Author: claimsbot

1. In a portable computer system comprising a digital signal processor (DSP) and a main processor, a method for establishing a wireless connection between said portable computer system and a wireless network, said method comprising:
scanning a plurality of broadcast channels used by said wireless network, wherein said scanning is performed under direction of said DSP while said main processor remains in said low power mode;
determining whether a broadcast channel is acceptable for said wireless connection, wherein said determining is executed by said DSP while said main processor remains in said low power mode;
said DSP waking up said main processor provided a broadcast channel acceptable for said wireless connection is identified and otherwise said DSP repeating said scanning at periodic time intervals until said broadcast channel acceptable for said wireless connection is identified, wherein said DSP is placed in a lower power sleep mode between each said scanning; and
said DSP identifying to said main processor said broadcast channel acceptable for said wireless connection.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said determining comprises:
comparing to a threshold a measure of signal strength of a signal received over said broadcast channel, wherein said threshold is for defining a signal strength acceptable for said wireless connection.
3. The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising:
identifying a number of broadcast channels acceptable for said wireless connection; and
sorting said number of broadcast channels according to their respective measure of signal strength.
4. The method as recited in claim 3 further comprising:
selecting from said number of broadcast channels a broadcast channel having the highest measure of signal strength; and
establishing said wireless connection using said broadcast channel having the highest measure of signal strength, wherein said establishing is performed under direction of said main processor.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said scanning further comprises:
disregarding certain broadcast channels used by said wireless network.
6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said wireless network is a Mobitex wireless communication system.
7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said scanning is automatically initiated when a previously established wireless connection between said portable computer system and said wireless network is lost.
8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said scanning is automatically initiated when said portable computer system is powered on and an acceptable broadcast channel for said wireless connection is not acquired.
9. A portable computer system comprising:
a bus;
a wireless transceiver coupled to said bus;
a main processor coupled to said bus; and
a digital signal processor (DSP) coupled to said bus, said DSP for executing a method for establishing a wireless connection between said portable computer system and a wireless network, said method comprising:
scanning a plurality of broadcast channels used by said wireless network, wherein said scanning is performed while said main processor is in a low power mode;
determining whether a broadcast channel is acceptable for said wireless connection, wherein said determining is executed while said main processor remains in said low power mode;
waking up said main processor provided a broadcast channel acceptable for said wireless connection is identified and otherwise said DSP repeating said scanning at periodic time intervals until said broadcast channel acceptable for said wireless connection is identified, wherein said DSP is placed in a lower power sleep mode between each said scanning; and
identifying to said main processor said broadcast channel acceptable for said wireless connection.
10. The portable computer system of claim 9, wherein said determining of said method comprises:
comparing to a threshold a measure of signal strength of a signal received over said broadcast channel, wherein said threshold is for defining a signal strength acceptable for said wireless connection.
11. The portable computer system of claim 10 wherein said method further comprises:
identifying a number of broadcast channels acceptable for said wireless connection; and
sorting said number of broadcast channels according to their respective measure of signal strength.
12. The portable computer system of claim 11 wherein a broadcast channel having the highest measure of signal strength is selected from said number of broadcast channels and used for said wireless connection.
13. The portable computer system of claim 9 wherein said scanning of said method further comprises:
disregarding certain broadcast channels used by said wireless network.
14. The portable computer system of claim 9 wherein said wireless network is a Mobitex wireless communication system.
15. The portable computer system of claim 9 wherein said scanning of said method is automatically initiated when a previously established wireless connection between said portable computer system and said wireless network is lost.
16. The portable computer system of claim 9 wherein said scanning of said method is automatically initiated when said portable computer system is powered on and an acceptable broadcast channel for said wireless connection is not acquired.
17. In a portable computer system comprising a digital signal processor (DSP) and a main processor, a method for establishing a wireless connection between said portable computer system and a wireless network, said method comprising:
scanning a plurality of broadcast channels used by said wireless network, wherein said step of scanning is performed under direction of said DSP while said main processor is in a low power mode and wherein said step of scanning is automatically initiated in response to a triggering event;
said DSP comparing to a threshold value a measure of signal strength of each signal received over said plurality of broadcast channels, wherein said threshold is for defining a signal strength acceptable for said wireless connection;
said DSP waking up said main processor provided a broadcast channel acceptable for said wireless connection is identified, and otherwise said DSP repeating said scanning until a broadcast channel acceptable for said wireless connection is identified, wherein said DSP is placed in a lower power sleep mode between each said scanning; and
said DSP identifying to said main processor said broadcast channel acceptable for said wireless connection.
18. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein said comparing comprises:
said DSP identifying a number of broadcast channels acceptable for said wireless connection; and
said DSP ranking said number of broadcast channels according to their respective measure of signal strength.
19. The method as recited in claim 18 wherein said method further comprises:
said main processor selecting from said number of broadcast channels a broadcast channel having the highest measure of signal strength; and
said main processor establishing said wireless connection using said broadcast channel having the highest measure of signal strength.
20. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein certain broadcast channels used by said wireless network are disregarded.
21. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein said wireless network is a Mobitex wireless communication system.
22. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein said triggering event is loss of a previously established wireless connection between said portable computer system and said wireless network.
23. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein said triggering event is lack of acquisition of a broadcast channel for said wireless connection when said portable computer system is powered on.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method of handling alarm events, comprising:
receiving, using at least one component of an alarm system that is configured to monitor a building, sensor data sensed by at least one sensor configured to monitor activity associated with the building, the at least one component of the alarm system being located within the building;
detecting, using the at least one component of the alarm system and based on the received sensor data, a potential alarm event associated with the building that triggers a start of a predetermined time delay in which a user is allowed to cancel the potential alarm event;
sending, using the at least one component of the alarm system, a signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event to an offsite system located at an offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system;
after detecting the potential alarm event:
triggering the start of the predetermined time delay in which the alarm system will accept input canceling the potential alarm event from the user,
monitoring, using the at least one component of the alarm system, for receipt of input canceling the potential alarm event within the predetermined time delay in which the alarm system will accept input canceling the potential alarm event from the user, and
based on the monitoring for receipt of input canceling the potential alarm event, in response to input being received that cancels the potential alarm event within the predetermined time delay in which the alarm system will accept input canceling the potential alarm event from the user, using the at least one component of the alarm system to send a cancellation signal to the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system;

using the offsite system to receive the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system; and
after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event:
monitoring, using the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building, to determine whether the offsite system receives another signal that is related to the potential alarm event, that is sent by the at least one component of the alarm system, and that is received within a predetermined period of time after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system,
in response to a determined absence of another signal received from the at least one component of the alarm system within the predetermined period of time after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system, using the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building to determine that the potential alarm event associated with the building is an alarm event associated with the building and to take action in response to the determination that the potential alarm event associated with the building is an alarm event associated with the building, and
in response to a determination that the cancellation signal is received from the at least one component of the alarm system within the predetermined period of time after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system, using the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building to determine that the potential alarm event associated with the building is not an alarm event associated with the building.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
based on the monitoring for receipt of input canceling the potential alarm event, in response to a determined absence of input canceling the potential alarm event having been received within the predetermined time delay in which the alarm system will accept input canceling the potential alarm event from the user, using a first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to attempt to send an alarm signal to a host station indicating detection of an alarm event associated with the building, the host station being physically separate from the building and the alarm signal being sent in addition to the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event,
wherein sending, using the at least one component of the alarm system, the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event to the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system comprises using a second communication mechanism included in the alarm system to send the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event to an escrow site located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building, the escrow site being physically separate from the host station,
wherein using the at least one component of the alarm system to send the cancellation signal to the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system comprises using the second communication mechanism included in the alarm system to send the cancellation signal to the escrow site located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building, and
wherein using the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building to take action in response to the determination that the potential alarm event associated with the building is an alarm event associated with the building comprises sending, from the escrow site located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building, an alarm signal to the host station indicating detection of the alarm event associated with the building.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
determining, using the at least one component of the alarm system, whether communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is successful;
based on the determination of whether communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is successful, sending, using the at least one component of the alarm system, an update message to the escrow site that is indicative of whether the communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is successful;
receiving, using the escrow site, the update message that is indicative of whether the communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is successful;
determining, using the escrow site, whether the update message indicates that the communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is successful;
in response to a determination that the update message indicates that the communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is successful, determining, using the escrow site, that no further signaling from the escrow site is necessary; and
in response to a determination that the update message indicates that the communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is unsuccessful, sending, from the escrow site located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building, an alarm signal to the host station indicating detection of the alarm event associated with the building.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein the second communication mechanism included in the alarm system is different than the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system.
