WO1991020151A1

WO1991020151A1 - Telephone alarm monitoring system

Info

Publication number: WO1991020151A1
Application number: PCT/CA1991/000185
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerry H. Verhoorn
Original assignee: Telephone Alarm Monitoring Ltd.
Priority date: 1990-06-11
Filing date: 1991-06-03
Publication date: 1991-12-26
Also published as: CA2018661A1; AU7974191A

Abstract

A telephone monitoring system comprises a telephone set including a numeric keypad for dialling the telephone numbers of subscribers to be called, a circuit for storing at least one telephone number, a circuit for accessing the storage circuit to permit user entry of at least one stored telephone number through the keypad, a circuit for initiating dialling of at least one stored number in response to a dialling initiation signal, a circuit for generating the dialling initiation signal in response to an alarm condition detected by a monitoring device, a circuit for detecting a response by the called subscriber, and a circuit for transmitting a predetermined signal over the open telephone line to the called subscriber indicative of the alarm condition. The system has the advantage that subscribers can arrange for monitoring of their presences by friends and neighbours without the need to subscribe to a central service.

Description

TELEPHONE ALARM MONITORING SYSTEM

This invention relates to a telephone monitoring system, particularly but not exclusively intended for use in the protection of domestic premises, and capable of raising an alarm, for example in the case of intruders, panic situations, hold-ups and/or medical alerts.

Telephone monitoring systems generally are well-known. Usually, a subscriber retains an alarm company, which operates a monitoring service remotely by telephone, to install alarm equipment at his premises. A series of sensors, such as passive infra-red motion detectors, floor mats, and the like are arranged at the protected premises, and these are connected to a central control box. The control box is connected to the subscriber's telephone line and contains a communications module adapted to seize the telephone line in the event that an alarm condition occurs and transmit a priority coded signal over the telephone line to the remote monitoring station. The code indicates the location of the alarmed premises so that on receipt of an alarm signal the monitoring station can notify the appropriate authorities.

The disadvantage of such a system is that the subscriber must subscribe to the monitoring service provided by the alarm company on an on-going basis. The costs can be quite substantial, and may be unjustified for a private subscriber. Also, there is a need for a special communications module capable of seizing the line and dialling up the number of the monitoring service. Such a system does not make use of the subscriber's telephone.

An object of the present invention is to provide a system that alleviates the aforementioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a telephone monitoring system comprising a telephone set, said telephone set including a numeric keypad for dialling the telephone numbers of subscribers to be called, means for storing at least one telephone number, means for accessing said storage means to permit user entry of said at least one stored telephone number through said keypad, means for initiating dialling of at least one said stored number in response to a dialling initiation signal, means for generating said dialling initiation signal in response to an alarm condition detected by a monitoring device, means for detecting a response by the called subscriber, and means for transmitting a predetermined signal over the open telephone line to the called subscriber indicative of said alarm condition.

In a preferred embodiment the telephone set also includes an alarm circuit for sounding a local alarm within the monitored premises. This alarm can be the ringer of the telephone itself, which can be caused to ring in some distinctive pattern different from a regular telephone ring.

The monitoring system preferably stores at least three numbers and has means to identify a no-answer condition on the first number dialed, and sequentially dial through the remaining numbers until an answer is detected. The telephone set can have a built-in passive infra-red intruder detector, which can be used to generate the alarm signal. Alternatively, or in addition to the built-in sensor, the telephone set can have an input circuit for receiving an input signal from a remote sensor.

The sensor can be either hard-wired to the telephone set or coupled to it by means of a remote communications link, such as an RF link.

Means can be provided to permit the user to set the type of alarm signal that will be transmitted over the telephone lines according to the nature or location. If more than one external sensor is employed, for example, a system can be arranged to transmit different tones for different sensors. The sensors can also be grouped into sub-systems. For example, a rapid tone might indicate an alarm condition in the upstairs part of a house and a low speed tone the downstairs part.

The telephone can also be fitted with a separate input for connection to a panic button. This can be used to initiate dialling of pre-programmed numbers and transmit a special warning signal indicating that the panic button has been depressed so that the receiving subscriber will know that a life-threatening condition exists and especially urgent action is required. Conveniently, the panic button can be in the form of a key-chain type device linked to the telephone by an infrared link.

In an advanced version, the warning signal can consist of a voice message, preferably stored in digital format to alert the called subscriber of the nature of the alarm condition.

