Security system with telephone controller

1. A combination telephone set and security system control device comprising:

a. first interface means for interfacing the control device with a security system bus adapted to interconnect with a control panel and a plurality of alarm sensors;

b. second interface means for interfacing the control device with a telephone network;

c. user interface means comprising:

i. input means for providing user control information to the control device; said input means comprising means for a user to switch the control device between a telephone mode and a security system mode;

ii. output means for providing status data to a user regarding operation of the control device;

iii. said user interface means also adapted to enable a user to communicate over the telephone network when the control device is in the telephone mode; and

d. processing means for controlling operation of the control device, the processing means adapted to:

i. switch between a telephone mode and a security system mode on receipt of a user command from the input means;

ii. when the control device is in the telephone mode, send and receive telephony information between the user interface means and the second interface means; and

iii. when the control device is in the security system mode, send and receive security system information between the user interface means and the first interface means.

2. The control device of claim 1 wherein said first interface means, said second interface means, said user interface means, and said processing means are integrated within a single housing.

3. The control device of claim 1 further comprising a base station and a handset, wherein said user interface means comprises a speaker and microphone within said handset for enabling a user to communicate over the telephone network when the control device is in the telephone mode.

4. The control device of claim 3 wherein the handset is wired to the base station.

5. The control device of claim 3 wherein the handset interoperates by wireless communications with the base station,

wherein the handset further comprises

the user interface means and

a first wireless transceiver means for communicating with the base station, and

wherein the base station comprises

the processing means,

the first interface means,

the second interface means, and

a second wireless transceiver means for communicating with the handset.

6. The control device of claim 5 wherein the means for a user to switch the control device between a telephone mode and a security system mode comprises a dedicated button on the handset.

7. The control device of claim 5 wherein the input means comprises a numeric keypad, and wherein the means for a user to switch the control device between a telephone mode and a security system mode comprises means for detecting a predetermined series of keypresses on the numeric keypad.

8. The control device of claim 5 wherein the output means comprises a display for providing a visual indication of status data to a user regarding operation of the control device.

9. The control device of claim 8 wherein the status data indicated on the display indicates status of the security system when the control device is in the security system mode.

10. The control device of claim 5 wherein the output means comprises a sounder for providing audible feedback to the user regarding operation of the control device.

11. A security system comprising:

A. a control panel for controlling operation of the security system;

B. a plurality of alarm sensors interconnected to the control panel;

C. a security system bus for interconnecting the control panel with the plurality of alarm sensors; and

D. a combination telephone set and security system control device comprising:

a. first interface means for interfacing the control device with the security system bus;

b. second interface means for interfacing the control device with a telephone network;

c. user interface means comprising:

i. input means for providing user control information to the control device; said input means comprising means for a user to switch the control device between a telephone mode and a security system mode;

ii. output means for providing status data to a user regarding operation of the control device;

iii. said user interface means also adapted to enable a user to communicate over the telephone network when the control device is in the telephone mode; and

d. processing means for controlling operation of the control device, the processing means adapted to:

i. switch between a telephone mode and a security system mode on receipt of a user command from the input means;

ii. when the control device is in the telephone mode, send and receive telephony information between the user interface means and the second interface means; and

iii. when the control device is in the security system mode, send and receive security system information between the user interface means and the first interface means.

12. The security system of claim 11 wherein said first interface means, said second interface means, said user interface means, and said processing means are integrated within a single housing.

13. The security system of claim 11 further comprising a base station and a handset, wherein said user interface means comprises a speaker and microphone within said handset for enabling a user to communicate over the telephone network when the control device is in the telephone mode.

14. The security system of claim 13 wherein the handset is wired to the base station.

15. The security system of claim 13 wherein the handset interoperates by wireless communications with the base station,

wherein the handset further comprises

the user interface means and

a first wireless transceiver means for communicating with the base station, and

wherein the base station comprises

the processing means,

the first interface means,

the second interface means, and

a second wireless transceiver means for communicating with the handset.

16. The security system of claim 15 wherein the means for a user to switch the control device between a telephone mode and a security system mode comprises a dedicated button on the handset.

17. The security system of claim 15 wherein the input means comprises a numeric keypad, and wherein the means for a user to switch the control device between a telephone mode and a security system mode comprises means for detecting a predetermined series of keypresses on the numeric keypad.

18. The security system of claim 15 wherein the output means comprises a display for providing a visual indication of status data to a user regarding operation of the control device.

19. The security system of claim 18 wherein the status data indicated on the display indicates status of the security system when the control device is in the security system mode.

20. The security system of claim 15 wherein the output means comprises a sounder for providing audible feedback to the user regarding operation of the control device.

21. A combination telephone set and security system control device comprising:

a. a security system bus interface circuit adapted to interface the control device with a security system bus adapted to interconnect with a control panel and a plurality of alarm sensors;

b. a telephone network interface circuit adapted to interface the control device with a telephone network;

c. a user interface comprising:

i. a mode switch to switch the control device between a telephone mode and a security system mode;

ii. an output device adapted to provide status data to a user regarding operation of the control device;

iii. said user interface adapted to enable a user to communicate over the telephone network when the control device is in the telephone mode; and

d. a processing circuit adapted to:

i. switch between a telephone mode and a security system mode on receipt of a user command from the mode switch;

ii. when the control device is in the telephone mode, send and receive telephony information between the user interface and the telephone network interface circuit; and

iii. when the control device is in the security system mode, send and receive security system information between the user interface and the security system bus interface circuit.

22. The control device of claim 21 wherein said security system bus interface circuit, said telephone network interface circuit, said user interface, and said processing circuit are integrated within a single housing.

23. The control device of claim 21 further comprising a base station and a handset, wherein said user interface comprises a speaker and microphone within said handset adapted to enable a user to communicate over the telephone network when the control device is in the telephone mode.

24. The control device of claim 23 wherein the handset is wired to the base station.

25. The control device of claim 23 wherein the handset interoperates by wireless communications with the base station,

wherein the handset further comprises

the user interface and

a first wireless transceiver adapted to communicate with the base station, and

wherein the base station comprises

the processing circuit,

the security system bus interface circuit,

the telephone network interface circuit, and

a second wireless transceiver adapted to communicate with the handset.

26. The control device of claim 25 wherein the mode switch comprises a dedicated button on the handset.

27. The control device of claim 25 wherein the user interface comprises a numeric keypad, and wherein the mode switch is adapted to detect a predetermined series of keypresses on the numeric keypad.

28. The control device of claim 25 wherein the output device comprises a display adapted to provide a visual indication of status data to a user regarding operation of the control device.

29. The control device of claim 28 wherein the status data indicated on the display indicates status of the security system when the control device is in the security system mode.

30. The control device of claim 25 wherein the output device comprises a sounder adapted to provide audible feedback to the user regarding operation of the control device.