System and method of security enhancement in a security panel

The present invention relates generally to security systems and methods. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method of security enhancement in a security panel.

Keyfobs are known in the art. For example, known keyfobs can wirelessly communicate with a security system, including a control panel of the security system. Indeed, some known keyfobs can include a disarm button that, when depressed, can wirelessly transmit a signal to the security system to disarm the security system.

However, keyfobs are highly susceptible to being stolen or lost, which can create a dangerous situation for a user of the security system. Indeed, if an unauthorized user obtains possession of a known keyfob, then he can easily disarm the security system simply by depressing the disarm button on the keyfob.

In view of the above, there is a continuing, ongoing need for improved systems and methods.

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a method of configuring a keyfob with a protected disarm button in accordance with disclosed embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method of disarming a security system with a keyfob that includes a protected disarm button in accordance with disclosed embodiments; and

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a keyfob in accordance with disclosed embodiments.

While this invention is susceptible of an embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention. It is not intended to limit the invention to the specific illustrated embodiments.

Embodiments disclosed herein include a system and method of security enhancement in a security panel. For example, some embodiments disclosed herein include a keyfob that can include a disarm button protected by a user pass code.

As disclosed herein, some embodiments can include configuring the keyfob with the protected disarm button. For example, a control panel of a security system can be placed in a configuration mode for the keyfob identified by the control panel. In some embodiments, a user can provide input to identify the keyfob to the control panel. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the keyfob can wirelessly transmit a signal to the control panel that includes identifying information of the keyfob.

After the control panel has identified the keyfob, the control panel can prompt the user to enter a user pass code into the control panel. For example, the pass code can include a sequence of buttons on the keyfob to be depressed by the user. The user can save the user pass code at the control panel, and the control panel can wirelessly transmit the saved user pass code to the identified keyfob.

As disclosed herein, some embodiments can also include disarming the security system with the keyfob that includes the protected disarm button. For example, the user can depress the disarm button on the keyfob and then depress the sequence of buttons on the keyfob. The keyfob can determine whether the depressed sequence of buttons corresponds to a valid user pass code saved in the keyfob. If so, then the keyfob can wirelessly transmit a signal to the control panel of the security system to disarm the security system. However, if the keyfob determines that the depressed sequence of buttons does not correspond to the valid user pass code saved in the keyfob, then the keyfob will not transmit the disarm signal to the security system.

In some embodiments, the keyfob can provide audible or visual feedback when the keyfob determines that the depressed sequence of buttons corresponds to the valid user pass code saved in the keyfob and, responsive thereto, transmit the disarm signal to the control panel of the security system. For example, the keyfob can include one or more LEDs that can flash, blink, or light up upon the occurrence of such predetermined conditions. Additionally or alternatively, the keyfob can include one or more annunciators that can beep upon the occurrence of such predetermined conditions.

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a method 100 of configuring the keyfob with the protected disarm button in accordance with disclosed embodiments. As seen in FIG. 1 , the method 100 can include placing the control panel of the security system in the configuration mode and the control panel identifying the keyfob as in 110 . For example, a user interface of the control panel can display information identified by the control panel to identify the keyfob. Such information can include the serial number of the keyfob, the type of keyfob, and the like. In some embodiments, the control panel identifying the keyfob can include the control panel receiving user input that includes the identifying information of the keyfob. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the control panel identifying the keyfob can include the keyfob wirelessly transmitting the signal to the control panel that includes the identifying information of the keyfob.

After the control panel has identified the keyfob as in 110 , the method 100 can include the control panel prompting the user to enter the user pass code into the control panel and receiving user input that includes the user pass code as in 120 . Then, the method 100 can include the control panel saving the entered user pass code as in 130 and wirelessly transmitting the saved user pass code to the identified keyfob as in 140 .

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method 200 of disarming the security system with the keyfob that includes the protected disarm button in accordance with disclosed embodiments. As seen in FIG. 2 , the keyfob can receive user input that selects or depresses the disarm button of the keyfob as in 210 and receive user input that selects or depresses the sequence of buttons of the keyfob as in 220 . Then, the keyfob can determine whether the depressed sequence of buttons corresponds to the valid user pass code saved in the keyfob as in 230 . If so, then the keyfob can wirelessly transmit the signal to the control panel of the security system to disarm the security system as in 240 . However, if the keyfob determines that the depressed sequence of buttons does not correspond to the valid user pass code saved in the keyfob as in 230 , then the method 200 can terminate and the keyfob will not transmit the the disarm signal to the security system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the keyfob 300 in accordance with disclosed embodiments. As seen FIG. 3 , the keyfob can include a wireless transceiver 310 , a memory device 320 , a user interface device 330 , control circuitry 340 , one or more programmable processors 340 a , and executable control software 340 b as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The executable control software can be stored on a transitory or non-transitory computer readable medium, including, but not limited to local computer memory, RAM, optical storage media, magnetic storage media, flash memory, and the like. In some embodiments, the control software 340 b can execute and control the methods for disarming the security system as described above and herein.

The wireless transceiver 310 can communicate with the control panel of the security system, and the memory device 320 can store the user pass code received from the control panel of the security system via the transceiver 310 . The user interface device 330 can include a plurality of buttons or other user input mechanisms, including the disarm button. In accordance with disclosed embodiments, the user can select or depress a sequence of the user input mechanisms, and the control circuitry 340 , programmable processor 340 a , and executable control software 340 b can compare the received sequence with the valid user pass code stored in the memory device 320 . Responsive thereto, the control circuitry 340 , programmable processor 340 a , and executable control software 340 b can determine whether to transmit the disarm signal via the transceiver 310 to the control panel of the security system.

It is to be understood that, although embodiments have been described with respect to the keyfob that includes the disarm button protected with the user pass code, systems and methods disclosed herein are not so limited. Instead, the systems and methods disclosed herein can include protecting any user input mechanism or button of the keyfob with the user pass code as disclosed and described herein.

Although a few embodiments have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. For example, the logic flows described above do not require the particular order described or sequential order to achieve desirable results. Other steps may be provided, steps may be eliminated from the described flows, and other components may be added to or removed from the described systems. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the invention.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific system or method described herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover all such modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.