GB2250400A - Automatic repertory dialler control systems - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic repertory dialler control system for use with an automatic telephonic message system and an automatic repertory dialler telephone connected to a telephone line, e.g. as an alarm system, is arranged to dial a selected one or a number of predetermined telephone numbers in a given sequence and transmit a message to the connected number(s). The message may relate to burglary or fire. The system distinguishes between ringing out, busy and unobtainable tones 5 and acts accordingly thus saving time. Additionally the system only contacts selected stored numbers thus reducing intrusion, also the system uses a hook relay 2 and so cannot be hung-up or impeded by an external caller. The system can also be used as a programmable auto-search exchange (locating Mr X at one of several numbers for a caller) or a programmable auto-search telephone (for getting through to very busy telephone numbers). <IMAGE>

Description

"Automatic Repertory Dialler Control Systems" This invention relates to automatic repertory dialler control systems, and relates more particularly but not exclusively to automatic repertory dialler control systems for automatically controlling the multiple transmission of telephone alarm messages.

Automatic repertory diallers are known and are commercially available, in which an otherwise conventional telephone handset is modified by the incorporation of an electronic memory and control system by means of which any selected one of up to ten pre-programmed telephone numbers can be dialled merely by the operation of a single switch (usually preceded by the transfer of the handset to the repertory dialling mode by means of a switch-selected code signal). It is to be noted that the term "dialling" is employed by convention to encompass two-out-of-four tone keying operations equivalent to dialling operations on a handset's rotary line breaker as originally employed to actuate Strowger line selectors.

Automatic telephone alarm systems are also known in which premises are protected against burglary and/or fires, and upon an intrusion or fire alarm signal being initiated, such a system automatically dials a predetermined telephone number (e.g. to a Police Station or to a control centre) and, when connected, transmits a pre-recorded verbal alarm message. Such automatic telephonic alarm systems may be arranged to transmit telephonic alarm messages to more than one predetermined telephone number.

There are at present two types of burglar alarm systems which perform an automatic telephone message function.

One is named the "Auto-dialler" and the other is named the "Digital Communicator".

The "Auto-dialler" has several shortcomings, such as:a) The circuit spends between three and five minutes trying to get through to each of the stored telephone numbers, because the circuit cannot recognise and act on the Tone Information which is readily available.

b) Some systems only try to get through to a stored number once, and once only, and deliver it's stored message whether the phone at the other end of the line is answered or not.

c) Other systems keep on going round and round, dialling each of the stored numbers in turn, delivering the stored message, even although the phone at the far end has indeed been answered, and the message received.

This system continues to cycle through each of the stored numbers until someone cancels the alarm. This means that such a system with four stored numbers, taking three minutes per number, will call you up as a recipient, once every nine minutes and deliver it's stored message, until as we said earlier, someone cancels the alarm.

d) A burglar can effectively Hang-Up these systems by phoning it's number prior to breaking into the premises.

The "Digital Communicator", on the other hand, deals directly with a Control Centre and has the following shortcomings:a) there is an annual fee to be paid; b) unacceptable delays are possible, depending on how busy the British Telecom exchanges are and how busy the lines are into the Control Centre; c) there is reduced security due to third party involvement; d) there is a further possible delay, namely the time taken for the Control Centre to contact the owner of the alarmed premises or his nominated representative.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an automatic repertory dialler control system for use with an automatic telephonic message system and an automatic repertory dialler telephone connected to a telephone line, said automatic telephonic message system functioning when telephonically connected via said telephone line to a called telephone number to transmit a predetermined message thereto, said automatic repertory dialler telephone being preprogrammable with a plurality of predetermined telephone numbers and functioning when initiated in the repertory dialling mode to dial a selected one of said predetermined telephone numbers, said automatic repertory dialler control system being coupled in use to said automatic telephonic message system and to said automatic repertory dialler telephone, said automatic repertory dialler control system functioning in use upon initiation of an automatic telephonic message function to cause said automatic repertory dialler telephone to dial the first of said predetermined telephone numbers, to recognise a resultant telephone line tone or tones indicating the success or failure of the connect attempt, upon recognition of a successful connection to said first predetermined telephone number to cause the message system to transmit said predetermined message, then either upon the completion of the transmission of said predetermined message or upon recognition of a failure to connect to said first predetermined telephone number, to repeat the foregoing functional steps in respect of the second and then subsequent ones of said predetermined telephone numbers and to continue through said plurality of predetermined telephone numbers until the foregoing functional steps have been carried out in respect of the last of said predetermined telephone numbers. Preferably, there are included means whereby, if said predetermined message has not been transmitted to any one or more of said predetermined telephone numbers, to repeat the foregoing cycle in respect of the predetermined telephone number or numbers to which said predetermined message has not been transmitted, and to continue cycling as aforesaid either until said predetermined message has been transmitted to each of said predetermined telephone numbers, or until said functioning of said automatic repertory dialler control system is terminated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an automatic repertory dialler control system as aforesaid, in combination with and coupled to an automatic telephonic message system and an automatic repertory dialler telephone.

Said automatic telephonic message system may comprise or be comprised in an alarm system, which alarm system may be adapted to the automatic protection of premises against intrusion and/or fire.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example.

For convenience, the term "automatic repertory dialler control system" will hereinafter be referred to by its abbreviation "ARDCS".

In the present invention, the ARDCS can be used in conjunction with any commercially available ten-number-memory telephone (suitably modified) and any commercially available alarm unit with bell, strobe, and a 13 volt supply output. The ARDCS constantly monitors the alarm unit. When the ARDCS has been pre-programmed to dial a pre-selected number of telephone numbers stored in the ten-number-memory telephone and then set, the ARDCS cannot be tampered with. Any alarm, from the burglar alarm unit, fire detector unit, etc., will then set the sequencer in the ARDCS in motion. A "lift hook" signal is initially generated to ensure anyone holding the line from an external source is immediately disconnected and the first number held in the ten-memory phone is dialled out without further delay.If the line is found to be engaged or busy, the British Telecom tones are decoded, recognised as unavailable, and the sequencer immediately selects the next programmed number and so on, until a through-connected line is recognised. When the line is answered, the speech processor is initiated and delivers its stored message to the recipient at the other end of the line. The ARDCS then times out and generates a "redial request" signal and the next stored number in the chosen order of priority is then accessed. The sequencer goes through each of the pre-selected numbers in turn. When the message is successfully transmitted, then that number will not be dialled or re-dialled again.If the line response tones are decoded as being "busy" or "engaged", or times out because no one answers, then the number will be tried again when the sequencer cycles around to that number again. This process will continue until the stored message has been delivered to each of the pre-programmed numbers, or until the ARDCS is reset by its owner or his nominated representative.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be detailed with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: - Fig. 1 is a block schematic diagram of a preferred arrangement of ARDCS in accordance with the invention; Figs. 2 to 7 illustrate various functional sub-sections of the ARDCS of -Fig. 1; and Fig. 8 is a circuit diagram of the ARDCS of Fig. 1.

Referring first to the block schematic of Fig. 1, the preferred ARDCS can be functionally divided into the following blocks (numbered as shown in Fig. 1): 1. The alarm monitor.

2. The lift hook pulse generator and hook relay.

3. The sequencer.

4. The program selector.

5. The tone decoder.

6. The reset generator.

7. The redial request generator.

8. The speech processor plus timer.

9. The dial timer.

10. The dial number output buffer.

The ARDCS of Fig. 1 is shown connected to a burglar and/or fire alarm unit AU. The automatic repertory dialler telephone ARDT is connected to the ARDCS through the various signal lines functionally designated on the right of Fig. 1. The ARDT is also connected to a telephone line TL. (The term "audio" refers to audio-frequency signals in general, including AF line tones, and pre-recorded speech).

The ARDCS of Fig. 1 functions as follows: Upon connection and switch-on, the ARDCS is manually reset. The ten-memory telephone is programmed with up to ten numbers that can be accessed, whereby one, two, or up to eight, the case of the ARDCS, numbers can be selected by pressing a push button selection from one to eight on the ARDCS. This resets the required 'select' flip-flops of the sequencer. If a number is not selected, the 'select' flip-flop remains set and causes the sequencer to by-pass that number; this also happens when the 'select' flip-flop is set upon a particular selected number being answered and the pre-recorded alarm message being successfully transmitted. Once the alarm has been triggered, these push buttons are then inhibited. An LED on the front panel of the ARDCS confirms which number or numbers have been selected.

The input alarm monitor, Fig. 2, receives the alarm supply bell output from any standard alarm unit, and by means of a potential divider, provides 5 volts via an OR gate IC 19 to the input of IC 1 pin 2, which is a 3 millisecond monostable timer. As a tamper proof precaution, the 13 volt supply bell output from the alarm unit is also monitored, inverted, and connected to the OR gate IC 19. 3 milliseconds after an alarm output is monitored, logic "1" is applied to IC 1 pin 2, the Q output clocks the D type flip-flop IC 2, and providing the alarm input is still at 5 volts, the output of D type flip-flop IC 2 goes high, triggering a second monostable; this provides a 4 microsecond pulse output which sets FF 2.

The 'lift hook' function is depicted in Fig. 3, wherein the output of IC 1 (a 3 millisecond monostable) provides a 3 millisecond signal to lift the hook via the 'lift hook' relay, thus disengaging any input caller on the British Telecom line, which in turn gives a clear line, enabling the outgoing calls to be made.

The 'number select' function is depicted in Fig. 4, wherein the Q output of the 4 microsecond monostable IC 1 initiates the dial sequence. The top priority or first number is always dialed first. T2 commences a twenty second time delay and tone decoders TD1 then start monitoring the telephone audio signal for a satisfactory dialling tone, and also monitors via TD2 for an 'engaged' or 'busy' tone signal. If T2 times out before the line/number dialled is answered then this initiates a 3 millisecond pulse from a monostable IC 29, "T out", which further initiates a redial request. If the line has been answered, TD1 is high via IC 23, and inhibits the time out timer from producing a redial request, RRQ, i.e. when the speech processor is transmitting its message. This RRQ signal clocks the sequencer flip-flops IC 2b and IC 3, and initiates the next number.If TD1 is interrupted, as depicted in Fig. 7, i.e. the phone is answered before the twenty second timer times out, an ANS signal is generated. The ANS initiates timer T1, which in turn starts the speech processor, whereby the ARDCS will begin to transmit its pre-recorded message via the now-connected telephone line,. the message lasting for forty seconds (the time taken to deliver the stored message twice). The ANS signal also sets the flip-flop of the number selected and successfully answered, and means that if the sequencer loops around again, this particular number will not be dialled a second time.

After forty seconds, the message having been sent, a RRQ signal is sent selecting the next number to be dialled. If the number dialled is engaged, TD2 recognises this and initiates a RRQ signal. On each RRQ signal, the 100 millisecond monostable lifts the hook via the 'lift hook' relay to open the line ready for the next number in the priority sequence to be dialled.

Once all the sequencer number 'inhibit' flip-flops have been set, an END signal is generated which resets the sequencer to a 'ready for alarm' condition.

On commercially available alarm systems, the strobe can only be reset by the alarm unit being switched off by an authorised person. 'Strobe off' will reset the dial sequence in the ARDCS, as shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 shows the sequence of events from "alarm on" or "ALO", to "redial request", or "RRQ".

The full circuit diagram of the preferred form of ARDCS is shown in Fig. 8, wherein the circuit can be considered as an eight-stage ring counter toggling tone-determined conditional branching logic stages, each including a 'message transmitted' latch with continuous cycling from alarm initiation until all these latches are set.

Modifications and variations of the above-described ARDCS are possible, as follows:1. The ARDCS could be greatly enhanced by replacing the sequencer with a microprocessor. This would allow a great deal more flexibility; for instance, the pre-programmed telephone numbers could be changed, or have their priority changed, simply by ringing up the telephone number of the premises fitted with an ARDCS and passing a digital signal down the British Telecom line.

