Remotely accessible security controlled audio link

• US 5,287,398 A
• Filed: 11/20/1991
• Issued: 02/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Diane F. Briault, Floyd C. Marlatt, Frances R. Marlatt, Nigel C. Briault
• Original Assignee: Diane F. Briault, Floyd C. Marlatt, Frances R. Marlatt, Nigel C. Briault
• Inventors: Briault, Nigel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woo, Stella L.
• Application Number:
  US07/795,037
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 379/38, 379/39, 379/40, 379/41, 379/45, 379/51, 379/52, 379/102, 379/105, 379/104, 379/420, 379/388, 379/389, 379/386
• US Class Current: 379/102.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

The security for a person in a domicile, premise, or dwelling, is increased in the effectiveness thereof, by utilizing a remotely accessible security controlled audio link, which provides a hands free telephone answering system, that operates without the utilization of any conventional telephone located in the domicile. In a normal mode of this audio link, the telephone of a domicile is used in a conventional manner. However, when a telephone in the domicile is not answered within a time period of a designated number of rings, then the remotely accessible security controlled audio link operates to answer the incoming call by, in effect, functioning in an equivalent way, to lift up a conventional receiver, without the conventional receiver ever being raised. Thereafter, if a correct pulse tone entry code is entered by a person at a remote location, within a limited time period, telephone voice communications can begin and will continue between a person in or near the domicile and a person at a remote telephone location, thereby expanding the security available for a person in and around a domicile. Also if an alarm signal is initiated by a person in and around a domicile, then an alarm mode is established. Thereafter the remotely accessible security controlled audio link operates to bypass the privacy security features thereof, by eliminating the functions of both the ring counting delays and correct pulse tone entry codes, and instead functions to quickly establish telephone communications, while in this alarm mode of operations.

Claims

1. A method of duplex telephone communicating allowing a person at a remote telephone location to place and to finish, i.e. to initiate and to terminate, a telephone call to person in his or her domicile, and under certain conditions, to turn on or turn off a microphone and/or a loudspeaker in the domicile, so a hands free duplex telephone conversation can take place with the person in the domicile who does not have to lift or to lower a receiver of a telephone set in the domicile, comprising the steps of:

a. arranging a remotely accessible security controlled audio link in a convenient locale in a domicile to be constantly in a listen in mode, after first arranging the components and circuitry thereof by comprising, beforehand, the steps of;

i. providing a ring count module to count the rings, i.e. the shocks, of an incoming call from a telephone utility line to the telephone line of the domicile, and after passing a predetermined number of rings, partially answering the incoming call, as the microphone and loudspeaker remain off;

ii. providing a dual tone multiple frequency decoder to recognize a code signal and react;

iii. providing a microprocessor containing programmable command functions, which are dual tone multiple frequency code enacted;

iv. providing a microphone turned on to aid in completing a partially answered call;

v. providing a speaker turn on to aid in completing a partially answered call;

vi. providing a six position telephone jack, to be connected to an electrical energy supply, to be connected to a telephone line of a domicile and to be connected to any security alarm panel which may also be in a domicile;

vii. providing circuitry interconnecting the telephone jack, ring count module, microprocessor dual tone multiple frequency decoder, microphone and speaker;

whereby, when an incoming telephone call is being received in a domicile, during a normal mode of operations, a person in the domicile may routinely answer the call before a preset number of rings has occurred;

however, if the person is not able to timely answer, or is not home to answer, and the ring count is exceeded, then the incoming call is partially answered by the remotely accessible controlled audio link, which is constantly in the listen in mode, via the microprocessor thereof, and the dual tone multiple frequency decoder, via operation of the microprocessor, is activated to further listen for an incoming preselected security dial tone code, initiated by a person at a remote telephone location, and if no security dial tone code timely arrives, these partial telephone call receiving operations are stopped when the microprocessor receives this information from the dual tone multiple frequency decoder, but if the security dial tone code timely arrives, then the dial tone modulated frequency decoder sends this information to the microprocessor, which in turn activates the microphone and speaker, so the telephone call is completed and the person at the remote location is able to continue on to start a hands free duplex telephone communication with a person in the domicile, if he or she is in the domicile and able to hear and to speak, and if no communications are possible, or if a person in the domicile needs help, the person at the remote telephone location makes arrangements, as soon as possible, to assist the person in the domicile and upon completion of the communication, the person placing the telephone call at the remote location, terminates the telephone call connection, which otherwise would remain open, by entering a preselected pulse tone or tones, which are recognized by the remotely accessible security controlled audio link, which operates to, in effect, hang up the receiver, which in reality had never been raised, to place the regular telephone system back into normal operation.

2. A method of duplex telephone communicating, as claimed in claim 1, comprising, in addition, the steps of:

a. arranging a radio frequency receiver to receive radio frequency energy and to thereafter send a signal to the microprocessor;

b. arranging circuitry to connect the radio frequency receiver to the microprocessor;

c. arranging for a radio frequency transmitter to be conveniently carried by a person in a domicile, having a simple touch control to initiate a radio frequency signal to be received by the radio frequency receiver for the delivery thereof to the microprocessor,

whereby the microprocessor is operated to send a signature signal over the telephone lines to a preselected remote telephone location for the receiving and reviewing thereof by a person, whereby a telephone call is placed by this person at the remote telephone location back to the person in the domicile, which is answered via hands free duplex telephone communications, and by preceding operations of the microprocessor, the operations of the ring count module and the dual tone multiple frequency decoder are bypassed during this alarm mode of operations of the remotely accessible security controlled audio link, and when the communications are ended, the person at the remote location terminates the duplex telephone call.

