Temporary security bypass method and apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9245439-B2
Application number	US-201213433169-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 28, 2012
Priority date	Mar 28, 2012
Publication date	Jan 26, 2016
Grant date	Jan 26, 2016

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus for temporarily disarming a barrier alarm in a security system is described. In one embodiment, a method for temporarily disarming a barrier alarm is described, comprising receiving an indication to disarm the barrier alarm, the indication generated at the barrier alarm by a user, disarming the barrier alarm in response to receiving the indication, re-arming the barrier alarm upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for temporarily disarming a barrier alarm in communication with a central controller, the barrier alarm for monitoring data provided by a sensor associated with the barrier alarm, comprising:
receiving an indication by a processor within the barrier alarm to disarm the barrier alarm, the indication generated at the barrier alarm by a user;
disarming, by the processor, the barrier alarm in response to receiving the indication;
transmitting a message by a transmitter within the barrier alarm to a central controller indicating that the barrier alarm has been disarmed; and
re-arming, by the processor, the barrier alarm upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing an indication, on the barrier alarm, to the user that the barrier alarm has been disarmed.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication to disarm the barrier alarm is generated by operation of a switch located on the barrier alarm.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein re-arming the barrier comprises:
receiving, by the processor, data from the sensor;
comparing, by the processor, the data to one or more parameters stored in a memory;
determining whether the comparison indicates that the predetermined condition has occurred by the processor; and
re-arming the barrier alarm by the processor, if the predetermined condition has occurred.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting the presence of a magnetic field proximate to the barrier alarm by a sensor;
wherein the predetermined condition comprises detection of the magnetic field.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a signal indicative of a deceleration of the barrier alarm by the processor;
comparing the signal to a threshold deceleration; and
determining that the signal exceeds the predetermined threshold deceleration by the processor;
wherein the predetermined condition comprises detection that the signal has exceeded the predetermined threshold deceleration by the processor.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein disarming the barrier alarm comprises:
disabling the sensor by the processor.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein disarming the barrier alarm comprises:
ignoring, by the processor, data provided by the sensor.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein disarming the barrier alarm comprises:
changing one or more parameters used to determine if the alarm condition has occurred.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the barrier alarm comprises a transmitter, and disarming the barrier alarm comprises:
disabling the transmitter.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein disabling the transmitter comprises:
re-enabling the transmitter to transmit heartbeat messages to the central controller.

12. A method for temporarily permitting a predetermined alarm condition to occur in a security system comprising a barrier alarm in communication with a central controller, the barrier alarm for monitoring data provided by a sensor, comprising:
receiving, by the central controller, a request from the barrier alarm for the central controller to enter a bypass mode of operation with respect to the barrier alarm, the bypass mode of operation allowing a local alarm condition to occur with respect to the barrier alarm without the central controller declaring a system alarm;
after receipt of the request, receiving sensor data or an alarm condition status from the barrier alarm; and
if the sensor data or the alarm condition status indicate that a local alarm condition has occurred, refraining from sending a signal to a remote monitoring station that a local alarm has occurred with respect to the barrier alarm.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
providing an indication to a user, by a status indicator located on the barrier alarm, that the central controller is temporarily allowing local alarm conditions to occur with respect to the barrier alarm without the central controller sending the signal to the remote monitoring station indicative of the local alarm condition occurring with respect to the barrier alarm.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving a second request, by the central controller, from the barrier alarm for the central controller to enter a normal mode of operation with respect to the barrier alarm, the normal mode of operation providing for the central controller to send a signal to the remote monitoring station indicative of the local alarm condition occurring with respect to the barrier alarm.

15. A barrier alarm having a capability of being temporary disarmed, the barrier alarm in communication with a central controller, the barrier alarm for monitoring data provided by a sensor associated with the barrier alarm, comprising:
a transmitter within the barrier alarm;
a user input device for receiving an indication from a user to disarm the barrier alarm;
a memory for storing processor-executable instructions; and
a processor for executing the processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the barrier alarm to:
disarm the barrier alarm in response to receiving the indication;
transmit a message to a central controller indicating that the barrier alarm has been disarmed; and
re-arm the barrier alarm upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition.

16. The barrier alarm of claim 15 , further comprising:
a status indicator for providing an indication to the user that the barrier alarm has been disarmed.

17. The barrier alarm of claim 15 , wherein the user input device comprises a switch located on the barrier alarm.

18. The barrier alarm of claim 15 , wherein the processor executes further processor-executable instructions that cause the barrier alarm to:
receive data from the sensor;
compare the data to one or more parameters stored in the memory;
determine whether the comparison indicates that the predetermined condition has occurred; and
re-arm the barrier alarm if the predetermined condition has occurred.

19. The barrier alarm of claim 15 , wherein the processor executes further processor-executable instructions that cause the barrier alarm to:
detect the presence of a magnetic field proximate to the barrier alarm;
wherein the predetermined condition comprises detection of the magnetic field.

20. The barrier alarm of claim 15 , wherein the processor executes further processor-executable instructions that cause the barrier alarm to:
receive a signal indicative of a deceleration of the barrier alarm;
compare the signal to a threshold deceleration; and
determine that the signal exceeds the predetermined threshold deceleration;
wherein the predetermined condition comprises detection that the signal has exceeded a predetermined threshold deceleration.

21. The barrier alarm of claim 15 , wherein the processor executes further processor-executable instructions that cause the barrier alarm to disarm the barrier alarm by:
disabling the sensor.

22. The barrier alarm of claim 15 , wherein the processor executes further processor-executable instructions that cause the barrier alarm to disarm the barrier alarm by:
ignoring data provided by the sensor.

23. The barrier alarm of claim 15 , wherein the processor executes further processor-executable instructions that cause the barrier alarm to disarm the barrier alarm by:
changing one or more parameters used to determine if the alarm condition has occurred.

Assignees

• Lamb Michael
• Petrucci Carlo
• Ecolink Intelligent Technology Inc

Inventors

• Lamb Michael
• Petrucci Carlo

Classifications

• G08B13/02

  Mechanical actuation · CPC title

• G08B25/008 Primary

  Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system · CPC title