5. The method of claim 2 wherein sending, from the escrow site located at the offsite location that is separate from the building, the alarm signal to the host station indicating detection of the alarm event associated with the building occurs only when another signal is not received from the at least one component of the alarm system within the predetermined period of time after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system or when communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is unsuccessful.
6. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
determining whether communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station was successful, and
in response to a determination that communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station was unsuccessful, sending, from the escrow site located at the offsite location that is separate from the building, an alarm signal to the host station indicating detection of the alarm event associated with the building.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein:
sending, using the at least one component of the alarm system, the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event to the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system comprises using a long range wireless radio to send the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event to an escrow site located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building;
using the at least one component of the alarm system to send the cancellation signal to the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system comprises using the long range wireless radio to send the cancellation signal to the escrow site located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building; and
using the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building to take action in response to the determination that the potential alarm event associated with the building is an alarm event associated with the building comprises sending, from the escrow site located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building, a message to a host station indicating detection of the alarm event associated with the building, the host station being physically separate from the building and the escrow site.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
based on the monitoring for receipt of input canceling the potential alarm event, in response to a determined absence of input canceling the potential alarm event having been received within the predetermined time delay in which the alarm system will accept input canceling the potential alarm event from the user, using the at least one component of the alarm system to send an alarm signal to the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system; and
in response to a determination that the alarm signal is received from the at least one component of the alarm system, using the offsite system to determine that the potential alarm event associated with the building is an alarm event associated with the building.
9. A system for handling alarm events, comprising:
an alarm system that is configured to monitor a building, the alarm system including at least one sensor configured to monitor activity associated with the building and at least one component that is located within the building; and
an offsite system located at an offsite location that is physically separate from the building,
wherein the at least one component of the alarm system is configured to perform operations comprising:
receiving sensor data sensed by the at least one sensor,
detecting, based on the received sensor data, a potential alarm event associated with the building that triggers a start of a predetermined time delay in which a user is allowed to cancel the potential alarm event,
sending a signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event to the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system,
after detecting the potential alarm event:
triggering the start of the predetermined time delay in which the alarm system will accept input canceling the potential alarm event from the user,
monitoring for receipt of input canceling the potential alarm event within the predetermined time delay in which the alarm system will accept input canceling the potential alarm event from the user, and
based on the monitoring for receipt of input canceling the potential alarm event, in response to input being received that cancels the potential alarm event within the predetermined time delay in which the alarm system will accept input canceling the potential alarm event from the user, sending a cancellation signal to the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system, and
wherein the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building is configured to perform operations comprising:
receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system,
after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event:
monitoring to determine whether the offsite system receives another signal that is related to the potential alarm event, that is sent by the at least one component of the alarm system, and that is received within a predetermined period of time after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system,
in response to a determined absence of another signal received from the at least one component of the alarm system within the predetermined period of time after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system, determining that the potential alarm event associated with the building is an alarm event associated with the building and taking action in response to the determination that the potential alarm event associated with the building is an alarm event associated with the building, and
in response to a determination that the cancellation signal is received from the at least one component of the alarm system within the predetermined period of time after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system, determining that the potential alarm event associated with the building is not an alarm event associated with the building.
