(12) United States Patent
`US 6,442,241 B1
`(10) Patent N0.:
`
`(45) Date of Patent: Aug. 27, 2002
`Tsumpes
`
`USOO6442241B1
`
`(54) AUTOMATED PARALLEL AND REDUNDANT
`SUBSCRIBER CONTACT AND EVENT
`NOTIFICATION SYSTEM
`
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Kenneth A. Roddy
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(76)
`
`Inventor: William J. Tsumpes, 7025 Alamitos
`Ave., San Diego, CA (US) 92154
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 151 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/617,872
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jul. 17, 2000
`
`(60)
`
`Related US. Application Data
`Provisional application No. 60/143,979, filed on Jul. 15,
`1999.
`
`H04M 11/04
`(51)
`Int. Cl.7 ......
`
`(52) US. Cl. ........................... 379/45; 379/37
`(58) Field of Search ......................... 379/37—51, 127.01
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,805,670 A *
`6,295,346 B1 *
`
`9/1998 Pons et al. .................... 379/45
`9/2001 Markowitz et al.
`........... 379/45
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Wing F. Chan
`
`An automated parallel and redundant subscriber contact and
`event notification system capable of being triggered by the
`change in status of any sensing device or process including
`the sensor of an alarm system or other event. The system
`enables automated simultaneous contact of one or more
`
`persons over a plurality of telephonic and electronic com-
`munication channels and provides parallel event-specific
`notification via voice, pager, voice mail, faX and email to the
`recipient(s) that are identified by electronic or speech rec-
`ognized entry of a PIN and then provides them with a
`detailed message including the date and time of a specific
`event which has occurred with respect to a monitored sensor.
`A telephone switching or conferencing, feature allows the
`recipient(s) to communicate directly with a predetermined or
`pre-programmed location or person or select from a menu
`based upon the type of event that has occurred and the
`pre-programmed selection list. The system may be custom
`programmed by the authorized subscriber via a telephone
`interactive voice response system or Internet web page that
`offers specific programming, reporting, contact numbers,
`and message options. The system may also be triggered or
`programmed to perform its notification based upon the
`failure to receive a anticipated input,
`input of a timer,
`pre-programmed to operate at a specific time, or triggered by
`another CPU.
`
`24 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`//
`
`//
`
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`
`CONTROLLER
`
`
`
`DSP
`
`
`CELLULAR
`BASE
`STATION
`
`
`MOBILE.
`
`SWITCHING
`OTHER
`
`
`CENTER
`ALARM/SECURITY
`
`SERVICES
`
`
`IO
`
`
`
`WIRELESS
`
`DIRECT/CONE.
`COMMUN
`
`
`
`CPU
`
`CENTRAL MONITORING STATION
`
`
`Intrado Ex. 1024 - 1
`
`Intrado Ex. 1024 - 1
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 27, 2002
`
`Sheet 1 014
`
`US 6,442,241 B1
`
`II
`
`I!
`
`ll
`
`SENSOR
`
`SENSOR
`
`SENSOR
`
`ION
`
`OTHER
`ALARM/SECURITY
`
`SERVICES
`
`24
`
`WWW
`
`FORMAT
`CONVERTER
`
`CELLULAR
`
`BASE
`STATION
`
`
`
` MOBILE
`
`SWITCHING
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`CENTER
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`COMMUN
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` 27
`
`
`
`CENTRA L MONITORING STATION Fig. 1
`
`
`CPU
`
`Intrado Ex. 1024 - 2
`
`Intrado Ex. 1024 - 2
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 27, 2002
`
`Sheet 2 0f4
`
`US 6,442,241 B1
`
`TELEPHONE
`
`SUBSCRIBER
`INPUT VIA
`TYPED TEXT
`
`SUBSCRIBER
`INPUT VIA
`
`INTERNET
`WEBSITE
`
`24
`
`(IS?)
`
`INTERACTIVE
`VOICE RESPONSE
`
`25
`
`(IVR) VOICE
`TOUCHTONE
`
`TEXT
`
`DTFM
`
`CENTRAL
`MONITORING
`STATION CPU
`
`CONVERT TEXT
`OR DTFM TO
`DIGITAL CODE
`
`RECORD MSG.
