Remote monitoring system

• US 4,068,097 A
• Filed: 07/22/1976
• Issued: 01/10/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Albert H.L. Verriest
• Original Assignee: Albert H.L. Verriest
• Inventors: Verriest, Albert H. L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Claffy, Kathleen H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Popek, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US05/707,587
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 179/2 R, 179/2 A, 179/5 R, 179/5 P, 179/2 AM
• US Class Current: 379/38
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A system is disclosed which enables isolated, ill or handicapped persons to have instantaneous and direct contact with a monitor. The system comprises subscriber telephone sets connected to a monitoring station through one or more concentrators. Means are provided to permit direct communication between any of the subscriber sets and the monitoring staton by sending of an alarm signal without even the handset being lifted at the subscriber set, automatically sending the identification of the calling subscriber set and comprising a conversation link between the calling subscriber set and the monitoring station under supervision of the monitoring station.

Claims

1. A remote monitoring system comprising:

a monitoring station, a plurality of subscriber telephone sets each having transmit-receive means and a hook-switch for connecting said transmit-receive means to an individual telephone line, at least one concentrator to which said telephone lines from the subscriber telephone sets are connected, said concentrator being connected to the monitoring station through a signalling line and a conversation line, said concentrator comprising, for each of said telephone lines connected thereto, a signal generator means for generating a respective identification signal, first switching means arranged for connecting the signal generator means to the signalling line in response to an alarm signal from the subscriber telephone set, and second switching means arranged for connecting the respective telephone line to the conversation line in response to a control signal from the monitoring station; and

each subscriber telephone set further comprising third switching means connected in parallel with said hook-switch, control device means responsive to external excitation for actuating said second switching means to short circuit the hook-switch and thereby put the telephone set in the off-hook condition without the hook-switch having been manually actuated, fourth switching means connected in series between the hook-switch and the telephone line, said fourth switching means normally closed, and signal receiver means adapted to produce a control signal for actuating said fourth switching means in response to an excitation signal from a remote sender unit, thereby to disconnect the subscriber telephone set from the telephone during a short time and transmit an alarm signal.

2. A remote monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring station comprises a signalling device connected to said signalling line and a fifth switching means connected on one side to said conversation lines and on the other side to a monitor transmit/receive set and to one or more aid posts thereby to enable the monitor at said monitoring station to interconnect any of said conversation lines and thus any of the subscriber sets with said monitor transmit/receive set and/or any of said aid posts.

3. A remote monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein the monitoring station is combined with a card-index and additionally comprises a selection device capable of sending a selection signal to said card-index to order to extract a card therefrom.

4. A remote monitoring system according to claim 3, wherein said selection device is a signal generator responsive to the detection of a given identification signal to produce a selection signal adapted to automatically extract a card from said card-index.

5. A remote monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein each of the subscriber telephone sets further comprises a device arranged to connect a measuring instrument with the corresponding telephone line and to apply thereto a signal which is representative of the measurement effected by such an instrument.