Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02704244 2010-05-17
DESCRIPTION
Field of the invention
This invention relates to security alarm system. Specifically, it relates to
improvements to the
security alarm system with DVR by integrating new hardware into a current
existing security alarm
system and integrating alarm notification through network connection interface
to HLT control
panel to intelligently control appliances 150.
Background of the invention
Normally, the security alarm systems are used in residential homes, commercial
and
industrial facilities for monitoring premises to detect intruders. The central
security station is an
answering and monitoring centre in the conventional security alarm system.
First, the security alarm
system sounds an alarm. Second, it sends the alarm information to the central
security station by
telephone (wire or wireless) when an alarm condition and/or event has been
detected. Then the
central security station will check what had happened when receiving the
telephone communications
from the security alarm system panels, and at the same time, notify the users.
This is time
consuming and expensive considering the monthly fee charged by the security
alarm service
company.
Although conventional security alarm system can report alarm conditions
through network
and detect an alarm condition through audio and/or video, a user may use the
GSM mobile phone to
backup the phone line to communicate with the central security station but the
user will be charged
for GSM mobile phone service fee per month; and a user may use video cameras
to monitor the
premise but the user's privacy will expose to public. Currently, the alarm
systems are processed by
man-power from the central security station. As a result, the process costs
more time. Moreover,
users cannot protect their privacy if the conventional alarm system reports
alarm conditions through
network and detects an alarm condition through video. The central security
station can receive the
occupants' image information through video; most of the currently alarm
systems uses telephone
alarm only.
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Usually, the current security alarm is set at away armed status when users
leave the premise
and set at off when users are inside the premises. If the users forget to turn
on the security alarm
system when they leave the premise, then the security alarm system will remain
at off status. The
central security station cannot receive any information from the security
alarm system panels unless the
users activate the security alarm system after they return to the premise.
As we know, most intrusions occur because intruders assume nobody on the
premise. If they
are led to believe that someone is in the premise, they would not attempt to
intrude the premises.
The existing security alarm system does not have the function to let the
intruders think that
somebody is on the premise when users are actually away for some time. If it
does, intrusion can be
prevented in some degree.
Summary of the invention
The present invention is an intelligent automated self-service alarm system,
which has
features of reporting the alarm condition via telephone (wire and/or mobile
phone network),
transmitting on-site images via internet, listening and/or watching on the
scene in real time,
recording the conversation between the remote users and the intruders,
checking the video before
and after alarm event occurring, simulating on site intelligent light system,
and controlling interior
cameras. Compared to the conventional security alarm system, the present
invention has the
following advantages: automatically process the alarm information including
dialling alarm
telephone and mobile phone, emailing images of the scene, recording all the
information (audio and
video) before and after the alarm event occurring, checking the on line
security feed by the users
initiatively, protect the security of the premise and the users' privacy,
remotely activate the alarm
system, and simulate users' daily habit through PLC control bus to turn on/off
the lighting, TV,
radio, Hi-Fi, etc at random as if there were some persons on the premise when
away armed mode is
on.
The invention HLT security system has four modes which are disarmed, away
armed, stay
armed and alarm occurrence modes.
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The purpose of the disarmed mode is to monitor the perimeter of the secured
area when
authorized occupants are on the premise. Upon being disarmed, the alarm system
is in the standby
state. The interior cameras are disabled by the HLT control panel. The
exterior cameras remains
enabled and continue to monitor activity around the perimeter of the area.
This provides privacy
protection for inside personals while maintaining surveillance outside the
perimeter. The DVR
records the pictures captured by exterior cameras 24 hours per day.
The purpose of the away armed mode is to monitor all area within the premise
when no
authorized occupant is on the premise. When the HLT security system is away
armed, the interior
cameras will be automatically turned on via PLC bus of the HLT control panel,
while the exterior
cameras are on to capture the pictures 24 hours per day and actively monitor
their respective areas.
