Network to alarm panel stimulator for VoIP

• US 7,778,394 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wollmershauser, Steve, Diroo, Yolius, Small, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo; Stella L
• Application Number:
  US11/171,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20070001818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,874 Days
• Field of Search: 379/37, 379/33, 379/93.05, 379/413.04
• US Class Current: 379/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

The present invention provides for a system and method for providing a signal to a communication system comprising an interface between a communication link and the communication system, like an alarm system, wherein the interface receives a signal from the communication link and provides a signal indicative of the availability of the communication link for use by the communication system. Alarm systems operations may be facilitated so that Residential Gateway components (such as voice terminal adapters) may simulate traditional telephone network systems that run on 48 VDC powered telephone lines. The system also comprises an input port associated with the interface for receiving the signal from the communication link, a transformer or a voltage regulator and an output port associated with the interface for providing the conditioned signal to the communication system. A ring voltage received from the communication link may be passed through to the alarm system.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a status signal to an alarm panel comprising:

an interface between a communication link and the alarm panel, wherein the interface is configured to receive an input signal from the communication link and to provide the status signal to the alarm panel, wherein the status signal is indicative of an availability of the communication link;

an input port configured to receive the input signal and provide the input signal to the interface; and

an output port configured to receive the status signal from the interface;

wherein the status signal is a DC voltage signal having a first magnitude when the communication link is available, wherein the first magnitude is approximately 48 V;

wherein the interface is further configured to generate the status signal having a ring voltage magnitude when the communication link is receiving an incoming call wherein the first magnitude and the ring voltage magnitude are different.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input signal and the status signal comprise DC voltage signals.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interface includes a transformer configured to transform a voltage of the input signal to an alarm panel voltage and provide the alarm panel voltage as the status signal to the output port.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication link further comprises a device selected from the set of devices consisting of:

a voice terminal adapter, a residential gateway;

a VoIP phone and an FTTP phone; and

further wherein the device generates the input signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interface comprises an input DC voltage selector configured to adapt the interface to accommodate a magnitude of the input signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interface is configured to detect an off-hook signal indicative of an off-hook condition and to discontinue the status signal when the off-hook condition is detected by.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one the set consisting of:

a local power source and a current monitor.

8. A method for providing a status signal to an alarm panel comprising:

receiving an input signal from the communication link;

conditioning the input signal to obtain the status signal wherein the status signal is indicative of an availability of the communication link; and

providing the status signal to the alarm panel

wherein the status signal is a DC voltage signal having a first magnitude when the communication link is available, wherein the first magnitude is approximately 48 V;

wherein the interface is further configured to generate the status signal having a ring voltage magnitude when the communication link is receiving an incoming call wherein the first magnitude and the ring voltage magnitude are different.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the input signal and the status signal comprise DC voltage signals.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein conditioning the input signal comprises transforming, with a transformer, a voltage of the input signal to an alarm panel voltage.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising discontinuing the conditioned signal when a fault condition occurs.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the fault condition is an off-hook signal indicated by at least one of the set consisting of i) a decrease in resistance, ii) a decrease in voltage and iii) an increase in current.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the communication link further comprises at least one of the set consisting of:

i) a voice terminal adapter, ii) a residential gateway;

iii) a VoIP phone and iv) a FTTP phone.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising employing a local power source to condition the input signal.

15. A system for providing a status signal to an alarm panel comprising:

an interface configured to receive an input signal from a communication link generate the status signal based on the input signal and provide the output signal to the alarm panel;

an input port associated with the interface configured to receive the input signal from the communication link;

a voltage regulator connected to the input port for altering an amplitude of a voltage of the input signal to generate the status signal; and

an output port associated configured to receive the status signal from the interface and provide the conditioned signal to the alarm panel;

wherein the input signal comprises a DC voltage and wherein a DC voltage of the status signal indicates the availability of the communication link;

wherein the DC voltage of status signal is approximately 48 V when the communication link is available;

wherein the DC voltage of the status signal is a second DC voltage when a voltage of the input signal is in a ringing condition of the communication link.