U.S. patent application number 09/805696 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-11 for integrated security and communications system with secure communications link.
Invention is credited to Axelsen, Peter, Simon, Scott H., Simon, Theodore.
Application Number | 20010029585 09/805696 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22694565 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010029585 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Simon, Theodore ; et
al. |
October 11, 2001 |
Integrated security and communications system with secure
communications link
Abstract
An integrated security and communications system combines a
security system to either or both of a telephone system interface
and a data interface. Users have access to voice-mail or other
PBX-type telephone functions, many or all of which can be accessed
not only at telephone sets, but also at keypads of the security
system. Data functions such as electronic mail and possible partial
or full World Wide Web access may also be provided at the keypads,
as well as at connected personal computers or computer terminals.
The system keypads may be enhanced to better accommodate some of
the added functions. A central communications station could be used
to maintain secure, shared private key encrypted communications
with each premises system, using a redirector arrangement or relay
to allow each premises system to communicate securely with a
central monitoring station and with other systems. The secure
communications system could be used without a security system to
allow secure computer-to-computer communications.
Inventors: |
Simon, Theodore; (Dix Hills,
NY) ; Simon, Scott H.; (Huntington, NY) ;
Axelsen, Peter; (Centerport, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FISH & NEAVE
1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
50TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10020-1105
US
|
Family ID: |
22694565 |
Appl. No.: |
09/805696 |
Filed: |
March 13, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60188798 |
Mar 13, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
726/4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08B 25/008 20130101;
H04M 11/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
713/200 |
International
Class: |
H04L 009/00; H04L
009/32; G06F 011/30; G06F 012/14 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An integrated security and communications system comprising: a
security controller having at least one sensory input, at least one
alarm output and at least one control signal input/output port; a
control interface operatively connected to said at least one
control signal input/output port; a communications unit connected
to a communication channel for providing at least one communication
function, and a first communication port for connection to one of
said at least one control signal input/output port of said security
controller for providing at least one of said at least one
communication function to a user at said control interface.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein: said communication channel
comprises a telephone line; and said at least one communication
function comprises voice mail.
3. A security system for monitoring user premises, said system
comprising: at least one sensor; at least one alarm output device;
at least one user control interface; a system controller connected
to said sensor, said output device and said user control interface,
said at least one user control interface being used by a user to
enter commands affecting a state of said system, said system, when
said state indicates that said system is active, monitoring said at
least one sensor and outputting an alarm on said alarm output
device when said at least one sensor indicates that an alarm
condition exists; and a telephone interface unit connected to said
controller and a telephone line for providing voice mail
functionality, said voice mail functionality being accessible at at
least one of said at least one user control interface.
4. The security system of claim 3 wherein: said voice mail
functionality includes one or more of message retrieval, message
waiting indication, and message header indication; and access to
said voice mail functionality is restricted based on said state of
said system.
5. The security system of claim 4 wherein said voice mail
functionality is accessible when said state is consistent with
presence of an authorized user on said premises.
6. The security system of claim 5 having a plurality of authorized
users, wherein: a particular authorized user initiates said state
consistent with presence of an authorized user by presenting at
said user control interface an indicium unique to said particular
authorized user; and said telephone interface unit presents for
access at said user control interface only voice mail functions
addressed to said authorized user.
7. The security system of claim 6 wherein: said user control
interface comprises a keypad; said indicium comprises a passcode;
and said presentation of said indicium comprises entry of said
passcode at said keypad.
8. The security system of claim 4 wherein said voice mail
functionality is activated automatically upon entry of said system
into said state consistent with presence of an authorized user on
said premises.
9. The security system of claim 3 further comprising at least one
telephone set connected to said telephone line; wherein: said
telephone interface unit further provides a call screening function
at at least one of (a) said at least one telephone set, and (b)
said at least one user control interface.
10. The security system of claim 9 wherein said call screening
function comprises an ability to answer a call being screened.
11. The security system of claim 9 wherein: said user control
interface includes a speaker; said voice mail functionality
comprises playback of an outgoing message to an incoming caller;
and said call screening function is full-duplex, allowing said
incoming caller to speak an announcement that is audible at said
speaker during said playback of said outgoing message.
12. The security system of claim 3 further comprising at least one
telephone set connected to said telephone line, said least one
telephone set having a ringer; wherein: said telephone interface
unit further provides a privacy function whereby said ringer can be
deactivated under control of a user.
13. The security system of claim 3 wherein said telephone interface
unit further comprises a calling party identification unit for
displaying calling party identification data, said calling party
identification data being displayed at said user control
interface.
14. The security system of claim 13 wherein: said user control
interface includes a speaker; and said telephone interface unit
further comprises a voice synthesis unit for announcing said
calling party identification data at said speaker.
15. The security system of claim 13 wherein: said user control
interface includes a speaker; said telephone interface unit
comprises memory for storing at least one telephone number and
identifying data associated with said telephone number; and when
said calling party identification data identifies said stored
telephone number, said identifying data are announced at said
speaker.
16. The security system of claim 15 wherein said identifying data
comprise stored spoken data.
17. The security system of claim 15 wherein said telephone
interface unit comprises a voice synthesis unit for announcing said
identifying data.
18. The security system of claim 3 wherein said voice mail
functionality is accessible only to an authorized user on
presentation of an indicium indicating authorization to access said
voice mail functionality.
19. The security system of claim 18 wherein said indicium
indicating authorization to access said voice mail functionality
also is an indicium authorizing access to said security system.
20. The security system of claim 18 wherein said indicium
indicating authorization to access said voice mail functionality is
different from an indicium authorizing access to said security
system.
21. The security system of claim 18 wherein: said user control
interface comprises a keypad; said indicium comprises a passcode;
and said presentation of said indicium comprises entry of said
passcode at said keypad.
22. The security system of claim 3 wherein: said voice mail
functionality comprises a plurality of voice mailboxes; said
telephone interface unit comprises a calling party identification
unit generating calling party identification data; and incoming
calls are directed automatically to one of said plurality of voice
mailboxes based on said calling party identification data.
23. The security system of claim 3 wherein: said voice mail
functionality comprises a plurality of outgoing greeting messages
for playback to incoming callers; said telephone interface unit
comprises a calling party identification unit generating calling
party identification data; and said telephone interface unit
selects one outgoing greeting message of said plurality of outgoing
greeting messages is for playback based on said calling party
identification data.
24. The security system of claim 3 further comprising at least one
telephone set connected to said telephone line through said
telephone interface unit; wherein: said telephone interface unit
further comprises an auto-redial function; whereby, when a user
dials a number using said connected telephone set and said dialed
number is busy: said telephone interface unit automatically redials
said dialed number at predetermined intervals for up to a
predetermined duration; when said telephone interface unit detects
a ringing signal as a result of redialing said dialed number, said
telephone interface unit generates an indicium for annunciation at
said user control interface to signal said user to engage said
connected telephone set.
25. An integrated security and communications method comprising:
providing a security controller having at least one sensory input,
at least one alarm output and at least one control signal
input/output port; providing a control interface operatively
connected to said at least one control signal input/output port;
providing a communications unit connected to a communication
channel for providing at least one communication function; and
providing at least one of said at least one communication function
to a user at said control interface by providing a first
communication port for connection to one of said at least one
control signal input/output port of said security controller.
26. The method of claim 25 wherein: said communication channel
comprises a telephone line; and said at least one communication
function comprises voice mail.
27. A method for monitoring user premises, said method comprising:
providing at least one sensor; providing at least one alarm output
device; providing at least one user control interface; providing a
system controller connected to said sensor, said output device and
said user control interface; providing a telephone interface unit
connected to said controller and a telephone line for providing
voice mail functionality; accepting at said at least one user
control interface commands entered by a user to affect a state of
said system controller; when said state indicates that said system
controller is active, monitoring said at least one sensor and
outputting an alarm on said alarm output device when said at least
one sensor indicates that an alarm condition exists; and accessing
said voice mail functionality at least one of said at least one
user control interface.
28. The method of claim 27 wherein: said voice mail functionality
includes one or more of message retrieval, message waiting
indication, and message header indication; said method further
comprising: restricting access to said voice mail functionality
based on said state of said system controller.
29. The method of claim 28 wherein said voice mail functionality is
accessible when said state is consistent with presence of an
authorized user on said premises.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein: there are a plurality of
authorized users; and a particular authorized user initiates said
state consistent with presence of an authorized user by presenting
at said user control interface an indicium unique to said
particular authorized user; said method further comprising:
presenting for access at said user control interface only voice
mail functions addressed to said authorized user.
31. The method of claim 30 further comprising: providing a keypad
at said user control interface; wherein: said indicium comprises a
passcode; and said presentation of said indicium comprises entry of
said passcode at said keypad.
32. The method of claim 28 further comprising activating said voice
mail functionality automatically upon entry of said system into
said state consistent with presence of an authorized user on said
premises.
33. The method of claim 27 wherein: at least one telephone set is
connected to said telephone line; said method further comprising:
providing a call screening function at at least one of (a) said at
least one telephone set, and (b) said at least one user control
interface.
34. The method of claim 33 wherein said call screening function
comprises an ability to answer a call being screened.
35. The method of claim 33 wherein: said user control interface
includes a speaker; said voice mail functionality comprises
playback of an outgoing message to an incoming caller; and said
call screening function is full-duplex, allowing said incoming
caller to speak an announcement that is audible at said speaker
during said playback of said outgoing message.
36. The method of claim 27 wherein: at least one telephone set is
connected to said telephone line, said least one telephone set
having a ringer; said method further comprising: providing a
privacy function whereby said ringer can be deactivated under
control of a user.
