Security System False Alarm Reduction via Occupancy Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current home security systems frequently experience false alarms when occupants open doors or windows while the system is in an armed mode, leading to unnecessary responses from public resources and potential fines.
Innovation Solution
A central security monitoring device that receives signals from both barrier alarm devices and occupancy sensors, determining the elapsed time between the two signals to differentiate between authorized and unauthorized openings, and transmitting messages to personal communication devices to identify and mitigate false alarms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the security system is in an armed mode to protect against unauthorized entry, then security protection is improved, but false alarms occur when occupants open doors or windows
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection using occupancy sensors before triggering an alarm from barrier devices. By detecting motion or presence in advance, the system can determine whether an occupant is present and approaching the barrier, allowing it to distinguish between authorized and unauthorized openings before the alarm condition is fully activated.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces occupancy sensors as an intermediary detection layer between the barrier devices and the alarm response. This intermediary provides additional information about occupant presence and intent, enabling the system to mediate between the need for security and the need to avoid false alarms from authorized occupants.
2Measurement precision
If barrier alarm devices are used to detect door or window openings, then unauthorized entry detection is improved, but false alarms are triggered by authorized occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the functionality of barrier alarm devices with occupancy sensors into a unified detection system. By combining these two detection methods, the system cross-validates alarm conditions - an alarm from a barrier device is only confirmed as unauthorized if no occupancy is detected in the surrounding area, thereby improving reliability while maintaining detection precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses occupancy sensor data as feedback to verify or suppress alarm signals from barrier devices. When a barrier alarm is triggered, the system checks occupancy feedback to determine whether an authorized occupant is present, and uses this feedback to either confirm the alarm as unauthorized or suppress it as a false alarm from an authorized person.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If motion sensors are disabled in armed mode to prevent false alarms, then false alarm reduction is achieved, but occupancy detection capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary occupancy detection using dedicated occupancy sensors that remain active in armed mode, before barrier alarms are triggered. This preliminary detection provides advance notice of occupant presence, allowing the system to prepare for potential authorized openings and distinguish them from unauthorized entries when barrier devices are activated.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of a central security monitoring device for reducing incidences of false alarms in a security system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is described, comprising receiving an alarm signal from an occupancy sensor via a receiver, receiving a second alarm signal from a barrier alarm device after receiving the alarm signal, determining, by a processor, an elapsed time from when the alarm signal from the occupancy sensor was received to when the second alarm signal from the barrier alarm device was received, transmitting, by the processor via a network interface, a message to a personal communication device indicating that a false alarm has occurred when the elapsed time is less than the predetermined time.