System for requesting service of a machine

• US 20050008127A1
• Filed: 04/08/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew S. Holmes, Kevin D. Knoop
• Original Assignee: Andrew S. Holmes, Kevin D. Knoop
• Inventors: Holmes, Andrew S., Knoop, Kevin D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,620,157 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.160
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/005 using recorded signals, e.g. speech
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/045 using recorded signals, e.g. speech

Abstract

A machine requiring periodic maintenance, such as a vending machine, is retrofitted to include an alert system for notifying a machine operator that the machine requires servicing. The alert system includes one or more sensors to detect default conditions, a voice recorder for storing one or more voice messages corresponding to default conditions, a transmitter for transmitting the voice messages to the machine operator, and a trigger connected to the one or more sensors and the transmitter for selectively initiating the transmission of appropriate voice messages in accordance with predetermined parameters. The voice messages are transmitted over the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to be heard by the machine operator or stored on the machine operator'"'"'s voice answering system. The transmitter may be a simple auto dialer connected by wires to a nearby phone jack. However, in a preferred embodiment, the transmitter is constructed in similar manner to the transmitter of a cordless telephone in which the monitored machine includes a short range transmitter operating at 900 MHz or 2200 MHz for transmitting a voice message to a corresponding receiver connected to a nearby phone jack. The voice message is then transmitted over the PSTN to the machine operator. The alert system of the present invention may also include a clock connected to the trigger for causing the voice messages to be transmitted only a predetermined times of the day.

Claims

1. An alert system for requesting service of a machine which requires servicing comprising:

a sensor for detecting a machine event;

a recorder storing one or more pre-recorded voice messages, said voice messages corresponding to machine event;

a transmitter for transmitting said voice messages over the public switched telephone network; and

a trigger for transmitting said voice messages to a predetermined telephone number using said transmitter upon said sensor detecting a predetermined machine event.

2. The alert system for requesting service of a machine of claim 1 wherein said transmitter leaves a voice-mail message with an answering system when transmitting said voice messages.

3. The alert system for requesting service of a machine of claim 1 further comprising a clock connected to said trigger, said trigger sending said voice messages corresponding to machine event at predetermined times of the day.

4. The alert system for requesting service of a machine of claim 3 further comprising:

a plurality of sensors for detecting machine events at a plurality of machines;

a plurality of recorders storing pre-recorded voice messages corresponding to machine events;

a plurality of transmitters for transmitting the voice messages over the public switched telephone network;

a plurality of triggers for transmitting the voice messages to a predetermined telephone number upon the sensor detecting a predetermined machine event; and

a plurality of clocks connected to said triggers causing said triggers to send said voice messages corresponding to machine event at predetermined times of the day;

said clocks staggering the transmission of voice messages from the plurality of machines to avoid busy signals.

5. A method of requesting service of a machine comprising the steps of:

providing an alert system including a machine sensor for detecting machine event, a recorder storing one or more pre-recorded voice messages, the voice messages corresponding to machine event, a transmitter for transmitting the voice messages over the public switched telephone network; and

a trigger for transmitting the voice messages to a predetermined telephone number using the transmitter upon the sensor detecting a predetermined machine event;

detecting a machine event with the machine sensor; and

transmitting a voice message to a predetermined telephone number over the public switched telephone network, the voice message corresponding to the machine event;

receiving the voice message by persons servicing the machine.

6. The method of requesting service of a machine of claim 5 further comprising the step of recording the telephone voice message on an answering system after the message has been transmitting a voice message to a predetermined telephone number.

7. The method of requesting service of a machine of claim 5 wherein the alert system includes a clock connected to the trigger, and the method of requesting service includes the step of transmitting the voice messages corresponding to machine event at predetermined times of the day.

8. The method of requesting service of a machine of claim 7 wherein the alert system includes a plurality of sensors for detecting machine events at a plurality of machines, a plurality of recorders storing pre-recorded voice messages corresponding to machine events, a plurality of transmitters for transmitting the voice messages over the public switched telephone network, a plurality of triggers for transmitting the voice messages to a predetermined telephone number upon the sensor detecting a predetermined machine event;

and a plurality of clocks connected to said triggers causing said triggers to send said voice messages corresponding to machine event at predetermined times of the day, and the method of requesting service further comprises the step of;

staggering the transmission of voice messages from the plurality of machines to avoid busy signals.