Security system for a building complex having multiple units

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG.
1 is a functional block diagram of a security system 10 for use in a building complex having multiple units.
As shown in FIG.
1, security system 10 includes a main controller 12, unit systems 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, a telephone interface 24, and an alarm 26.
Security system 10 is applicable to a variety of building complexes having multiple units including residential building complexes having residential units such as apartments or condominiums, and commercial building complexes having commercial units such as offices, businesses, or storage facilities.
Unit systems 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 monitor various security conditions within respective units in the building complex.
Main controller 12 operates in a supervisory capacity, communicating with each of unit systems 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, or some subset thereof, to monitor the security conditions among the units in the overall building complex.
Each unit system 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 is associated with one of the units in the building complex, and typically is located within a particular unit.
Thus, for n units, security system 10 typically will include n unit systems.
It is conceivable, however, that a single unit system 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 could be associated with two or more adjacent units.
Main controller 12 typically will be located remotely from the units monitored by unit systems 14, 16, 18, 20, 22.
For example, main controller 12 can be located in a central security or utility room within the complex, or at a site remote from the complex.
Communication between main controller 12 and unit systems 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 can be wireless or hard-wired depending on the building complex.
Wireless communication is preferred, however, for ease of installation as well as reliability of communication.
In particular, unlike a hard-wired link, the wireless link cannot be physically severed by an intruder.
Unit systems 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 monitor security conditions such as intruder entry into the respective units, e.
g.
, by door or window entry or motion detection