Abstract:
A method of providing simple, low-cost and effective alarm system protection. The method is especially useful in locations where the installation of a conventional, hard-wired alarm system would be impossible or economically impractical. The method utilizes a portable alarm system which incorporates wireless technology along with wireless transmission service, therefore providing the ability to protect virtually anything, anywhere, at any time. The present invention also provides for both automated and manned monitoring of the alarm location by a security monitoring company, which may be contacted at any time, from any location, at a single phone number or internet address, for example. The method of the present invention also utilizes a method of call retainment and multiple redundancy to ensure that any calls placed by the portable alarm system are received by the security monitoring company. Additionally, the present invention contemplates a method by which false alarms after initial set up of the alarm system may be reduced, and also a method which allows the user of the alarm system to abort known false alarms by contacting the security monitoring company.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the set up of an alarm system, and more particularly, to a portable alarm system for use in a residence, boat, office, or any other location which may benefit from security monitoring. 
     Alarm systems of various types have been in existence for many years. In known home alarm systems, the components are usually hard-wired throughout the home with the wiring generally terminating at a control panel located somewhere therein. These alarm systems are often connected to the home&#39;s telephone wiring for placement of a call to a monitoring station if an illegal entry is detected. One of the chief drawbacks of such an alarm system is that the installation process may be very labor intensive and, therefore, costly. Another drawback of this type of alarm system is that the cutting of the home&#39;s telephone wiring effectively paralyzes the alarm system. 
     Additionally, the present day security alarm market offers few alternatives for the many people that live in apartments or hotel rooms, lease office space or short term warehousing, or wish to protect motor homes, boats, construction trailers, or a multitude of other environments wherein the installation of a permanent alarm system may be physically impossible or would be economically impractical. Ironically, it is often these environments where the crime rate is the highest. Therefore a need exists for an alarm system that is portable, which is relatively inexpensive, which is easy to set up and use, and which does not have to rely on a building&#39;s installed telephone or power lines. 
     The present invention discloses a method of alarm system set up that can be fully accomplished in minimal time by the user of the alarm system. The method utilizes a portable alarm system that incorporates wireless technology along with wireless transmission service. The alarm system is highly portable, as virtually all of the necessary components are housed within a single enclosure. The alarm system is designed to communicate with an automated call station or central monitoring station of a security monitoring company. The security monitoring company may be contacted at any time from any location. This allows monitoring to be initiated at new locations by simply contacting the security monitoring company and providing the phone number and location. 
     With the method and device of the present invention, door and window entries may be monitored, motion within a room may be detected with a preferred motion detector, and smoke may be identified with a smoke detector - all without the intrusive, labor intensive process typically required to install a comparable hard-wire system. Additionally, although the above description is directed toward indoor use, the portable alarm system of the present invention is equally useful for protecting outdoor areas as well. In short, the method and device of the present invention enables the user to protect practically anything, practically anywhere, practically anytime, by simply connecting the portable alarm system to an appropriate power source and contacting the security monitoring company. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a user contacts or visits a provider to purchase a portable alarm system. During the purchase, certain information may be obtained from the user for providing to the security monitoring company. The alarm system is then shipped to the user, or alternatively, is taken home by the user if purchased in a store. The only task required of the user is connection of the portable alarm to an appropriate power source. The user may also mount optional, self-adhesive door and window sensors. In one preferred embodiment, the provider of the alarm system will have contacted the security monitoring company and supplied the necessary information to initiate service, before the user of the alarm system completes its set up. Thus, upon connection of the portable alarm to an appropriate power source, the user will have a functional home security system. 
     Alternatively, the user may contact the security monitoring company to initiate monitoring service. In this case, the user does not need to supply the provider with all of the information necessary to initiate monitoring service. A user may wish to contact the security monitoring company at the outset, especially if the user does not intend to set up the alarm system immediately. The user will also be able to initiate monitoring service at any location to which the alarm system is transported by simply contacting the security monitoring company and updating the information. 
     The present invention also contemplates an improved method for assuring that a call placed by the alarm system to the call station or central monitoring station of the security monitoring company is received. The method of the present invention utilizes a redundant system to ensure that once the alarm system places a call, the call will be held and resent by an off-premise wireless transport station should the first attempt not result in an answer. If, after multiple resends the call has still not been answered, the call may be rerouted to another call or monitoring station. In this manner, there can be reasonable assurance that the call will be received and processed, and the proper authorities dispatched, even if the alarm system is destroyed after an initial call has been made. 
     It can be seen from the above description that the present invention provides a simple, cost effective and efficient method of providing alarm based wireless security monitoring. The present invention also discloses an improved method of ensuring that a call from the alarm system is received an acted on by the security monitoring company. The method of the present invention may be particularly useful in environments where the installation of a permanent alarm system would be physically impossible or economically impractical. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In addition to the novel features and advantages mentioned above, other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings and preferred embodiments, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a pictorial flowchart describing a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, wherein an alarm system is set up and security monitoring service is obtained; 
     FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the steps involved with setting up and activating an alarm system according to a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating another aspect of a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, wherein a call from an alarm system may be re-sent if not received by a security monitoring company. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The method of the present invention is directed to providing portable, simple, cost effective and dependable alarm based wireless security monitoring. The present invention makes use of a portable alarm system that incorporates wireless technology along with wireless transmission service. A portable alarm system as contemplated by the present invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,587,701, 5,777,551 and 5,850,180, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     A preferred embodiment of the method  10  of the present invention can be seen by reference to FIG.  1 . If a portable alarm system has not yet been obtained, then a user  15  contacts a provider  20  to purchase a portable alarm system. The user  15  may contact the provider by phone  25  or via the internet  30 , for example. Alternatively, the user  15  may personally visit the provider  20  to make the purchase. 
     The present invention contemplates the use of a designated security monitoring company  35 , which may have either an automated call station or a manned, central monitoring station. The use of a designated security monitoring company simplifies the process of providing monitoring service to new locations of the portable alarm system. If the user  15  desires to have the provider  20  open an account with the security monitoring company  35 , then the user  15  supplies the provider with the necessary information during the sale of the portable alarm system. The information necessary to establish security monitoring service may include the name of the user, the address of the location to be protected, the names of the relevant local authorities, and preferably a user password. 
     If the purchase of the portable alarm system is made via telephone  25 , internet  30  or some other remote means, then the provider  20  may utilize a shipper  40  to deliver the portable alarm system. If the user  15  made the purchase by visiting the provider  20  directly, the user will typically transport the portable alarm from the provider. The portable alarm system is delivered by the shipper  40 , or alternatively, transported by the user  15  for eventual installation in a particular location  45 . The location to be protected  45  may be the user&#39;s residence, an office, a warehouse, or a boat, for example. 
     If the user  15  has elected to have the provider  20  initiate security monitoring service for the benefit of the user, then after the sale the provider will contact  50  the security monitoring company  35  to initiate service for the user. The provider  20  preferably contacts the security monitoring company  35  immediately after the sale, such that the security monitoring company can effect service by the time the user  15  has set up the portable alarm system. Preferably, the security monitoring company  35  will later contact  55  the user  15 , or the user will later contact  60  the security monitoring company to confirm initiation of service. The security monitoring company  35  can be contacted via telephone, the internet, or other remote means. Although not required, a test of the portable alarm system and monitoring service may also be arranged or conducted. Additionally, the user  15  may request a period of time to become acclimated to the portable alarm system and ensuing false alarms that are likely to occur. During this period of time, the security monitoring company  35 , in coordination with the user  15 , may delay the initiation of service or may temporarily ignore any alarm calls emanating from the user&#39;s location. 
     Alternatively, the user  15  may wish to establish service from the outset. In such case, the user  15  need not supply the provider  20  with the above-mentioned information and the provider need not contact  50  the security monitoring company  35 . At some point prior to or after the set up of the portable alarm system, the user  15  contacts  65  the security monitoring company  35  and provides the information necessary for the security monitoring company to initiate service at the location to be protected  45 . Again, a test of the portable alarm system and monitoring service may also be arranged or conducted, and/or an acclimation period may be requested by the user  15 . 
