Portable device for monitoring local area

• US 4,558,181 A
• Filed: 04/27/1983
• Issued: 12/10/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PhonetiCs, Inc. (Appiant Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PhonetiCs, Inc. (Appiant Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Blanchard, Kenneth E., Sanislo, Stephen V. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): George, Keith E.
• Application Number:
  US06/488,999
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 179/5 R, 179/5 P, 179/6.02, 179/90 BD, 179/2 A, 381/51, 381/56
• US Class Current: 379/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/045 using recorded signals, e.g. speech

Abstract

A portable, self-contained device for monitoring a selected local area for occurrence of any one of a plurality of preselected conditions, which device comprises a connector, connecting the device to local, standard telephone lines, a sound synthesizer containing selected sound, words and/or phrases at memory addressable locations capable of outputting a sound signal of message indicative of a selected combination of sounds, words and/or phrases, a successive dialing system for dialing successively a repeatable series of preselected telephone numbers in response to an occurrence of one of the monitored conditions, responsive answering to any one of the series of telephone numbers reached by the dialing system to cause the sound synthesizer to place a sound voice message on the telephone lines and dialing termination of the successive dialing system whereby the termination is responsive to a call back to the device. Further, the synthesizer is provided with TOUCH TONE signaling which can be amplified and used in dialing. The device includes a monitoring device having an alarm condition responsive to a non-connected sound alarm such as a smoke detector or burglar alarm, which alarm operates adjacent the monitoring device for preselected time duration indicative of an alarm condition. The device utilizes the alarm sound system as a local ambient sound detector which allows the sound to be applied to the telephone lines for monitoring or listening to sound at a local station from a remote station whether or not an alarm condition has occurred, but after selected time delay.

Claims

1. A portable, self-contained device for monitoring a selected local area, having a standard telephone terminal with standard external telephone lines for occurrence of any one of a plurality of preselected conditions adjacent said local area, said device comprising:

(a) means for setting in said device a first identification number corresponding to a telephone number for the external lines into said selected local area;

(b) means for selectively connecting said device onto said standard external telephone lines installed at said selected local area;

(c) means for creating in said device a distinct signal upon occurrence of one of said plurality of preselected conditions;

(d) means for generating in said device a first synthesized voice message in response to said distinct signal;

(e) means for amplifying and playing said first synthesized voice message at local area upon its creation;

(f) means for creating a first telephone format dialing signal corresponding to a second identification number of a first, remote preselected telephone on said lines in response to said distinct signal;

(g) cycling means for repeatedly creating said first dialing signal on said lines at a time interval including at least one pause period during which said device releases said lines for a call back signal indicative of an incoming call to said first indentification number;

(h) means for creating an answer signal upon recognizing the occurrence of an answer at said first remote telephone;

(i) means for creating a second synthesized voice signal in response to an answer signal wherein said second synthesized voice signal includes a representation of said first identification number;

(j) switch means for directing said second synthesized voice signal as intelligence to said lines;

(k) first termination means for terminating operation of said dialing signal creating means in response to a call on said lines only during said at least one pause; and

,

(l) means for connecting a standard telephone set to said external lines through said device.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 including means for creating a second telephone format dialing signal corresponding to the identification number of a second, remote preselected telephone on said lines during said time interval and means for creating one of said pauses after said first dialing signal and another of said pauses after said second dialing signal.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said dialing signal is TOUCH TONE coded and including a voice synthesizer for generating said first and second voice messages, and including means for causing said synthesizer to create said dialing signal.

4. A method for monitoring a selected local area with a device having a standard telephone terminal with standard external telephone lines, for occurrence of any one of a plurality of preselected conditions adjacent said local area, said method comprising:

(a) setting a first identification number in said device corresponding to a telephone number for the external lines into said selected local area;

(b) selectively connecting said device onto said standard external telephone lines installed at said selected local area;

(c) creating a distinct signal upon occurrence of one of said plurality of preselected conditions;

(d) generating in said device a first syhthesized voice message in response to said distinct signal;

(e) amplifying and playing said first synthesized voice message at said local area upon its creation;

(f) creating a first telephone format dialing signal corresponding to a second identification number of a first, remote preselected telephone on said lines in response to said distinct signal;

(g) repeatedly creating said first dialing signal on said lines at a time interval including at least one pause period during which said device releases said lines for a call back signal indicative of an incoming call to said first identification number;

(h) creating an answer signal upon recognizing the occurrence of an answer at said first remote telephone;

(i) creating a second synthesized voice signal in response to an answer signal wherein said second synthesized voice signal includes a representation of said first identification number;

(j) directing said second synthesized voice signal as intelligence to said lines; and

,

(k) terminating operation of said dialing signal creating means in response to a call on said lines during said at least one pause.