37. The method of claim 27 wherein: said telephone interface unit
further comprises a calling party identification unit for
displaying calling party identification data; said method further
comprising: displaying said calling party identification data at
said user control interface.
38. The method of claim 37 wherein: said user control interface
includes a speaker; and said telephone interface unit further
comprises a voice synthesis unit; said method further comprising:
synthesizing said calling party identification data and announcing
said calling party identification data at said speaker.
39. The method of claim 37 wherein: said user control interface
includes a speaker; said method further comprising: storing at
least one telephone number and identifying data associated with
said telephone number at said telephone interface unit; and when
said calling party identification data identifies said stored
telephone number, announcing said identifying data at said
speaker.
40. The method of claim 39 wherein said identifying data comprise
stored spoken data.
41. The method of claim 39 wherein: said telephone interface unit
comprises a voice synthesis unit; said method further comprising:
synthesizing and announcing said identifying data.
42. The method of claim 27 wherein said voice mail functionality is
accessible only to an authorized user on presentation of an
indicium indicating authorization to access said voice mail
functionality.
43. The method of claim 42 wherein said indicium indicating
authorization to access said voice mail functionality also is an
indicium authorizing access to said security system.
44. The method of claim 42 wherein said indicium indicating
authorization to access said voice mail functionality is different
from an indicium authorizing access to said security system.
45. The method of claim 42 further comprising: providing a keypad
at said user control interface; wherein: said indicium comprises a
passcode; and said presentation of said indicium comprises entry of
said passcode at said keypad.
46. The method of claim 27 wherein: said voice mail functionality
comprises a plurality of voice mailboxes; and said telephone
interface unit comprises a calling party identification unit
generating calling party identification data; said method further
comprising directing incoming calls automatically to one of said
plurality of voice mailboxes based on said calling party
identification data.
47. The method of claim 27 wherein: said voice mail functionality
comprises a plurality of outgoing greeting messages for playback to
incoming callers; and said telephone interface unit comprises a
calling party identification unit generating calling party
identification data; said method further comprising: selecting one
outgoing greeting message of said plurality of outgoing greeting
messages for playback based on said calling party identification
data.
48. The method of claim 27 wherein: at least one telephone set is
connected to said telephone line through said telephone interface
unit and said telephone interface unit further comprises an
auto-redial function; said method further comprising: when a user
dials a number using said connected telephone set and said dialed
number is busy, automatically redialing said dialed number at
predetermined intervals for up to a predetermined duration; and
when said telephone interface unit detects a ringing signal as a
result of redialing said dialed number, generating an indicium for
annunciation at said user control interface to signal said user to
engage said connected telephone set.
49. An integrated security and communications system comprising:
security controller means having at least one means for accepting
sensory input, at least one means for outputting an alarm and at
least one control signal input/output port; control interface means
operatively connected to said at least one control signal
input/output port; means connected to a communication channel for
providing at least one communication function, and a first
communication port for connection to one of said at least one
control signal input/output port of said security controller means
for providing at least one of said at least one communication
function to a user at said control interface means.
50. The system of claim 49 wherein: said communication channel
comprises a telephone line; and said at least one communication
function comprises voice mail.
51. A security system for monitoring user premises, said system
comprising: at least one means for sensing; at least one means for
outputting an alarm; at least one user control interface means;
system controller means connected to said means for sensing, said
means for outputting an alarm and said user control interface
means, said at least one user control interface means being used by
a user to enter commands affecting a state of said system, said
system, when said state indicates that said system is active,
monitoring said at least one means for sensing and outputting an
alarm on said means for outputting an alarm when said at least one
means for sensing indicates that an alarm condition exists; and a
telephone interface means connected to said controller means and a
telephone line for providing voice mail functionality, said voice
mail functionality being accessible at at least one of said at
least one user control interface means.
52. The security system of claim 51 wherein: said voice mail
functionality includes one or more of message retrieval, message
waiting indication, and message header indication; and access to
said voice mail functionality is restricted based on said state of
said system.
53. The security system of claim 53 wherein said voice mail
functionality is accessible when said state is consistent with
presence of an authorized user on said premises.
54. The security system of claim 54 having a plurality-of
authorized users, wherein: a particular authorized user initiates
said state consistent with presence of an authorized user by
presenting at said user control interface means an indicium unique
to said particular authorized user; and said telephone interface
means presents for access at said user control interface means only
voice mail functions addressed to said authorized user.
55. The security system of claim 55 wherein: said user control
interface means comprises keypad means; said indicium comprises a
passcode; and said presentation of said indicium comprises entry of
said passcode at said keypad means.
56. The security system of claim 53 wherein said voice mail
functionality is activated automatically upon entry of said system
into said state consistent with presence of an authorized user on
said premises.
57. The security system of claim 51 further comprising at least one
telephone set connected to said telephone line; wherein: said
telephone interface means further provides a call screening
function at at least one of (a) said at least one telephone set,
and (b) said at least one user control interface means.
58. The security system of claim 58 wherein said call screening
function comprises an ability to answer a call being screened.
59. The security system of claim 58 wherein: said user control
interface means includes speaker means; said voice mail
functionality comprises playback of an outgoing message to an
incoming caller; and said call screening function is full-duplex,
allowing said incoming caller to speak an announcement that is
audible at said speaker means during said playback of said outgoing
message.
60. The security system of claim 51 further comprising at least one
telephone set connected to said telephone line, said least one
telephone set having means for ringing; wherein: said telephone
interface means further provides a privacy function whereby said
means for ringing can be deactivated under control of a user.
61. The security system of claim 51 wherein said telephone
interface means further comprises a means for displaying calling
party identification data, said calling party identification data
being displayed at said user control interface means.
62. The security system of claim 62 wherein: said user control
interface means includes speaker means; and said telephone
interface means further comprises means for synthesizing voice for
announcing said calling party identification data at said speaker
means.
63. The security system of claim 62 wherein: said user control
interface means includes speaker means; said telephone interface
means comprises means for storing at least one telephone number and
identifying data associated with said telephone number; and when
said calling party identification data identifies said stored
telephone number, said identifying data are announced at said
speaker means.
64. The security system of claim 64 wherein said identifying data
comprise stored spoken data.
65. The security system of claim 64 wherein said telephone
interface means comprises means for synthesizing voice for
announcing said identifying data.
66. The security system of claim 51 wherein said voice mail
functionality is accessible only to an authorized user on
presentation of an indicium indicating authorization to access said
voice mail functionality.
67. The security system of claim 67 wherein said indicium
indicating authorization to access said voice mail functionality
also is an indicium authorizing access to said security system.
68. The security system of claim 67 wherein said indicium
indicating authorization to access said voice mail functionality is
different from an indicium authorizing access to said security
system.
69. The security system of claim 67 wherein: said user control
interface means comprises keypad means; said indicium comprises a
passcode; and said presentation of said indicium comprises entry of
said passcode at said keypad means.
70. The security system of claim 51 wherein: said voice mail
functionality comprises a plurality of voice mailboxes; said
telephone interface means comprises calling party identification
means generating calling part y identification data; and incoming
calls are directed automatically to one of said plurality of voice
mailboxes based on said calling party identification data.
71. The security system of claim 51 wherein: said voice mail
functionality comprises a plurality of outgoing greeting messages
for playback to incoming callers; said telephone interface means
comprises means for generating calling party identification data;
and said telephone interface means selects one outgoing greeting
message of said plurality of outgoing greeting messages is for
playback based on said calling party identification data.
72. The security system of claim 51 further comprising at least one
telephone set connected to said telephone line through said
telephone interface means; wherein: said telephone interface means
further comprises an auto-redial function; whereby, when a user
dials a number using said connected telephone set and said dialed
number is busy: said telephone interface means automatically
redials said dialed number at predetermined intervals for up to a
predetermined duration; when said telephone interface means detects
a ringing signal as a result of redialing said dialed number, said
telephone interface means generates an indicium for annunciation at
said user control interface means to signal said user to engage
said connected telephone set.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This claims the benefit of copending U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 60/188,798, filed Mar. 13, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to an integrated security and
communications system. In particular, this invention relates to a
security system integrated with a telephone system and/or an
Internet connection, in which various communications features can
be accessed from a keypad of the security system, and various
security system features can be accessed from connected telephone
sets.
[0003] Security systems for residential properties are well known.
Such systems at one time were electrical or electromechanical in
nature, but in more recent times have become electronic in nature,
relying on microprocessors for controlling and carrying out their
functions. Moreover, while it was common at one time for a
residential security system to have external controls (e.g.,
key-operated switches) to activate and deactivate the system on
exit and entry, which provided a point of attack for potential
intruders, it is more common now for a microprocessor-based system
to provide entry and exit delays, allowing all control interfaces
to be within the protected perimeter of the premises. As a result,
the first place a returning occupant goes upon entering the
residence is to the nearest control interface for the security
system, to disarm the system before expiration of the entry delay.
Similarly, the last place a departing occupant goes upon leaving
the premises is to the control interface, to arm the system.
[0004] Alternatively, or additionally, the user may have a
transmitter, frequently provided in the form of a keyfob to be kept
on the user's keyring, for arming and disarming the system. The
transmitter may be a radio-frequency transmitter, in which case the
user would not necessarily have to be within close proximity to any
particular location on the premises, or may be an infrared
transmitter, in which case the user would have to be in close
proximity to, or at least substantially in the line of sight of, a
receiver, which might conveniently be included as part of the
control interface.
[0005] It also has become common for residences to be equipped with
some sort of telephone answering device, which records a caller's
incoming message, name, and or telephone number, for playback or
review by the resident upon returning home. The answering machine
or caller identification device also is one of the first places to
which a resident goes on returning home.
