Alarm Controller with Wireless UMTS Fallback for Line Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional alarm systems are rendered ineffective if an intruder damages the telephone line, preventing the auto-dialer from contacting the monitoring service or police.
Innovation Solution
The alarm system incorporates a mobile terminal and an alarm controller that attempts a call to a monitoring service using multiple communication techniques, including a wireline connection and wireless communication via Bluetooth or IEEE 802.11b/g WLAN, switching to a mobile terminal for a UMTS call if the initial attempt fails, ensuring contact through a cradle activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single wireline communication technique is used for contacting the monitoring service, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates when the telephone line is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm controller is designed to perform multiple communication functions by integrating support for both wireline and wireless (UMTS) communication techniques. This allows a single device to adapt to different communication scenarios and maintain reliability even when one communication path is compromised.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes communication parameters by switching between different communication techniques (wireline to wireless UMTS) based on the operational status of each method. When wireline communication fails, the system transitions to using the mobile terminal via wireless network, ensuring continuous monitoring capability.
2Reliability
If multiple communication techniques are integrated into the alarm system, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is segmented into distinct functional modules: a primary wireline communication interface and a secondary wireless UMTS interface via mobile terminal. This segmentation allows each communication method to operate independently, and the system can selectively activate the appropriate segment based on operational needs without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile terminal acts as an intermediary device that bridges the alarm controller and the monitoring service when direct wireline communication is unavailable. The alarm controller communicates with the mobile terminal, which then establishes a wireless UMTS connection to the monitoring service, effectively mediating the communication path during failures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the alarm system switches to a mobile terminal for wireless communication, then the adaptability improves, but the loss of time increases due to additional switching operations
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm controller is pre-configured with both wireline and wireless UMTS communication capabilities, along with the necessary software and hardware interfaces. This preliminary setup ensures that when a communication failure occurs, the system can immediately switch to the alternative method without requiring time-consuming configuration or setup operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the status of the wireline communication channel and provides feedback to the control logic. When the wireline connection is detected as failed or unavailable, this feedback triggers an automatic switch to the wireless UMTS interface, ensuring minimal delay in establishing alternative communication.
Data Source
AI summary
An alarm system includes a mobile terminal and an alarm controller. The alarm controller is configured to communicate with the mobile terminal, to attempt a call to a monitoring service using a first communication technique responsive to detection of an alarm condition, and to attempt a call to the monitoring service using the mobile terminal if the call attempt using the first communication technique is unsuccessful.