Under armed mode, all activities within the confines of the premise triggers
the HLT security
system and cause it to change to alarm occurrence mode when the HLS control
panel receives a
video loss signal from the DVR, or the two communication (phone line and
internet) connections to
the HLS control panel are terminated. In both cases, the on site alarm
indicators will be activated. If
only the internet connection was terminated, the HLS control panel will send
out an alert via the
phone line. If only the phone line connection was terminated, the HLT control
panel will send out
an email alert via internet.
When the HLT security system is in away armed mode, the present invention also
has a
function to auto-turn on/off the lighting, radio, TV, Hi-Fi, and other
appliances by pre-programmed
settings within the premise at random to create daily activity habit
simulation as if there were people
on the premise. The HLT security system can also send users an image email by
triggering the
camera monitoring the door when someone rings the door chime under away armed
status. The HLT
security system sends one email per push of the door chime.
The purpose of the stay armed is to monitor the perimeter of the secured area
when
occupants sleep or stay on the premise. When the HLT security system is on
stay armed status, only
exterior cameras are on, and the interior cameras will be auto-turn off via
PLC bus of the HLT
control panel . This provides privacy protection for authorized occupants
while the alarm system is
still working on stay armed mode.
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Alarm occurrence mode will be activated when the HLT security system detectors
the alarm
signal. When the system is in the alarm occurrence status, the HLS control
panel activates all
security indication devices, including audio sirens and visual strobe lights.
Upon determining an
alarm condition, the system sends an alert to designated persons. The alert
can be sent to the
authorized users via telephone call and sent to designated email addresses via
internet. An alert call
is sent by the HLS control panel in order or priority of the phone numbers
database in the security
system. The first person called has the option to interrupt the alert. If the
system does not
acknowledge the interruption, the next number on the phone database list is
called. The system
continues and loops around to call the numbers of the list (9 times) if the
alert is not interrupted,
until it acknowledges the interruption or HLT security system auto-cut off
audio sirens after the pre-
programming siren time passed. Once an authorized personal has been notified,
he can check the
status and monitor the premises over the Internet. This can be done over a
mobile phone or
computer terminal with Internet browsing capabilities. Authorized personal can
communicate with
the intruder through microphones and speakers in the premises via telephone.
At the same time, a
pre-recorded speech automatically broadcasts when an intruder enters into the
controlled premise.
The lights, TV, radio, Hi-Fi, and other appliances will be auto-turned on by
pre-programmed control
signal when an intruder goes into the controlled premise.
The authorized person can remotely monitor the HLT security system status and
activate the
HLT security system from disarmed status to away armed status via internet or
phone line or mobile
phone after password verification. No one can deactivate armed status remotely
when the system is
in away armed status. An authorized person can also remotely close the garage
door via internet or
phone line or mobile phone after password verification, but cannot open it.
Brief description of the drawings
Figure 01 is a block diagram of the HLT security system application 100
incorporating the
invention.
Figure 02 is a detailed block diagram of HLT control panel 120
Figure 03 is a detailed block diagram of DVR control bus 122
CA 02704244 2010-05-17
Figure 04 is a block diagram of the PLC control bus 126
Figure 05 is a block diagram of input port 125 of HLT control panel 120
Figure 06 is a block diagram of the methods to send alarms to remote terminal
user system
300
Figure 07 is a block diagram of HLT security system disarmed mode
Figure 08 is a block diagram of HLT security system stay armed mode
Figure 09 is a block diagram of HLT security system away armed mode
Figure 10 is a block diagram of HLT security system alarm occurrence mode
Modes for Carrying Out the invention
Figure 01 is the diagram of the HLT security system. The HLT security system
application 100 is comprised by premise HLT security system 110 (hereinafter
referred to as HLT-
SS 110), remote terminal user system 300, and the communications phone line
201 and/or internet
200 between 100 and 300. The premise HLT-SS 110 includes the devices: exterior
cameras 102,
interior cameras 103, sensors 112, DVR 121 (digital video recorder),
appliances 150 (such as
lighting 135, TV 134, radio 133, HI-FI132), HLT control panel 120, microphone
123, speaker 124,
other accessories (such as audio siren, visual strobe lights, keyboard, power,
and router), and PLC
bus 126 \DVR control bus 122 \cable which connects all devices. The
communication cable used to
transmit the phone signal is different from the one used to transmit the
internet. Remote terminal
user system 300 performs remote surveillance through phone 301, mobile phone
302, computer 303
and other devices which monitor the premise HLT security system 110 in real
time, receives HLT-
SS 110 information and images sent by the premise HLT security system 110, and
check the
monitoring status of the premise HLT security system 110 in real time. Remote
terminal user system
300 is the part through which the authorized person remotely receives the
alarm information from
the HLT security system 110. Phone line 201 is the way to call authorized
person remotely through
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phone line 201 and/or mobile phone network 202. Internet 200 is a global
system of interconnected
computer networks that use the standard Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP) to
serve billions of users
worldwide. It is a series of networks that consists of millions of private,
public, academic, business,
and government networks of local to global scope that are linked by a broad
array of electronic and
optical networking technologies. The Internet carries a vast array of
information resources and
services, most notably the inter-linked hypertext documents of the World Wide
Web (WWW) and
the infrastructure to support electronic mail.
210 is the designated Email Server, whose purpose is to receive the email with
the alarm
notification from the premise HLT-SS 110, and auto-forward the email as a text
message to mobile
phone SMS(Short Message Service) 204 message when an alarm occurs. The email
and the SMS
204 will be sent to remote authorized user. Email SMS probably is the most
popular method of
integration in our experience today. By adding SMS functionality to user's
email account, the user
can send and receive SMS directly from user's email application. Most SMS
providers can provide
the tools to integrate SMS with any email application including outlook,
outlook mobile services,
lotus notes, groupwise, etc. Server variable hands the number to forwarder
where the real SMS
Protocol is used to send the message.
Figure 02 is a detailed diagram of the HLT control panel application 120 which
is the main
core of the whole system 110. HLT control panel 120 not only has the functions
of the conventional
alarm control panel, but also has these interfaces and functions:
1. RJ45 interfaces, connecting to internet 200, auto-sending alarm
notification to the
authorized user directly, remotely reviewing the HLT-SS 110 status by the
internet
200;
2. Phone line 201 with the RJ31X interfaces, auto-sending alarm notification
to call the
authorized user phone 301 or mobile phone 302 directly, remotely reviewing the
HLT-SS
110 status by phone 301 or mobile phone 302;
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3. INP (input port) 125, DVR control bus 122, PBP 130(PLC bus port) and PLC
bus 126, so
that the premise security system has both on-site control and intelligent
remote control
features.
Figure 03 is a detailed diagram of the DVR control bus 122 application. The
power of interior
camera 103 can auto- turn on/off via relays according to the HLT-SS's 110
status:
1. Disarmed status : the interior cameras 103 will auto-turn off
2. Stay armed status : the interior cameras 103 will auto-turn off
3. Away armed status : the interior cameras 103 will auto-turn on
4. Disarmed status : the interior cameras 103 will auto-turn on
Figure 04 illustrates that the appliances 150, such as lighting 135, TV 134,
radio 133, HI-FI
132 garage door 131, and/or other devices 136 on the premise are controlled by
their respective
RPM power relays utilizing the PBP 130 (PLC bus port) via PLC bus 126.
Figure 05 is the diagram of the input port 125 of HLT control panel 120.
Unlike the sensors
112, the input port 125 transmits the control devices (such as exterior
cameras 102, interior camera
103, door chimes 142) state to the HLT control panel 120.
Figure 06 illustrates that the authorized user in remote terminal user system
300 monitors
the premises and activate the away armed status by phone 301, mobile phone 302
and computer 303.