[0006] Most recently, it also has become common for individuals to
have electronic mail accounts for receiving messages via the
Internet or other public data networks. Thus, a third place to
which a returning resident goes is to a computer, to retrieve the
electronic mail.
[0007] Security systems of the type being discussed almost
universally communicate with a "central station" which monitors or
supervises the status of each security system. Not only are alarms
reported to the central station, which then acts on them or
dispatches law enforcement to act on them, but even the absence of
communication may be acted upon as a sign of possible trouble at
the secured premises. In addition, a maintenance condition (such as
a low back-up battery) can be detected and a service technician can
be dispatched or the premises owner can be advised to correct the
condition.
[0008] The communications between the local security system and the
remote central station has traditionally been carried by landline
or cellular telephone or by radio. Frequently, more than one of
those media are used, for redundancy. Increasingly, many of the
protected premises, including both homes and businesses, have
high-speed connections to the Internet. Using such connections to
communicate to the central station would be faster than the other
methods described above. However, there are several problems
associated with using the Internet for central station
communications.
[0009] First, the inherent nature of the Internet gives rise to the
risk of interception of, or eavesdropping on, messages sent on the
Internet. This means that a secure encryption method is
required.
[0010] Second, most Internet connections do not have fixed Internet
Protocol ("IP") addresses, meaning the central station cannot be
sure, simply from looking at the originating address, that a
message comes from a particular location. Because the central
station must therefore accept messages from any IP address, and use
other data in the message to identify the sender, the central
station needs some other way to authenticate that the sender is who
it appears to be.
[0011] Third, in most cases where the premises is served by an
Internet connection, that connection is protected by a "firewall"
to prevent unauthorized access to computers on the premises--e.g.,
by "hackers." This makes it difficult, if not impossible, for a
central station to poll the security system on the premises via the
Internet, because the firewall prevents Internet access from the
outside.
[0012] Fourth, the Internet has not yet reached a sufficiently
mature state that it can be counted on to be available at all
times. Service to a particular location may be "down" at
unpredictable times.
[0013] Nevertheless, if a way could be found to use the Internet to
communicate securely between a premises security system and a
central station, and the system worked--i.e., the connection was
not "down," the Internet would clearly be the fastest
communications channel, as compared to landline or cellular
telephone, or radio.
[0014] Such a system would have multiple channels available to get
messages to the central station. It would be necessary to use those
various channels in the most efficient manner, avoiding unnecessary
redundancy but also avoiding unnecessary delay in reporting to the
central station.
[0015] It would be desirable to be able to minimize the number of
electronic devices to which an individual must attend on returning
or leaving the premises.
[0016] It also would be desirable to be able to improve the
security of communications between the premises and an external
data network.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] It is an object of this invention to minimize the number of
electronic devices to which an individual must attend on returning
or leaving home.
[0018] It is also an object of this invention to improve the
security of communications between the home and an external data
network.
[0019] In accordance with this invention, there is provided an
integrated security and communications system. The system has a
security controller having at least one sensory input, at least one
alarm output and at least one control signal input/output port. A
control interface is operatively connected to the control inputs
and outputs. A communications unit is connected to a communication
channel providing at least one communication function, and has a
first communication port for connection to a control input and a
control output of the security controller for providing at least
one of its communication functions to a user at the control
interface.
[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, the communications unit
is an electronic answering machine/voice-mail unit, providing an
array of telephone answering and related functions. In another
embodiment, the communications unit is an Internet gateway. In a
particularly preferred embodiment, the Internet gateway can
communicate with the Internet securely from behind a firewall using
shared private key encryption, creating a virtual private
network.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The above and other objects and advantages of the invention
will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed
description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout,
and in which:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of a preferred
embodiment of a security system in accordance with the present
invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic diagram of a second
preferred embodiment of a security system in accordance with the
present invention;
[0024] FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a first embodiment of a
keypad for use in a system according to the invention;
[0025] FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a second embodiment of a
keypad for use in a system according to the invention;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a simplified schematic diagram of the circuitry of
the keypad of FIG. 4;
[0027] FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a third embodiment of a
keypad for use in a system according to the invention;
[0028] FIG. 7 is a simplified schematic diagram of a preferred
embodiment of a telephone interface unit according to the
invention; and
[0029] FIG. 8 is a simplified schematic diagram of a preferred
embodiment of a communications system according to the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] The present invention recognizes that the first place a user
must go on entering a residence or other premises protected by a
security system is to the security system keypad, to disarm the
system (or place it in an "armed home" state) prior to the
expiration of the entry delay period. The invention also recognizes
that the last place a user goes before leaving the premises is to
the security system keypad, to arm the system prior to leaving. In
accordance with the invention, communication functions, such as
telephone answering or voice-mail functions, or Internet or other
public data network functions, such as electronic mail, are made
available to the user at the security system keypad. Depending on
the number of functions provided, and the level of functionality
provided for each function, it may be possible to use a
conventional keypad, or an enhanced keypad may be required, as
described in more detail below.
[0031] In order for the communications functions to be available at
the keypad, the security system has to be integrated to at least
some degree with the communications system or systems involved.
While security systems ordinarily are connected to a telephone
line--e.g., for central station monitoring--or to a radio-frequency
or cellular communications device, greater integration than that
normally provided is foreseen by the present invention.
[0032] In one preferred embodiment of the invention, an electronic
answering machine or voice-mail unit is integrated into the
security system and connected--by wired or wireless connection--to
the household telephone line. If the household has a separate
telephone line for security system monitoring, then the telephone
line used for voice calls must be connected to the integrated
voice-mail unit. In this system, the voice mail functions
preferably are available at at least one, and preferably all,
keypads of the security system.
[0033] In order to operate the voice mail functions, the security
keypad preferably has at least eleven buttons, for the digits 0-9
plus one function key such as "#", and preferably a twelfth key
such as "*", to mimic a standard DTMF telephone keypad. In
addition, the keypad preferably has a speaker to play back any
voice messages recorded by the system. Most conventional keypads
already have a speaker for the purpose, e.g., of sounding a
"pre-alarm" warning during the entry delay period (as a reminder
that the system must be disarmed). It would also be desirable for
the keypad to have a visual indicator that could be used for
indicating the presence of messages to be played. However, this is
not essential, as the system could be configured to announce
aurally, on disarming of the system, whether or not there are
messages, and if so how many. The user then uses keypad commands to
play back the messages, delete them, archive them, etc. The system
could also provide an audible indication on any connected telephone
sets--such as a repeating beep heard on top of the dial tone--so
that if a user picks up any such telephone set, it will be apparent
that messages are present. The user could then use the telephone
keypad to play the messages, etc.
[0034] It is known in voice-mail and telephone answering systems to
provide multiple voice mailboxes, to which messages for different
members of the household can be directed. It is also known to
provide different security system user passcodes to different
members of the household. In one embodiment of an integrated
security and voice-mail system according to the invention, where
individual voice mailboxes are provided, the entry of a particular
passcode associated with a particular user, to perform any system
function, also causes the system to play back, or at least announce
the existence of, messages from that user's voice mailbox, or
alternatively, from that user's voice mailbox and from a general
mailbox, if there is one, but not from any other user's mailbox. In
systems where users are provided, for control of the security
functions, with swipe cards or transmitters that typically are
coded differently for different individuals, then the use of such a
card or transmitter or other coded token associated with a
particular individual preferably has the same result as entry of an
individual passcode. If the system has only one general mailbox,
then any user's code would cause playback, or announcement of the
existence, of the general mailbox messages.
[0035] Another voice-mail function, commonly provided in
stand-alone answering machines, that could be provided by the
system according to the invention, is the ability of one user to
record a voice memo for another user. For example, a parent could
record a reminder for a child to do his or her homework. When the
child arrives at home and disarms the security system, the
integrated voice-mail system would recognize the child's passcode
and play back, or announce the existence of, the voice memo, along
with any voice messages in the child's mailbox.
[0036] The voice-mail functionality of the system is preferably
provided by a telephone interface module connected to the security
system control unit and to the telephone line to be answered. Among
other advantages, this allows the telephone interface module to be
backed up by the security system back-up battery, preserving
settings, recorded greetings, and recorded incoming messages in the
event of an AC power failure. Although known answering machines
have battery back-up, integration with the security system means
that the back-up battery is monitored by the central station, so
that if it is low, a warning will be issued or a technician sent to
replace the battery, as discussed above. The system may be designed
so that when it is operating on back-up power, it selectively sheds
certain loads. For example, the system could turn off answering
system functions or portions thereof such as the digital signal
processor whenever the system is on battery power, or only if the
battery voltage drops below a minimum DC threshold voltage required
to preserve security functions.
[0037] The telephone interface module can be connected in parallel
with the premises telephone wiring, but preferably is connected in
series with the premises telephone wiring--i.e., the incoming
telephone line is connected to the telephone interface module,
which in turn is connected to the premises telephone wiring. This
would allow the voice-mail functions to be accessed from any
telephone set on the premises, in addition to being accessed from
the security system keypads. In addition, it would allow security
system functions to be accessed from the telephone sets as well.
Alternatively, in another embodiment, if the telephone interface
module continually monitors the telephone line for DTMF activity,
it could be connected in parallel with the premises telephone
wiring and nevertheless allow the telephone sets to access either
or both of voice-mail and security system functions. In still
another embodiment, some of the telephone sets on the premises are
connected to the telephone interface module while others are
connected to the premises telephone wiring in parallel with the
telephone interface module.
