WO1993007706A1

WO1993007706A1 - Method for transferring an alarm from an alarm device and a system for transferring an alarm message

Info

Publication number: WO1993007706A1
Application number: PCT/FI1992/000271
Authority: WO
Inventors: Asko Tauno Oskari Virtanen
Original assignee: Asko Tauno Oskari Virtanen
Priority date: 1991-10-10
Filing date: 1992-10-09
Publication date: 1993-04-15
Also published as: AU3152293A; FI914785A; FI914785A0

Abstract

A method for the transmission of an alarm from an alarm device and a system for the transmission of an alarm message, the system comprising a communications network (12) provided with a hot-line function, a first subscriber connection (11) coupled with said communications network (12), a second subscriber connection (15) coupled with said communications network (12) for producing a signal of the alarm device (8) or the detector, and an interface unit for coupling the alarm device (8) or the detector with the first subscriber connection (11). The interface unit (3) further comprises means (2b, 31) for reserving a subscriber connection and for determining a reservation time (T1) and a means (32) for transmitting an alarm message to the first subscriber connection (11), whereby the alarm message is transmitted to the second subscriber connection (15) by utilizing the hot-line function of the communications network (12).

Description

METHOD FORTRANSFERRING AN ALARM FROM AN ALARM DEVICE AND A S TEM FORTRANSFERRING AN ALARM MESSAGE

A method for the transmission of an alarm or a control message or some other message from at least one alarm device or detector through an interface unit, which is connected to a first subscriber con¬ nection coupled with a communications network provid- ed with a hot-line function, to a called subscriber connected to a second subscriber connection coupled with said communications network, the method compris¬ ing the following method steps: the alarm device or detector sends an alarm signal to the interface unit, the interface unit reserves the first subscriber con¬ nection. The invention relates further to a system for the transmission of an alarm message, comprising: a communications network provided with a hot-line function, a first subscriber connection coupled with said communications network, a second subscriber con¬ nection coupled with said communications network, an alarm device or a detector for producing an alarm signal and an interface unit for connecting the alarm device or the detector to the first subscriber con- nection.

It is known to use automatic phone number dial¬ ing devices, so-called robot phones, for the trans¬ mission of alarm messages from alarm devices to a first subscriber's line of a telephone network, to the telephone network and through that to a second subscriber's line of the telephone network. Such robot phones are typically coupled with alarm or sig¬ nal devices. When an alarm device or a signal device gives a robot phone an alarm, the robot phone re- serves the subscriber's line to which it is con- nected, i.e. the first subscriber's line. When the robot phone has the first subscriber's line at its disposal, it sends a subscriber signal to the sub¬ scriber's line_. i.e. selects a phone number corre- sponding to the second subscriber's line, to the sub¬ scriber of which number the robot phone wants the telephone exchanges of the telephone network to con¬ nect the first subscriber's line. After this the te¬ lephone exchanges of the telephone network establish a connection between the first subscriber's line and the second subscriber's line.

A problem with such an alarm transmission based on an automatic phone number dialing device is that a complicated and expensive robot phone equipment is required for effecting the alarm transmission and the phone number dialing. Moreover, to install such a robot phone is a demanding task, which is not easy to perform.

The object of the present invention is to ef- feet the transmission of an alarm message from the alarm device through the first subscriber's line of the telephone ne work to the second subscriber's line of the telephone network in such a manner that the equipment to be used is as simple as possible, user friendly and easy to install.

This novel method for the transmission of an alarm from an alarm device is characterized in the following method steps: the communications network connects the first subscriber connection coupled with the interface unit to the second subscriber connec¬ tion by using the hot-line function and said connec¬ tions are disconnected after a predetermined time.

This novel system for the transmission of an alarm message is characterized in that the interface unit belonging to the system comprises means for re- serving a subscriber connection and for determining a reservation time and a means for feeding the alarm message to the first subscriber connection, whereby the alarm message is transmitted to the second sub- scriber connection by utilizing the hot-line function of the telephone network.