`
`CREATE/MODIFY
`ACCOUNT RECORD
`
`16
`
`3 0
`
`Fig. 2
`
`Intrado Ex. 1024 - 3
`
`Intrado Ex. 1024 - 3
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 27, 2002
`
`Sheet 3 0f4
`
`US 6,442,241 B1
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`
` l/
`
`SENSOR
`TRIGGERED
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CONTROLLER
`CONVERTS SIGNAL
`INTO DTMF/DD?
`
`l2
`
`
`
`SENSOR AND
`EVENT
`IDENTIFIED
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CELLULAR BASE
`STATION TO
`MOBILE SW. CTR.
`MSC
`
`
`
`CENTRAL
`
`
`
`MONITORING
`STATION
`
`
`
`Fig. 3
`
`CREATE DDP
`FROM DTMF
`
`
`
`
`
`
`IF REQ'D.
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`Intrado Ex. 1024 - 4
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`Intrado Ex. 1024 - 4
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`

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`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 27, 2002
`
`Sheet 4 0f4
`
`US 6,442,241 B1
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`DDP
`COD -
`E
`
`IDENTIFY
`SENSOR/ACCOUNT
`
`ETC.
`
`RETRIEVE ACCT.
`RECORD FROM
`
`DATABASE
`
`Fig. 4
`
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`
`RETRIEVE
`RETRIEVE
`$222153:
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`NOTIFIED
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`
`FORMAT
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`MESSAGE
`
`PHONE
`PSTN
`
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`CELL
`
`CALL ALL OF
`THE LISTED NO.S
`THRU ALL
`CHANNELS
`
`
`
`PAGER
`
`DIGITAL
`
`PHONE
`RF.
`
`
`
`FAX
`MSG
`
`EMAIL
`MSG
`
`QUERY
`FOR
`pm
`
`
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`
`WAIT
`SWITCH
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`TO
`FOR
`
`INSTRUCTION
`AUTHORITIES
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`
`PLAY
`RECORD ALL
`
`RECORDED
`TRANSACTIONS
`
`
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`MESSAGE
`IN
`
`
`DATABASE
`
`
`YFS
`“
`
`Intrado Ex. 1024 - 5
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`Intrado Ex. 1024 - 5
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`

`

`US 6,442,241 B1
`
`1
`AUTOMATED PARALLEL AND REDUNDANT
`SUBSCRIBER CONTACT AND EVENT
`NOTIFICATION SYSTEM
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`This application claims priority of US. Provisional Appli-
`cation Ser. No. 60/143,979, filed Jul. 15, 1999, the pendency
`of which is extended until Jul. 17, 2000 under 35 U.S.C.
`119(e)(3).
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`This invention relates generally to alarm and event noti-
`fication methods and systems, and more particularly to an
`automated parallel and redundant subscriber contact and
`event notification system and method that enables automated
`simultaneous contact and notification of one or more autho-
`
`rized persons over a plurality of telephonic and electronic
`communications channels including wireless, voice, pager,
`voice mail, fax and email to provide specific event infor-
`mation relative to one or more monitored (inputs), sensors or
`alarms.
`
`2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
`Conventional security systems that alert building occu-
`pants and law enforcement and emergency authorities based
`upon a security violation occurring at the secured premises
`typically are usually interconnected to a central monitoring
`station service system via a telecommunications line, such
`as a publicly switched telephone network (PSTN). Many
`alarm systems are in remote communication with a central
`monitoring station service via a wireless or RF communi-
`cation network.
`
`Typically, the security or alarm system includes sensors
`deployed at strategic locations throughout the premises or on
`the vehicle being monitored to detect a change in status of
`the sensor. For example in a business or residence, sensors
`may be located in doorways, windows and other ports of
`entry and motion sensors may also be placed strategically
`within the building to detect movement while carefully
`positioned smoke and heat sensors detect the presence of
`fire. Vehicle alarm sensors may be positioned to detect
`motion, glass breakage, and changes in the electrical or
`ignition system, etc.
