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Tyco Safety Products Canada Ltd.

Tyco Safety Products Canada Ltd. Patent applications
Patent application numberTitlePublished
20110286590FACSIMILE AWARE ALARM MONITORING STATION AND METHOD - A method and security system arrangement are disclosed for processing incoming signals at an alarm monitoring station. The method includes analyzing the incoming signals to assess if any particular incoming signal includes characteristics of a facsimile signal to thereby identify whether or not a given incoming signal is a facsimile signal. If the analyzing identifies that a given incoming signal includes characteristics of a facsimile signal, thus identifying that the given incoming signal is likely a facsimile signal, the alarm monitoring station refrains from initiating an alarm handling procedure to handle the given incoming signal. Caller ID information may be extracted from the facsimile signals received by the alarm monitoring station, and added to a call block list. Calls originating from caller IDs on the call block list may be blocked by the alarm monitoring station.11-24-2011
20110156904SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EXTENSION OF ENTRY DELAY IN A SECURITY SYSTEM - A system and method are provided for extending the expiration of an entry delay period for disarming a security system based on the entry of a keypress that matches a valid access code before expiration of a preprogrammed entry delay period. The security system includes a plurality of detection devices to detect any number of conditions, a user interface such as a keypad, and a control panel communicating with each of the detection devices and the user interface. The system extends the entry delay period based on the input of each keypress using the user interface that matches a symbol of a valid access code.06-30-2011
20110095882SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENT OF TWO-WAY WIRELESS SENSORS IN A SECURITY SYSTEM - A system and method are disclosed for enrolling two-way wireless security system devices (alarms, detectors, lights) in a security system. A controller is provided and is capable of exchanging wireless signals with the two-way wireless devices. The system has an enroll mode where the two-way wireless devices transmit enroll signals to the controller. The enroll signals contain an identifier associated with each device. An installer uses a keypad or other interface device to confirm enrollment of each of the devices. The controller sends an enroll confirmation signal back to the two-way wireless devices confirming that the devices have been enrolled. In response, each of the devices emits an audible or visual enroll confirmation signal to the installer.04-28-2011
20110065414TWO WAY VOICE COMMUNICATION THROUGH GSM WITH ALARM COMMUNICATION - An alarm system senses alarm conditions on a premises, reports the occurrence of an alarm condition to a remote monitoring facility and for selected alarm conditions establishes two way voice communications with a person at the monitored premises or elsewhere. Multiple modes of communication are available such as public switched telephone (audio or audio modulated data), GSM (cellular audio), GPRS (cellular packet data), GSM/SMS (cellular text), etc. The programmed processor selects the network and communication protocol to rely on data communications if only data reporting is required. When two way voice communications will be required, the processor can select a network (e.g., GSM) that can be used for both data and audio communications.03-17-2011
20110040851SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTIPORT AUTOMATION - A system and method are disclosed for enhancing the throughput of signals from a security system receiver to an associated automation server. Multiple parallel Ethernet connections or ports are provided between the receiver and server to enable multiple signals to be transmitted between the two when such signals are received from a client's security system panel. The system and method may access the ports in a variety of orders to provide efficient transmittal of signals from the receiver to the server. In one embodiment, received event signals may be routed though the ports in numeric sequence, forward or reverse. In another embodiment, received event signals may be routed preferentially to the first port, if it is not busy. If the first port is busy then the signal may be routed to the second port, and so on. In a further embodiment, received event signals from specific client panels may be directed through predetermined ports, and a predetermined automation server at the central monitoring facility.02-17-2011
20110037593SECURITY SYSTEM ANNUNCIATION COMMUNICATION DELAY - A security system including a roam control unit, a plurality of sensors and a user interface device. The main control unit communicates with a remote central monitoring station, when a sensor detects an alarm event. Once the communication signal from the main control unit is successfully transmitted to the central station, a siren is sounded. Thus, the delay time to trigger the siren is dynamic based on the time it takes for successful transmission of an alarm notification to the central station. This dynamic delay accounts for transmission interruptions between the security system, and the central station and allows the location of the main unit and/or the siren from being detected prior to successful, alarm transmission, to the central station.02-17-2011
20110026568SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MINIMIZING THE AMOUNT OF DATA BEING SENT ON A NETWORK FOR SUPERVISED SECURITY SYSTEMS - A system and method are disclosed for communicating heartbeat signals representative of the condition of a security system to a monitoring station. A controller is provided that transmits a heartbeat signal to a monitoring station within a given time period and awaits an acknowledgement signal from the monitoring station. If an acknowledgement signal is received within a time interval from the transmission of the heartbeat signal, then the time period is reset and another heartbeat signal is not sent until the next time period. If an acknowledgement signal is not received by the controller within a few seconds of transmitting the heartbeat signal, then another heartbeat signal is sent from the controller to the monitoring station. Heartbeat signals are only transmitted from the controller if an acknowledgement signal is not received from the monitoring station. In this manner, the amount of data sent over a communication link is reduced.02-03-2011
