Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE: SECURITY ALARM KEYPAD WITH MESSAGE ALERT
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present application relates to security alarm
panels and in particular, relates to the security alarm
system which includes an e-mail alert capability.
E-mail continues to increase in popularity,
however, one of the major disadvantages associated with e-
mail is that the nail is not delivered to the end
recipient. The end recipient must retrieve the mail from
their INTERNET Service Provider (ISP). Typically, the end
user uses a computer to appropriately log on to the ISP
provider and then receive status information regarding the
e-mail account. This process is time consuming and also
requires the end user to typically initiate the process.
The problem becomes more acute when the end user
does not normally receive e-mail. Under these
circumstances, he is are less likely to check his mailbox
on a regular basis, and as such, the e-mail is not timely
delivered.
There have been arrangements for alerting the user
that e-mail, has been received, however, they have not
proven particularly convenient and often require the user
to purchase further services. As can be appreciated, if
you are not using e-mail on a regular basis, it is even
more difficult to justify an increase in cost associated
with the receipt of this type of information.
The present invention seeks to overcome these
disadvantages and provide and an alternative approach for
providing notice of the receipt of e-mail transmissions and
optionally using e-mail as part of the reporting function
of security alarm systems.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a security alarm system according to the present
invention the alarm system is provided with an e-mail
transmission arrangement whereby the keypad of the security
alarm system which includes a visual display that provides a
visual indication that e-mail has been received.
The security alarm system comprises a series of sensors
which communicate with a control panel which determines alarm
events and reports alarm events to a remote monitoring station.
This report is completed using a telephone communication
arrangement controlled by the control panel which initiates
contact with the remote monitoring station. The control panel
also includes a keypad display used for entering security codes
used to arm and disarm the system and provide a visual display
of the state of the alarm system and sensors. The alarm system
includes a telephone communication arrangement which is used by
the control panel for contacting the remote monitoring station.
The control panel stores a first telephone address for
communicating with the remote monitoring station and stores a
second telephone address for communicating with a computer for
receiving e-mail status information in respect of a
predetermined account. The control panel initiates contact with
the computer on a predetermined basis. During contact with the
computer, the control panel receives the status information of
the e-mail account including whether e-mail has been received.
The control panel produces a visual indication on the keyboard
or audible alert when the information indicates that an e-mail
has been received and not yet retrieved by the user.
With the above arrangement, the user interacting with the
keyboard alerted by a visual or audible indication that e-mail
has been received and should be retrieved. In a preferred
embodiment of the invention, the visual display includes the
capability of displaying several lines of
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information such that summary information with respect to
the e-mail is displayed.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the
control panel initiates contact with the e-mail computer
after the security alarm system has been disarmed.
According to yet a further aspect of the invention,
the control panel contacts the e-mail computer and seeks
information with respect to an e-mail account associated
with a particular security code used to disarm the system.
In this way, e-mail information specific to the user who
disarmed the system is obtained. The control panel has a
series of telephone numbers for contacting different e-mail
accounts.
In a further aspect of the invention, the control
panel produces a sound alert that e-mail is awaiting
retrieval.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in
the drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic of a security alarm system;
Figure 2 is a schematic showing integration of a
security alarm system with an e-mail server;
Figure 3 is a schematic illustrating e-mail
communication being initiated by the security alarm system
to a predetermined source previously identified by the
user; and
Figure 4 is a schematic of an alternate arrangement
integrating e-mail with the security system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The security system 2 includes an alarm control
panel 4 which receives the signals from a host of different
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sensors 6. These sensors 6 can be hard wired to the alarm
control panel 4 or can communicate with the alarm control
panel 4 using RF transmission signals. A keypad 8 allows a
user to interact with the system to determine the status
thereof and arm or disarm or effect changes to the system.
A sounder 12 is controlled by the control panel 4.
The control panel 4 includes as part thereof, a
telephone dialer 14 as well as control logic 15 for
determining what particular functions are to be carried
out.