`The sensors are connected with a central controller which
`
`is interconnected by wireless or wireline connections to a
`central monitoring station service which is maintained by a
`security service provider that continuously monitors all
`activated security systems for sensor breaches. Responsive
`to receiving a breach signal, the controller issues an audible
`alarm to the occupants if present at the time and originates
`a call to the central monitoring station. Upon receiving the
`breach signal from the security system, the central monitor-
`ing station determines the type of breach, and a person at the
`central monitoring station retrieves the subscribers contact
`numbers usually consisting of the premises telephone num-
`ber and the subscribers residence telephone number and
`attempts to manually telephone and notify the occupants or
`owners or other authorities of the breach or emergency
`situation.
`
`the central
`the person or staff at
`During this process,
`monitoring station will view the stored telephone numbers
`and attempt to place calls to the systems subscriber at those
`numbers to tell
`them of the current security event and
`attempt to determine if the event is a valid security breach
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`or possibly just a false alarm condition. It is time consuming
`for the central monitoring station to access and dial these
`stored numbers and difficult for the subscriber to change the
`stored information, and the contact numbers frequently
`become obsolete and out of date and useless during an actual
`security breach.
`Usually, these calls to notify the subscriber are made by
`just one employee who is responsible for processing the
`event. The employee must determine the manner in which to
`handle the call and the person that needs to be notified. The
`subscriber has no direct control over the proper handling of
`the event or any assurance that the employee will handle the
`event in the most expedient and beneficial manner. Thus on
`many occasions. due to the manual nature of processing
`these calls, one at a time, vital minutes lapse between when
`the actual breach or emergency occurs and the subscribers
`and/or emergency authorities are actually notified, if ever.
`These delays and uncertain processing methods frequently
`compromise the effectiveness of the security system and
`render the monitoring service less effective and efficient than
`what could have been had the notification process been more
`timely. In some cases a telecommunication line may be
`severed or down caused by tampering or failure so that a
`breach signal from the security system will not be sent to the
`central monitoring station and the central monitoring service
`is unaware of an alarm situation.
`
`Thus, there is a long-felt need in the security and alarm
`notification industry for a more efficient and effective system
`and method for alerting subscribers and authorities when a
`security breach or other specific event occurs to insure that
`the conditions of the event are properly handled the most
`calculated, preplanned, expeditious and secure manner.
`This need is addressed and a technological advance is
`achieved by the present automated parallel and redundant
`subscriber contact and event notification system and method
`which is distinguished over the prior art in general by an
`automated parallel and redundant subscriber contact and
`notification system capable of being triggered by the change
`in status of any sensing device or process including the
`sensor of an alarm system or other event. The system enables
`automated simultaneous contact of one or more persons over
`a plurality of telephonic and electronic communication
`channels and provides parallel event-specific notification via
`voice, pager, voice mail, fax and email to the recipient(s)
`that are identified by electronic or speech recognized entry
`of a PIN and then provides them with a detailed message
`including the date and time of a specific event which has
`occurred or failed to occur with respect to a monitored
`sensor. Atelephone switching or conferencing feature allows
`the recipient(s) to communicate directly with a predeter-
`mined or pre-programmed location or person or select from
`a menu based upon the type of event that has occurred and
`the pre-programmed selection list. The system may be
`custom programmed by the authorized subscriber via a
`telephone interactive voice response system or Internet web
`page that offers specific programming, reporting, contact
`numbers, and message options. The system may also be
`triggered or programmed to perform its notification based
`upon the input of a timer, pre-programmed to operate at a
`specific time, pre-programmed to operate upon failure of an
`input, trigger or event to happen, or triggered by another
`CPU.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide
`an automated parallel and redundant subscriber contact and
`
`Intrado Ex. 1024 - 6
`
`Intrado Ex. 1024 - 6
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`

`

`US 6,442,241 B1
`
`3
`event notification system which replaces and compliments
`the existing systems in use in a central monitoring station or
`may be configured and operated in manner to automatically
`provide the services of an central monitoring station.
