Security terminal for use with two-way interactive cable system

• US 4,361,730 A
• Filed: 08/29/1980
• Issued: 11/30/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Entertainment Company LP (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Warner AMEX Cable Communications Incorporated
• Inventors: Christenson, Paul E., Davis, Steven J., Roh, David J., Korodi, Miklos B., Jones, Donald S., Barber, Tommie L., Schuldt, David A., Towse, Andrew C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Popek, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US06/182,627
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 179/2 R, 179/2 A, 179/2 AM, 179/2 AS, 179/5 R, 179/5 P, 358/85, 358/86, 455/2, 455/3, 455/4, 455/5, 455/6, 340/502, 340/504, 340/505, 340/506, 340/531, 340/870.02, 340/870.07, 340/870.16
• US Class Current: 348/14.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A security terminal for use with a two-way interactive cable system. The security terminal develops alarm and supervisory signals, and controls their transmission over the cable when polled by a central station. The terminal discriminates between four different types of alarm condition (burglary, fire, medical and general emergency), and transmits respective coded signals over the cable, or over a switched telephone network if cable transmission is not successful. To further insure that alarm signals are properly transmitted in the event of a cable outage, the terminal responds to a cable-sent test command from the central station by causing the dialer to dial the central station over the switched telephone network; in this way, the dialer mechanism can be tested periodically to insure that it will be operative if needed.

Claims

1. A security terminal for use with a two-way interactive cable system and a switched telephone network;

said cable system having a central station including means for transmitting address and control signals over a cable to control communications with interactive television terminals on the premises of respective subscribers, and means for receiving response signals over said cable from said television terminals;

said security terminal comprising

means for developing an alarm code signal;

control means connected to said cable for recognizing a respective address and in response thereto for transmitting said alarm code signal over said cable to said central station;

said control means being further operative to recognize transmission along said cable from said central station of a confirmation of said alarm code signal; and

telephone dialer means connected to a telephone line in said switched telephone network;

said control means being responsive to a failure to recognize a confirmation of said alarm code signal for causing said telephone dialer means to dial a predetermined telephone number, and for outputting on said telephone line a signal identifying the security terminal and a signal representative of said alarm code signal.

2. A security terminal in accordance with claim 1 wherein said control means is further operative to recognize a dialer test control signal on said cable, and in response thereto to cause said telephone dialer means to dial said predetermined telephone number, and to output on said telephone line a signal identifying the security terminal and a signal indicative that a dialer test control signal was received by the terminal.

3. A security terminal in accordance with claim 2 wherein said alarm code signal developing means develops one of a plurality of predetermined alarm code signals representative of respective alarm conditions.

4. A security terminal in accordance with claim 3 further including means for developing supervisory trouble code signals representative of respective trouble states of the security terminal, said control means being further operative in response to the recognition of said respective address to transmit a developed supervisory trouble code signal to said central station over said cable.

5. A security terminal in accordance with claim 4 wherein, if both an alarm code signal and a supervisory trouble code signal have been developed, in response to the recognition of said respective address said control means transmits said alarm code signal over said cable.

6. A security terminal in accordance with claim 4 wherein said supervisory trouble code signals represent trouble conditions of a loss of power, a low stand-by battery, and a malfunctioning fire detection loop.

7. A security terminal in accordance with claim 3 wherein said alarm code signals represent fire, medical, burglary and emergency alarm conditions.

8. A security terminal in accordance with claim 2 further including a fire-detection circuit, and wherein said control means is further operative to recognize a fire-detection circuit test control signal, and in response thereto to transmit to said central station over said cable a coded signal representative of the condition of said fire-detection circuit.

9. A security terminal in accordance with claim 2 wherein said control means, in response to the recognition of said dialer test control signal, is further operative to transmit over said cable to said central station a coded verification signal.

10. A security terminal in accordance with claim 1 further including a keyboard, and wherein said alarm code signal developing means includes means for detecting an intrusion of the premises on which the security terminal is located, and said control means is responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of a master code for selectively enabling and disabling the operation of said intrusion detecting means.

