Remote control of a speaker phone device as a standalone device or as part of a security system

• US 20060023847A1
• Filed: 07/27/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Tyroler, Dan, Tyhacz, John D., Jordan, Raymond J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,403,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A telephone device such as a speaker phone or message recording device is remotely controlled either as a standalone device or as part of a security system. The telephone device can be controlled by a key fob or other user-operated transmitter that a user actuates to answer a call by speaker phone, end a call, place a call, or control functions of the message recording device such as playing back messages. The key fob transmits a wireless signal that is received and processed by a security system. In response, the security system controls the telephone device. The key fob may control security functions as well. In another approach, the key fob may control the telephone device directly without intervention of a security system. Or, the key fob may control the telephone device via a home automation network.

Claims

1. A security apparatus, comprising:

at least one control for controlling a security system that secures a building; and

at least one receiver for receiving a first signal from a sensor in the security system, and for receiving, from a user-operated transmitter, a user-generated signal for controlling a telephone device;

wherein the at least one control is responsive to the at least one receiver for triggering an alarm when the first signal is received, and for controlling the telephone device responsive to the user-generated signal.

2. The security apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one control is responsive to the user-generated signal for controlling at least one of a speaker phone function, message recording function, and dialing function of the telephone device.

3. The security apparatus of claim 1, wherein the telephone device is provided in a standalone housing separate from the at least one receiver and the at least one control.

4. The security apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the telephone device, at least one receiver and at least one control are provided in a common housing.

5. The security apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the user-generated signal comprises a wireless signal.

6. A telephone device, comprising:

a first control for controlling a telephone function of the telephone device; and

a receiver for receiving a first signal from a second control in a security system, the security system securing a building;

wherein;

the second control is responsive to a user-generated signal received from a user-operated transmitter for controlling the telephone function, and the first signal is provided by the second control responsive to the user-generated signal; and

the first control is responsive to the first signal for controlling the telephone function.

7. The telephone device of claim 6, wherein:

the telephone function comprises at least one of a speaker phone function, message recording function, and dialing function.

8. The telephone device of claim 6, wherein:

the first control, receiver, and the second control are provided in a common housing.

9. The telephone device of claim 6, wherein:

the first control and the receiver are provided in a standalone housing separate from the second control.

10. A user-operated transmitter, comprising:

at least one user-actuable component; and

a transmitter responsive to the at least one user-actuable component for transmitting a user-generated signal for controlling a telephone device to at least one receiver associated with a security system that secures a building;

wherein;

the at least one receiver is provided for receiving a second signal from a sensor in the security system; and

the security system includes at least one control that is responsive to the at least one receiver for controlling the telephone device responsive to the user-generated signal, and triggering an alarm responsive to the second signal.

11. The user-operated transmitter of claim 10, wherein:

the user-generated signal comprises data for controlling a speaker phone function of the telephone device.

12. The user-operated transmitter of claim 10, wherein:

the user-generated signal comprises data for controlling a message recording function of the telephone device.

13. The user-operated transmitter of claim 10, wherein:

the user-generated signal comprises data for controlling a dialing function of the telephone device.

14. The user-operated transmitter of claim 12, wherein:

the user-generated signal comprises a wireless signal.

15. The user-operated transmitter of claim 14, further comprising:

a portable housing in which the at least one user-actuable component and the transmitter are provided.

16. The user-operated transmitter of claim 14, wherein:

the at least one user-actuable component and the transmitter control the security system as well as the telephone device.

17. A telephone device, comprising:

a first control for controlling a telephone function of the telephone device; and

a receiver for receiving a first signal from a transceiver via a home automation network;

wherein;

the transceiver is responsive to a user-generated signal received from a user-operated transmitter for controlling the telephone function; and

the first control is responsive to the first signal for controlling the telephone function.

18. The telephone device of claim 17, wherein:

the telephone function comprises at least one of a speaker phone function, a message recording function, and a dialing function.

19. A user-operated transmitter, comprising:

at least one user-actuable component; and

a transmitter responsive to the at least one user-actuable component for transmitting, to a transceiver associated with a home automation network, a user-generated signal for controlling a telephone function of a telephone device;

wherein the transceiver is responsive to the user-generated signal for transmitting a second signal via the home automation network to the telephone device for controlling the telephone function of the telephone device.

20. The user-operated transmitter of claim 19, wherein:

the telephone function comprises at least one of a speaker phone function, a message recording function, and a dialing function.

21. A telephone device, comprising:

a receiver for receiving a wireless signal from a user-operated transmitter for controlling a telephone function of the telephone device; and

a control associated with the receiver that is responsive to the wireless signal for controlling the telephone function of the telephone device.

22. A user-operated transmitter, comprising:

at least one user-actuable component; and

a transmitter responsive to the at least one user-actuable component for transmitting, to a receiver associated with a telephone device, a wireless signal for controlling a telephone function of the telephone device;

wherein the receiver is responsive to the wireless signal for controlling the telephone function of the telephone device.