`It is another object of this invention to provide an auto-
`mated parallel and redundant subscriber contact and event
`notification system which will allow the system subscriber
`himself to preprogram and control the operations of the
`systems and to control the manner in which he wished to
`receive the event specific notification services including the
`desired communications channels, hours of operation, vaca-
`tion scheduling and the pre-programmed responses which
`the system will
`take in response to many an unlimited
`different types of events.
`Another object of this invention is to provide an auto-
`mated parallel and redundant subscriber contact and event
`notification system which allows secure internet access for
`the subscribers personal contact information and program-
`ming and reporting of system events, histories and setup
`from anywhere there is internet access allowing the sub-
`scriber to maintain accurate and predetermined processing
`of the event occurrences on the subscribers system.
`Another object of this invention is to provide an auto-
`mated parallel and redundant subscriber contact and event
`notification system which provides its services from parallel
`and redundant multiple locations to insure that in the event
`that one specific location should be rendered inoperable or
`inaccessible to communication channels that it’s services
`
`will still be performed by a backup or redundant master
`central monitoring and notification center or Network Oper-
`ating Center, (NOC) providing a higher level of secure
`operations than just a single central monitoring station could
`provide.
`Another object of this invention is to provide an auto-
`mated parallel and redundant subscriber contact and event
`notification system which may be configured to provide
`event notification services for use in any application for the
`automated reporting of any information including process
`notification such as the shutdown of an oil well pump,
`failure of a fluids valve, opening of a warehouse entrance,
`the accumulation of a certain level of material, the arrival of
`shipment or delivery, a high water level in the hull of a
`marine vessel, or the tampering of a communications line, or
`the theft of a motor vehicle or a vandalism or break-in at a
`
`remotely stored storage container or tool shed.
`A further object of this invention is to provide an auto-
`mated parallel and redundant subscriber contact and event
`notification system which allows a single master monitoring
`and notification center or Network Operations Center,
`(NOC), to provide the subscriber notification services for an
`unlimited number of remote central monitoring stations, or
`subscriber facilities.
`
`A still further object of this invention is to provide an
`automated parallel and redundant subscriber contact and
`event notification system which supplements or replaces the
`current systems in use in an alarm central monitoring and is
`also capable of providing backup alarm signal delivery to a
`central monitoring station of an alarm event over a back-up
`communications channel such as a wireless radio transceiver
`
`to insure that the alarm signal actually reaches the alarm
`central monitoring station.
`Other objects of the invention will become apparent from
`time to time throughout the specification and claims as
`hereinafter related.
`
`The above noted objects and other objects of the invention
`are accomplished by the present automated parallel and
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`redundant subscriber contact and notification system and
`method which is capable of being triggered by the change in
`status of any sensing device. or the failure in the anticipated
`change in status of any sensing device, or process including
`the sensor of an alarm system or other event. The system
`enables automated simultaneous contact of one or more
`
`persons over a plurality of telephonic and electronic com-
`munication channels and provides parallel event-specific
`notification via voice, pager, voice mail, faX and email to the
`recipient(s) that are identified by electronic or speech rec-
`ognized entry of a PIN and then provides them with a
`detailed message including the date and time of a specific
`event which has occurred with respect to a monitored sensor.
`A telephone switching or conferencing feature allows the
`recipient(s) to communicate directly with a predetermined or
`pre-programmed location or person or select from a menu
`based upon the type of event that has occurred and the
`pre-programmed selection list. The system may be custom
`programmed by the authorized subscriber via a telephone
`interactive voice response system or Internet web page that
`offers specific programming, reporting, contact numbers,
`and message options. The system may also be triggered or
`programmed to perform its notification based upon the input
`of a timer, pre-programmed to operate at a specific time,
`upon failure of an input,
`trigger or event to happen, or
`triggered by another CPU.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the automated parallel
`and redundant subscriber contact and notification system in
`accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting the input of infor-
`mation into the central monitoring station subscriber account
`record via Internet or by telephone.
`FIG. 3 is a schematic flow diagram depicting the method
`of processing a signal generated by a remote sensor and
`transmitting it to the central monitoring station.
`FIG. 4 is a schematic flow diagram depicting the method
`of processing the received signal at the central monitoring
`station and the call notification process relative thereto.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`In the following discussion, it should be understood that
`the automated parallel and redundant subscriber contact and
`notification system may be used on connection with any type
`of passive or active sensor, event sensing device, vehicle or
`premises alarm system, or signal generating device, and may
`also receive a signal generated by another CPU of a com-
`puter to activate the notification system.
`Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference, there
`is shown in FIG. 1, the major components of a preferred
`automated parallel and redundant subscriber contact and
`notification system 10. One or more sensors 11 disposed on
`a premises, vehicle, or articles to be monitored are con-
`nected with a controller 12 which detects a change in status
`or senses an event at the sensor location. As discussed above,
`the controller 12 may be connected with any type of sensor
`or event sensing device or signal generating device, and the
`controller may be integrated with or connected with a
`plurality of different sensors or monitored devices for simul-
`taneously monitoring a plurality of different events.
`The controller 12 communicates with a central monitoring
`station 13 through several alternate communications
`channels, including a publicly switched telephone network
`
`Intrado Ex. 1024 - 7
`
`Intrado Ex. 1024 - 7
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`

`

`US 6,442,241 B1
`
`5
`
`(PSTN), a direct wired connection, a wireless or cellular
`communications network, and a radio frequency RF chan-
`nel. The controller 12 may include a phone dialer 14, also
`known as an auto-dialer, which dials the number of the
`central monitoring station 13 and transmits DTMF “touch-
`tone” phone signals to a receiving modem 15 or a digital
`signal processor DSP connected with a central processing
`unit CPU 16 at the central monitoring station 13 through the
`publicly switched telephone network (PSTN). In this case,
`the transmitted DTMF signal is converted into an intelligent
`digital data packet DDP (described hereinafter) at the central
`monitoring station 13. The controller 12 at the monitored
`Site may also include a digital signal processor DSP 17 that
`formats the sensor signal into an intelligent digital data
`packet DDP and dials the number of the central monitoring
`station and transmits the digital data packet DDP through the
`publicly switched telephone network (PSTN) to a receiving
`digital signal processor DSP 18 connected with the CPU at
`the central monitoring station.
`The controller 12 may include a wireless transceiver 19
`for transmitting the digital data packet DDP via the cellular
`communications network, and/or a radio frequency RF
`transceiver 20 that transmits the digital data packet DDP via
`a RF communications channel. In the wireless or cellular
`communications network the transceiver 19 at the controller
`12 sends the cellular DDP to a cellular base station 21 and
`from there it is transmitted to a mobile switching center
`(MSC) 22. The MSC 22, depending upon the mobile iden-
`tification number (MIN) of the notification service, routes
`the signal to the CPU 16 to the notification service moni-
`toring station.
`In the radio frequency communication
`channel, the RF transceiver 20 at the controller 12 commu-
`nicates with an RF transceiver 23 connected with the CPU
`
`16 at the central monitoring station over any conventional
`wireless radio communication frequency.
`The controller 12 is programmed to format the sensor
`signal into DTMF or DDP and select the appropriate com-
`munications network or channel on which to transmit,
`depending upon which communications channel is installed
`or chosen and which sensor and the type of sensor that is
`triggered. The digital data packet DDP, whether transmitted
`or converted at the receiving end, is formatted or coded to
`contain account, sensor and event-specific messaging indi-
`cators that represent which specific sensor was triggered, the
`type of event that triggered the sensor, and the subscriber
`account number, which is the record key for the correspond-
`ing subscriber database record.
`The CPU 16 at the central monitoring station is connected
`with an Internet service provider (ISP) 24 and has an
`interactive website and to a telephone interactive voice
`response device (IVR) 25 whereby the subscriber to the
`notification service can custom program specific sensors to
`be monitored, the type of event that would trigger the sensor,
`and instructions as to responding to the event, and various
`other options, as discussed below.
`The CPU 16 at
`the central monitoring station is also
`connected with a telephone switching or conferencing
`device 26 and programmed to electronically connect a
`notified authorized subscriber to one or more predetermined
`or pre-programmed telephone numbers for direct commu-
`nication with the selected number based upon the particular
`type of event which has occurred after being notified. The
`CPU 16 has a monitor, operating software for carrying out
`the operations, and a database 27 containing all of the stored
`and retrievable sensor data, subscriber data, phone lists, and
`instructional data.
