Numerex Corporation

Other

Nextalarm International, Inc.

Next Alarm, Inc.

Harvey Alexander Elliot

Daniel J Elliot

Bryan Field-Elliot

Bryan Field Elliot

Alarm customers on VoIP may use an adapter for conversion to Internet Protocol (IP) signals or may have an alarm system that uses IP signals to transmit alarm signals over the Internet. IP signals from alarm customers may go to any monitoring center for alarm system monitoring. IP signals from alarm systems using IP conversion equipment can go only to monitoring centers with specialized receiving equipment specific to the type of transmitting equipment in use at the customer's premises. There is a pool of customers, whose dealers would convert to IP and stay with the current monitoring center if the center invested in receiving equipment. For the many small centers who will not or cannot invest in receiving equipment, the present invention will take IP signals from any or all brands of IP transmitting equipment, to a central server then retransmit to any center over POTS to the alarm monitoring center. Thus, an alarm monitoring center need not invest in a number of different IP monitoring systems in order to be IP monitoring compliant.

Alarm system IP network with PSTN output

The present invention allows an alarm monitoring to use satellite broadband services as a data link for communication between an alarms system and a monitoring station, middleware provider, individual user, or other alarm monitor. Standard alarm system protocols are modified to make the communication protocol compatible with the features of satellite broadband. These modifications compensate for the time delay in data transmission inherent in satellite communications, as well as other limitations of satellite communications. In particular, the 'handshake' tone, instead of '1400 hz for 100 ms, silence for 100 ms, 2300 hz for 100 ms', is changed to &#x201c;DTMF 'A' for at least 100 milliseconds&#x201d;. In a preferred embodiment the receiver transmits the DTMF A tone for 250 milliseconds. In addition, the delay for &#x201c;wait for the Acknowledge tone&#x201d; is extended from 1.25 seconds, to 5 seconds. The &#x201c;acknowledge&#x201d; tone, instead of &#x201c;1400 hz for 400 ms&#x201d;, is changed to &#x201c;DTMF 'D' for at least 100 milliseconds&#x201d;. In a preferred embodiment, the receiver transmits the DTMF D tone for 250 milliseconds.

Alarm system for use over satellite broadband

A Voice over IP (VoIP) module is used to connect an alarm system to a monitoring station over the Internet. A built-in wireless or Ethernet over A/C power component is described, such that the Voice-over-IP equipment can be placed at a distance from a router, without the need to run an Ethernet cable from the VoIP equipment to the router. This arrangement is useful, as in many cases, the customer's security system is hidden within a closet, or else placed within the home or business at a significant distance from their Internet connection and router. The present invention accomplishes this by adding a built-in WiFi (wireless) radio, or a built-in Ethernet over Power circuit, into the Voice-over-IP equipment installed in the home or business.

Wireless VoIP network for security system monitoring

The present invention allows an alarm monitoring service to ally with a PSAP provider to allow our customers to direct connect to the 911 center responsible for their home, but no matter where the customer calls from. When an alarm monitoring company or middleware provider's automatic notification function calls the customer to report an alarm, the customer can connect directly to the local 911 even when traveling, if needed. The alarm monitoring company contacts the customer if an alarm event occurs and offers the customer the opportunity to connect with the 911 call center for their home. If the customer indicates they want to call 911, the call is routed to the correct PSAP center, with the customers home Caller ID number emulated for the call. In this manner, the PSAP center can determine, from the emulated Caller ID data, the correct response agency that is local to the customer's home.

Enhanced 911 notification for internet enabled alarm system

Security systems typically communicate with alarm monitoring centers using a telephone connection. The present invention offers a system and technique for monitoring a security system connected using a Voice-over-IP connection, in real time, and alerting the owner of the security system, or the alarm-monitoring center, when the connection is broken. This alert can be used, for example, to issue a telephone call to the police, informing them of the breach of line integrity and possible compromise of the premise. In addition, the present invention allows for one-way or two-way voice communication between the alarm panel and an alarm operator and/or a 3party. Such voice communication helps the alarm operator and/or 3party to determine whether an alarm is a real alarm or a possible false alarm.

Two-way voice and voice over IP receivers for alarm systems

Alarm System Activation Platform (ASAP) is a customer relationship management system for activating and maintaining a large number of alarm monitoring accounts with a minimum of work per account. It differs from standard alarm customer relationship management systems in that it is designed from the ground up to be entirely automated. ASAP eliminates most or all of this partly through automation of account processing and partly through providing tools to the customer to allow 'self-service' activation and maintenance. It allows large numbers of accounts to be quickly activated and maintained with only a very small amount of work required per account.

Alarm system activation platform

Security systems typically communicate with alarm monitoring centers using a telephone connection. Security systems will check in with the alarm monitoring center with a diagnostic signal at a predetermined interval&#x2014;typically once per day. When a security system is connected to a Voice-over-IP service (using Broadband Internet), rather than a standard telephone line, the opportunity exists to poll in real-time the status of the connection, and alert the owner (or alert the alarm monitoring center) that the customer's connection has been broken. The present invention offers a system and technique for monitoring a security system connected using a Voice-over-IP connection, in real time, and alerting the owner of the security system, or the alarm-monitoring center, when the connection is broken. This alert can be used, for example, to issue a telephone call to the police, informing them of the breach of line integrity and possible compromise of the premise.

Private VoIP network for security system monitoring

A relatively simple redialer device is provided at the customer's home to redirect outgoing alarm calls to a middleware processing center. The redialer first dials '*82' (or other appropriate code) to disable caller-ID blocking. The redialer then redirects the alarm call to a middleware processing center. The middleware processing center receives the alarm call and determines the customer identification by detecting the caller ID. The middleware processing center then dials out to the appropriate alarm company for that customer, and transfers the alarm data along with customer identification information (account number or the like) in a data format compatible with the alarm monitoring company's computers. The alarm is then handled by the alarm monitoring company in the normal manner practiced by the alarm monitoring company.

Alarm signal interceptor, middleware processor, and re-transmitter

A relatively simple redialer device is provided at the customer's home to redirect outgoing alarm calls to a middleware processing center. The redialer first dials '&#x2605;82' (or other appropriate code) to disable caller-ID blocking. The redialer then redirects the alarm call to a middleware processing center. The middleware processing center receives the alarm call and determines the customer identification by detecting the caller ID. The middleware processing center then dials out to the appropriate alarm company for that customer, and transfers the alarm data along with customer identification information (account number or the like) in a data format compatible with the alarm monitoring company's computers. The alarm is then handled by the alarm monitoring company in the normal manner practiced by the alarm monitoring company.

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Ojai, CA, United States of America

Harvey Alexander Elliot