Interactive control of alarm systems by telephone interface using an intermediate gateway

Abstract

An interface for interactive control of alarm systems using an intermediate gateway. A request for access to an account for interactive alarm system control is received from a remote device by an intermediate gateway. The request for access from the remote device is authenticated by the intermediate gateway based on an authentication parameter. After authenticating, the intermediate gateway identifies an alarm system and attributes of the alarm system associated with the request for access. Here, for example, the intermediate gateway identifies the operating characteristics for remote access to the alarm system. Further, the interactive gateway may receive a prompt from the remote device. Based on the prompt, the intermediate gateway may communicate with the alarm system according to its identified attributes and in response to the prompt, to query or update at least one setting of the alarm system.

1 . A method comprising the steps of:
 providing, at a gateway, a plurality of communication systems that use different protocols for remote control of a plurality of security systems served by the gateway;   establishing a first communication channel between the gateway and a computer device seeking remote control of a target security system in the plurality of security systems;   selecting, at the gateway, a communication system in the plurality of communication systems based on data about the target security system retrieved from a database; and   using the selected communication system to establish a second communication channel between the gateway and the target security system, so that the computer device can remotely control the target security system via the first and second communication channels.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of communication systems comprise a plurality of dial-up modems configured for establishing analog connections between the gateway and security systems that utilize modem connections for remote control. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of communication systems comprise an analog switching component configured for establishing analog switched connections between the gateway and security systems that utilize DTMF tones for remote control. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of communication systems comprise an Internet connection configured for establishing VoIP sessions between the gateway and security systems that utilize VoIP communication for remote control. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of communication systems comprise:
 a first communication system that comprises a dial-up modem configured for establishing an analog connection between the gateway and a security system that utilizes a modem connection for remote control;   a second communication system that comprises an analog switching component configured for establishing an analog switched connection between the gateway and a security system that utilizes DTMF tones for remote control; and   a third communication system that comprises an Internet connection configured for establishing a VoIP session between the gateway and a security system that utilizes VoIP communication for remote control.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises a browser-based user interface to the target security system. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises a smart-phone. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication channel is one of a plurality of first communication channels between the gateway and a respective plurality of computer devices, and
 wherein the plurality of first communication devices comprise IP data communication connections over at least one wireless network.   
     
     
         9 . A gateway, comprising:
 a plurality of communication systems that use different protocols for remote control of a plurality of security systems;   an interface to a wireless network for establishing a first communication channel with a computer device seeking remote control of a target security system for the plurality of security systems; and   a memory storage device storing instructions for execution by the gateway to perform the steps of:
 selecting a communication system in the plurality of communication systems based on data about the target security system retrieved from a database; and 
 using the selected communication system to establish a second communication channel between the gateway and the target security system, for remote control by the computer device using the first and second communication channels. 
   
     
     
         10 . The gateway of  claim 9 , wherein the selected communication system comprises a dial-up modem configured for establishing an analog connection between the gateway and the target security system. 
     
     
         11 . The gateway of  claim 9 , wherein the selected communication system comprises an analog switching component. 
     
     
         12 . The gateway of  claim 9 , wherein the selected communication system comprises an Internet connection interface configured for establishing a VoIP session between the gateway and the target security system. 
     
     
         13 . The gateway of  claim 12 , wherein the target security system utilizes a VoIP adapter for upgrading from analog communication to VoIP communication. 
     
     
         14 . A gateway comprising:
 a database storing remote control parameters for a plurality of security systems that are remote with respect to the gateway;   an interface for communication between the gateway and a plurality of computer devices that are associated with the plurality of remote security systems, that are remote with respect to the gateway, and that are remote with respect to the plurality of security systems;   dial-up modems configured for establishing analog connections between the gateway and security systems that utilize modem connections for remote control;   an analog switching function configured for establishing analog switched connections between the gateway and security systems that utilize DTMF tones for remote control;   an Internet connection configured for establishing VoIP sessions between the gateway and security systems that utilize VoIP communication for remote control; and   a memory storage device storing instructions for execution by the gateway to select the Internet connection, the analog switching function, or at least one of the dial-up modems based on the stored remote control specifications, to establish a remote control connection between one of the computer devices and one of the security systems.   
     
     
         15 . The gateway of  claim 14 , wherein the remote control connection between the one of the computer devices and the one of the security systems comprises a communication path that extends through the gateway. 
     
     
         16 . The gateway of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of computing devices comprise a plurality of smart-phones, and wherein at least one of the security systems that utilize VoIP communication for remote control utilizes a VoIP adapter for upgrading from analog communication to VoIP communication. 
     
     
         17 . The gateway of  claim 14 , wherein the interface for communication between the gateway and the plurality of remote security systems is configured to establish an IP data communication connection over a wireless network. 
     
     
         18 . The gateway of  claim 14 , wherein the interface for communication between the gateway and the plurality of computer devices comprises an Internet connection. 
     
     
         19 . The gateway of  claim 14 , wherein the analog connections between the gateway and security systems that utilize modem connections for remote control comprise the PSTN, and
 wherein at least one of the dial-up modems is configured for Bell 103 modem modulation.   
     
     
         20 . The gateway of  claim 1 , wherein the analog switched connections between the gateway and security systems that utilize DTMF tones for remote control comprise the PSTN.