Communication systems

A communication system including one or more proprietary routers incorporated in a WAN, the router or routers including:

• at least a first interface (9.904),
• at least a second interface (9.906), and
• at least a first message processing means 9.920),
• at least a first message switch;
• the first message processing means being connectable to the first interface and the second interface via the or one of the message switches, the system including at least one first terminal,
• each first terminal storing at least one proprietary router address to forward messages via one of the proprietary routers,
• each first terminal storing at least one forwarding address of a second terminal for inclusion in a message;
• wherein
• the first message processing means includes a capability to extract a forwarding address from a message received on either the first or second interface, and to forward the message with the extracted address to the other of the interfaces,
• the forwarding address being used to forward the message to a corresponding second terminal.

A security message communication system including a plurality of customer terminals (CTs) associated with at least one associated alarm reporting means (AP), one or more proprietary routers, and at least one automation system (AS) with which at least one of the CTs is associated, the customer terminals and the or each router being adapted to communicate via a first communication network, the or each proprietary router and the automation systems being adapted to communicate via a second communication network,

• wherein
• each customer terminal is configured with:
• at least one intermediate communication address of at least one of the proprietary routers;
• at least one destination communication address associated with at least one associated automation system;
• customer terminal identification information;
• wherein
• the customer terminal is adapted to format alarm signals from the alarm reporting means for transmission via one of the proprietary routers to an associated one of the automation systems without the involvement of a centralized database and/or a centralized server.

A security message communication system including a mobile device access arrangement including

• one or more customer terminals;
• one or more proprietary routers;
• an authentication server;
• a common database used to authenticate user ID information (UIDI);
• a token register;
• wherein,
• each proprietary router is adapted to generate temporary tokens for each associated CT and transmit the tokens to the token register for storage,
• wherein the authentication server is adapted to receive an access request from a mobile device, the access request including user identification information (UIDI),
• the association of a UIDI with at least one associated CT being stored in the common database,
• the authentication server being adapted to forward the access request to the common database for validation,
• wherein,
• on validation of the access request, the token register returns a token to the authentication server, with an address for an associated proprietary router which is associated with the selected CT with which the UIDI is associated,
• the authentication server passes the token and the address of the associated proprietary router to mobile device to enable the mobile device to connect to the CT via the associated proprietary router.

A method of configuring a customer terminal (CT) from a common database (CDB) via a communication network to enable the CT to access at least one operational proprietary router, the customer terminal initially including at least one stored address for at least one default proprietary router, the CDB including configuration information for the CT, wherein one or more proprietary routers are incorporated in the communication network, the configuration message including the address or addresses of one or more operational proprietary routers,

• the method including the steps
• at the CT, using the or one of the stored addresses for one of the default proprietary routers to send a configuration request to the CDB via the default proprietary router associated with the stored address, the configuration request including identification information for the CT (CTIDI),
• at the CDB, using the CTIDI to select configuration information for the CT, forming a configuration message,
• transmitting the configuration message to the CT via the default proprietary router,
• at the CT, using the configuration information to configure the CT, including storing the address of one or more of the operational proprietary routers for use by the CT to transmit messages.

A method of transmitting a message from a customer terminal (CT) through a communication network to an automation system (AS) with which the CT is associated, the communication network including at least a first operational proprietary router, the CT including one or more operational proprietary router addresses:

• the method including the steps of:
• at the CT, forming a message including CT identification information (CTIDI), and AS location information;
• using the first operational proprietary router address to send the message to the first operational proprietary router;
• at the operational proprietary router, using the AS location information to send the message to the AS.