Patent Description:
Single point two-way voice communication between alarm systems and central monitoring stations may reduce security systems false alarms, which may otherwise result in nuisance calls to the police that may lead to non-response or fines for home or business owners. Solution may include a microphone and speakers integrated into self-contained security panels, which may be small, which may have a reduced a range of communications, limited to a radius around the panels.

<CIT> discloses a system for detecting speech from occupants in a building management system. Installed devices deployed within the building include audio transducers that detect speech from the occupants, and a management system panel processes the information from the installed devices and processes the detected speech from the occupants. In one example, the system can identify commands from the detected speech for controlling and testing the system.

<CIT> discloses a security alarm system including multiple, zone distributed audio monitors, which report and verify detected alarms and communicate with a system controller and central station. Ambient audio is continuously and selectively recorded in a storage memory and is replayable to verify alarms detected at the alarm sensors.

Viewed from a first aspect, the present invention provides a hub station of an alarm system, comprising: a hub station housing; a hub station controller disposed within the hub station housing, wherein the hub station is configured for: communicating, bi-directionally over a short range telecommunications network during an active alarm condition, with a plurality of client stations that are distributed in a plurality of architectural zones, the plurality of client stations each including a client station housing and located therein a client station power transformer, a client station speaker, a client station microphone, and one of a plurality of client station controllers; obtaining, from the communicating during the active alarm condition, intrusion sound data indicative of sounds detected by one or more of the plurality of client stations; and determining, from the intrusion sound data, intrusion location data indicative of a location and movement of an intrusion among the plurality of architectural zones; forwarding, over a long range telecommunications network, the intrusion location data to a central station; developing, from the intrusion location data, a soundscape of the plurality of architectural zones; comparing the soundscape with a sound map of the plurality of architectural zones; and obtaining the location and movement of the intrusion among the plurality of architectural zones following comparing the soundscape with the sound map.

Optionally, the short range telecommunications network is a local area network or a personal area network.

Optionally, the hub station is configured for communicating, bi-directionally, with the central station over the long range telecommunications network.

Optionally, the long range telecommunications network is one or more Public Switched Telephone Networks (PTSN).

Optionally, the hub station is configured for calibrating the sound map of the plurality of architectural zones by: instructing one or more of the plurality of client stations to emit a test signal at a respective one or more predetermined times; and receiving from others of the plurality of client stations data indicative of a detected sound levels during the one or more predetermined times.

Optionally, the hub station is configured for: associating the data indicative of the detected sound levels with a location within each of the plurality of architectural zones of the one or more of the plurality of client stations instructed to emit the test signal at the respective one or more predetermined times, thereby calibrating the sound map of the plurality of architectural zones.

Optionally, the hub station is configured for calibrating the sound map automatically while the alarm system is in an armed-away state.

Optionally, the hub station is configured for: monitoring, over the short range telecommunications network prior to the active alarm condition, the plurality of client stations that are distributed in the plurality of architectural zones; and identifying the active alarm condition, from the monitoring, by identifying a perimeter breach at one of the plurality of architectural zones.

Optionally, the hub station is configured for identifying the perimeter breach by identifying a fault condition with one or more of a glass break sensor, a window contact sensor, a door contact sensor, and a perimeter motion sensor, thereby initially identifying the active alarm condition.

Viewed from a second aspect, the present invention provides an alarm system comprising a hub station having one or more of the above disclosed aspects; the plurality of client stations that are configured for being distributed in the plurality of architectural zones, the plurality of client stations each including the client station housing and located therein the client station power transformer,the client station speaker, the client station microphone, and the client station controller.

Viewed from a third aspect, the present invention provides a method of monitoring for an alarm condition with a hub station that includes a hub station controller within a hub station housing, the method comprising: communicating, bi-directionally over a short range telecommunications network during an active alarm condition, with a plurality of client stations that are distributed in a plurality of architectural zones, the plurality of client stations each including a client station housing and located therein a client station power transformer, a client station speaker, a client station microphone, and one of a plurality of client station controllers; obtaining, from the communicating during the active alarm condition, intrusion sound data indicative of sounds detected by one or more of the plurality of client stations; determining, from the intrusion sound data, intrusion location data indicative of a location and movement of an intrusion among the architectural zones; forwarding, over a long range telecommunications network, the intrusion data to a central station; developing, from the intrusion location data, a soundscape of the plurality of architectural zones; comparing the soundscape with a sound map of the plurality of architectural zones; and obtaining the location and movement of the intrusion among the architectural zones following comparing the soundscape with the sound map.

Optionally, the method includes calibrating the sound map of the plurality of architectural zones by: instructing one or more of the plurality of client stations to emit a test signal at a respective one or more predetermined times; and receiving from others of the plurality of client stations data indicative of a detected sound levels during the one or more predetermined times.

Optionally, the method includes associating the data indicative of the detected sound levels with a location within each of the plurality of architectural zones of the one or more of the plurality of client stations instructed to emit the test signal at the respective one or more predetermined times, thereby calibrating the sound map of the plurality of architectural zones.

Optionally, the method includes calibrating the sound map automatically while the alarm system is in an armed-away status.

Optionally, the method includes monitoring, over the short range telecommunications network prior to the active alarm condition, the plurality of client stations that are distributed in the plurality of architectural zones; and identifying the active alarm condition, from the monitoring, by identifying a perimeter breach at one of the plurality of architectural zones.

Optionally, the method includes identifying the perimeter breach by identifying a fault condition with one or more of a glass break sensor, a window contact sensor, a door contact sensor, and a perimeter motion sensor.

Turning to <FIG>, the disclosed embodiments provide a security system (system) <NUM> that enables wireless communicating two-way (bidirectional) voice, by a network <NUM>, which may be a short range network such as a local area network (such as WiFi) or a personal area network (such as Bluetooth). The system <NUM> may include a hub station <NUM> having a hub station housing <NUM>, a control panel <NUM> for the hub station <NUM> with a hub station electronic controller <NUM> therein (illustrated schematically). A plurality of client stations <NUM> are provided, for example four such client stations 120a-120d are identified in <FIG>. Such client stations <NUM> are provided throughout an installation area <NUM>. Each of the client stations <NUM> includes within one of a plurality of client station housings <NUM>, one of a plurality of client station speakers <NUM>, one of a plurality of client station microphones <NUM>, one of a plurality of client station transformers <NUM> (illustrated schematically) and one of a plurality of client station controllers <NUM> (illustrated schematically).

The system <NUM> provides communications (bidirectional) between the system <NUM> and a central station <NUM>, via a central station controller <NUM> (illustrated schematically), that is remotely located over a further network <NUM> which may be a long range network such as a wide area network distributed over the Public Switched Telephone Networks (PTSN). The client stations <NUM> may be distributed throughout architectural zones (zones) <NUM>, including for example four distributed zones 140a-140d of the installation area <NUM>, that are in addition to a primary zone at the hub station <NUM>. The installation area <NUM> maybe a private residence and the zones <NUM> may be separate rooms and/or on multiple levels therein.

There are typically packaging limitations at a hub station <NUM>. By packaging the client station speakers <NUM> and client station microphones <NUM> with the client station transformers <NUM> at the client station housings <NUM>, such limitations are avoided. Instead larger and more powerful speakers and microphones for the client station speakers <NUM> and the client station microphones <NUM> may be utilized. This configuration may provide a larger communication range at the client stations <NUM>. In some embodiments the client stations <NUM> may include video displays <NUM> and may be capable of video capture.

The system <NUM> provides a relatively enhanced communication range. The client stations <NUM> are configured to annunciate programmable status messages, such as "front door open", throughout the installation area <NUM>. The status messages provide an understanding of a state of the security system to a system user <NUM>, whom may be a homeowner.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a method of monitoring for an alarm condition with the client stations <NUM>. As illustrated in box <NUM> the method includes communicating, bi-directionally, with the hub station <NUM>. As illustrated in box <NUM> the method includes communicating, bi-directionally, with the central station <NUM> through the hub station <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrated further aspects of the method of <FIG> more specifically of communicating, bi-directionally, with the central station <NUM> through the hub station <NUM>. As illustrated in box <NUM> the method includes transmitting to the central station <NUM> through the hub station <NUM> first data representing first sounds received from a client station microphones <NUM>. As illustrated in box <NUM> the method includes transmitting from the client station speakers <NUM> second sounds obtained from second data received from the central station <NUM> through the hub station <NUM>. As illustrated in box <NUM> the method includes transmitting from a client station display first images obtained from third data received from the central station <NUM> through the hub station <NUM>. As illustrated in box <NUM> the method includes transmitting to the central station <NUM> through the hub station <NUM> fourth data representing images received from a client image sensor of the client stations <NUM>.

With the above disclosed embodiments, a hub station <NUM> may communicate with an array of client stations <NUM>. This configuration may enable voice, and for example video, communications from multiple zones <NUM> within an installation area <NUM>. This provides capabilities such as being able to triangulate sound source location within or proximate one of the zones <NUM>. During an emergency, such a location could be provided to medical services <NUM> and other first responders via the central station <NUM>.