[0038] It should be noted that the integration of security system
and telephone interface functions, such as the playback or
announcement of the existence of voice messages upon disarming of
the security system, requires that the passcodes for the security
system and the telephone interface unit be the same. This is
particularly the case if personalized mailboxes are provided, which
is necessary if personalized recorded memos are to be provided, but
is also necessary if the system is simply to record messages in a
single mailbox and play them back. If the passcodes for the two
systems are not the same, disarming of the security system will not
cause playback or announcement of voice messages. The user still
will be able to access the telephone interface system from the
security system interface by entering appropriate separate
commands, but he or she would have to remember to do so. In a
preferred embodiment, however, the passcodes for the two systems
are required to be identical, so that the systems function in the
fully integrated manner described above.
[0039] In an embodiment of the invention where all telephone sets
on the premises are connected through the telephone interface
module, a privacy feature can be provided. This feature preferably
can be activated from any telephone set using a particular DTMF
sequence or a key provided for that purpose, and preferably also
from any security system keypad using the numeric keys or a key
provided for that purpose. When active, the privacy feature
disables the ringers in all telephone sets, or blocks the
transmission of a ring signal to the telephone sets. This means
that incoming calls will not be answered and will be routed to the
telephone answering system. The outgoing message will include an
indication that the privacy feature is on. This will allow any
knowledgeable caller, such as a member of the household, to enter a
DTMF sequence to allow him- or herself to broadcast a message over
the speakers of security system keypads, so that other members of
the household, who have engaged the privacy mode, will know to
answer the call. The privacy mode can be deactivated by entering
the appropriate sequence from any connected telephone set or
security system keypad. However, as a failsafe, the privacy feature
preferably deactivates itself after a predetermined duration--e.g.,
eight hours. In addition, the system could be set up to allow the
user, when invoking the privacy feature, to set the duration that
the feature will remain active.
[0040] Another feature that can be provided if at least some
telephone lines on the premises are connected to the telephone
interface unit rather than directly to the telephone provider
central office, and a personal computer on the premises is
connected, via a modem, to one such telephone line, is embodied in
software that can be provided on the personal computer. The
software causes the personal computer to send a particular series
of DTMF tones or other signalling to the telephone interface unit,
causing the telephone interface unit to disconnect from the central
office telephone line and enter a programming/maintenance mode. In
this mode, the personal computer can be used to inspect and
reprogram settings of the telephone interface unit. Preferably,
this is done by downloading a configuration file from the telephone
interface unit to the personal computer, changing the configuration
file, and uploading the new configuration to the telephone
interface unit. In addition, audio files preferably can be
transmitted between the personal computer and the telephone
interface unit, allowing incoming voice mail messages to be
downloaded to the personal computer, and also allowing the user to
compose the outgoing message and other custom voice prompts or tags
on the personal computer and then upload them to the telephone
interface unit.
[0041] As in the case of many known telephone answering or
voice-mail systems, the voice-mail functionality provided by the
telephone interface module according to the invention preferably is
remotely accessible by dialing into the system from an external
telephone. Moreover, because the telephone interface module is
connected to the security system controller, then preferably
security system functions are accessible as well, whether dialing
in from an external telephone, or picking up a premises telephone
set.
[0042] Other functions offered by private-branch exchange ("PBX")
telephone systems could be offered to connected telephone sets by
the system according to the invention. For example, memory dialing
("speed dialing") of some quantity of stored telephone numbers
preferably is provided. In addition, in an alternative embodiment
in which the security system keypads are equipped with microphones,
they could operate as additional telephone extensions, functioning
as speakerphones. Even if the keypads do not have microphones, they
could be used as extensions for listening only--e.g., to call
recorded announcements or interactive voice-response systems.
[0043] Another function that the system preferably provides at
either connected telephone sets, keypads or both, is call
screening--i.e., the ability to listen to an incoming caller
leaving a message, to be able to determine whether or not to pick
up the call. Call screening is a common feature of stand-alone
answering machines, but is less common in a PBX/voice-mail
configuration. However, according to the invention, by pressing an
appropriate command, at a system keypad or on the keypad of a
connected telephone set, while a message is being left, the message
can be screened. And because a microphone is not needed for call
screening, the screening function preferably is provided even at a
keypad without a microphone. Further, in accordance with the
invention, a call being screened preferably can be answered by
entering an appropriate command. This would have to be at a
telephone set or, if provided, at a keypad with a microphone.
Preferably, the command to answer the call being screened, at least
at a telephone set, is a flash of the telephone set hookswitch.
[0044] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the call screening
feature is full-duplex--i.e., the caller's voice can be heard over
the system speakers even while the outgoing message or greeting is
being played. Therefore, a caller who is aware of this feature,
such as a member of the household, can announce him- or herself
during the outgoing message in an attempt to cause a household
member who may be at home to pick up the call. This differs from
previously known answering machines--whether digital or
tape-based--in that in those previously known machines, the
caller's voice could be heard only after playback of the outgoing
message was complete and recording of the incoming message had
begun.
[0045] Another feature normally associated with telephone answering
machines that can be provided in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention is the so-called "toll saver" feature. In
accordance with such a feature, the answering system waits a first
number of rings before answering an incoming call if no messages
have already been recorded, but waits only a second, smaller number
of rings if at least one message has already been recorded. This
allows the residents, if they are away--e.g., on vacation or
holiday--to determine when calling from a remote location whether
or not there are any messages waiting, without necessarily
completing a telephone call to the system. If the system rings more
than the smaller number of rings, they know that there are no
messages, allowing them to hang up the call before the system
answers, and thereby saving long-distance toll charges. In a
further embodiment, the "toll-saver" feature is selectable--i.e.,
the user can control whether it is engaged at all--and
adjustable--i.e., the number of rings the system will wait before
answering can be chosen by the user. User control of the
"toll-saver" feature preferably is available at least at a system
keypad, and preferably at connected telephone sets as well. More
preferably, control of the "toll-saver" feature also is available
when calling in to the system from a remote location.
[0046] In addition, operation of the "toll-saver" feature
preferably can be programmed to be dependent on the state of the
system, so that, e.g., it is inactive when the system is in a
disarmed or armed-home state which means that the premises are
occupied. This gives the residents or occupants more time to get to
a telephone, or keypad if appropriate, when there is an incoming
call and messages have been recorded.
[0047] Another feature that can be provided in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention is calling party
identification, more commonly known as "Caller ID," in which the
telephone carrier sends, with each incoming telephone call, calling
party identification data which can be decoded and displayed by
equipment at the receiving end. In an embodiment of the present
invention, the telephone interface unit can include a calling party
identification decoder, allowing the calling party identification
data to be displayed at, in addition to the specialized Caller ID
equipment, those keypads that have alphanumeric displays--e.g.,
liquid crystal, gas plasma or light-emitting diode displays--and on
specially-equipped telephone sets connected to the telephone
interface unit. In addition, using speech synthesis technology, the
calling party identification data can be added to a recorded
message left by a caller, for playback along with the message from
any on-premises or off-premises location. Similarly, speech
synthesis technology can be used to announce the calling party
identification data aurally (e.g., over keypad speakers). In a
further embodiment, the system can store textual identifying
data--e.g., names--in association with certain telephone numbers,
and can announce, either visually, or aurally using speech
synthesis, the name associated with a telephone number identified
by the calling party identification data for each incoming call,
either instead of or in addition to the number itself. Instead of
using speech synthesis, the user could store a "voice tag" recorded
by the user--e.g., "Mom's calling"--in association with certain
numbers, and the voice tag could be played back. In a still further
embodiment, the system could store, in association with certain
telephone numbers, instructions for paging the user when a call is
received from one of those numbers. When such a call is received,
the system would dial the number of the pager stored in the
instructions, and preferably may send, as a paging message, the
calling number, most preferably with some indication that the page
is coming from the home system as opposed to directly from the
calling number. Alternatively, the system could send as the paging
message a message that one of the stored numbers has called,
allowing the user to call home for the voice mail message left by
the caller.
[0048] Similarly, when "memory dialing" or "speed dialing" as
discussed above is offered, the system could announce the number
being called using speech synthesis, or could play back a stored
voice tag stored with the memory-dial number.
[0049] In another embodiment of the invention, the use of calling
party identification technology also allows the provision of
distinctive ringing--i.e., a feature whereby calls from certain
predetermined telephone numbers ring differently from ordinary
calls, to alert those on the premises that a particular party is
calling. A number of different distinctive ringing patterns could
be provided, each of which can be assigned to one particular
predetermined number, or to a group of numbers. Thus, particular
friends or relatives could be assigned their own ringing signal, or
a certain group of acquaintances--e.g., all coworkers--could be
assigned a common ringing signal.
[0050] While the distinctive ringing feature could be provided by
including a ring generator in the telephone interface unit, in a
more particularly preferred embodiment, the distinctive ringing is
provided by interrupting, in a predetermined manner, the incoming
ringing signal provided by the telephone service provider. While
this may limit the number of different ringing signals that could
be provided, it avoids the need to generate, within the telephone
interface unit, a 90 VAC ringing signal as is commonly used in
telephones.
[0051] In a further embodiment that relies on calling party
identification data, more than one outgoing greeting can be
provided for each voice mailbox, with certain callers hearing a
different greeting, as determined by the calling party
identification data.
[0052] In another embodiment of the invention, the telephone
interface unit provides an auto-redial feature. When a user makes a
telephone call, if the called number is busy, the telephone
interface unit will continue to call the called number at
predetermined intervals until it detects a ringing signal. When a
ringing signal is detected, an indication is made at the user
premises, either by ringing the telephones, providing a visual
indication on a telephone equipped with a visual indicator, or
providing an aural or visual indication at a one or more system
keypads, or any combination. If a user does not pick up a telephone
within a predetermined interval after the indication is made, the
system will disconnect the call. The user has the option of
terminating the redial feature, which in any event is preferably
limited in duration after the initial busy signal is
detected--e.g., the system may attempt to redial the call every two
minutes but only for half an hour after the initial busy
signal.