11. A security terminal in accordance with claim 10 wherein said control means is responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code, a function code and an alternate code for thereafter allowing the inputting of said alternate code to selectively enable and disable the operation of said intrusion detecting means.

12. A security terminal in accordance with claim 11 wherein said control means is responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code and a release code for thereafter preventing the inputting of said alternate code from selectively enabling and disabling the operation of said intrusion detecting means.

13. A security terminal in accordance with claim 12 wherein said release code consists of said function code and said master code.

14. A security terminal in accordance with claim 10 wherein the enabling of the operation of said intrusion detecting means is delayed following the inputting on said keyboard of said master code, and said control means is responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code, a function code and a time delay for thereafter causing the delay in the operation of said intrusion detecting means to equal the inputted time delay.

15. A security terminal in accordance with claim 14 further including means for sounding a warning signal while the operation of said intrusion detecting means is being delayed.

16. A security terminal in accordance with claim 10 wherein said control means prevents the developing of an alarm code signal if said master code is inputted on said keyboard within a predetermined time interval following the detection of a predetermined intrusion, and said control means is responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code, a function code and a time delay for thereafter causing said predetermined time interval to equal the inputted time delay.

17. A security terminal in accordance with claim 16 further including means for sounding a warning signal during said predetermined time interval following the detection of said predetermined intrusion.

18. A security terminal in accordance with claim 16 further including switch means for controlling development of an alarm code signal immediately upon detection of said predetermined intrusion without waiting for the expiration of said predetermined time interval.

19. A security terminal in accordance with claim 10 further including means for sounding an alarm for a predetermined time interval responsive to the detection of an intrusion by said intrusion detecting means, and wherein said control means is responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code, a function code and a time value for thereafter causing said predetermined time interval to equal the inputted time value.

20. A security terminal in accordance with claim 19 wherein said control means is operative to stop the sounding of said alarm during said predetermined time interval responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code.

21. A security terminal in accordance with claim 19 wherein said control means is operative to stop the sounding of said alarm during said predetermined time interval responsive to receipt over said cable of a special coded signal.

22. A security terminal in accordance with claim 10 further including means for sounding an alarm responsive to the detection of an intrusion by said intrusion detecting means, and switch test means for controlling the sounding of said alarm without allowing said alarm code signal to be developed.

23. A security terminal in accordance with claim 10 further including means for providing a short audible verification responsive to each operation of a key on said keyboard.

24. A security terminal in accordance with claim 10 further including an audible alarm, and wherein said alarm code signal developing means includes means for detecting a fire in the premises on which the security terminal is located, and said control means is responsive to the detection of a fire for sounding said audible alarm and is responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code for shutting off said audible alarm.

25. A security terminal in accordance with claim 10 wherein the enabling of the operation of said intrusion detecting means is delayed following the inputting on said keyboard of said master code, and further including means for sounding a warning signal while the operation of said intrusion detecting means is being delayed.

26. A security terminal in accordance with claim 10 wherein said control means prevents the developing of an alarm code signal if said master code is inputted on said keyboard within a predetermined time interval following the detection of a predetermined intrusion, and further including means for sounding a warning signal during said predetermined time interval following the detection of said predetermined intrusion.

27. A security terminal in accordance with claim 26 further including switch means for controlling development of an alarm code signal immediately upon detection of said predetermined intrusion without waiting for the expiration of said predetermined time interval.

28. A security terminal in accordance with claim 10 further including means for sounding an alarm for a predetermined time interval responsive to the detection of an intrusion by said intrusion detecting means, and wherein said control means is operative to stop the sounding of said alarm during said predetermined time interval responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code.

29. A security terminal in accordance with claim 28 wherein said control means is operative to stop the sounding of said alarm during said predetermined time interval responsive to receipt over said cable of a special coded signal.

30. A security terminal for use with a two-way interactive communications system and a switched telephone network;

said communications system having station means for transmitting coded signals over a communications link to control communications with interactive television terminals on the premises of respective subscribers, and station means for receiving response signals over said link from said television terminals;

said security terminal comprising

means for developing an alarm code signal;

control means connected to said communications link for recognizing station-means-transmitted coded signals representative of a respective address and in response thereto for transmitting said alarm code signal over said link to said receiving station means;

telephone dialer means connected to a telephone line in said switched telephone network; and

means responsive to a failure in the transmission of said alarm code signal over said link for causing said telephone dialer means to dial a predetermined telephone number, and for outputting on said telephone line a signal identifying the security terminal and a signal representative of said alarm code signal;

said control means being further operative to recognize a station-means-transmitted dialer test control signal on said link, and in response thereto to cause said telephone dialer means to dial said predetermined telephone number, and to output on said telephone line a signal identifying the security terminal and a signal indicative that a dialer test control signal was received by the terminal.

31. A security terminal in accordance with claim 30 wherein said alarm code signal developing means develops one of a plurality of predetermined alarm code signals representative of respective alarm conditions.

32. A security terminal in accordance with claim 31 further including means for developing supervisory trouble code signals representative of respective trouble states of the security terminal, said control means being further operative in response to the recognition of said respective address to transmit a developed supervisory trouble code signal to said receiving station means over said link.

33. A security terminal in accordance with claim 32 wherein, if both an alarm code signal and a supervisory trouble code signal have been developed, in response to the recognition of said respective address said control means transmits said alarm code signal over said link.

34. A security terminal in accordance with claim 32 wherein said supervisory trouble code signals represent trouble conditions of a loss of power, a low stand-by battery, and a malfunctioning fire detection loop.

35. A security terminal in accordance with claim 31 wherein said alarm code signals represent fire, medical, burglary and emergency alarm conditions.

36. A security terminal in accordance with claim 30 further including a fire-detection circuit, and wherein said control means is further operative to recognize a fire-detection circuit test control signal, and in response thereto to transmit to said receiving station means over said link a coded signal representative of the condition of said fire-detection circuit.

37. A security terminal in accordance with claim 30 wherein said control means, in response to the recognition of said dialer test control signal, is further operative to transmit over said link to said receiving station means a coded verification signal.

38. A security terminal in accordance with claim 30 further including a keyboard, and wherein said alarm code signal developing means includes means for detecting an intrusion of the premises on which the security terminal is located, and said control means is responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of a master code for selectively enabling and disabling the operation of said intrusion detecting means.

39. A security terminal in accordance with claim 38 wherein said control means is responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code, a function code and an alternate code for thereafter allowing the inputting of said alternate code to selectively enable and disable the operation of said intrusion detecting means.

40. A security terminal in accordance with claim 39 wherein said control means is responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code and a release code for thereafter preventing the inputting of said alternate code from selectively enabling and disabling the operation of said intrusion detecting means.

41. A security terminal in accordance with claim 40 wherein said release code consists of said function code and said master code.

42. A security terminal in accordance with claim 38 wherein the enabling of the operation of said intrusion detecting means is delayed following the inputting on said keyboard of said master code, and said control means is responsive to inputting on said keyboard of said master code, a function code and a time delay for thereafter causing the delay in the operation of said intrusion detecting means to equal the inputted time delay.

43. A security terminal in accordance with claim 42 further including means for sounding a warning signal while the operation of said intrusion detecting means is being delayed.

44. A security terminal in accordance with claim 38 wherein said control means prevents the developing of an alarm code signal if said master code is inputted on said keyboard within a predetermined time interval following the detection of a predetermined intrusion, and said control means is responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code, a function code and a time delay for thereafter causing said predetermined time interval to equal the inputted time delay.

45. A security terminal in accordance with claim 44 further including means for sounding a warning signal during said predetermined time interval following the detection of a predetermined intrusion.

46. A security terminal in accordance with claim 44 further including switch means for controlling development of an alarm code signal immediately upon detection of said predetermined intrusion without waiting for the expiration of said predetermined time interval.

47. A security terminal in accordance with claim 38 further including means for sounding an alarm for a predetermined time interval responsive to the detection of an intrusion by said intrusion detecting means, and wherein said control means is responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code, a function code and a time value for thereafter causing said predetermined time interval to equal the inputted time value.

48. A security terminal in accordance with claim 47 wherein said control means is operative to stop the sounding of said alarm during said predetermined time interval responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code.

49. A security terminal in accordance with claim 47 wherein said control means is operative to stop the sounding of said alarm during said predetermined time interval responsive to receipt over said link of a special coded signal.

50. A security terminal in accordance with claim 38 further including means for sounding an alarm responsive to the detection of an intrusion by said intrusion detecting means, and switch test means for controlling the sounding of said alarm without allowing said alarm code signal to be developed.

51. A security terminal in accordance with claim 38 further including means for providing a short audible verification responsive to each operation of a key on said keyboard.

52. A security terminal in accordance with claim 38 further including an audible alarm, and wherein said alarm code signal developing means includes means for detecting a fire in the premises on which the security terminal is located, and said control means is responsive to the detection of a fire for sounding said audible alarm and is responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code for shutting off said audible alarm.

53. A security terminal in accordance with claim 38 wherein the enabling of the operation of said intrusion detecting means is delayed following the inputting on said keyboard of said master code, and further including means for sounding a warning signal while the operation of said intrusion detecting means is being delayed.

54. A security terminal in accordance with claim 38 wherein said control means prevents the developing of an alarm code signal if said master code is inputted on said keyboard within a predetermined time interval following the detection of a predetermined intrusion, and further including means for sounding a warning signal during said predetermined time interval folowing the detection of said predetermined intrusion.

55. A secuirty terminal in accordance with claim 54 further including switch means for controlling development of an alarm code signal immediately upon detection of said predetermined intrusion without waiting for the expiration of said predetermined time interval.

56. A security terminal in accordance with claim 38 further including means for sounding an alarm for a predetermined time interval responsive to the detection of an intrusion by said intrusion detecting means, and wherein said control means is operative to stop the sounding of said alarm during said predetermined time interval responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code.

57. A security terminal in accordance with claim 56 wherein said control means is operative to stop the sounding of said alarm during said predetermined time interval responsive to receipt over said link of a special coded signal.

58. A security terminal for use with a two-way interactive communications system and a switched telephone network;

said communications system having station means for transmitting coded signals over a communications link to control communications with interactive television terminals on the premises of respective subscribers, and station means for receiving response signals over said communications link from said television terminals;

said security terminal comprising

means for developing an alarm code signal;

control means connected to said communications link for recognizing station-means-transmitted coded signals representative of a respective address and in response thereto for transmitting said alarm code signal over said link to said receiving station means;

telephone dialer means connected to a telephone line in said switched telephone network; and

means responsive to a failure in the transmission of said alarm code signal over said link for causing said telephone dialer means to dial a predetermined telephone number, and for outputting on said telephone line a signal identifying the security terminal and a signal representative of said alarm code signal.

59. A security terminal in accordance with claim 58 wherein said control means is further operative to recognize a station-means-transmitted dialer test control signal on said link, and in response thereto to cause said telephone dialer means to dial said predetermined telephone number and to output on said telephone line a signal identifying the security terminal.

60. A security terminal in accordance with claim 59 wherein said control means, in response to the recognition of said dialer test control signal, is further operative to transmit over said link to said receiving station means a coded verification signal.

61. A security terminal in accordance with claim 58 wherein said alarm code signal developing means develops one of a plurality of predetermined alarm code signals representative of respective alarm conditions.

62. A security terminal in accordance with claim 61 further including means for developing supervisory trouble code signals representative of respective trouble states of the security terminal, said control means being further operative in response to the recognition of said respective address to transmit a developed supervisory trouble code signal to said receiving station means over said link.

63. A security terminal in accordance with claim 62 wherein, if both an alarm code signal and a supervisory trouble code signal have been developed, in response to the recognition of said respective address said control means transmits said alarm code signal over said link.

64. A security terminal in accordance with claim 62 wherein said supervisory trouble code signals represent trouble conditions of a loss of power, a low stand-by battery, and a malfunctioning fire detection loop.

65. A security terminal in accordance with claim 61 wherein said alarm code signals represent fire, medical, burglary and emergency alarm conditions.

66. A security terminal in accordance with claim 58 further including a fire-detection circuit, and wherein said control means is further operative to recognize a fire-detection circuit test control signal, and in response thereto to transmit to said receiving station means over said link a coded signal representative of the condition of said fire-detection circuit.

