Method and apparatus for controlling the timing of an alarm signal in a security system

A security system, comprising:

• a perimeter sensor configured to cause an alarm signal to be issued if the security system has not been disarmed within a first delay time period after sensing a security breach;
• an interior sensor configured to cause an alarm signal to be issued substantially instantaneously upon sensing a security breach;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to each of the perimeter sensor and the interior sensor, the controller being adapted, in response to the perimeter sensor entering into a fault condition, to reconfigure the interior sensor to cause an alarm signal to be issued if the security system has not been disarmed within a second delay time period after sensing a security breach.

A method of operating a security system, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a perimeter sensor and an interior sensor within a space to be monitored;
• configuring the security system to cause an alarm signal to be issued after a first period of time upon the perimeter sensor sensing a security breach;
• configuring the security system to cause an alarm signal to be issued after a second period of time upon the interior sensor sensing a security breach, the second period of time being shorter than the first period of time;
• communicatively coupling a controller to each of the perimeter sensor and the interior sensor;
• and
• using the controller, in response to the perimeter sensor entering into a fault condition, to reconfigure the security system to cause an alarm signal to be issued after a third period of time upon the interior sensor sensing a security breach, the third period of time being longer than the second period of time.