Remote access to security system and retrofitting existing security system for remote access
View Patent ↗A controller, which can be operated wirelessly by a remote transmitter using PIN-based authentication, has some switch-controlled channels and at least one channel that does not have a corresponding switch. The switch-controlled channels can be used for applications where simple switch-driven manual control is desirable, such as opening and closing a garage using a switch inside the garage (in addition to using the remote transmitter). The channel(s) without switch(es) can be used in applications where simple switch-driven manual control is unwanted and only PIN-authenticated control (e.g. by using the remote transmitter) is desired, such as arming and disarming a home alarm.
1. A method of retrofitting an existing installed wired security system, the method comprising:
disconnecting an existing installed control switch from a garage door control system;
coupling a controller to the garage door control system; and
coupling the controller to an intrusion control panel of the existing installed wired security system;
wherein the controller comprises:
a wireless receiver adapted to receive wireless command signals, the wireless command signals including alarm command signals and garage command signals;
at least one externally actuable physical switch;
a plurality of output channels, wherein the output channels comprise:
at least one switch-controlled output channel coupled to a respective one of the at least one physical switch, the controller being adapted to transmit a switch-generated control signal on the switch-controlled output channel in response to activation of the corresponding switch;
at least one switch-isolated output channel that is always unresponsive to the at least one externally actuable physical switch; and
control circuitry adapted to transmit control signals on respective ones of the output channels in response to the wireless receiver receiving the wireless command signals;
and wherein:
coupling the controller to the garage door control system comprises coupling one of the at least one switch-controlled output channel to the garage door control system; and
coupling the controller to the intrusion control panel comprises coupling one of the at least one switch-isolated output channel to the intrusion control panel.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller is coupled to the intrusion control panel by wired connection.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller is coupled to the intrusion control panel by wireless connection.
4. A security system, comprising:
an intrusion control panel;
the intrusion control panel being coupled to at least one alarm sensor;
at least one wireless remote transmitter, the at least one wireless remote transmitter comprising:
a keypad adapted for entering an authorization code; and
transmitter circuitry adapted to transmit wireless command signals to the controller only following entry of a correct authorization code using the keypad;
a controller, the controller comprising:
a wireless receiver adapted to receive the wireless command signals;
a plurality of output channels;
control circuitry adapted to transmit control signals on respective ones of the output channels in response to the wireless receiver receiving the wireless command signals; and
at least one externally actuable physical switch;
wherein the wireless command signals include alarm command signals for arming and disarming the security system;
wherein each wireless command signal corresponds to one of the output channels;
wherein the output channels comprise:
at least one switch-controlled output channel coupled to a respective one of the at least one physical switch, the controller being adapted to transmit a switch-generated control signal on the switch-controlled output channel in response to activation of the corresponding switch;
at least one switch-isolated output channel that is always unresponsive to the at least one externally actuable physical switch;
wherein one of the at least one switch-isolated output channel is coupled to the intrusion control panel for controlling the intrusion control panel to arm and disarm the security system in response to the alarm command signals while the intrusion control panel remains isolated from and uncontrolled by the at least one externally actuable physical switch;
so that, when the wireless receiver receives an alarm command signal, the control circuitry transmits a corresponding control signal to the intrusion control panel via the switch-isolated output channel to arm or disarm the security system.
5. The security system of claim 4 , wherein the one of the at least one switch-isolated output channel is coupled to the intrusion control panel by wired connection.
6. The security system of claim 4 , wherein the intrusion control panel is coupled to the at least one alarm sensor by wired connection.
7. The security system of claim 4 , wherein the intrusion control panel is coupled to the at least one alarm sensor by wireless connection.
8. The security system of claim 4 , wherein the one of the at least one switch-isolated output channel is coupled to the intrusion control panel by wireless connection.
9. The security system of claim 8 , wherein the intrusion control panel is coupled to the at least one alarm sensor by wired connection.
10. The security system of claim 8 , wherein the intrusion control panel is coupled to the at least one alarm sensor by wireless connection.
11. The security system of claim 4 , wherein:
at least one of the at least one switch-controlled output channels is coupled to a garage door control system;
the wireless command signals include at least one garage door command signal;
when the wireless receiver receives one of the at least one garage door command signal, the control circuitry transmits a corresponding control signal to the garage door control system via the corresponding switch-controlled output channel to control operation of the garage door; and
when the physical switch coupled to the corresponding switch-controlled output channel is activated, a switch-generated control signal is transmitted to the garage door control system via the corresponding switch-controlled output channel to control operation of the garage door.
12. The security system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one alarm sensor comprises at least one of a door sensor, a window sensor, a motion sensor, a smoke detector, a heat detector, and a gas detector.
13. The security system of claim 4 , wherein the security system comprises a user interface panel coupled to the intrusion control panel.