Bi-directional wireless detection system
A system is described for detecting at least one event of interest. The system comprises a detector, a programmable controller, and a network. Upon detection of an event of interest, the detector communicates that information to the programmable controller through the network. The programmable controller allows a user, who may be in diverse geographic locations, to control the detector.
1. A system comprising:
a first portable detection unit including:
at least one detector to detect at least one event;
a detection controller coupled to the at least one detector; and
a detection bi-directional communications module coupled to the detection controller;
a first personal control panel including:
an input/output device;
a panel controller coupled to the input/output device; and
a panel bi-directional communications module coupled to the panel controller; and
a long-range, bi-directional, wireless network communicating between the detection bi-directional communications module and the panel bi-directional communications module.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the detection bi-directional communications module includes a bi-directional short range communications module.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the panel bi-directional communications module includes a bi-directional short range communications module.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the detection bi-directional communications module includes a network module.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the panel bi-directional communications module includes a network module.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first portable detection unit further comprises an output module controllable by at least the first portable detection unit.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first portable detection unit further comprises an output module controllable by at least the first personal control panel.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first portable detection unit further comprises an output module controllable by at least the first portable detection unit and the first personal control panel.
9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second portable detection unit able to be located in a geographic location diverse from the first portable detection unit, wherein the first personal control panel is programmable to control one or more of the first portable detection unit and the second portable detection unit.
10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a second personal control panel that is capable of assuming an identity of the first personal control panel to gain a predetermined level of access to one or more of the first portable detection unit and the second portable detection unit.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein the input/output device is a keypad.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein the first personal control panel is a two-way pager.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the detection bi-directional communications module and the panel bi-directional communications module communicate via Narrowband PCS (NPCS) protocol.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein the first personal control panel is a cellular telephone.
15. The system of claim 1 wherein the first personal control panel includes a handheld computer.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein the handheld computer is a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).
17. The system of claim 1 wherein the first personal control panel is adapted to arm the at least one detector.
18. The system of claim 1 wherein the first personal control panel is adapted to disarm the at least one detector.
19. The system of claim 1 wherein the first portable detection unit is coupled to an appliance.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein the first personal control panel is adapted to control the appliance.
21. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one detector includes a motion detector.
22. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one detector includes a door switch.
23. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one detector includes a water sensor.
24. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one detector includes a smoke detector.
25. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one detector includes a temperature sensor.
26. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one detector includes a vibration detector.
27. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one detector includes a breakage detector.
28. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one detector includes a carbon monoxide detector.
29. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one detector includes a proximity detector.
30. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first portable detection unit further comprises an output module controllable by the first portable detection unit and by the first control panel.
31. The system of claim 30 , wherein the first personal control panel comprises a cellular telephone.
32. The system of claim 31 , further comprising a second personal control panel that is capable of assuming an identity of the first personal control panel to gain a level of access of the first portable detection unit.
33. The system of claim 32 , wherein the second personal control panel comprises a cellular telephone.
34. The system of claim 1 , wherein the detection bi-directional communications module includes a bi-directional short range communications module and the panel bi-directional communications module includes a bi-directional short range communications module.
35. The system of claim 34 , wherein the detection bi-directional communications module includes a network module.
36. The system of claim 34 , wherein the panel bi-directional communications module includes a network module.