Remote control of a speaker phone device as a standalone device or as part of a security system

• US 7,403,598 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2004
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Tyroler, Dan, Tyhacz, John D., Jordan, Raymond J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo; Stella L
• Application Number:
  US10/899,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20060023847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 379 37- 51, 379/110.01, 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/102.03, 379/102.05, 340/531
• US Class Current: 379/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A telephone device such as a speaker phone or message recording device is remotely controlled either as a standalone device or as part of a security system. The telephone device can be controlled by a key fob or other user-operated transmitter that a user actuates to answer a call by speaker phone, end a call, place a call, or control functions of the message recording device such as playing back messages. The key fob transmits a wireless signal that is received and processed by a security system. In response, the security system controls the telephone device. The key fob may control security functions as well. In another approach, the key fob may control the telephone device directly without intervention of a security system. Or, the key fob may control the telephone device via a home automation network.

Claims

1. A security apparatus, comprising:

at least one control for controlling a security system that secures a building; and

at least one receiver for receiving a first signal from a sensor in the security system, and for receiving, from a hand-held user-operated transmitter, at least one user-generated signal for controlling a telephone device and at least one user-generated signal for controlling the security system, the telephone device is provided in a standalone housing separate from the at least one receiver and the at least one control;

wherein the at least one control is responsive to the at least one receiver for triggering an alarm when the first signal is received, and for controlling the telephone device responsive to the user-generated signal and is responsive to the user-generated signal for controlling speaker phone functions of the telephone device, said speaker phone functions includes answer an incoming telephone call, end said incoming telephone call, and dialing a number to place a call, and for a message recording functions, said message recording functions includes playing back messages, erasing messages, recording an outgoing message, and leaving a voice memo.

2. The security apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one user-generated signal for control the telephone device, transmitted from the hand-held user-operated transmitter, is converted by an intermediary gateway into a format that can be recognized by the telephone device to enable the telephone device to perform said speakerphone functions.

3. The security apparatus of claim 2, wherein said intermediary gateway is a standalone device.

4. The security apparatus of claim 2, wherein said intermediary gateway is integrated into said telephone device.

5. The security apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one user-generated signal comprises a wireless signal.

6. A security apparatus, comprising:

at least one control for controlling a security system that secures a building; and

at least one receiver for receiving a first signal from a sensor in the security system, and for receiving, from a hand-held security system remote control device, at least one user-generated signal for controlling a telephone device and at least one user-generated signal for controlling the security system;

wherein the at least one control is responsive to the at least one receiver for triggering an alarm when the first signal is received, and for controlling the telephone device responsive to the user-generated signal and is responsive to the user-generated signal for controlling speaker phone functions of the telephone device, said speaker phone functions includes answer an incoming telephone call, end said incoming telephone call, and dialing a number to place a call, and for a message recording functions, said message recording functions includes playing back messages, erasing messages, recording an outgoing message, and leaving a voice memo

wherein the telephone device, at least one receiver and at least one control are provided in a common housing.

7. A telephone device, comprising:

a first control for controlling a telephone function of the telephone device; and

a receiver for receiving a first signal from a second control in a security system, the security system securing a building;

wherein;

the second control is responsive to a user-generated signal received from a hand-held security system remote control device for controlling speaker phone functions of the telephone, and the first signal is provided by the second control responsive to the user-generated signal; and

the first control is responsive to the first signal for controlling speaker phone functions of the telephone, wherein the first control, receiver, and the second control are provided in a common housing.

8. A telephone device, comprising:

a first control for controlling telephone functions of the telephone device; and

a receiver for receiving a first signal from a second control in a security system, the security system securing a building;

wherein;

the second control is responsive to a user-generated signal received from a hand-held user-operated transmitter for controlling the telephone function, and the first signal is provided by the second control responsive to the user-generated signal; and

the first control is responsive to the first signal for controlling the telephone function, and

the first control and the receiver are provided in a standalone housing separate from the second control.

9. The telephone device of claim 8, wherein:

said speaker phone functions includes answer an incoming telephone call, end said incoming telephone call, and dialing a number to place a call, and for a message recording functions, said message recording functions includes playing back messages, erasing messages, recording an outgoing message, and leaving a voice memo.

10. A hand-held user-operated device, comprising:

at least one user-actuable component including a telephone keypad, a call end key and keys for controlling a security system; and

a transmitter responsive to the at least one user-actuable component for transmitting a user-generated signal for controlling a telephone device to at least one receiver associated with a security system that secures a building and for transmitting a second user generated signal for controlling the security system;

wherein;

the at least one receiver is provided for receiving a second signal from a sensor in the security system; and

the security system includes at least one control that is responsive to the at least one receiver for controlling the telephone device responsive to the user-generated signal, and triggering an alarm responsive to the second signal, the telephone device is provided in a standalone housing separate from the at least one receiver and the at least one control.

11. The hand-held user-operated device of claim 10, wherein:

the user-generated signal comprises data for controlling a speaker phone function of the telephone device.

12. The hand-held user-operated device of claim 10, wherein:

the user-generated signal comprises data for controlling a message recording function of the telephone device.

13. The hand-held user-operated device of claim 12, wherein:

the user-generated signal comprises a wireless signal.

14. The hand-held user-operated device of claim 13, further comprising:

a portable housing in which the at least one user-actuable component and the transmitter are provided.

15. The hand-held user-operated device of claim 13, wherein:

the at least one user-actuable component and the transmitter control the security system as well as the telephone device.

16. The hand-held user-operated device of claim 10, wherein:

the user-generated signal comprises data for controlling a dialing function of the telephone device.

17. The hand-held user-operated device of claim 10, further comprising a second receiver for receiving a confirmation signal from said at least one receiver associated with the security system confirming that said user-generated signal was received.

18. The hand-held user-operated device of claim 17, further comprising a notification device that is activated when the confirmation signal is received to notify a user that said user-generated signal was received by the controller.

19. The hand-held user-operated device of claim 18, wherein said notification device is a light.

20. The hand-held user-operated device of claim 10, wherein the controller identifies the hand-held user-operated device using a learned identifier prior to executing a command associated with said user-generated signal.

21. A hand-held user-operated device of claim 10, wherein the hand-held user-operated device is a television remote control.

22. A hand-held user-operated device of claim 10, wherein the hand-held user-operated device is a key fob.

23. A hand-held security system remote control device, comprising:

at least one user-actuable component including a telephone keypad, a call end key and keys for controlling a security system; and

a transmitter responsive to the at least one user-actuable component for transmitting a user-generated signal for controlling a telephone device to at least one receiver associated with a security system that secures a building and for transmitting a second user generated signal for controlling the security system;

wherein;

the at least one receiver is provided for receiving a second signal from a sensor in the security system; and

the security system includes at least one control that is responsive to the at least one receiver for controlling the telephone device responsive to the user-generated signal, and triggering an alarm responsive to the second signal.

24. A hand-held security system remote control device of claim 23, wherein the hand-held security system remote control device is a key fob.