FR2564222A1 - Device for remote vocal control of electronic equipment over a telephone link - Google Patents

Abstract

The device consists of a power supply 1 comprising a diode bridge rectifying the mains followed by a filter and by a regulator delivering the positive and negative voltages necessary for the logic circuits. A telephone interface 2 constituted by a line interface, by a signal detector amplifier 3 and by a signal generator 4. A remote control interface 5 constituted by an electroluminescent infrared diode and by a logic sequencer 6 constituted by a processor, by a read-only memory and by a demultiplexer.

Description

 The present invention relates to a voice remote control device making it possible to remote control via the telephone all devices originally fitted with a remote control with a limited range of action.

 The range of these remote controls is usually limited depending on the technology used: cable, infrared, ultra-sound, HF link, optical fiber, laser.

 The device according to the invention makes it possible to expand the range of action of these remote controls to that of the telephone network independently of the technology used by the original remote control.

 The device transforms the information conveyed by the telephone network into information compatible with the remote control of the equipment which one wishes to operate.

 The device offers the same possibilities as the original remote control specific to the equipment.

 The invention will be better understood by referring to the attached figures, figure n01 represents the block diagram, figure n02 the power supply, la figure n03 the telephone interface, figure n0 the signal detector amplifier, the figure n05 the signal generator, figure n06 the remote control interface, figure n07 the logic sequencer.

 The power supply figure n02 is formed on the one hand by a diode bridge (32) rectifying the two half-waves of the sector which are then filtered by the capacitor (31,33,34) to supply respectively a positive voltage and a negative voltage , the positive voltage of the order of ten volts then passes through an integrated monolytic regulator (35) which supplies the logic circuits.

 The telephone interface figure n03 has several parts: the line interface, the signal detector amplifier and the signal generator.

 The line interface according to the embodiment of Figure n 3,1 galvanic isolation between the telephone line and the circuits of the device, as requested by the administration, is provided by the line transformer (1) and by the opto electronic isolator (2).

 Line impedance is achieved by combining the elements: capacitor, resistance, PTC resistance (3).

 The ringing detection is ensured by the intermediary of the electronic optp (2) whose emitting diode is powered by rectification, clipping and limitation of the ringing current (4,5,6) the receiving part of the electronic opto (2) an RC network (7) whose time constant is optimized so as to obtain significant results in the event of ringing.

 The relay coil (8b) controlled by the transistor (9) allows the processor (15) to take the line by switching the contact 8c) the network (3) and the transformer (1) which allows the central office through this modification of impedenee of liE to be informed of the catch of line.

 The signal detector amplifier (1Q) figure n011 performs an amplification and a summary filtering of the signals present at the output of the isolation transformer (1). The amplified signals pass through an integrator constituted by a diode (: rectifying the voltage delivered by said amplifier as well as an RC network (12). The integration voltage thus obtained passes into the hysteresis comparator (13), the all-or-nothing signals coming from this comparator t13) are translated to TTL levels by the diode (14) the resistor (16) and the reversing door (17).

 The signal generator in figure n05 includes the digital analog converter (18) followed by the operational amplifier (19) which makes it possible to obtain a voltage at the output of this amplifier (19) directly proportional to the binary value of the word at the input of the converter (18), this voltage filtered via an active low-pass filter of the third order (20) can then be injected into the isolation transformer (1). It goes without saying that the generation of a signal can then be carried out by rigorous sequencing in the generation of the binary word at the input of the converter (18).

 The remote control interface figure n06 is constituted in an exemplary embodiment simulating an infra-red remote control interface of a power infra-red electroluminescent (24) supplied by the transistors (21,22) via an intermediate current limiting resistor (23).

 It goes without saying that the present interface is only an example of embodiment in the context of an infrared remote control and that any other remote control device will justify a specific arrangement of this interface without going beyond the scope of this device.

 The generation of logic pulse by the processor (15) ensures the switching of the transistors (21,22) working in saturation, which allows the delivery of a pulsed current in the power diode (24).

 The logic sequencer in figure n0 7 allows dialogue between the device and the user.

The user forms the telephone number corresponding to the line on which the device is connected, upon receipt of a quantity, defined by the software, to ring the device takes the line then it emits sound signals: corresponding to a key received by the user giving his code to the device which upon receipt of this key emits sound signals corresponding to a series of functions during which the user
Vocally chooses certain functions, after which the device repeats all of its validated or non-validated functions and ends with a request for validation by the user.

 The logical sequencer, figure n07, is obtained by the close enough of the processor (15) and of a read only memory (25) the signals necessary for the use of this memory (25) are obtained by the multiplexer (26) as well as by the logiqi doors (27,28).

The processor start-up and monitoring circuit (15) contains a logic flip-flop (29) as well as a counter (31
When the system is powered up, the flip-flop t29) ensures a reset of the counter (30) the clock (50) of the processor (15) ensures, through the counter (30), the generation of a signal sufficient reset time
During normal operation of the processor, a periodic refresh -chipping of the counter (30) is carried out in order to avoid: - an untimely reset of the processor.

 The operation of the device according to the invention is as follows: formation of a telephone number triggering the device which emits sound signals corresponding to a key received by the user sleeping its code to the device which, alo emits sound signals corresponding to a operation during which the user chooses certain functions, after which the device republishes all of its functions validated or not terminated by a validation carried out by the user.

 The technical and detailed operation of the device according to the invention is as follows: The logic sequencer ensures the correct scheduling of operations.

 When the telephone exchange generates ring tones, these arrive at the processor in the form of logic signals obtained thanks to the interface described above.

After a certain number of rings defined in advance, the processor controls the line seizure via the relay (8). The central office detects this line seizure and then stops sending ringing tones. Dialogue can take place between the device and the calling user.

 A phase of recognition of an authorized user takes place under the control of the software. To do this, a series of sound signals is emitted by the device. In the interval of these signals the user must respond in the form of a mono-syllable which will be recognized, by means of the integrating amplifier (figure nit4) as a key by the processor (15).

 In the event that one of these signals does not correspond to the code predetermined by the software, the device returns the line and the waiting ringing process begins again.

 The recognition of an authorized user having taken place the coding phase of the commands begins.

 The commands are validated successively and distinctly in the following manner: emission by the device of a train of sound signals in the interval of which the user can validate by voice following a process similar to that of the key.

 An order validated or not ends with the emission of a specific sound signal intended to warn the user of the receipt of a message.

 In order to ensure greater flexibility of use, provision is made at the end of command programming for a sequence of transmission of all the commands recorded or not. This sequence is followed by a confirmation request making it possible to validate all of the commands requested or to restart the programming process.

 Once the validation obtained, the device returns the line, the logical sequencer, figure n07, generates through the intermediary of the remote control interface, figure n06, the commands requested by the user and stored in his memory ( 25), after which it goes into standby waiting for other rings.

The device according to the invention works by replacing the original remote control of the equipment to be remote-controlled
The device according to the invention finds numerous applications, for example the remote control of a video recorder allowing the user to access his device during a movement; Switching on or changing the sequence of a PLC placed in a remote site.

Claims (8)

 REVk DICATIOl4S:  1Voice remote control device through the switched telephone network in order to widen the range of any equipment with original equipment for remote control; characterized in that it comprises at least one regulated power supply, a telephone interface consisting of a line interface, an amplifier-signal detector and a signal generator, a remote control interface allows the transfer of information between the logical sequencer and the equipment to be remote-controlled, a logical sequencer consisting of a processor (15), a read only memory (25) and a demultiplexer (26) which when receiving a telephone call triggers signals sound allowing a dialogue between the system and the user.  2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the telephone interface comprises a line interface consisting of at least one signal detector amplifier consisting of an integrator (ll) followed by a comparator (13) and a circuit (14,16,17) delivering compatible signals TTL, and a signal generator consisting of at least one digital analog converter (18) followed by an operational amplifier (19) and a filter (209.  3) Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the line interface can further comprise a line transformer (1) and an optoelectronic isolator (2).  4) Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the logical sequencer consists of a processor (15), a read-only memory (25), a demultiplexer (26), logic circuits (27,28,29) and a reset counter (30), 1e said counter (30) allowing the reset of the processor (15).  5) Device according to claim 4 characterized in that it comprises a rocker (29) ensuring a reset of the counter (30) which generates a reset signal of the processor under the action of the clock (50) of said processor (15).  6) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the response of the user is in the form of sound signals transmitted in a predetermined sequence.  7) Device according to claim 6 characterized in that the dialogue between the system and the user con -siste.en the emission by the system of a train of sound signals separated by ranges of silence during which the user must to obtain the implementation of the system, respond in the form of noises, for example vocal noises, or do not emit anything, the whole allowing the smooth running of the dialogue.  8) Device according to claim 7 characterized in that the course of the dialogue necessarily includes:  -a phase of recognition of the authorized user  -a coding phase of the desired commands  -a summary phase of the orders recorded  -a validation phase of all orders  allowing to start the implementation of commands  or to restart the dialogue from the phase  coding.