67. A security terminal in accordance with claim 58 further including a keyboard, and wherein said alarm code signal developing means includes means for detecting an intrusion of the premises on which the security terminal is located, and said control means is responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of a master code for selectively enabling and disabling the operation of said intrusion detecting means.

68. A security terminal in accordance with claim 67 wherein said control means is responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code, a function code and an alternate code for thereafter allowing the inputting of said alternate code to selectively enable and disable the operation of said intrusion detecting means.

69. A security terminal in accordance with claim 68 wherein said control means is responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code and a release code for thereafter preventing the inputting of said alternate code from selectively enabling and disabling the operation of said intrusion detecting means.

70. A security terminal in accordance with claim 69 wherein said release code consists of said function code and said master code.

71. A security terminal in accordance with claim 67 wherein the enabling of the operation of said intrusion detecting means is delayed following the inputting on said keyboard of said master code, and said control means is responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code, a function code and a time delay for thereafter causing the delay in the operation of said intrusion detecting means to equal the inputted time delay.

72. A security terminal in accordance with claim 71 further including means for sounding a warning signal while the operation of said intrusion detecting means is being delayed.

73. A security terminal in accordance with claim 67 wherein said control means prevents the developing of an alarm code signal if said master code is inputted on said keyboard within a predetermined time interval following the detection of a predetermined intrusion, and said control means is responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code, a function code and a time delay for thereafter causing said predetermined time interval to equal the inputted time delay.

74. A security terminal in accordance with claim 73 further including means for sounding a warning signal during said predetermined time interval following the detection of a predetermined intrusion.

75. A security terminal in accordance with claim 73 further including switch means for controlling development of an alarm code signal immediately upon detection of said predetermined intrusion without waiting for the expiration of said predetermined time interval.

76. A security terminal in accordance with claim 67 further including means for sounding an alarm for a predetermined time interval responsive to the detection of an intrusion by said intrusion detecting means, and wherein said control means is responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code, a function code and a time value for thereafter causing said predetermined time interval to equal the inputted time value.

77. A security terminal in accordance with claim 76 wherein said control means is operative to stop the sounding of said alarm during said predetermined time interval responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code.

78. A security terminal in accordance with claim 76 wherein said control means is operative to stop the sounding of said alarm during said predetermined time interval responsive to receipt over said link of a special coded signal.

79. A security terminal in accordance with claim 67 further including means for sounding an alarm responsive to the detection of an intrusion by said intrusion detecting means, and switch test means for controlling the sounding of said alarm without allowing said alarm code signal to be developed.

80. A security terminal in accordance with claim 67 further including means for providing a short audible verification responsive to each operation of a key on said keyboard.

81. A security terminal in accordance with claim 67 further including an audible alarm, and wherein said alarm code signal developing means includes means for detecting a fire in the premises on which the security terminal is located, and said control means is responsive to the detection of a fire for sounding said audible alarm and is responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code for shutting off said audible alarm.

82. A security terminal in accordance with claim 67 wherein the enabling of the operation of said intrusion detecting means is delayed following the inputting on said keyboard of said master code, and means for sounding a warning signal while the operation of said intrusion detecting means is being delayed.

83. A security terminal in accordance with claim 67 wherein said control means prevents the developing of an alarm code signal if said master code is inputted on said keyboard within a predetermined time interval following the detection of a predetermined intrusion, and further including means for sounding a warning signal during said predetermined time interval following the detection of said predetermined intrusion.

84. A security terminal in accordance with claim 83 further including switch means for controlling development of an alarm code signal immediately upon detection of said predetermined intrusion without waiting for the expiration of said predetermined time interval.

85. A security terminal in accordance with claim 67 further including means for sounding an alarm for a predetermined time interval responsive to the detection of an intrusion by said intrusion detecting means, and wherein said control means is operative to stop the sounding of said alarm during said predetermined time interval responsive to the inputting on said keyboard of said master code.

86. A security terminal in accordance with claim 85 wherein said control means is operative to stop the sounding of said alarm during said predetermined time interval responsive to receipt over said link of a special coded signal.