Supervisory interface controller and method for remotely controlled terminal
First Claim
1. A terminal which is remotely controlled over a communications line, said terminal comprising:
- a communications device for sending and receiving audio, video and digital data over said communications line;
a computer;
a remotely controlled power strip having a plurality of power outlets and means for remotely switching AC power to and from said power outlets, said computer being connected to at least one of said power outlets;
a plurality of switches each of which corresponds to a telephone number; and
a supervisory interface controller, electrically connected to said communications device, said computer, said remotely controlled power strip and said plurality of switches, said supervisory interface controller comprising;
means responsive to selection of one of said switches, for identifying a telephone number corresponding to the selected switch and for directing said communications device to place a telephone call to the identified telephone number on said communications line; and
means responsive to said audio which is received over said communications line, for identifying DTMF tones which are received over said communications line, and for energizing said remote switching means in response to identification of a predetermined DTMF tone sequence, to thereby apply power to said computer.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A terminal which is remotely controlled over a digital data line includes a computer and a videotelephone for sending and receiving audio, video and digital data over the digital data line. The terminal also includes a remotely controlled power strip which has power outlets and relays for remotely controlling AC power to and from the power outlets. The computer is connected to at least one of the power outlets. The terminal also includes a plurality of switches, each of which corresponds to a telephone number. The terminal also includes a supervisory interface controller which is responsive to selection of one of the switches to identify a telephone number corresponding to the selected switch and to direct the videotelephone to place a telephone call to the identified telephone number, via the digital data line. The supervisory interface controller is also responsive to audio signals which are received over the digital data line for identifying DTMF (touch) tones which are received over the digital data line, to energize the relay in the power strip in response to identification of a predetermined DTMF tone sequence, to thereby apply power to the computer.
47 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A terminal which is remotely controlled over a communications line, said terminal comprising:
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a communications device for sending and receiving audio, video and digital data over said communications line; a computer; a remotely controlled power strip having a plurality of power outlets and means for remotely switching AC power to and from said power outlets, said computer being connected to at least one of said power outlets; a plurality of switches each of which corresponds to a telephone number; and a supervisory interface controller, electrically connected to said communications device, said computer, said remotely controlled power strip and said plurality of switches, said supervisory interface controller comprising; means responsive to selection of one of said switches, for identifying a telephone number corresponding to the selected switch and for directing said communications device to place a telephone call to the identified telephone number on said communications line; and means responsive to said audio which is received over said communications line, for identifying DTMF tones which are received over said communications line, and for energizing said remote switching means in response to identification of a predetermined DTMF tone sequence, to thereby apply power to said computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A terminal which is remotely controlled over a digital data line, said terminal comprising:
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a videotelephone for sending and receiving audio, video and digital data over said digital data line; a computer connected to said videotelephone to receive digital data from said digital data line; a remotely controlled power strip having a plurality of power outlets and at least one relay which remotely switches AC power to and from said power outlets, said computer being connected to at least one of said power outlets; a telephone handset; a hook switch for indicating activation of said telephone handset; a plurality of switches each of which corresponds to a telephone number; an input/output decoder, which decodes selection of one of said switches, and activation of said hook switch; means, responsive to said input/output decoder, for identifying a telephone number corresponding to the selected switch and for directing said videotelephone to place a telephone call to the identified telephone number on said digital data line; a DTMF transceiver, responsive to said audio which is received over said digital data line, for identifying DTMF tones which are received over said digital data line; means, responsive to said DTMF transceiver, for identifying a predetermined sequence of DTMF tones; and a relay controller, responsive to said DTMF tone sequence identifying means, for energizing said at least one relay in response to identification of said predetermined DTMF tone sequence, to thereby apply power to said computer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for remotely controlling a terminal over a communications line, the terminal including a computer, a communications device for sending and receiving audio, video and digital data over said communications line, a remotely controlled power strip having a plurality of power outlets and means for remotely switching AC power to and from said power outlets, the computer being connected to at least one of said power outlets, and a plurality of switches each of which corresponds to a telephone number, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting selection of one of the switches; identifying a telephone number corresponding to the selected switch; directing the communications device to place a telephone call to the identified telephone number on the communications line; receiving audio over the communications line; detecting DTMF tones in the audio which is received over said communications line; identifying a predetermined DTMF tone sequence in the detected DTMF tones; and energizing the remote switching means in response to identification of the predetermined DTMF tone sequence, to thereby apply power to the computer. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification