FR2633762A1 - AUTOMATED SAFETY SYSTEM FOR NEIGHBORHOOD - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a security system for providing a neighborhood protection network by electronically connecting a number of homes in a neighborhood through existing power lines or through the use of signals. radio frequency. The system comprises a transmitter-receiver control unit placed in each of the protected dwellings, at least one alarm interface unit for each of the protected dwellings activated by a predetermined control unit and at least one detection unit which, after detection of 'an alarm state, sends coded signals, causing the activation of a predetermined control unit. The alarm interface unit comprises any interface with appropriate sensory reproduction such as for example a loudspeaker, a siren, a light while the detection unit comprises any known sensor such as for example fire detector, detector infrared, sound discrimination detector, or any other known intrusion detector.

Description

i

  AUTOMATED SAFETY SYSTEM FOR NEIGHBORHOOD

  The present invention relates to a security system and more particularly to an automated security system for neighborhood. Different security systems for housing or commercial premises have been developed over the years. The most known systems comprise a plurality of sensors connected to a control unit itself connected either directly or through the public telephone network to a monitoring station which in most cases happens to be the local police. Conventional burglar alarm systems protect openings, particularly doors and windows, by means of contacts, blades or the like, in front of

  be installed on each of the doors and windows

  leaving them vulnerable during a break-in. Installation costs can be very high. These organs are interconnected by direct wiring to a central control unit usually located in a remote location of the property. Such systems remain in the property and can hardly be moved when the

owner sells it.

  While a typical residential break-in takes only a few minutes (approximately 4 to 6 minutes), the national average of the police arrival time is approximately 17 minutes.

  after being alerted by a burglar alarm system

  tion. This delay is due to the increased use of alarm systems, which overall have a very strong

  false alarm rate (very often more than 95%).

  Therefore, it is much better to detect an intruder before the actual break-in, in order to

  discourage said intruder when this possibility exists.

  If the break-in has occurred, the response time becomes the crucial element and 17 minutes represent a duration

way too long

  It is amusing that the more homeowners install alarm systems connected to a central monitoring station, and the more the protection of the police decreases due to the increased workload or work generated by the increase in the number of false alarms . Burglars are aware of this situation and the number of burglary houses having

  an alarm system will probably increase.

  One way to reduce the response time is to

  connect the detectors to a security headquarters

  central authority with a staff capable of responding rapidly

  to an alarm signal generated by the

  Elderly. For example, in US Pat. No. 3,852,740 there is described an alarm system having both radio and electrical communication connections between the protected premises and the stat ...

  monitoring. Alarm monitoring equipment

  monitoring station is activated to respond to radio alarm signals from premises protected by activation

  protected premises and are transmitted by the elec-

  at the monitoring station. The station of

  monitoring sends signals back to

  through the power lines the information that it is "armed" or activated for intrusion alarm signals issued by these premises, and also reports

  any intrusion alarm detected at said protected premises.

  Another example is described in US Pat. No. 3,925,763. The system described comprises sensors activated during abnormal or urgent conditions transmitting digitally encoded messages including self-identification information and on the nature of the device. emergency to a line converter. The line converter decodes the signal and then adds information identifying its own location and synthesizes a combined digital message which is then transmitted by power lines to a main controller. The primary controller receives and decodes the digitally encoded messages transmitted by the row converters and additionally adds location information, and synthesizes a digitally encoded message appropriately, the latter being communicated to one or more central stations via lines. telephones, coaxial cable, radio or external power lines. Each central station covers several main controllers in different protected areas. This system is useful in building complexes and public institutions

  such as schools and hospitals.

  Other systems are also described in US Pat. Nos. A3,906,491 and 4,455,551.

US-A-3,886,534 and US-A-4,446,458.

  The present invention is intended to provide a protection network for neighborhood, by electronically connecting homes in a neighborhood using existing power lines or by

  the use of radio frequency signals.

  Approximately a dozen homes have a common transformer and form a second energy distribution system. It is then possible to communicate with all these dwellings using this second energy distribution system. It is possible, by placing a receiving transmitting control unit (sometimes referred to as a "master" or master control unit) in each of the protective network dwellings, to send a signal simultaneously

  to all homes from the same transformer.

  Each protected dwelling is also equipped with one or more detection units and one or more

alarm interface units.

  The detection units comprise a detection part and a signal transmission part. The detection part may consist of any detection element while the transmission part can transmit the event of an alarm state to the main control unit by a coded signal transmitted by any known means such as signaling signals. radio frequency, power lines. However, radio frequency signals are preferred because of their greater flexibility of use. The alarm interface unit includes a sensory or indicator rendering interface and a receiving portion. The sensory restitution interface may be constituted of any known organ such as a siren,

  a speaker, a light or a visual screen.