10. The system of claim 9:
wherein the at least one component of the alarm system includes a first communication mechanism and a second communication mechanism, the offsite system is an escrow site located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building, and the at least one component of the alarm system is configured to perform operations further comprising:
based on the monitoring for receipt of input canceling the potential alarm event, in response to a determined absence of input canceling the potential alarm event having been received within the predetermined time delay in which the alarm system will accept input canceling the potential alarm event from the user, using the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to attempt to send an alarm signal to a host station indicating detection of an alarm event associated with the building, the host station being physically separate from the building and the alarm signal being sent in addition to the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event,

wherein sending the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event to the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system comprises using the second communication mechanism included in the alarm system to send the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event to the escrow site located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building, the escrow site being physically separate from the host station,
wherein sending the cancellation signal to the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system comprises using the second communication mechanism included in the alarm system to send the cancellation signal to the escrow site located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building, and
wherein taking action in response to the determination that the potential alarm event associated with the building is an alarm event associated with the building comprises sending, from the escrow site located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building, an alarm signal to the host station indicating detection of the alarm event associated with the building.
11. The system of claim 10:
wherein the at least one component of the alarm system is configured to perform operations further comprising:
determining whether communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is successful; and
based on the determination of whether communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is successful, sending an update message to the escrow site that is indicative of whether the communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is successful; and

wherein the escrow site is configured to perform operations further comprising:
receiving the update message that is indicative of whether the communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is successful;
determining whether the update message indicates that the communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is successful;
in response to a determination that the update message indicates that the communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is successful, determining that no further signaling from the escrow site is necessary; and
in response to a determination that the update message indicates that the communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is unsuccessful, sending an alarm signal to the host station indicating detection of the alarm event associated with the building.
12. The system of claim 10 wherein the second communication mechanism included in the alarm system is different than the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system.
13. The system of claim 10 wherein sending the alarm signal to the host station indicating detection of the alarm event associated with the building occurs only when another signal is not received from the at least one component of the alarm system within the predetermined period of time after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system or when communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is unsuccessful.
14. The system of claim 9 wherein:
the at least one component of the alarm system includes a long range wireless radio;
the offsite system is an escrow site located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building;
sending the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event to the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system comprises using the long range wireless radio to send the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event to the escrow site located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building;
sending the cancellation signal to the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system comprises using the long range wireless radio to send the cancellation signal to the escrow site located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building; and
taking action in response to the determination that the potential alarm event associated with the building is an alarm event associated with the building comprises sending, from the escrow site located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building, a message to a host station indicating detection of the alarm event associated with the building, the host station being physically separate from the building and the escrow site.
15. The system of claim 9:
wherein the at least one component of the alarm system is configured to perform operations further comprising:
based on the monitoring for receipt of input canceling the potential alarm event, in response to a determined absence of input canceling the potential alarm event having been received within the predetermined time delay in which the alarm system will accept input canceling the potential alarm event from the user, sending an alarm signal to the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system; and

wherein the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building is configured to perform operations further comprising:
in response to a determination that the alarm signal is received from the at least one component of the alarm system, determining that the potential alarm event associated with the building is an alarm event associated with the building.
