WO1992014225A1 - Remote setting of alarm systems - Google Patents

Abstract

An alarm system has a controller unit (12) including a radio signal receiver and comprising a portable unit (16), such as a pendant, incorporating a radio signal transmitter and a keypad (18). The keypad (18) on the pendant (16) is operable to transmit system arm and disarm signals to the controller unit (12). The controller unit (12) receives signals from one or more sensor detectors (14) and on entering an alarm state is arranged to automatically dial out on the public switched telephone network to a predetermined destination.

Description

"REMOTE SETTING OF ALARM SYSTEMS"

This invention relates to alarm systems in general and, more particularly, to intruder alarm systems or emergency call systems such as used in sheltered housing schemes for the elderly and infirm.

Conventional emergency call systems include the features of a conventional intruder alarm system such as in principle used widely to provide security in domestic dwellings. It is usual to arm an intruder alarm system by setting a control unit located inside the premises and which allows a predetermined delay or exit period within which to vacate the premises via a designated route and secure the point of exit. Similarly to disarm the system, the occupier enters the premises and within a predetermined delay -the entry period - must disarm the control unit.

One object of this invention is to avoid the above disadvantage and to enable an intruder a_.arπt system whether a dedicated system or say an emergency call system incorporating intruder alarm features which would allow the system to be armed and disarmed in a more convenient manner not limiting the route by which access to the premises is obtained. In accordance with the present invention we propose a system having a controller unit including a signal receiver and comprising a portable unit incorporating a signal transmitter and a control input means such as a key pad, operable to transmit system arm and disarm signals.

The portable unit may be in the form of a pendant which could be hand held, neck worn, wrist worn, or clothing clipped as required.

A user wishing to leave the premises secure would lock up in the normal way and then standing outside, or even while walking away from the secured premises, arm the alarm system by entering a key sequence via the input means on the portable unit. Similarly, when approaching the premises, a different key sequence would be entered to disarm the system and the occupier may enter his premises via any route.

It will be understood, however, that the system arm signal may be the same as the system disarm signal, implying that the same key sequence be used alternately to set and reset the system. In the not unusual event that an occupier loses his key, a system in accordance with the present invention enables him to re-enter the premises by, for example, entering an open window or forcing an entry without triggering an alarm.

Another advantageous feature of the present invention is that the portable unit preferably includes means by which the controller unit can be reprogrammed remotely, for example, to change or reset the coded signal sequence to which the controller unit responds to arm or disarm the system.

When applied to an emergency call system, the emergency call system controller unit usually termed the "call unit" incorporates a signal receiver and the portable alarm trigger or pendant carried or worn by the user incorporates the signal transmitter and control input means which in addition to the usual alarm button is adapted to enable the user to generate the said system arm and disarm signals.

The call unit of a typical emergency call system is programmed to monitor activity levels within the protected premises. If insufficient activity is observed during say a 12 or 24 hour period an alarm state is triggered. The call unit will automatically dial out on the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to alert a friend or relative or area control centre or monitoring station. Activity is monitored by a variety of detectors such as point of entry sensor, infra-red detectors and the like in communication with the call unit preferably by a radio transmitter. Such detectors therefore enable operation of the emergency call system in either an activity monitoring mode or an intruder protection mode, the said arm and disarm signals serving in addition to suspend and restore respectively the activity monitoring mode.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 schematically illustrates an intruder alarm system in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 schematically illustrates an emergency call system

Figure 3 is a block diagram of the call unit (controller) of the emergency call system of Figure 2;

Figure 4 schematically illustrates operation of the emergency control system in communication via the PSTN with a control centre; and Figure 5 schematically illustrates operation of the emergency control system in communication via the PSTN with an outside caller using a conventional telephone.

The intruder alarm system of Figure 1 is installed in a building 10 and includes an alarm controller 12 connected in the conventional manner to receive input signals from a number of sensors or detectors selected from among the wide variety of sensors commonly used in such systems, examples being capacitative/pressure sensitive detectors, infra-red devices, temperature sensors, proximity detectors, smoke detectors and noise or vibration detectors. Only one sensor 14 is shown in the figure, this being fitted to the door being the normal route of access, to provide a signal indicating whether the door is open or closed.