  The reception portion includes means for decoding the encoded messages transmitted by the main control unit and activating the rendering interface.

  sensory when a pre-determined signal is received.

  Thus, a security system for a pre-existing number

  determined homes or dwellings in the same neighborhood, forming a protection network according to the invention comprises:

26337C2

  tamper detection security means activated in response to a burglary event event in one of said dwellings and comprising means for encoding and transmitting first self-identification signals in response to the activation said tamper detection means; a control unit for each of said dwellings comprising receiving means for receiving said first self-identification signals, means for encoding and transmitting second self-identification signals in response to the reception of said first auto signals; -identification, means of

  reception to receive second self-signals

  identifying another control unit connected to said network and decoding said signals; alarm interface means comprising

  receivers for receiving said second auto-signals

  identification and to decode them; first communication means between said control unit and said detection means; second communication means between said control unit and said interface means; - and third means of communication between

  all the control units of said network.

  This security system allows homes equipped with a main control unit and detection units, to inform the surrounding homes having a main control unit of the event of any problem such as burglary or intrusion, fire, flooding. or other emergencies. The first home responding to the message informs others of the same protection network that it has picked up the alarm and is obtaining assistance in accordance with a pre-established procedure. Master Control Units may also be programmed to communicate over the telephone lines to one or more Neighborhood Protection Networks and / or the police, or

central protection station.

  This system is relatively inexpensive, easy to install and move, and allows

extremely short answer.

  Since AC power lines are less prone to cuts than regular telephone lines, this system is

higher level of security.

  The alarm signal in the same protection network can also be sent by a radio signal to other homes. Such a transmission must of course

  to be in accordance with the governmental regulations.

  Another important advantage of this system is that it is very deterrent psychologically vis-à-vis potential intruders because it would be much less likely to commit a break-in given that the alarm signal would place a good part from the neighborhood on immediate alert. Such dwellings would undoubtedly fall into the category of the most delicate for the burglar. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent on reading the

  following description of a preferred embodiment,

  described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a plurality of dwellings connected to the same transformer and forming

a protection network.

  Figure 2 is a block diagram diagram of a

secondary unit.

  Figure 3 is a block diagram diagram of a

main control unit.

  Fig. 4 is an embodiment of the aspect

  outside of a main control unit.

  Although radio frequency signals can be used to transmit alarm signals from a master control unit to different members of a protection network, the use of a secondary power distribution system is preferred when feasible. Many household appliances operate with radio frequency signals and there is a wide variety of other possible interference, including neighboring dwellings equipped with safety devices.

  that would make such a system more complex to control.

  The preferred embodiment described hereinafter uses AC power lines to transmit an alarm signal from a master control unit to other control units.

  main and alarm interface units.

  The security system is a security system

  wireless that works by using power lines

  alternating current with or without the tele-

  to indicate the specific location of an alarm. The system can be used as a single security system but specifically for use as part of a comprehensive security network grouping multiple homes or dwellings (21,22,23) in a single protection network (10) without having to install

special lines.

  The AC power line (15) is used as a transmission means for sending signals to the alarm interface units (41,42,43) (which will sometimes be called secondary), which can be connected to the same signal network. protection. In fact, a protection network can group different dwellings

  (21,22,23) on the same AC power transformer

  native (12) so that several neighbors might know at the same time that an intrusion has occurred in a neighbor's home. The system uses sensing units (31,32,33) that include known sensing elements. These detection units are used to start an alarm sequence by sending an encoded signal to the main control unit (51,52,53) if it enters the detection conditions. For example, infrared detectors or sound discriminating detectors may be used

  for intrusion detection while a special detector

  smoke can be used to indicate the presence of a fire. The main unit (51,52,53) is based essentially on a microprocessor and decides whether or not

  the beginning of an alarm signal.

  Secondary units (41,42,43) are used to indicate that an alarm occurs by turning on or off any desired indicator, such as a horn, a light, a siren, a speaker, a display

  or any other interface of sensory restitution.

  A network (10) may be composed of any number of primary, secondary, or sensor units. Each main, secondary and detection unit has its own personal code. This code must be used to indicate the location of an event. In the same way, each network (10) also has its own code to avoid interference between the networks. These codes are preferentially established by introducing the codes by a keypad, or any other similar means to allow the main, secondary and detection units to be moved.

  from one network (10) to another or from one dwelling to another.

  As soon as a main unit, for example (51) is in an alarm state, it automatically sends an encoded message via the AC power lines (15) to the other main units (52,53). and secondary units (41,42,43) connected to the same protection network (10). A

  secondary unit may also be connected to a dwelling

  neighbor (in the case where it does not contain a main unit) so that it is informed as soon as the alarm situation occurs. Each unit

  secondary only responds to a predefined coded

  completed. Normally, only secondary units connected to a particular main unit will be activated by an alarm signal originating from that main unit. However, any other desired arrangement

  can be realized. The use of specific connections

  This is not necessary since all communications between the main (51,52,53) and secondary (41,42,43) units are performed via AC power lines (15). The detection units (31,32,33) are preferably powered by batteries and send radio frequency signals to their main units (51,52,53) so that even if they are disconnected from the output terminals alternating current, they are able to activate their main unit (51,52,53). This

  is important in order to eliminate the possibility of

  disable the detection unit by cutting off its power

  tation. As already said, the radio frequency signals

  used shall be in accordance with the regulations

in force.

  The same main units (51, 52, 53) can accept a plurality of different types of detection units (31, 32, 33). The main units (51, 52, 53) differentiate which type of detection signal they receive and preferably from which detector it originates. Indeed, the detection units connected to a main unit must transmit at a predetermined frequency which is different from the frequency used by the other detection units that may be in use in other dwellings.

the transmission limit.

  Preferably, each detection unit transmits an encoded signal from which only the unit

  predetermined principal may react.

  The main unit is a microprocessor-based control unit that oversees all the operations necessary to perform a complete monitoring on

a defined environment.

  Fig. 3 shows a block diagram diagram of an internal architecture of a main unit of one of the embodiments of the control unit.

  main. The most important block is the micro-

  controller. This contains the microprocessor, the ROMs, the RAMs, and a communication interface. They control all operations and connections between inputs and outputs. The ROM contains the main program and if you have it, the

  data for spoken or displayed messages.

he

  The receiver of radio frequency signals is des-

  designed to receive and decode messages from

  external detection (31, 32, 33) on a frequency band.

  narrow. It transmits decoded data in the middle

  cro-controller indicating which unit of detection it

receives a signal.

  Buttons, keypads and other means necessary to program the various parameters used by the main unit (such as codes and possibly telephone numbers) and to allow or prevent intrusion detection are now defined. The optional speech synthesizer receives the appropriate data from the microcontroller and converts them

  in voice messages via the built-in

  speaker. This may consist of a convenient way of sensually restoring the system by passing explanations and information through the loudspeaker messages such as "system enabled" or "enter your code please" can facilitate programming sequences. Voice messages can also be used to communicate over telephone lines. In fact, after sending encoded signals to the secondary units and the other main units, the main unit and / or the other main units can be programmed to try to reach a predetermined number of telephone numbers and send a message. of the type "intrusion

detected instead of 1234 ".

  The interface of the AC power lines converts the encoded digital messages from the microcontroller into a frequency suitable for

  go through AC power lines.

  This message is then sent to the different secondary units concerned by this particular main unit to indicate an alarm state. This interface is also used to receive messages from other main units which are then transformed into digital signals which are then sent to the microcontroller. The microcontroller then sends its own message via a screen or a

  speaker or any other interface means.

  The last block contains the optional telephone interface circuits. This block is needed to connect to the phone line, to make the phone numbers it is necessary to send voice messages

  on the telephone line as described above.

  FIG. 2 shows the receiving portion of the secondary unit composed of two main blocks: the logic control and the AC line interface. The logic control is used to turn on or off the sensory feedback interface or indicator (shown as "output" in Figure 2) depending on the message received from the main unit. The output can be a siren or a light or a speaker or a more sophisticated digital screen that could represent the place or the alarm

was triggered.

  The interface of the AC power lines decodes the frequencies received from the AC output to which it is connected. These frequencies are transmitted to the main unit throughout the network (10). He could be in the same house or in a neighbor's house. As previously described, different types of secondary units may be enabled or disabled by any main unit of the same network, and other secondary units.

  will answer only one main unit of the network.

  You may want a siren installed on your roof and activated only by your own main unit, and not those of neighbors, or a secondary unit installed in your neighbor's house to indicate, by the way or other system, that someone came home

in his house.

  The alarm sequence is initialized when the alarm

  radio frequency receiver of the main unit, decode

  an alarm signal from one of the detection units

  tion. The main unit then checks whether the unit of

  detection that initiated the alarm is a delayed alarm.

  dice or not. If it is, the main unit is now

  held pending for a pre-programmed delay, leaving the

  the user to deactivate it before the

  General is not sent. If the user does not stop the main unit by entering his own code, the alarm signal is transmitted after this time. If no delay

  granted, the alarm signal is transmitted immediately.

  is lying. The main unit first transmits an encoded alarm message on the AC power lines to all other primary and secondary units connected to the same network (10). All primary and secondary units with the same network code shall indicate that an alarm has been detected and

  the place where it was triggered.

  A main unit receiving an alarm message from another main unit, for example, could

  continuous way send a message summarizing

  the. In addition, the secondary units which are

  to respond to an alarm signal from the transmitting main unit may initiate a

  siren outside the house being intruded.