[0053] Another feature that is provided in a preferred embodiment
of the invention is a public address feature. A user can pick up a
telephone set connected to the telephone interface unit and, by
issuing an appropriate command, either on the telephone keypad or
on a specially-provided button, disconnect the telephone set from
the central office line and connect it to the speakers in the
system keypads for broadcast of an announcement. Alternatively,
individual keypads, or groups of keypads, could be addressed by
telephone keypad commands. In a variant of this feature, another
user, on hearing the announcement, can pick up another telephone
set and, upon entering an appropriate command, be connected to the
first user in an "intercom" mode, disconnected from the central
office telephone line. The intercom or public address mode
preferably is also available when the telephone line is in use.
Specifically, if a user answers an incoming call, but the call is
for another user on the premises, the user who answered the call
could engage the public address or intercom function to advise the
user for whom the call is intended. In such a case, while the
telephone sets would be temporarily disconnected from the central
office telephone line, the telephone interface unit would maintain
the telephone line in an off-hook condition (i.e., "on hold") until
one of the users is ready to pick up the all. Of course, these
features would not be available from a telephone set that is
connected to the central office telephone line directly rather than
through the telephone interface unit.
[0054] In addition to providing a public address function, the
telephone interface unit could also provide a room-monitoring
function. Specifically, the system would allow a user to issue a
command on any connected telephone set to monitor the microphone of
any microphone-equipped keypad on the system. Preferably, the
appropriate command could also be issued from any other keypad, as
long as the other keypad has a speaker for listening, whether or
not it has a microphone. This feature could be used, for example,
to monitor a baby's room.
[0055] In another alternative embodiment of the invention, instead
of providing voice-mail functionality in the telephone interface
unit, the user could subscribe to central office voice-mail service
from the telephone company. Normally, a subscriber to that service
is informed of waiting messages by a special dial tone that is
audible only when a telephone set is picked up. In this embodiment
of the invention, the telephone interface unit senses the presence
of the special dial tone and causes an aural or visual indication
at one or more system keypads, and, in a further alternative,
visually on specially equipped telephone sets connected to the
telephone interface unit. In addition, the system could, upon
command from a keypad, connected telephone set, or other connected
communications device, or upon disarming of the security system,
dial out on the central office telephone line the DTMF digits,
including the user's access code, necessary to accessing the voice
mail service (or other functions) provided by the central office,
playing back the messages at the device from which the command was
entered.
[0056] The system according to the invention is capable of sending
an off-hook signal to the telephone company central office even
when no telephone set is in an off-hook condition. This allows the
system to provide a "hold" feature. A user can command the system
to put a call on hold--i.e., disconnecting it from the premises
telephone sets but keeping the central office telephone line in an
off-hook condition, by, e.g., entering a DTMF command or flashing
the hookswitch.
[0057] Many of the features described above are provided by having
the telephone interface unit monitor incoming telephone calls on
connected telephone sets and even on unconnected telephone sets.
That same monitoring capability can be used to monitor outgoing
telephone calls, and in accordance with another feature of the
invention, the system can keep a log of outgoing calls including
such information as number called, time of call, duration of call,
etc. This information preferably can be displayed on the display of
a telephone set so equipped or on the display of a security keypad
so equipped. Moreover, the system could then be used to block
certain telephone calls, such as those to "900" numbers, or to
specific numbers programmed into the system, or even long distance
calls. As a further feature, such calls could be unblocked by
entering an appropriate code. Of course, to use these blocking
features, the telephone sets would have to be connected through the
telephone interface unit; telephone sets connected directly to the
central office line in parallel with the telephone interface unit
would have unlimited access to the telephone line. Thus, a user
interested in these features typically would not have any telephone
sets that are not connected through the telephone interface
unit.
[0058] In addition to, or instead of, being connected to a
telephone line, the security system according to the present
invention can be connected to an external data network for sending
or receiving data. One example of such a network to which the
system can be connected is the Internet. Preferably, if the system
is connected to an external data network such as the Internet, the
connection is of the type which is always on and active. The
external data network may used as a backup channel for
communication with the central station that monitors the security
system, with a traditional dial-up or cellular telephone connection
or radio-frequency communication channel as the primary channel,
but the external data network also could be used as the primary
central station monitoring channel, with the traditional
communications methods used as back-up. Either way, preferably the
various channels are used redundantly to make sure that the message
gets to the central station. More preferably, once transmission on
one channel succeeds, incomplete attempts using other channels are
terminated, as described in more detail below.
[0059] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
an Internet connection between the premises and the central station
can be used for reliable secure communications. Both of the
problems of security and authentication are solved by using shared
private key encryption. Each premises system is provided with a
unique private key. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the
private key is built into the system controller at the time of
manufacture. The same private key is shared with the central
station. The central station thus stores many private keys, one for
each of the units it monitors. If the central station is
communicating with a particular unit, if it is able to decrypt the
communication with that unit using the private key that it
associates with that unit, which no one else in the world is
supposed to know, then the central station knows two things. First,
the central station knows that the unit is the unit that the
central station thinks it is, because if it were a different unit,
the private key would not function to decrypt the communication.
Second, by virtue of the same private key encryption, the central
station knows that the communication was secure.
[0060] The remaining problem of the premises firewall is solved by
having the premises unit initiate contact with the central station
periodically. Most firewalls do not prevent sessions that initiate
within the firewall. Once a session is open, the central station
can send any messages or other data to the premises unit. If the
central station does not hear from the premises unit at the
appointed intervals, it assumes a problem and dispatches someone to
the premises. Otherwise, the contact intervals are set to be short
enough that the central station is not likely to have too much of a
build-up of unsent messages to the premises. The contact interval
may also depend on the type of premises. For example, a bank or
jewelry store may have more frequent contact with the central
station than a residence.
[0061] Although the system is useful to allow communications
through firewalls, it may be used where one or both of the
communicating parties lacks a firewall. Advantages of such a system
include obviating the need for user setup, as well as the need for
an external data center to know the IP address of a device with
which it needs to communicate.
[0062] Although in the system just described, the installation in
secure contact with the premises has been described as a "central
station," it need not be the same "central station" that monitors
for and responds to alarm conditions. Instead, it is possible to
distinguish between a central monitoring station, which performs
those traditional alarm monitoring functions, and a central
communications station, which merely guarantees the security of the
communications link. While in some cases, both of those functions
may in fact be performed by a single entity, it is within the
present invention for those functions to be performed by separate
facilities which may even be owned by separate entities. Thus,
while traditional alarm companies will continue to operate central
monitoring stations, they may contract with secure communications
providers to operate central communications stations to provide
secure Internet connections to their subscribers and then to relay
the communications to them.
[0063] Indeed, that relay may take place over an Internet
connection between the central monitoring station and the central
communications station that is secured in the same way as the
connection between the subscriber premises and the central
monitoring station. Specifically, the central monitoring station,
secure behind its firewall, will initiate all sessions with the
central communications station using a shared private key
encryption.
[0064] If the central monitoring station in such an embodiment
wants to contact a subscriber premises unit, the central monitoring
station initiates a session with the central communications station
and transmits the message to the central communications station.
The central communications station queues the message for the
appropriate premises unit, and when that premises unit next checks
in, the central communications station asks the premises unit to
hold the channel open to receive the message from the central
monitoring station. The central communications station then sends
the message to the premises unit, and receives a response, if
appropriate. If a response is received, it is queued up until the
next time the central monitoring station checks in, at which time
it is transmitted to the central monitoring station.
[0065] Similarly, if the premises unit has a message for the
central monitoring station, it initiates a session with the central
communications station and transmits the message to the central
communications station. The central communications station queues
the message until the central monitoring station next checks in,
when the central communications station asks the central monitoring
station to hold the channel open to receive the message from the
premises unit. The central communications station then sends the
message to the central monitoring station, and receives a response,
if appropriate. If a response is received, it is queued up until
the next time the premises unit checks in, at which time it is
transmitted to the premises unit.
[0066] With such a secure communications system in place, there is
no security reason not to rely on the Internet as the primary alarm
reporting channel, insofar as it is clearly the fastest when it is
available. If it is not available, one or more of the other
communications channels can be used. Traditionally, if a primary
communications channel fails, the system "fails over" to a
secondary channel. In accordance with another aspect of the present
invention, the system does not wait for failure of the primary
channel before initiating contact on a secondary channel.
[0067] One way of operating such a "dynamic signalling" scheme in
accordance with the invention would be to have both (or all if more
than two channels are used--e.g., Internet, landline telephone,
cellular telephone, control-channel cellular communications such as
that known as MicroBurst.RTM. and available from Aeris
Communications, Inc. of San Jose Calif., and/or radio) channels
initiate communications at the same time, with the first method to
succeed issuing instructions upon success for the other methods to
terminate their attempts to communicate. This scheme has the
advantage that the reporting of an alarm condition (or any other
condition) need not wait until the primary channel fails before a
secondary channel is tried.
[0068] On the other hand, the primary channel frequently works.
Therefore, the dynamic signalling scheme just described could be
considered inefficient in that it always initiates the back-up
channel(s) even when no back-up is necessary. Therefore, in a
refinement of the dynamic signalling scheme, the primary channel is
given a "head start" before the secondary channel or channels are
activated. For example, if the primary channel is the Internet,
then a successful reporting session normally will be over in a few
seconds. Therefore, the other channels automatically are engaged
after, e.g., five seconds, unless a completion signal is received
from the primary channel. If the primary channel is successful
within five seconds, then there is no need to activate the other
channels at all. If the primary channel is not successful within
five seconds, it may yet be successful, but the other channels will
be activated, with the first channel to succeed after that time
terminating the other channels.