`
`Referring now to FIG. 2, the notification service sets up
`a subscriber account record and the subscriber is assigned a
`
`6
`unique account number and a personal identification number
`(PIN), which may be maintained by the subscriber, after
`which the sensor and subscriber information is entered. This
`information may be entered by personnel at the notification
`service or by the subscriber directly through the Internet
`website 24 typing the information in text form or by voice
`menus through the telephone interactive voice response
`system (IVR) 25 by pressing DTMF touchtone keypads of
`the telephone in response to selective options presented.
`In addition to the name, address, and other personal
`information, the subscriber selects and enters information
`regarding the number of persons to be notified, the specific
`sensors to be monitored, the type of event that would trigger
`each specific sensor, a list of telephone numbers and the
`notification channels to be notified in relation to the par-
`ticular event
`including telephone numbers, mobile tele-
`phones numbers, pager numbers, fax numbers, voice mail
`numbers, and email address for all of the authorities or
`contact persons authorized to receive the event-specific
`message to be delivered, in what formats the message is to
`be delivered, and the action steps to be taken upon the
`sensing of all event or following notification, and the hours
`of operation. Each specific event triggered by a sensor and
`each type of event is assigned a respective identifier number.
`The event may be correlated to the location of a particular
`type of sensor (ie fire, motion, door opening, etc.) so that the
`type of event is known when that sensor location is indi-
`cated. The text or DTMF touchtone data entered by the
`subscriber and/or the notification service is converted by the
`software to digital data and stored in the database in a
`specific subscriber account record.
`For example, sensor #11 may be a fire alarm or smoke
`detector, water sensor, motion detector, etc. located in the
`storage room of a building, and the subscriber may enter one
`or more telephone numbers and authorized contact persons
`to be called and contacted systemwide or in response to that
`particular sensor. A different set of telephone numbers and
`contact persons may be entered for each different sensor or
`location or event. For example, the subscriber may instruct
`the system to automatically call the phone number of the
`guard at the front gate of the building and on his cell phone
`and deliver the message that “the fire sensor in the storage
`room of the building has been activated” or, if the sensor
`monitoring the front door of a building has been activated,
`to call the number of the private security company and
`deliver the message the “the front door on the building at
`123 Elm Street has been opened”. The subscriber may also
`instruct the system to simultaneously notify them at the
`subscriber’s work number, home number, cell phone
`number, pager number, and to send a fax, and/or email
`message, upon the occurrence of a particular event. The
`subscriber may update or modify his account record via the
`Internet or via the interactive voice response telephone
`program (IVR). Thus,
`if the subscriber travels,
`is at a
`different location, or desires to be notified in some other
`manner, he or she can easily view and change or supplement
`their contact information on the central monitoring station’s
`secure website in real-time from any location in the world.
`Referring now to FIG. 3, when the controller 12 is
`triggered by a sensor 11, the controller determines which
`sensor and/or type of sensor was activated, the type of event
`causing activation, and determines whether to format the
`sensor signal into a DTMF signal or digital data packet DDP
`and selects the appropriate communications network or
`channel on which to transmit. The DTMF signal or digital
`data packet DDP, whether transmitted or converted at the
`receiving end, also contains indicators that represent the
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`Intrado Ex. 1024 - 8
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`Intrado Ex. 1024 - 8
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`

`

`US 6,442,241 B1
`
`7
`subscriber account number, which is the record key for the
`corresponding subscriber database record.
`Referring now to FIG. 4, when the incoming signal is
`received or converted to the digital data packet DDP, the
`software program on the CPU at
`the central monitoring
`station retrieves the record of the subscriber account that the
`sensor belongs to, and extracts certain key information
`including: (a) the name, address, and all of the personalized
`identification information of that account holder; (b) the
`group of telephone numbers and contact persons to be called
`in response to the particular sensor location or event that
`triggered a particular sensor, and (c) the particular message
`to he delivered to the contact person(s).
