Security Alarm Notification System with Presence Database
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Solution Overview
Problem
Home security systems often fail to effectively alert users of critical alarms when their mobile devices are turned off, out of coverage, or forgotten, leading to unaddressed security issues.
Innovation Solution
A system that communicates with a central monitoring station, which detects alarm conditions, sends notifications to primary contacts, and if no response is received, queries a presence database to send notifications to available contacts, including those physically close to the security system, allowing for remote or physical resolution of the alarm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cell phone alerts are used for security notifications, then users can be alerted of alarms, but the alerts become ineffective when the cell phone is turned off, out of coverage, or forgotten
Solution Approach 1:
The notification system is segmented into multiple independent notification channels (SMS, email, push notifications, voice calls) that can operate independently. When one channel fails to reach the user, other channels can be used as backups, ensuring reliable notification delivery without requiring a single complex unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary notification server that manages multiple notification channels and routes notifications through appropriate channels based on user availability. This intermediary handles the complexity of multi-channel notification management, allowing simple client devices to receive reliable notifications without implementing complex notification logic themselves.
2Reliability
If multiple notification channels are implemented to ensure delivery, then notification reliability improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple notification channels (SMS, email, push notifications, voice calls) are merged into a single unified notification system managed by the notification server. This allows the system to leverage the strengths of each channel while presenting a simplified interface to users, achieving high reliability without requiring users to manage multiple separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification server is designed with multi-functionality to handle various types of notifications through multiple channels using a single unified architecture. This universal system can adapt to different notification requirements and device types, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high delivery reliability across diverse platforms.
3Ease of operation
If notifications are sent only to primary contacts, then the system remains simple, but critical alerts may be missed when primary contacts are unreachable
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing a hierarchy of notification recipients in advance (primary contacts, secondary contacts, emergency contacts). When a notification is sent, the system automatically progresses through this pre-defined hierarchy, ensuring that critical alerts reach someone even if primary contacts are unreachable, without requiring complex real-time decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification system implements feedback mechanisms to track whether notifications were successfully delivered to primary contacts. Based on this feedback, the system automatically determines whether to escalate to secondary or emergency contacts, ensuring reliable delivery of critical alerts while maintaining simple automated operation without human intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for notification of alarms in security systems. When an alarm is detected, a contact list is retrieved and a presence database is queried. A location and availability is retrieved for each contact address in the contact list. A contact address is selected in a vicinity of the security system and having the availability to receive an electronic notification. The electronic notification is sent to the contact address to alert of the alarm.