector, a glass break detector, etc.) of an alarm system of the end-user equipment  10   x  detects a fire or an intrusion at the end-user premise  18   x , the alarm system may, in addition to emitting an audible alarm signal at the end-user premise  18   x , effect an alarm system communication through the communication apparatus  20   x  and over the communications network  12  to report the fire or intrusion to an alarm monitoring central. Based on information pertaining to the alarm system communication (e.g., an identifier of the alarm system that originated the alarm system communication), the processing entity  54  obtains an indication of the fire or intrusion at the end-user premise  18   x . As another example, if someone at the end-user premise  18   x  experiences an emergency (e.g., a medical emergency), a telephone of the end-user equipment  10   x  may be used to initiate an emergency phone call (e.g., a “911” call) to request emergency services. Based on information pertaining to the emergency phone call (e.g., the “911” telephone number being called), the processing entity  54  obtains an indication of the emergency at the end-user premise  18   x . 
     Upon obtaining an indication of a particular event at the end-user premise  18   x , the processing entity  54  determines whether a notification concerning the particular event is to be issued at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N , say the end-user premise  18   y . That is, depending on the nature of the particular event, it may be desirable and/or more appropriate to notify a party at the end-user premise  18   y  of the particular event at the end-user premise  18   x  and/or of a certain action to be performed with respect to the particular event at the end-user premise  18   x  (e.g., evacuate the end-user premise  18   y , check on the end-user premise  18   x  and/or someone at the end-user premise  18   x , etc.) For example, if it obtains an indication of a fire, an intrusion or an emergency at the end-user premise  18   x , the processing entity  54  may determine that a notification concerning the fire, intrusion or emergency is to be issued at the end-user premise  18   y , in view of the potential criticality of such an event. In other cases, the processing entity  54  may obtain indications of events at the end-user premise  18   x  for which it determines that no notification is to be issued at other ones of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N . 
     When the processing entity  54  determines that a notification concerning a particular event is to be issued at the end-user premise  18   y , the notification entity  68  causes the wireless interface  70  to establish a wireless communication link with the end-user equipment  10   y  at the end-user premise  18   y . The notification entity  68  can proceed to cause the wireless interface  70  to transmit information to the end-user equipment  10   y  via the established wireless communication link to instruct the end-user equipment  10   y  to issue a notification concerning the particular event. For example, the notification may comprise a message displayed on a screen of an end-user device (e.g., a phone, a computer, a television unit, etc.) of the end-user equipment  10   y  and/or an audible alarm signal emitted by a speaker of the end-user device  10   y . The notification serves to notify a party at the end-user premise  18   y  of the particular event at the end-user premise  18   x  and/or of a certain action to be performed with respect to the particular event at the end-user premise  18   x  (e.g., evacuate the end-user premise  18   y , check on the end-user premise  18   x  and/or someone at the end-user premise  18   x , etc.). 
     The database  66  stores information that can be used by the communication apparatus  20   x  in operation.  FIG. 4  shows an example of potential contents of the database  66 . 
     In this example, the database  66  stores end-user equipment information  41  regarding the end-user equipment  10   x , which includes information regarding each of one or more pieces of equipment of the end-user equipment  10   x  (e.g., the communication apparatus  20   x  and the one or more end-user devices at the end-user premise  18   x ). More particularly, in this example, the information regarding a given piece of equipment of the end-user equipment  10   x  may include:
         an identifier of the given piece of equipment, such as a MAC address, EHA, or other hardware identifier of that piece of equipment, an IP address assigned to that piece of equipment, a URI (e.g., a SIP URI) identifying the given piece of equipment, or any other information that identifies that piece of equipment; and   depending on the nature of the given piece of equipment, access information to be provided to the given piece of equipment in order to access (i.e., make use of) that piece of equipment. For example, the access information for the given piece of equipment may comprise a code, such as a password or a wireless network key (e.g., a Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) key).       

     In addition, in this example, the database  66  stores end-user equipment information  43  regarding end-user equipment at one or more other ones of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  that is within wireless range of the end-user equipment  10   x  at the end-user premise  18   x . For example, if the end-user equipment  10   z  (1≤z≤N; z≠x) at the end-user premise  18   z  is within wireless range of the end-user equipment  10   x  at the end-user premise  18   x , the end-user equipment information  43  may include information regarding each of one or more pieces of equipment of the end-user equipment  10   z  (e.g., the communication apparatus  20   z  and the one or more end-user devices at the end-user premise  18   z ). For instance, the information regarding a given piece of equipment of the end-user equipment  10   z  may include: an identifier of the given piece of equipment such as a MAC address, EHA, or other hardware identifier of that piece of equipment, an IP address assigned to that piece of equipment, a URI (e.g., a SIP URI) identifying the given piece of equipment, or any other information that identifies that piece of equipment; and, depending on the nature of the given piece of equipment, access information to be provided to the given piece of equipment in order to make use of that piece of equipment (e.g., a password or a wireless network key). 
     The end-user equipment information  41  regarding the end-user equipment  10   x  may be provided in the database  66  in various ways. For example, in some cases, the identifier of and/or access information for any piece of equipment of the end-user equipment  10   x  may be provided in the database  66  by a user at the end-user premise  18   x  when setting up that piece of equipment. In other cases, the identifier of and/or access information for any piece of equipment of the end-user equipment  10   x  may be provided in the database  66  by the service provider, for example, by the communication apparatus  40  transmitting this information via the communication link  21   x . 
     Similarly, the end-user equipment information  43  regarding end-user equipment at one or more other ones of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  that is within wireless range of the end-user equipment  10   x  at the end-user premise  18   x  may be provided in the database  66  in various ways. For example, in some cases, the end-user equipment information  43  may be provided in the database  66  by the service provider, for example, by the communication apparatus  40  transmitting this information via the communication link  21   x . In other cases, the end-user equipment information  43  may be provided in the database  66  during a provisioning phase (e.g., when the communication apparatus  20   x  is initially set up at the end-user premise  18   x ) using an exchange of information between the communication apparatus  20   x  at the end-user premise  18   x  and the communication apparatus at each of these one or more other ones of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  that is within wireless range of the end-user equipment  10   x  at the end-user premise  18   x . 
     Furthermore, in this example, the database  66  stores event information  47  regarding one or more events that may occur at the end-user premise  18   x  and that require issuance of notifications concerning these events at one or more other ones of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N . For example, in some embodiments, the event information  47  may comprise an identifier of each of one or more pieces of equipment that, when specifying an origin or a destination of information conveyed via the communication apparatus  20   x , can be indicative of a particular event at the end-user premise  18   x  for which a notification is to be issued at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N . As mentioned previously, the identifier of a given piece of equipment may comprise a MAC address, EHA, or other hardware identifier of that piece of equipment, an IP address assigned to that piece of equipment, a URI (e.g., a SIP URI) identifying that piece of equipment, a telephone number, or any other information that identifies that piece of equipment. 