5. A portable, self-contained device for monitoring a selected local area, having a standard telephone terminal with standard external telephone lines for occurrence of any one of a plurality of preselected conditions adjacent said local area, said device comprising:

(a) means for setting a first identification number in said device corresponding to a telephone number for the external lines into said selected local area;

(b) means for selectively connecting said device onto said standard external telephone lines installed at said selected local area;

(c) means for creating in said device a distinct signal upon occurrence on one of said plurality of preselected conditions;

(d) means for generating in said device a first synthesized voice message in response to said distinct signal;

(e) means for creating a first telephone format dialing signal corresponding to a second identification number of a first, remote preselected telephone on said lines in response to said distinct signal;

(f) cycling means for repeatedly creating said first dialing signal on said lines at a time interval including at least one pause period during which said device releases said lines for a call back signal indicative of an incoming call to said first identification number;

(g) means for creating an answer signal upon recognizing the occurrence of an answer at said first remote telephone;

(h) means for creating a second synthesized voice signal in response to an answer signal wherein said second synthesized voice signal includes a representation of said first identification number;

(i) switch means for directing said second synthesized voice signal as intelligence to said lines;

(j) first termination means for terminating operation of said dialing signal creating means in response to a call on said lines only during said at least one pause;

(k) an analog to digital converter having an analog input, a digital output and means for converting an analog signal at said input to a proportional digital signal at said output; and

,

(l) means for creating said distinct signal when said output deviates from a selected value.

6. A portable, self-contained device for monitoring a selected local area, having a standard telephone terminal with standard external telephone lines for occurrence of any one of a plurality of preselected conditions adjacent said local area, said device comprising:

(a) means for setting in said device a first identification number corresponding to a telephone number for the external lines into said selected local area;

(b) means for selectively connecting said device onto said standard external telephone lines installed at said selected local area;

(c) alarm means for creating in said device a distinct alarm signal upon occurrence of one of said plurality of preselected conditions;

(d) means for generating in said device a first synthesized voice message in response to said distinct alarm signal;

(e) means for creating a first telephone format dialing signal corresponding to a second identification number of a first, remote preselected telephone on said lines in response to said distinct signal;

(f) cycling means for repeatedly creating said first dialing signal on said lines at a time interval including at least one pause period during which said device releases said lines for a call back signal indicative of an incoming call to said identification number;

(g) means for creating an answer signal upon recognizing the occurrence of an answer at said first remote telephone during one of said pauses;

(h) means for creating a second synthesized voice signal in response to an answer signal wherein said second synthesized voice signal includes a representation of said first identification number;

(i) switch means for directing said second synthesized voice signal as intelligence to said lines;

(j) first termination means for terminating operation of said dialing signal creating means in response to a call on said lines only during said at least one pause; and

,

(k) said alarm means including means for creating an alarm signal when a sound of given intensity continues for a preselected time.

7. A portable, self-contained device for monitoring a selected local area, having a standard telephone terminal with standard external telephone lines for occurrence of any one of a plurality of preselected conditions adjacent said local area, said device comprising:

(a) means for setting in said device a first identification number corresponding to a telephone number for the external lines into said selected local area;

(b) means for selectively connecting said device onto said standard external telephone lines installed at said selected local area;

(c) alarm means for creating in said device a distinct alarm signal upon occurrence of one of said plurality of preselected conditions;

(d) means for generating in said device a first synthesized voice message in response to said distinct alarm signal;

(e) means for creating a first telephone format dialing signal corresponding to a second identification number of a first, remote preselected telephone on said lines in response to said distinct signal;

(f) cycling means for repeatedly creating said first dialing signal on said lines at a time interval including at least one pause period during which said device releases said lines for a call back signal indicative of an incoming call to said first identification number;

(g) means for creating an answer signal upon recognizing the occurrence of an answer at said first remote telephone during one of said pauses;

(h) means for creating a second synthesized voice signal in response to an answer signal wherein said second synthesized voice signal includes a representation of said first identification number;

(i) switch means for directing said second synthesized voice signal as intelligence to said lines;

(j) first termination means for terminating operation of said dialing signal creating means in response to a call on said lines only during said at least one pause; and

,

(k) said alarm means including means for creating an alarm signal when a digitized representation of an ambient condition deviates from a preselected condition.