`The software program on the CPU at the central moni-
`toring station also simultaneously formats a text fax and
`email message, and a digital pager message of the pre-
`programmed message to be delivered to a fax phone number
`and email address pre-programmed by the subscriber in
`response to the particular zone or the event that occurred at
`that sensor location.
`
`The digital signal processor DSP, or dialer, or telephone
`switching device connected with the central monitoring
`station CPU then starts making the simultaneous and parallel
`telephone calls that correspond to the group of telephone
`numbers and contact persons pre-programmed for that par-
`ticular sensor and event. Upon one of the dialed numbers
`being answered,
`the software program plays a recorded
`voice or synthesized voice message to identify itself, for
`example: “This is the alarm network notification system, we
`have an important security notification, please enter your
`PIN number now”, and waits for a response of DTMF tones
`or speech corresponding to the pin number. The program
`then compares the entered PIN number with the one on the
`record retrieved from the database. If the PIN number does
`
`not match, the request message is repeated a predetermined
`number of times, after which it will terminate that particular
`call (hang up the phone) if the proper PIN is not entered in
`the number of attempts allowed. Meanwhile parallel calls
`are also being made simultaneously to all of the other
`pre-programmed persons and numbers through the various
`communications channels to request a valid PIN number.
`The text fax, and email messages, and the digital pager
`message are automatically delivered to the pre-programmed
`phone numbers and email addresses. The digital pager
`message comprises the telephone number to the CPU’s
`digital signal processor (DSP) interactive voice response
`(IVR) system including a unique event code such as a serial
`number corresponding to the specific event that occurred.
`The subscriber upon receipt of the page calls the paged
`telephone number and enters, via the telephone keypad, the
`unique event serial number prompting the IVR system to
`then perform the automated notification process.
`If the entered PIN does match, the digital signal processor
`DSP through a voice synthesizer gives the date and time and
`plays the pre-programmed sensor and event message to the
`authorized person. The subscriber or authorized person is
`also given tile option of being connected through the tele-
`phone switching or conferencing device connected with the
`CPU at the central monitoring station in direct voice com-
`munication with a pre-programmed contact number or to
`select from a list by pressing a key on the phone keypad,
`such as: 911, ambulance service, fire department, customer
`service, etc.,
`to allow the notified subscriber to speak
`directly with the appropriate authorities personnel to get
`immediate assistance and give information. The CPU may
`optionally be programmed to connect the subscriber in direct
`voice communication with only one contact number corre-
`
`8
`sponding to the specific event, in which case the message
`would state, for example: “Please wait while I connect you
`with the fire department”.
`The system may optionally be triggered or programmed to
`perform its notification based upon the failure to receive an
`anticipated input, input of a timer or pre-programmed to
`operate at a specific time, or repeat the calling operation at
`timed intervals in the event none of the calls are answered.
`
`The system may also be to be programmed to contact a
`subscriber through an incoming call via the telephone inter-
`active voice response system to allow someone to notify a
`particular subscriber of an emergency event.
`At the completion of a notification session, a historical
`record is made of the complete event and notification
`transaction, including the date, time, all numbers called and
`answered, calls that were transferred, and names of entities
`contacted. The historical record is preserved and accessible
`to authorized persons.
`One of the major benefits of the present pre-programmed
`and automated parallel and redundant contact and notifica-
`tion system and method is that it provides expeditious and
`efficient handling of time sensitive events and significantly
`reduces response time in emergency situations.
`The parallel and redundant calling of plural numbers and
`contact and notification over plural communication channels
`insures that the subscriber or an authorized person will be
`contacted quickly even in the event one of the communica-
`tions channels may be rendered inoperative or any one of a
`subscriber contact persons be unavailable. For example if
`the publicly switched telephone network (PSTN) commu-
`nications line is severed or out of order due to tampering, a
`severe storm, or a changed number, etc.
`Aplurality of conventional alarm and security companies
`may be connected in communication with the central moni-
`toring station so that present pre-programmed and auto-
`mated parallel and redundant contact and notification service
`can be used to more efficiently locate and contact and their
`clients and thereafter place the client in direct communica-
`tion with the alarm or security company for subsequent
`action. Such an arrangement provides reduced traffic at the
`alarm or security stations and allows them to enhance and
`improve their services without incurring a