     For instance, in some embodiments, the event information  47  may comprise: a MAC address, EHA, or other hardware identifier, an IP address, a URI (e.g., a SIP URI) or any other information identifying a given alarm system device (e.g., a detector or controller) of an alarm system of the end-user equipment  10   x , which is such that any alarm system communication effected using the given alarm system device is indicative of a particular event (e.g., a fire or intrusion) at the end-user premise  18   x ; a telephone number, an IP address, a URI (e.g., a SIP URI), a MAC address, EHA, or other hardware identifier, or any other information identifying a given phone, which is such that any telephone call originated by or destined for the given phone is indicative of a particular event (e.g., an emergency such as a medical emergency when the telephone call is a “911” or other emergency call) at the end-user premise  18   x ; and/or any other identifier of a piece of equipment which, when specifying an origin or a destination of information conveyed via the communication apparatus  20   x , can be indicative of a particular event at the end-user premise  18   x . 
     The event information  47  may be provided in the database  66  in various ways. For example, in some cases, part or all of the event information  47  may be provided in the database  66  by a user at the end-user premise  18   x  when setting up the communication apparatus  20   x . In other cases, part or all of the event information  47  may be provided in the database  66  by the service provider, for example, by the communication apparatus  40  transmitting this information via the communication link  21   x . 
     Also, in this example, the database  66  stores location information  53  indicating the physical location of the end-user premise  18   x . For instance, the location information  53  may comprise a civic address, a set of geo-coordinates, and/or any other information that indicates the physical location of the end-user premise  18   x . The location information  53  may be provided in the database  66  in various ways. For example, in some cases, the location information  53  may be provided in the database  66  by a user at the end-user premise  18   x  when setting up the communication apparatus  20   x . In other cases, the location information  53  may be provided in the database  66  by the service provider, for instance, by the communication apparatus  40  transmitting this location information via the communication link  21   x . 
     While this example illustrates certain information that can be included in the database  66 , other information may be included in that database in other embodiments. Also, while it is depicted in  FIG. 3  as being one component, the database  66  may be distributed in nature. For example, in some embodiments, the database  66  can have portions of its content stored in different data storage media of the communication apparatus  20   x . 
     The power supply  56  is configured to power the communication apparatus  20   x  using electrical power from an electrical network of the end-user premise  18   x . In addition, the power supply  56  is capable of powering the communication apparatus  20   x  in cases where the electrical network of the end-user premise  18   x  does not provide sufficient electrical power (including no electrical power at all) for operation of the communication apparatus  20   x  (e.g., due to a power outage or a malfunction in the electrical network). For example, the power supply  56  may comprise one or more batteries capable of powering the communication apparatus  20   x  for a prolonged period of time (e.g., several hours or a few days) before being depleted. The power supply  56  may also comprise charging circuitry for recharging the one or more batteries using electrical power from the electrical network of the end-user premise  18   x . 
     While they are shown as distinct entities, different ones of the functional entities of the communication apparatus  20   x  may be implemented by a common device. For example, the wireless interface  70  and the wireless interface  80  may be implemented by a common wireless router (e.g., a WiFi router). As another example, one or more of the connectors  52   1 - 52   M  and the ATA  64  may be implemented by a common ATA device. As yet another example, the modem  60  and the network interface  50  may be implemented by a common network interface device. As yet another example, the routing entity  62  and the notification entity  68  may be implemented by a common routing device. As yet another example, the processing entity  54 , the routing entity  62  and the notification entity  68  may be implemented by a common processing platform. As yet another example, the wireless interface  70 , the wireless interface  80 , the processing entity  54 , the routing entity  62  and the notification entity  68  may be implemented by a common device. 
     Also, while the communication apparatus  20   x  is configured in a particular manner in this embodiment, the communication apparatus  20   x , may be configured in various manners in other embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, the ATA  64  may be omitted in cases where the end-user equipment  10   x  at the end-user premise  18   x  does not comprise any POTS phone. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , an example illustrating how a party at the end-user premise  18   i  can be notified when a particular event occurs at the end-user premise  18   j , will now be considered. 
     In this example, the end-user equipment  10   j  comprises, in addition to the communication apparatus  20   j , a plurality of end-user devices, including a computer  14   j , a VoIP phone  15   j , a POTS phone  16   j , and alarm system devices (e.g., detectors, a controller) of an alarm system  17   j , which are connected to the communication apparatus  20   j  via its connectors  52   1 - 52   M  and/or its wireless interface  80 . Thus, in this case, the communication apparatus  20   j , the computer  14   j , the VoIP phone  15   j , the POTS phone  16   j , and the alarm system  17   j  are part of a local network at the end-user premise  18   j . 
     For purposes of this example, it is assumed that a particular event occurs at the end-user premise  18   j . More particularly, in this example, it is assumed that a fire breaks out at the end-user premise  18   j . A smoke detector of the alarm system  17   j  detects smoke produced by the fire and issues a signal indicative of the fire which, upon being received by a controller of the alarm system  17   j , results in the alarm system  17   j  effecting an alarm system communication over the communications network  12  to report the fire to an alarm monitoring central  73 . In this example, the alarm system communication is destined for communication equipment  79  located at the alarm monitoring central  73 . For instance, the communication equipment  79  may comprise a telephone and/or a computer for which the alarm system communication is destined. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5A , the communication apparatus  20   j  receives information  305  from the alarm system  17   j . The information  305  pertains to the alarm system communication effected by the alarm system  17   j  due to issuance of the signal by the smoke detector. 
     The information  305  comprises information indicative of a destination of the alarm system communication. For instance, in this case, the destination of the alarm system communication is specified by an identifier of the communication equipment  79 , such as a telephone number, an IP address, a URI (e.g., a SIP URI), a MAC address, EHA or other hardware identifier, and/or any other information identifying the communication equipment  79 . 
     The information  305  also comprises information indicative of detection of the fire at the end-user premise  18   x . For example, in this embodiment, the information  305  comprises an identifier of the smoke detector of the alarm system  17   j  which has detected the smoke produced by the fire, such as an IP address, a URI (e.g., a SIP URI), a MAC address, EHA or other hardware identifier, and/or any other information identifying the smoke detector. For purposes of this example, it is assumed that the identifier of the smoke detector included in the information  305  is an IP address, say “10.10.2.7”. 
     The routing entity  62  of the communication apparatus  20   j  transmits the information  305  to the communication equipment  79  over the communications network  12  via the communication link  21   j . An operator and/or a computer at the alarm monitoring central  73  can perform certain actions to handle the alarm system communication reporting the fire at the end-user premise  18   x , such as dispatch firefighters and possibly other emergency personnel on scene. 