[0069] Various combinations of channels can be used. For example,
the system could rely on control-channel cellular communications or
the Internet as the primary channel, with landline dial-up as the
backup channel. Or the Internet could be the primary channel, with
control-channel cellular communications as the backup the channel.
Any other combination of the various communications media could be
used.
[0070] Once the external data network is present, other uses beyond
security system reporting are possible. Thus, a properly equipped
premises system keypad could be used as a terminal for accessing
the external data network. In one preferred embodiment, when a user
disarms the security system at a system keypad--e.g., on returning
home--incoming electronic mail messages are displayed at the
keypad. For this purpose, the system keypad preferably has an
alphanumeric display, or an active-matrix, LCD or other flat-panel
display, to display the electronic mail messages, although speech
synthesis technology could be used to present the messages aurally
using a speaker in the keypad. Preferably also, the keypad has a
visual indicator to indicate the presence of messages to be
displayed. An aural indication--such as a particular pattern of
tones or a recorded or synthesized spoken announcement--of the
presence of messages could be provided at the time of disarming the
system, instead of, or in addition to, a visual indication.
[0071] If electronic mail is delivered by the system, then in one
embodiment there is a particular electronic mail address associated
with the system, and that mail would be displayed. In a more
particularly preferred embodiment, a separate electronic mail
address for each authorized user of the system is associated with
the system, and the appropriate user's electronic mail messages are
displayed based on the passcode, swipe card, coded transmitter or
other token used to disarm the system, as discussed above in
connection with telephone voice-mail messages. Thus, the
announcement and/or display of electronic mail messages via the
keypad is personalized to the user who is within the vicinity of,
or is accessing, the keypad. Such personalization significantly
enhances the usability and "user-friendliness" of the system.
[0072] In another embodiment of the invention, instead of, or in
addition to, electronic mail messages, the system displays World
Wide Web pages or similar data from the external data network. The
data displayed are preselected by the user or users. Thus, the same
data could be accessed regardless of who accesses the system, or
the data could be personalized for individual users. For example,
in a residential system, if an adult disarms the system, a stock
market report might be displayed, while for a teenage child, an
advertisement from a favorite retailer might be displayed.
Similarly, on arming of the system, which ordinarily signifies that
the user is leaving the premises, a traffic or weather report, or
any other data preselected by the user, might be displayed. If a
user has more than one passcode, or a transmitter with more than
one button for arming or disarming the system, a different data
selection could be associated with each passcode or button.
[0073] In another embodiment, the system is configured to allow
retrieval of electronic mail messages from any one or more system
keypads throughout the premises, separately from a disarm
operation. This could be implemented in one embodiment by providing
a special electronic mail retrieval key on the keypad, which would
then prompt the user for a passcode to identify which of the
potential authorized users is requesting retrieval of electronic
mail, or in a second embodiment a special command sequence on a
standard keypad could be used for the same function. In another
embodiment, the various system keypads on the system could be
configured in a local area network, allowing users at different
keypads to independently and simultaneously retrieve electronic
mail. In such an embodiment, the security system functions operate
as in the non-networked embodiment.
[0074] In a further embodiment, the system keypad is provided with
a full keyboard and is usable as a terminal to log onto the
Internet or other external data network for any purpose, including
composing and sending electronic mail, searching for information on
the World Wide Web, etc. In a variation of this embodiment, the
keypad is provided with a microphone for full sound operations, and
optionally with stereo speakers instead of a single monaural
speaker. In another variation, the keypad is also provided with a
display, such as a liquid crystal or gas plasma display or a small
cathode-ray tube display, for displaying graphics as well as text,
and optionally with a video camera for full video operations.
[0075] The premises unit could perform all of these functions on
its own, using its direct external data network (e.g., Internet)
connection. However, for security reasons, it may be desirable to
avoid general contact between the premises unit and other Internet
users. Therefore, in a system where the premises unit communicates
with a central communications station as described above (whether
or not the central communications station is also the central
monitoring station), the central communications station could
maintain, by user subscription, records of user e-mail addresses
and content preferences (i.e., what news, weather, advertising,
etc., the user wishes to receive, and when), retrieve the data from
the Internet (e.g., using appropriate "agents") and send it to the
premises unit based on received passcodes. If direct interactive
Internet use is available on the system (which may depend,
primarily, on how good the keyboard is on the user interface), the
central communications station would act as a proxy for the
premises system to access the Internet, maintaining the secure link
to the premises.
[0076] According to another feature of the invention, a user's
passcode unlocks other passwords that the user may have with other
institutions, such as banks or other financial institutions. In one
embodiment, the passwords are stored in the premises controller.
Based on the entry of a user's passcode to access the system, if
the user then initiates a session with one of those institutions,
the appropriate password is transmitted, when needed, to the
institution without further action by the user. Preferably, the
user also could access the system using a transmitter or other
coded token and the system would send the corresponding passcode
when authenticating the financial transaction.
[0077] In another embodiment, the user's security system passcode
is registered with the institutions as a secure identifier of the
user. When the user accesses the premises system with his or her
passcode or coded token and then uses the external data network to
log into the financial institution, the passcode is sent to the
institution and is recognized as a secure authorization. While this
function would have to be by agreement and prior arrangement with
the financial institution, it is potentially more secure, or at
least less risky, than sending a personal identification number
("PIN") over the external data network, even in encrypted form.
[0078] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the passwords are
stored at the central communications station. If the user wants to
perform, e.g., a banking transaction, the users accesses a software
banking agent at the central communications station and specifies
the transaction, but need not enter his or her password for that
bank. Instead, the software agent retrieves the password stored at
the central communications station and processes the transaction
with the bank. This arrangement requires users to trust their
passwords to the central communications station, but the users are
already entrusting the central communications station with their
safety and valuable property, so it is likely they would feel
comfortable entrusting the central communications station with
their passwords.
[0079] In addition to providing the external data network functions
at system keypads, in another embodiment the system also has a port
or ports to which one or more external terminal devices can be
connected to use the external data network connection. For example,
one or more personal computers could be connected to the system for
that purpose.
[0080] In another embodiment, the system could be accessed, with
appropriate passwords and other security provisions, from an
external computer or terminal on the external data network. Thus,
parameters of the security system could be programmed remotely
using the external data network rather than a dial-in connection as
described above. In addition, certain security system data, such as
the state of various sensors, could be accessed over the external
data network or sent periodically to a predetermined address on the
external data network. For example, if one of the sensors is a
video camera, the video output could be sent periodically to a
predetermined recipient. Similarly, the system could be connected
to home automation devices--such as those compatible with the
X-10.RTM. system developed by X-10 Limited, of Hamilton,
Bermuda--that allow lights, temperature and other functions to be
remotely controlled.
[0081] Access to the premises system from the external data network
preferably also is through the central communications station. For
example, the central communications station could maintain a World
Wide Web site through which subscribers could contact their home
systems from elsewhere. Thus, a subscriber at his or her place of
employment could log onto that web site and issue a command to turn
on a certain appliance in the home. The systems at the central
communications station, after being satisfied that the user is
authorized, would queue up those instructions until the next time
the home system makes contact, at which time the instructions would
be sent, and the appliance would be turned on.
[0082] The invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.
1-7.
[0083] A preferred embodiment of a premises security system 10
according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. A system
controller 11, similar to a Model 6139T available from the Alarm
Device Manufacturing Company ("Ademco," a division of Pittway
Corporation), of Syosset, N.Y., is modified to communicate over a
bus 12, preferably a four-wire bus, with at least one
communications interface 13. Communications interface 13 can be a
telephone answering/voice-mail/PBX type interface as described
above. Alternatively, communications interface 13 can be an
external data network/Internet interface, also as described above,
which may be a router or ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber loop)
interface, providing continual access to the Internet over external
communications line 14 which may be a suitable persistent Internet
connection. Communications interface 13 also could be a modem,
preferably a 56 kbps modem, providing a dial-up connection over
external communications line 14, which could be a standard analog
telephone line. Controller 11 preferably has a back-up battery 113
serving at least both controller 11 and communciations interface
13.
[0084] System 10 also includes conventional sensors 15, which may
include security or fire sensors or both, and one or more
conventional or enhanced system keypads 16 as discussed above and
as described in more detail below. Keypads 16 may be connected
directly to controller 11 in the conventional manner, as shown, in
which case the communications functions are routed between keypads
11 and communications interface 13 through controller 11.
Alternatively, keypads 16 may be connected to bus 12 for routing of
both security system signals to and from controller 11 and
communications functions to and from communications interface 13.
In yet another alternative, keypads 16 can be connected both
directly to controller 11 (for security functions) and to bus 12
(for communications functions). Controller 11 preferably is
connected to a sounder 110 (e.g., a bell or siren) for sounding
alarm conditions, and preferably is connected to a dialer unit 111
for communicating with a central monitoring station over, e.g., a
standard telephone line.
[0085] One or more communications devices 17 could be connected to
communications interface 13, either by a direct connection or
through bus 12 as shown (but ordinarily not through both
connections). Communications devices 17 could be telephone sets if
communications interface 13 is a telephone system interface as
described above, or could be personal computers or computer
terminals if communications interface 13 is a data network
interface as described above.
[0086] If communications interface 13 is a telephone system
interface, telephone sets 17 preferably would be connected directly
to communications interface 13, although additional telephone sets
could be connected directly to the central office telephone line
(see FIG. 2). Communications devices 17 could also include a modem
connected to a personal computer, allowing the personal computer to
be used to access the communications interface 13 in the manner
described above, for programming features of communications
interface 13, or for downloading and storing incoming voice mail
messages from communications interface 13.