No one can deactivate the away armed status remotely. When an alarm occurs,
the system dials the
designated phone 301, mobile phone 302 , sends email (including text message
and images) by
internet 200 using RJ45 interface of premise HLT security system 110, and/or
forwards mobile
phone 302 SMS 204 via email server 210. The authorized user can view the on
site image in real-
time through mobile phone 302 and/or computer 303, so he/she can determine
whether the alarm
signals the presence of real intruder or whether it is a false alarm.
HLT-SS 110 has four modes: disarmed, stay armed, away armed and alarm
occurrence.
Figure 07 illustrates the disarmed status (the symbol = shows that the devices
are on). When
the authorized occupants are on the premise, the HLT-SS 110 is set on the
disarmed status since the
premise does not need to be monitored. Upon disarmed status, PLC bus 126 auto-
discontrol the
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appliances 150 (Figure 04 PLC bus 126 application), interior cameras 103 are
off, but other
appliances 150 can be turned on/off by manual operation, exterior cameras 102
are still on to record
the exterior environment. All the sensors 112 are ready, but cannot trigger
the alarm occurrence
mode. When HLT-SS 110 detects an error from PLM (phone line monitor), INM
(internet or
Ethernet monitor) or CVLM (camera video loss monitor) occurs, the trouble
light will turn on or the
keypad sounds a beep, but will not trigger alarm occurrence. This can protect
the privacy of the
authorized occupants. When the authorized person is away from home and forgets
to set HLT-SS
110 at the away armed status, he/she can activate away armed status after
verifying the HLT-SS 110
password via phone line 201 or mobile phone 202, or verifying the user ID and
password via
internet 200 by mobile phone 302 or computer 303.
Figure 08 is the diagram of stay arm mode (the symbol = shows that the devices
are on).
When HLT-SS 110 is on the stay armed status, PLC bus 126 auto-discontrol the
appliances 150
(Figure 04 PLC bus 126 application), interior cameras 103 are off, but other
appliances can be
turned on/off by manual operation, exterior cameras 102 are still on to
recorder the exterior
environment. All the sensors 103 are on, interior stay motion sensors can not
trigger the alarm
occurrence mode, but instant sensors and delay sensors are active, while
exterior cameras are on to
recorder the exterior environment. Under this condition, when HLT-SS 110
detects that PLM (phone
line 201 monitor) and/or INM (internet 200 or Ethernet monitor) error occurs,
the trouble light turns
on or the keypad sounds a beep, but cannot trigger alarm occurrence. HLT-SS
110 will be triggered
to alarm occurrence status under one or more the following conditions:
1. HLT-SS 110 detects that PLM (phone line 201 monitor) and INM (internet 200
or
Ethernet monitor) error occurs simultaneously;
2. HLT-SS 110 detects one or more camera video loss 141;
3. The instant sensors or delay sensors activate HLT-SS 110 to alarm
occurrence status
when it detects that someone has broken into the premise.
Figure 09 describes the away armed mode (the symbol = shows that the devices
are on).
When HLT-SS 110 is on the away armed status, no authorized person is on the
premise, so the
premise requires monitoring. All the exterior cameras 102 are on, all the
interior cameras 103 auto-
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turn on, and all the video and audio (including the Video and audio of the
interior camerasl03) is
recorded in the DVR hard drive. The interior cameras 102 are capable of motion
detection. Under
away armed status, PLC bus 126 controls all appliances 150 designated by the
PBP 130 can turn
on/off automatically. Under away armed mode, the authorized user can auto-turn
on/off the devices
(such as lighting 135, TV 134, radio 133, Hi-Fi 132, etc) on the premise at
random according to
user's daily habit pre-programmed time by PLC bus 126 as if there were people
on the premise.