An advantage of the telephone monitoring system according to the invention is that the user no longer has to subscribe to a commercial monitoring service on an on-going basis. He or she can purchase a telephone set from a regular telephone outlet, just as he or she would, for example, purchase a telephone set with an automatic answering facility, take it home and program it himself or herself. The preprogramed numbers can be the phone numbers of friends, neighbours, relatives, the office, or it is even conceivable that new services might be created, similar to telephone answering services, which were available merely to monitor incoming phone calls from the alarm system. It is likely that the cost of subscribing to such a service would be significantly less than the cost of subscribing to a dedicated alarm monitoring service on an- ongoing basis since such services could be provided as part of a general answering facility.

Neighbours can purchase similar systems and set up mutual arrangements whereby each monitors each others premises. One advantage of such an arrangement over conventional monitoring services is that if the neighbour is nearby, he may be able to take some immediate remedial action, in the case of a fire for example, while at the same time calling the appropriate authority. A neighbour may also be able more quickly to identify an alarm as false, thereby avoiding the need to distract the authorities from more important duties.

The user, on initiating the system, can use the internal alarm sensor, if that option has been purchased, and/or connect the telephone either by direct wired connection, or by remote communication's link, such as a RF link, to a separate alarm system installed in the protected premises. This can be a conventional alarm system using any form of appropriate sensors, such as passive infra-red, floor mats, and the like. All that is required of the alarm system is that is generates an alarm condition signal suitable for application to the telephone set.

The programming of the stored numbers is conveniently done through the keypad of the telephone set. The telephone set can be put into the programming mode in much the same manner as a conventional feature telephone. An appropriate code can be dialed into the keypad to request the programming mode, or a separate function button can be provided to achieve this result.

In the preferred embodiment, the existing ringer in the telephone set can be used as a local audible alarm. This may be deactivated as desired, depending on whether the user requires a silent alarm or one that will sound an alarm on sight.

The system only requires the basic keypad, i.e. digits one through nine, zero, the number and star keys, although other functional keys can be added as desired.

Generally, the system will have the capability to store three telephone numbers, and will sequentially dial the three numbers if the previous numbers are either busy, or unanswered. The system will dial the three numbers for one minute each and will go through one complete cycle only after each individual activation.

Preferably, the system also has the capability to permit the addition of additional security-related devices (i.e. PIR) , which can have separate address codes that can be transmitted by the system to the remote receiver. Also, the system will seize the telephone line in the event that there is more than one phone on the premises to prevent interference with the communication through one of the other phones.

The system employs surface mount technology and through hole technology to maximize performance. Preferably, the system is mounted as a single add-on module for a standard telephone set.

The passive infra-red sensor will normally be mounted at the front of the telephone to give coverage projecting outwardly therefrom. It can be activated by means of a sliding ON-OFF switch on the front of the telephone set.

The telephone will generally be powered by a plug-in AC adaptor/transformer (110 and 220 volts) .

Arming/disarming of the unit can be accomplished by adding a slide switch to the telephone set, although in some cases it may be possible to use an existing switch on a standard telephone. This depends on the features of the phone already present. Furthermore, the arming and disarming can be done through the keypad.

The internal alarm module is provided with dip switches to set the code for communicating with the remote sensor so as to ensure that unit will only communicate with a correspondingly coded sensor.

The device will normally also provide a entry/exit delay. The entry delay will generally be fifteen to twenty seconds and the exit delay fifty to sixty seconds.

The system is designed so that if the receiver is picked up when the telephone is in the active alarm mode, the system will go into the immediate alarm condition and initiate whatever alarm systems that are currently in effect. A panic button can be made part of the monitoring unit.

The system can also be arranged to function as a baby alarm. In this case, a sound-activated device triggers the alarm unit, causing it to dial the pre-programmed numbers. The system can be arranged so that the parents can listen over the telephone for any unusual sounds.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a block diagram of a telephone monitoring system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of one embodiment of a telephone monitoring system in accordance with the invention.

The telephone monitoring system is shown in block form in Figure 1. The standard telephone set 1 comprises conventional telephone circuits 2 for establishing a voice communication with a remote subscriber over telephone line 3. The telephone is preferably of the touch tone type and has a standard numeric keypad for entering called numbers. The customary signalling, ringing circuits, and the like are included within the standard telephone circuit block 2.

The system comprises an RF circuit 4 communicating over a remote coded RF communications link 5 with an external detector 6. The detector 6 can be of any standard type, such as a passive infra-red detector, floor mat, or other warning device. It can also be part of a larger sub-system consisting of a number of sensors connected to a central control box. Instead of using an RF link, the control box can be wired directly to the telephone set 1.