The security system 2 from time to time effects a
telephone communication pad 16 to the remote monitoring
station 20. Typically, the alarm control panel 4 uses this
communication to report an alarm event or to complete a
daily or predetermined check in with the remote monitoring
station.
Figure 2 shows the security system 2 in cooperation
with the remote monitoring station 20 which is connected to
the ISP 30 having the e-mail server 32. The remote
monitoring station 20 and the ISP 30 is capable of
communication as indicated by connection 24. This could be
a telephone line connection, a cable connection, or any
other suitable connection. Preferrably, this is a high
speed connection. The e-mail server is connected to the
INTERNET 50 and again, this connection is typically a high
speed connection.
The alarm control panel 4 when in an armed state,
awaits an event such as the opening of a door which either
results in an alarm or an event being reported, or the
system being appropriately disarmed. The system is diamond
in the traditional manner by the user entering the premise
and entering a security code. Upon a successful entry of
the security code, the alarm control panel 4 is essentially
in a stand by state and is free to carry out other
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functions. In particular, the alarm control panel 4 is
effectively disarmed and therefore the control processor
and the auto dialer are originally idle. The alarm control
panel 4 is programmed to identify an e-mail account
associated with the security code and in other e-mail
accounts which are to be checked. The auto dialer is used
to contact the appropriate e-mail computer and the
information necessary for gaining e-mail status access is
provided thereto. The 3-mail computer then provides e-mail
summary information to the alarm control panel 4. The
alarm control panel 4 produces a visual indication such as
the message shown on the display 10 to alert the user that
e-mail is awaiting retrieval. The precise form of the
summary information can be vary form a simple indication
that e-mail has been received to more complete information
including details of the received e-mail. Typically, the
keypad 8 has a display which allows several lines of code
to be displayed.
The keypad 8 can also include specialized
programmed keys which can be programmed for retrieval of e-
mail information upon execution. In this way, the user can
retrieve e-mail status information upon demand.
The alarm control panel 4 is not limited to
contacting the e-mail server 32 only when the system is
disarmed. For example, the alarm control panel 4 could
contact the e-mail server 32 on a predetermined time
schedule or at times or events to be determined by the
user. For example, the alarm control panel 4 can be
monitoring the telephone line and it could contact the e-
mail server on a certain basis when the system is armed.
As can be appreciated, the phone should not be in use as no
one is home. The control panel 4 can obviously stop any
contact with the e-mail server if an alarm event occurs or
use this connection to report an alarm event to the remote
monitoring station. The alarm control panel 4 does include
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circuitry for seizing of the line from other telephone
services and reports alarm events on a priority basis.
Figure 2 also allows communication between the e-
mail server and the remote monitoring station 20. The e-
mail server could be providing e-mail status information
for the various alarm systems on an ongoing basis. In this
way, the information would be available to the remote
monitoring station and whenever contact is made, the e-mail
information is updated. If the keypad 8 has additional
display capability, more sophisticated e-mail information
can be provided to it. In most cases, it is desirable to
have the alarm control panel complete a separate telephone
communication to the e-mail server 32 thus leaving the
remote monitoring station free to carry out its function.
The embodiment of Figure 3 is useful for outputting
additional information from the alarm control panel 4
forward to an additional remote computer. The alarm
control panel 4 functions in its normal manner to report
the alarm event 60 to the remote monitoring station 20.
The various security functions continue to function in the
normal manner and the remote monitoring station will
authorize the appropriate medical or security response.
After the alarm control panel 4 has completed this
function, it additionally reports this alarm or medical
event to the computer shown as 100. This remote computer
could be the user's computer at work, or the user's paging
service. The alarm control panel 4 uses the auto dialer to
effect a communication with the e-mail server 30. The e-
mail server 30 receives a signal from the alarm control
panel 4 which identifies a particular e-mail address to be
used. This can be prearranged with the e-mail server 30 or
it can be maintained in the alarm control panel 4. In any
event, an e-mail transmission indicated as 102 is sent from
the alarm control panel 4 to the computer 100. The e-mail
server 30 forwards this to the additional computer 100.