A portable unit 16 intended to be carried by the occupier includes a key pad 18 and incorporates a radio transmitter connected to transmit coded signals entered via the key pad. The controller 12 incorporates a radio receiver (not shown) tuned to receive coded signals transmitted from the portable unit 16 within a limited range of the building.

To make the building secure, the user will lock-up in the normal way and then standing outside the building arm the alarm by entering a predetermined key sequence on the key pad of the portable unit. The alarm system can be disarmed by entering another key sequence (which may in fact be the same as the exit sequence) prior to re-entering the premises.

The emergency call system of Figure 2 and 3, includes a telephone 20 connected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and having hands-free (loudspeaker} speech faci1ity.

The emergency call unit 20 includes a micro controller 24 and has a ringer 26, line switch 28, voice amplifier and switches 30, handset 32, microphone 34 and loudspeaker 36, power supply 38, and a dialler 40 and tone encoder 42 as in a conventional hands-free telephone.

The micro controller 24 controls communication between the key-pad 44 and dialler 40, actuates the line switch 28 and via the tone encoder 42 and tone decoder 46 establishes a two-way data link enabling interrogation of the micro controller via an external telephone line and a speech encoder 48 outputs synthesised verbal messages composed of words and/or phrases pre-recorded in the micro controller, onto the external line.

A ring detector 50 provides an input to the micro controller 24 to indicate receipt of an external call.

When an alarm signal is raised for whatever reason the system will dial out on the PSTN serving the premises in which the system is installed. In the case of sheltered housing schemes for the elderly, the controller may be connected directly , for example, by dedicated lines, to a local warden or supervisor's office and capable of recognising the lack of response or an off-duty flag before dialling out on the PSTN to establish a telephone connection with a remote receiving station or control centre. In the illustrated embodiment, however, the system is designed to dial out up to three predetermined telephone numbers as a first priority. These may be the numbers of friends or relatives and the last may be a local warden or help centre. If all of these attempts fail, the system is programmed to dial the number of the remote receiving station or control centre. It will be understood, therefore, that the illustrated embodiment is not restricted to use in a sheltered housing scheme but may be used for monitoring any number of unrelated dwellings. Having established a connection with the control centre over the PSTN, the controller then transmits data identifying the (location of the) unit and the nature of the alarm depending upon how the emergency call was initiated.

Most conventional emergency call systems include a portable alarm trigger in the form of a pendant or the like, carried or worn by the user (i.e. remote from the controller) and incorporating a radio, infra-red or ultra-sonic transmitter operable in response to pressing of an alarm button to transmit signals to a receiver in the call unit controller for initiating the emergency call procedure. This procedure may also be initiated by other alarm triggers in the form of pull-cords fire detectors, low temperature detectors etc.

In addition, any of a wide variety of activity detectors (e.g. point of entry sensors) are provided so that in normal use of the emergency call system an alarm can be raised if there has been insufficient activity over a given period. Such detectors also enable the system to provide intruder alarm protection. The micro-controller 24 is programmed to be set in intruder alarm protection mode using the same detectors as are used in the activity monitoring mode which is suspended when intruder protection is armed.

A series of detectors D₁ to D_N including the alarm trigger detectors and activity detectors, may all be hard wired to the emergency call unit but in this illustrated embodiment incorporate a radio transmitter in communication with a radio receiver 52 in the call unit.

The emergency call system of Figures 2 to 4 includes a portable unit or pendant 54 having a key-pad 56 identical with the telephone key-pad 44 and in radio communication with the system unit controller 22 whereby all telephone key-pad functions can be performed remotely by a user either inside or outside (within a limited range) of the protected premises.

The keypads have the keys:

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0,*,#,A,B,C,MEM, LS,ALARM. The intruder alarm feature may be operated via the key pad on the fixed unit or on the pendant in the manner described above with reference to Figure 1.

To arm the intruder alarm the user enters a two-part key sequence. The first part identifies the function required, the second part assures security and comprises a Personal Identification Number (PIN). For example, to arm the alarm the sequence might be #A019876. #A would select a special function, 01 would select which special function, i.e. arm alarm, and 9876 would be the PIN. Having successfully entered this sequence the system would be armed and activity monitoring suspended. An exit period of say 45 seconds is allowed if any of the sequence is entered via the fixed unit (telephone) keypad.

