Security device utilizing conventional telephone lines
First Claim
1. A security device connected to telephone lines and to at least one sensor, comprising:
- monitoring means for monitoring said at least one sensor to determine a status of each said at least one sensor and to detect when said status of any sensor is a fault status;
preselecting means operable by a user of the security device for preselecting at least one telephone number to be called upon occurrence of said fault status;
automatic call-up means for automatically calling said preselected telephone number to report any said fault status;
answering circuit means for receiving and answering an incoming telephone call received over said telephone lines, and responsive to reception of a user input transmitted over the telephone lines and designating a selected said at least one sensor to be monitored for monitoring said at least one sensor, and for transmitting the status of said selected at least one sensor over the telephone lines; and
identification circuit means responsive to a received user query, requesting the identity of the security device, for transmitting identification information over the telephone line;
wherin said identification circuit means comprises a counter for counting through a plurality of count outputs, a digital switch having multiple stages, each preset with a digit of an identifier, and a tone generator for selectively generating a pluraliyt of tones, said multiple stages of said digital switch being responsive in turn to respective count outputs for sequentially activating said tone generator to generate corresponding sequential tones, whereby to transmit said identification information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A security device connected to telephone lines and to at least one sensor comprises a monitoring circuit for monitoring at least one sensor to determine a status of each sensor and to detect when the status of any sensor is a fault status, an automatic call-up circuit settable by the user of the device in accordance with a preselected telephone number to be called for automatically calling the preselected telephone number to report when any status comprises a fault status, and an answer circuit for receiving and answering any incoming telephone call received over the telephone line, and responsive to reception of a user input transmitted over the telephone lines, and designating a selected sensor to be monitored, for monitoring the sensor and transmitting the status of the sensor over the telephone line. Features of the invention include an automatic call-up circuit in which a preselected telephone number is preset and is automatically called in the event of a fault status, and an automatic answering circuit in which a deceiver ring signal is generated whenever a remote telephone is used to call the device over the telephone lines. Still further features of the invention include a device identifier transmission capability, a fault signal testing capability, an automatic call-up testing capability, an automatic hang-up capability, and use of a microphone to detect sounds in the environment in which the device is located, and to transmit the sounds over the telephone lines to the user.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A security device connected to telephone lines and to at least one sensor, comprising:
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monitoring means for monitoring said at least one sensor to determine a status of each said at least one sensor and to detect when said status of any sensor is a fault status; preselecting means operable by a user of the security device for preselecting at least one telephone number to be called upon occurrence of said fault status; automatic call-up means for automatically calling said preselected telephone number to report any said fault status; answering circuit means for receiving and answering an incoming telephone call received over said telephone lines, and responsive to reception of a user input transmitted over the telephone lines and designating a selected said at least one sensor to be monitored for monitoring said at least one sensor, and for transmitting the status of said selected at least one sensor over the telephone lines; and identification circuit means responsive to a received user query, requesting the identity of the security device, for transmitting identification information over the telephone line;
wherin said identification circuit means comprises a counter for counting through a plurality of count outputs, a digital switch having multiple stages, each preset with a digit of an identifier, and a tone generator for selectively generating a pluraliyt of tones, said multiple stages of said digital switch being responsive in turn to respective count outputs for sequentially activating said tone generator to generate corresponding sequential tones, whereby to transmit said identification information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A security device connected to at least one sensor and to telephone lines for automatically calling a user of the device at a preselected telephone number to report a fault status fo any said at least one sensor, said device comprising:
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selection means settable by the user of the device in accordance with a monitoring frequency desired by the user for generating a monitor signal at time intervals corresponding to said monitoring frequency desired by the user; monitoring means responsive to said monitor signal for monitoring said at least one sensor to determine the fault status of any said at least one sensor, and generating a fault signal; and call-up means responsive to said fault signal for automatically calling said preselected telephone number to report said fault status of any said at least one sensor; wherein said call-up means comprises a counter for counting through a plurality of count outputs, a digital switch having multiple stages, each preset with a digit of said preselected telephone number, and a tone generator for selectively generating a pluraltiy of tones, said multiple stages of said digital switch being responsive in turn to respective count outputs for sequentially actuating said tone generator to generate corresponding sequential tones, whereby to automatically call said preselected telephone number. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A security device connected to at least one sensor and to telephone lines for automatically calling a user of the device at a preselected telephone number to report a fault status of any said at least one sensor, said device comprising:
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selection means settable by the suer of the device in accordance with a monitoring frequency desired by the user for generating a monitor signal at time intervals corresponding to said monitoring frequency desired by the user; monitoring means responsive to said monitor signal for monitoring said at least one sensor to determine the fault status of any said at least one sensor, and generating a fault signal; and call-up means responsive to said fault signal for automatically calling said preselected telephone number to report said fault status of any said at least one sensor; further comprising identification circuit means responsive to a received user query, requesting the identity of the security device, for transmitting identification information over the telephone lines; wherein said identification circuit means comprises a counter for counting through a plurality of count outputs, a digital switch having multiple stages, each preset with a digit of an identifier, and a tone generator for selectively generating a plurality of tones, said multiple stages of said digital switch being responsive in turn to respective count outputs for sequentially activating said tone generator to generate corresponding sequential tones, whereby to transmit said identification information.
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13. A security device connected to telephone lines and to at least one sensor, comprising:
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monitoring means for monitoring said at least one sensor to determine a status of each said at least one sensor and to detect when said status of any sensor is a fault status; automatic call-up means settable by the user of the device in accordance with a preselected telephone number to be called for automatically calling said preselected telephone number to report any said fault status; and answering circuit means for receiving and answering an incoming telephone call received over said telephone lines, and responsive to reception of a user input transmitted over the telephone lines and designating a selected said at least one sensor to be monitored for monitoring said at least one sensor, and for transmitting the status of said selected at least one sensor over the telephone lines; said device further ocmprising identification circuit means responsive to a received user query, requesting the identity of the security device, for transmitting identification information over the telephone lines; wherein said identification circuit means comprises a counter for counting through a plurality of count outputs, a digital switch having multiple stages, each preset with a digit of an identifier, and a tone generator for selectively generating a plurality of tones, said multiple stages of said digital switch being responsive in turn to respective count outputs for sequentially activating said tone generator to generate corresponding sequential tones, whereby to transmit said identification information. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification