Method and apparatus for filtering non-essential messages in a disarmed security system

1. In a security system comprising a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver in wireless communication with the wireless transmitter, and a control panel connected to the wireless receiver, a method of operating the security system comprising the steps of:

a. the receiver receiving a wireless message from the wireless transmitter;

b. determining if the system is in the disarm mode;

c. if the system is in the disarm mode; then

i. the receiver determining the product type of the wireless transmitter from the wireless message;

ii. the receiver determining from the transmitter product type if the transmitter is essential or non-essential;

iii. the receiver discarding the wireless message if the transmitter is indicated to be non-essential; and

iv. the receiver sending the wireless message to the control panel if the transmitter is indicated to be essential; and

d. if the system is not in the disarm mode, then the receiver sending the wireless message to the control panel.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiver determines if the system is in disarm mode by checking a system status bit in an internal memory location.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

the control panel issuing a system disarm message to the receiver; and

the receiver setting the system status bit in the internal memory location to disarm status.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

the control panel issuing a system arm message to the receiver; and

the receiver setting the system status bit in the internal memory location to armed status.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiver determines from the transmitter product type if the transmitter is essential or non-essential by checking the transmitter product type against a product type table in memory in the receiver.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the product type table is loaded into memory in the receiver from a message sent by the control panel to the receiver.

7. A security system comprising:

a. a wireless transmitter adapted to transmit a wireless message comprising a product type field populated with product type data indicative of a type of product with which the transmitter is associated;

b. a control panel, and

c. a wireless receiver connected to the control panel and in wireless communication with the wireless transmitter, wherein the receiver comprises:

i. means for receiving a wireless message from the wireless transmitter; and

ii. processing means adapted to:

1. determine if the system is in the disarm mode;

2. if the system is in the disarm mode; then

a. determine the product type of the wireless transmitter from the wireless message;

b. determine from the transmitter product type if the transmitter is essential or non-essential;

c. discard the wireless message if the transmitter is indicated to be non-essential; and

d. send the wireless message to the control panel if the transmitter is indicated to be essential; and

3. if the system is not in the disarm mode, then send the wireless message to the control panel.

8. The security system of claim 7 wherein the processing means determines if the system is in the disarm mode by checking a system status bit in an internal memory location.

9. The security system of claim 8 wherein the control panel comprises means for issuing a system disarm message to the receiver; and the receiver comprises means for setting the system status bit in the internal memory location to disarm status.

10. The security system of claim 9 wherein the control panel comprises means for issuing a system arm message to the receiver; and the receiver comprises means for setting the system status bit in the internal memory location to armed status.

11. The security system of claim 7 wherein the receiver processing means determines from the transmitter product type if the transmitter is essential or non-essential by checking the transmitter product type against a product type table in memory in the receiver.

12. The security system of claim 11 wherein the product type table is loaded into memory in the receiver from a message sent by the control panel to the receiver.

13. A wireless receiver for use in a security system comprising:

i. means for receiving a wireless message from a wireless transmitter; and

ii. processing means adapted to:

1. determine if the receiver is in the disarm mode;

2. if the receiver is in the disarm mode; then

a. determine a product type of the wireless transmitter from the wireless message;

b. determine from the transmitter product type if the transmitter is essential or non-essential;

c. discard the wireless message if the transmitter is indicated to be non-essential; and

d. send the wireless message if the transmitter is indicated to be essential; and

3. if the receiver is not in the disarm mode, then send the wireless message.

14. The receiver of claim 13 wherein the processing means determines if the receiver is in the disarm mode by checking a system status bit in an internal memory location.

15. The receiver of claim 14 further comprising means for setting the system status bit in the internal memory location to disarm status in response to receiving a system disarm message.

16. The receiver of claim 14 further comprising means for setting the system status bit in the internal memory location to armed status in response to receiving a system armed message.

17. The receiver of claim 13 wherein the processing means determines from the transmitter product type if the transmitter is essential or non-essential by checking the transmitter product type against a product type table in memory in the receiver.

18. The receiver of claim 17 wherein the product type table is loaded into memory in the receiver from a message sent to the receiver.