Turning to <FIG>, the disclosed embodiments pool communications for a group <NUM> of two or more of the plurality of the client stations <NUM> during an alarm condition. The group <NUM> can be collectively assessed by the control panel <NUM>, for example as one collective audio ! video channel. In the illustrated embodiment the group <NUM> includes a first client station 120a and a second client station 120b of the plurality of client stations <NUM>, respectively located in a first zone 140a and a second zone 140b of the plurality of zones <NUM>. In the illustration, these zones 140a, 140b are located on a common level <NUM> of the installation area <NUM>. The common level <NUM> may be a level in which a particular person <NUM>, such as an infirmed person, spends their time and where such person would need to be addressed during and alarm condition.

Additionally, according to an embodiment, external communication routes <NUM> may be communicatively connected to the group <NUM> by the system <NUM> through the network <NUM> by action of the control panel <NUM>. Such sources may be provided with networked two-way audio and video capabilities. For example, if the system detects that a personal panic alarm has sounded in one zone, electronic contact addresses, which may be phone numbers, stored in the system <NUM> for example at the control panel <NUM>, may be automatically contacted by the control panel <NUM> and bridged into the network <NUM> to the client stations <NUM> in the group <NUM>. Applications of the disclosed embodiments includes automatically bridging a doctor <NUM> via the external communication routes <NUM>, or in addition or as an alternative, members of a family whom are remotely located. In addition, medical services <NUM> may be bridged to the grouped stations. That is, in addition to be summoned by the central station <NUM>, medical services <NUM> may be connected over the network <NUM> for direct two way communications with the client stations <NUM> in the group <NUM>. Two way voice, and in one embodiment video, communications may be enabled by the system with the connected family members and emergency service personnel. In addition, such two way communications may include personnel at the central station <NUM> so required efforts are coordinated.

Turning to <FIG>, a flowchart that shows a method of monitoring for an alarm condition by the host station according to an embodiment. As illustrated in box <NUM> the method includes monitoring, over a short range telecommunications network, the plurality of client stations <NUM> that are distributed in the plurality of zones <NUM>. As illustrated in box <NUM> the method includes determining, from the monitoring, that an alert condition exists in one of the zones <NUM>. As illustrated in box <NUM> the method includes establishing a first bidirectional communication with two or more of the plurality of client stations <NUM> distributed in the plurality of zones <NUM>. As illustrated in box <NUM> the method includes accessing contact information stored locally at the hub station or remotely at the central station <NUM> for establishing the other bidirectional communication upon determining that an alarm condition exists in one of the zones <NUM>. As illustrated in box <NUM> the method includes establishing a second bidirectional communication with a central station <NUM> when establishing the first bidirectional communication upon determining that an alarm condition exists in one of the zones <NUM>. As illustrated in box <NUM> the method includes establishing another bidirectional communication upon establishing the first bidirectional communication and the second bidirectional communications.

Benefits of the disclosed embodiments include coalescing audio and/or video access points at the client stations <NUM> of the group <NUM> enables enhanced coverage for two-way communications with a central station <NUM>. According to the disclosed embodiments, the control panel <NUM> may store contact addresses for the external communication routes <NUM> to be automatically connected to the client stations <NUM> that are in the group <NUM>. Thus, desired persons and resources may be automatically contacted in the event of an emergency.

Turning to <FIG>, the disclosed embodiments provide for storing information about the different zones <NUM> for the plurality of client stations <NUM> to assess various audio signal characteristics. The disclosed embodiments enable determining where in the installation area <NUM> an alarm condition, such as a sound source by action of an intruder <NUM>, is being detected. For example, an initial alarm condition may be detecting an intrusion at a door-window sensor, for example in one of the zones <NUM> proximate a level <NUM> that is associated with a garage. Thereafter, the system <NUM> may monitor for movement of the intruder <NUM> by monitoring audio signals at each of the plurality of client stations <NUM>. Through monitoring of audio characteristics such as changing frequency and amplitude of sounds at or proximate the plurality of client stations <NUM>, the system <NUM> may determine that a source of a dominant sound, such as the intruder <NUM>, is moving between client stations <NUM> and therefore moving between zones <NUM> in the installation area <NUM>.