16. A method of handling alarm events, comprising:
receiving, using at least one component of an alarm system that is configured to monitor a building, sensor data sensed by at least one sensor configured to monitor activity associated with the building, the at least one component of the alarm system being located within the building;
detecting, using the at least one component of the alarm system and based on the received sensor data, a potential alarm event associated with the building that triggers a start of a predetermined time delay in which a user is allowed to cancel the potential alarm event;
sending, using the at least one component of the alarm system, a signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event to an offsite system located at an offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system; and
after detecting the potential alarm event:
triggering the start of the predetermined time delay in which the alarm system will accept input canceling the potential alarm event from the user,
monitoring, using the at least one component of the alarm system, for receipt of input canceling the potential alarm event within the predetermined time delay in which the alarm system will accept input canceling the potential alarm event from the user, and
based on the monitoring for receipt of input canceling the potential alarm event, in response to input being received that cancels the potential alarm event within the predetermined time delay in which the alarm system will accept input canceling the potential alarm event from the user, using the at least one component of the alarm system to send a cancellation signal to the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein sending, using the at least one component of the alarm system, the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event to the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system enables the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building to perform operations comprising:
receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system; and
after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event:
monitoring to determine whether the offsite system receives another signal that is related to the potential alarm event, that is sent by the at least one component of the alarm system, and that is received within a predetermined period of time after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system,
in response to a determined absence of another signal received from the at least one component of the alarm system within the predetermined period of time after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system, determining that the potential alarm event associated with the building is an alarm event associated with the building and taking action in response to the determination that the potential alarm event associated with the building is an alarm event associated with the building, and
in response to a determination that the cancellation signal is received from the at least one component of the alarm system within the predetermined period of time after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system, determining that the potential alarm event associated with the building is not an alarm event associated with the building.
18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
based on the monitoring for receipt of input canceling the potential alarm event, in response to a determined absence of input canceling the potential alarm event having been received within the predetermined time delay in which the alarm system will accept input canceling the potential alarm event from the user, using a first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to attempt to send an alarm signal to a host station indicating detection of an alarm event associated with the building, the host station being physically separate from the building and the alarm signal being sent in addition to the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event,
wherein sending, using the at least one component of the alarm system, the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event to the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system comprises using a second communication mechanism included in the alarm system to send the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event to an escrow site located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building, the escrow site being physically separate from the host station, and
wherein using the at least one component of the alarm system to send the cancellation signal to the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system comprises using the second communication mechanism included in the alarm system to send the cancellation signal to the escrow site located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:
determining, using the at least one component of the alarm system, whether communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is successful; and
based on the determination of whether communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is successful, sending, using the at least one component of the alarm system, an update message to the escrow site that is indicative of whether the communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is successful;
20. The method of claim 16 wherein:
sending, using the at least one component of the alarm system, the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event to the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system comprises using a long range wireless radio to send the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event to an escrow site located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building; and
using the at least one component of the alarm system to send the cancellation signal to the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system comprises using the long range wireless radio to send the cancellation signal to the escrow site located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building.
21. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
based on the monitoring for receipt of input canceling the potential alarm event, in response to a determined absence of input canceling the potential alarm event having been received within the predetermined time delay in which the alarm system will accept input canceling the potential alarm event from the user, using the at least one component of the alarm system to send an alarm signal to the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system.
22. An alarm system that is configured to monitor a building, comprising:
at least one sensor configured to monitor activity associated with the building; and
at least one component that is located within the building,
wherein the at least one component of the alarm system is configured to perform operations comprising:
receiving sensor data sensed by the at least one sensor,
detecting, based on the received sensor data, a potential alarm event associated with the building that triggers a start of a predetermined time delay in which a user is allowed to cancel the potential alarm event,
sending a signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event to the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system,
after detecting the potential alarm event:
triggering the start of the predetermined time delay in which the alarm system will accept input canceling the potential alarm event from the user,
monitoring for receipt of input canceling the potential alarm event within the predetermined time delay in which the alarm system will accept input canceling the potential alarm event from the user, and
based on the monitoring for receipt of input canceling the potential alarm event, in response to input being received that cancels the potential alarm event within the predetermined time delay in which the alarm system will accept input canceling the potential alarm event from the user, sending a cancellation signal to the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of the building monitored by the alarm system.
