Alarm reporting system for transmitting digital alarm signals via a telephone line

• US 3,883,695 A
• Filed: 05/14/1973
• Issued: 05/13/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard Carroll Osborne, Richard Leroy Bickel
• Original Assignee: Richard Carroll Osborne, Richard Leroy Bickel
• Inventors: Bickel, Richard Leroy, Osborne, Richard Carroll
• Primary Examiner(s): Stewart, David L.
• Application Number:
  US05/359,723
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 179/5R,5P 340/146.1BA,164
• US Class Current: 379/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

The specification discloses an alarm reporting system including a plurality of sensor consoles each having at least one alarm sensor connected thereto. Each of the alarm sensors has circuitry for seizing a conventional telephone line in response to the detection of an alarm situation by one of the alarm sensors. Dialing circuitry is provided in the sensor consoles for transmitting digital dialing signals over the seized telephone line. A remotely located central station is responsive to the ringing of the dialed telephone line to seize the telephone line and to transmit a digital tone handshake signal over the telephone line to the calling sensor console. Transmission circuitry at the calling sensor console is responsive to the reception of the handshake signal in order to transmit first digital tone alarm signals which are representative of the identity of the calling sensor console and of the nature of the alarm situation. The central station stores the first digital tone alarm signals and transmits a second digital tone handshake signal. The sensor console then transmits a second digital tone alarm signal to the central station. A comparator circuit at the central station compares the first and second digital tone alarm signals and generates an alarm indication if the two alarm signals match according to predetermined criteria. A plurality of safety features and accessories are provided to enhance the security of the alarm reporting system.

Claims

1. An alarm reporting system comprising:

a plurality of sensor consoles each having at least one alarm sensor connected thereto, means in each said sensOr console for seizing a conventional telephone line in response to the detection of an alarm situation by one of said alarm sensors, dialing means in said sensor consoles for transmitting digital dialing signals over the seized telephone line, a central station responsive to the ringing of the dialed telephone line for transmitting over the telephone line to the calling sensor console a digital handshake signal, transmission means at said calling sensor console responsive to the reception of said handshake signal for transmitting over the telephone line first digital alarm signals representative of the identity of the calling sensor console and of the nature of the alarm situation, means at said central station for storing said first digital alarm signals and for transmitting another digital handshake signal, whereupon said transmission means transmits a second digital alarm signal over the telephone lines, comparator means at said central station for generating an alarm indication if said first and second digital alarm signals match according to predetermined criteria, means for dialing a second alternate telephone number if the telephone is not answered at said central station, and means for slowing down the transmission of said digital alarm signals via the telephone lines to the alternate telephone station.

2. The system of claim 1 and further comprising:

test means manually operable by an operator to transmit said first and second digital alarm signals to thereby energize said microphone, and visual display means at said sensor console operable from said central station to indicate to the operator that the system is functioning correctly.

3. The system of claim 1 and further comprising:

means at said central station for transmitting an inverted digital handshake signal to said sensor console in order to terminate operation of said sensor console and to reset said sensor console, and means at said central station responsive to a tone transmitted from said sensor console in order to release the telephone line.

4. The system of claim 1 and further comprising:

time extender means for continually dialing the telephone number of said central station for an extended period of time if said central station does not answer.

5. An alarm reporting system comprising:

at least one sensor console having an alarm sensor connected thereto, means in said console responsive to an output from said alarm sensor for seizing a telephone line and for transmitting predetermined dialing signals over the telephone line to ring a telephone line at a remote location, a central station at said remote location having means responsive to the audio ringing of said line for seizing the telephone line and for transmitting a coded tone sequence handshake signal to said sensor console over the telephone line, transmission means in said console responsive to receiption of said handshake signal for transmitting digital data over the telephone line by modulating one of two simultaneously generated tones, said digital data respresentative of the location of said sensor console and the nature of the alarm situation, means at said central station for receiving and storing said digital data and for again transmitting said handshake signal to said sensor console, said transmission means responsive to said handshake signal for again transmitting said identical digital data to said sensor console, comparator means in said sensor console for comparing the two transmissions of digital data and for generating an alarm indication upon matching of the two transmissions, and reset means in said central station for generating an inverted handshake signal to reset said sensor console.

6. In an alarm system wherein a remote sensor console transmits digital alarm signals via a telephone line to a central station, the combination comprising:

means in said sensor console for automaTically dialing the telephone number of the central station to enable the transmission of digital alarm signals, means responsive to a predetermined number of unsuccessful attempts to dial the telephone number of the central station for automatically dialing a second telephone number of a prescribed alternate location, and means for generating audible digital signals via the telephone line at a reduced rate when the telephone is answered at the alternate location.

7. An alarm reporting system comprising:

at least one sensor console having an alarm sensor connected thereto, means in said console responsive to an output from said alarm sensor for seizing a telephone line and for transmitting predetermined dialing signals over the telephone line to ring a telephone line at a remote location, a central station at said remote location having means responsive to the audio ringing of said line for seizing the telephone line and for transmitting a coded tone sequence handshake signal to said sensor console over the telephone line, transmission means in said console responsive to reception of said handshake signal for transmitting digital data over the telephone line by modulating one of two simultaneously generated tones, said digital data representative of the location of said sensor console and the nature of the alarm situation, means at said central station for receiving and storing said digital data and for again transmitting said handshake signal to said sensor console, comparator means in said sensor console for comparing the two transmissions of digital data and for generating an alarm indication upon matching of the two transmissions, and said handshake signal comprising a single tone for a prescribed time interval and a pair of tones for a time interval.

8. An alarm reporting system comprising:

at least one sensor console having an alarm sensor connected thereto, means in said console responsive to an output from said alarm sensor for seizing a telephone line and for transmitting predetermined dialing signals over the telephone line to ring a telephone line at a remote location, a central station at said remote location having means responsive to the audio ringing of said line for seizing the telephone line and for transmitting a coded tone sequence handshake signal to said sensor console over the telephone line, transmission means in said console responsive to reception of said handshake signal for transmitting digital data over the telephone line by modulating one of two simultaneously generated tones, said digital data representative of the location of said sensor console and the nature of the alarm situation, means at said central station for receiving and storing said digital data and for again transmitting said handshake signal to said sensor console, said transmission means responsive to said handshake signal for again transmitting said identical digital data to said sensor console, comparator means in said sensor console for comparing the two transmissions of digital data and for generating an alarm indication upon matching of the two transmissions, and means for slowing down the transmission of said digital alarm signals via the telephone lines to the alternate telephone station.

9. An alarm reporting system comprising:

at least one sensor console having an alarm sensor connected thereto, means in said console responsive to an output from said alarm sensor for seizing a telephone line and for transmitting predetermined dialing signals over the telephone line to ring a telephone line at a remote location, a central station at said remote location having means responsive to the audio ringing of said line for seizing the telephone line and for transmitting a coded tone sequence handshake signal to said sensor console over the telephone line, transmission means in said console responsive to reception of said handshake signal for transmitting digital Data over the telephone line by modulating one of two simultaneously generated tones, said digital data representative of the location of said sensor console and the nature of the alarm situation, means at said central station for receiving and storing said digital data and for again transmitting said handshake signal to said sensor console, said transmission means responsive to said handshake signal for again transmitting said identical digital data to said sensor console, comparator means in said sensor console for comparing the two transmissions of digital data and for generating an alarm indication upon matching of the two transmissions means at said central station for transmitting an inverted digital handshake signal to said sensor console in order to terminate operation of said sensor console and to reset said sensor console, and means at said central station responsive to a tone transmitted from said sensor console in order to release the telephone line.