Benefits of the disclosed embodiments include enabling the central station <NUM> to track a developing alarm condition in an installation area <NUM> and relay such information, for example to law enforcement agencies <NUM> over the network <NUM>. The same information may be utilized to identify location of medical distress within one of the zones <NUM> in the installation area <NUM>, thereby enabling the central station <NUM> to communicate with medical services <NUM> and identify a specific location of a need within the installation area <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a flowchart that shows a method of monitoring for an alarm condition by the host station according to an embodiment. As illustrated in box <NUM> the method includes monitoring, over the short range telecommunications network prior to an active alarm condition, the plurality of client stations <NUM> that are distributed in the plurality of zones <NUM>. As illustrated in box <NUM> the method includes identifying the active alarm condition, from the monitoring, by identifying a perimeter breach at one of the zones <NUM>. As illustrated in box <NUM> the method includes communicating, bi-directionally over the short range telecommunications network during an active alarm condition, with the plurality of client stations <NUM> that are distributed in the plurality of zones <NUM>. As illustrated in box <NUM> the method includes obtaining, from the communicating during the active alarm condition, intrusion sound data indicative of a sounds received by one or more of the plurality of client stations <NUM>. As illustrated in box <NUM> the method includes determining, from intrusion sound data, intrusion location data indicative of a location and movement of an intrusion among the zones <NUM>. As illustrated in box <NUM> the method includes forwarding, over a long range telecommunications network, the intrusion data to a central station <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart that shows additional aspects of the method illustrated in <FIG> and more specifically of determining, from intrusion sound data, intrusion location data. As illustrated in box <NUM> the method includes developing, from the intrusion sound data, a soundscape of the plurality of zones <NUM>. As illustrated in box <NUM> the method includes comparing the soundscape with a sound map of the plurality of zones <NUM>. As illustrated in box <NUM> the method includes obtaining the location and movement of the intrusion among the zones <NUM> following comparing the soundscape with the sound map.

Turning to <FIG>, the disclosed embodiments provide a process for calibrating the system <NUM> by applying test tones, though each of the plurality of client stations <NUM>, and mapping audio qualities and characterization within and around each of the plurality of zones <NUM>. This process allows for a better understanding of nuances of sound propagation and sound characteristics in and around each of the zones <NUM> of the installation area <NUM>. The calibration process may occur, for example, manually and periodically when the system is activated. During calibration, each of the plurality of client stations <NUM>, one after another, may emit one of a plurality of a test tones <NUM>, including for example four sets of test tones 350a-350d respectively from the plurality of client stations <NUM>. The hub station <NUM> may also emit one of the test tones <NUM>. Though this calibration process, the control panel <NUM><NUM> may develop a tonal map for the installation area <NUM> and within for each of the zones <NUM>, which may later be used to identify a souse of an alert condition (as indicated above). In addition, through the calibration process, a performance of the system is optimized.

<FIG> is a flowchart that shows a method of calibrating a sound map of an alarm system. As illustrated in bloc <NUM> the method includes instructing one or more of the plurality of client stations <NUM> to emit a test signal at a respective one or more predetermined times. As illustrated in bloc <NUM> the method includes receiving from the others of the plurality of client stations <NUM> data indicative of a detected sound levels during the one or more predetermined times. As illustrated in bloc <NUM> the method includes associating the data indicative of the sound levels with a location within each of the zones <NUM> of the one or more of the plurality of client stations <NUM> instructed to emit a test signal at a respective one or more predetermined times. As illustrated in bloc <NUM> the method includes calibrating the sound map automatically while the alarm system is in an armed-away state.

Claim 1:
A hub station (<NUM>) of an alarm system (<NUM>), comprising:
a hub station housing (<NUM>);
a hub station controller (<NUM>) disposed within the hub station housing, wherein the hub station is configured for:
communicating, bi-directionally over a short range telecommunications network during an active alarm condition, with a plurality of client stations (<NUM>) that are distributed in a plurality of architectural zones (<NUM>), the plurality of client stations each including a client station housing (<NUM>) and located therein a client station power transformer (<NUM>), a client station speaker (<NUM>), a client station microphone (<NUM>), and one of a plurality of client station controllers (<NUM>);
obtaining, from the communicating during the active alarm condition, intrusion sound data indicative of sounds detected by one or more of the plurality of client stations; and
determining, from the intrusion sound data, intrusion location data indicative of a location and movement of an intrusion among the plurality of architectural zones; and
forwarding, over a long range telecommunications network, the intrusion location data to a central station (<NUM>);
characterized in that the hub station is further configured for:
developing, from the intrusion location data, a soundscape of the plurality of architectural zones;
comparing the soundscape with a sound map of the plurality of architectural zones; and
obtaining the location and movement of the intrusion among the plurality of architectural zones following comparing the soundscape with the sound map.