23. A method of handling alarm events, comprising:
receiving, using an offsite system located at an offsite location that is physically separate from and outside of a building being monitored by an alarm system that includes at least one component located within the building, a signal that is indicative of a potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system, the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event being sent, using the at least one component of the alarm system, outside of the building monitored by the alarm system; and
after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event:
monitoring, using the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building, to determine whether the offsite system receives another signal that is related to the potential alarm event, that is sent by the at least one component of the alarm system, and that is received within a predetermined period of time after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system,
in response to a determined absence of another signal received from the at least one component of the alarm system within the predetermined period of time after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system, using the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building to determine that the potential alarm event associated with the building is an alarm event associated with the building and to take action in response to the determination that the potential alarm event associated with the building is an alarm event associated with the building, and
in response to a determination that a cancellation signal is received from the at least one component of the alarm system within the predetermined period of time after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system, using the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building to determine that the potential alarm event associated with the building is not an alarm event associated with the building, the cancellation signal being sent, using the at least one component of the alarm system, outside of the building monitored by the alarm system in response to input being received that cancels the potential alarm event within a predetermined time delay in which the alarm system will accept input canceling the potential alarm event from the user.
24. The method of claim 23 wherein using the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building to take action in response to the determination that the potential alarm event associated with the building is an alarm event associated with the building comprises sending, from an escrow site located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building, an alarm signal to a host station indicating detection of the alarm event associated with the building, the host station being physically separate from the building and the escrow site being physically separate from the host station.
25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:
receiving, using the escrow site, an update message that is indicative of whether communication of an alarm signal from a first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is successful, the update message being sent, using the at least one component of the alarm system, based on a determination of whether communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is successful;
determining, using the escrow site, whether the update message indicates that the communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is successful;
in response to a determination that the update message indicates that the communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is successful, determining, using the escrow site, that no further signaling from the escrow site is necessary; and
in response to a determination that the update message indicates that the communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is unsuccessful, sending, from the escrow site located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building, an alarm signal to the host station indicating detection of the alarm event associated with the building.
26. The method of claim 24 wherein sending, from the escrow site located at the offsite location that is separate from the building, the alarm signal to the host station indicating detection of the alarm event associated with the building occurs only when another signal is not received from the at least one component of the alarm system within the predetermined period of time after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system or when communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station is unsuccessful.
27. The method of claim 24 further comprising:
determining whether communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station was successful, and
in response to a determination that communication of the alarm signal from the first communication mechanism included in the alarm system to the host station was unsuccessful, sending, from the escrow site located at the offsite location that is separate from the building, an alarm signal to the host station indicating detection of the alarm event associated with the building.
28. The method of claim 23 further comprising:
in response to a determination that an alarm signal is received from the at least one component of the alarm system, using the offsite system to determine that the potential alarm event associated with the building is an alarm event associated with the building.
29. An offsite system, comprising:
a receiver configured to receive signals from at least one component of an alarm system that is configured to monitor a building, the at least one component being located within the building and the offsite system being located at an offsite location that is physically separate from the building; and
a transmitter,
wherein the offsite system located at the offsite location that is physically separate from the building is configured to perform operations comprising:
receiving a signal that is indicative of a potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system, the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event being sent, using the at least one component of the alarm system, outside of the building monitored by the alarm system; and
after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event:
monitoring to determine whether the offsite system receives another signal that is related to the potential alarm event, that is sent by the at least one component of the alarm system, and that is received within a predetermined period of time after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system,
in response to a determined absence of another signal received from the at least one component of the alarm system within the predetermined period of time after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system, determining that the potential alarm event associated with the building is an alarm event associated with the building and taking action in response to the determination that the potential alarm event associated with the building is an alarm event associated with the building, and
in response to a determination that a cancellation signal is received from the at least one component of the alarm system within the predetermined period of time after receiving the signal that is indicative of the potential alarm event from the at least one component of the alarm system, determining that the potential alarm event associated with the building is not an alarm event associated with the building, the cancellation signal being sent, using the at least one component of the alarm system, outside of the building monitored by the alarm system in response to input being received that cancels the potential alarm event within a predetermined time delay in which the alarm system will accept input canceling the potential alarm event from the user.

