Security system for buildings with elevator installations

Abstract

A building security system includes an emergency communications system of an elevator installation, and a building alarm system. The emergency communications system has a communications interface to couple the emergency communications system to a remote elevator service central in an emergency situation, and an emergency call panel arranged in an elevator car to allow a passenger to communicate with the remote elevator service central via the communications interface while in the elevator car during the emergency situation. The building alarm system includes a plurality of sensor units arranged at predetermined locations of the building and selected to detect predetermined building events. The building alarm system is communicatively coupled to the emergency communications system of the elevator installation for communicating the building event to the elevator service central via the emergency communications system of the elevator installation and/or for receiving an action request from the remote elevator service central via the communications interface of the emergency communications system.

1 . A method of operating a building security system comprising a building alarm system and an emergency communications system of an elevator installation, wherein the emergency communications system includes a communications interface to couple the emergency communications system to a remote elevator service central, and an emergency call panel arranged in an elevator car to allow a passenger to communicate with the remote elevator service central via the communications interface while in the elevator car during an emergency situation, and wherein the building alarm system includes a plurality of sensor units arranged at predetermined locations of the building and selected to detect predetermined building events, comprising:
 communicating a building event from the building alarm system via the communications interface of the emergency communications system to the remote elevator service central; and   communicating an action request from the remote elevator service central via the communications interface of the emergency communications system to the building alarm sy stem.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein communicating the building event comprises:
 receiving, by the emergency communications system of the elevator installation, an event signal from the building alarm system, the event signal representing a predetermined value if a sensor unit detects a building event;   establishing, by the emergency communications system, a communications link between the emergency communications system and the elevator service central; and   transmitting, by the emergency communications system, the event signal to the elevator service central.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the event signal is associated with an identifier of the building. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the event signal is transmitted in a data channel. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein communicating the action request comprises:
 establishing, by the elevator service central, a communications link between the elevator service central and the emergency communications system;   receiving, by the emergency communications system of the elevator installation, the action request from the elevator service central; and   transmitting, by the emergency communications system, the action request to the building alarm system.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the action request includes a status request or an activation signal, wherein the status request relates to a current status of at least one of the sensor units, and wherein the activation signal relates to an actuator arranged at the building. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 in response to the status request, obtaining the current status of the least one sensor unit, and communicating the current status as a building event from the building alarm system via the communications interface of the emergency communications system to the remote elevator service central.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein establishing the communications link includes setting up a radio communications link via a mobile communications network. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein establishing the communications link includes setting up a call via a telephone network. 
     
     
         10 . A building security system, comprising:
 an emergency communications system of an elevator installation, the emergency communications system having a communications interface to couple the emergency communications system to a remote elevator service central in an emergency situation, and an emergency call panel arranged in an elevator car to allow a passenger to communicate with the remote elevator service central via the communications interface while in the elevator car during the emergency situation; and   a building alarm system including a plurality of sensor units arranged at predetermined locations of the building and selected to detect predetermined building events, wherein the building alarm system is communicatively coupled to the emergency communications system of the elevator installation for communicating the building event to the elevator service central via the emergency communications system of the elevator installation, and for receiving an action request from the remote elevator service central via the communications interface of the emergency communications system.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of sensor units includes at least one sensor for fire, smoke, gas, water, unauthorized entry, or mechanical or electrical equipment failure. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the building alarm system includes an alarm processing unit, wherein the alarm processing unit is arranged separate from the emergency communications system and coupled to the interface. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the building alarm system includes an alarm processing unit, wherein the alarm processing unit is integrated into the emergency communications system and coupled to the interface. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor unit includes a radio-frequency module for transmitting a sensor signal, and wherein the building alarm system further includes a radio-frequency transceiver to receive the sensor signal.