The RF circuit 4 is connected to the signal decoder 7, which in turn is connected to the dialling logic circuit 8 and the alarm circuit 9. A passive infra-red detector 10 within the telephone set 1 is also connected to the dialling logic circuit 8 and the alarm circuit 9.

In order to install the system the user merely has to plug the telephone into a standard telephone jack. The telephone immediately becomes operational as usual. If he wishes to use the system in the local alarm mode, he can activate the built-in sensor, and no further action is required. To use the system as a remote monitoring service, he first enters up to three telephone numbers into the system through the standard numeric keypad.

If an alarm condition is detected, either as the result of a signal being emitted by the external detector 6, or the passive infra-red detector 10 within the telephone set, two events occur. The alarm circuit 9 is activated, assuming the telephone set is in the local alarm mode, and an alarm indication is given at the protected premises. The alarm indication takes the form of an activation of the ringing circuit of the telephone set, preferably in a pattern different from the standard telephone ringing sequence.

In addition, the dialling logic circuit 8 responds to the alarm conditions and dials the first of three preprogramed numbers stored in its memory units. If the subscriber at the first dialed number responds, the dialling logic unit causes an alarm signal to be transmitted over the telephone line. This can be in the form of a warning beep whose rhythm can vary according to the nature of the alarmed condition or the location of the alarmed sub-system. Each sub-system can be suitably coded to permit its identification by the telephone alarm monitoring system.

Figure 2 is a detailed circuit diagram of a telephone alarm monitoring system according to the invention. In Figure 2, the like reference numerals refer to the corresponding blocks shown in Figure 1.

In Figure 2, the circuits corresponding to the RF circuit 4, the alarm circuit 9, signal decoding circuit 7, dialling logic circuit 8, and the passive infra-red detector circuit 10 can be seen. In addition, there is a stabilized power supply 11.

The circuit shown in Figure 2 implements the system described above. Activation of the internal passive infra- red sensor or receipt of an alarm condition signal by the RF unit 4 causes optionally an alarm to be sounded by the telephone set through its internal ringer circuitry and preprogramed stored number to be dialed by the dialling logic circuit 8, thus advising the recipient of the alarm condition at the customer premises.

The circuit shown in Figure 2 is incorporated into a standard telephone set. The RF receiver always reacts to the coded RF alarm signals, which can also be activated by the user by means of a portable panic button. Activation of the panic button will always cause the telephone numbers programmed into the system to be dialled. In this embodiment, a two-way conversation can also be established with the person in duress using standard speakerphone technology that can be incoporated in the telephone.

The telephone set incorporates standard keyboard circuitry, telephone circuitry, buttons, coil, receiver handset, redial capability, memory capability, hi/lo/off ringer switch and pulse/tone switch.

If the same person monitors more than one location, the originating units can be programmed to transmit distinctive identifiable tones. These can be set by means of jumpers within the unit.

Claims

Claims:

1. A telephone monitoring system comprising a telephone set, characterized in that said telephone set includes a numeric keypad for dialling the telephone numbers of subscribers to be called, means for storing at least one telephone number, means for accessing said storage means to permit user entry of said at least one stored telephone number through said keypad, means for initiating dialling of at least one said stored number in response to a dialling initiation signal, means for generating said dialling initiation signal in response to an alarm condition detected by a monitoring device, means for detecting a response by the called subscriber, and means for transmitting a predetermined signal over the open telephone line to the called subscriber.

2. A telephone monitoring system as claimed in Claim 1 characterized in that it comprises means for storing at least two said telephone numbers, means for detecting a busy signal or a no-answer condition at the first number dialed, and means for sequentially dialling the subsequent stored numbers until an answer is obtained from one of said stored numbers.

3. A telephone monitoring system as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises local alarm means within the telephone set to provide a local alarm indication when said alarm condition is detected.

4. A telephone monitoring system as claimed in Claim 3 characterized in that said local alarm means comprise a circuit for activating the ringer circuits in said telephone set.

5. A telephone monitoring system as claimed in Claim 1 characterized in that the signal transmitted to the called subscriber is in the form of an audible warning tone.

6. A telephone monitoring system as claimed in Claim 5 characterized in that said audible warning tone varies according to the nature and/or location of the alarm condition detected.

7. A telephone monitoring system as claimed in Claim 5 characterized in that said transmitted signal is a prerecorded voice message conveying the nature and/or location of the alarm condition.