To disarm the intruder alarm the user enters a slightly different key sequence. For example, this might be #A029876 where #A selects a special function, 02 selects which special function, i.e. disarm alarm, and 9876 is the PIN. A 45 second entry period is allowed between the setting-off of an intruder sensor and the initiation of an alarm. During this period a disarm key sequence will cancel any intruder alarm, and restore the emergency call unit to activity monitoring. This feature allows the fixed unit keypad to be used.

The telephone facility is operable via either the fixed unit keypad 44 or the pendant keypad 56 in an identical manner.

The pendant keypad 56 may be used if the user is remote from the fixed unit but within hearing distance of it. To initiate a telephone call from the pendant 54 the user first presses the key LS to instruct the fixed unit to seize the telephone line, after which the user is able to dial the desired telephone number in the normal way and the fixed unit would signal to the exchange. Having established a call, the user and called party are able to converse using the loudspeaking speech facility of the fixed unit. The user can drop the line by pressing the LS key again. Additionally, having seized the line, any of the fast or abbreviated dialling facilities as also available on the fixed unit may be used.

Another feature of the emergency call system, see particularly Figure 4, is the ability to send standard digital data to a control centre 60 which would be interpreted and acted on by the centre equipment and then supplementing that with verbal data messages which would be interpreted by the centre operator.

With the system an alarm state having been activated by the user or some automatic sensor, such as, for example, medical emergency, fire, intruder or heating plant failure, a telephone link with the centre equipment 60 is established. The system unit controller 22 then passes digital data to the centre 60 and expects to get some response to confirm a successful data transaction. This data includes the system unit identity and the type of alarm call. The choice of the latter is limited to the number of options available at the control centre 60. Control centres are normally computer based and the existence of the alarm call is indicated by a list of pending calls from which the control centre operator can choose. Having chosen the alarm call any data held in the computer relating to the particular system unit would be displayed. Some information displayed might also relate to the alarm call type. A speech path is then established between the operator and system unit user under control of the operator precluding the transmission of further data. In the present system, however, pre-recorded verbal messages may be sent under command of the system unit controller, to elaborate on the type of call which initiated the alarm, by, for example announcing 'pullcord in bathroom' when the digital data only identifies a pullcord. In addition, verbal messages announcing further alarms such as 'fire' or 'intruder zone 1' might be generated providing the operator with a real time understanding of the activity at the system unit location.

The system enables pre-recorded verbal messages to be announced to a respondent using a simple telephone in the same way as announcements to a control centre operator once they had selected a call as described above. This facility is illustrated in Figure 5, and enables the provision of information, possibly in response to spoken questions, and information about a multiplicity of alarms rather than one alarm only at the beginning of a call.

Also, the user having initiated an alarm and being in contact with either a centre operator or a respondent is able to initiate an announcement of any one of a number of pre-recorded words or phrases to communicate to the centre operator or respondent. This facility would be of assistance to any user with impaired speech.

Claims

1. An alarm system having a controller unit including a signal receiver and comprising a portable unit incorporating a signal transmitter and a control input means, operable to transmit system arm and disarm signals.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portable unit is in the form of a pendant.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the control input means is a keypad.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the portable unit includes means by which the controller unit can be reprogrammed remotely.

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5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the controller unit can be programmed remotely to change or reset the coded signal sequence to which the controller unit responds to arm and/or disarm the system.

6. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein if the controller unit enters an alarm state the controller unit is arranged to automatically dial out on the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to a predetermined destination.

7. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the controller unit is programmed to monitor activity levels within the premises and if insufficient activity is observed during a predetermined period to enter an alarm state.

8. A system as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the controller unit receives signals from one or more detectors.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the one or more detectors are point of entry sensors, infra-red detectors or the like.

10. A system as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein the or each detector includes a radio transmitter to send a signal to the controller unit.

11. A system as claimed in any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the or each detector may detect and send signal indicative of medical emergency, fire, intruder or heating plant failure.

12. A system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.