Patent Application
20160004521
The present invention relates generally to the installation of alarm systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method of providing context sensitive help for alarm system installation.
Installing a commercial alarm system is a complex process that is often undertaken via a simple user interface that consists of a keypad with sixteen keys and a 2×16 character alphanumeric LCD display. However, in some cases, such a display is insufficient to present and provide fully satisfactory feedback regarding the installation process. Furthermore, in all cases, it is impossible to display explanatory text on such a display.
In view of the above, there is a continuing, ongoing need for an improved system and method for alarm system installation.
While this invention is susceptible of an embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention. It is not intended to limit the invention to the specific illustrated embodiments.
Embodiments disclosed herein include a system and method of providing context sensitive help for alarm system installation. However, it is to be understood that systems and methods disclosed herein do not limit the alarm system or the alarm system user interface. For example, the alarm system can be installed and configured independent of the systems and methods disclosed herein, and the alarm system user interface can function independent of the systems and methods disclosed herein.
Some embodiments disclosed herein can provide context specific installation help, on demand, by employing a smart phone, tablet device, or other personal digital assistant. For example, in some embodiments, a user, for example, an installation engineer, can press a key or a combination of keys on a user interface of the alarm system, for example, a keypad of the alarm system. Upon pressing such key or combination of keys, systems and methods disclosed herein can cause the alarm system and/or the alarm system user interface to communicate with the user's smart phone, tablet device, or other personal digital assistant and cause the smart phone, tablet device, or other personal digital assistant to display thereon certain additional information related to the alarm system. For example, the smart phone, tablet device, or other personal digital assistant can display information, such as installation instructions, help, hints, and/or user tips, related to information that is displayed on the user interface and/or display of the alarm system.
In some embodiments, a user need not press any keys on the user interface of the alarm system to cause the alarm system to communicate with the user's smart phone, tablet device, or other personal digital assistant. Rather, in some embodiments, the alarm system and/or the user interface of the alarm system can continuously, periodically at predetermined intervals, and/or upon detecting a predetermined condition, communicate with the user's smart phone, tablet device, or other personal digital assistant and cause the smart phone, tablet device, or other personal digital assistant to display thereon certain additional information related to the alarm system.
In accordance with disclosed embodiments, executable control software can run in or on the alarm system and/or the user interface of the alarm system. Such software can facilitate a connection to and communication with a user's smart phone, tablet device, or other personal digital assistant. For example, the executable control software disclosed herein running on the alarm system can cause the alarm system to transmit information to the user's smart phone, tablet device, or other personal digital assistant. In some embodiments, the connection and communication between the alarm system and the user's smart phone, tablet device, or other personal digital assistant can include any communication path that is supported by both the alarm system and the user's device as would be known by one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the communication path can include SMS messaging or TCP/IP via local networks, such as WiFi or Bluetooth, or via the Internet, including WiFi or 3G.
In accordance with disclosed embodiments, a software application can run on the user's smart phone, tablet device, or other personal digital assistant. Such a software application can facilitate the connection to and communication with the alarm system and can process data received from the alarm system. For example, the software application disclosed herein running on the user's smart phone, tablet device, or other personal digital assistant can interpret data or other information received from the alarm system to identify and display corresponding additional information, for example, help files or the like that correspond to data or information received from the alarm system.
In accordance with disclosed embodiments, a server can store the corresponding additional information, for example, in a database, and the corresponding additional information can be identified by cross-referencing the information received from the alarm system. In some embodiments, the server can run locally on the user's smart phone, tablet device, or other personal digital assistant. However, in some embodiments, the server can include a remote server that can be accessed in real time, via wireless communication, by the smart phone, tablet device, or other personal digital assistant.
In some embodiments, the method 100 can transmit the first piece of information to the user's smart device as in 120 absent the alarm system receiving user input as in 110. For example, in some embodiments, the method 100 can transmit the first piece of information to the user's smart device as in 120 continuously, periodically at predetermined intervals, or upon detecting a predetermined condition, for example, upon detecting that the user's smart device is within a predetermined distance from the alarm system and/or the user interface of the alarm system or upon detecting that the user's smart device has entered a predetermined state. In some embodiments, the user's smart device can receive user input to enter the predetermined state.
