GB2250847A

GB2250847A - Alarm system networking device

Info

Publication number: GB2250847A
Application number: GB9026999A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Neale Harris; Paul Mccann
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-12-12
Filing date: 1990-12-12
Publication date: 1992-06-17
Also published as: GB9026999D0

Abstract

A device consisting of a transmitter unit and a receiver unit, enabling a number of alarm systems to be networked together by the use of coded radio signals that are transmitted from the transmitter unit of one network node and are received by the receiver units of all other network nodes. The main features of the device are:- 1. Ability to identify the network and node from which an alarm signal originated. 2. Ability to store details of more than one alarm signal. 3. Ability to limit false alarms by including a delay time within signals, allowing time for false alarms to be cancel led before the receiver units are activated. 4. Ability to cancel alarm signal if 'password' code is supplied.

Description

Alarm System Networking Devic This patent relates to a device for linking a number of alarm systems together into a network.

The device consists of two main parts 1. A mains or battery powered transmitter that will send out an alarm signal on detecting the triggering of an alarm system to which it is connected (fig 2) 2. A battery powered receiver that will receive and decode the signal as sent out by the transmitter (fig 1).

Domestic and business premises are often protected by an alarm system which will sound a bell, or alternatively send a signal to the police or a monitoring service, whenever the system is triggered.

However, with bell systems the alarm signal is often ignored by those haring it, and with monitoring services or police connection the response may e too slow to be effective.

The invention described herein is intended to allow a number of alarm systems within an area to be networked together, so that in the event of any one alarm being triggered all the members of the network will be alerted.

Each node of the network has a transmitter for transmitting a coded signal following triggering of the connected alarm system, and a small receiver to receive, decode, and display relevant details about the coded signal. Whenever any alarm within the network is triggered all the pager devices will emit an audible signal and will display the details of the property for which the alarm was triggered.

Features built into the system reduce the possibility of false alarms triggering all the network devices. This is achieved by introducing a delay time during which the originator of the alarm can cancel the signal by entering a special code on the transmitter. If the receivers receive the cancel signal within the delay time then they will not sound the audible signal or display any information, if however no cancel message is received within the delay time then the receiver will be activated as described above.

further feature of the device allows the connection of panic button device to the transmitter unit. This will send a low powered signal to the transmitter which will "rigger the transmitter to sen out an alarm signal to Alarm System Networking Device members of the network. This signal is distinguishable from a 'normal' alarm signal and causes the receivers to be activated immediately (i.e. they do not wait the delay time before activating). The receiver belonging to the sender of the signal may be optionaily set so as not to be activated by the panic button signal.

More specifically the network system works as follows: 1) Each of the premises within the system is fitted with a standard alarm system.

2 In addition to, or instead of, the normal alert signal (i.e. to a bell or to a monitoring service), each alarm is connected to a small transmitter.

3) Each member( node) of the network system also has a small receiver, which is similar in size and appearance to standard telephone pagers.

4 The transmitters are able to transmit, and the receivers to receive and decode, signals containing the following data: i) a network code, to identify the signal as originating within this network rather than another adjacent one ii) a node id, i.e. a code identifying which premises within the network from which the signal originated iii) a function code, which can have one of the following meanings: signal caused by alarm system being triggered - signal caused by panic button being operated - signal cancels a previous alarm signal iv) a delay time. This indicates the amount of time that the receivers should wait before sounding an alarm. This is intended to reduce the incidence of false alarms within the system.The amount of delay time is programable individually by transmitter.

Lacn receiver within the network will receive this coded easage and wìi perfDr.mi the following actions: Alarm System Networking Device i) Examine the network code to ensure that the message originates from this networK.

ii) Examine the function code to determine the action to perform.

Each receiver is able to hold information on a number of node id's, so that if signals are received from different nodes within the system then the receiver will be able to handle each of the signals correctly. The various actions take by the receiver, depending on the type of incoming signal, are shown CASE 1 - SIGNAL CAUSED BY ALARM SYSTEM BEING TRIGGERED.

a) When an alarm is triggered the connected transmitter will immediately send a signal with a function code of alarm triggered' and the delay time as pre-set in the transmItter.

b) When the receivers receive an alarm triggered message which has the correct network code (i.e. belongs to the same network) then the node id is stored and a timer within the receiver is set to the delay time. Note that the receiver can hold up to 3 node id's, with a separate timer for each.

c) After the delay time has elapsed and no further signals relating to the node id are received then the audible alarm signal is activated and the node id is displayed on the receiver display unit.

d) Once the cause of the alarm has been attended to the cancel code is entered on the transmitter and the cancel signal will be sent.

e) When the receivers receive the cancel signal, a display against the node information will be illuminated to indicate cancellation of the information shown. Note that the receiver will be able to clear the alarm signal, even if no 'cancel' signal is received.

