Systems for power interruption detection
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring a condition at a remote location and for delivering via a communications network to a central control location notification of a change in the state of a condition at the remote location, the method comprising the steps of:
- sensing at the remote changes in the state of the condition from a first state to a second state;
responding during the second state to the sensed change in the condition to the second state, by delivering via the communications network to the central control location a signal representative of an identifying address (IA) assigned to the remote location;
sensing for a return to the first state the condition at the remote location;
responding to the condition returning to the first state by testing the communication network and generating an indication of line availability when the communications network is available for transmission of signals thereon;
responding to an indication of line availability, selectively seizing a line on the communications network;
generating communications network signals representative of a second IA;
delivering to the central control location the second IA; and
indicating the establishment of a completed call between the remote location and the central location by generating onto the communications network a preselected check signal.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for monitoring a condition, such as the presence of electrical power, at a remote location and for generating a telephone call on to a telephone line that delivers to a central control unit notification of a change in the monitored condition in the form of a set of unique identifying signals. According to the method, the condition is monitored at the remote location and is sensed for changes in the condition from a first state to a second state. Responsive to a change in the condition to the second state, the telephone line is tested and a line availability signal generated. Responsive to indicia of line availability, the line is selectively seized. Signals are generated on to the telephone line representative of a first telephone number to address the first control location, the signals representative the first telephone number correspond to the change in the monitored condition and signals representative of the telephone number assigned to the remote location are generated on to the telephone line by the interexchange carrier network.
53 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring a condition at a remote location and for delivering via a communications network to a central control location notification of a change in the state of a condition at the remote location, the method comprising the steps of:
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sensing at the remote changes in the state of the condition from a first state to a second state; responding during the second state to the sensed change in the condition to the second state, by delivering via the communications network to the central control location a signal representative of an identifying address (IA) assigned to the remote location; sensing for a return to the first state the condition at the remote location; responding to the condition returning to the first state by testing the communication network and generating an indication of line availability when the communications network is available for transmission of signals thereon; responding to an indication of line availability, selectively seizing a line on the communications network; generating communications network signals representative of a second IA; delivering to the central control location the second IA; and indicating the establishment of a completed call between the remote location and the central location by generating onto the communications network a preselected check signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for determining a presence of electrical power, at a remote location, and for transmitting a data signal to a central location remote therefrom over a telephone line connected to a carrier network, the method comprising the steps of:
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monitoring for interruption electrical power being supplied to a building at the remote location; responding to the interruption of electrical power supplied to the building during the electrical power interruption by selectively seizing a telephone line and dialing the central location through the carrier network; generating by the carrier network a data signal indicating that power to the building is interrupted; delivering the data signal via the carrier network to the central control location when the central location is being dialed; and transmitting a confirmation signal from the central control location to the remote location upon receipt of the data signal, and providing the confirmation signal as is a tone having a first predetermined frequency. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for determining the presence of electrical power at a remote location and for transmitting a data signal via a telephone line to a central control location remote therefrom, the method comprising the steps of:
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sensing an electrical power interruption at the remote location; responding to a sensed interruption by dialing the central control location during the electrical power interruption; indicating a first incomplete call attempt when dialing the central location; responding to the first incomplete call attempt indication by waiting a first randomly selected delay period having a first preselected maximum time period; redialing the central location after waiting the first delay period; indicating a first incomplete call attempt when dialing the central location; responding to the first incomplete call attempt indication by waiting a second randomly selected delay period having a second preselected maximum time period which is longer than the first preselected maximum time period; redialing the central location after waiting the second delay period; indicating a complete call attempt when dialing the central location after waiting the second delay period; responding to indica of a complete call attempt by transmitting to the central control location a signal indicating an interruption of power at the remote location. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method for monitoring the presence of electrical power at a remote location and for communicating over a telephone network data relating to changes in the status of the electrical power, wherein the data communicated indicates a first state where electrical power is present and a different state where electrical power has been interrupted, the method comprising the steps of:
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monitoring the electrical power at the remote location; responding to a change in the electrical power from the first state to the different state by waiting a first randomly selected delay time having a preselected maximum time period; testing, after waiting the first randomly selected delay time, the telephone network for an indicia of line availability or line non-availability; responding to indicia of line availability by seizing a line on the telephone network; and transmitting to the remote location via the telephone network after waiting the first randomly selected delay time a signal indicating that the power has changed to the different state. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method of monitoring a presence of electric power at a remote location and for generating a telephone call on a telephone line that causes a data signal to be delivered representative of a unique identifying signal for the remote location in response to changes in the monitored electric power from a first state, in which electric power is present, to a second state, in which electric power is interrupted via a telephone network to locations remote therefrom, the method comprising the steps of:
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responding to a change in the presence of electric power to the second state by testing the telephone line and generating a line availability signal; responding to indicia of line availability by selectively seizing the line; generating onto the line signals representative of a first control location address at the first control location; responding to receipt of a confirmation signal by the remote location from the first control location, generating onto the line signals uniquely identifying the remote location; responding to a return of electric power to the first state by testing the telephone line and generating a line availability signal; responding to indicia of line availability by selectively seizing the line; generating onto the line signals representative of a second control location IA to address the second control location; responding to receipt of a confirmation signal by the remote location from the second control location, generating onto the line signals uniquely identifying the remote location; responding to the elapsing of a predetermined period of time, testing the telephone line and generating a line availability signal; responding to indicia of line availability, selectively seizing the line; generating onto the line signals representative of a third control location to address the third control location; and responding to a confirmation signal from the third control location, generating onto the line signals uniquely identifying the remote location; whereby identification of the remote location that has experienced a change in the presence of electric power at the remote location is automatically transmitted to the first control location, identification of a return to the first state is automatically transmitted to the second control location, and a signal indicating that the monitoring device is active is periodically transmitted to the third control location.
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24. An apparatus for monitoring electric power at a location remote from a control location and for delivering notification of a change in the status thereof to the control location with a communications network and comprising:
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means for sensing changes in electric power at the remote location from a first state, when electric power is present, to a second state, when electric power is interrupted; and means responsive to said sensed changes in the electric power for transmitting to the control location with the communications network during the second state data indicating the electric power is interrupted and data indicating the address of the remote location. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for monitoring a presence of electrical power at a location remote from a central location, and for delivering notification of a change in the status thereof to the control location via a telephone network, the apparatus comprising:
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means for sensing an electrical power interruption at the remote location; means responsive to a change in the electrical power at the remote location for waiting a randomly selecting a delay time; means responsive to the waiting means waiting the randomly selective a delay time and response to an availability of a telephone line on the network for seizing the telephone line; means for indicating to the control location via the telephone network that power has been interrupted at the remote location. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An apparatus for monitoring for the presence of electrical power at a remote location and communicating data related to changes in the status of the electrical power from a first state where power is present to a different state where power has been interrupted, to a central location over a telephone line, the apparatus comprising:
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sensor means for monitoring the electrical power at the remote locations, said sensor means located at the remote location and obtaining it operating power from an electrical power supply when the power supply is in the first state and to obtain its operating power from the telephone line when the electrical power is in the different state; delay means for waiting a first randomly selected delay period in response to a change in the condition to the different state; means for testing the telephone line and for generating a line availability signal in response to a change in the condition to the different state and in response to an expiration of the first randomly selected delay period; means for seizing the telephone line in response to the line availability signal; means for transmitting onto the seized line data signals representative of the remote location identifying address (IA); and means for transmitting data uniquely identifying the presence or absence of electric power at the remote location originating the call on the telephone line after communication with the control location has been established and for disconnecting the line upon completion of data transmission. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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Specification