Security
Case Study: Resilient Residential Intruder Alarm System with Multi-Mode Communication
Sector: Security / Embedded Systems
Nature of Project:
BFO Systems developed a long-battery-life residential intruder alarm system with multi-modal communication optionsfor connecting to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC). The system was mission-critical, requiring resilient communication to ensure alarm signals reached emergency responders, even in the event of cyber threats, IT outages, or physical tampering. Additionally, dedicated embedded systems were designed for the ARC to securely receive and cache alarm data, preventing disruptions in emergency response.
Tech Stack Used:
Microcontroller: Microchip PIC (ASM-based) for precise timing and security
Wireless Communication:
433MHz modules
173.225MHz modules
Wi-Fi
ARC Communication Redundancy:
Residential broadband
4G backup
DTMF (Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency) digital communicator for extreme remote areas
Security & Resilience:
Dedicated embedded systems at the ARC to cache data in case of IT failures
Alternative access methods to ensure police and emergency services could respond without interruption
Major Challenge Overcome:
Ensuring Reliable Alarm Transmission Despite IT Failures or Tampering Attempts
Because the alarm system was mission-critical, it had to be resilient against IT outages, cyber threats, and physical interference. The ARC’s receiving infrastructure needed to guarantee that no alarm signals were lost, even if hackers attempted to disrupt operationsor network failures occurred.
To achieve this, BFO Systems:
Designed a dedicated embedded system at the ARC that could cache alarm data, ensuring messages were not lost during IT failures.
Implemented multi-modal communication, allowing alarms to reach the ARC via:
Residential broadband (default option)
4G backup (for network outages)
DTMF digital communicator (for extreme remote locations, using minimal bandwidth for high survivability)
Used Microchip PIC microcontrollers programmed in assembly (ASM) to tightly control timing and security in wireless transmissions.
These measures eliminated single points of failure, ensuring that emergency services could always receive alerts, even in adverse conditions.
Outcome:
BFO Systems successfully delivered the first security alarm system of its kind to be approved by UK regulatory bodies. This solution set a new industry standard for resilient alarm transmission, providing homeowners with a highly secure and reliable way to protect their property.