20100245198QUAD-BAND PCB ANTENNA - A surface mount antenna includes a ground plane, a feed line, and a radiating element. The ground plane extends in a first direction on a first side of a substrate. The feed line extends in a second direction on a second side of the substrate. The radiating element includes a plurality of segments disposed on the first side of the substrate and is configured to resonate in a plurality of frequency modes.09-30-2010
20100245195TUNABLE INVERTED F ANTENNA - A planar antenna includes a ground plane on a substrate, a radiating element coupled to the ground plane on the substrate, and a feed line. An impedance tap point is defined by a connection between the feed line and the radiating element and the length of the radiating element defines the resonant frequency of the antenna. A first portion of the radiating element includes an impedance adjustment mechanism for defining the impedance tap point of the antenna and consequently the impedance of the antenna. A second portion of the radiating element includes a frequency adjustment section which adjusts the length of said radiating element and consequently the resonant frequency of the antenna.09-30-2010
20100231361SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BUFFERED WIRELESS DEVICE ENROLLMENT IN A SECURITY SYSTEM - A system and method are disclosed for enrolling wireless security system devices (alarms, detectors, lights) in a security system. A controller is provided and is capable of exchanging wireless signals with the devices. The system has an enroll mode where the wireless devices transmit enroll signals to the controller. The enroll signals contain an identifier associated with each device. An installer uses a keypad or other interface device to review each of the devices that have sent a signal, and to accept them for enrollment or ignore them. After review, the controller sends a signal to the devices instructing them to cease transmitting enroll signals to the controller. If the power of an enrolled device is cycled (battery replacement), another enroll command is sent to the controller. The controller determines whether the device was already enrolled, and if it has the controller sends a signal to the device to stop sending the enroll command.09-16-2010
20100219970SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANALYZING FAULTY EVENT TRANSMISSIONS - A system and method are disclosed for recording and evaluating faults in event transmissions between security system components. A panel in a monitored building may send event signals to a receiver located in a central monitoring facility. Event signals may represent a status of individual alarms or sensors in the building, or they may provide a status of the system as a whole. If the quality of the transmission is substandard or in a format that is unacceptable to the receivers the signal data associated with the event is recorded for analysis. Recording is controlled by a line card associated with the receiver, and the signal data is stored in local or remote memory. Signal data can be manually or automatically analyzed to determine the source of the fault. In addition, recorded signal data can be used to build customized software to recognize signals from previously unrecognized or faulty panels.09-02-2010
20100171607METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DISARMING A SECURITY SYSTEM - A security system comprises a system control panel for arming and disarming the security system. A door sensing unit comprises a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver interconnected with the system control panel over a network. The first RF transceiver is mounted proximate to a door that defines at least a portion of a perimeter around an area to be monitored by the security system. The first RF transceiver has an RF detection field proximate to the door. A disarm device comprises a second RF transceiver that automatically transmits a disarm device packet. The first RF transceiver receives the disarm device packet when the second RF transceiver is within the RF detection field. The first RF transceiver sends a disarm message to the system control panel over the network to disarm the security system based on at least the disarm device packet.07-08-2010
20100164683METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DISARMING A SECURITY SYSTEM - A security system comprises a system control panel for arming and disarming the security system. A door sensing unit comprises a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver interconnected with the system control panel over a network. The first RF transceiver is mounted proximate to a door that defines at least a portion of a perimeter around an area to be monitored by the security system. The first RF transceiver has an RF detection field proximate to the door. A disarm device comprises a second RF transceiver that automatically transmits a disarm device packet. The first RF transceiver receives the disarm device packet when the second RF transceiver is within the RF detection field. The first RF transceiver sends a disarm message to the system control panel over the network to disarm the security system based on at least the disarm device packet.07-01-2010
20100066487SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC KEY RECOGNITION - A system and method are disclosed for using a single key to authenticate a user with respect to multiple user access points and to allow a single access point to authenticate multiple keys having different physical characteristics. The system may comprise an access control system that includes an insertion receptacle for receiving a physical key, and a translation device for observing the physical characteristics of the key and translating those characteristics into electrical signals. In a learning mode, the electrical signals are transmitted to a processor and stored in memory. In a verification mode, the electrical signals are transmitted to the processor and compared with the previously-stored signals. If the processor concludes that the signals match the signals stored in memory, then the processor instructs a lock actuation mechanism to actuate an access control device to allow the user access to a location. The translation device may comprise a laser light reader, a piezoelectric crystal, a variable resistor, an electromagnet, or an image acquisition device. A method of using the system is also disclosed.03-18-2010
