Patent ID: 7085551

Claim:
A system for transmitting signals from an alarm system control panel to a remote monitoring center, comprising: an intelligent interface for receiving the signals from the alarm system control panel, and for selectively relaying the signals to the remote monitoring center via either a wireless device or a landline based on the presence of the wireless device, the intelligent interface comprising: a cradle for receiving the wireless device; means for detecting that the wireless device has been received and for determining whether the wireless device is is sufficiently powered to place a wireless call, said means for detecting comprising a switching mechanism selected from the group consisting of a mechanical switching mechanism and an electronic switching mechanism; upon detecting that the wireless device has been received and that the wireless device is is sufficiently powered to place a wireless call, means for causing the intelligent interface to bypass the landline and to relay the signals to the remote monitoring center via the wireless device; and a converter interposed between the alarm system control panel and the wireless device, the converter being for: intercepting the signals that have been relayed to the wireless device; converting the signals into digital signals; and outputting the converted signals to the wireless device; and a landline connector communicatively associated with a public switched telephone network, wherein if the detecting means fails to detect that the wireless device has been received, the intelligent interface relays the signals to the remote monitoring center via the landline connector.