The invention is based on the idea that a hot¬ line service offered by telephone exchanges of a te¬ lephone network is utilized for the transmission of an alarm message or some other information from an alarm device through the telephone network to a re¬ ceiver. The hot-line service offered by telephone exchanges signifies a switching service to be ef¬ fected in the telephone exchanges, the first sub- scriber's line being switched through the telephone network to the second subscriber's line after the first subscriber, i.e. the calling subscriber, has called his own telephone exchange by picking up the receiver of his phone. A picking up of the receiver creates a direct-current circuit when the telephone set connects a first wire (a) of the subscriber's line to a second wire of the subscriber's line and the telephone exchange detects this direct-current circuit. After this, in a conventional situation of using a phone, the calling subscriber dials a phone number he wishes to dial, i.e. he performs a sub¬ scriber signalling, and then the telephone exchange starts switching the subscriber's line of the calling subscriber through the telephone network to the sub- scriber's line of that subscriber whose phone number the calling subscriber has dialed, i.e. to the sub¬ scriber's line of the called subscriber. However, if the calling subscriber is connected to a telephone exchange provided with a hot-line function and if the hot-line function of the telephone exchange is set for the calling subscriber, the telephone exchange connects the subscriber's line of the calling sub¬ scriber to a preselected subscriber's line of the called subscriber within the area of the telephone network after the calling subscriber has called his telephone exchange by picking up the receiver of his phone for a given delay time preset in the telephone exchange, without the calling subscriber dialing the phone number, i.e. performing a subscriber signal- ling. A suitable delay can be determined for each subscriber in a telephone exchange provided with a hot-line function, and in the same way, the hot line, i.e. the connection established by using this func¬ tion, can be switched to a freely selectable called subscriber. A hot-line function like this is realized in modern telephone exchanges typically by a soft¬ ware, by giving suitable commands and suitable para¬ meters in these commands. A telephone exchange imple¬ menting hot-line service is the EWSD exchange manu- factured by Siemens AG, the command handbook of which presents the command and the parameters required for starting the hot-line service.

An advantage of such a method for the transmis¬ sion of an alarm from an alarm device "through a tele- phone network tα a_ receiving subscriber and of such a system for the transmission of an alarm message to a receiving subscriber is that, when using the method or the system according to the invention, the inter¬ face unit connected between the alarm device and a subscriber's line of the telephone network can be realized in such a simple manner and made so easy to use that the problems caused by the solutions accord¬ ing to the prior art are avoided.

The invention will be described in greater de- tail in the following, referring to the enclosed drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a system of the invention for the transmission of an alarm mes¬ sage, Figure 2 shows an exploded view of an embodi¬ ment of the invention,

Figure 3 shows a more accurate embodiment of an interface unit included in the system according to the invention, Figure 4 shows a time diagram of the operation of the interface unit according to the invention,

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the interface unit according to the invention.

In the solution typical of the invention shown in Figure 1, an alarm device or only an alarm detec¬ tor 8 is connected to an interface unit 3 according to the invention through a line 7. The interface unit 3 is connected through a plug contact 10 to a sub¬ scriber's line 11 of a communications network 12, typically a telephone network, on the one hand, and through a line 5 to a telecommunication terminal, typically a conventional telephone set 6, on the other hand. The telephone set 6 can then be used in a fully normal way, if a subscriber signalling is per- formed before the delay of a hot-line function pro¬ grammed in the telephone exchange expires. If a sub¬ scriber signalling has not been performed during the delay, but the delay has expired, the telephone ex¬ change of the communications network 12 establishes a connection according to the hot-line function, con¬ necting the first subscriber's line 11 to a called subscriber 16 connected to a second subscriber's line 15. One skilled in the art understands without diffi¬ culty that also a mobile phone network 13 can serve as a communications network corresponding to the com- munications network 12. Then the interface unit 3 is coupled with a data interface 18 of a mobile phone 9 through a connection cable 17. Thus an alarm or a remote control information coming from the alarm de- vice 8 or from a measuring device is transmitted through the interface unit 3 to the mobile phone 9, which contacts a base station 14 of the mobile phone network over a radio path 19, which station transmits the information further to the mobile phone network 13 and from there further either to another radio¬ telephone subscriber or to the called subscriber 16 of the conventional telephone network 12. The hot¬ line and message handling services offered by the mobile phone network are utilized thereby. In Figure 2, several alarm and detecting de¬ vices 8, 8a, 8b, 8c for observing the objects to be controlled and the circumstances prevailing therein are coupled with the interface unit 3 according to the invention, which unit is connected to the plug contact 10 of the subscriber's line 11 of the commu¬ nications network. The detector 8a controls the acoustic state of a space to be controlled, i.e. the detector 8a is a microphone transmitting an alarm message to the interface unit 3, to 'be transmitted further to the called subscriber when for instance some sound is heard in the space to be controlled. It is also possible to use the detector 8a as a conven¬ tional microphone for listening in to the space to be controlled. The detector 8b measures temperature and through that detector an information of the tempera¬ ture of the object to be controlled can be transmit¬ ted to the called subscriber and an alarm can be giv¬ en if the temperature of the object to be controlled is not within allowable limits. The detector 8c mea- sures the humidity of the object to be controlled and transmits the humidity value of the object to be con¬ trolled through the interface unit to the called sub¬ scriber. As above, the detector 8c can be set to give an alarm when the humidity values of the space to be controlled go under the allowable limit values or exceed them.