20100039255Alarm System Configuration Validation - An alarm system validates values of configuration variables, such as a programmed account code. If the variable(s) is/are not programmed upon exiting system programming, an audible and/or visual indication of such is provided. This may result in a decrease of the number of events signaled to a central station by alarm systems that are not programmed with the correct account code.02-18-2010
20100007488ALARM SYSTEM PROVIDING WIRELESS VOICE COMMUNICATION - An alarm system includes one or more audio stations, and an audio station network interface. The audio stations communicate wirelessly with the audio station network interface. The audio station network interface communicates with a monitoring center over a cellular network, to allow audio monitoring of the premises at the audio stations. The audio station network interface may be called by the monitoring center. Calls may optionally be placed by it in response to user interaction with one of the audio stations.01-14-2010
20100001859SECURITY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING AN LF ACTIVATED RFID TAG - A security system includes a system control panel for arming and disarming a security system. A door sensing unit is mounted proximate to a door to be monitored. The door sensing unit includes a door contact, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, and a low frequency (LF) transmitter. The door contact is configured to detect open and closed states of the door. The RF transceiver is interconnected with the system control panel over a network and the LF transmitter transmits an LF data packet when the door contact detects the open state of the door. A disarm device having an LF detection circuit detects the LF data packet. The disarm device transmits an RF disarm data packet based on the LF data packet. The RF transceiver transmits a disarm message to the system control panel over the network to disarm the security system based on the RF disarm data packet.01-07-2010
20090248967PORTABLE ALARM CONFIGURATION/UPDATE TOOL - A stand-alone portable alarm update tool includes a memory interface for receiving a computer readable memory; a serial port for interconnection to a security alarm panel, by way of a complementary port; a processor; and processor readable memory in communication with the processor, storing software adapting the processor to upload and download configuration files from a removable memory received by the memory port, to the alarm panel, by way of the serial port. Conveniently, the tool may be packaged in a hand-held casing, and which may also house a battery. In this way, the tool may be readily transported by an installer, without being unnecessary heavy or bulky.10-01-2009
20090243837METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROXIMITY ACTIVATED RFID SYSTEM - A security system comprises a control panel configured to control devices in a security system, a keypad and an arm/disarm device. The keypad is in communication with the control panel and comprises a transceiver configured to communicate with the control panel and a magnet having a magnetic field extending within a predetermined proximity of the keypad. The arm/disarm device comprises a transmitter and a switch configured to activate the transmitter when the switch is in the magnetic field. The transmitter is further configured to transmit a low power signal when activated. The transceiver is further configured to receive the low power signal and transmit a message to the control panel. The control panel is further configured to change an Armed/Disarmed Mode of the system based on the message.10-01-2009
20090146801Tuning algorithm for clock source frequency drift - An emergency evacuation and fire safety system has a plurality of signal devices. The clock source frequencies are tuned using the method and system such that the signals flash in synchronization continuously at a preset flashing interval upon detecting an alarm condition. A synchronization signal including a calibrated time position is broadcast at each predetermined time interval to all notification appliances. A time difference is computed between a local time position and the received calibrated time position by each of the notification appliances at each predetermined time interval and tuning the flashing of each of the one or more notification appliances by adjusting the preset flashing interval based on the computed time difference by each of the one or more associated notification appliances.06-11-2009
20090135010ALARM SYSTEM AUDIO INTERFACE TAMPER AND STATE DETECTION - An alarm system comprises: an audio interface comprising: a microphone; a state sensor for sensing a state at the audio interface; a signal generator for generating an inaudible state signal indicative of the state; a multiplexer for combining an audio signal from the microphone and the state signal; a control panel for monitoring sensed conditions at the audio interface; a conductor interconnecting the audio interface to the control panel carrying audio signal and the state signal as combined from the audio interface to the control panel.05-28-2009
20080240372Alarm system providing multiple network routing, interface module and method - In an alarm system, outgoing calls representing a sensed alarm condition are routed to one of several communications networks. The calls are routed by first initiating a telephone call to a defined number, in response to sensing the alarm condition, and then selecting one of plurality a plurality of available networks based on called number information. A communication over the chosen network is placed to signal the alarm condition. Routing may be performed at an interface module in communication with a conventional alarm panel.10-02-2008

Patent applications by Tyco Safety Products Canada Ltd.