Method and system for controlling and switching power source associated with electrical devices

• US 6,389,122 B1
• Filed: 10/20/1998
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hyung Sik Park
• Original Assignee: Hyung Sik Park
• Inventors: Park, Hyung Sik
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, BING Q
• Application Number:
  US09/171,338
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90.01, 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/102.03, 379/102.04, 379/102.05, 379/106.01, 379/102.07, 379/106.04, 379/37, 379/39, 379/40, 379/41, 379/42
• US Class Current: 379/102.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C

Abstract

The present invention relates to a switching system which can control a corresponding load by means of manipulating a manual switch and a remote control switch, and optionally turn on/off any load among a plurality of loads via a telephone line even though a user is at any distant places beyond the remote control of loads. The switching system of the present invention recognizes an allowed subscriber by inputting a predetermined password, and confirms an turning-on/off state of loads connected to a switching set unit via a voice to then control turning-ON/OFF of the corresponding load via button manipulation of a telephone set. Accordingly, the switching system can perform manual switching control or remote switching control using a remote controller, and also carry out switching control with regard to any load via the telephone line even under a poor condition of remote control, thereby conveniently confirming and manipulating a state of loads regardless of places.

Claims

1. A system for controlling and switching a power source for switching input power supplied to a plurality of loads, comprising:

a plurality of switching sets for controlling the plurality of loads;

a telephone line connecting unit connected to the switching sets and to a telephone, by which a state of the switching sets is monitored and controlled through the telephone, and results of the monitoring and controlling are outputted to a user as a voice message,

wherein the telephone line connecting unit comprises,

a central processing unit (CPU) interfaced with a switching set controller, for controlling an output operation of a voice message according to an input command applied via a telephone line,

a switching set controller interfaced with the CPU, for outputting a control signal to turn on/off one of the loads,

a transmission/receiving unit for transmitting the output control signal of the switching set controller to one of the loads, and supplying the received response signal to one of the switching sets,

a voice message outputter for outputting at least one voice message from a plurality of pre-stored voice messages under the control of the CPU,

a voice signal processor for performing signal processing to transmit the voice messages of the voice message outputter via the telephone line upon detecting a tone signal from the user, and

a dial signal detector for detecting a dial signal received via the telephone line,

wherein the voice message outputter includes,

a short phoneme processor for outputting phonemic information regarding a short phoneme portion of the voice messages under the control of the CPU,

a long phoneme processor for outputting phonemic information regarding a long phoneme portion of the voice messages under the control of the CPU,

a voice signal controller for outputting voice data corresponding to the phonemic information output from the short and long phoneme processors,

a voice oscillator for ouputting an address corresponding to a predetermined oscillating frequency to output a voice to said voice signal controller, and

a voice signal mixer for mixing the voice corresponding to the voice address to a voice signal of an analog form.

2. The switching system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said voice signal processor comprises a filter for receiving the voice signal from said voice message outputter and filtering a voice grade of the voice signal;

an amplifier for amplifying the voice signal filtered by said filter into a proper level;

a circuit switch for switching a circuit between said amplifier and a circuit connector in order to output the amplified voice signal to the subscriber or output a tone signal applied via the telephone line to said CPU;

a circuit connector for connecting and disconnecting the telephone line according to a selection control signal output from said CPU; and

a rectifier for rectifying the voice signal output from said circuit connector and transmitting the rectified signal to the telephone line.

3. The switching system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switching set controller further comprises a memory for storing an address allocated for the operation of an open/closed element to switch the supply of a power source of said telephone line connector.

4. The switching system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said voice message outputter outputs a predetermined voice message according to an address for present phonemic information.

5. The switching system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switching set controller is interfaced with the main switching set of each unit and said CPU according to the preset address to discern a corresponding load.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the switching sets comprises:

a main switching set for monitoring states of respective loads and controlling all the loads according to result of the monitoring; and

a sub switching set for controlling loads which are connected to the sub switching set in accordance with commands from the main switching set.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the main switching set comprises:

a transmit/receive unit for inputting/outputting signals with the telephone line connecting unit;

a display unit for displaying on/off states of the respective loads;

a switching unit including switches controlling the respective loads; and

a controlling signal generating unit for controlling the display unit, the first switching unit and the transmit/receive unit according to a command signal inputted form the transmit/receive unit.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the sub switching set comprises:

a transmit/receive unit for inputting/outputting with the telephone line connecting unit;

a display unit for displaying on/off states of the loads which are connected to the sub switching set;

a switching unit including switches for controlling the loads connected to the sub switching set; and

a controlling signal generating unit for controlling the display unit, the switching unit and the transmit/receive unit according to a command inputted from the transmit/receive unit.