3. A method of duplex telephone communication, as claimed in claims 1 or 2 comprising, in addition, the step of arranging an electrical energy supply for the remotely accessible security controlled audio link.

4. A method of duplex telephone communication, as claimed in claims 1 or 2, comprising, in addition, the steps of:

a. arranging a telephone circuit of a domicile;

b. connecting this telephone circuit of the domicile to the circuits of a telephone utility; and

c. connecting this telephone circuit of the domicile to the six position telephone jack of the remotely accessible security controlled audio link.

5. A method of duplex telephone communication, as claimed in claim 1, comprising, in addition, the steps of:

a. arranging an electrical energy supply for the remotely accessible security controlled audio link;

b. arranging a telephone circuit of a domicile;

c. connecting this telephone circuit of the domicile to the circuits of a telephone utility; and

d. connecting this telephone circuit of the domicile to the six position telephone jack of the remotely accessible security controlled audio link.

6. A method of duplex telephone communication, as claimed in claim 2, comprising, in addition, the steps of:

a. arranging an electrical energy supply for the remotely accessible security controlled audio link;

b. arranging a telephone circuit of a domicile;

c. connecting this telephone circuit of the domicile to the circuits of a telephone utility; and

d. connecting this telephone circuit of the domicile to the six position telephone jack of the remotely accessible security controlled audio link.

7. A method of duplex telephone communication, as claimed in claim 1, 5, or 6, comprising, in addition, the step of:

providing an amplifier to improve the effectiveness of the speaker.

8. A method of duplex telephone communication, as claimed in claims 1, 5, or 6, comprising, in addition, the step of:

providing vox equipment creating attenuator control, fluctuating between the speaker and microphone.

9. A method of duplex telephone communication, as claimed in claims 1, 5, or 6, comprising, in addition, the step of providing a differential amplifier to boost the voltage of an incoming call.

10. A method of duplex telephone communication, as claimed in claims 1, 5, or 6, comprising, in addition, the steps of:

a. providing an amplifier to improve the effectiveness of the speaker; and

b. providing vox equipment creating attenuator control, fluctuating between the speaker and the microphone.

11. A method of duplex telephone communications, as claimed in claims 1, 5, or 6, comprising, in addition, the steps of:

a. providing an amplifier to improve the effectiveness of the speaker;

b. providing vox equipment creating attenuator control fluctuating between the speaker and the microphone; and

c. providing a differential amplifier to boost the voltage of an incoming call.

12. A method of duplex telephone communication allowing a person at a remote telephone location to place end to end, i.e. to initiate and to terminate, a telephone call to a person in his or her domicile, and under certain conditions, to turn on a microphone and/or a loudspeaker in the domicile, so a hands free telephone conversation can take place with the person in the domicile, who does not have to lift or to lower i.e. to pick up or to hang up a receiver of a telephone set in the domicile, comprising the steps of:

a. arranging a remotely accessible security controlled audio link in a convenient locale in a domicile to be constantly in a listen in mode, after first arranging the components and circuitry thereof by comprising, beforehand, the steps of;

i. providing a ring count module to count the rings, i.e. the shocks, of an incoming call from a telephone utility line to the telephone line of the domicile, and after passing a predetermined number of rings, partially answering the incoming call, as a microphone and speaker remain off;

ii. providing a dual tone multiple frequency decoder to recognize a code signal and react;

iii. providing a microprocessor containing programmable command functions, which are dual tone multiple frequency code enacted;

iv. providing an amplifier;

v. providing microphone turned on during the completion of a partially answered call;

vi. providing a speaker turned on during the completion of a partially answered call;

vii. providing a six position telephone jack;

viii. providing circuitry interconnecting the telephone jack, ring count module, and the microprocessor; and

ix. providing circuitry interconnecting the ring count module, the dual tone multiple frequency decoder, microprocessor, amplifier, microphone and speaker;

b. arranging an electrical energy supply for the remotely accessible security controlled audio link comprising the steps of;

i. providing an alternating current transformer to reduce utility supplied electrical energy voltage, generally 110 volt AC, down to lower voltage, generally 12 volts AC;

ii. providing a circuit to deliver utility supplied electrical energy from an outlet in a domicile to the alternating current transformer;

iii. providing a low voltage power supply to change low voltage, generally 12 volts AC, into low voltage, generally 12 volts DC;

iv. providing a circuit to deliver the 12 volts AC electrical energy from the alternating current transformer to the low voltage power supply;

v. providing a circuit to deliver 12 volts DC electrical energy from the low voltage power supply to the six position telephone jack of the remotely accessible security controlled audio link; and

c. arranging a telephone circuit, extending from a telephone jack in a telephone circuit of a domicile, which is in turn connected to the circuits of a telephone utility, to the six position telephone jack of the remotely accessible security controlled audio link;

whereby, when an incoming telephone call is being received in a domicile, during a normal mode of operations, a person in the domicile may routinely answer the call before a preset number of rings has occurred;