Figure 2 shows additionally how a conventional telecommunication terminal is connected to the inter¬ face unit 3 through a plug 4 and the line 5. The in- terface unit 3 further comprises a hand switch 21 for the excitation of an alarm to be transmitted to the called subscriber. Such a switch 21 can be used for the transmission of an alarm given by a human being to a called subscriber, for instance in the care of old people or at the supervision of financial ins¬ titutions. It means that a person can send an alarm signal to a called subscriber, e.g. to a control cen¬ tre, by turning a switch. The interface unit 3 also comprises a sliding coupling 22, by means of which it is possible to select which detector is justified in sending an alarm signal or a measuring signal to the called subscriber in each case. It is also possible to install to the interface unit a fixed electro- acoustic converter means 1, typically a microphone, for transforming a sound message into an electrical form, which message shall be transmitted further to the called subscriber, or for sending an acoustic alarm signal to the immediate vicinity of the inter¬ face unit 3. The interface unit 3 can additionally comprise a connection 24 for an external deterrent siren. The interface unit can also have a connection 23 for an external voltage feed. Moreover, a fixed detector 8d can be positioned in the interface unit for the measurement of a desired measured variable. Figure 3 shows a detailed embodiment of the interface unit 3 of the invention. Therein the inter¬ face unit 3 is connected between two wires A and B of a subscriber's line forming a subscriber connection of a telephone network. When the external or internal alarm switch 8 is closed, a time measuring means 31 and a tone generator 32 receive voltage through diodes 33 and 35. Then a switching means, typically a relay, RI is excited by the wire B and performs a connection, i.e. the relay 3 "is drawing", which means that it controls a switch RI/1 arranged at a loop 37 to change its state from a conducting state to an open state. In the same way the relay RI con¬ trols a relay RI/2 connected in series with a resis¬ tance 36 between the wires A and B to change into a conducting state, whereby a conducting loop is formed between the wires A and B. In order to accomplish that the alarm will be transmitted forward, even though the alarm switch 8 were released occasionally, a relay RI/3 keeps a loop 38 conducting. The tele- phone exchange of the communications network notices this loop 38 and starts measuring the time during which the loop is conducting. Simultaneously, the time measuring means 31 of the interface unit 3 has started measuring time. Moreover, to detect the qua- lity of the alarm, the tone generator 32 sends a sig¬ nal to the wires A and B, which signal can also be a recorded message, even a speech message. When a time equal to the delay time set for the hot-line function of the telephone exchange has passed, the telephone exchange connects this interface unit by the hot-line function to the subscriber's line or subscriber con¬ nection of the called subscriber of the telephone network, whereby a connection is established between the interface unit and the called subscriber when the called subscriber is answering. However, the time measuring means 31 has continued measuring time and after the expiration of its second time control the time measuring means 31 sends a signal to the switch¬ ing means, typically a relay RII, which controls a coupling device RII/1 arranged at the loop 38 to open and a coupling device RII/2 arranged at the loop 37 to open. This causes a disconnection of the subscrib¬ er connection, i.e. the telephone line becomes free. By opening the loop 37, the opened relay RII/2 gua- rantees that the subscriber connection really will be disconnected. The disconnection of a connection is significant because the called subscriber must get his telephone line free in order to be able to use his phone, in order to make an alarm call, for in- stance. After this follows a new similar transmission of an alarm message to the called subscriber by uti¬ lizing the hot-line function, if the alarm button 8 is still pressed down.

Figure 4 shows a time diagram of the operation of the interface unit 3. At a moment 0 the alarm or measuring device 8 gives an alarm to the interface unit. As described above in connection with Figure 3, the telephone exchange then notices the alarm from the closing of the loop 38 (OFF HOOK) and starts mea- suring time. When the loop 38 has been closed for a time longer than a delay T2 of the hot-line function of the exchange, a connection from the interface unit 3 to the called subscriber is established. When again a time longer than a delay Tl of the time measuring means 31 of the interface unit has passed, the sub¬ scriber connection becomes free, which means that the loop 38 opens (ON HOOK) and the called subscriber can use his phone freely. If the alarm button 8 is still pressed down, a new alarm similar to that described above occurs after a time T3 measured by the time measuring means 31.