Regardless, after the method 100 transmits the first piece of information to the user's smart device as in 120, the method 100 can include locating the first piece of information in a database as in 130 and identifying a second piece of information in the database that corresponds to and/or is associated with the first piece of information as in 140. Then, the method 100 can include displaying the second piece of information on a user interface of the smart device as in 150.
In some embodiments, the method 100 can also include updating the second piece of information in the database with the most current second piece of information available as in 160. Accordingly, the method 100 can continuously provide current second pieces of information rather than outdated information that may no longer be useful or relevant to a user.
The system 200 can include an alarm system 210 that includes a user interface 212. The user interface 212 can include control circuitry 214, one or more programmable processors 216, and executable control software 218 as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The executable control software 218 can be stored on a transitory or non-transitory computer readable medium, including, but not limited to, local computer memory, RAM, optical storage media, magnetic storage media, flash memory, and the like. In some embodiments, the control circuitry 214, the programmable processor 216, and/or the executable control software 218 can execute and control at least some of the method 100 and others in accordance with disclosed embodiments.
The system 200 can also include a smart device 220, for example a smart phone, a tablet device, or other personal digital assistant. The smart device 220 can include a user interface 222, a memory device 224, control circuitry 226, one or more programmable processors 228, and an executable control software application 230 as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The executable control software application 230 can be stored on a transitory or non-transitory computer readable medium, including, but not limited to, local computer memory, RAM, optical storage media, magnetic storage media, flash memory, and the like. In some embodiments, the control circuitry 226, the programmable processors 228, and/or the executable control software application 230 can execute and control at least some of the method 100 and others in accordance with disclosed embodiments.
As seen, responsive to receiving user input and/or continuously, periodically at predetermined intervals, or upon detecting a predetermined condition, the control circuitry 214, the programmable processor 216, and/or the executable control software 218 can transmit information about the current state of the alarm system 210 and/or the user interface 212 of the alarm system 210 to the smart device 220 via a data link 240. For example, the data link 240 can include a USB cable, WiFi, Bluetooth, and the like.
Upon receiving the information from the alarm system 210, the control circuitry 226, the programmable processors 228, and/or the executable control software application 230 can decode the information from the alarm system 210 and identify, determine, and/or locate an information file associated with the information from the alarm system 210. For example, in some embodiments, the control circuitry 226, the programmable processors 228, and/or the executable control software application 230 can access a database, for example, a database stored in the memory device 224 to identify, determine, and/or locate the information file associated with the information from the alarm system 210. Then, the control circuitry 226, the programmable processors 228, and/or the executable control software application 230 can request the information file from a server 250 or 260.
In some embodiments, a server 250 can be stored locally on the smart device 220, and the control circuitry 226, the programmable processors 228, and/or the executable control software application 230 can communicate with the server 250 via onboard and/or onsite communication means 255 as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. However, in some embodiments, a server 260 can be located remotely from the smart device 220, and the control circuitry 226, the programmable processors 228, and/or the executable control software application 230 can communicate with the server 260 via remote communication means 265, for example, wireless communication means such as radio, WiFi, cellular, and the like, or wired communication means such as Ethernet, fiber optics, and the like.
The server 250 or 260 can transmit the requested information file to the control circuitry 226, the programmable processors 228, and/or the executable control software application 230 for displaying information in the requested information file on the user interface 222. Information files stored on the server 250 or 260 can be updated by a user periodically and/or as needed so that the information file transmitted to the control circuitry 226, the programmable processors 228, and/or the executable control software application 230 includes the most current information associated with the information received from the alarm system 210.
Although a few embodiments have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. For example, the logic flows described above do not require the particular order described, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be added to, or removed from, the described systems. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the invention.
From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific system or method described herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover all such modifications as fall within the sprit and scope of the invention.
