Patent ID: 7675402

Claim:
A security system comprising: a plurality of keypad security apparatuses, each keypad apparatus including a single audio input and a single audio output, the audio input and output configured to directly receive audio data and to directly transmit the audio data as voice over data packets over a local area network within the security system and over an external network connected to the security system; a respective unique network address allocated to each of the plurality of keypad security apparatuses upon activation; a router logically connected via the local area network to each of the keypad apparatuses, the router configured to logically connect each keypad apparatus to the external network and to transmit to the keypad apparatus via the local area network the assigned address; and a security control panel logically connected to the local area network, wherein within the security system one keypad apparatus receives the audio data from and transmits the audio data to another keypad apparatus as voice over data packets over the local area network, said receiving and transmitting of the audio data bypassing the security control panel.