ALARM SYSTEM RESPONSE TIME REDUCTION

Abstract

An alarm system is monitored, by an alert system that supplements the capabilities of the alarm system. The sensors, such as door, window, fire, and CO sensor can be monitored by the alarm system which can raise an alarm when a sensor is triggered. The alert system detects that the alarm system has raised an alarm. The alert system can then communicate the alarm locally to other alert system installations. People at those other alert system installations are thereby alerted to the alarm and can respond to it.

Claims

1. An alert system that enhances an alarm system, wherein the alarm system comprises a control unit and at least one sensor, the alert system comprising: an alarm monitor wherein a triggered sensor detects a triggering, event, wherein the triggered sensor is one of the at least one sensor, wherein the triggered sensor informs the control unit of the triggering event, wherein the alarm system responds to the triggering event by changing the state of a control signal, wherein the alarm monitor detects that the control signal has changed state, wherein the alarm monitor produces an alarm sensed output in response to detecting that the control signal has changed state, and wherein the control signal does not comprise the alarm sensed output; a wireless transmitter wherein the alarm sensed output causes the wireless transmitter to transmit an alert signal; and a remote console wherein the remote console receives the alert signal and generates an alert, wherein the alert is perceptible by a person, and wherein the alert informs the person of the triggering event.

2. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the alarm system further comprises a reporting unit wherein the reporting unit receives the control signal, wherein the reporting unit informs a remote monitoring center of the triggering event, wherein the alert system does not comprise the reporting unit, and wherein the remote console is not located at the remote monitoring center.

3. The alert system of claim 2 wherein the alarm monitor directly monitors the control signal.

4. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the alarm system further comprises an audible alarm unit, wherein the audible alarm unit responds to the control signal by producing an audible alarm, and wherein the alarm monitor senses the control signal on a wired connection between the control unit and the audible alarm unit.

5. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the alarm system further comprises an audible alarm unit, wherein the audible alarm unit responds to the control signal by producing, an audible alarm, and wherein the alarm monitor detects that the control signal has changed state by detecting the audible alarm.

6. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the alarm system further comprises an audible alarm unit, wherein the audible alarm unit responds to the control signal by providing an alarm signal to a sonic transducer that converts electrical energy to sonic energy, and wherein the alarm monitor detects that the control signal has changed state by directly detecting the alarm signal.

7. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the alarm monitor is connected to the alarm system by a wired connection.

8. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmitter transmits, the alert signal directly to the remote console.

9. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the alert signal traverses a wireless mesh network before reaching the remote console.

10. The alert system of claim 1 wherein the alert signal traverses a cellular network before reaching the remote console.

11. An alert system that enhances an alarm system, wherein the alarm system comprises a control unit and at least one sensor, the alert system comprising: an alarm monitor wherein a triggered sensor detects a triggering event, wherein the triggered sensor is one of the at least one sensor, wherein the triggered sensor informs the control unit of the triggering event, wherein the alarm system responds to the triggering event by changing the state of a control signal, wherein the alarm monitor detects that the control signal has changed state, wherein the alarm monitor produces an alarm sensed output in response to detecting that the control signal has changed state, and wherein the control signal does not comprise the alarm sensed output; a rules engine storing a plurality of alert rules, wherein the rules engine accepts at least one rules engine input, wherein the rules engine produces at least one alert response by testing the at least one rule engine input against at least one condition, and wherein the at least one rule engine input comprises the alarm sensed output; and wherein the alert system sends a message to a recipient based on the at least one alert response.

12. The alert system of claim 11 further comprising: a wireless transmitter that transmits the message to a remote console wherein the remote console receives the message and generates an alert, wherein the alert is perceptible by a person, and wherein the alert informs the person of the triggering event; wherein the alarm system further comprises a reporting unit wherein the reporting unit receives the control signal, wherein the reporting unit informs a remote monitoring center of the triggering event, wherein the alert system does not comprise the reporting unit, and wherein the remote console is not located at the remote monitoring center.

13. The alert system of claim 11 wherein the recipient is a smartphone or tablet computer and wherein the recipient produces an alert that is perceptible by a person.

14. The alert system of claim 11 wherein a person manipulates an alerting device to thereby produce a personal alert, and wherein the at least one rule engine input comprises the personal alert.