however, if the person is not able to timely answer, or is not home to answer, and the ring count is exceeded, then the incoming call is partially answered by the remotely accessible controlled audio link, which is constantly in the listen in mode, via the microprocessor thereof, and the dual tone multiple frequency decoder, via operation of the microprocessor, is activated to further listen for an incoming preselected security dial tone code, initiated by a person at a remote telephone location, and if not security dial tone code timely arrives, these partial telephone call receiving operations are stopped when the microprocessor receives this information from the dual tone multiple frequency decoder, but if the security dial tone code timely arrives, then the dual tone multiple frequency decoder sends this information to the microprocessor, which in turn activates the microphone and speaker, so the person at the remote location is able to continue on to start a hands free duplex telephone communication with a person in the domicile, if he or she is in the domicile and able to hear and to speak, and if no communications are possible, or if a person in the domicile needs help, the person at the remote telephone location makes arrangements, as soon as possible, to assist the person in the domicile and upon completion of the communication, the person placing the telephone call at the remote location terminates the telephone call connection, which otherwise would remain open, by entering a preselected pulse tone or tones, which are recognizable by the remotely accessible security controlled audio link, which operates to, in effect, hang up the receiver, which in reality had never been raised, to place the regular telephone system back into normal operation.

13. A method of duplex telephone communicating, as claimed in claim 12, comprising, in addition, the steps of:

a. arranging a radio frequency receiver to receive radio frequency energy and to thereafter send a signal to the microprocessor;

b. arranging circuitry to connect the radio frequency receiver to the microprocessor;

c. arranging for a radio frequency transmitter to be conveniently carried by a person in a domicile, having a simple touch control to initiate a radio frequency signal to be received by the radio frequency receiver for the delivery thereof to the microprocessor,

whereby the microprocessor is operated to send a signature signal over the telephone lines to a preselected remote telephone location for the receiving and reviewing thereof by a person, whereby a telephone call is placed by this person at the remote telephone location back to the person in the domicile, which is answered via hands free duplex telephone communications, and by preceding operations of the microprocessor, the operations of the ring count module and the dual tone multiple frequency decoder are bypassed during this alarm mode of operations of the remotely accessible security controlled audio link, and when these communications are completed, the person at the remote telephone location terminates this telephone call.

14. A method of duplex telephone communication, as claimed in claims 12 or 13, comprising, in addition, the step of:

providing vox equipment creating attenuator control, fluctuating between the speaker and the microphone.

15. A method of duplex telephone communication, as claimed in claims 12 or 13, comprising, in addition, the step of:

providing an amplifier to improve the effectiveness of the speaker.

16. A method of duplex telephone communication, as claimed in claims 12 or 13, comprising, in addition, the step of:

providing a differential amplifier to boost the voltage of an incoming call.

17. A method of duplex telephone communication, as claimed in claims 12 or 13, comprising, in addition, the steps of:

a. providing vox equipment creating attenuator control, fluctuating between the speaker and the microphone; and

b. providing an amplifier to improve the effectiveness of the speaker.

18. A method of duplex telephone communication, as claimed in claims 12 and 13, comprising, in addition, the steps of:

a. providing vox equipment creating attenuator control, fluctuating between the speaker and the microphone;

b. providing an amplifier to improve the effectiveness of the speaker; and

c. providing a differential amplifier to boost the voltage of an incoming call.

19. A method of duplex telephone communication between a person or persons located at a remote monitoring station and respective persons living in respective domiciles, and in each respective domicile, if necessary, the person living in the domicile, is able to undertake a hands free duplex telephone conversation, because a receiver of a telephone set in the domicile does not have to be lifted or touched in any way, and such hands free duplex telephone conversation cannot be initiated by an outside call, unless a correct preselected security pulse tone control is timely initiated and detected, or unless the person in a domicile who desired to commence such hands free duplex telephone conversation initiates his or her personal signature signal, which is received at the remote monitoring station, and the personal thereof may initiate a return telephone call, which then bypasses the security pulse tone control, and is answerable by the person in the domicile in a hands free duplex telephone conversation, comprising the steps of:

a. arranging equipment, components, and circuitry of a remote monitoring station upon undertaking the steps of;

i. providing telephone utility line connections for each person living in a domicile;

ii. providing a remote telephone and equipment therefore in respect to each person living in a domicile;

iii. providing a digital signal receiver to monitor any and all incoming personal signature signals of respective persons living in respective domiciles;

iv. providing a computer to react upon receiving a personal signature signal;

v. providing medical histories of the persons living in the domiciles;

vi. providing a display screen for displaying the medical history of a person living in a domicile, as selected from many, upon the directed functioning of the computer, when the person living in a domicile successfully initiates his or her signature signal, which is transmitted over telephone lines from the domicile to the remote monitoring station;

b. arranging a remotely accessible security controlled audio link in a convenient locale in a domicile to be constantly in a listen in mode, after first arranging the components and circuitry thereof by comprising, beforehand, the steps of;

i. providing a ring count module to count the rings, i.e. the shocks of an incoming call from a telephone utility line to the telephone line of the domicile, and after passing a predetermined number of rings, partially answering the incoming call, as the microphone and speaker remain off;

ii. providing a dual tone multiple frequency decoder to recognize a code signal and react;

iii. providing a microprocesor containing programmable command functions, which are;

iv. providing an amplifier

v. providing a microphone turned on during the completion of a partially answered call;

vi. providing a speaker turned on during the completion of a partially answered call;

vii. providing a six position telephone jack;

viii. providing circuitry interconnecting the telephone jack, ring count module, and the microprocessor; and

ix. providing circuitry interconnecting the ring count module, the dual tone multiple frequency decoder, microprocessor, amplifier, microphone and speaker;

