Security system reporting events through e-mail messages
View Patent ↗Security system communication with a user device via electronic means, including via e-mail transmitted over the internet are provided. A security system interface receives a signal indicating an occurrence of an event, such as a fault or alarm condition, in a zone of the security system; a memory stores a user e-mail address associated with the security system and the address of a server for providing internet service, such as an ISP server; and an e-mail generator transmits to the server an e-mail message based on the event. The communication node in such a system may be integrated with the control panel of the security system. The e-mail generator can transmit the e-mail using SMTP or other TCP/IP. An attachment of the e-mail, such as a picture or an audio or video file relevant to the event or the zone may be transmitted.
1. A communication node of a security system, said communication node comprising:
a security system interface configured to receive a signal indicating an occurrence of an event in a zone of the security system;
a memory configured to store a user e-mail address associated with the security system; and
an e-mail generator configured to generate an e-mail based on the event and transmit said e-mail using the user e-mail address to a server for providing internet service, wherein said e-mail is transmitted to said server using an internet protocol, and said e-mail includes information comprising at least one of an image file, an audio file, and a video file, said information transmitted as one of within the e-mail, and attached to the e-mail, said information stored as one of MPEG, JPEG, and MP3, and said information encrypted before transmission.
2. The communication node of claim 1 , wherein the communication node comprises a control panel of the security system.
3. The communication node of claim 1 , wherein the server for providing internet service is an ISP server, such that the ISP is selected by a user associated with the security system and the address of the server is stored by said memory.
4. The communication node of claim 1 , wherein said internet protocol is at least one of SMTP and TCP/IP.
5. The communication node of claim 1 , wherein said image includes a picture.
6. The communication node of claim 5 , wherein the picture is taken from the zone of the security system.
7. The communication node of claim 5 , wherein the picture is included in the e-mail as an attachment.
8. The communication node of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the image file, the audio file and the video file is associated with the zone of the security system.
9. A method of security system communication with a user device, said method comprising:
receiving a signal indicating an occurrence of an event in a zone of the security system;
storing a user e-mail address associated with the security system and an address of a server for providing internet service;
generating an e-mail based on the event; and
transmitting to the server said e-mail for the user e-mail address, wherein said e-mail is transmitted to said server using an internet protocol and said e-mail includes information comprising at least one of an image file, an audio file, and a video file, said information transmitted as one of within the e-mail, and attached to the e-mail, said information stored as one of MPEG, JPEG, and MP3, and said information encrypted before transmission.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the event is a fault in at least a zone of the security system.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein said transmitting is performed by a control panel of the security system.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the server for providing internet service is an ISP server, such that the ISP is selected by a user associated with the security system.
13. A control panel of a security system, said control panel comprising:
security system interfacing means for receiving a signal indicating an occurrence of an event in a zone of the security system;
memory means for storing a user e-mail address associated with the security system and an address of a server for providing internet service; and
e-mail generating means for generating an e-mail based on the event and for transmitting to the server said e-mail for the user e-mail address, wherein said e-mail is transmitted to said server using an internet protocol and said e-mail includes information comprising at least one of an image file, an audio file, and a video file, said information transmitted as one of within the e-mail, and attached to the e-mail, said information stored as one of MPEG, JPEG, and MP3, and said information encrypted before transmission.
14. The control panel of claim 13 , wherein the server for providing internet service is an ISP server, such that the ISP is selected by a user associated with the security system.
15. The control panel of claim 13 , wherein said internet protocol is at least one of SMTP and TCP/IP.
16. The control panel of claim 13 , wherein said image file includes a picture.