15. The alert system of claim 14 further comprising: a wireless transmitter that transmits the message to a remote console wherein the remote console receives the message and generates an alert, wherein the alert is perceptible by a person, and wherein the alert informs the person of the triggering event; wherein the alarm system further comprises a reporting unit wherein the reporting unit receives the control signal, wherein the reporting unit informs a remote monitoring center of the triggering event, wherein the alert system does not comprise the reporting unit, and wherein the remote console is not located at the remote monitoring center; wherein the alert system sends another message to another recipient based on the at least one alert response, wherein the other recipient is a smartphone or tablet computer and wherein the other recipient produces an alert that is perceptible by a person; wherein the alert system sends a third message to a third recipient based on the at least one alert response, wherein the other recipient is a smartphone or tablet computer, wherein the other recipient produces an alert that is perceptible by a person, and wherein the third message traverses a cellular network; wherein the alarm monitor is connected to the alarm system by a wired connection between the control unit and the alarm unit and wherein the alarm monitor senses the control signal on the wired connection; wherein the wireless transmitter transmits the alert signal directly to the remote console; wherein the other message traverses a wireless mesh network before reaching the other recipient; and wherein the alarm system further comprises an audible alarm unit, wherein the audible alarm unit responds to the control signal by providing an alarm signal to a sonic transducer that converts electrical energy to sonic energy to produce an audible alarm, wherein the alarm monitor directly detects the alarm signal, and wherein the alarm monitor detects the audible alarm.

16. A method for monitoring an alarm system, wherein the alarm system comprises a control unit and at least one sensor, the method comprising: detecting a control signal has changed state, wherein a triggered sensor detects a triggering event, wherein the triggered sensor is one of the at least one sensor, wherein the triggered sensor informs the control unit of the triggering event, wherein the alarm system responds to the triggering event by changing the control signal; producing an alarm sensed output in response to detecting that the control signal has changed state, and wherein the control signal does not comprise the alarm sensed output; and transmitting an alert signal to a remote console wherein the remote console receives the alert signal and generates an alert, wherein the alert is perceptible by a person, and wherein the alert informs the person of the triggering event.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein alarm system further comprises a reporting unit, wherein the reporting unit receives the control signal, wherein the reporting unit informs a remote monitoring center of the triggering event, wherein the alert system does not comprise the reporting unit, and wherein the remote console is not located at the remote monitoring center.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising: storing a plurality of alert rules that test at least one rule engine input against at least one condition; producing at least one alert response by interpreting the alert rules wherein the at least one rule engine input comprises the alarm sensed output; and sending a message to a recipient based on the at least one alert response.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the at least one alert response comprises the alarm sensed output and wherein the message is the alert signal.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the recipient is a smartphone or tablet computer and wherein the recipient produces an alert that is perceptible by a person.

21. The alert system of claim 18 wherein a person manipulates an alerting device to thereby produce a personal alert, and wherein the at least one rule engine input comprises the personal alert.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which are, incorporated in and form a part of the specification, further illustrate the present invention and, together with the background of the invention, brief summary of the invention, and detailed description of the invention, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 1, labeled as prior art, illustrates an alarm system with an audible alarm and a communications channel to a remote monitoring center;

[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates an alert system monitoring an alarm system in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;

[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates an alert system with a rules engine in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;

[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates alert rules stored in a rules engine in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;

[0024] FIG. 5 illustrates a high level flow diagram of an alert, system sending alert signals and messages in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; and

[0025] FIG. 6 illustrates a cloud based implementation of a rules engine in accordance with aspects of the embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The particular values and configurations discussed in these non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate at least one embodiment and are not intended to limit the scope thereof. In general, the figures are not to scale.

[0027] An alarm system is monitored by an alert system that supplements the capabilities of the alarm system. The sensors, such as door sensors, window sensors, fire sensors, smoke sensors, water leak sensors, movement sensors, and CO sensors can be monitored by the alarm system which can raise an alarm when a sensor is triggered. The alert system detects that the alarm system has raised an alarm. The alert system can then communicate the alarm locally to other alert system installations. People at those other alert system installations are thereby alerted to the alarm and can respond to it.

