Abstract: A method for dynamically changing a control panel response to a transmission from one or more multi-output sensors. The transmission includes a state of a plurality of sensitivity levels for each multi-output sensor indicating multiple outputs. The method comprising the steps of receiving a transmission from the multi-output sensor, determining a source of the transmission, determining a state of each of the sensitivity levels determining if at least one selection criterion is set for selecting one of the plurality of sensitivity levels included in the transmission based upon the determined source. One of the sensitivity levels is selected based upon the determination and an alarm is generated based upon said selected sensitivity level. If more than one selection criterion is set, a priority for the selection criterion is determined.

Abstract: A multi-stage verification system including a first and second identification device to verify the identity of the user and to determine if the user is under duress. When a user approaches an entrance to a building, a first identifier is detected by the first identification device, the identifier is compared to a pre-stored identifier. If there is a match, the user inputs at least one biometric input into the second identification device. The biometric input is compares with pre-stored information in two different databases, a biometric template database and a duress indicator database. If there is a match with the duress indicator database, a silent alarm signal is transmitted to a central monitoring station and the security system is disarmed. If there is a match with the biometric template database, the security system is controlled in the intended manner.

Abstract: A method and system for blocking an incoming telephone call based upon at least one predetermined criterion. The system includes a security device having a user device for imputting a first control signal to block the incoming telephone call, and for inputting a second control signal for controlling at least one feature of the security system, at least one sensor for detecting an emergency event within a protected area. The sensor generates an alarm signal. The system further includes a control section for processing the first and second control signals. The control section generates a control signal based upon the first control signal. Based upon this control signal, a line seizure means opens or closes a connection between an incoming telephone line and a telephone device. The security system has continuous access to the incoming telephone line, even though the line can be isolated from the telephone device.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a local security system from a remote location using e-mail. The system receives an e-mail message from a remote e-mail terminal that contains at least one control instruction for controlling the local security system authenticate the e-mail message based upon at least one authentication criterion and authorizes a sender of the e-mail message based at least upon an e-mail address. If the sender is authorized and the message is authentic, the control instruction is transmitted to the local security system for execution. The control e-mail message can be encrypted using an encryption key for added security.

Abstract: A security central station monitors a plurality of individual subscriber security systems installed in residential or commercial accounts. Each security system at an account is programmed to periodically place a telephone call to the security central station receiver, and then to send a signal to the security central station receiver over the placed telephone call. The ten digit telephone number of the account is programmed into the security central station as the ten digit account number of record. When the signal sent by the security system is received by the security central station receiver, the security central station compares the ten digit caller telephone number with the ten digit account number of record. Normally, the ten digit caller telephone number will match the ten digit account number.

Abstract: A method for dynamically changing a control panel response to a transmission from one or more multi-output sensors. The transmission includes a state of a plurality of sensitivity levels for each multi-output sensor indicating multiple outputs. The method comprising the steps of receiving a transmission from the multi-output sensor, determining a source of the transmission, determining a state of each of the sensitivity levels determining if at least one selection criterion is set for selecting one of the plurality of sensitivity levels included in the transmission based upon the determined source. One of the sensitivity levels is selected based upon the determination and an alarm is generated based upon said selected sensitivity level. If more than one selection criterion is set, a priority for the selection criterion is determined.

Abstract: System and method for remotely controlling at least one local security system from a telephone device. The system includes a reception section for receiving a telephone call, a decoding section for decoding input from a caller and a controller for receiving the information and authenticating the caller based upon the detected information. The system also includes a voice server controlled by the controller for interfacing between the system and the caller. The voice server prompts the caller for information used to authenticate the caller, reports a status of each local security system and prompts the caller to select a particular local security system to control. Furthermore, the system includes a central database that contains subscriber information separated into subscriber records. The subscriber record includes at least one subscriber identifier authorized to control each local security system. The control instruction is transmitted to a selected local security system by a transmission section.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a sensitivity of an acoustic detector. The acoustic detector receives a signal from a remote device. The signal embodies an operating instruction for the acoustic detector. The signal is decoded into an operating instruction for the acoustic detector. The sensitivity of the acoustic detector is adjusted according to the operating instruction. The acoustic detector can increase or decrease the sensitivity. After the sensitivity is adjusted, the acoustic detector sends a confirmation of the adjustment to the user.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the whereabouts of a patient in a house using security system components such as motion detectors and the like, and for providing automated lighting sequences to strategically located light fixtures for use as an aide in the patient walking around the house unattended.

Abstract: An error condition, fault, defect, obstruction, or defective arrangement of viewing angle is determined in a target security device, such as a motion sensor. A plurality of times a fault is detected in a first security device arranged to sense activity in a first zone, the target security device being arranged to sense activity in a second zone overlapping with the first zone; and the error condition may be determined in the target security device when fault in the target security device is not detected for the plurality of times. The second zone may overlap substantially all of the first zone. The first security device may be a door security sensor, a gate security sensor, a keypad or a motion detector. When the first security device is a keypad or user interface, the fault may be an arm or disarm command or an arm/disarm command cycle.