When a PLM error occurs, the HLT-SS 110 sends a notification to authorized
user by email or SMS
204; or when an INM error occurs, the HLT-SS 110 will call the authorized user
by telephone; when
someone rings the door chimes 142, the HLT-SS 110 will send a SMS 202 and
email images to the
authorized user. The authorized user can check the HLT-SS 110 status via
phone301, mobile phone
302 or internet 200, and also access the DVR 121 to view real time monitoring
or view recorded
video via internet 200. The alarm occurrence status will be triggered when one
or more following
events occur:
1. HLT-SS 110 detects that PLM (phone line 201 monitor) and INM (internet 202
or
Ethernet monitor) error occurs simultaneously;
2. HLT-SS 110 detects that one or more cameras loses 141 signal;
3. One or more sensors 112 trigger HLT-SS 110 to alarm occurrence status when
a break in
is detected;
4. One or more interior cameras 103 detected motion.
Figure 10 is a diagram of alarm occurrence status. When HLT-SS 110 alarm
occurs (See
figure 08 for triggering the alarm occurrence status under stay armed status,
and see figure 09 for the
triggering the alarm occurrence status under away armed status trigger), an
alarm notification and
the devices will be auto-activated as following:
1. HLT-SS 110 sounds a siren.
2. All the interior cameras 103 will be turned on.
CA 02704244 2010-05-17
3. Pre-programmed appliances 150 (such as lighting 135, speakers 124,
microphones 123)
are on, and pre-programmed voice will play an alert to scare the intruder as
well.
4. HLT-SS 110 will call the designated phone number to send the siren sound to
phone 301
and/or mobile phone 302 of authorized user via phone line 201. The authorized
person
will receive the alert phone call and can communicate with the intruder
directly. All
conversation will be recorded.
5. A SMS 204 with the alert notification of HLT-SS 110 under alarm occurring
will be sent
to the designated mobile phone 302.
6. An email with the alert notification of HLT-SS 110 and with an attachment
of the image
captured or video by the interior cameras 103 will be sent to the designated
mobile phone
302 and/or computer 303 if motion detector is activated.
After receiving any of the above alarm notifications, the authorized user can
take any of the
following actions:
1. Use the phone 301 to communicate with the intruder.
2. Use the received SMS 204 sent in real time to understand the locale
information.
3. Use the received images captured or video by the interior cameras 103 when
the motion
detector is activated real time understands the locale information.
4. Use computer 303 or mobile phone 302 to access the DVR 121 via internet 200
to view
the video of locale premise in real time or playback the recorded video. The
alarm
information of the HLT-SS 110 has sound, image, and real time video features
of the
premise and the recorded video before and during the alarm occurrence, so the
authorized user can determine whether to call the police after he/she verifies
whether the
alarm legitimate based on the information received from HLT-SS 110. The
ability to
prevent false greatly improves police effectiveness. HLT-SS can auto-send the
authorized user real time information with sound, images and video without the
help of
centre security station, therefore the authorized user can auto-self-serve
monitor the
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5. The authorized user verifies that the received alarm is a false alarm after
receiving the
alarm notification. Then he/she can remotely interrupt the alarm and the HLT-
SS 110
will be auto-restore to away armed status when all the devices are ready. If
one or more
of the sensors 112 are not ready, the user can remotely bypass one or more
zones, and
remotely restore the HLT-SS 110 to away armed status. The authorized user can
enable
the function of remotely bypassing one or more zones and restoring to away
armed status
only after HLT-SS 110 alarm occurs and the authorized user interrupts the
alarm
remotely.
6. If the authorized user does not interrupt the alarm after receiving the
alarm information
or missing the alarm notification, HLT-SS 110 will keep the alarm occurrence
status
until the siren cut-off set time passed. Then the HLT-SS 110 will be auto-
restored to
away armed status when all of the devices in the premises are ready. If one or
more
sensors 112 of the zones are not ready, remote authorized user cannot remotely
interrupt
the alarm during the siren cut-off set time, and the function of bypassing
zones are not
enabled.
7. When HLT-SS 110 is on disarmed status, the authorized user can remotely
activate to the
away armed status after password verification, but cannot remotely activate
bypass
function.
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