Adaptable alarm interface unit for use with electronic automobile alarm systems and the like
First Claim
1. An alarm system for protecting a mobile personal property, the alarm system including:
- an existing alarm device including;
a control unit,a sensor coupled to the control unit, the sensor generating a violation signal in response to a violation condition against the mobile personal property, the control unit generating an alarm signal in response to the violation signal and in response to an arm signal,an alarm siren coupled to the control unit, the alarm siren sounding an audible alarm in response to the alarm signal, andan arming circuit coupled to the control unit, the arming circuit generating the arm signal in response to the existing alarm device being armed, and generating a disarm signal in response to the existing alarm device being disarmed; and
an interface unit including;
a controller coupled to the sensor and receiving the violation signal therefrom, and coupled to the control unit and receiving the alarm signal therefrom,a cellular telephone interface coupled to the controller, the cellular telephone interface being responsive to a ring signal from a cellular telephone, the ring signal being passed by the cellular telephone interface to the controller,an arm input coupled to the controller and coupled to the arming circuit, the controller receiving the arm signal and the disarm signal via the arm input,a speech processor coupled to the controller and receiving the alarm signal and the ring signal therefrom,a memory device coupled to the speech processor, the memory device storing a plurality of stored speech data signals, the speech processor selecting a first of the plurality of stored speech data signals in response to the ring signal from the cellular telephone and selecting a second of the plurality of stored speech data signals in response to the alarm signal and the arm signal from the existing alarm device, anda speaker that generates a plurality of audible voice messages, the speaker generating a first of the plurality of audible voice messages in response to the speech processor selecting the first of the plurality of stored speech data signals, and generating a second of the plurality of audible voice messages in response to the speech processor selecting the second of the plurality of stored speech data signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interface unit adapts an existing alarm system, e.g., an existing automobile alarm system, so that it selectively provides additional alarm features not previously available. Such features are made available, at least in part, through use of the components of the existing alarm system. Thus, there is no need to remove the existing alarm system, or (in one embodiment) to even cut or relocate any of the wires used with the existing alarm system. All that is required is to install the interface unit and couple it in an appropriate manner to the existing system. The features made available through the interface unit selectively include voice messages that are triggered: whenever the alarm system senses a violation event, to indicate the arming or disarming of the system, or to report to the owner the violation events that have occurred since the system was last armed. Further, a vocal report to the owner from the interface unit indicates that an incoming cellular call is ringing, or reports how many unanswered cellular calls occurred during a predetermined time period. Still further, the interface unit allows, in one embodiment, one or more of the sensors used with the existing alarm system to be selectively disabled or enabled.
80 Citations
9 Claims
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1. An alarm system for protecting a mobile personal property, the alarm system including:
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an existing alarm device including; a control unit, a sensor coupled to the control unit, the sensor generating a violation signal in response to a violation condition against the mobile personal property, the control unit generating an alarm signal in response to the violation signal and in response to an arm signal, an alarm siren coupled to the control unit, the alarm siren sounding an audible alarm in response to the alarm signal, and an arming circuit coupled to the control unit, the arming circuit generating the arm signal in response to the existing alarm device being armed, and generating a disarm signal in response to the existing alarm device being disarmed; and an interface unit including; a controller coupled to the sensor and receiving the violation signal therefrom, and coupled to the control unit and receiving the alarm signal therefrom, a cellular telephone interface coupled to the controller, the cellular telephone interface being responsive to a ring signal from a cellular telephone, the ring signal being passed by the cellular telephone interface to the controller, an arm input coupled to the controller and coupled to the arming circuit, the controller receiving the arm signal and the disarm signal via the arm input, a speech processor coupled to the controller and receiving the alarm signal and the ring signal therefrom, a memory device coupled to the speech processor, the memory device storing a plurality of stored speech data signals, the speech processor selecting a first of the plurality of stored speech data signals in response to the ring signal from the cellular telephone and selecting a second of the plurality of stored speech data signals in response to the alarm signal and the arm signal from the existing alarm device, and a speaker that generates a plurality of audible voice messages, the speaker generating a first of the plurality of audible voice messages in response to the speech processor selecting the first of the plurality of stored speech data signals, and generating a second of the plurality of audible voice messages in response to the speech processor selecting the second of the plurality of stored speech data signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An alarm system for protecting a mobile personal property, the alarm system including:
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an existing alarm device including; a control unit, a sensor coupled to the control unit, the sensor generating a violation signal in response to a violation condition against the mobile personal property, the control unit generating an alarm signal in response to the violation signal and in response to an arm signal, an alarm siren coupled to the control unit, the alarm siren sounding an audible alarm in response to the alarm signal, and an arming circuit coupled to the control unit, the arming circuit generating the arm signal in response to the existing alarm device being armed, and generating a disarm signal in response to the existing alarm device being disarmed; and an interface unit including; a controller coupled to the sensor and receiving the violation signal therefrom, and coupled to the control unit and receiving the alarm signal therefrom, a cellular telephone interface coupled to the controller, the cellular telephone interface being responsive to a ring signal from a cellular telephone, the ring signal being passed by the cellular telephone interface to the controller, the controller counting the number of incoming cellular telephone calls in response to the ring signal from the cellular telephone; an arm input coupled to the controller and coupled to the arming circuit, the controller receiving the arm signal and the disarm signal via the arm input, a speech processor coupled to the controller and receiving the alarm signal therefrom, a memory device that stores a plurality of stored speech data signals, the speech processor selecting a first of the plurality of stored speech data signals in response to the alarm signal and the arm signal from the existing alarm device, and a speaker that generates a plurality of audible voice messages, the speaker generating a first of the plurality of audible voice messages in response to the speech processor selecting the first of the plurality of stored speech data signals. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification