Security system including audio alarm detection

1. A building security method, comprising the steps of:

providing an off-the-shelf audible security sensor associated with the building;

sensing an alarm condition, the sensing being performed by the sensor;

emitting an audible alarm signal from the sensor in response to the sensing of the alarm condition;

installing a security system in the building;

transmitting instruction signals from the security system to the sensor;

providing the security system with a sound detector;

using the sound detector to detect the audible alarm signal;

transmitting an electrical alarm signal from the security system over a public switched telephone network in response to the detection of the audible alarm signal; and

accessing a manual interface and keying in replacement configuration data for the audible sensor to suit an application, thereby changing a default configuration assigned to the audible sensor.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising the further steps of

receiving the electrical alarm signal at a central monitoring station.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the installing step includes storing a sound characteristic of the audible alarm signal in association with identification information for the sensor, the method comprising the further step of identifying the sensor based upon characteristics of the audible alarm signal, wherein the identifying step occurs after the using step and before the transmitting of the electrical alarm signal.

4. A building security method, comprising the steps of:

providing a first audible sensor associated with the building;

sensing an alarm condition, the sensing being performed by the sensor;

emitting an audible alarm signal from the sensor in response to the sensing of the alarm condition;

installing a security system in the building;

transmitting instruction signals from the security system to the sensor;

providing the security system with a sound detector;

using the sound detector to detect the audible alarm signal;

transmitting an electrical alarm signal from the security system over a public switched telephone network in response to the detection of the audible alarm signal;

providing a second audible sensor associated with the building;

in a discover mode:

causing each of the first and second audible sensors to emit a first audible alarm signal and a second audible alarm signal, respectively;

using the sound detector to determine respective audio characteristics of each of the first and second audible sensors, the audio characteristics including a frequency profile and loudness; and

storing identifying information about each of the first and second audible sensors in association with the respective audio characteristics of the sensors; and

in an operating mode, identifying from which of the first and second audible sensors a detected audible alarm signal was received, the identifying being based on the frequency profile and loudness of the detected audible alarm signal.

5. A building security method, comprising the steps of:

providing a sensor associated with the building;

sensing an alarm condition, the sensing being performed by the sensor;

emitting an audible alarm signal from the sensor in response to the sensing of the alarm condition;

installing a security system in the building, wherein the security system includes a system controller and first and second wireless devices associated with the building;

transmitting instruction signals from the security system to the sensor;

providing the security system with a sound detector;

using the sound detector to detect the audible alarm signal;

transmitting an electrical alarm signal from the security system over a public switched telephone network in response to the detection of the audible alarm signal;

in a learn mode:

using the system controller to issue an air-borne signal requesting that each of the wireless devices reply with an identification number and a type of the wireless device;

using each of the wireless devices to transmit a respective signal with a respective identification number and a respective type of the wireless device;

using the system controller to store each identification number and its associated type in memory, the identification number being a string of alphanumeric characters and/or bits that uniquely identifies the wireless device with which the identification information is associated, the identification number being included within every signal transmitted from each of the wireless devices both during learn mode and during surveillance operation mode of the security system; and

using the system controller to make assumptions about how each of the wireless devices should be configured, the assumptions being based on the device type; and

in an operation mode, using the system controller to transmit instruction signals to the first and second wireless devices, the instruction signals being dependent upon the device type.

6. The method of claim 2 comprising the further step of notifying an alarm authority in response to receiving the electrical alarm signal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the installing step includes storing a sound characteristic of the audible alarm signal in association with identification information for the sensor.

8. The method of claim 7 comprising the further step of identifying the sensor based upon characteristics of the audible alarm signal.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the identifying step occurs after the using step and before the transmitting of the electrical alarm signal.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a smoke detector.

11. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of identifying the sensor based upon characteristics of the audible alarm signal.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the security system includes at least one non-audible security device.

13. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of storing characteristics of the audible alarm signal in association with identification information for the sensor.

14. The method of claim 4 comprising the further steps of receiving the alarm signal at a central monitoring station.

15. The method of claim 14 comprising the further step of notifying an alarm authority in response to receiving the electrical alarm signal.

16. The method of claim 4 wherein the installing step includes storing a sound characteristic of the audible alarm signal in association with identification information for the sensor, the method comprising the further step of identifying the sensor based upon characteristics of the audible alarm signal, wherein the identifying step occurs after the using step and before the transmitting step.

17. The method of claim 4 wherein the installing step includes storing a sound characteristic of the audible alarm signal in association with identification information for the sensor.

18. The method of claim 5 comprising the further steps of:

transmitting an electrical alarm signal to a central monitoring station; and

notifying an alarm authority in response to receiving the electrical alarm signal.

19. The method of claim 5 wherein the installing step includes storing a sound characteristic of the audible alarm signal in association with identification information for the sensor, the method comprising the further step of identifying the sensor based upon characteristics of the audible alarm signal, wherein the identifying step occurs after the using step and before the transmitting step.

20. The method of claim 5 wherein the installing step includes storing a sound characteristic of the audible alarm signal in association with identification information for the sensor.