CASE 2 - SIGNAL CAUSED BY PANIC BUTTON OPERATION.

The Panic Button can be incorporated into the transmitter or can be a separate device.

a) On operating the panic button a low powered signal is sent to the transmitter. On receipt of this signal the transmitter immediately sends a signal with a function code of 'panic button triggered'.

Alarm System Networking Device b) On receipt of a message of this type the receiver will immediately activate the audible signal and display the node id (iWe. does not set the timer going).

c) An option will be available which allows the user to set the receiver so that it is not activated when the 'panic button' signal is received from its own node id.

CASE 3 - SIGNAL INDICATES CANCELLATION OF A PREVIOUS ALARM SIGNAL.

a) If the cancellation is received before the audible alarm has been sounded (i.e. before 'delay time' has elapsed), then the receiver will stop the timer, and no audible or visual alarm signals will be generated by the receiver.

b) If the cancellation is received after the audible alarm has been sounded (ie. after 'delay time' has eiapsed), the receiver will display a cancellation Indicator against the relevant alarm display.

Alarm System Networking Device Notes on Device Drawings (fig 1 and fig 2).

Fig 1 illustrates the receiver unit of the device, fig 2 illustrates the transmitter.

The main parts shown are Fis 1.

1. Cancellation indicators.

2. Power indicator.

3. Battery status indicator.

4. On/off switch.

5. Speaker.

6. Alarm detail display (x3).

Antenna.

Fig 2.

1. Alarm signal in.

2. Mains power in.

3. Power indicator.

4. Transmission sent indicator.

5. Antenna.

,6. Keyboard.

7 On/off switch.

Claims

Alarm System Networking Device

CLAIMS.

1) An alarm system networking device which allows a number of individual alarm systems to be joined together in a network without the use of wiring between the alarmed properties.

This device will consist of A transmitter unit that will detect the triggering of an attached alarm system and relay a message via a coded radio signal and A receiver unit that will, receive and decode signals sent from the transmitter unit described above, sound an audible alarm, and display details of the source of the alarm signal.

2) An alarm system networking device, as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the coded signal output by the transmitter unit includes a network ident .icat-on code, and the receiver unit is able to detect, from that network identification code, that an incoming signal relevant to the network of which it forms a part.

3) An alarm system networking device, as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the coded signal output by the transmitter unit includes a node identification code, and the receiver unit is able to detect, from that nooe identIfication code, the origin of an incoming signal in order that such signal origin details can be displayec on an integral display device within the receiver unit 4) An alarm system networking devIce, as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the coded signal output by the transmitter unit includes a delay time, and the receiver unit is able to decode the delay time and to set an internal timer in order to delay the sounding of the audible alarm, and the display of signal origin details, untii the time indicated by delay time has elapsed.

5) An alarm system networking device, as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the transmitter unit will be capable of sending a coded alarm cancellation signal, that cancels a previously transmitted alarm signal. The cancellation signal described above will only be transmitted after authorisation, such as entry of a password through an integral keyboard within the transmitter unit, is obtained. The receiver unit would be capable of detecting the cancellation.

6) An alarm system networking device, as claimed on claim 5, wherein the receiver unit would, on de4 ecP 5 .

Alarm System Networking Device cancellation signal relating to an alarm signal that had not yet caused the audible alarm to sound (due to the fact that the delay time had not yet elapsed), completely cancel the alarm signal such that no audible alarm would sound and no alarm signal origin details would be displayed.

7) An alarm system networking device, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the receiver unit would, on detecting a cancellation signal reiating to an alarm signal that had already caused the audible alarm to sound (due to the fact that the delay time had elapsed), indicate, via a visual display against the relevant alarm signal origin details, the fact that the signal is now cancelled.

8) An alarm system networking devIce, as claimed in ClaIm 5, whereon up to three different sets of alarm signal origin and status details may be stored and displayed.

9) An alarm system networking device, as ciaimed in Claim 8 whic may, optionally, include a panic button unit. The coded signal output by a transmitter unit to which' a panic 'tuttor. unit is connected would include code that indicated whether transmission of the signal was caused by alarm system trigsering, or by operation of the panic button The receiver unit would be able to decode and interpret the cause of transmission code described above 10) An alarm system networking device, as claimed in Claim 9, witri- which the receiver unit would be capable of being set so that, if the incoming alarm signal was caused by the operation of a panic button, the audible alarm would be sounded and the signal origin details displayed, without waiting for the delay time indicated within the coded signal to elapse.

11) An alarm system networking device, as claimed in Claim 9, within which the receiver unit would be capable of being set sc that, if the incoming alarm signal was caused by the operation of a panic button connected to the transmitter unit associated with the same nod as the receiver unit, the audible alarm would not sound.