b. arranging an electrical energy supply for the remotely accessible security controlled audio link, comprising the steps of;

i. providing an alternating current transformer to reduce utility supplied electrical energy voltage, generally 110 volt AC, down to a lower voltage, generally 12 volts AC;

ii. providing a circuit to deliver utility supplied electrical energy from an outlet in a domicile to the alternating current transformer;

iii. providing a low voltage power supply to change low voltage, generally 12 volts AC, into low voltage, generally 12 volts DC;

iv. providing a circuit to deliver the 12 volts AC electrical energy from the alternating current transformer to the low voltage power supply;

v. providing a circuit to deliver 12 volts DC electrical energy from the low voltage power supply to the six position telephone jack of the remotely accessible security controlled audio link; and

c. arranging a telephone circuit, extending from a telephone jack in a telephone circuit of a domicile, which is in turn connected to the circuits of a telephone utility, to the six position telephone jack of the remotely accessible security controlled audio link;

whereby, when an incoming telephone call is being received in a domicile, during a normal mode of operations, a person in the domicile may routinely answer the call before a selected number of rings has occurred;

however, if the person is not able to timely answer, or is not home to answer, and the ring count is exceeded, then the incoming call is partially answered by the remotely accessible controlled audio link, which is constantly in the listen in mode, via the microprocessor thereof, and the dual tone multiple frequency decoder, via operation of the microprocessor, is activated to further listen for an incoming preselected security dial tone code, initiated by a person at a remote telephone location, and if no security dial tone code timely arrives, these partial telephone call receiving operations are stopped when the microprocessor receives this information from the dual tone multiple frequency decoder, but if the security dial tone code timely arrives, then the dual tone multiple frequency decoder sends this information to the microprocessor, which in turn activates the microphone and speaker, so the telephone call is completed and the person at the remote location is able to continue on the start a hands free duplex telephone communication with a person in the domicile, if he or she is in the domicile and able to hear and to speak, and if no communications are possible, or if a person in the domicile needs help, the person at the remote telephone location makes arrangements, as soon as possible, to assist the person in the domicile, and upon completion of the communication, the person placing the telephone call at the remote location, terminates the telephone call connection, which otherwise would remain open, by entering a preselected pulse tone or tones, which are recognized by the remotely accessible security controlled audio link, which operates to, in effect, hang up the telephone receiver, which in reality had never been raised, to place the regular telephone system back into normal operation.

20. A method of duplex telephone communication between a person or persons located at remote monitoring station and respective persons living in respective domiciles, and in each respective domicile, if necessary, the person living in the domicile, is able to undertake a hands free duplex telephone conversation, as claimed in claim 19, comprising, in addition, the steps of:

a. providing vox equipment creating attenuator control, fluctuating between the speaker and microphone;

b. providing an amplifier to improve the effectiveness of the speaker; and

c. providing a differential amplifier to boost the voltage of an incoming call.

21. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link which, when in operation, allows a person at a remote telephone location to place and to terminate a duplex telephone call to a person in his or her domicile, and under certain conditions, to turn on or off a microphone and/or a loudspeaker in the domicile, so a hands free duplex telephone conversation can take place with the person in the domicile, who does not have to lift or replace a receiver of a telephone set in the domicile, comprising:

a. a housing;

b. a printed circuit board positioned in the housing having circuits and having mounting places for electrical and electronic components;

c. a telephone jack having at least six pin capability connected to the circuit board to selected circuits of the printed circuit board, and to receive telephone line connectors of telephone lines of the telephone system components located in the domicile, and to receive electrical energy circuit line connectors of an electrical energy 12 volt DC circuit, which supplies the operating electrical energy needed by this remotely accessible security controlled audio line and to receive alarm triggered signals from ancillary alarm devices;

d. a ring count module mounted on the printed circuit board and connected to selected circuits of the printed circuit board to detect each ring occuring, when a person at a remote telephone places a telephone call to a person in the domicile, and to send and to receive a signal to and from a microprocessor;

e. a microprocessor mounted on the printed circuit board to receive and to send signals from and to the ring count module, to send and to receive signals to and form a dual tone multiple frequency decoder, to send and to receive signals to and from a microphone, to send and to receive signals to and from a speaker, to send and to receive signals to open and to close the domicile telephone, and to send and to receive alarm mode signals coming from the telephone jack connected to alarm devices;

f. a dual tone multiple frequency decoder mounted on the printed circuit board and connected to selected circuit of the printed circuit board to determine, when a correct pulse tone code is received from the remote telephone location, and thereafter send a signal to the microprocessor to in turn activate or deactivate a microphone and/or speaker;

g. a microphone mounted on the printed circuit board and connected to selected circuits, and to be turned on and off upon receiving signals from the microprocessor; and

h. a speaker mounted on the printed circuit board and connected to selected circuits, and to be turned on and off upon receiving signals from the microprocessor;

whereby, in the normal mode of operations of this remotely accessible security controlled audio link, a receiver of a phone set in the domicile may be lifted before a preset number of rings and regular telephone communications may be undertaken;

however, if a preset number of rings is exceeded, then the telephone is partially answered, and if during a limited following time, a correct pulse tone code is received from the remote telephone location, then the microphone and/or speaker are turned on, so hands free duplex telephone communications may be carried on or terminated between the person in the domicile and a person located at a remote telephone location, and if no person in the domicile answers, or if a person in the domicile does not answer and needs help, the person at the remote telephone location makes arrangements for someone to assist the person in the domicile, as soon as possible and upon completion of the communication, the person placing the telephone call at the remote location, terminates the telephone call connection, which otherwise would remain open, by entering a preselected pulse tone or tones, which are recognized by the remotely accessible security controlled audio link, which operates to, in effect, hang up the receiver, which in reality had never been raised, to place the regular telephone system back into normal operation.

22. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link, as claimed in claim 21, comprising, in addition:

a. alarm trigger signal components connected via the telephone jack to the microprocessor and when they are triggered by a person or events in the domicile, the trigger alarm signal created causes the microprocessor to send a signature signal over the telephone lines to a person at a remote telephone locale, so this person at the remote telephone locale can answer by placing a telephone call which is received in the domicile, then during an alarm mode of this remotely accessible security controlled audio link, and at the outset of this alarm mode, the microprocessor operates to bypass the ring count module and the dual tone multiple frequency decoder, and to activate both the speaker and the microphone, so hands free duplex communications can be immediate commenced with the person in the domicile who needs timely assistance.

23. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link, as claimed in claim 21, comprising, in addition:

a. radio frequency energy receiver connected to the microprocessor; and

b. a radio frequency energy transmitter having a conveniently arranged depressible control key to be conveniently carried by the person in the domicile, and to be operated to send an alarm signal to the radio frequency energy receiver and beyond to the microprocessor to establish the alarm mode of the remotely accessible security controlled audio link;

whereby a signature signal is sent, via operations of the microprocessor, over the telephone lines to a person at a remote telephone locale, so this person at this remote telephone locale can answer by placing a duplex telephone call which is received in the domicile, then during this alarm mode of operations, and at the outset of this alarm mode, the microprocessor operates to bypass the ring count module and the dual tone multiple frequency decoder, and to activate both the speaker and the microphone, so hands free communications can be immediately commenced with the person in the domicile, who needs timely assistance and upon completion of the communication, the person placing the telephone call at the remote location terminates the telephone call connection, which otherwise would remain open, by entering a preselected pulse tone or tone, which are recognized by the remotely accessible security controlled audio link, which operates to, in effect, hang up the receiver, which in reality had never been raised, to place the regular telephone system back into normal operation.

24. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link, as claimed in claim 21, comprising, in addition,

an amplifier to increase the sound produced by the speaker.

25. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link, as claimed in claim 21, comprising, in addition,

vox equipment creating attenuator control, fluctuating between the speaker and microphone.

26. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link, as claimed in claim 21, comprising, in addition,

a differential amplifier to boost the voltage of an incoming call.

27. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link, as claimed in claim 24, comprising, in addition,

vox equipment creating attenuator control, fluctuating between the speaker and the microphone.

28. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link, as claimed in claim 25, comprising, in addition,

a differential amplifier to boost the voltage of an incoming call.

29. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link, as claimed in claim 24, comprising, in addition,

vox equipment creating attenuator control, fluctuating between the speaker and the microphone, and

a differential amplifier to boost the voltage of an incoming call.

30. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link, as claimed in claim 21 comprising, in addition,

a second telephone jack secured to the housing and connected to the circuits of the printed circuit board, in parallel with the other telephone jack, to receive circuit connections extending to another set of a microphone and a speaker.

31. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link, as claimed in claim 21, comprising, in addition,

a twelve volt direct current power supply to receive twelve volt alternating current and convert it to twelve volt direct current, which is conducted to the telephone jack and beyond to the printed circuit and components mounted on the printed circuit board.

32. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link, as claimed in claim 31, comprising, in addition, an alternating current transformer to be connected to a one hundred ten volt electrical circuit in the domicile, and when in operation to produce twelve volt alternating current to be directed, via circuitry, to the twelve volt direct current power supply.

33. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link, as claimed in claims 22 or 23, comprising, in addition, a digital alarm dialer, connected to the microprocessor and to the domicile telephone system, and operated upon the functioning of the microprocessor, which has received an alarm signal from a person in his or her domicile, to dial and to send a digital alarm over the telephone lines to a remote telephone location.

34. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link installed in a domicile, and remote monitoring equipment installed in a remote monitoring station, having telephone line connections between these installations, so a person in a domicile, can, if needed, via hand free duplex telephone communications, talk with a person in the remote monitoring station to seek information, to request help, or to specifically request medical, fire, and/or police services, comprising:

a. remotely accessible security controlled audio link installed in a domicile which, when in operation is constantly in the listen in mode, allows a person at a remote telephone location to place a telephone call to a person in his or her domicile, and under certain conditions, to turn on or turn off a microphone and/or a loudspeaker in the domicile, so a hands free duplex telephone conversation can take place with the person in the domicile, who does not have to lift or to lower a receiver of a telephone set in the domicile, comprising, in turn;

i. a housing;

ii. a printed circuit board positioned in the housing having circuits and having mounting places for electrical and electronic components;

iii. a telephone jack having at least six pin capability connected to the circuit board to selected circuits of the printed circuit board, and to receive telephone line connectors of telephone lines of the telephone system components located in the domicile, and to receive electrical energy circuit line connectors of an electrical energy 12 volt DC circuit, which supplies the operating electrical energy needed by this remotely accessible security controlled audio link, and to receive alarm triggered signals from ancillary alarm devices;

