Honeywell International Inc.

Pittway Corporation

Burroughs, Inc.

Redactron Corporation

Francis C Marino

Kenneth L Addy

Thomas Paul Schmit

Jon C Bruns

Tony Tung Sing Li

Scott Simon

Robert J Orlando

Jean U Millien

Gordon G Hope, Jr

Damian J Tallini

Metin L Goklevent

Edward H Lau

John J Ryan

Leslie J Bodin

Stanley B Freeman

Morton B Herman

Douglas McGarrett

A security system and method of operation includes a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver in wireless communication with the wireless transmitter, and a control panel. The transmitter transmits a wireless message, including a unique transmitter identification number, a status portion with a plurality of status bits, and a sequence count which it increments only when any one of the status bits changes. The receiver receives the wireless message, converts the wireless message to a digital message which is sent to the control panel. The control panel processes the digital message by extracting the sequence count and transmitter identification number. A previous sequence count associated with the transmitter identification number is retrieved from memory, and the sequence count from the message is compared with the previous sequence count. If the sequence count is not less than the previous sequence count, then the control panel processes the message.

Method and apparatus for providing a message sequence count in a security systems

A security system comprising a plurality of security subsystems each of the security subsystems being discretely located, typically in separate buildings. The security subsystems are interconnected by a system communications bus to enable bi-directional communication between the security subsystems. Each of the security subsystems comprises a user interface, a control panel, a plurality of security devices, a local communications bus, and a panel linking gateway. The panel linking gateway allows data on the local communications bus of each security subsystem to be transmitted to and received from the system communications bus. The security system allows a keypad or other user interface from one security subsystem to access and control a second remote security subsystem.

System and method for panel linking in a security system

A security system with wireless transmitters, a wireless receiver, and a control panel. A wireless message, which includes a transmitter product type, is received from the wireless transmitter. The control panel extracts the transmitter product type from the wireless message and then determines a response type to be performed as a function of the transmitter product type. A response to the wireless message is then executed in accordance with the determined response type. The response type may be determined by the control panel by using the transmitter product type to lookup an associated response type in a response type table at the control panel. The wireless message also includes a unique identification number, and the transmitter product type may be a separate field from the unique identification number or it may be integral with the unique identification number. The unique identification number is initially programmed in the wireless transmitter by assigning the product type portion as a function of the transmitter type.

Method and apparatus for determining message response type in a security system

A Vplex polling loop device is disclosed which can automatically detect and isolate shorted or overloaded sections of a polling loop, before or after polling loop power and signaling is switched to the output of the device, permitting normal operation of the remaining portion of the polling loop. The Vplex short and overload isolator (VSOI) is usable on former, existing, and future polling loop systems without the need for any software or hardware changes to the associated controls, and may also be used on 2-wire DC voltage distribution systems within the voltage and current limits of the VSOI. It is capable of multiple use anywhere on a polling loop while requiring minimum power from the polling loop. Finally, in the process of detecting and isolating a short or overload on its output, it prevents that short or overload from causing other VSOI devices on the loop to erroneously disconnect their protective branches of the loop.

Polling loop short and overload isolator (VSOI)

The present invention is a method and apparatus for use in a security system that includes a number of wireless transmitters, a wireless receiver in wireless communication with the wireless transmitters, and a control panel connected to the wireless receiver. The receiver receives a wireless message from a wireless transmitter and determines if the system is in the disarm mode. If in the disarm mode, then the receiver determines the product type of the wireless transmitter from the wireless message. The receiver then determines from the transmitter product type if the transmitter is essential or non-essential. The receiver discards the wireless message if the transmitter is indicated to be non-essential, and it sends the wireless message to the control panel if the transmitter is indicated to be essential. During the armed mode, all transmitted messages are considered essential and are sent by the receiver to the control panel.

Method and apparatus for filtering non-essential messages in a disarmed security system

Provided is a system and method for detecting marginal data transmissions from any of a number of security devices in a security system including a control unit in communication with the security devices over a serial data communications loop. First, the control unit receives a data transmission from a security device, wherein the data transmission includes a number of bit intervals in which a logic 1 level is assumed by the control unit unless a logic 0 level is detected by the control unit. The control unit samples the data transmission at a first predetermined time during the bit interval to obtain a first sample value, and then it samples the data transmission at a second predetermined time during the bit interval to obtain a second sample value (the second predetermined time being later than the first predetermined time). If the first sample value is a logic 1 and the second sample value is a logic 0, this indicates that the data transmission from the security device is marginally recoverable. If, however, the first sample value is a logic 0 and the second sample value is a logic 0, this indicates that the data transmission is acceptable. If the second sample value is a logic 1, then the control unit assumes the transmitted data bit to be a logic 1, and it makes no indication regarding the acceptability of the data transmission.

Automatic detection and correction of marginal data in polling loop system

An Addressable Electronic Switch (AES) is disclosed together with unique S/W (software) procedures for a system control to detect, locate, and isolate shorts, overloads, and other troubles, such as temporary breaks or disconnects, on a Vplex or similar 2-wire polling loop. The addressable electronic switches are placed at strategic locations throughout the polling loop, and are individually commanded by the system control to either connect or disconnect its respective branch from the rest of the polling loop, to locate and isolate a troubled area from the rest of the polling loop.

Method and apparatus for detecting and isolating shorts and other troubles on a polling loop

In a security system that has a large number of individually-addressable modules interconnected on a data bus to a control panel, a method of concurrently supervising the modules by first configuring each module with a unique zone number including a group number and a module number. During operation, the control panel initiates a group supervision poll sequence for each group number by transmitting a group poll command including a group number data field populated by the group number currently being polled. If a module is part of the group being polled, then it sets a discrete bit appended to a group poll response message that logically corresponds to the module number for that module. The control panel then determines if any bit in the group poll response message has not been set, and then issues a unit poll sequence addressed to a module that corresponds to any such bit not determined to have been set in the group poll response message.

Security system utilizing group supervision polling

A polling loop system provides all products to be prewired to the polling loop by technically unskilled labor followed by a plug and play enrollment process. The system combines the advantages of DIP switch zone addressing with smart serial number (S/N) addressing, which simplifies installation and replacement requirements. The system is fully backward compatible and is intended for a next generation of commercial polling loop systems.

Method and apparatus for a plug and play polling loop system

A security system comprising a control panel and a plurality of individually-addressable security system modules connected to the control panel on a loop data bus. Each of the security system modules has a reference generating means for generating a variable reference voltage signal, which is controlled by control data received from the control panel. Each module also has means for selecting a loop input signal for analysis from a plurality of available loop input signals, and comparing means for comparing the selected loop input signal to the reference voltage signal. The comparing means generates an output signal when the selected loop input signal exceeds the reference voltage signal. The modules also have means for indicating to the control panel via the loop data bus the state of the reference generating means when the comparing means generates an output signal, whereby the control panel can determine the value of the selected loop input signal.

System and method for loop diagnostics in a security system

A wireless security system using multiple receivers in which each RF receiver can monitor the messages being sent to the control by the other receivers via constant monitoring of the bi-directional communication between the control and all of the other receivers on the bus. If a message in a first receiver's transmission buffer matches a message that has already been acknowledged by the control from a second receiver, the first receiver can discard its duplicate message. This significantly reduces the number of messages that the control's communication bus needs to handle, especially during the disarmed state of the system as indicated earlier. Coincidently, the amount of processing in the control is also reduced.

Method and apparatus for monitoring message acknowledgements in a security system

A device and a method used during installation of a security system that allows the security system control panel to learn the IDs of the wireless transmitters in the security system without receiving an RF transmission from the wireless transmitter. The installation device comprises a power supply means, a first and second interface means, monitoring means for monitoring the current drawn from the power supply means, and processing means for producing a digital signal based on the current monitored. The first interface means connects the power supply means of the installation device to the battery terminal of the transmitter, and the second interface means connects the output of the installation device to the control panel. The monitoring means, comprising a resistor and a comparator, monitors the current drawn from the power supply means, wherein the current drawn corresponds to the data transmitted by transmitter. The resultant digital signal is processed by a microprocessor and transmitted to the control panel via a common interface bus. The control panel then stores the ID of the transmitter.

Programming of RF transmitter identification data by monitoring power

Disclosed are three major aspects relating to wireless transmission of encrypted data messages in a security system wherein the receiver stores locally an encryption key utilized by the transmitting device to encrypt the data message and the receiver uses the encryption key to decrypt an encrypted data message, and wherein a sequence number generator is used to synchronously track the message sequence at both the transmitter and receiver. A first major aspect involves encrypted device registration (learning) methods that are user-friendly and immune from detection by technically skilled intruders with special RF equipment, and periodic user-friendly changing of the encryption key per encrypted transmitting device in the system. A second major aspect involves encrypted device de-registration (unlearning, or deletion) that is likewise user friendly. A third major aspect of the invention allows the receiver to process encrypted and non-encrypted messages, interchangeably, within the same wireless security system.

Secure communications in a wireless system

A method of arming a security system comprising one or more send-only RF sensor. The method comprises the steps of receiving a request to arm the system from a keypad, determining if a faulted status exists in the receiver/controller, if a faulted status does exist, then changing the faulted status to a restored status, and arming the security system when there are no faulted statuses in the receiver/controller.

Growing community of inventors

Dix Hills, NY, United States of America

Francis C Marino