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Clip for rfid transponder of a security networkClip for rfid transponder of a security network description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070090958, Clip for rfid transponder of a security network. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/821,938, Cordless Telephone System, filed Apr. 12, 2004 by the inventor of the present application, which is itself a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/795,368, Multi-Controller Security Network, filed Mar. 9, 2004, which is itself a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/602,854, RFID Reader for a Security Network, filed Jun. 25, 2003 (now allowed), which is itself a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/423,887, RFID Based Security Network, filed Apr. 28, 2003 (now allowed), which is itself a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/366,316, RFID Reader for a Security System, filed Feb. 14, 2003, which is itself a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/356,512, RFID Based Security System, filed Feb. 3, 2003 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,888,459. [0002] This patent application is further cross referenced to the following patent applications: U.S. application Ser. No. 10/820,804, Configuration Program for a Security System, filed Apr. 9, 2004; and U.S. application Ser. No. 10/806,371, Communications Architecture for a Security Network, filed Mar. 23, 2004; and to the following patent applications, all filed Feb. 14, 2003: U.S. application Ser. No. 10/366,320, Communications Control in a Security System; U.S. application Ser. No. 10/366,335, Device Enrollment in a Security System; U.S. application Ser. No. 10/366,334, Controller for a Security System (now allowed); and U.S. application Ser. No. 10/366,317, RFID Transponder for a Security System; and to the following patent applications, all filed concurrently with the present application by the inventor of the present application: "Power Management of Transponders and Sensors in an RFID Security Network," "Component Diversity in an RFID Security Network," "Portable Telephone in a Security Network," "Multi-Level Meshed Security Network," and "Fixed Part-Portable Part Communications Network for a Security Network." All of the foregoing cross-referenced patent applications are incorporated by reference into this present patent application. TECHNICAL FIELD [0003] The present invention relates generally to security systems and, more particularly, to a clip for RFID transponders as one component of such a security system. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] Security systems and home automation networks are described in numerous patents, and have been in prevalent use for over 40 years. In the United States, there are over 14 million security systems in residential homes alone. The vast majority of these systems are hardwired systems, meaning the keypad, system controller, and various intrusion sensors are wired to each other. These systems are easy to install when a home is first being constructed and access to the interiors of walls is easy; however, the cost increases substantially when wires must be added to an existing home. On average, the security industry charges approximately $75 per opening (i.e., window or door) to install a wired intrusion sensor (such as a magnet and reed switch), where most of this cost is due to the labor of drilling holes and running wires to each opening. For this reason, most homeowners only monitor a small portion of their openings. This is paradoxical because most homeowners actually want security systems to cover their entire home. [0005] In order to induce a homeowner to install a security system, many security companies will underwrite a portion of the costs of installing a security system. Therefore, if the cost of installation were $1,500, the security company may only charge $500 and then require the homeowner to sign a multi-year contract with monthly fees. The security company then recovers its investment over time. Interestingly enough, if a homeowner wants to purchase a more complete security system, the revenue to the security company and the actual cost of installation generally rise in lockstep, keeping the approximate $1,000 investment constant. This actually leads to a disincentive for security companies to install more complete systems--it uses up more technician time without generating a higher monthly contract or more upfront profit. Furthermore, spending more time installing a more complete system for one customer reduces the total number of systems that any given technician can install per year, thereby reducing the number of monitoring contracts that the security company obtains per year. [0006] In order to reduce the labor costs of installing wired systems into existing homes, wireless security systems have been developed in the last 10 to 20 years. These systems use RF communications for at least a portion of the keypads and intrusion sensors. Typically, a transceiver is installed in a central location in the home. Then, each opening is outfitted with an intrusion sensor connected to a small battery powered transmitter. The initial cost of the wireless system can range from $25 to $50 for each transmitter, plus the cost of the centrally located transceiver. This may seem less than the cost of a wired system, but in fact the opposite is true over a longer time horizon. Wireless security systems have demonstrated lower reliability than wired systems, leading to higher service and maintenance costs. For example, each transmitter contains a battery that drains over time (perhaps only a year or two), requiring a service call to replace the battery. Further, in larger houses, some of the windows and doors may be an extended distance from the centrally located transceiver, causing the wireless communications to intermittently fade out. In fact, the UL standard for wireless security systems allows wireless messages to be missed for up to 12 hours before considering the missed messages to be a problem. This implies an allowable error rate of 91%, assuming a once per hour supervisory rate. [0007] These types of wireless security systems generally operate under 47 CFR 15.231(a), which places limits on the amount of power that can be transmitted. For example, at 433 MHz, used by the wireless transmitters of one manufacturer, an average field strength of only 11 mV/m is permitted at 3 meters (equivalent to approximately 36 microwatts). At 345 MHz, used by the wireless transmitters of another manufacturer, an average field strength of only 7.3 mV/m is permitted at 3 meters (equivalent to approximately 16 microwatts). Control or supervisory transmissions are only permitted once per hour, with a duration not to exceed one second. If these same transmitters wish to transmit data under 47 CFR 15.231(e), the average field strengths at 345 and 433 MHz are reduced to 2.9 and 4.4 mV/m, respectively. The current challenges of using these methods of transmission are discussed in various patents, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,087,933, 6,137,402, 6,229,997, 6,288,639, and 6,294,992. [0008] In either wired or wireless prior art security systems, additional sensors such as glass breakage sensors or motion sensors are an additional cost beyond a system with only intrusion sensors. Each glass breakage or motion sensor can cost $30 to $50 or more, not counting the labor cost of running wires from the alarm panel to these sensors. In the case of wireless security systems, the glass breakage or motion sensor can also be wireless, but then these sensors suffer from the same drawback as the transmitters used for intrusion sensing--they