1-15. (canceled)
16. A packaging for at least one product, the packaging comprising:
a film configured to wrap around the at least one product.
17. The packaging of claim 16 wherein the at least one product is a plurality of wafers.
18. The packaging of claim 17 wherein the wafers are stacked directly upon each other to define a stack, and the stack is wrapped directly in the film.
19. The packaging of claim 18 further comprising:
a first cover plate disposed at the top of the stack; and
a second cover plated disposed at the bottom of the stack,
wherein the stack, the first cover plate, and the second cover plate are wrapped in the film.
20. The packaging of claim 18 further comprising:
one or more separating elements placed between the wafers of the stack, and the stack and the one or more separating elements are wrapped directly in the film.
21. The packaging of claim 16 further comprising:
an outer shrink film combined with the film.
22. The packaging of claim 18 further comprising:
a separating element arranged between an adjacent pair of the wafers in the stack, the separating element in the form of a thin intermediate layer comprising a deformable material.
23. The packaging of claim 22 wherein the deformable material is cardboard, paper, tissue paper, film, felt, non-woven material, plastic, foam, biologically degradable foam, or laminated material.
24. The packaging of claim 22 wherein the separating element has a size andor an arrangement between the adjacent pair of the wafers that the separating element partially projects laterally from adjacent pair of the wafers.
25. The packaging of claim 18 further comprising:
a plurality of separating elements arranged between adjacent pairs the wafers in the stack, each of the separating elements in the form of a thin intermediate layer comprising a deformable material.
26. The packaging of claim 25 wherein the separating elements are composed of laminations of different materials configures to apply a pressure against the film.
27. The packaging of claim 25 wherein the separating elements are configured with a surface structure that the wafers can be released from the separating element.
28. The packaging of claim 27 wherein the surface structure is configured to promote air flow that releases the wafers from the separating elements.
29. The packaging of claim 25 wherein the surface structure is knobs, structured air passages, cut-outs, through openings in each separating element, or through openings on each separating element.
30. The packaging of claim 18 further comprising:
a first cushion element arranged at an outside edge of the stack.
31. The packaging of claim 30 further comprising:
a second cushion element arranged at a mutually opposite side of the stack from the first cushion element.
32. The packaging of claim 30 wherein the first cushion element is arranged at an outside edge of the stack.
33. The packaging of claim 30 wherein the first cushion element extends substantially over the entire outside edge.
34. The packaging of claim 33 wherein the first cushion element has a plurality of straight wall portions.
35. The packaging of claim 30 wherein the first cushion element has a plurality of recesses which, in the packaged condition, are arranged substantially opposite the corners of the wafers in the stack.
36. The packaging of claim 30 wherein the first cushion element has a higher strength at a perimeter than at a location inside the perimeter.
37. The packaging of claim 30 wherein the first cushion element has a reinforcing layer disposed at a perimeter of the first cushion element.
38. The packaging of claim 18 further comprising:
a shell including a plurality of shell portions configured to be fitted about the stack of the wafers or the solar cells.
39. The packaging of claim 18 further comprising:
a shell including a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls, and the stack of the wafers or the solar cells can be fitted into an opening in opposite relationship to the bottom wall and into the shell.
40. The packaging of claim 39 wherein a plurality of cushion elements are arranged between the bottom wall, the side walls, and the stack of the wafers.
41. The packaging of claim 39 further comprising:
a cushion element defining a cover that closes the shell.
42. The packaging of claim 39 further comprising:
a shrinkable film or a cardboard box at least partially enclosing the shell.
43. The packaging of claim 16 further comprising:
a carrier element configured to carry the at least one product and dimensioned such that the at least one product can be placed completely on a side of the carrier element, the carrier element further configured to be stackable together with a plurality of additional carrier elements.
44. The packaging of claim 43 further comprising:
means for positioning the at least one product on the carrier element.
45. The packaging of claim 43 wherein the carrier element includes a depression in which the at least one product is laid.
46. The packaging of claim 45 wherein the depression is shaped to substantially correspond to a contour of the at least one product, and the at least one product is arranged completely or substantially within the depression.
47. The packaging of claim 46 wherein the depression is substantially parallelepipedic, substantially square, or substantially cylindrical.
48. The packaging of claim 43 further comprising:
an information carrier arranged on the carrier element.
49. The packaging of claim 48 wherein the information carrier comprises a barcode, a RFID, a data chip, or a printed label.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. Apparatus for controlling a television receiver in response to proximity of a person, the television receiver comprising a screen, a line of sight signal sensor, a remote control for transmitting commands encoded on a line of sight carrier signal to the signal sensor, and a controller that controls the television receiver in response to receipt of an encoded command by the signal sensor, the apparatus comprising:
a base unit adjacent to the television receiver, the base unit comprising proximity sensing means for sensing if a person is within a predetermined range forward of the television screen, transmitting means for transmitting a triggering signal, and control means response to the proximity sensing means for actuating the transmitting means to transmit the triggering signal; and,
a slave unit remote from the television receiver, the slave unit comprising receiving means for receiving the triggering signal from the base unit, transmitting means for transmitting a command encoded on the line of sight carrier signal to the sensor of the television receiver, and control means responsive to the received triggering signal for actuating the transmitting means to transmit the command.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the transmitted command instructs the controller to shut the television receiver off.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which:
the base unit comprises indicator means for producing an audible or visual warning signal; and,
the control means actuate the indicator means when the proximity sensing means sense a person within the range and actuate the transmitting means to transmit the triggering signal if the person remains within the range for a predetermined period of time.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the transmitting means of the base unit and the receiving means of the slave unit are adapted for wireless transmission and receipt of the triggering signal via an omnidirectional signal carrier.
5. Apparatus for controlling a television receiver in response to proximity of a person, the television receiver comprising a screen, a line of sight signal sensor, and a controller that controls the television receiver in response to predetermined commands received by the signal sensor encoded on a line of sight carrier signal, the commands including an ON command and an OFF command, the apparatus comprising:
a base unit adjacent to the television receiver, the base unit comprising proximity sensing means for sensing when a person is within a predetermined range forward of the television screen, transmitting means for transmitting triggering signals, and control means responsive to the proximity sensing means and predetermined criteria for actuating the transmitting means to transmit an ON triggering signals corresponding to the ON command and an OFF triggering signal corresponding to the OFF command; and,
a slave unit remote from the television receiver, the slave unit comprising receiving means for receiving the triggering signals from the base unit, transmitting means for transmitting the ON and OFF commands encoded on the line of sight carrier signal to the signal sensor of the television receiver, and control means for actuating the transmitting means in response to a received ON or OFF triggering signal to transmit the corresponding ON or OFF command.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which:
the base unit comprises indicator means for generating an audible or visual warning signal; and,
the control means of the base unit comprise a digital processor programmed to actuate the indicator means to generate the warning signal when the proximity sensing means sense the presence of the person within range, and actuate the transmitting means of the base unit to transmit the OFF triggering signal if the person remains in range for more than a predetermined period of time.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the digital processor of the base unit is programmed to actuate the transmitting means of the base unit to transmit the ON triggering signal after a predetermined OFF period of time following transmission of the OFF triggering signal if the proximity sensing means do not sense the presence of a person within the range.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which the digital processor of the base unit is programmed to repeatedly transmit the OFF triggering signal during the OFF period whereby the television receiver cannot be kept on with manual controls or a remote control associated with the receiver during the OFF period.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 in which:
the predetermined criteria include at least the number of times the presence of the person is detected in the predetermined range; and,
the digital process is programmed to record a count corresponding to the number of times the presence of the person is detected in the predetermined range and to reduce the predetermined period of time before the OFF signal is transmitted in response to the record count.
10. The apparatus of claim 5 in which the transmitting means of the base unit and the receiving means of the slave unit are adapted for wireless transmission and receipt of triggering signal via an omnidirectional signal carrier.