Security system

摘要

Known security systems issue an audible and/or visible alarm to alert all those local to a secured article that the article has been compromised. However, for various reasons, passers-by do not respond to such an alarm/alert. According to the present invention, if an intruder interferes with a secured article, a sensor may detect an event associated with an article being interfered with and/or compromised. This detection will trigger (via a processor) an alarm condition, and a transceiver will send an alarm signal to a monitoring device over a communication network; however, no indication of the alarm condition is detectable outside the housing by means other than via the alarm signal. In this way, an intruder compromising an article is not alerted to detection of the event by the sensor. Therefore, authorities may be summoned to apprehend the intruder without the intruder being provided with the opportunity to escape.

主权项

1. A security system for indicating when an article has been compromised, the system comprising:
a primary security device configured to secure the article; at least one satellite security device; and a monitoring device configured to monitor the primary security device over a communication network, wherein the monitoring device comprises a controller for controlling operation of the primary security device over the communication network; wherein the primary security device comprises:
a substantially tamper-proof housing;a power source located within the housing;at least one sensor located within the housing, the at least one sensor configured to detect an event associated with the article being compromised;a processor located within the housing, the processor configured to trigger an alarm condition in response to the at least one sensor detecting an event associated with the article being compromised; anda transceiver located within the housing, the transceiver configured to send an alarm signal to the monitoring device over the communication network in response to triggering of the alarm condition by the processor; andwherein the housing prevents user interface by any means other than via the transceiver; wherein the primary security device is configured such that the alarm condition is only detectable outside the housing via the alarm signal; wherein the at least one satellite security device comprises:
a substantially tamper-proof satellite housing;a satellite power source located within the satellite housing, the satellite power source being substantially smaller than the power source of the primary security device;at least one satellite sensor located within the satellite housing, the at least one satellite sensor configured to detect an event associated with the article being compromised;a satellite processor located within the satellite housing, the satellite processor configured to trigger a satellite alarm condition in response to the at least one satellite sensor detecting an event associated with the article being compromised; anda satellite micro-transceiver located within the satellite housing, the satellite micro-transceiver being substantially smaller than the transceiver of the primary security device, the satellite micro-transceiver configured to send a satellite alarm signal only to the primary security device in response to triggering of the satellite alarm condition by the satellite processor; wherein the satellite security device is configured such that the satellite alarm condition is only detectable outside the satellite housing via the satellite alarm signal; and wherein the primary security device is configured to relay the satellite alarm signal to the monitoring device.