Security Alarm Verification via VoIP Call
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional security systems often generate false alarms, leading to unnecessary emergency services dispatches and associated costs, as they lack efficient verification mechanisms before alerting authorities.
Innovation Solution
A security system that includes a central monitoring station communicating with alarm sensors and cameras via a private data network, utilizing Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for two-way interactive voice capabilities to verify alarm conditions through direct communication with occupants, and a verification process involving human or computerized agents to ascertain true emergencies before summoning services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional security systems generate alarms without verification, then alarm response speed is improved, but false alarm rate increases causing unnecessary emergency services dispatches
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification actions by contacting occupants or monitoring devices before dispatching emergency services. The verification process includes attempting to contact the occupant, reviewing recent activity logs, and assessing alarm conditions against predefined criteria to determine whether the alarm is genuine before initiating the emergency response protocol.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where verification information from occupants, monitoring devices, and emergency services is continuously collected and processed. This feedback loop allows the system to adjust its response based on real-time information, reducing false alarms while maintaining rapid response to genuine emergencies through iterative verification and response cycles.
2Reliability
If verification processes are added to security systems, then false alarm reduction is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The verification system utilizes multi-functional components where the alarm controller also serves as the verification coordinator, and existing communication infrastructure (telephones, networks) is leveraged for verification purposes. This approach reduces the need for separate dedicated verification hardware while maintaining comprehensive verification capabilities through existing system resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces intermediary verification steps and information processing layers between alarm detection and emergency service dispatch. These intermediaries include verification protocols, information assessment algorithms, and coordination mechanisms that filter and process information before triggering the emergency response, thereby reducing false alarms without requiring complete system redesign.
3Loss of time
If emergency services are dispatched without verification, then response time is improved, but resource waste increases due to unnecessary dispatches
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification actions by contacting occupants or monitoring devices before dispatching emergency services. The verification process includes attempting to contact the occupant, reviewing recent activity logs, and assessing alarm conditions against predefined criteria to determine whether the alarm is genuine before initiating the emergency response protocol.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts verification intensity and response parameters based on alarm characteristics, occupancy status, and risk assessment. By changing verification parameters such as contact methods, verification questions, and response thresholds based on real-time conditions, the system optimizes the balance between rapid response and resource conservation, dispatching emergency services only when genuinely necessary.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and products notify of alarms associated with security systems. An alarm is detected by an alarm controller, and an alarm message is sent to notify of the alarm. The alarm message identifies a unique network address assigned to the alarm controller. The alarm controller then receives a Voice-over Internet Protocol call to the unique network address to verify the alarm.