Patent ID: 8395494

Claim:
A method of handling alarm system data, comprising: sending, using an alarm system that monitors a building, alarm system data to a remote system located at a location that is remote from the building monitored by the alarm system; using the remote system to receive the alarm system data from the alarm system; after receiving the alarm system data from the alarm system, determining, using the remote system located at the location that is remote from the building, whether the remote system receives additional data that is expected to be received after the alarm system data, that is sent by the alarm system, and that is received within a period of time after receiving the alarm system data from the alarm system; and based on a determination that additional data has not been received from the alarm system within the period of time after receiving the alarm system data from the alarm system, using the remote system located at the location that is remote from the building to determine an alarm event associated with the building and to take action in response to the determination of the alarm event associated with the building.