8. A portable, self-contained device for monitoring a selected local area, having a standard telephone terminal with standard external telephone lines for occurrence of any one of a plurality of preselected conditions adjacent said local area, said device comprising:

(a) means for setting in said device a first identification number corresponding to a telephone number for the external lines into said selected local area;

(b) means for selectively connecting said device onto said standard external telephone lines installed at said selected local area;

(c) alarm means for creating in said device a distinct alarm signal upon occurrence of one of said plurality of preselected conditions;

(d) means for generating in said device a first synthesized voice message in response to said distinct alarm signal;

(e) means for creating a first telephone format dialing signal a second identification number of a first, remote preselected telephone on said lines in response to said distinct signal;

(f) cycling means for repeatedly creating said first dialing signal on said lines at a time interval including at least one pause period during which said device releases said lines for a call back signal indicative of an incoming call to said first identification number;

(g) means for creating an answer signal upon recognizing the occurrence of an answer at said first remote telephone during one of said pauses;

(h) means for creating a second synthesized voice signal in response to an answer signal wherein said second synthesized voice signal includes a representation of said first identification number;

(i) switch means for directing said second synthesized voice signal as intelligence to said lines;

(j) first termination means for terminating operation of said dialing signal creating means in response to a call on said lines only during said at least one pause; and

,

(k) said alarm means including means for creating an alarm signal when a given ambient condition has been changed.

9. A portable device as defined in claim 8 further including:

(l) said alarm means including means for creating an alarm signal when a sound of a given intensity continues for a preselected time.

10. A portable device as defined in claim 9 further including:

(m) said alarm means including means for creating an alarm signal when a digitized representation of an ambient condition deviates from a preselected condition.

11. A portable device as defined in claim 8 and further including a microphone for receiving sound adjacent said device, said means for creating an answer signal upon recognizing the occurrence of an answer at said first remote telephone includes connecting said microphone to said telephone line and outputting said received sound thereon.

12. A device as defined in claim 8, and wherein said alarm means further include means for creating an alarm condition in said circuit when a digitized analog signal deviates from a preselected value.

13. A device as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for creating a first telephone format dialing signal includes means for causing said voice synthesizer to creat TOUCH TONE signals indicative of telephones to be called, means for amplifying said TOUCH TONE signals, and means for applying said TOUCH TONE signals to said telephone lines.

14. A device as defined in claim 8 and wherein said alarm means include means for creating said alarm signal in said device when a sound of a given intensity is detected by said microphone for at least a preselected time.

15. A device as defined in claim 8, and including a speaker on said device and a selector switch having at least first and second switch conditions, said first switch condition for connecting said sound synthesizer output to said speaker for sound output at said local area and said second switch condition for connecting said sound synthesizer output to said external telephone lines for output to said remote telephone on an answer signal therefrom.

16. The device as defined in claim 8 and wherein said telephone format dialing signal means include means for causing said sound synthesizer to apply a sound signal corresponding to TOUCH TONE Coded telephone numbers external to said telephone lines as said telephone format dialing signal.

17. The device as defined in claim 8 and including a power monitor circuit for detecting non-existence of A.C. current to the device, said circuit including a battery driven crystal oscillator having a preselected frequency output pulse, means for decreasing said frequency to a pulsing clock of a preselected clocking frequency, means for counting said clocking pulse toward a preselected value, means for creating a rate of control pulses by A.C. house current having a pulse rate controlled by house line frequency, means for creating an output signal when said value is reached before a control pulse, means for resetting said clock counting means, means for counting said output signals, said output signal counting means including means for creating detect signals after counting a selected number of output signals, means for resetting said preselected value to a number causing said output signal to occur at a rate matching said control pulse rate, and said detect signal comprising one of said plurality of preselected conditions.

18. A system for detecting the existence of a sound beyond a given level for a preselected period of time, and for alerting an external location of this detection, said system comprising a portable device with means for releasably connecting said device to existing telephone lines, a microphone for detecting sound within a local area, means for creating an alarm signal when the output of said microphone exceeds a preselected level for said preselected period of time, dialing means on said device for automatically dialing a series of telephone numbers by said device in response to said alarm signal, applying said numbers indicative of selected remote telephone locations onto said telephone lines, a sound synthesizer means on said device for applying a voice alarm message on said lines upon an answer from said dialed numbers indicative of the detection of sound beyond a given level, and means for terminating said dialing upon receipt of a call on said lines from one of said selected remote locations.