     Meanwhile, the processing entity  54  of the communication apparatus  20   j  determines whether the information  305  transmitted by the alarm system  17   j  is indicative of any event at the end-user premise  18   x  for which a notification is to be issued at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N . More particularly, in this embodiment, the processing entity  54  determines whether any identifier included in the information  305  corresponds to any identifier included in the event information  47  in the database  66 . Thus, in this example, the processing entity  54  determines whether the identifier of the communication equipment  79  of the alarm monitoring central  73  or the IP address “10.10.2.7” identifying the smoke detector of the alarm system  17   j  included in the information  305  corresponds to any identifier included in the event information  47  in the database  66 . If not, the processing entity  54  performs no further action directed to issuance of a notification at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N . 
     For purposes of this example, assume that the event information  47  in the database  66  of the communication apparatus  20   j  includes: the IP address “10.10.2.7” identifying the smoke detector of the alarm system  17   j ; the IP address, say “10.10.2.9”, identifying a glass break detector of the alarm system  17   j ; the emergency telephone number “911”; and the telephone number, say “(555) 555-8894”, of a poison control center. The processing entity  54  thus determines that the IP address “10.10.2.7” included in the information  305  corresponds to the IP address “10.10.2.7” included in the event information  47  in the database  66 . Accordingly, since the IP address “10.10.2.7” identifies the smoke detector of the alarm system  17   j , the processing entity  54  obtains an indication of the fire at the end-user premise  18   j  and determines that a notification concerning this fire is to be issued at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N . 
     Thus, the communication apparatus  20   j  attempts to cause issuance of a notification concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j  at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N . More particularly, the communication apparatus  20   j  attempts to establish a wireless communication link via which it can transmit information causing issuance of such a notification at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N . 
     The processing entity  54  of the communication apparatus  20   j  accesses the database  66  of the communication apparatus  20   j  to obtain the end-user equipment information  43  regarding end-user equipment at one or more other ones of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  that is within wireless range of the end-user equipment  10   j  at the end-user premise  18   j . 
     In this example, it is assumed that the end-user equipment information  43  in the database  66  of the communication apparatus  20   j  includes end-user equipment information regarding the end-user equipment  10   i  at the end-user premise  18   i , which is within wireless range of the end-user equipment  10   j  at the end-user premise  18   j . The end-user equipment  10   i  comprises, in addition to the communication apparatus  20   i , a plurality of end-user devices, including a computer  14   1 , a VoIP phone  15   i , another VoIP phone  16   i , and a television unit  29   i , which are connected to the communication apparatus  20   i  via its connectors  52   1 - 52   M  and/or its wireless interface  80 . Thus, in this case, the communication apparatus  20   i , the computer  14   i , the VoIP phone  15   i , the VoIP phone  16   i , and the television unit  29   i  are part of a local network at the end-user premise  18   i . It is also assumed in this example that the end-user equipment information  43  included in the database  66  of the communication apparatus  20   j  at the end-user premise  18   j  includes an identifier of the communication apparatus  20   i  (e.g., a MAC address, EHA, or other hardware identifier of the communication apparatus  20   i , an IP address assigned to communication apparatus  20   i , a URI such as a SIP URI, or any other information that identifies the communication apparatus  20   i ) and access information to be provided to the communication apparatus  20   i  in order to make use of the communication apparatus  20   i  (e.g., a password or a wireless network key). 
     While in this example the end-user equipment information  43  in the database  66  pertains only to the end-user equipment  10   i  at the end-user premise  18   i , in other examples, the end-user equipment information  43  in the database  66  may include identifiers and access information for end-user equipment at other ones of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N . In such a case, the processing entity  54  of communication apparatus  20   j  may use a selection process to select one or more of the communication apparatuses  20   1 - 20   N  listed in the database  66  with which it may attempt to establish a wireless communication link. For example, the selection process may define one or more “preferred” ones of the communication apparatuses  20   1 - 20   N  listed in the database  66  that are predetermined by one or more components of the communications network  12 , such as the communication apparatus  40  of the core network  30 . As another example, the selection process may allow the processing entity  54  of the communication apparatus  20   j  to decide with which of the other ones of the communication apparatuses  20   1 - 20   N  listed in the database  66  it should attempt to establish a wireless communication link. For instance, the processing entity  54  may evaluate the other ones of the communication apparatuses  20   1 - 20   N  listed in the database  66  based on criteria such as their physical proximity, wireless signal strength and/or reported network traffic load, and/or other factors. 
     Upon retrieving the identifier and access information of the communication apparatus  20   i , the processing entity  54  of the communication apparatus  20   j  causes the notification entity  68  of the communication apparatus  20   j  to attempt to establish a wireless communication link between the communication apparatus  20   j  and the communication apparatus  20   i . More particularly, the processing entity  54  causes the notification entity  68  to wirelessly transmit information  315  to the communication apparatus  20   1  via the wireless interface  70  of the communication apparatus  20   j . The information  315  can be viewed as a request to access the communication apparatus  20   i . In this example, the information  315  includes the identifier and access information of the communication apparatus  20   i , as well as the identifier and access information of the communication apparatus  20   j , which the processing entity  54  retrieved from the end-user equipment information  41  included in the database  66  of the communication apparatus  20   j . 
     When it receives the information  315 , the communication apparatus  20   i  attempts to validate the identifier and access information of the communication apparatus  20   i  that are included in the information  315 . More particularly, the processing entity  54  of the communication apparatus  20   i  verifies whether the identifier and access information of the communication apparatus  20   i  that are included in the information  315  correspond to the identifier and access information of the communication apparatus  20   i  that are included in the end-user equipment information  41  in the database  66  of the communication apparatus  20   i . If not, the communication apparatus  20   i  may deny the request of the communication apparatus  20   j  to access the communication apparatus  20   i  and may take some other action. For instance, the communication apparatus  20   i  may send information back to the communication apparatus  20   j  indicating that access to the communication apparatus  20   i  is denied, and/or may send information to the communication apparatus  40  of the core network  30  to indicate that a failed connection attempt has occurred due to invalid credentials. 
     In this example, it is assumed that the identifier and access information of the communication apparatus  20   i  that are included in the information  315  indeed correspond to the identifier and access information of the communication apparatus  20   i  that are included in the end-user equipment information  41  in the database  66  of the communication apparatus  20   i . Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 5B , the communication apparatus  20   i  grants access to the communication apparatus  20   j , resulting in establishment of a wireless communication link  95  between the communication apparatus  20   j  and the communication apparatus  20   i . In other words, in this example, the communication apparatus  20   j  wirelessly joins the local network at the end-user premise  18   i . 
     With the wireless communication link  95  being established, the notification entity  68  of the communication apparatus  20   j  transmits information  325  to the communication apparatus  20   i  via the wireless communication link  95 . The information  325  instructs the end-user equipment  10   i  at the end-user premise  18   i  to issue a notification concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j . 
     More particularly, in this embodiment, the information  325  comprises information indicative of the fire at the end-user premise  18   j . Also, in this embodiment, the information  325  comprises the location information  53  indicative of the physical location of the end-user premise  18   j  at which the fire occurs, which is retrieved from the database  66  of the communication apparatus  20   j . The information  325  may also comprise information advising a party at the end-user premise  18   i  to evacuate this premise in view of the fire. 
