Security system control panel

Abstract

A security system is operable in a stay mode in which protected premises perimeter sensors or detectors are armed wherein a delay is provided between detection of breach of the perimeter and generating an alarm. The security system is able to authenticate a user during the delay and to restore the stay mode without generating the alarm and without disarming the protected premises perimeter sensors or detectors.

1 . A security system operable in a mode in which at least protected premises perimeter sensors or detectors are in an armed state, the security system comprising an entry authorization controller adapted to authenticate a user and, in response to authenticating said user, to prevent generating asaid alarm as said user activates said protected premises perimeter sensors or detectors and to otherwise maintain said armed state. 
     
     
         2 . The security system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said mode is a stay mode wherein sensors or detectors within said protected premises remain in an unarmed state. 
     
     
         3 . The security system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein a delay is provided between detection of breach of said perimeter and generating an alarm, said entry authorization controller being adapted to restore said armed state during said delay in response to said authenticating said user. 
     
     
         4 . The security system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said entry authorization controller is further adapted to authenticate a user about to exit said perimeter and restore said stay mode following detection of breach of said perimeter by said exit causing a zone to be open without generating said alarm and without disarming said protected premises perimeter sensors or detectors. 
     
     
         5 . The security system as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said stay mode is restored immediately following a brief debounce delay after detection of closing of said zone. 
     
     
         6 . The security system as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said entry authorization controller authenticates said user by detecting a code entered at a keypad located within said protected premises. 
     
     
         7 . The security system as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said security system is adapted to use said keypad for arming and disarming said security system. 
     
     
         8 . The security system as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said security system is further adapted to use said keypad for programming said security system. 
     
     
         9 . The security system as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said code is accepted to authenticate said user and to signal to said entry authorization controller to prevent generating said alarm. 
     
     
         10 . The security system as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said code identifies a point of entry through said perimeter, said security system being adapted to generate said alarm if a different point of entry is also detected. 
     
     
         11 . The security system as defined in  claim 5 , further comprising a portable wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver, the wireless receiver being adapted to receive a code from said transmitter, said entry authorization controller receiving said code and using said code to authenticate said user. 
     
     
         12 . The security system as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said entry authorization controller further authenticates said user following entry tinto said premises by detecting a code entered at a keypad located within said protected premises. 
     
     
         13 . The security system as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said user's activation of said protected premises perimeter sensors or detectors causes a zone of said security system to be open, and said armed state is restored immediately following a brief debounce delay after detection of closing of said zone. 
     
     
         14 . The security system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said armed protected premises perimeter sensors or detectors include sensors or detectors associated with at least one zone within said protected premises perimeter, said stay mode being associated with a partition of said protected premises. 
     
     
         15 . The security system as defined in  claim 14 , wherein more than one stay mode configuration is defined and said entry authorization controller is adapted to allow one of said stay mode configurations to be user selected. 
     
     
         16 . The security system as defined by  claim 15 , wherein said stay mode configurations represent different levels of security. 
     
     
         17 . The security system as defined in  claim 16 , further comprising a display of said selected level of security. 
     
     
         18 . The security system as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said security system is adapted to operate selectively in said stay mode or in an away mode, said security system operating in said away mode with both said protected premises perimeter sensors or detectors an dinterior sensors or detectors armed wherein an away mode entry delay is provided between detection of breach of said perimeter or intruder detection within said protected premises and generating an alarm, and said entry authorization controller is further adapted to authenticate said user during said away mode entry delay and place said security system in said stay mode without generating said alarm and without disarming said protected premises perimeter sensors or detectors. 
     
     
         19 . The security system as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said entry authorization controller is adapted to define which ones of said protected premises perimeter sensors or detectors may be involved in entry or exit with said entry authorization controller restoring said stay mode without generating said alarm and without disarming said protected premises perimeter sensors or detectors. 
     
     
         20 . The security system as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said system is adapted to generate an alarm when others of said protected premises perimeter sensors or detectors are involved in entry or exit. 
     
     
         21 . The security system as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said system is adapted to generate an alarm when others of said protected premises perimeter sensors or detectors are involved in entry or exit in absence of authentication of said user different from said stay mode controller authentication. 
     
     
         22 . The security system as defined in  13 , wherein said stay mode controller is adapted to have a configuration according to which said stay mode controller authenticates said user as a function of any two of: zone corresponding to said protected premises perimeter sensors or detectors; exit, entry or both; and individual user or one of a plurality of user groups. 
     
     
         23 . The security system as defined in  claim 22 , wherein more than one configuration is defined and said entry authorization controller is adapted to allow one of said configurations to be user selected. 
     
     
         24 . The security system as defined in  claim 23 , wherein said configurations represent different levels of security. 
     
     
         25 . The security system as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said stay mode controller is adapted to authenticate said user as a function of zone corresponding to said protected premises perimeter sensors or detectors; exit, entry or both; and individual user or one of a plurality of user groups.