[0087] If communications interface 13 is a data network interface,
personal computers or computer terminals 17 preferably are
connected to communications interface 13 via bus 12, although a
direct connection (e.g., a local area network Ethernet connection)
can also be used.
[0088] FIG. 2 shows another preferred embodiment of a system 20 in
accordance with the invention. System 20 is similar to system 10,
except that a separate telephone interface unit 21 and a separate
data interface unit 22 are shown. It should be clear, however, that
the system according to the invention could include only one or the
other of interfaces 21, 22.
[0089] As shown, in system 20, sensors 15, keypads 16, sounder 110
and dialer 111 are connected to controller 11 as in system 10 of
FIG. 1. Telephone interface unit 21, which preferably is connected
to standard analog telephone line 23, preferably is connected to
controller 11 by bus 12. A first group of telephone sets 24
preferably is connected to telephone interface unit 21. The
telephone answering/voice-mail/PBX functions described above
preferably are available at keypads 16 either via bus 12, or
through controller 11 to which keypads 16 may be directly
connected. The telephone answering/voice-mail/PBX functions
described above may also be available to those telephone sets 24
connected to telephone line 23 through telephone interface unit 21.
Another group of one or more telephone sets 25 may be connected
directly to telephone line 23. In one embodiment of the invention,
the telephone answering/voice-mail/PBX functions described above
would not be available at telephone sets 25. However, in an
alternative embodiment of the invention, telephone interface unit
21 could monitor telephone line 23 for DTMF tones signifying
certain command signals, and provide the corresponding functions
even to telephone sets 25. However, telephone interface unit 25
would be unable to disconnect any one of telephone sets 25 from
telephone line 23, and therefore could not perform any function
that required such a disconnect, such as the public address
function over keypad speakers. A limited number of functions, where
the dialing of the commands would not cause a telephone call to be
placed, might be available.
[0090] Data interface unit 22, which preferably is connected to
data line 26, preferably is connected to controller 11 by bus 12.
optionally, one or more personal computers or computer terminals 27
preferably is connected to data interface unit 22--e.g., by a local
area network (shown as a direct link to data interface unit
22)--for the purpose of sharing data line 26. The data functions
described above preferably are available at keypads 16 either via
bus 12, or through controller 11 to which keypads 16 may be
directly connected. The data functions described above may also be
available to those personal computers or computer terminals 27
connected to data interface unit 22. Alternatively, personal
computers or computer terminals 27 could simply share data line 26
by an alternate connection shown in broken line, without being
connected to data interface unit 22.
[0091] One or more of personal computers or computer terminals 27
can also be connected to telephone interface unit 21 via one or
more modems 240 in the manner described above, for programming
features of telephone interface unit 21, or for downloading and
storing incoming voice mail messages from telephone interface unit
21.
[0092] Data interface unit 22 preferably also has access to data
from one or more of sensors 15, such as a security camera, for
transmission of the sensor data over the Internet or other external
data network for viewing by an authorized person, and to home
automation devices 215 for remote actuation as described above.
[0093] Controller 11 of system 20 preferably also includes a
radio-frequency or other (e.g., infrared) receiver 112 which
receives coded signals from one or more transmitters 28. A simple
transmitter might have one button 29, to send a code identifying a
particular authorized user for, e.g., arming or disarming the
system. A more complicated transmitter 28 might have two (or more)
buttons 29 for allowing a single user to send one of two (or more)
different signals for performing different functions (as described
above).
[0094] FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of a conventional security
system keypad 30 which could be used with the invention,
particularly if only telephone interface functions are to be
provided at the keypad. Keypad 30 preferably includes a standard
telephone-type numeric keypad, including the digits 0-9 and,
preferably, the symbols "*" and "#". These could be used to issue
standard security system commands, such as entering passcodes, or
telephone interface commands. Function buttons 32 preferably are
also provided for entry of system commands. Visual indicators 33,
which preferably are light-emitting diodes, but which also may be
light bulbs or other indicators, are provided to perform standard
security system indications--e.g., a warning that a zone is
bypassed, an indication that the system has been in alarm, an AC
power failure, etc.--as well as telephone interface indications
such as a message waiting indication. Alphanumeric display 34,
which may be a standard two-line, sixteen character per line,
display, also provides security system indications, and telephone
interface indications such as, e.g., calling party identification
data.
[0095] Keypad 30 preferably also has a speaker 35, as is
conventional for providing, e.g., a pre-alarm aural indication,
which may also be used to provide aural telephone interface
indications such as an aural message waiting indication, and more
particularly may be used for the playback of messages. Speaker 35
could also be used to allow a user to make telephone calls (using
keys 31) to announcement-only or voice-response telephone numbers
where two-way communication is not necessary. In an alternative
embodiment, keypad 30 includes a microphone, allowing the recording
of outgoing voice-mail greetings. If the system is configured, as
just discussed, to allow telephone calls to be placed from keypad
30, microphone 36 could be used to make such calls.
[0096] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a preferred embodiment of an
enhanced keypad 40 designed to work with data interface unit 22 to
perform data functions. Thus, keypad 40 preferably has, instead of
numeric keypad 13, a full alphanumeric keypad 41, along with
function buttons 32 and visual indicators 33. Keypad 40 preferably
also has a full graphic display 44 in place of alphanumeric display
34. Display 44 could be a liquid crystal display ("LCD"), gas
plasma display or cathode-ray tube ("CRT"), which could be a color
or monochromatic display. Display 44 could further provide touch
screen capability, in which case alphanumeric keypad 41 could be a
"soft" keypad that can be called up on display 44 when desired.
Preferably, keypad 40 also has two speakers 45, for stereo audio
functions, if necessary, although in an alternative preferred
embodiment only one speaker 45 may be provided. Keypad 40
preferably also has a microphone 46, and optionally has a video
camera 47 for full-duplex video functions, if necessary.
[0097] A schematic block diagram of circuitry 50 of a keypad
similar to keypad 40, but incorporating some of the functions of
data interface unit 22, is shown in FIG. 5. If multiple such
keypads are provided, the additional "slave" keypads may omit the
data interface circuitry, or may include it even though it may be
redundant. Circuitry 50 preferably is built around a central
processing unit ("CPU") 51 such as an 80386 or equivalent
microprocessor, available from Intel Corporation, of Santa Clara,
Calif. Preferably connected to CPU 51 is random-access memory
("RAM") 52 as well as non-volatile memory 53 (e.g., NVRAM). If the
system uses shared private key encryption as discussed above, the
private key preferably is stored in non-volatile memory 53. An
audio interface 54 preferably also is provided, interfacing with
external data network 26 for audio input/output functions, as well
as interfacing with audio signals from telephone interface unit 21,
if present in the system.
[0098] Expansion bus 55 preferably connects CPU 51 to keypad 41 and
indicators 33. Expansion bus 55 also preferably connects to a
network interface 56 which allows several keypads 50 to be attached
to system 20 for operation of the security functions of controller
11, for independent access to external data network 26, and for
connection to other keypads 50 in a local area network on the
premises served by system 20. A graphics controller 57, preferably
having its own associated graphics RAM 570, preferably is also
connected to bus 55 allowing CPU 51 to drive graphical LCD display
44. A touch screen interface 58 connected to CPU 51 preferably is
integrated (not shown) with display 44.
[0099] A real-time clock 59 preferably is provided for CPU 51, and
the entire circuitry 50 preferably is powered by a 12-volt DC power
supply 500 as indicated by dashed lines 501.
[0100] Finally, interface 502 connects to controller 11, preferably
via bus 12, while connection to external data network 26 preferably
is provided by serial interface 503 which is, or connects to, a
router, ADSL interface, modem or other data connection device.
[0101] A preferred embodiment 400 of a simplified keypad for use
with the invention is shown in FIG. 6. Keypad 400 preferably
includes a subset of the features of keypad 40. Thus, it preferably
includes a full graphic display 44 with touch screen capability,
avoiding a full alphanumeric keypad 41, but allowing for a "soft"
keypad that can be called up on display 44 when desired.
Preferably, keypad 400 also has one speaker 45 and a microphone
46.
[0102] A schematic block diagram of circuitry 60 of a preferred
embodiment of a telephone interface unit 21 according to the
invention is shown in FIG. 7. A central processing unit (CPU) 61
preferably controls the various telephone interface and
voice-mail/telephone answering functions described above, as is
conventional. Digital signal processor (DSP) 62, connected to CPU
61, handles the voice processing functions required for the
voice-mail/telephone answering functions. As discussed above, DSP
62 preferably allows full-duplex operation, so that if an incoming
call is not picked up on one of the premises telephones, and system
60 answers the call, the caller (if sufficiently aware of system
functions) preferably can announce him- or herself over the system
speakers even while the outgoing message is playing (in case the
residents are home and may want to answer the call). DSP 62
preferably also includes a built-in DTMF decoder that interprets
dual-tone/multifrequency (i.e., "Touch-Tone") keystrokes made at
premises or remote telephone sets to allow entry of system commands
from such telephone sets.
[0103] CPU 61 and DSP 62 are connected to random access memory 63,
all preferably provided as a single chipset 64 along with two
CODECs 65, 66. One suitable chipset is the PCD600X family of
chipsets available from Philips Electronics, N.V., of Eindhoven,
Netherlands. These chipsets include an 8051 CPU core, 756 bytes of
on-board RAM, a 16-bit fixed point DSP (with ROM code masked), two
analog CODECs and general purpose 8-bit digital-to-analog and
analog-to-digital converters. Model PCD6002 includes 32 kilobytes
of OTP ROM, while model PCD6001 is ROMless but can be used, e.g.,
with 64 kilobytes of external EPROM memory 67. In addition, flash
memory 68 can be provided, where voice messages and other voice and
configuration data may be stored.