     Upon receiving the information  325 , the notification entity  68  of the communication apparatus  20   i  causes the end-user equipment  10   i  at the end-user premise  18   i  to issue a notification concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j . This notification can take on many forms in various embodiments. 
     For example, in some embodiments, the notification concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j  may comprise one or more visual messages displayed on one or more end-user devices of the end-user equipment  10   i . More particularly, in this example, the notification entity  68  of the communication apparatus  20   i  transmits information  335 ,  337 ,  339 ,  341  to the computer  14   i , the VoIP phone  15   i , the VoIP phone  16   i , and the television unit  29   i  via the connectors  52   1 - 52   M  and/or the wireless interface  80  of the communication apparatus  20   i  to direct these end-user devices to display respective messages concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j . Upon receiving the information  335 ,  337 ,  339 ,  341 , the computer  14   i , the VoIP phone  15   i , the VoIP phone  16   i , and the television unit  29   i  display respective visual messages concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j . These visual messages may have different content and/or formats, for instance, depending on display capabilities of the computer  14   i , the VoIP phone  15   i , the VoIP phone  16   i , and the television unit  29   i . For example, each message may be “Fire at neighbor&#39;s house! Evacuate immediately!” or any conceivable variant thereof. 
     Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, the notification concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j  may comprise one or more audible messages emitted by one or more end-user devices of the end-user equipment  10   i . For instance, in this example, the information  335 ,  337 ,  339 ,  341  transmitted to the computer  14   i , the VoIP phone  15   i  the VoIP phone  16   i , and the television unit  29   i  may also direct speakers of these end-user devices to emit audible messages accompanying the visual messages that they display. 
     As yet another possibility, in some embodiments, the notification concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j  may comprise an audible warning signal emitted by one or more end-user devices of the end-user equipment  10   i . For instance, in this example, the notification entity  68  of the communication apparatus  20   i  may transmit information to one or more of the computer  14   i , the VoIP phone  15   i , the VoIP phone  16   i  and the television unit  29   i , and/or to another end-user device (e.g., a siren) of the end-user equipment  10   i , to direct a speaker to emit a ring, a siren-like sound or any outer distinctive warning sound. 
     As yet a further possibility, in some embodiments, the notification concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j  may comprise a simulated phone call at the VoIP phone  15   i  and/or the VoIP phone  16   i , which, upon being answered by someone at the end-user premise  18   i , plays an audible message concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j . 
     In this example, it is assumed that a party  71  is currently at the end-user premise  18   i  and observes one or more of the visual messages displayed by the computer  14   i , the VoIP phone  15   i , the VoIP phone  16   i , and the television unit  29   i  (and/or any audible message accompanying any of these visual messages, if applicable). The party  71  is thus notified of the fire at the end-user premise  18   j  and may take various actions depending on the circumstances, such as evacuate the end-user premise  18   i , call emergency services, etc. 
     In some embodiments, the wireless communication link  95  may remain established between the communication apparatus  20   j  and the communication apparatus  20 ; until the alarm system communication is terminated. Upon determining that the alarm system communication with the communication equipment  79  at the alarm monitoring central  73  is terminated, the processing entity  54  of the communication apparatus  20   j  may cause the notification entity  68  of the communication apparatus  20   j  to wirelessly transmit information to the communication apparatus  20   i  via the wireless interface  70  of the communication apparatus  20   j  in order to disestablish the wireless communication link  95 . 
     In other embodiments, the wireless communication link  95  may remain established between the communication apparatus  20   j  and the communication apparatus  20   i  until the fire at the end-user premise  18   j  is resolved. In other words, the wireless communication link  95  may remain established even after the termination of the alarm system communication (e.g., to allow the notification entity  68  of the communication apparatus  20   j  to repeatedly transmit information such as the information  325  to instruct the end-user equipment  10   i  to issue other notifications concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j ). When the wireless communication link  95  becomes unnecessary, for instance, because the fire has been resolved, it may be disestablished. To determine when the wireless communication link  95  may be disestablished, a command may be provided to the notification entity  68  of the communication apparatus  20   j . For example, a user may input a command to disestablish the wireless communication link  95  via an end-user device (e.g., the VoIP phone  15   j ) connected to the communication apparatus  20   j . The notification entity  68  of the communication apparatus  20   j  may proceed to wirelessly transmit information to the communication apparatus  20   i  via the wireless interface  70  of the communication apparatus  20   j  in order to disestablish the wireless communication link  95 . 
     While in the example presented above the processing entity  54  of the communication apparatus  20   j  determines that a notification concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j  is to be issued at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  upon receiving the information indicative that the smoke detector of the alarm system  17   j  detected smoke produced by the fire, in other examples, a more stringent condition may need to be met in order for the processing entity  54  to make such a determination. For instance, in some cases, the processing entity  54  may determine that a notification concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j  is to be issued at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  upon receiving information indicative that multiple smoke detectors of the alarm system  17   j  detected smoke produced by the fire and/or that one or more smoke detectors of the alarm system  17   j  have detected smoke produced by the fire for a threshold period of time (e.g., five (5) minutes), as this suggests that the fire is widespread and/or spreading. This can avoid unnecessary issuance of notifications at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  for minor fires or accidental activations of a smoke detector of the alarm system  17   j  (e.g., due to burnt food in an oven or microwave). 
     Also, while the example presented above involved a fire at the end-user premise  18   j , similar operations may occur for other types of events that may occur at the end-user premise  18   j  in order to issue notifications concerning such events at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N . Generally, any event at the end-user premise  18   j  for which a notification is to be issued at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  can be defined by various conditions. 
     For example, if an emergency phone call is placed to the emergency telephone number “911” using the VoIP phone  15   j  or the POTS phone  16   j  because a person at the end-user premise  18   j  experiences an emergency (e.g., a medical emergency), the processing entity  54  of the communication apparatus  20   j  determines that the called telephone number corresponds to the telephone number “911” included in the event information  47  in the database  66  and thus obtains an indication of the emergency at the end-user premise  18   j . The notification entity  68  of the communication apparatus  20   j  proceeds to establish a wireless communication link between the end-user equipment  10   j  at the end-user premise  18   j  and the end-user equipment  10   i  at the end-user premise  18   i  and transmits information to the end-user equipment  10   i  via this wireless communication link to instruct the end-user equipment  10   i  to issue a notification concerning the emergency at the end-user premise  18   j  (e.g., a visual message and/or an audible message advising a party at the end-user premise  18   i  that an emergency phone call has been placed by someone at the end-user premise  18   j ). Such a notification may allow a party at the end-user premise  18   i  to go and help the person in need at the end-user premise  18   j  until emergency personnel arrives on scene. 
