DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM FOR RESIDENTIAL AND CUSTODIAL-CARE ENVIRONMENTS, OFFICE AND THE LIKE

• US 20090116408A1
• Filed: 02/23/2007
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universidad de Zaragoza
• Original Assignee: Universidad de Zaragoza
• Inventors: Moreno Carbonel, Juan Carlos, Leza Espanol, Jorge
• Granted Patent: US 8,792,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2807 Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving network analysis for automatically determining the actual topology of a network H04L41/12; hardware or software tools for network management using graphical user interfaces H04L41/22; address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances

Abstract

The system is based on the arrangement of a plurality of terminals (1), (I′) . . . (Iⁿ), which are interconnected with one another to form a digital network by means of two databuses, one write and one read, by means of differential transmission, with a hybrid connection topology based inter alia on UTP-type cables (4). Each terminal is constituted by a DLP-type card (7), which contains a programmable logic device for the management of a series of cards associated with the card (7), said cards being a main card (8) and a user-interface card (9), which enable the user to configure the various system options, it being possible, also, to incorporate one or more extension cards (H-H′) for the input and output of audio/video signals, the Internet, a telephone line or an automatic-door-entry line, and also a remote-control and alarm card (10) for activating external loads, activating alarms and receiving signals originating from sensors.

Claims

1. Digital communications system for residential, custodial-care environments, office and the like destined to integrate different communications services within a single network, such as voice, video, alarm control, entryphone and Internet traffic, as well as heating and air-conditioning system control services and the activation of different electrical equipments, structured through a set of interconnected modules or terminals forming a network characterized in that the terminals (1), (1′

), . . . , (1ⁿ) are interconnected through data transmission cables, such as UTP cables (4) for differential transmission, with a read bus (2) and a write bus (3), wherein each module will have at least one PLD card (7) containing a programmable logic device for the management of a series of cards associated to the said card, materialising them in a main card (8) with two A/D, D/A audio converters (14), (15), as well as the corresponding circuits and connectors (5) for the interconnection of terminals or modules with the aforesaid physical means (UTP, telephone cable, optical fibre, wireless, electrical network), and a user interface card (9) that includes a display (19) and a keyboard (20), and a series of piezoelectric buzzers (21) that allow the user to configure the different system options, receiving information about each situation and condition, in addition optionally including one or various expansion cards (11-11′

) which can be associated to named PLD card (7) for the input or output of audio, video, Internet, telephone line or entryphone line signals, as well as a remote control and alarm card (10) used for the activation of external loads, alarms and to gather signals coming from sensors.

2. Digital communications system for residential, custodial-care environments, office and the like according to claim 1, characterized in that the PLD card (7) incorporates a port (12) for its programming with a PC and a slot so that it can be programmed with a memory, as well as a regulator system to power the card and the different cards associated to it through a series of connectors (13).

3. Digital communications system for residential, custodial-care environments, office and the like according to any of prior claims, characterized in that the main card (8) incorporates analogue circuits to treat the audio signal before it reaches the input of the two audio converters (14), (15), as well as analog circuits that treat the output signal, establishing a voice channel and a music channel, with a double output music channel;

a line output to feed the line input of an amplifier and an amplified output to feed a speaker, while the voice channel has an output for a telephone receiver and another one for hand'"'"'s free systems, the card (8) incorporating two integrated circuits (17) and (18) that provide hourly/calendar information, as well as temperature level information, respectively, with the use of a recharging system that prevents the loss of hourly information and including the said card circuits and connectors which enable the interconnection of terminals with the different physical means described (UTP, telephone cable, optical fibre, wireless, electrical network).

4. Digital communications system for residential, custodial-care environments, office and the like according to any of prior claims, characterized in that the interface card (9) can include a radiofrequency (22) and/or infrared (23) transmitter/receiver for the transmission of control data through a terminal network (1), (1′

), . . . , (1ⁿ), while enabling the control tasks from telephony devices, including media or devices to establish voice communications directly through the terminal.

5. Digital communications system for residential, custodial-care environments, office and the like according to any of prior claims, characterized in that the expansion card(s) (11-11′

) contain a series of A/D D/A converters (27) that are similar to those used in the main card (8), with their corresponding audio adaptation stage, used to expand the number of piped music channels and/or a series of converters (28), (29), (30), (31) with their corresponding adaptation stage, to enable the input and output of the different video, telephone line, Internet connection or entryphone line channels.

6. Digital communications system for residential, custodial-care environments, office and the like according to any of prior claims, characterized in that the remote control and alarm card (10) incorporates a series of ports (24) for the connection of various alarm sensors, for example, fire, intruder or flood sensors, as well as ports (25) used to activate said alarms, and remote control ports (26) for the activation of external loads, where the activation of cited external loads is made by means of optocouplers through relays.