[0104] Chipset 64 is connected to a microcontroller 69, such as a
P87CL883 microcontroller, also available from Philips Electronics,
which in turn is connected to a security system interface 600,
preferably allowing control of security system controller 11 from
connected telephone sets as discussed above, and preferably
allowing access to voice-mail functions at system keypads.
Microcontroller 69 arbitrates traffic between security system 11
and CPU 61/DSP 62, to determine, e.g., whether a signal or command
from a keypad or telephone set is intended as a security system
command or a PBX/voice mail/answering machine command, or
conversely whether a signal or command from security system 11 or
CPU 61/DSP 62 is intended as a telephone-related command or a
security system command. This allows commands to be routed
properly, and also allows devices to be taken on-line or off-line
as appropriate (e.g., to disconnect telephone sets from the central
office phone line when a telephone set is being used to broadcast a
message over the keypad speakers).
[0105] A modem 601, as may be conventional, may be connected to
telephone line interface 602 for purposes described above. In
addition, modem 601 could serve as a back-up security
communications device, allowing controller 11 to communicate with a
central monitoring station if normal channels are unavailable.
[0106] Telephone line interface 602 is also connected via CODEC 65
to CPU 61 and DSP 62 to allow CPU 61 and DSP 62 to perform the
PBX/voice mail/telephone answering functions described above. CODEC
66 connects DSP 62 to security system audio bus 603 (also connected
to security system interface 600), allowing circuitry 60 to
communicate with security system keypad speakers. In addition,
telephone line interface 602 connects the central office telephone
line and the premises telephone sets to the system and to each
other. Those connections preferably are made through suitable
relays (not shown) so that in the event of a power failure, the
central office telephone line would be connected directly to the
premises telephone sets, maintaining telephone service on the
premises.
[0107] The entire circuitry 60 preferably is powered by a nominal
12-volt DC power supply from security system controller 11, as
indicated by dashed lines 604.
[0108] A communications system 700 as described above,
incorporating the present invention, is shown in FIG. 8.
Communications system 700 includes a central communications station
701, at least one central monitoring station 702 (a central
monitoring company that subscribes to the central communications
system could have more than one monitoring station, or more than
one monitoring company could subscribe), and a plurality of
premises systems 703, all connected to the Internet 704.
[0109] Each premises system 703 preferably includes a system 10 as
shown in FIG. 1, preferably including an interface unit 50 as shown
in FIG. 5 storing a private key. System 10 within system 703 has an
Internet access unit 705, with access controlled by firewall
706.
[0110] Each central monitoring station 702 similarly has a
processor 707 storing a private key, an Internet access unit 705
and a firewall 706. Processor 707 includes data storage (not shown)
storing one or more databases identifying premises to be monitored
and the level of service for each of those premises, a database of
actions to be taken in case of various alarm conditions or other
unusual conditions, etc.
[0111] Central communications station 701, in addition to having an
Internet access unit 705 and a firewall 706, has remote application
servers 708 (these may be located elsewhere at the premises of the
providers of the services on servers 708). Central communications
station 701 also includes secure redirectors 711 which have access
to private key storage 709 to store the private keys of all of the
systems with which it communicates. Redirectors 711 perform the
encryption and decryption using those keys to communicate with
those systems.
[0112] Central communications station 701 communicates with the
Internet 704 through firewall 706 and Internet access unit 705,
connecting the Internet to insecure bus 713. Communications on
insecure bus 713 that are destined for remote servers 708 pass
through redirectors 711 to secure bus 714, with security based on
the private keys stored at 709.
[0113] Another web server 712 maintains the web site described
above that allow users from any Internet access location 710 to
issue instructions to premises systems 10. Because the point of web
server 712 is to allow a user at any Internet access point 710 to
access his or her secure system 703, and access point 710 likely is
not registered to use redirectors 711, web server 712 preferably is
protected, as shown, by conventional security such as SSL (secure
socket layer) encryption, smart cards, etc.
[0114] Among remote servers 708 are relay servers to relay
communications between the various systems 702, 703, as well as
from server 712 to units 50 of premises systems 10 in units 702, as
described above, after secure channels are opened by secure
redirector units 711.
[0115] Central communications station 701 may be separate from
central monitoring station 702 as shown, or stations 701 and 702
could be combined or co-located. Similarly, regardless of their
relative locations, they could be operated by the same or different
parties.
[0116] The communications system as described could be used to
offer or implement a number of security features.
[0117] One function of central alarm monitoring systems is to
"supervise" high-security premises systems such as a bank alarm
system. Traditionally, a poll-and-response system was used in which
the central station contacted each supervised system individually
on a periodic basis to make sure it received a response, and to
check the system's status. If it did not, or if its status was not
normal, appropriate action was taken. In later systems, the
supervised system simply called in periodically on its own, without
the need for polling. Again, appropriate action was taken if the
supervised system did not check in on time, or its status was not
normal. In accordance with the current invention, because the
premises system has to check in periodically, it can be programmed
to report its status at the same time. The system's failure to
check in, or to report a normal status, is acted upon
appropriately.
[0118] Similarly, two premises systems 10 can be made to operate as
a single system by communicating through central communications
station 701. For example, if a company has multiple locations,
passcodes for individual employees can be entered only in the
system at their "home" location, but the systems at other locations
would recognize those passcodes because the systems could
communicate through central communications station 701. Although
such systems can be implemented by running wires between adjacent
buildings, the present invention allows such systems to be
implemented between far-flung locations without running wires or
leasing expensive dedicated lines.
[0119] Another function that could be implemented using the present
invention is the download of configuration data to system 10.
Configuration data for user interface 16 or 50, including web site
preferences for various users, etc., as well a security
configuration data for controllers 11, could be stored at a remote
server 708 and downloaded when its particular system checks in to
see if any other system wants to contact it. In the case of
downloading of the configuration of security controller 11, this
eliminates the need for central alarm station operators to maintain
separate dialer banks for downloading as they do now.
[0120] In accordance with another function of the present
invention, if one of home automation devices 215 is a video camera,
the system allows a user at any terminal 710 on the Internet to
securely access that video feed. The user logs onto web server 712
and requests the video feed. The next time the system 703 of which
the desired video camera is a part checks in, redirector 711
established a link to server 712, which relays the video feed to
the user. In an alternative to this embodiment, which consumes a
lot of bandwidth because of the nature of video, the system can
avoid relaying the video, and thereby conserve bandwidth, by
enabling secure direct communications between terminal 710 and
system 703. This can be done by, after authenticating both parties,
sending to each party a session key (generated, e.g., by secure
session key generator 715) and the IP address of the other party,
and allowing the parties to communicate directly. Each party knows
that it received the session key and the other party's address
securely, and therefore when they establish communications with
each other, they are confident that the communication is
authorized. In fact, such an arrangement can be used even for
low-bandwidth communications if desired.
[0121] Although each of the components of communications system 700
as shown includes a firewall 706, firewall 706 could be omitted
from one or more components. As discussed above, the system has
advantages even without firewalls.
[0122] In another embodiment system 10 need not include any
security features at all. Instead, system 10 could include only
communications features, and communications system 700 could be a
system for secure communications for any Internet users who desire
it. Subscribers to communications system 700 could remain secure
behind their firewalls, with sessions initiated only by their own
systems 10 through secure redirectors 711. If one subscriber were
to communicate with another subscriber, each would communicate only
when their own respective system initiated the session with
redirectors 711. A communication, from the first subscriber to
initiate a session, that is destined for another subscriber, would
be held by redirectors 711 until the second subscriber, for whom
the communication is intended, until the second subscriber's unit
initiated its own session. At each subscriber location, one or more
personal computers could be attached to system 10 if desired.
[0123] Preferably, in an embodiment including security features,
each system 10 includes at least one secondary communications
channel, illustrated in FIG. 7 as dialer 712, which preferably is
connected to telephone interface 713 of monitoring station 702 by
public switched telephone line 714. Of course, the secondary
channel may instead, or also, include one or more alternate
channels such as a cellular telephone, control-channel cellular, or
a radio link (not shown). As discussed above, the system could try
both (or all) channels, with the first channel to succeed issuing a
signal or command through system 10 to terminate the other
channel(s). However, also as discussed above, preferably the
primary channel is started ahead of (e.g., five seconds ahead of)
the secondary channel(s). The secondary channels are initiated only
if the primary channel is not successful within the "head start"
period. After that, all of the channels attempt to communicate with
monitoring station 702 and the first to succeed, which may still be
the primary channel (e.g., if the Internet is the primary channel,
there may have been a delay caused by heavy traffic), will upon
success terminate the other channels by issuing a signal or command
through system 10.
[0124] The primary channel, which is given the head start, is
preferably the fastest channel, because if it works, it normally
will work fast enough to avoid having to activate the other
channels. In a system where the Internet is available as a channel,
it would be the fastest channel. Control-channel cellular would be
the next fastest and would be given the head start in a system
without Internet access. Radio would be the next fastest and would
be given the head start in a system without Internet access or
control-channel cellular. Cellular and landline telephones have
comparable speeds; if they are the only available channels, the
landline telephone is normally tried first and given the head
start.
[0125] A user of the system according to the invention preferably
can access telephone and data functions at one central location on
entering the premises. Thus it is seen that a security system is
provided that minimizes the number of electronic devices to which
an individual must attend on returning home, by combining the
functions of several of those devices. The system can also be used
at any time that the user is at home. Secure communications between
the premises system and other systems is also provided. One skilled
in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be
practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are
presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation, and
the present invention is limited only by the claims that
follow.
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