2. With regard to the possibility of the telephone lines being cut with the intent of disabling the burglar alarm, particularly if the lines are overhead lines, it is possible to overcome this difficulty by employing a radio telephone link whereby, say, two alarm numbers are dedicated to a given area. In this way, all ARDCS alarm system users in that area would have a miniature transmitter fitted in (for example) their loft, and if their telephone line were to be cut, then the message would then be sent via the loft transmitter.

ADVANTAGES OF THE ARDCS OVER EXISTING OR PRIOR ART SYSTEMS:1. Is able to distinguish between Ringing out; Busy; Unobtainable, and immediately act accordingly, thus saving vital time.

2. Selectivity: ie only contacts those stored numbers that have been selected, and shuts down automatically once all the selected numbers have been contacted and given the stored message, thus keeping instrusion to a minimum.

3. In using a Hook relay, the ARDCS cannot be Hung-up or impeaded in any way, by an external caller, from going about it's normal business of delivering it's stored message or messages.

4. The time taken for this system to deliver it's stored message to a nominated recipient is far superior to other existing systems.

The ARDCS could be used to build other units, such as a programmable auto-search exchange or "PASE", which would be used in the home or business, and would do what the name suggests. It would put an incoming call on hold, telling the caller it would make the connection as soon as, say, Mr X was found; meanwhile, the ARDCS would be trying to locate Mr X at one of the numbers the user has programmed into the system. Once Mr X is located, either by voice recognition, (not possible with the illustrated ARDCS), or by Mr X feeding a digital signal down a British Telecom line, the PASE makes the connection between the caller on hold and Mr X.

Another possible use for the ARDCS would be as a programmable auto-search telephone or "PAST". In its simplest form it would be used to get through to very busy telephone numbers. The user would feed in all the numbers he wished to contact and the ARDCS would do the rest. All the user would have to do is answer his phone as it worked its way through the numbers given it. More involved telephone systems are also possible.

While certain modifications and variations have been described above, the invention is not restricted thereto, and other modifications and variations can be adopted without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. An automatic repertory dialler control system for use with an automatic telephonic message system and an automatic repertory dialler telephone connected to a telephone line, said automatic telephonic message system functioning when telephonically connected via said telephone line to a called telephone number to transmit a predetermined message thereto, said automatic repertory dialler telephone being preprogrammable with a plurality of predetermined telephone numbers and functioning when initiated in the repertory dialling mode to dial a selected one of said predetermined telephone numbers, said automatic repertory dialler control system being coupled in use to said automatic telephonic message system and to said automatic repertory dialler telephone, said automatic repertory dialler control system functioning in use upon initiation of an automatic telephonic message function to cause said automatic repertory dialler telephone to dial the first of said predetermined telephone numbers, to recognise a resultant telephone line tone or tones indicating the success or failure of the connect attempt, upon recognition of a successful connection to said first predetermined telephone number to cause the message system to transmit said predetermined message, then either upon the completion of the transmission of said predetermined message or upon recognition of a failure to connect to said first predetermined telephone number, to repeat the foregoing functional steps in respect of the second and then subsequent ones of said predetermined telephone numbers and to continue through said plurality of predetermined telephone numbers until the foregoing functional steps have been carried out in respect of the last of said predetermined telephone numbers.

2. A control system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein there are included means whereby, if said predetermined message has not been transmitted to any one or more of said predetermined telephone numbers, to repeat the said cycle in respect of the predetermined telephone number or numbers to which said predetermined message has not been transmitted, and to continue said cycling either until said predetermined message has been transmitted to each of said predetermined telephone numbers, or until said functioning of said automatic repertory dialler control system is terminated.

3. A control system as claimed in any preceding Claim, in combination with and coupled to an automatic telephonic message system and an automatic repertory dialler telephone.

4. A control system as claimed in Claim 3 wherein said automatic telephonic message system comprises or is comprised in an alarm system; which alarm system may be adapted to the automatic protection of premises against intrusion and/or fire.

5. A control system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.