Network to alarm panel simulator for VoIp

• US 20070001818A1
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wollmershauser, Steve, Diroo, Yolius, Small, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,778,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/286.20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

The present invention provides for a system and method for providing a signal to a communication system comprising an interface between a communication link and the communication system, like an alarm system, wherein the interface receives a signal from the communication link and provides a signal indicative of the availability of the communication link for use by the communication system. Alarm systems operations may be facilitated so that Residential Gateway components (such as voice terminal adapters) may simulate traditional telephone network systems that run on 48 VDC powered telephone lines. The system also comprises an input port associated with the interface for receiving the signal from the communication link, a transformer or a voltage regulator and an output port associated with the interface for providing the conditioned signal to the communication system. A ring voltage received from the communication link may be passed through to the alarm system.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a signal to a communication system comprising:

(a) an interface between a communication link and the communication system, wherein the interface receives a signal from the communication link and provides a signal indicative of the state of the communication link to the communication system;

(b) an input port associated with the interface for receiving an output signal from the communication link; and

(c) an output port associated with the interface for providing the conditioned signal to the communication system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal indicates the communication link is available.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal from the communication link is a voltage, the apparatus further comprising a transformer between the input port and the output port, wherein the transformer is connected to a voltage at the input port and conditions the voltage to a voltage at the output port indicative of the availability of the communication link.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communication link further comprises at least one of the set consisting of:

i) a voice terminal adapter, ii) a residential gateway;

iii) a VoIP phone and iv) a FTTP phone.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communication system further comprises an alarm panel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal comprises an alarm panel voltage.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a ring voltage signal received from the communication link is provided to the communication system.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an off-hook signal detection device wherein the signal provided to the communication system is discontinued when an off-hook condition is detected by the off-hook signal detection device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one the set consisting of:

i) a local power source, ii) a current monitor, and iii) a diode.

10. A method for providing a signal from a communication link to a communication system comprising:

(a) determining an output signal from the communication link;

(b) conditioning the output signal to obtain a conditioned signal indicative of the state of the communication link; and

(c) providing the conditioned output signal to the communication system.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the conditioned signal to the communication system indicates the communication link is available.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the conditioned signal is a voltage.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising discontinuing the conditioned signal when a fault condition occurs.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the fault condition is an off-hook signal indicated by at least one of the set consisting of i) a decrease in resistance, ii) a decrease in voltage and iii) an increase in current.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the communication link further comprises at least one of the set consisting of:

i) a voice terminal adapter, ii) a residential gateway;

iii) a VoIP phone and iv) a FTTP phone.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein a local power source is used to condition the output signal.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprises an alarm panel.

18. A system for providing a signal to a communication system comprising:

(a) an interface between a communication link and the communication system, wherein the interface receives an signal from the communication link and provides a conditioned signal indicative of the state of the communication link to the communication system;

(b) an input port associated with the interface for receiving the signal from the communication link;

(c) a voltage regulator connected to the input port for conditioning the signal from the communication link; and

(d) an output port associated with the interface for providing the conditioned signal to the communication system.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the signal to the communication system is a voltage indicating the availability of the communication link.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein a ring voltage received from the communication link is provided to the communication system.