Home Alarm System Countdown Timer Jamming Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing alarm systems are vulnerable to jamming and tampering, which can prevent the central unit from sending signals to activate alarm units, disrupting communication and potentially allowing unauthorized access or events to go undetected.
Innovation Solution
The alarm system incorporates a central unit that repeatedly resets the countdown timer of alarm units before it expires, ensuring that alarms are triggered even if communication is broken due to jamming or tampering, using a combination of detectors and alarm units with countdown timers and smoke generating devices to produce audible, visible, and smoke alarms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the central unit communicates with alarm units using wireless signals, then the system is easy to operate and install, but the communication becomes vulnerable to jamming and radio disturbance measures
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm unit is pre-configured with a countdown timer that automatically triggers the alarm function when it expires. The central unit repeatedly resets this timer before expiration under normal conditions, but if communication is jammed or interrupted, the timer expires and triggers the alarm automatically, ensuring the alarm activates even when communication fails
Solution Approach 2:
The system preemptively counters jamming attempts by implementing a mechanism where the alarm unit independently triggers the alarm function if it detects that reset signals from the central unit have stopped arriving. This preliminary anti-action ensures that communication disruption through jamming does not prevent alarm activation
2Reliability
If the central unit controls alarm activation through continuous communication, then false alarms are prevented, but the system becomes vulnerable to tampering and communication disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm unit is pre-configured with a countdown timer that automatically triggers the alarm function when it expires. The central unit repeatedly resets this timer before expiration under normal conditions, but if communication is jammed or interrupted, the timer expires and triggers the alarm automatically, ensuring the alarm activates even when communication fails
Solution Approach 2:
The alarm unit autonomously monitors for reset signals from the central unit and independently decides when to trigger the alarm based on whether the countdown timer expires. This self-service capability allows the alarm unit to function independently when communication is disrupted, preventing tampering from suppressing the alarm
3Device complexity
If the alarm unit requires a signal from the central unit to activate, then centralized control is maintained, but the alarm may not activate if the central unit is tampered with or communication is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm unit is pre-configured with a countdown timer that automatically triggers the alarm function when it expires. The central unit repeatedly resets this timer before expiration under normal conditions, but if communication is jammed or interrupted, the timer expires and triggers the alarm automatically, ensuring the alarm activates even when communication fails
Solution Approach 2:
The system divides the alarm activation function into two parts: centralized control through the central unit that sends reset signals, and independent execution at the alarm unit that triggers the alarm when the countdown timer expires. This segmentation allows the alarm to function independently if the centralized control is compromised
Data Source
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AI summary
An alarm system and method suitable for monitoring a home, the alarm system comprising: central unit and an alarm unit arranged remote from and arranged to communicate with the central unit; and, a detector arranged to communicate with the central unit and arranged to provide an alert signal upon detecting a possible but unconfirmed alarm event. The alarm system is configured, in response to an alert signal, to set the alarm unit to activate an alarm after a predetermined period of time has elapsed in the event that communication between the alarm unit and the central unit is lost during the predetermined period.