     As mentioned above, whether the security monitoring service is initiated by the provider  20  of the alarm system or the user  15 , the user may wish to establish a password with the security monitoring company which enables the user to terminate the notification process should the user become aware of an obvious false alarm. The user  15  may terminate the notification process by verbally communicating the password to a monitoring company representative, but preferably, may also terminate the notification process through the use of a remote device, such as a two-way pager, which has been contacted during the processing of the alarm system call. In this manner, the user  15  may prevent the needless dispatch of the police or fire department, for example, when the user is aware that the alarm is false. 
     A detailed description of the actual set up of the portable alarm system according to the method of the present invention is illustrated in FIG.  2 . The portable alarm system consists basically of an enclosure which may house a power supply, keypad, siren, strobe light, circuit boards, wireless transmitter, motion sensor, and other components of the portable alarm system. Preferably, the enclosure is sealed and tamperproof. The method  110  of setting up the portable alarm system is seen to require only a few steps. First, the portable alarm system is transported or delivered to the location to be protected  115 . The user next determines a location  120  for the enclosure, and finally connects the alarm system to an appropriate power source  125 - preferably a standard household electrical outlet or a rechargeable battery in the unit. Upon connection to the appropriate power source, the user  15  will have a functioning alarm system. 
     The portable alarm system may also include optional wireless accessories, such as remote sensors. The remote sensors may be used to monitor entry points into the location to be protected, such as doors and windows. Although the portable alarm system may include remote sensors, the remote sensors are not required for the portable alarm system to function. Because the portable alarm system contains a motion sensor integated within the alarm enclosure, the portable alarm system can detect a security breach without the use of the optional remote sensors. 
     If desired, optional equipment may be installed at the same time that the alarm system is installed, although optional equipment may also be installed at a later date. The location for remote door and window sensors may be determined  130 , and the remote sensors may be installed  135 . Additionally, other optional equipment, such as smoke detectors  140  or remote motion detectors  145  which are adapted for wireless communication with the alarm system may also be installed. 
     If the user  15  is a new customer and the provider  20  has arranged for monitoring service, then preferably either the user  15  is contacted by the security monitoring company  35 , or the security monitoring company is contacted by the user to confirm service  150 . If the user  15  is a new customer and the provider  20  has not arranged for monitoring service, then the user contacts the security monitoring company  35  and provides the necessary information to open an account  160 . Alternatively, if the user  15  is an existing customer and has transported the portable alarm system to a new location to be protected  115 , the user contacts the security monitoring company  35  to update location information  165 , such as the address and names of local authorities, so that the new location is properly monitored. The security monitoring company  35  may be contacted at any time from practically any location using a single phone number or web site address, for example. The user  15  may enter the information by using a touch-tone phone in conjunction with translating software located at the security monitoring company, by speaking to a monitoring company representative, or may also enter location information online or by other remote means. In this manner, security based monitoring may be provided at a variety of locations, at any time, and with little expense and minimum effort. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates another aspect of the present invention, which is to ensure that any calls placed by the portable alarm system to a call station or central monitoring station of the security monitoring company  35  are properly received. When a typical wireless call takes place, the call goes out to a transceiver station located in the area. The transmitter, or transmission tower portion of the transceiver transfers the call to a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO), which connects the call to a public switched telephone network. The public switched telephone network then delivers the call to its intended destination. 
     A problem with sending a traditional wireless based call from an alarm system is that the signal sent from the transmitter to the MTSO is not retained by either the transceiver station or the MTSO. If for some reason the call cannot be completed or if the call returns a busy signal, for example, the call will not be sent again by either the transmitter or the MTSO. Therefore, if the portable alarm system places a call which is not received by the security monitoring company for a reason such as the above, and the portable alarm is destroyed before another call can be placed, there will be no notification that a security breach has occurred. 