Figure 5 shows the interface unit 3 of the in¬ vention connected to the phone plug contact 10, which is in contact with the telephone exchange of the com- munications network through the subscriber connection 11. A conventional telephone set 6 is connected to the interface unit 3 through the phone plug contact 4 and the circuit 5. The alarm device 8 is connected to the interface unit 3 by means of the wire 7. When the alarm or remote measuring device 8 gives an alarm signal to the interface unit 3, a reserving wire 2b forms a loop between the two wires of the subscrib¬ er's line 11, whereby the telephone exchange notices the call and starts controlling the exceeding of the delay of the hot-line function. At the same time the tone generator 32 and a time measuring means 33 re¬ ceive voltage through a voltage feed 2d from the sub¬ scriber's line 11 and each of them starts function¬ ing, the tone generator 32 starts generating the tone and the time measuring means 33 starts measuring time. After the time Tl has expired, the time measur¬ ing means 33 gives an information to a holding cir¬ cuit 2c. Then the reservation of the subscriber's line terminates and the phone of the called subscrib- er becomes free. Later, if the alarm device 8 still gives an alarm signal and when the time measuring means 31 has measured the time T3, the interface unit 3 reserves the subscriber's line to its disposal again. The drawings and the specification relating to them are only intended to illustrate the idea of the invention. As to the details, the method of the in¬ vention for the transmission of an alarm from an alarm device and the system of the invention for the transmission of an alarm message can vary within the scope of the claims. Even though the invention has been described above in connection with a telephone network in the first place, it can also be used in connection with communications networks of other kinds, with cellular phone networks, for instance.

Claims

Claims :

1. A method for the transmission of an alarm or a control message or some other message from at least one alarm device (8) or detector (8a, 8b, 8c) through an interface unit (3), which is connected to a first subscriber connection (11) coupled with a communica¬ tions network (12) provided with a hot-line function, to a called subscriber (16) connected to a second subscriber connection (15) coupled with said communi¬ cations network (12), the method comprising the fol¬ lowing method steps:

- the alarm device (8) or detector (8a, 8b, 8c) sends an alarm signal to the interface unit (3), - the interface unit (3) reserves the first subscriber connection (11), the method being further c h a r a c t e r i z e d in the following method steps:

- the communications network (12) connects the first subscriber connection (11) coupled with the interface unit (3) to the second subscriber connec¬ tion (15) by using the hot-line function and

- said connections are disconnected after a predetermined time (Tl).

2. A method according to claim 1, c h a r a c¬ t e i z e d in that when a connection between the interface unit (3) and the second subscriber connec¬ tion (15) is established, the interface unit (3) sends an acoustic alarm message to the second sub- scriber connection (15).

3. A method according to claim 1, c h a r a c¬ t e r i z e d in that a speech channel is connected between the alarm device (8) or the detector (8a, 8b, 8c) and the second subscriber connection (15) through the interface unit (3).

4. A system for the transmission of an alarm message, comprising:

- a communications network (12) provided with a hot-line function, - a first subscriber connection (11) coupled with said communications network (12),

- a second subscriber connection (15) coupled with said communications network (12),

- an alarm device (8) or a detector (8a, 8b, 8c) for producing an alarm signal, and

- an interface unit for connecting the alarm device (8) or the detector (8a, 8b, 8c) to the first subscriber connection (11), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the interface unit (3) comprises

- means (2b, 31) for reserving a subscriber connection and for determining a reservation time (Tl) and

- a means (32) for feeding the alarm message to the first subscriber connection (11), whereby the alarm message is transmitted to the second subscriber connection (15) by utilizing the hot-line function of the communications network (12).

5. A method according to claim 4/ when the in- terface unit (3) is connected to the subscriber's line (11) of the telephone network, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the means for reserving a sub¬ scriber connection and for determining a reservation time comprise: - a coupling means (2b) for coupling together the two wires of a subscriber's line to form a closed loop

- a time measuring means (31) for the control of said coupling means.

6. A system according to claim 4 or 5, c h a r- a c t e r i z e d in that the means (32) for sending the alarm message comprises a means for sending an acoustic sound message to a subscriber connection.

7. A system according to claim 6, c h a r a c- t e r i z e d in that the means for sending an acoustic sound message to a subscriber connection comprises an electroacoustic converter means for changing the sound message into an electric form.

8. A system according to some of the claims 4 to 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it com¬ prises a tone generator for sending a sound signal to a subscriber connection.

9. A system according to claim 4, c h a r a c¬ t e r i z e d in that the interface unit (3) re- ceives its power feed from the voltage of the tele¬ phone line (11).

10. A system according to claim 4, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i z e d in that the interface unit (3) further comprises at least one telephone plug (4).

11. A use of an interface unit (3) in connec¬ tion with a communications network (12) provided with a hot-line function for the transmission of an alarm from an alarm device or a detector connected to a first subscriber connection of said 'communications network to a second subscriber connection (15) cou¬ pled with the communications network (12) by utiliz¬ ing the hot-line function of the communications net¬ work (12), the interface unit comprising:

- means (2b, 31) for reserving a subscriber connection (11) and for determining a reservation time (Tl), and

- a means (32) for feeding an alarm message to a subscriber connection.