iv. a ring count module mounted on the printed circuit board and connected to selected circuits of the printed circuit board to detect each ring occurring, when a person at a remote telephone places a telephone call to a person in the domicile, and to send and to receive a signal to and from a microprocesor;

v. a microprocessor mounted on the printed circuit board to receive and to send signals from and to the ring count module, to send and to receive signals to and from a dual tone multiple frequency decoder, to send and to receive signals to and from a microphone, to send and to receive signals to and from a speaker, to send and to receive signals to open and to close the domicile telephone line, and to send and to receive alarm mode signals coming from the telephone jack connected to alarm devices;

vi. a dual tone multiple frequency decoder mounted on the printed circuit board and connected to selected circuits of the printed circuit boar to determined, when a correct pulse tone code is received from the remote telephone location, and thereafter send a signal to the microprocessor to in turn activate or deactivate a microphone and/or speaker;

vii. a microphone mounted on the printed circuit board and connected to selected circuits, and to be turned on and off upon receiving signals from the microprocessor; and

viii. a speaker mounted on the printed circuit board and connected to selected circuits, and to be turned on and off upon receiving signals from the microprocessor;

whereby, in the normal mode of operations of this remotely accessible security controlled audio link, a receiver of a phone set in the domicile may be lifted before a preset number of rings and regular telephone communications may be undertaken;

however, if a preset number of rings is exceeded, then the telephone is partially answered, and if during a limited following time, a correct pulse tone code is received from the remote telephone location, then the microphone and/or speaker are turned on, so hands free duplex telephone communications may be carried on or terminated between the person in the domicile and a person located at a remote telephone location, and if no person in the domicile answers, or if a person in the domicile does answer and needs help, the person at the remote telephone location makes arrangements for someone to assist the person in the domicile, as soon as possible and upon completion of the communication, the person placing the telephone call at the remote location, terminates the telephone call connection, which otherwise would remain open, by entering a preselected pulse tone or tones, which are recognized by the remotely accessible security controlled audio link, which operates to, in effect, hang up the receiver, which in reality had never been raised, to place the telephone system back into normal operations; and

b. remote monitoring station equipment, components, and circuitry, comprising, in turn;

i. telephone utility line connections for each respective person living in a domicile and requesting monitoring services;

ii. remote telephones and related telephone equipment for serving each of these respective persons living in domiciles;

iii. a digital signal receiver to monitor any and all incoming personal signature signals of all respective persons living in their respective domiciles;

iv. a computer to react upon receiving a personal signature signal from the digital signal receiver;

v. a display screen for displaying the respective medical history of a respective person living in a respective domicile, such display resulting from operations of the computer.

35. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link installed in a domicile, and remote monitoring equipment installed in a remote monitoring station, as claimed in claim 34, comprising, in addition:

alarm trigger signal components connected via the telephone jack to the microprocessor and when they are triggered by a person or events in the domicile, the trigger alarm signal created causes the microprocessor to send a signature signal over the telephone lines to a person at a remote telephone locale, so this person at the remote telephone locale can answer by placing a telephone call which is received in the domicile then during an alarm mode of this remotely accessible security controlled audio link, and at the outset of this alarm mode, the microprocessor has operated to bypass the ring count module and the dual tone multiple frequency decoder, and to activate both the speaker and the microphone, so hands free duplex communications can be immediately commenced with the person in the domicile who needs timely assistance.

36. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link installed in a domicile, and remote monitoring equipment installed in a remote monitoring station, as claimed in claim 34, comprising, in addition:

a. radio frequency energy receiver connected to the microprocessor; and

b. a radio frequency energy transmitter having a conveniently arranged depressible control key to be conveniently carried by the person in the domicile, and to be operated to send an alarm signal to the radio frequency energy receiver and beyond to the microprocessor to establish the alarm mode of the remotely accessible security controlled audio link;

whereby a signature signal is sent, via operations of the microprocessor, over the telephone lines to a person at a remote telephone locale, so this person at this remote telephone locale can answer by placing a duplex telephone call which is received in the domicile, then during this alarm mode of operations, and at the outset of this alarm mode, the microprocessor has operated to bypass the ring count module and the dial tone modulated frequency decoder, and to activate both the speaker and the microphone, so hands free communications can be immediately commenced with the person in the domicile, who needs timely assistance and upon completion of the communication, the person placing the telephone call at the remote location terminates the telephone call connection, which otherwise would remain open, by entering a preselected pulse tone or tones, which are recognized by the remotely accessible security controlled audio link, which operates to, in effect, hang up the receiver, which in reality had never been raised, to place the regular telephone system back into normal operation.

37. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link installed in a domicile, and remote monitoring equipment installed in a remote monitoring station, as claimed in claims 35 or 36, comprising in addition, a digital alarm dialer, connected to the microprocessor and to the domicile telephone system, and operated upon the functioning of the microprocessor, which has received an alarm signal from a person in his or her domicile, to dial and to send a digital alarm over the telephone lines to a remote telephone location.

38. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link installed in a domicile, and remote monitoring equipment installed in a remote monitoring station, as claimed in claim 34, wherein the remotely accessible security controlled audio link, comprises, in addition:

an amplifier to increase the sound produced by the speaker.

39. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link installed in a domicile, and remote monitoring equipment installed in a remote monitoring station, as claimed in claim 34, wherein the remotely accessible security controlled audio link, comprises, in addition:

vox equipment creating attenuator control, fluctuating between the speaker and the microphone.

40. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link installed in a domicile, and remote monitoring equipment installed in a remote monitoring station, as claimed in claim 34, wherein the remotely accessible security controlled audio link, comprises, in addition:

a differential amplifier to boost the voltage of an incoming call.

41. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link installed in a domicile, and remote monitoring equipment installed in a remote monitoring station, as claimed in claim 34, wherein the remotely accessible security controlled audio link, comprises, in addition:

a. an amplifier to increase the sound produced by the speaker, and

b. vox equipment creating attenuator control, fluctuating between the speaker and the microphone.

42. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link installed in a domicile, and remote monitoring equipment installed in a remote monitoring station, as claimed in claim 34, wherein the remotely accessible security controlled audio link, comprises, in addition:

a. an amplifier to increase the sound produced by the speaker;

b. vox equipment creating attenuator control, fluctuating between the speaker and the microphone; and

c. a differential amplifier to boost the voltage of an incoming call.

43. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link installed in a domicile, and remote monitoring equipment installed in a remote monitoring station, as claimed in claim 34, wherein the remotely accessible security controlled audio link, comprises, in addition:

a second telephone jack connected to the circuit board, in parallel with the other telephone jack to receive circuit connections extending to another set of a microphone and a speaker.

44. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link installed in a domicile, and remote monitoring equipment installed in a remote monitoring station, as claimed in claim 38, wherein the remotely accessible security controlled audio link, comprises, in addition:

a twelve volt direct current power supply, for the remotely accessible security controlled audio link, to receive twelve volt alternating current and convert it to twelve volt direct current, which is conducted to the telephone jack and beyond to the printed circuit and components mounted on the printed circuit board.

45. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link installed in a domicile, and remote monitoring equipment installed in a remote monitoring station, as claimed in claim 34, wherein the remotely accessible security controlled audio link, comprises, in addition:

an alternating current transformer, for the remotely accessible security controlled audio link, to be connected to a one hundred ten volt electrical circuit in the domicile, and when in operation to produce twelve volt, alternating current to be directed, via circuitry, to the twelve volt direct current power supply.

46. A remotely accessible security controlled audio link which, when in operation, allows a person at a remote telephone location to place a telephone call to a person in his or her domicile, and under certain conditions, to turn on a microphone and a loudspeaker in the domicile, so a hands free telephone conversation can take place with the person in the domicile, who does not have to lift a receiver of a telephone set in the domicile, comprising:

a. a printed circuit board;

b. a six pin telephone jack secured to the printed circuit board, the center two pins carry the telephone line, two pins carry the electrical power, and two pins carry alarm signals;

c. lightning protection assembly of two fuses and MOV1 mounted on the circuit board to protect the telephone line, and then the telephone line is fed to three circuits;

d. one, a differential amplifier circuit U7A to feed the telephone line tones to a dual tone multiple frequency decoder U3, printed and mounted on the printed circuit board;

e. two, a ring detector circuit U5 to detect the ringing signal having an optoisolator which feeds this circuit, to a microprocessor U4, printed and mounted on the printed circuit board;

f. three, a relay contact circuit K1, continuing on to the transformer T1, having the relay contacts of this circuit K1 normally open when the speakerphone is inactivated printed on the printed circuit board;

g. a speakerphone circuit U1 printed and mounted on the circuit board and connected to the relay contact circuit K1, to receive telephone line audio, to drive the loudspeaker amplifier U2, and at the same time to amplify the microphone audio and to connect it to the telephone line via the transformer, and having a hybrid circuit to take the two wire telephone signals, and to convert them into four wire signals, thereby splitting the transmit and receive telephone signals into two pairs, thereby allowing bi-directional telephone conversations to take place without the persons using the telephone system being bothered by the effects of feedback such as howls and squeals from the speaker as the microphone picks up the speaker audio and retransmits it, as the overall circuit U1 includes circuitry which determines which person is currently speaking, and then turns up the volume for receive and turns down the volume for transmit, or vice versa;

h. microprocessor U4, mounted on the printed circuit board also referred to as microcontroller logic UL, to receive all signals and to control all functions, under the control of internal firmware, and the microprocessor outputs include controls to detect ringing, answer the telephone, turn on and off the microphone, turn on and off the speaker, and turn on and off both the microphone and speaker together;

i. tone generator circuit U7C, printed on the printed circuit board, forms a sine wave synthesizer to generate tones of programmable frequency and duration under the control of the microprocessor U4, which are fed to the telephone line and to the speaker, to allow the persons using the telephone lines to hear feedback tone sequences, which give beep sounds and other like informative sounds;

j. a regulator circuit U9, printed on the printed circuit board, to take incoming twelve volt direct current and to reduce it to five volt direct current to drive the majority of the circuitry, except twelve volt direct current always feed the speaker amplifier to provide a reasonably high speaker volume;

k. a differential amplifier circuit U7A mounted and printed on the printed circuit board to monitor audio at all times to search or to look for touch tone when another device answers the telephone call, connected as a gain of 0.3 to amplify signals across the tip and ring of the telephone jack, and to reject any alternating common mode signals, such as alternating current 60 Hz hum at 115 volts alternating current, which are common to tip and ring signals, and having four dioxides to protect the amplifier from excessive common mode signals, particularly ringing, and having high voltage capacitors C4 and C5 to allow only alternating current to pass, and having fuses F1, F2 and MOV1 to protect against lightning and to thereby satisfy regulatory agency requirements, and having an amplifier U7B to amplify differential signals by a gain of 3.3, and then pass these signals to the dual tone multiple frequency decoder;