The e-mail will provide the user with details of the alarm
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event and the particular sensor which has triggered the
alarm event.
As can be further appreciated, the alarm control
panel 4 can report not only to the monitor station 20 but
to a particular e-mail server 32. A user who is away from
the premise can contact the e-mail server 32 and receive a
report regarding the activity of the security alarm control
system. Therefore, in addition to reporting to the remote
monitoring station 20, the alarm control panel can report
directly to a separate e-mail server 32 or can have the
remote monitoring station 20 provide a report to that e-
mail server. In this way, better access as to the status
of the system can be made and it may be a more cost
effective approach, particularly if the user is travelling
and any telephone communication would result in long
distance charges. The e-mail server can forward the
reports according to instructions received from the user.
From the above, it can be seen that the alarm
system will notify the user of arrival of new e-mail. This
may merely be an LED being lit on the keypad 8 or it may be
a separate message provided on the message display of the
keypad. The main purpose is to provide an indication that
an e-mail has been received to encourage the user to
retrieve this e-mail at the earliest convenience. A
control panel of the security system, given that there is a
visual display, may provide an indication that new mail has
been received and provide details thereof such as
displaying the number of new messages, subject, sender,
time/date received, etc.
The alarm control panel 4 is programmed with
information to initiate contact with the e-mail server.
This information typically includes the e-mail account, the
phone number of the e-mail server, login name, password,
account information, communication protocols, etc.
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The alarm control panel 4 may be programmed to
allow access of multiple e-mail accounts. These e-mail
accounts can be associated with particular security codes
if this is desired. The alarm control panel 4 may also
allow alarm events to be reported to a remote location via
e-mail. It can further be appreciated that if the alarm
control panel 4 communicates with the e-mail server via a
cable connection, for example, that this e-mail
communication could provide the back up communication path
for communicating with a remote monitoring station. For
example, the control panel could normally report this
directly using the telephone communication path, however,
if this fails, and there is a cable connection allowing e-
mail, then the control panel could report to the remote
monitoring station using this alternate path.
An alternate embodiment is shown in Figure 4 which
allows the control panel 4 to report pending e-mail to an
answering machine 120. The control panel 4, upon
determining e-mail has been received, uses the line seize
circuitry 15 to isolate the in house system from the
external telephone system. The answer machine 120
preferrably has caller 10 capability 122. The control
panel 4 mimics the telephone syst-em and provides a ring
signal to the household system. The digital answering
machine picks up and receives a caller 10 signal "E-MAIL"
provided by the control panel 4. In this way, the caller
ID is provided to the answering machine and recorded.
It is also possible for the control panel to leave
a voice message "You have mail". Each control panel could
include circuitry for producing this audible message which
is then recorded. It is also possible to have the e-mail
server provide this message when reporting to the control
panel. The control panel falsely causes the answering
machine to pick up, and then connects to the e-mail server
which is waiting on the line and full details of the
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.pending e-mail are audibly provided by the e-mail server
and recorded by the answering machine.
In yet a further embodiment, the control panel
provides a signal on the telephone line indicating e-mail
has been received. A separate device 124 on the telephone
system turns on an activating LED 126 indicating e-mail has
been received. This device can be positioned in front of a
conventional phone 128 and can be powered by the telephone
system.
The control panel 4 can be programmed by the user
with respect to a schedule for checking e-mail. For
example, e-mail could be checked each morning prior to
anticipated departure. When the user arms the system, the
status of the e-mail account is provided. This scheduling
also allows for retrieval passed on anticipated returns.
It is also possible for the remote monitoring
station to send e-mail to the user regarding testing or
status of the system.
Although various preferred embodiments of the
present invention have been described herein in detail, it
will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that
variations may be made thereto without departing from the
spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended
claims.
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