IP Library Granted Patent US 12,347,291
Granted Patent B2
US 12,347,291 · App. 18/482,592 · Granted Jul 1, 2025

Security / automation system control panel with removable back speaker

Inventor: Ross Werner (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH
G08B13/19682G01D5/24G01D18/00G05B19/042G06F3/0487G06F3/16G06F21/629G08B3/10G08B17/117G08B19/00G08B25/10G08B29/10H04B17/318H04B17/364H04B17/382H04B17/391H04M1/64H04N7/183H04N7/188H04N23/57H04R29/00H04W72/30H04W84/02H04W84/18G05B2219/25257G06V40/172
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,347,291
App. No.
18/482,592
Granted
Jul 1, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example implementations include a method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium comprising first broadcasting, by at least one primary speaker of a control panel, a first sound toward a front or a side of the control panel; and second broadcasting, concurrently with the first broadcasting, by a removable back speaker that is removably attachable to a back side of the control panel, a second sound toward the back side of the control panel. In some aspects, the removable back speaker is configured as a stand for placing the control panel on a flat surface.

Claims (31)

1. A method comprising:

detecting an event or alarm condition by a control panel of a security, automation, or fire detection system of a premises;

first broadcasting, by at least one primary speaker of the control panel responsive to detecting the event or alarm condition, a first sound toward a front or a side of the control panel; and

second broadcasting, concurrently with the first broadcasting, by a removable back speaker that is removably attachable to a back side of the control panel and is configured to provide bass augmentation for the at least one primary speaker, a second sound toward the back side of the control panel.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using the at least one primary speaker, the removable back speaker, and one or more microphones in the control panel to communicate with a user through voice commands and corresponding responses.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reporting the event or alarm condition by the control panel to a monitoring center.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising using a cellular interface of the control panel to establish a two-way voice call between the control panel and the monitoring center, subsequent to reporting the event or alarm condition to the monitoring center.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising using the at least one primary speaker, the removable back speaker, and one or more microphones in the control panel for the two-way voice call between the monitoring center and a user.

6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising using a cellular interface of the control panel to establish a two-way video call between the control panel and the monitoring center, subsequent to reporting the event or alarm condition to the monitoring center.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising using the at least one primary speaker, the removable back speaker, one or more microphones in the control panel, and a forward-facing camera in the control panel for the two-way video call between the monitoring center and a user.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the removable back speaker is configured as a stand for placing the control panel on a flat surface.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

a processor communicatively coupled with the memory and configured to:

detect an event or alarm condition by a control panel of a security, automation, or fire detection system of a premises;

first broadcast, by at least one primary speaker of the control panel responsive to detecting the event or alarm condition, a first sound toward a front or a side of the control panel; and

second broadcast, concurrently with the first broadcast, by a removable back speaker that is removably attachable to a back side of the control panel and is configured to provide bass augmentation for the at least one primary speaker, a second sound toward the back side of the control panel.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to use the at least one primary speaker, the removable back speaker, and one or more microphones in the control panel to communicate with a user through voice commands and corresponding responses.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to report the event or alarm condition by the control panel to a monitoring center.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to use a cellular interface of the control panel to establish a two-way voice call between the control panel and the monitoring center, subsequent to reporting the event or alarm condition to the monitoring center.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to use the at least one primary speaker, the removable back speaker, and one or more microphones in the control panel for the two-way voice call between the monitoring center and a user.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to use a cellular interface of the control panel to establish a two-way video call between the control panel and the monitoring center, subsequent to reporting the event or alarm condition to the monitoring center.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to use the at least one primary speaker, the removable back speaker, one or more microphones in the control panel, and a forward-facing camera in the control panel for the two-way video call between the monitoring center and a user.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the removable back speaker is configured as a stand for placing the control panel on a flat surface.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor that, when executed, cause to the processor to:

detect an event or alarm condition by a control panel of a security, automation, or fire detection system of a premises;

first broadcast, by at least one primary speaker of the control panel responsive to detecting the event or alarm condition, a first sound toward a front or a side of the control panel; and

second broadcast, concurrently with the first broadcast, by a removable back speaker that is removably attachable to a back side of the control panel and is configured to provide bass augmentation for the at least one primary speaker, a second sound toward the back side of the control panel.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to use the at least one primary speaker, the removable back speaker, and one or more microphones in the control panel to communicate with a user through voice commands and corresponding responses.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to report the event or alarm condition by the control panel to a monitoring center.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to use a cellular interface of the control panel to establish a two-way voice call between the control panel and the monitoring center.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2024
From: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
To: TYCO FIRE & SECURITY GMBH
Reel/Frame 068494/0384 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2023
From: WERNER, ROSS
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
Reel/Frame 065162/0686 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17459402 · Aug 27, 2021
Provisional Application 63151363 · Feb 19, 2021
Related Publication 20240038042A1 · Feb 1, 2024
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