Patent Application
20070103277
The invention relates generally to security systems, and more particularly to a security system including a device key for enabling or disabling various security system features.
Typically, manufactures of security systems provide various models of security systems ranging from a basic model with a few features and protection levels to a deluxe model with many features and many, higher protection levels. Two main problems exist with this approach. First, only a portion of each system includes components are common to all the models, while other components are specific to a particular model. This results in manufacturing inefficiency. Second, when a customer wants to upgrade his existing security system, all or part of the existing security system must be replaced with new equipment. This process is both time consuming and costly.
The invention relates generally to security systems, and more particularly to a security system including a device key for enabling or disabling various security system features.
In one aspect, the invention involves a system for enabling or disabling one or more security system features of a security system platform. The system includes a control means configured for controlling the one or more security system features, an interface means in communication with the control means, and an electronic device key including a means for storing configuration data. The electronic device key is configured to electrically mate with the interface means to establish communication between the electronic device key and the control means to transmit the configuration data to the control means to instruct the control means to enable or disable the one or more security system features of the security system platform.
In some embodiments, the means for storing the configuration data includes a microprocessor and/or flash memory. In another embodiment, the configuration data is encrypted. In one embodiment, the electronic device key communicates with the control means via an encrypted communication protocol. In yet another embodiment, the control means stores a unique identifier in a protected memory location on the electronic device key thereby configuring the electronic device key to function exclusively with a particular security system platform. In still another embodiment, the control means stores a unique identifier on the electronic device key thereby configuring the electronic device key to function with a plurality of security system platforms. In other embodiments the interface means includes an electrical pin header or an electrical socket, and the control means includes a microprocessor. In another embodiment, the electronic device key includes an electrical connector for electrically mating with the interface means.
In another aspect, the invention involves an electronic device key for enabling or disabling one or more security system features of a security system platform. The electronic device key includes a body portion defining a cavity, a means for storing configuration data disposed in the cavity, and a connector portion coupled to the body portion and in electrical communication with the means for storing configuration data. The connector portion is configured to electrically mate with an interface means that is in electrical communication with a control means that controls the security system platform to communicate the configuration data to the control means to instruct the control means to enable or disable the one or more security system features of the security system platform.
In some embodiments, the means for storing the configuration data includes a microprocessor, and the means for storing configuration data includes a flash memory.
In still another aspect, the invention involves a method for enabling or disabling one or more security system features of a security system platform. The method includes providing control means configured for controlling the one or more security system features, and providing and interface means in communication with the control means. The method further includes providing an electronic device key that includes a means for storing configuration data. The electronic device key is configured to electrically mate with the interface means to establish communication between the electronic device key and the control means to transmit the configuration data to the control means to instruct the control means to enable or disable the one or more security system features of the security system platform.
The foregoing and other objects, aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and from the claims.
In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
The invention relates generally to security systems, and more particularly to a security system including a device key for enabling or disabling various security system features. The invention enables a security system manufacturer to produce a single security system platform with a single set of security features, rather than a number of security system platforms, each with a different set of security features. Customers configure the single security system platform based on their individual needs via an electronic device key, which enables or disables the various security system features accordingly.
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The microprocessor 505 is in electrical communication with the connector 410 via signal path 510. The connector 410 can be any type of connector that is suitable for electrically mating with the interface port 310. The interface port 310 includes a power and ground connection that provides power and ground to the microprocessor 505 (or flash memory) in the electronic device key 400 when the electronic device key 400 is electrically mated to the interface port 310.
A security system configuration data file is stored on the microprocessor 505 on-chip memory 520 (or flash memory), or on memory associated with, and in communication with, the microprocessor 505. The configuration data file is used to configure the security system platform 100 by providing instructions to the microprocessor 305 regarding enabling or disabling various security system features. Further, the configuration data file stored on a particular electronic device key 400 is unique and is its contents is determined by the particular security system features to be enabled or disabled. The security system features that are enabled or disabled are determined by a customer's particular security needs. More specifically, the customer selects a subset (or the total set) of security features from the total set of security features available on the security system platform 100. The security features selected will determine the particular configuration data file that is stored on the electronic device key 400.
After the electronic device key 400 is mated with the interface port 310, the configuration data file is transmitted (downloaded) to the microprocessor 305 on the motherboard 110. The microprocessor 305 uses the information in the configuration data file to configure the security system platform 100 by enabling or disabling various security system features. The customer can scale up or down the number of security system features that are enabled by simply changing the electronic device key 400.
In another embodiment, the configuration data file stored on the microprocessor 505 is encrypted. Further, the configuration data file is transmitted to the microprocessor 305 using a serial peripheral interface (SPI) communication protocol, or some other suitable communication protocol, and AES 128/256 encryption, or some other suitable encryption method.
In another embodiment, after the electronic device key 400 in connected to the interface port 310, a unique identifier is written by the microprocessor 305 to a protected memory location within the memory 520 of the microprocessor 505 (or flash memory), or a protected memory location in memory external to the microprocessor 505 and within the device key 400. The unique identifier is used configure the electronic device key 400 to function exclusively with a particular security system platform 100 (i.e. system specific). In still another embodiment, the unique identifier is used to configure the electronic device key 400 to function with any security system platform 100 (i.e. system independent).
In other embodiments, if the electronic device key 400 is disconnected from the interface port 310, an alarm is engaged, or an alert message is generated by the microprocessor 305 and displayed to the customer on a monitor, for example. This feature provides added security and prevents unauthorized removal of the electronic device key 400.
It should be noted that the depicted form factor of the electronic device key 400 is for illustrative purposes only. The electronic device key 400, in other embodiments, can be any form factor that is reasonable for the application and known to those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the body portion 405 can be made of plastic, rubber, or metal, or any other material suitable for housing electronic components.
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Variations, modifications, and other implementations of what is described herein may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be defined only by the preceding illustrative description.