[0028] U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/295,455, entitled “Alarm System for Reducing Response Time,” was filed by Skolnik et al. on Feb. 15, 2016 and is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. U.S. 62/295,455 teaches alert systems and methods that can monitor an alarm system and communicate alert signals to people, such as neighbors, who are more able to rapidly respond to a situation. It is for these teachings, amongst others, that U.S. 62/295,455 is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0029] U.S. Provisional Application 62/396,058, entitled “Neighbor to Neighbor Emergency Aiding System,” was filed by Harness et al. on Sep. 16, 2016 and is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. U.S. 62/396,058 teaches alert systems and methods that can monitor an alarm system and communicate alert signals to people, such as neighbors, who are more able to rapidly respond to a situation. The systems and methods can leverage existing infrastructure that is not part of the alarm system such as WiFi, cellular, and other networks. The systems and methods also introduce devices that can be triggered by an event or by a person wherein those devices communicate directly with the alert system and are not part of the alarm system. It is for these teachings, amongst others, that U.S. 62/396,058 is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0030] U.S. Provisional Application 62/457,550, entitled “Alarm System Response Time Reduction,” was filed by Skolnik et al. on Feb. 10, 2017, and is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. U.S. 62/457,550 teaches alert systems and methods that can monitor an alarm system such that people who are more able to rapidly respond to a situation are alerted to the situation. It is for these teachings, amongst others, that U.S. 62/457,550 is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0031] Traditionally, an alarm system consists of sensors, and a control unit. When a sensor is triggered, the alarm system calls a monitoring center and sends a signal to a siren. Aspects of the embodiments may interface with an existing alarm system to detect when the siren of an existing alarm system is activated, and send a wireless signal to a remote console. The remote console receives the signal and alerts a person manning the device.

[0032] Aspects of certain embodiments can take inputs wirelessly from user input via key fobs or an application on a smartphone that pushes the data to neighbors or remote consoles through local means or the Internet. Local means here refers to communications systems that do not extend past a local area such as a neighborhood. Such local means include Bluetooth, WiFi, and mesh networks having short range links.

[0033] Wireless communication devices such as transceivers, transmitters, and receivers are devices that transmit and/or receive wireless signals. Wireless communications include cellular, Bluetooth, and WiFi. Wireless systems are often deployed when wired connections are undesired, inconvenient, or too restrictive. Mesh networks are gaining popularity as fault tolerant wireless networks. Those practiced in the art of communications have knowledge of communications networks and networking using Bluetooth, WiFi, cellular, and meshes.

[0034] Aspect of the embodiments can give neighbors the appropriate information in an emergency so that the neighbors can support one another in order to respond to or prevent crime, fire, medical, and other forms of emergencies. The embodiments employ a plurality of electronic devices, existing information technology infrastructure such as Internet and cellular networks, and private local networks in order to disperse the needed information in an emergency to neighbors and other people who are close enough to respond in time to make a substantial difference. Below are the details of certain embodiments; however, this does not limit other embodiments from using other suitable methods or materials. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the following descriptions are, related to exemplary embodiments and are not intended to limit the embodiments to the examples.

[0035] FIG. 2 illustrates an alert system monitoring an alarm system in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. Within the alarm system, a control signal 117 is produced by the control unit 102. The control signal 117 can then pass to the audible alarm unit 104 that produces alarm signal 118 which results in audible alarm 106 being produced by sonic transducer 122. The alarm monitor can detect that the control signal 117 has changed states by detecting a change in the control signal 117, by detecting the alarm signal 118, or by detecting the audible alarm 106. An audible alarm 106 can be sensed by a microphone and detected by passing sensed audio from the microphone to a discriminator that recognizes the audible alarm 106 based on its volume or some other factors. Systems and methods for recognizing sounds are widely available. Embodiments can pass the alarm signal 118 to the discriminator when the alarm signal 118 is substantially similar to the signal produced by a microphone near the sonic transducer 122.

[0036] The alarm monitor 201 produces an alarm sensed output 202 that can be input into a wireless transmitter 203 or into an entry node 211 of a wireless mesh network 210. The wireless transmitter can send an alert signal 216 directly to receiver 1 204 such that alert 1 217 is displayed on remote console 1 207. A person 215 can notice alert 1 217 and respond accordingly. An alert signal 216 can be a simple analog signal that, when present, indicates a triggering event is detected. Alternatively, an alert signal 216 can be packetized data such as the information exchanged on the internet. The packetized data can indicate which sensors are triggered, which sensors are not triggered, and other information about the alarm system and the alert system.

[0037] The wireless transmitter can communicate the alert signal 216 to router 1 205 from where it is routed to router 2 206 and thence to remote console 2 208. Here, the alert signal 216 can be a message transmitted over the internet, a cell phone network, or some other data transmission network. The recipient 238 of the alert signal 218 can be a smartphone that provides alert 2 218 to a person 215.

[0038] Alert signals 216 and messages can transit a wireless mesh network 210 having mesh nodes such as mesh node 1 211, mesh node 2 212, mesh node 3 213, and mesh node 4 214. Those practiced in the art of communications know of numerous mesh node implementations. As illustrated, mesh node 1 211 is an input node and mesh node 4 214 is an output node that passes the alert signal to remote console 3 209. Remote console 3 209, which can be a tablet computer or other device configured to connect to mesh network 210, can provide alert 3 219 to the person 215.