     As another example, assume that the end-user premise  18   j  is a house in which lives an individual under certain medication. Also assume for purposes of this example that the end-user equipment  10   j  at the end-user premise  18   j  comprises a detector monitoring a medicine cabinet at the end-user premise  18   j  in which the individual keeps his/her medication whereby the detector detects every opening of the medicine cabinet. Assuming that the individual is required to take his/her medication three (3) times a day and that any additional medication during that day may have significant adverse effects on the individual&#39;s health, the communication apparatus  20   j  may be configured to invoke the local notification mechanism contemplated herein if it receives information from the detector which indicates that the medicine cabinet was opened more than three (3) times in one day. In such cases, the notification entity  68  may proceed to establish a wireless communication link between the end-user equipment  10   j  at the end-user premise  18   j  and the end-user equipment  10   i  at the end-user premise  18   i  and transmit information to the end-user equipment  10   i  via this wireless communication link to instruct the end-user equipment  10   i  to issue a notification concerning the fact that the medicine cabinet at the end-user premise  18   j  was opened a number of times which is of potential concern. Such a notification may allow a party at the end-user premise  18   i  to go and check on the individual at the end-user premise  18   j  to ensure that he/she is fine. 
     It will thus be appreciated that, in this embodiment, interaction between the communication apparatus  20   j  at the end-user premise  18   j  and the communication apparatus  20   i  at the end-user premise  18   i  provides a local notification mechanism enabling a notification concerning a particular event at the end-user premise  18   j  to be issued at the end-user premise  18   i . 
     The local notification mechanism contemplated herein may be implemented in various other ways in other embodiments. 
     For example, in some embodiments, one or more end-user devices of the end-user equipment  10   x  at the end-user premise  18   x  may have wireless capabilities that can be exploited to implement the local notification mechanism contemplated herein. 
     With reference to  FIG. 6A , a variant to the example considered above will be discussed in which it is assumed that the alarm system  17   j , which detected the fire at the end-user premise  18   j , is a wireless alarm system. That is, in this example, each of one or more devices of the alarm system  17   j  comprises a wireless interface comprising a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver that can wirelessly exchange information with another device of the alarm system  17   j  and/or the wireless interface  80  of the communication apparatus  20   j . More particularly, in this example, it is assumed that each of the smoke detector and the controller of the alarm system  17   j  comprises a wireless interface allowing them to wirelessly exchange information with one another and with any other wireless-enabled device within range. 
     As in the example considered above, upon the smoke detector of the alarm system  17   j  detecting the smoke produced by the fire at the end-user premise  18   j , the communication apparatus  20   j  receives the information  305  from the alarm system  17   j  pertaining to the alarm system communication effected by the alarm system  17   j . Also, as in the example considered above, the processing entity  54  of the communication apparatus  20   j  determines that the IP address “10.10.2.7” included in the information  305  corresponds to the IP address “10.10.2.7” included in the event information  47  in the database  66 . Accordingly, like in the example considered above, since the IP address “10.10.2.7” identifies the smoke detector of the alarm system  17   j , the processing entity  54  obtains an indication of the fire at the end-user premise  18   j  and determines that a notification concerning this fire is to be issued at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N . 
     Thus, the communication apparatus  20   j  attempts to cause issuance of a notification concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j  at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N . More particularly, the communication apparatus  20   j  attempts to establish a wireless communication link via which it can transmit information causing issuance of such a notification at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N . 
     The processing entity  54  of the communication apparatus  20   j  accesses the database  66  of the communication apparatus  20   j  to obtain the end-user equipment information  43  regarding end-user equipment at one or more other ones of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  that is within wireless range of the end-user equipment  10   j  at the end-user premise  18   j . 
     As in the example considered above, in this variant example, it is assumed that the end-user equipment information  43  in the database  66  of the communication apparatus  20   j  includes an identifier of the communication apparatus  20   i  (e.g., a MAC address, EHA, or other hardware identifier of the communication apparatus  20   i , an IP address assigned to the communication apparatus  20   i , a URI such as a SIP URI. or any other information that identifies the communication apparatus  20   i ) and access information to be provided to the communication apparatus  20   i  in order to make use of the communication apparatus  20   i  (e.g., a password or a wireless network key). 
     The processing entity  54  of the communication apparatus  20   j  retrieves the identifier and access information of the communication apparatus  20   i . In the embodiment considered above, the communication apparatus  20   j  uses this identifier and access information to establish the wireless communication link  95  between itself and the communication apparatus  20   i . In this variant, however, the communication apparatus  20   j  attempts to establish a wireless communication link between the alarm system  17   j  and the communication apparatus  20   i  instead. 
     More particularly, the notification entity  68  of the communication apparatus  20   j  transmits information  355  to the alarm system  17   j . In this embodiment, the information  355  is transmitted to the controller of the alarm system  17   j . The information  355  includes the identifier and access information for the communication apparatus  20   i  retrieved from the database  66  as well as an indication to establish a wireless communication link between itself, i.e., the alarm system  17   j , and the communication apparatus  20   i . 
     Upon receipt of the information  355 , the controller of the alarm system  17   j  wirelessly sends information  361  to the communication apparatus  20   i  via its wireless interface. The information  361  includes the identifier and access information of the communication apparatus  20   i  that was retrieved from the database  66  by the processing entity  54  of the communication apparatus  20   j . In this example, the information  361  also includes an identifier of the controller of the alarm system  17   j . 
     When it receives the information  361 , the communication apparatus  20   i  attempts to validate the identifier and access information of the communication apparatus  20   i  that are included in the information  361 . More particularly, the processing entity  54  of the communication apparatus  20   i  verifies whether the identifier and access information of the communication apparatus  20   i  that are included in the information  361  correspond to the identifier and access information of the communication apparatus  20   i  that are included in the end-user equipment information  41  in the database  66  of the communication apparatus  20   i . If not, the communication apparatus  20   i  may deny to the request of the alarm system  17   j  to access the communication apparatus  20   i  and may take some other action. For instance, the communication apparatus  20   i  may send information back to the alarm system  17   j  indicating that access to the communication apparatus  20   i  is denied, and/or may send information to the communication apparatus  40  of the core network  30  to indicate that a failed connection attempt has occurred due to invalid credentials. 
     In this example, it is assumed that the identifier and access information of the communication apparatus  20   i  that are included in the information  361  indeed correspond to the identifier and access information of the communication apparatus  20   i  that are included in the end-user equipment information  41  in the database  66  of the communication apparatus  20   i . Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 6B , the communication apparatus  20   i  grants access to the alarm system  17   j , resulting in establishment of a wireless communications link  97  between the alarm system  17   j  and the communication apparatus  20   i . In other words, in this example, the alarm system  17   j  wirelessly joins the local network at the end-user premise  18   i . 
     With the wireless communication link  97  being established, the alarm system  17   j  transmits information  375  to the communication apparatus  20   i  via the wireless communication link  97 . The information  375  instructs the end-user equipment  10   i  at the end-user premise  18   i  to issue a notification concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j . 