are battery powered and therefore require periodic servicing to replace the batteries and possible reprogramming in the event of memory loss. [0009] Because existing wireless security systems are not reliable and wired security systems are difficult to install, many homeowners forego self-installation of security systems and either call professionals or do without. It is interesting to note that, based upon the rapid growth of home improvement chains such as Home Depot and Lowe's, there is a large market of do-it-yourself homeowners that will attempt carpentry, plumbing, and tile--but not security. There is, therefore, an established need for a security system that is both reliable and capable of being installed by the average homeowner. [0010] Regardless of whether a present wired or wireless security system has been installed by a security company or self-installed, almost all present security systems are capable of only monitoring the house for intrusion, fire, or smoke. These investments are technology limited to a substantially single purpose. There would be a significant advantage to the homeowner if the security system were also capable of supporting additional home automation and lifestyle enhancing functions. There is, therefore, an apparent need for a security system that is actually a network of devices serving many functions in the home. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide security system for use in residential and commercial buildings that can be self-installed or installed by professionals at much lower cost than present systems. [0011] More specific objects of the present invention are directed to the transponder of the security system. An object of the present invention is to affix the transponder relatively easily and reliably to an existing structure. Avoidance of the adverse consequences of transportation delays when shipping the transponder is another object. Related objects are to conserve power (e.g., battery life) in the transponder and to avoid the need to insert or replace batteries in the transponder. Another object is to automatically enroll or register new transponders in the security system. The provision of a security system that permits a single transponder to be enrolled and then used with an unlimited number of installations is another object. [0012] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a transponder that fits structural openings having various dimensions. An additional object is to reduce false alarms. Yet another object of this invention is to prevent tampering with the transponder itself. Still another object is to simultaneously perform the dual functions of preventing tampering with the transponder while also preventing security breaches of proximate structural openings. [0013] Additional objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0014] To achieve these and other objects, and in view of its purposes, the present invention provides a highly reliable system and method for constructing a security network, or security system, for a building. The invention comprises a network of devices and uses a novel approach to designing base units and transponders to provide the radio link between each of a number of openings and a controller function capable of causing an alert in the event of an intrusion. Some forms of the present invention may also provide cordless telephone functionality and may further be packaged in an embodiment familiar to many end users as a cordless telephone system. [0015] The present invention improves upon the traditional system model and paradigm by providing a security network with reliability exceeding that of existing wireless security systems, at lower cost than either professionally installed hardwired systems or wireless security systems. The present invention also allows self-installation, including incremental expansion, by typical homeowners targeted by the major home improvement and electronics retail chains. [0016] Several new marketing opportunities are created for a security network that are otherwise unavailable in the market today. First, for professional systems sold by major alarm companies, a single customer service representative may sell the network to a homeowner and then install the network in a single visit to the customer's home. This is in contrast to the present model where a salesperson sells the system and then an installer must return at a later date to drill holes, pull wires, and otherwise install the system. Second, there is a product upgrade available for existing systems whereby the scope of security coverage can be increased by adding base units and transponders to an existing control panel. Third, homeowners may purchase the inventive system at a home improvement chain, self-install the system, and contract for alarm monitoring from an alarm services company. The overall system cost is lower, and the alarm services company is not required to underwrite initial installation costs, as is presently done today. Therefore, the alarm services company can offer monitoring services at substantially lower prices. Fourth, a new market for apartment dwellers opens up. Presently, very few security systems are installed in apartments because building owners are unwilling to permit the drilling of holes and installation of permanent systems. Apartment dwellers are also more transient than homeowners and therefore most apartment dwellers and alarm service companies are unwilling to underwrite the cost of these systems anyway. The inventive system is not permanent, nor is drilling holes for hardwiring required. Therefore, an apartment dweller can purchase the inventive security network, use it in one apartment, and then unplug and move the network to another apartment later. [0017] The improvements provided by the present invention are accomplished through the following innovations. The first innovation is the design of a low cost base unit that can cover an area of a house. Rather than rely on the single centrally located transceiver approach of existing unreliable wireless security systems, the present invention allows the placement of multiple base units into multiple rooms and areas for which coverage is desired. The presence of multiple base units within a building provides spatial receiver diversity. [0018] The second innovation is the use of different types of transponders to transmit data from covered openings and sensors. One transponder may use backscatter modulation. Another transponder may use low power RF communications (i.e., an active transmitter). [0019] The third innovation is the provision of a clip for the RFID transponder. The clip includes a flexible, semi-rigid body engaging the RFID transponder via a slip or snap-in placement. The clip also includes an electrical contact interconnecting with the electrical contact of the RFID transponder when the RFID transponder is placed into engagement with the clip. A related method of automatically enrolling the RFID transponder in a security system, using the clip, is also provided. [0020] The fourth innovation is the permitted use of multiple distributed controller functions in the security network. In the present invention, the controller function can be located within any physical embodiment of a base unit. Therefore, a homeowner or building owner installing multiple base units will also simultaneously be installing multiple controller functions. The controller functions operate in a redundant mode with each other. Therefore, if an intruder discovers and disables a single base unit containing a controller function, the intruder may still be detected by any of the remaining installed base units containing controller functions. 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