[0039] FIG. 3 illustrates an alert system 303 with a rules engine 304 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. A control signal 117 can change state by transitioning from state 1 301 to state 2 302. The states indicate the status or condition of the alarm system. The states can be as simple as “all clear” and “something wrong” or can be indications of the status of individual components of the alarm system. For example, state 1 301 can indicate that no sensor is triggered, that every sensor is operational and other information such as device identifiers for alarm system components. State 2 302 can contain substantially the same information with the exception of indicating that one or more sensors is currently triggered.

[0040] Alarm monitor 201 can observe the control signal 117 and can detect when control signal 117 changes state. On detecting a state change, alarm monitor 201 can produce alarm sensed output 307. Alarm sensed output can be as simple as a binary indicator of “alarm sensed” or “no alarm sensed.” Alternatively, the alarm sensed output 307 can incorporate some or all of the information contained in the control signal 117 as well as additional information such as the location or identity of the alarm monitor 201. A rules engine 304 can receive the alarm sensed output 307 and produce alert responses 308. An alert response 308 can be as simple as a binary signal resulting in an analog transmission from a wireless transmitter 203 that is hopefully received by a remote console 305 at a neighbor's house. An example of such a remote console 305 is simple receiver and buzzer/light combination that lights up or sounds when the receiver detects the analog transmission. Alternatively, as seen in FIG. 2, the alert response 308 can be as complex as a packetized data structure and the wireless transmitter 203, a wireless internet router, or similar device.

[0041] The alert system can also monitor an alerting device 309 operated by a person 215. In this manner, the person 215 can raise an alarm or send an alert to friends and neighbors without incurring any overhead from a home monitoring company or causing an automatic police response, Alarm systems are often monitored by home or business monitoring companies that have defined procedures to follow when they receive a notification from the alarm system. The procedures can incur costs an penalties. The alert system does not incur those costs and penalties. In this manner, a person 215 can call for help from a neighbor having a remote console and thereby get a more immediate and less costly response.

[0042] FIG. 4 illustrates alert rules 401, 406, 407 stored in a rules engine 304 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. A rules engine can accept a rules engine input and test it against the stored rules. Alert rule 1 401 is an example of a simple rule that compares 402 a rule engine input 307 against a condition 403. If the condition 403 is met, then an alert response 405 can be sent. Alert rule 406 is a more complicated rule having numerous comparisons against numerous conditions. For example, “door” is a rule engine input indicating the status of one or more doors, “open” is a condition, and “=” is a comparison. Another rule engine input, the time of day, can come from a number of sources. The time of day can be tested against a time period. If both of the conditions, as indicated by the logical “and,” are true, then an alert response of alerting “parents” can be performed. Alert rule 3 407 is a similar rule having a different alert response. Those practiced in the arts of logic or programming will understand the function of rules engine 304.

[0043] FIG. 5 illustrates a high level flow diagram of an alert system sending alert signals and messages in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The process begins in the alarm system when a triggering event 501 causes a sensor to trigger 502. The control unit is informed of the triggering 503 and reacts by changing the state of a control signal 504. The system then proceeds with other alarm system activities 505.

[0044] The alert system takes action upon detecting that the control signal has changed state 506 by producing an alarm sensed signal 507. The alarm sensed signal can cause the alert system to send an alert signal to a remote console 508, The alarm sensed signal can also be interpreted by a rules engine 509 that produces an alert response 510 that is sent to a recipient 511. The alert system is then done responding to that one particular change of control signal state 512.

[0045] FIG. 6 illustrates a cloud based implementation of a rules engine in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The alarm monitor 201 can send its alarm sensed output to a remote computer or service running “in the cloud.” Those practiced in current computer systems architecture will recognize that “the cloud” 601 refers to computers, virtual computers, instances, or triggered code that are run as a service by a cloud service provider. In some cases, the rules engine can run as a service or application on what appears to be a server, but is likely an instance or virtual machine. In other cases, the rules engine is simply an end point or API surfaced by a cloud provider that can receive a message and perform an operation such as examining the message and performing operations based on the message contents. Here, the alert sensed output can be the message that is examined and interpreted by the rules engine 304 that then, in accordance with the stored rules, sends alert signals or messages to remote consoles 602 and other recipients 603.

[0046] It is noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless expressly and unequivocally limited to one referent. As used herein, the term “include” and its grammatical variants are intended to be non-limiting, such that the recitation of items in a list is not to the exclusion of other like items that can be substituted or other items that can be added to the listed items.

[0047] It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also, that various presently unforeseen or anticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.