     More particularly, in this embodiment, the information  375  comprises information indicative of the fire at the end-user premise  18   j . Also, in this embodiment, the information  375  comprises the location information  53  indicative of the physical location of the end-user premise  18   j  at which the fire occurs, which may be included in the information  361  upon being retrieved from the database  66  of the communication apparatus  20   j . The information  375  may also comprise information advising a party at the end-user premise  18   i  to evacuate this premise in view of the fire. 
     Upon receiving the information  375 , the notification entity  68  of the communication apparatus  20   i  causes the end-user equipment  10   i  at the end-user premise  18   i  to issue a notification concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j . This notification can take on many forms in various embodiments. 
     For example, in some embodiments, the notification concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j  may comprise one or more visual messages displayed on one or more end-user devices of the end-user equipment  10   i . More particularly, in this example, the notification entity  68  of the communication apparatus  20   i  transmits information  335 ′,  337 ′,  339 ′,  341 ′ to the computer  14   i , the VoIP phone  15   i , the VoIP phone  16   i , and the television unit  29   i  via the connectors  52   1 - 52   M  and/or the wireless interface  80  of the communication apparatus  20   i  to direct these end-user devices to display respective visual messages concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j . Upon receiving the information  335 ′,  337 ′,  339 ′,  341 ′, the computer  14   i , the VoIP phone  15   i , the VoIP phone  16   i , and the television unit  29   i , display respective visual messages concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j . These visual messages may have different content and/or formats, for instance, depending on display capabilities of the computer  14   i , the VoIP phone  15   i , the VoIP phone  16   i , and the television unit  29   i . For example, each message may be “Fire at neighbor&#39;s house! Evacuate immediately!” or any conceivable variant thereof. 
     Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, the notification concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j  may comprise one or more audible messages emitted by one or more end-user devices of the end-user equipment  10   i . For instance, in this example, the information  335 ′,  337 ′,  339 ′,  341 ′ transmitted to the computer  14   i , the VoIP phone  15   i , the VoIP phone  16   i , and the television unit  29   i  may also direct speakers of these end-user devices to emit audible messages accompanying the visual messages that they display. 
     As yet another possibility, in some embodiments, the notification concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j  may comprise an audible warning signal emitted by one or more end-user devices of the end-user equipment  10   i . For instance, in this example, the notification entity  68  of the communication apparatus  20   i  may transmit information to one or more of the computer  14   i , the VoIP phone  15   i  the VoIP phone  16   i , and the television unit  29   i , and/or to another end-user device (e.g., a siren) of the end-user equipment  10   i , to direct a speaker to emit a ring, a siren-like sound or any outer distinctive warning sound. 
     As yet a further possibility, in some embodiments, the notification concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j  may comprise a simulated phone call at the VoIP phone  15   i  and/or the VoIP phone  16   i , whereby upon being answered by someone at the end-user premise  18   i  plays an audible message concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   i . 
     In this variant example, as in the example considered above, it is assumed that the party  71  at the end-user premise  18   i  observes one or more of the visual messages displayed by the computer  14   i , the VoIP phone  15   i , the VoIP phone  16   i , and the television unit  29   i  (and/or any audible message accompanying any of these visual messages, if applicable). The party  71  is thus notified of the fire at the end-user premise  18   j  and may take various actions depending on the circumstances, such as evacuate the end-user premise  18   i , call emergency services, etc. 
     While this embodiment illustrates one way in which the local notification mechanism contemplated herein may be implemented using wireless capabilities of one or more end-user devices of the end-user equipment  10   x  at the end-user premise  18   x , such wireless capabilities may be exploited in other ways in other embodiments to implement the failover mechanism. 
     For example, in some embodiments, upon obtaining an indication of a particular event at the end-user premise  18   x  for which a notification is to be issued at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N , the communication apparatus  20   x  at the end-user premise  18   x  may establish a wireless communication link with a wireless-enabled end-user device that is part of the end-user equipment  10   y  at the end-user premise  18   y  rather than with the communication apparatus  20   y  directly. For instance, in the example considered above, the communication apparatus  20   j  at the end-user premise  18   j  may establish one or more wireless communication link between itself and the computer  14   i , the VoIP phone  15   i , the VoIP phone  16   i , and/or the television unit  29   i  (using an identifier and possibly access information for each of these end-user devices retrieved from the database  66  of the communication apparatus  20   j ) and transmit information to the computer  14   i , the VoIP phone  15   i , the VoIP phone  16   i , and/or the television unit  29   i  via these one or more wireless communication links in order to instruct any of these end-user devices to present a visual message (possibly accompanied by an audible message) concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j . 
     As another example, in some embodiments, upon obtaining an indication of a particular event at the end-user premise  18   x  for which a notification is to be issued at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N , the communication apparatus  20   x  at the end-user premise  18   x  may establish a wireless communication link between a wireless-enabled end-user device that is part of the end-user equipment  10   x  and a wireless-enabled end-user device that is part of the end-user equipment  10   y  at the end-user premise  18   y . For instance, in the example considered above, the communication apparatus  20   j  at the end-user premise  18   j  may establish one or more wireless communication link between the alarm system  17   j  and the computer  14   i , the VoIP phone  15   i , the VoIP phone  16   i , and/or the television unit  29   i  (using an identifier and possibly access information for each of these end-user devices retrieved from the database  66  of the communication apparatus  20   j ) and cause the alarm system  17   j  to transmit information to the computer  14   i , the VoIP phone  15   i , the VoIP phone  16   i , and/or the television unit  29   i , via these one or more wireless communication links in order to instruct any of these end-user devices to present a visual message (possibly accompanied by an audible message) concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j . 
     The embodiments considered above illustrate that, in some cases, it is useful or necessary to know the physical location of the end-user premise  18   x  at which a particular event occurs. Although in the embodiments considered above, the physical location of the end-user premise  18   x  at which a particular event occurs is derived from the location information  53  included in the database  66  of the communication apparatus  20   x  at the end-user premise  18   x , this physical location may be derived in various other ways in other embodiments. 
     For example, in some embodiments, the physical location of the end-user premise  18   x  at which a particular event occurs may be determined using the location information  23  included in the database  48  of the communication apparatus  40  of the core network  30 . In such embodiments, upon receiving an identifier of a piece of equipment at the end-user premise  18   x  at which a particular event occurs (e.g., in the example considered above, the identifier of the communication apparatus  20   j  which may be included in the information  325 ,  375  transmitted by the end-user equipment  10   j ), the communication apparatus  20   y  at the end-user premise  18   y  may obtain the location information  23  indicating the physical location of the end-user premise  18   x  by communicating with the communication apparatus  40  via the communication link  21   y . Once obtained, the location information  23  indicating the physical location of the end-user premise  18   x  may be used by the communication apparatus  20   y  at the end-user premise  18   y  to know the physical location of the end-user premise  18   x  at which the particular event occurs. 