Abstract: A method for reducing false alarms for a security system when the security system is programmed to automatically arm the security system. The method reduces false alarms by preventing the security system to auto-arm the system in away mode based upon certain detected events within the premises. The method comprise the steps of determining if a current time equals or is within a predetermined detection period, judging whether at least one of a plurality of motion sensors have detected an event within a protected area during the predetermined detection period, determining if a premises exit signal has been generated within a predetermined period from said detected movement, generating an automatic arm adjustment signal based upon said detected event and the premises edit signal; and executing a modification to the programmed automatic arm based upon the automatic arm adjustment signal. The method will also notify the owner that the auto-arm mode failed.

Abstract: A security system for protecting a building which includes at least a first presence sensor, an alarm panel that includes a microprocessor and memory, an exit delay in the alarm panel providing an interval for a user to exit the building after arming the security system, a reset of the exit delay providing a still further interval for a user to exit the building after arming the security system, the reset being initiated by the first presence sensor. The invention also includes the method for protecting a building which includes providing at least a first presence sensor, providing an alarm panel that includes a microprocessor and memory, providing a reset in the alarm panel having an interval for a user to exit the building after arming the security system, and initiating the reset in the alarm panel to provide an interval for a user to exit the building after arming the security system. The reset is initiated by the first presence sensor.

Abstract: A security system which includes at least a first sensor, an alarm panel including a control system and programmable apparatus, a connection between the at least one sensor and set alarm panel, a keypad assembly including a camera, and a connection between the keypad assembly and the alarm panel. In various embodiments of the invention the camera includes a CMOS image sensor, the camera produces digital images, the camera tracks the user of the keypad assembly, the camera is remotely controllable from the alarm panel to focus on an object of interest, and/or the camera is remotely controllable from a central monitoring station to focus on an object of interest. In some cases the camera system is configured to take a picture in response to a specific user code entered by the user, take a picture in response to time of day when the input occurs, take a picture in response to invalid code entry and/or take a picture in response to an invalid card being presented.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a local security system from a remote location using e-mail. The system receives an e-mail message from a remote e-mail terminal that contains at least one control instruction for controlling the local security system authenticate the e-mail message based upon at least one authentication criterion and authorizes a sender of the e-mail message based at least upon an e-mail address. If the sender is authorized and the message is authentic, the control instruction is transmitted to the local security system for execution. The control e-mail message can be encrypted using an encryption key for added security.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically displayed data on a keypad display of a security system. The system receives the data from an external database, determines whether the data is to be displayed based upon at least one display criterion, formats the data for displaying on the keypad display in a format compatible with the keypad display and displays the data in the format compatible with the keypad display. The system actively polls a third party source for the data and stores the data in the external database. The determination whether the data is to be displayed be can performed at the local security system or a central network operation center.

Abstract: A monitoring system apparatus used for monitoring a plurality of diagnostic statistics for a plurality of monitoring receivers. All of the monitoring receivers can be linked together. Each monitoring receiver can be programmed to transmit at least one diagnostic statistic to a selected master receiver at a fixed or variable schedule. The master receiver will generate a report according to the pre-programmed parameters. The report can be printed on a printer or sent to at least one computer that is connected to the master receiver.

Abstract: A monitoring receiver having a memory, a control section, a counter and transmitting and receiving section. An operator can input a blocking time period, blocking criteria and a blocking threshold into the receiver. The control section causes a comparator to compare the blocking threshold with a counted number of times a local security systems contacted the monitoring receiver. The monitoring receiver blocks the transmissions when the counted number exceeds one of the blocking threshold values. The monitoring receiver generates a list of all local security systems that are being blocked which is stored in memory and transmitted to an automation system or a remote computer.

Abstract: A method and device for detecting an intruder in a region with increased performance and decreased false alarms. The security device has a microwave sensor and a PIR sensor operatively coupled to a processor. To increase the performance of the security device the device determines distance information of an object in the region with the microwave sensor, processes the distance information to adapt a frequency response of the PIR sensor to provide a frequency adapted PIR signal, and determines if the object is an intruder by using the frequency adapted PIR signal.

Abstract: A method of operating a security system that allows an end user to program a scheduled time for an event to take place and a condition that must be met if the event is to occur. The security system memory is programmed with time information, event condition information, and event action information. The event condition information may include zone setting information, fault information, zone type information, and user selected information. The event action may consist of transmitting an alarm message, transmitting an email, transmitting a user interface message, activating a specified zone (arm-away or arm-stay), activating a camera, deactivating a specified zone (disarm). During operation, the current time is compared with the time information, then status information of the security system is read if the current time matches the time information, and the event action is executed if the event condition is satisfied by the status information.

Abstract: A monitoring system apparatus used for monitoring a plurality of diagnostic statistics for a plurality of monitoring receivers. All of the monitoring receivers can be linked together. Each monitoring receiver can be programmed to transmit at least one diagnostic statistic to a selected master receiver at a fixed or variable schedule. The master receiver will generate a report according to the pre-programmed parameters. The report can be printed on a printer or sent to at least one computer that is connected to the master receiver.