Security system with call management functionality

• US 7,167,543 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2001
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Bennett, Raymond Walden III, Beardsley, John Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah; Melur
• Application Number:
  US10/017,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20020054673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,874 Days
• Field of Search: 379/37, 379/38, 379/42, 379/43, 379/44, 379/93.35, 379/90.01, 379/102.01, 379/102.06, 379/211.03, 379/211.04, 379/201.1, 379/913, 379/211.02, 340/3.1, 340/825.24
• US Class Current: 379/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A security system with call management functionality is coupled to a telephone network for providing a telephone service and at least one telephone line. This system also includes a call management controller for enabling, disabling or changing telephone service based on user presence and identity. User presence and identity is determined by a security controller coupled to a plurality of sensors for providing at least one home security function.

Claims

1. A method of providing call management functionality for a security system coupled to a telephone network, said security system inciuding a call management controller and a security controller, said method comprising the steps of:

utilizing a voice processing system having speech recognition functionality to process a verbal command from a user so as to place said security controller in night mode and thereby generate a security controller state;

communicating said security controller state to said call management controller so as to place said call management controller in a night mode privacy state;

in response to an incoming telephone call, prompting the incoming caller to leave a message or ring through for an emergency;

transferring said caller to a voice mailbox unless said call is an emergency; and

allowing said caller to ring through to a telephone set if said call is an emergency.

2. A method of providing call management functionality for a security system as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of allowing said caller to ring through to a telephone set specifically comprises the step of distinctively ringing said telephone set to denote an emergency.

3. A security system with call management functionality coupled to a telephone network for providing at least one telephone service, said telephone network having at least one telephone line, said security system comprising:

a call management controller coupled to said telephone network for individually enabling, disabling, or modifying each said telephone service;

a security controller coupled to said call management controller;

a plurality of sensors coupled to said security controller for providing at least one home security function; and

a voice processing system coupled to said security controller and having speech recognition functionality for processing verbal commands from a user so as to operate said security system;

wherein said at least one telephone service comprises at least one service selected from the group consisting of night mode privacy, automated attendant, follow me service, kid control, maid minder, and voice mail delivery.

4. A method of providing call management functionality for a security system coupled to a telephone network, said security system including a call management controller and a security controller, said method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one telephone service wherein said at least one telephone service comprises at least one service selected from the group consisting of night mode privacy, automated attendant, follow me service, kid control, maid minder, and voice mail delivery;

utilizing a voice processing system having speaker verification functionality to identify a user so as to generate a user identity; and

selectively modifying each of said at least one telephone service in response to said user identity.

5. A method of providing call management functionality for a security system as recited in claim 4, wherein the step of providing at least one telephone service specifically includes the step of providing said follow me service, which comprises the steps of:

monitoring at least two locations to determine user location based upon said user identity; and

transferring a caller to said user location.

6. A method of providing call management functionality for a security system as recited in claim 4, wherein the step of providing at least one telephone service specifically includes the step of providing said kid control service, which comprises the step of restricting outbound calls based on said user identity.

7. A method of providing call management functionality for a security system as recited in claim 4, wherein the step of providing at least one telephone service specifical includes the step of providing said automated attendant service, which comprises the steps of:

associating a phone line to correspond to said user identity;

determining user presence based upon said user identity;

allowing a caller to ring through to a telephone set if user presence is detected and said telephone set is not being used;

generating a distinctive call-waiting signal to denote which user is being called if user presence is detected and said telephone set is being used; and

transferring said caller to a voice mailbox that corresponds to said user identity if user presence is not detected.