     As another example, in some embodiments, the physical location of the end-user premise  18   x  at which a particular event occurs may be determined using triangulation techniques (e.g., multilateration or trilateration). For instance, location algorithms may determine the physical location of the end-user premise  18   x  based on three or more times of arrival of a signal wirelessly transmitted by a piece of equipment of the end-user equipment  10   x  (e.g., the communication apparatus  20   x ) at three (3) or more wireless receivers having known locations that are distributed among the end-user equipment  10   1 - 10   N  at the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  and/or equipment at various other places. Such triangulation techniques, which can be based on times of arrival either explicitly (i.e., on the times of arrival themselves) or implicitly (i.e., on differences between the times of arrival), are well known and need not be described here. An example of a system enabling such location capabilities is the Wi-Fi Positioning System (WPS) provided by Skyhook Wireless Inc. and described at http://www.skyhookwireless.com/, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     Thus, using triangulation techniques, a “location” database including location information indicating the physical locations of the end-user equipment  10   1 - 10   N  at the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  (and possibly equipment at various other places) can be created and maintained by the service provider serving the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  or by another party. The location database may associate the location information indicating the physical location of the end-user equipment  10   x  to an identifier of a piece of equipment of the end-user equipment  10   x  (e.g., the identifier of the communication apparatus  20   x ). In such embodiments, upon receiving an identifier of a piece of equipment of the end-user premise  18   x  at which a particular event occurs (e.g., in the example considered above, the identifier of the communication apparatus  20   j  which may be included in the information  325 ,  375  transmitted by the end-user equipment  10   j ), the communication apparatus  20   y  at the end-user premise  18   y  may obtain the location information indicating the physical location of the end-user premise  18   x  from the location database by communicating with equipment of the service provider or other party managing the location database via the communication link  21   y . Once obtained, the location information indicating the physical location of the end-user premise  18   x  may be used by the communication apparatus  20   y  at the end-user premise  18   y  to know the physical location of the end-user premise  18   x  at which the particular event occurs. 
     In the embodiments considered above, the processing entity  54  of the communication apparatus  20   x  can obtain an indication of a particular event at the end-user premise  18   x  and determine that a notification concerning this event is to be issued at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  by determining that an identifier (e.g., a telephone number, an IP address, a URI such as a SIP URI, a MAC address, EHA or other hardware identifier, etc.) included in information received at the communication apparatus  20   x  in relation to the particular event (e.g., the information  305  in the examples considered above) corresponds to a predetermined identifier specified by the event information  47  in the database  66  of the communication apparatus  20   x . The processing entity  54  of the communication apparatus  20   x  may obtain an indication of a particular event at the end-user premise  18   x  and determine that a notification concerning this event is to be issued at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  in various other ways in other embodiments based on information received in relation to the particular event. 
     For example, in some embodiments, the processing entity  54  of the communication apparatus  20   x  can obtain an indication of a particular event at the end-user premise  18   x  and determine that a notification concerning this event is to be issued at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  by determining that an identifier included in information received at the communication apparatus  20   x  in relation to the particular event (e.g., the information  305  in the examples considered above) corresponds to a predetermined identifier specified by a processing logic implemented by the processing entity  54 . For instance, the processing logic implemented by the processing entity  54  may include one or more conditional statements checking whether an identifier included in received information corresponds to a predetermined identifier (e.g., “if IP address “10.10.2.7” included in received information, then conclude there is a fire at premise and effect issuance of notification concerning fire”; “if telephone number “911” included in received information, then conclude there is an emergency at premise and effect issuance of notification concerning emergency”; etc.). 
     As another example, in some embodiments, information received at the communication apparatus  20   x  may specify an occurrence of a particular event at the end-user premise  18   x . For instance, such information may comprise a code having an assigned meaning which, when received by the processing entity  54  of the communication apparatus  20   x , results in the processing entity  54  obtaining an indication of the particular event and determining that a notification concerning this event is to be issued at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N . Considering as an illustration the examples considered above, the information  305  transmitted by the alarm system  17   j  may comprise a code specifying that the fire at the end-user premise  18   j  has been detected. Upon receiving this code, the processing entity  54  of the communication apparatus  20   j  obtains an indication of the fire at the end-user premise  18   j  and determines that a notification concerning this fire is to be issued at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N . 
     As yet another example, in some embodiments, the reception of certain information at the communication apparatus  20   x  may in itself (without consideration of the content of this information) result in the processing entity  54  of the communication apparatus  20   x  obtaining an indication of a particular event at the end-user premise  18   x  and determining that a notification concerning this event is to be issued at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N . For instance, an end-user device connected to a given one of the connectors  52   1 - 52   M  of the communication apparatus  20   x  may be associated with a certain type of event that may occur at the end-user premise  18   x  such that reception of information at that given connector may constitute an indication of such an event at the end-user premise  18   x . Considering as an illustration a variant to the examples considered above, in some embodiments, instead of being connected to the communication apparatus  20   j , the controller of the alarm system  17   j  may be part of the communication apparatus  20   j  (e.g., be implemented by the processing entity  54 ) while one or more other alarm system devices of the alarm system  17   j  may be connected to the communication apparatus  20   j  via one or more of its connectors  52   1 - 52   M  and/or its wireless interface  80 . In such embodiments, assuming that the smoke detector which detected the smoke produced by the fire is connected to a given one of the connectors  52   1 - 52   M , the reception at that given connector of information transmitted by the smoke detector upon detecting the smoke results in the processing entity  54  of the communication apparatus  20   j  obtaining an indication of the fire at the end-user premise  18   j  and determining that a notification concerning this fire is to be issued at another one of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N . 
     In the embodiments considered above, the communication apparatus  20   x  at the end-user premise  18   x  can obtain an indication of a particular event at the end-user premise  18   x  and establish a wireless communication link with the end-user equipment  10   y  at the end-user premise  18   y  in order to transmit information to the end-user equipment  10   y  for causing the end-user equipment  10   y  to issue a notification concerning this event. In other embodiments, such functions may be implemented by other pieces of equipment of the end-user equipment  10   x  at the end-user premise  18   x . 
