Status alert system, method and apparatus for security systems
A barrier alarm device for reducing the occurrence of false alarms in a security system. A barrier alarm device receives a status message from a central security system controller indicating that a security system controlled by the central security system controller is in an armed-home state. In response to receiving the status message indicating that the security system is in an armed-home state, the barrier alarm device causes a status indicator of the barrier alarm to activate, thereby warning people inside a home or business that the security system is armed.
1 . A barrier alarm device, comprising:
an internal barrier sensor, configured to detect when a barrier monitored by the barrier alarm device has been moved;
a transceiver configured to transmit alarm signals and to receive security system status information;
a non-transitory memory having processor-executable instructions stored thereon; a status indicator; and
a processor, coupled to the internal barrier sensor, the transceiver, the memory and the status indicator, for executing the processor-executable instructions that cause the processor to:
monitor the internal barrier sensor;
receive, via the transceiver, a status message from a security system controller, the status message indicating that a security system controlled by the security system controller is in an armed-home state;
in response to receiving the status message indicating that the security system is in an armed-home state, cause the status indicator to activate, providing a warning that the security system is armed; and
cause an alarm signal to be transmitted by the transceiver when the internal barrier sensor indicates that the barrier has been moved.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the status indicator comprises a light-emitting device, wherein the processor-executable instructions that cause the processor to activate the light-emitting device comprises instructions that causes the processor to:
cause the light-emitting device to flash at a first predetermined rate.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the status indicator comprises a sound-emitting device, wherein the processor-executable instructions that cause the processor to activate the sound-emitting device comprises instructions that causes the processor to:
cause the sound-emitting device to emit a chirp.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a timer, wherein the processor-executable instructions comprise further instructions that causes the processor to:
determine a current time of day from the timer; and
activate the status indicator only when the security system is in the armed home state and the current time of day is within a predetermined time period.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a human detection device coupled to the processor for determining when a human being is in proximity to the barrier;
wherein the processor-executable instructions comprise further instructions that causes the processor to:
detect, via the human detection device, that the human being is in proximity to the barrier; and
cause the status indicator to activate only when the security system is in the armed-home state and the human detection device indicates that the human being is in proximity to the barrier.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the processor-executable instructions comprise further instructions that causes the processor to:
determine that the human being is closer to the barrier than from when the human being was initially detected; and
in response to determining that the human being is closer to the barrier than from when the human being was initially detected, alter a characteristic of the alert.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the status indicator comprises a light-emitting device, and the characteristic of the alert comprises a first predetermined flash rate, wherein the processor-executable instructions that causes the processor to alter a characteristic of the alert comprises instructions that causes the processor to:
cause the alert to flash at a second predetermined flash rate.
8 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the status indicator comprises a sound-emitting device, and the characteristic of the alert comprises a first predetermined chirp rate, wherein the processor-executable instructions that causes the processor to alter a characteristic of the alert comprises instructions that causes the processor to:
cause the alert to chirp at a second predetermined chirp rate.
9 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the status indicator comprises a sound-emitting device, and the characteristic of the alert comprises a first predetermined chirp volume, wherein the processor-executable instructions that causes the processor to alter a characteristic of the alert comprises instructions that causes the processor to:
cause the alert to chirp at a second predetermined chirp volume.
10 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the processor-executable instructions comprise further instructions that causes the processor to:
determine that the human being is no longer in proximity to the barrier; and
in response to determining that the human being is no longer in proximity to the barrier, deactivate the status indicator.
11 . A method, performed by a barrier alarm device, comprising:
monitoring a barrier internal barrier sensor of the barrier alarm;
receiving a status message from a security system controller, the status message indicating that a security system controlled by the security system controller is in an armed-home state;
in response to receiving the status message indicating that the security system is in an armed-home state, causing the status indicator to activate, providing an alert that the security system is armed; and
causing an alarm signal to be transmitted when the internal barrier sensor indicates that the barrier has been moved.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the status indicator comprises a light-emitting device, wherein activating the light-emitting device comprises:
causing the light-emitting device to flash at a first predetermined rate.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the status indicator comprises a sound-emitting device, wherein activating the sound-emitting device comprises:
causing the sound-emitting device to emit a chirp.
14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining a current time of day; and
activating the status indicator only when the security system is in the armed home state and the current time of day is within a predetermined time period.
15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
detecting that a human being is in proximity to the barrier; and
causing the status indicator to activate only when the security system is in the armed-home state and the human being is detected as being in proximity to the barrier.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
determining that the human being is closer to the barrier than from when the human being was initially detected; and
in response to determining that the human being is closer to the barrier than from when the human being was initially detected, altering a characteristic of the alert.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the status indicator comprises a light-emitting device, and the characteristic of the alert comprises a first predetermined flash rate, wherein altering a characteristic of the alert comprises:
causing the alert to flash at a second predetermined flash rate.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the status indicator comprises a sound-emitting device, and the characteristic of the alert comprises a first predetermined chirp rate, wherein altering a characteristic of the alert comprises:
causing the alert to chirp at a second predetermined chirp rate.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the status indicator comprises a sound-emitting device, and the characteristic of the alert comprises a first predetermined chirp volume, wherein altering a characteristic of the alert comprises:
causing the alert to chirp at a second predetermined chirp volume.
20 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
determining that the human being is no longer in proximity to the barrier; and
in response to determining that the human being is no longer in proximity to the barrier, deactivating the status indicator.