l. a dual tone multiple frequency decoder, called a DTMF decoder, mounted and printed on the printed circuit board and designated by U3, to provide an input gain of three, and then to process the audio to look or to search for standard touch tone signals, whereby any touch tone signal digit, which is of the required frequency combination and characteristics, and which meets the tone presence duration and absence requirements, then causes the STD signal to go high, indicating to the microprocessor that a signal digit has been received, and presented in binary fashion on DTMF decoder U3 as a signal at Q1, Q2, Q3, or Q4, and the STD signal goes low when the touch tone signal stops;

m. ring detector circuit or module U5 mounted and printed on the printed circuit board, to detect ringing over the range of forty to one hundred thirty volts alternating current, and over a range of seventeen to sixty eight Hz in compliance with regulatory requirements, and on the detection of ringing, pin four goes high to five volts direct current and activates the optoisolator U6, of this ring detector circuit U5, which in turn informs the microprocessor U4 that ringing is present, and then the microprocessor performs the desired ring presence and absence timing measurements;

n. sine wave synthesizer U7C, mounted and printed on the printed circuit board to generate quasi sine wave tones;

o. transformer T1, mounted and printed on the printed circuit board, to receive the audio of the telephone line, via the K1 relay contacts, to provide a one to one six hundred ohm impedance match even at high levels of direct current telephone line current through the primary, having a resistor 15 to ensure the direct current line voltage, when the telephone is off the hook is not too low, either for regulatory approval or for proper operation of other parallel connected speakerphones in other rooms, or extension telephones;

p. hybrid circuit U1 mounted and printed on the printed circuit board providing attenuator control and referred to as VOX to fluctuate between the speaker and the microphone, having pins 5 and 6 to provide transmit audio at the same level but one hundred and eighty degrees out of phase, referred to as a differential drive, and having resistors 17 and 18, and capacitors 1 and 10 to equal the reflected impedance of the transformer primary and the telephone line at the frequencies of interest in the range of three hundred to thirty five hundred Hz, whereby one half of the power is transmitted to the telephone line, and having a transformer pin 3 which will have no alternating current voltage impressed upon it, being exactly halfway between two equal but opposite drives, and therefore pin 3 is used to receive, and in theory contains no transmitting audio, but may in practice, in the absence of a perfect impedance match, transmit audio which is reflected back as a side tone;

q. a receive filter, mounted and printed on the printed circuit board, in respect to the VOX, receiving audio, via condensers 17 and 18, en route to pin 2 of hybrid circuit U1, is connected as a two pole high pass filter, at three hundred ninety Hz, to reject any alternating current sixty Hz hum present on the receive audio;

r. a microphone amplifier circuit, mounted and printed on the printed circuit board, biased, via resistors 35 and 36, feeds the audio, at a very low level, less than one millivolt, to the hybrid circuit U1 at pin 11, then the audio is amplified by a gain of thirty three by resistors 32, 33 at pin 10 of the hybrid circuit U1;

s. a speaker amplifier circuit U2, mounted and printed on the printed circuit board, connected as a gain of thirty three amplifier, via resistors 26 and 37, receives audio from pin 22 of hybrid circuit U1, having a differential output with pins 5 and 8 of opposite phase, to maximize the audio level, and the connected speaker is normally rated as forty five ohms; and

t. Tx/Rx control circuits, mounted and printed on the printed circuit board, associated with the hybrid circuit U1 and the VOX performance, controls attenuators in each of two paths, and each attenuator has a gain capacity or range from +6 to -46 dB, depending on the internal control, with the sum of the two gains being the constant of -40 dB, so as the gain of one path is increased, the gain of the other path is decreased, thereby preventing audio feedback, whereby, normally if neither party is speaking, both attenuators are set to -20 dB, and as soon as a voice is detected in one or the other direction, one attenuator is changed to +6 dB, and the other attenuator is changed to -46 dB, and the internal controller determines this by;

comparing pin 23 of the telephone line Tx with the pin 26 of the filtered telephone line Rx; and

comparing pin 17 of the amplified Tx microphone signal with pin 20 of the Rx audio speaker amplifier output; and

if both agree on the Tx or Rx supremacy, the attenuators are controlled accordingly. If however the two comparisons disagree, indicating both persons are speaking at once, then a fast idle mode is entered with both attenuators being at -20 dB, until the comparators agree, when one person stops talking; and

this Tx/Rx control circuit has noise monitors to allow the comparisons to be made properly, even if there is a constant noise in the background such as fan noise, and to allow the comparisons to respond slowly if no person is speaking at what is termed slow idle, and to allow the comparisons to respond quickly if both person are speaking; and

this Tx/Rx control circuit has capacitors, C14, C16, C25, and C27, which control the attack and decay response time of the comparators, and capacitors C15 and C26 which control the attack and decay times of the background noise monitors; and

in this Tx/Rx control circuit the signal CT on pin 14 is monitored to see the result of the comparison, noting;

that if signal CT is a VBIAS at pin 15, this circuit is in idle;

if signal CT is at VBIAS plus 0.24 volts direct current, then this circuit is in the receive mode; and

if signal CT is at VBIAS minus 0.24 volts direct current, then this circuit is in the transmit mode; and

in this Tx/Rx control circuit, the receive volume is controlled via the direct voltage on VLC pin 13.