  Then, the main unit (in the house in alarm or in a neighboring house) if the line of the house in alarm is cut, can try to call the numbers of

  phone pre-programmed by its telephone interface.

  When a number has been called, the main unit sends a speech summary message indicating that an alarm has been detected at a particular location. There is only one way to stop the main units and the corresponding secondary units, which is to enter their own codes via keypads or switches. Main units that receive an alarm from another main unit may be

  disabled by simply activating a key.

  To allow the detection of intruders, the user enters his password before leaving his house. The password is composed of a predetermined number of digits such as for example 4 or 8 and is programmed by the user. As soon as the password is entered, the main unit may send a speech synthesis message or other signal indicating that the system will be activated in about 30 seconds (or any other predetermined time). After this period, any signal coming from an intrusion detection will activate the main unit, and an intrusion alarm will be sent to the other secondary units and to all the other main units of the same network. Upon intrusion detectors will wait for a few seconds after detection before activating the main unit. This is necessary to avoid false alarms when the user enters his house. The user can disable the intrusion detection of the main unit during these few seconds by entering his password by the keyboard of the main unit or by any

other predetermined means.

  The second most important emergency detection is fire. Unlike intrusion, fire detection is always enabled. A smoke detector equipped with a transmitter can be used. As soon as the smoke has been detected, the main unit indicates this fact to the user by a text-to-speech message or other means and allows the user for seconds (or any other predetermined duration)

  cancel the alarm by pressing a special key.

  After this time, the main unit transmits a fire alarm to its secondary units and to the other main units of the network (10), and then attempts to reach the pre-programmed telephone numbers such as

than previously described.

  Any other kind of detection can be accomplished by adding an appropriate transmission portion to any

known sensor or sensor.

  If someone already has an alarm system

  complete with wires, it is possible to add

  important features of the invention by simply installing

  a suitable transmitter in the existing control unit and placing the main unit anywhere in his home near an AC outlet and optionally a telephone jack. Any

  special connection is required.

  Although a preferred embodiment has been described, it should be understood that many modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, for example, the security system has been described in connection with dwellings. . Be that as it may, it must be kept in mind that this system can be used in any environment where neighbors can cooperate with each other for constant monitoring. The security system can be used in

buildings and other homes.

Claims (7)

  1 / Security system for a pre-determined number   number of dwellings (21,22,23) in a neighborhood forming   a protection network characterized in that it comprises: security detection means of burglary detection;   (31,32,33) activated in response to the event of a condition   burglary in one of those dwellings (21,   22, 23) and comprising means for encoding and transmitting   be first self-identification signals in response to activation of said tamper detection means; a control unit (51, 52, 53) for each of said dwellings comprising receiving means   to receive said first self-identifying signals   means for encoding and transmitting second self-identification signals in response to receiving said first self-identification signals; receiving means for receiving second self-identification signals from another control unit connected to said network; and to decode these;   alarm interface means (41, 42, 43) comprising   receiving means for receiving said signals   identification codes and to decode them; - the first means of communication between   said control units and said detecting means   tion; second communication means between said control units 81e and said interface means; - and third means of communication between   said control units and said network.   2 / security system according to claim 1, characterized in that said third communication means are constituted by the lines of a system   secondary electricity distribution.   3 / Security system according to claim 1,   characterized in that said third means of communication   are made up of radio frequency signals.   4 / Security system according to one of the claims   1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said first communication means are constituted by signals radio frequency.   Security system according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said second communication means are constituted by lines   a secondary electricity distribution system.   6 / Security system according to one of the claims   1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the means for in-   terface of sensory restitution include, one or more of the following means: - a speaker; - visual means; means for transmitting sounds; - Visual display means.   7 / Security system according to claim 3, characterized in that the control unit (51,52,53)   further comprises a microprocessor, means for inter-   face with a user, an interface with a line of   alternating current and a radio frequency receiver.   8 / Security system according to one of the claims   1, 2 or 7, characterized in that said unit of   control (51,52,53) further comprises a remote interface   sound. 9 / A method for increasing the security of neighboring homes, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - install burglary detection security means; activating a response to the event of a burglary condition in one of said dwellings which comprises means for encoding and transmitting first self-identification signals in response to the activation of said detection means of the burglary in each dwelling; - install a unit in each dwelling   control system comprising receiving means for receiving   see said first self-identification signals, means for encoding and transmitting second self-identification signals in response to receipt of said first self-identification signals, means for   reception to receive said second auto-signals   identification of another control unit connected to said network and decoding its last; installing in each of the houses or near the alarm interfaces comprising receiving means for receiving said second self-identification signals and for decoding them; providing first communication means between said control unit and said detection means; providing second communication means between said control unit and said interface means; - and provide third means of communication   between all the control units of a network.   DEPOSITARY: 2625-4219 QUEBEC Inc. AGENT: LAURENT Law Firm