Method and apparatus for obtaining telephone status over a network

• US 20050249334A1
• Filed: 07/15/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Far North Patents, LLC
• Original Assignee: Robelight LLC
• Inventors: Roberts, Jon L., Light, Elliott D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,356,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/32.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2272 Subscriber line supervision circuits, e.g. call detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0012 Details of application programming interfaces [API] for telephone networks; Arrangements which combine a telephonic communication equipment and a computer, i.e. computer telephony integration [CPI] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0036 where the data service is an information service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1215 where a cable TV network is used as an access to the PSTN/ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0421 Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13152 Callback
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13173 Busy signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1318 : Ringing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13274 : Call rejection, call barring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 : Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13374 : Paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13375 : Electronic mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring the state of a structure over a network. The system and method provides for providing the status of a monitoring device to a status file. The status file is accessible over the Internet by computer so that a party can first determine the status of the device. The system operates over normal PSTN'"'"'s, over cable systems, over wireless networks and over the Internet.

Claims

1. A system for obtaining the status of monitoring equipment within a structure over a network comprising:

a monitoring device, wherein the monitoring device is associated with a portion of the structure and is adapted to provide output signals indicative of the status of the monitoring device;

a first network connected to the monitoring device for receiving the signals from the monitoring device;

a status file connected to the first network for receiving the output signals from the monitoring device over the first network;

a second network connected to the status file;

a processor connected to the second network, the processor comprising instructions for accessing the status file over the second network, and for displaying the status of the monitoring device to a user of the processor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the structure is selected from the group consisting of a residence, a commercial building, a prison, a warehouse, storage facility, and a motor vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network is selected from the group consisting of a public switched telephone network, a cable network, a wireless network, and a private network.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network is a local network.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the local network is selected from the group consisting of a wired network and a wireless network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second network is selected from the group consisting a public switched telephone network, a cable network, a wireless network, a private network, and the Internet.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is further adapted to receive a control signal from the processor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device comprises a heat sensor, and wherein the signals indicative of the status of the monitoring device comprise a temperature.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the monitoring device further comprises a video imaging device and the signals indicative of the status of the monitoring device comprises a visual image of the portion of the structure associated with the monitoring device.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the status file comprises a warning if the temperature is outside of a specified range.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the first network is selected from the group consisting of a public switched telephone network, a cable network, a wireless network, and a private network.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the first network is a local network.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the local network is selected from the group consisting of a wired network and a wireless network.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the second network is selected from the group consisting a public switched telephone network, a cable network, a wireless network, a private network, and the Internet.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the heat sensor is adapted to receive a control signal from the processor to affect an temperature change within the portion of the structure associated with the heat sensor.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device comprises a motion detector, and wherein the signals indicative of the status of the monitoring device comprise a signal indicative of movement.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the monitoring device further comprises a video imaging device and the signals indicative of the status of the monitoring device comprises a visual image of the portion of the structure associated with the motion detector.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the first network is selected from the group consisting of a public switched telephone network, a cable network, a wireless network, and a private network.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the first network is a local network.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the local network is selected from the group consisting of a wired network and a wireless network.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the second network is selected from the group consisting a public switched telephone network, a cable network, a wireless network, a private network, and the Internet.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the motion sensor is adapted to receive a control signal from the processor to direct the video imaging device.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device comprises a glass breakage detector, and wherein the signals indicative of the status of the monitoring device comprise a signal indicative of a glass breakage detector.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the monitoring device further comprises a video imaging device and the signals indicative of the status of the monitoring device comprises a visual image of the portion of the structure associated with the a glass breakage detector.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the first network is selected from the group consisting of a public switched telephone network, a cable network, a wireless network, and a private network.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the first network is a local network.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the local network is selected from the group consisting of a wired network and a wireless network.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the second network is selected from the group consisting a public switched telephone network, a cable network, a wireless network, a private network, and the Internet.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the glass breakage detector is adapted to receive a control signal from the processor to direct the video imaging device.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device comprises a door opening detector, and wherein the signals indicative of the status of the monitoring device comprise a signal indicative of a door transitioning from a closed position to an open position.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the monitoring device further comprises a video imaging device and the signals indicative of the status of the door opening detector comprises a visual image of the portion of the structure associated with door opening detector.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the first network is selected from the group consisting of a public switched telephone network, a cable network, a wireless network, and a private network.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the first network is a local network.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the local network is selected from the group consisting of a wired network and a wireless network.

35. The system of claim 30, wherein the second network is selected from the group consisting a public switched telephone network, a cable network, a wireless network, a private network, and the Internet.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein the door opening detector is adapted to receive a control signal from the processor to direct the video imaging device.

37. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device comprises a illumination device and wherein the signals indicative of the status of the monitoring device comprise a signal indicative of a whether the illumination device is on or off.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the illumination device is adapted to receive a control signal from the processor to turn the illumination device on if the present state is off and to turn the illumination device off if its present state is on.

39. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is a network addressable device.

40. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device comprises an audio sensor, and wherein the signals indicative of the status of the monitoring device comprise a signal indicative of a noise above ambient noise.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the monitoring device further comprises a video imaging device and the signals indicative of the status of the audio sensor comprises a visual image of the portion of the structure associated with audio sensor.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the first network is selected from the group consisting of a public switched telephone network, a cable network, a wireless network, and a private network.

43. The system of claim 40, wherein the first network is a local network.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the local network is selected from the group consisting of a wired network and a wireless network.

45. The system of claim 40, wherein the second network is selected from the group consisting a public switched telephone network, a cable network, a wireless network, a private network, and the Internet.

46. The system of claim 41, wherein the audio sensor is adapted to receive a control signal from the processor to direct the video imaging device.

47. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device comprises a liquid sensor, and wherein the signals indicative of the status of the monitoring device comprise a signal indicative of the presence of a liquid.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the monitoring device further comprises a video imaging device and the signals indicative of the status of the liquid sensor comprises a visual image of the portion of the structure associated with liquid sensor.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein the first network is selected from the group consisting of a public switched telephone network, a cable network, a wireless network, and a private network.

50. The system of claim 47, wherein the first network is a local network.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the local network is selected from the group consisting of a wired network and a wireless network.

52. The system of claim 47, wherein the second network is selected from the group consisting a public switched telephone network, a cable network, a wireless network, a private network, and the Internet.

53. The system of claim 48, wherein the liquid sensor is adapted to receive a control signal from the processor to direct the video imaging device.

54. A method for monitoring the state of a structure over a network comprising:

associating a monitoring device with a portion of the structure;

receiving output signals indicative of the status of the monitoring device at a status file over a first network;

accessing the status file over a second network from a processor; and

displaying the status of the monitoring device to a user of the processor.

55. The method for monitoring the state of a structure over a network of claim 54, the structure is selected from the group consisting of a residence, a commercial building, a prison, a warehouse, storage facility, and a motor vehicle.

56. The method for monitoring the state of a structure over a network of claim 54, the first network is selected from the group consisting of a public switched telephone network, a cable network, a wireless network, and a private network.

57. The method for monitoring the state of a structure over a network of claim 54, wherein the first network is a local network.

58. The method for monitoring the state of a structure over a network of claim 57, wherein the local network is selected from the group consisting of a wired network and a wireless network.

59. The method for monitoring the state of a structure over a network of claim 54, wherein the second network is selected from the group consisting a public switched telephone network, a cable network, a wireless network, a private network, and the Internet.

60. The method for monitoring the state of a structure over a network of claim 54, wherein the monitoring device comprises a heat sensor, and wherein the signals indicative of the status of the monitoring device comprise a temperature.

61. The method for monitoring the state of a structure over a network of claim 60, wherein the monitoring device further comprises a video imaging device and the signals indicative of the status of the monitoring device comprises a visual image of the portion of the structure associated with the monitoring device.

62. The method for monitoring the state of a structure over a network of claim 60, wherein the status file comprises a warning if the temperature is outside of a specified range.

63. The method for monitoring the state of a structure over a network of claim 54, wherein the monitoring device comprises a motion detector, and wherein the signals indicative of the status of the monitoring device comprise a signal indicative of movement.

64. The method for monitoring the state of a structure over a network of claim 63, wherein the monitoring device further comprises a video imaging device and the signals indicative of the status of the monitoring device comprises a visual image of the portion of the structure associated with the motion detector.

65. The method for monitoring the state of a structure over a network of claim 54, wherein the monitoring device comprises a glass breakage detector, and wherein the signals indicative of the status of the monitoring device comprise a signal indicative of a glass breakage detector.

66. The method for monitoring the state of a structure over a network of claim 65, wherein the monitoring device further comprises a video imaging device and the signals indicative of the status of the monitoring device comprises a visual image of the portion of the structure associated with the a glass breakage detector.

67. The method for monitoring the state of a structure over a network of claim 54, wherein the monitoring device comprises a door opening detector, and wherein the signals indicative of the status of the monitoring device comprise a signal indicative of an opening door.

68. The method for monitoring the state of a structure over a network of claim 67, wherein the monitoring device further comprises a video imaging device and the signals indicative of the status of the door opening detector comprises a visual image of the portion of the structure associated with door opening detector.

69. The method for monitoring the state of a structure over a network of claim 54, wherein the monitoring device comprises a illumination device and wherein the signals indicative of the status of the monitoring device comprise a signal indicative of a whether the illumination device is on or off.

70. The method for monitoring the state of a structure over a network of claim 54, wherein the monitoring device is a network addressable device.