     The present invention provides a method  210  of wireless security monitoring that helps to ensure that any calls placed by the portable alarm system are received by the security monitoring company  35 . In the typical situation, the portable alarm system makes a call  215  upon detecting a security breach. The call is received by a local transceiver  220 , and is transmitted to an MTSO  225 . The MTSO routes the call, via a gateway, to a call station or central monitoring station of the security monitoring company  230 . The gateway may be a wireless data processing facility such as UPLINK Security, Inc. in Atlanta, Ga. The call from the portable alarm system to the call station or central monitoring station is preferably of a contact ID format or other acceptable software alarm messaging protocol. 
     In the present invention, an identifying account number is preferably sent with any call made by the portable alarm system to the security monitoring company. Accordingly, the gateway is able to identify a call as originating from a portable alarm system of the present invention, and will retain the call  235  accordingly. If the call is received 240 by the security monitoring company  35 , a confirmation is sent to the gateway  245 , and the proper authorities (i.e., police, fire, etc.) are contacted and dispatched  250  to the location of the portable alarm system. Upon receipt of confirmation  245  from the security monitoring company, the gateway may release the retained call. 
     In case the initial call from the portable alarm system is not received 255, the present invention utilizes a redundant system  260  to ensure that a call from the portable alarm system does not go unanswered. In a redundant system  260 , the gateway retains and resends the call  235 . Thus, if the original call is not received 255, or the call returns a busy signal, for example, the gateway is able to send the call to a call station or central monitoring station a second time  265 . If the second call is received 270, a confirmation is sent to the gateway  275 , and the proper authorities (i.e., police, fire, etc.) are contacted and dispatched  280  to the location of the portable alarm system. 
     If the second call is again not received 285, the gateway will make a third attempt to send the call, however, this time the call may be routed to an alternate call station or central monitoring station  290 . Although the particular example described above utilizes triple redundancy, it should be realized that a lesser or greater number of attempts to complete the call may be made. Once the call is received 295 by either the alternate call station or monitoring station, a confirmation is sent to the gateway  275 , and the proper authorities (i.e., police, fire, etc.) are contacted and dispatched  280  to the location of the portable alarm system. 
     An additional feature of the present invention is the ability of the gateway to notify the portable alarm system that the security monitoring company has received its call. After the call station or central monitoring station sends a confirmation to the gateway, the gateway can send a confirmation signal to the portable alarm system. The portable alarm system is then able to provide notice to the user that the call it sent has been received. This is preferably accomplished by providing a LED or similar indicator on the enclosure. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an indicator on the enclosure is provided to flash upon the transmission of a call by the portable alarm system. The indicator will continue to flash until the portable alarm system receives the confirmation signal from the gateway, at which point the indicator will enter a state of continuous illumination. This feature may be especially useful if, for example, the user of the portable alarm system and an intruder were concurrently in the protected area. By visually checking the indicator, the user is able to discern whether the proper authorities have been contacted. 
     The present invention also contemplates that the portable alarm system may place calls by any of several wireless means. The portable alarm system may utilize traditional cellular technology, as described above, or may utilize cellemetry technology, wherein alarm system calls may be transmitted over the control (non-voice) channel of a cellular system. Alternatively, the portable alarm system may utilize PCS or GSM communication. It is also possible for the portable alarm system to make use of any of these forms of wireless transmission in combination with GPS technology. The aforementioned means of wireless communication are intended for purposes of illustration and not limitation, and should not be read to limit the present invention to the specific examples referred to. 
     The present invention discloses a method for the set up of a simple, effective and inexpensive portable alarm system, wherein the alarm system may be quickly and easily set up and activated in minimum time, without special skills, and without the need to make permanent modification or alterations to the location to be protected. The present invention also provides the ability to contact the security monitoring company at a single phone number or internet address, for example, at any time, from any location. 
     Additionally, the present invention recites a method for ensuring that a call placed by the portable alarm system in response to a security breach will be received by the security monitoring company - even if the portable alarm system is destroyed after the original call is placed. While certain preferred embodiments are described above, the scope of the invention is not to be considered limited by said disclosure, and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention as evidenced by the following claims: