Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
  • G08B25/00—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems
  • G08B25/01—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems characterised by the transmission medium
  • G08B25/08—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems characterised by the transmission medium using communication transmission lines
  • G08B25/085—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems characterised by the transmission medium using communication transmission lines using central distribution transmission lines

Definitions

• the invention to which this application relates is related to use of electrical apparatus and particularly, although not exclusively, to apparatus in the form of a television set and/or receiver, and to allow other facilities of the premises in which the television set or receiver is used to be detected and their use enhanced.
• the invention is related to the ability for the signal of an incoming telephone call to be detected even when the ringing tone may not easily be heard when other relatively high volume apparatus may be used in the premises.
• the volume from the television can be relatively high especially when material such as music, sports or films are being listened to. This can mean on occasion that other occurrences such as, for example, the ringing of a telephone, cannot be heard. Even when it can be heard, and is answered, it is very difficult for the person answering the phone to be able to hear the other person due to the volume of the television and it is often necessary to reduce the volume of the television to allow any conversation to take place. This is inconvenient and could mean that important telephone calls could be missed.
• the aim of the present invention is to provide a means whereby the ringing of a telephone and/or the change in condition of any other apparatus within the premises can be detected by a person using other electrical apparatus, even when there is high volume sound such as a television set and/or to allow the apparatus to be used to allow the occurrence of a change in condition of the other apparatus to be detected.
• electrical apparatus which emits or is connected to electrical apparatus to emit a sound when in use, and further apparatus which can change condition upon receiving a signal and characterised in that said electrical apparatus is provided with means for detecting the change in condition of the further apparatus and, upon detecting the change, causes a change in operation of the electrical apparatus and/or electrical apparatus connected thereto to allow the user of the electrical apparatus to detect and react to the change in condition of the further apparatus.
• the electrical apparatus can be any which has speakers to emit a sound such as a television, radio, stereo, computer and the like but may also include other apparatus such as vacuum cleaners, washing machines, dishwashers and the like.
• the further apparatus can be any apparatus but the invention is believed to be of particular advantage to telephones but may also be used with doorbells, cooker timers, alarm clocks and the like.
• electrical apparatus in the form of a television set and/or receiver for broadcast data for the generation of the video and audio display connected to a telecommunications line in a premises and which telecommunications line and associated telephone form the further apparatus in this embodiment of the invention.
• the television set and/or receiver are provided with detection means to detect when a signal received and a change in condition of the telecommunications line occurs and provided with means to cause a change in condition of the television set and/or receiver in response to the change in the telecommunications line.
• the circuitry in the set top box or receiver is arranged to detect a signal for change in condition in the telecommunications line in the form of a new call or ringing tone signal.
• the circuitry of the receiver and/or television set is operated to reduce the volume of the television to a level, which can be pre-set, when the telephone ring signal is received. In one embodiment this may be achieved by reducing the volume at the set top box receiver or, by causing the emulation of the TV infrared command for reducing volume and transmitting the same to the television.
• a message can be displayed on the television that the telephone is ringing or is about to ring and/or the ringing noise may be generated through the speakers of the television set.
• the receiver is connected to other electrical apparatus in the premises so that when the change in condition of the telecommunications line is detected, the receiver transmits a control signal to the connected electrical apparatus to change the volume of the same to a preset level.
• the volume of the electrical apparatus can be reduced automatically for the duration of a telephone message or, alternatively, upon generation of a telephone message, a screen display is generated on the television set which provides an option that allows the user of the television set to reduce the volume.
• a telecommunications line to a receiver of broadcast data is monitored using modem telecommunication line sensing circuits in the receiver.
• the sensing circuit can be set to monitor off-hook detect and/or ring detect signals which pass along the telecommunications line and, when detected, information is passed into the receiver system to indicate the change of condition of the line.
• a suitable trigger or detection such as a telephone ring signal
• a volume modifying section in the receiver is activated to cause a reduction in the volume of sound from speaker apparatus connected to the receiver, if in use, such as television speakers, to a preset level so that the user can more clearly hear the telephone ringing and/or the call itself.
• the receiver is implemented to generate a display on the screen of the television set to provide a visual indication of the change in condition and that the telephone is ringing so as to increase the ability for the same to be detected. It is also possible that a ringing noise is held in a memory of the receiver and, when the ringing tone is detected on the telecommunications line, the ringing noise from the memory is reproduced through the speakers of the electrical apparatus.

Landscapes

• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Emergency Management (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Telephone Function (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=10846960

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Citations (4)

• 1999
  • 1999-02-03 GB GBGB9902284.0A patent/GB9902284D0/en not_active Ceased
• 2000
  • 2000-01-18 EP EP00100858A patent/EP1026648A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (4)

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