Telephonic communications – Emergency or alarm communications
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-22
2001-07-24
Kuntz, Curtis (Department: 2643)
Telephonic communications
Emergency or alarm communications
C379S042000, C379S045000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266396
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to centrally monitored security or alarm systems and more particularly to remote monitoring and operating of home and personal security systems, using a digital computer manned by a human operator, for rapid, accurate, and automatic transmission of alarm condition to the appropriate emergency response unit.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Security, alarm or annunciator systems which employ central monitoring of conditions registered at remote locations have been known or have been described in the general and patent literature in recent years.
One such system teaches a plurality of remote stations each having one or more alarm sensors and a power supply for causing an alarm signal generator such as a relay, to signal a corresponding one of plural central alarm units by means of a telephone line when the sensor is tripped.
Other systems have disclosed designs for use with cable TV (community antennas) wherein a radio frequency signal representative of an alarm state, is sent to a central office via the cable network.
More recently, security systems of the centralized monitoring and reporting of remote alarm conditions type have been introduced which use sensors to identify the location of the premises under an alarm condition and the exact location within the premises where the alarm condition is present. The alarm sensors relay the information to a central facility, which automatically keeps record of vital alarm information and which can continuously monitor changes in the operational status of the subscriber units. Such systems can even verify whether a remote unit is actually in an alarm state, or whether the alarm state is due to a breakdown in the alarm equipment.
One of the most common and largest problems with any alarm system is the problem associated with false alarms. Most prior art security systems fail to provide a means for verifying whether the alarm is false. In some cities, false alarms have become such a nuisance to police, fire and medical rescue teams that some states now require that the alarm signal from such protection systems be verified before they send personnel to respond.
Another problem common to alarm systems is the valuable time wasted by the operator at the central monitoring station verifying whether the alarm is false. This is true even with municipal
911
systems since many of those systems require specific information before it is even assigned a level of response. In situations like a fire or an intruder, even a few valuable seconds can make the difference between life and death.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of the invention is to provide a method of remotely monitoring and operating a home and personal security system, using a digital computer manned by a human operator, for rapid, accurate, and automatic transmission of an alarm condition to the appropriate emergency unit.
It is also the object of the invention to provide a pre-programmed computer, of a well known type, with data storage banks containing user data including the name, address and telephone number of each user, a pass code unique to identifying each user, alarm codes representing pre-identified alarm conditions, operator data including at least one telephone number of at least one human operator chosen from a pool of operators, and emergency data including at least one telephone number of at least one emergency respondent. A communication link is established between a data transmission device and the computer wherein a user enters his assigned pass code and at least one alarm code into the data transmission device, whereby the device sends a signal to the computer establishing a communication link thereby transmitting the entered pass code and alarm code to the computer. The computer searches it's data base and first matches the transmitter pass code to the user's name, address and telephone number, and then matches the transmitted alarm code to the pre-identified alarm conditions.
The computer then establishes telephone communication with at least one operator from an available pool of operators and transmits the identified user data and the pre-identified alarm condition to that operator. The operator confirms with the user the accuracy of the identified user's data and alarm condition. Since state laws require that a human being establish communication with an emergency response unit, telephone communication is further established between the operator and at least one emergency response unit, with the operator relaying the identified user data and pre-identified alarm condition to at least one emergency response unit from the computer.
A further object of the invention is to provide a computer data storage bank including contact data, which includes at least one telephone number for at least one contact person associated with each user. Telephone communication is established between the computer and at least one contact person, transmitting the identified user data and the pre-identified alarm condition to the contact person in order to inform him that an alarm condition is activated.
Moreover, for further speed and accuracy in transmitting an emergency signal from the data transmission device to the computer and ultimately to an emergency response unit, the data transmission device can be pre-programmed with the telephone number which establishes telephone communication with the computer. Additionally, the data transmission device can be pre-programmed with the pass code and the alarm codes.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3803491 (1974-04-01), Osborn
patent: 4040013 (1977-08-01), Carlson
patent: 4086434 (1978-04-01), Bocchi
patent: 4141006 (1979-02-01), Braxton
patent: 4141046 (1979-02-01), Braxton
patent: 4234874 (1980-11-01), Saya
patent: 4258357 (1981-03-01), Browell
patent: 4565902 (1986-01-01), Phillips
patent: 4641127 (1987-02-01), Hogan et al.
patent: 4665544 (1987-05-01), Honda et al.
patent: 4893324 (1990-01-01), Scown
patent: 5566339 (1996-10-01), Perholtz et al.
patent: 002179186A (1987-02-01), None
Kuntz Curtis
Orum & Roth
Ramakrishnaiah Melur
LandOfFree
Digital control of a security system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Digital control of a security system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Digital control of a security system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2489187