     For example, in some embodiments, a given end-user device (e.g., a phone, computer, or alarm system device) at the end-user premise  18   x  may itself obtain an indication of a particular event at the end-user premise  18   x  and establish a wireless communication link with the end-user equipment  10   y  at the end-user premise  18   y  in order to transmit information to the end-user equipment  10   y  for causing the end-user equipment  10   y  to issue a notification concerning this event. In such embodiments, the given end-user device constitutes an apparatus implementing a processing entity and a notification entity operating in a manner similar to the processing entity  54  and the notification entity  68  of the communication apparatus  20   x  in connection with the local notification mechanism contemplated herein. For instance, in a variant to the example considered above, the controller or the smoke detector of the wireless alarm system  17   j  may obtain an indication of the fire at the end-user premise  18   j  upon detection of the smoke by the smoke detector and may proceed to establish a wireless communication link (such as the wireless communication link  97 ) with the communication apparatus  20   i  at the end-user premise  18   i . In such a variant, the controller or the smoke detector of the wireless alarm system  17   j  may store the identifier and access information of the communication apparatus  20   i  in memory or request them from the database  66  of the communication apparatus  20   j  and may use this information to establish the wireless communication link in a manner similar to that described above. Upon establishment of the wireless communication link, the controller or the smoke detector of the wireless alarm system  17   j  may proceed to transmit information to the communication apparatus  20   i  via the wireless communication link to instruct the end-user equipment  10   i  to issue a notification concerning the fire at the end-user premise  18   j . 
     In some embodiments, the end-user equipment  10   x  at the end-user premise  18   x  may use a private network address space for one or more end-user devices of the end-user equipment  10   x , while the communication apparatus  20   x  may communicate via the communication link  21   x  using a public network address space. For example, the communication apparatus  20   x  may be assigned a public IP address by the communications network  12  (e.g., by the communication apparatus  40  of the core network  30 ) and the one or more end-user devices of the end-user equipment  10   x  may be assigned private IP addresses by the communication apparatus  20   x . In such embodiments, the routing entity  62  of the communication apparatus  20   x  performs a network address translation (NAT) process on data packets passing therethrough to translate their addresses from the private network address space to the public network address space, and vice versa. 
     When the local notification mechanism contemplated herein is invoked in these embodiments, in cases where a wireless communication link is established between the communication apparatus  20   x  at the end-user premise  18   x  and the communication apparatus  20   y  at the end-user premise  18   y , the NAT process performed by the communication apparatus  20   x  and, if applicable, the NAT process performed by the communication apparatus  20   y  can take into account the establishment of the wireless communication link in order to avoid potential private network address clashes. 
     For example, considering the previous example discussed in connection with  FIGS. 5A and 5B  where the wireless communication link  95  is established between the communication apparatus  20   j  at the end-user premise  18   j  and the communication apparatus  20   i  at the end-user premise  18   i , it is assumed that (prior to the wireless communication link  95  being established) the computer  14   j , the VoIP phone  15   j , an ATA associated with the POTS phone  16   j , and the alarm system devices of the alarm system  17   j  are assigned private IP addresses by the communication apparatus  20   j  which is itself assigned a public IP address by the communications network  12 , and that the computer  14   i , the VoIP phone  15   i , the VoIP phone  16   i  and the television unit  29   i  are assigned private IP addresses by the communication apparatus  20   i  which is itself assigned a public IP address by the communications network  12 . More particularly, for purposes of this example, assume that the public IP address assigned to the communication apparatus  20   j  is “122.1.17.6” and the public IP address assigned to the communication apparatus  20   i  is “122.28.5.18”. 
     In establishment of the wireless communication link  95 , the notification entity  68  of the communication apparatus  20   i  assigns a private IP address to the communication apparatus  20   j , say “10.50.50.3” for purposes of this example. In other words, the communication apparatus  20   j  can be viewed as becoming part of the private network address space used by the end-user equipment  10   i  at the end-user premise  18   i . 
     The notification entity  68  of the communication apparatus  20   j  takes note of the private IP address “10.50.50.3” assigned to it by the communication apparatus  20   i  such that data packets transmitted to the communication apparatus  20   i  via the wireless communication link  95  to convey the information  325  have the private IP address “10.50.50.3” as their source address. 
     When it receives the data packets transmitted by the communication apparatus  20   j  which have the private IP address “10.50.50.3” as their source address, the routing entity  62  of the communication apparatus  20   i  knows that these packets come from the communication apparatus  20   j  at the end-user premise  18   j . Therefore, potential private network address clashes can be avoided. 
     While the embodiment considered above illustrates one way in which NAT may be taken into account in implementing the local notification mechanism contemplated herein, NAT may be taken into account in various other ways in other embodiments. Also, in some embodiments, NAT may not be needed and/or may not be performed (e.g., in cases where an IPv6 addressing scheme is used). 
     In the embodiments considered above the end-user equipment  10   x  at the end-user premise  18   x  can cause the end-user equipment  10   y  at the end-user premise  18   y  to issue a notification concerning a particular event at the end-user premise  18   x . In other embodiments, instead of this notification being issued only at the end-user premise  18   y , a corresponding notification can be issued at one or more other ones of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N . 
     For example, in some embodiments, the end-user equipment  10   x  at the end-user premise  18   x  may establish two (2) or more wireless communication links with the end-user equipment at two (2) or more other ones of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  that are within its wireless range and transmit information to that end-user equipment via these wireless communication links in order to instruct that end-user equipment to issue respective notifications of the particular event at these other end-user premises. 
     As another example, in some embodiments, upon issuance by the end-user equipment  10   y  at the end-user premise  18   y  of a notification concerning a particular event at the end-user premise  18   x  further to receipt of information transmitted by the end-user equipment  10   x  via a first wireless communication link established between the end-user equipment  10   x  and the end-user equipment  10   y , the end-user equipment  10   y  at the end-user premise  18   y  may establish a second wireless communication link between itself and the end-user equipment  10   z  at the end-user premise  18   z  (which is within wireless range of the end-user equipment  10   y ) and transmit information to the end-user equipment  10   z  via this second wireless communication link in order to instruct the end-user equipment  10   z  to issue a corresponding notification at the end-user premise  18   z . This “daisy chaining” process can allow parties at various ones of the end-user premises  18   1 - 18   N  to be notified of the particular event at the end-user premise  18   x , even if they are not within wireless range of the end-user equipment  10   x  at the end-user premise  18   x . 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, in some embodiments, certain functionality of a given element described herein (e.g., the communication apparatus  40 , any piece of equipment of the end-user equipment  10   x  such as the communication apparatus  20   x ) may be implemented as pre-programmed hardware or firmware components (e.g., application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), etc.) or other related components. In other embodiments, a given element described herein (e.g., the communication apparatus  40 , any piece of equipment of the end-user equipment  10   x  such as the communication apparatus  20   x ) may comprise a processor having access to a memory which stores program instructions for execution by the processor to implement certain functionality of that given element. The program instructions may be stored on data storage media that is fixed, tangible, and readable directly by the processor. The data storage media may store data optically (e.g., an optical disk such as a CD-ROM or a DVD), magnetically (e.g., a hard disk drive, a removable diskette), electrically (e.g., semiconductor memory, floating-gate transistor memory, etc.), and/or in various other ways. Alternatively, the program instructions may be stored remotely but transmittable to the given element via a modem or other interface device connected to a network over a transmission medium. The transmission medium may be either a tangible medium (e.g., optical or analog communications lines) or a medium implemented using wireless techniques (e.g., microwave, infrared or other wireless transmission schemes). 
     Although various embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.