Communication apparatus of a home security system

• US 7,779,141 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2003
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Kazuhiko, Kida, Kenji, Yoshimura, Yasuo, Miki, Tadashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Neurauter, Jr.; George C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fearer; Mark D
• Application Number:
  US10/514,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20060155877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,714 Days
• Field of Search: 709/232, 709/249, 709/223
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems

Abstract

The invention provides a communication apparatus used inside a house, a communication system connected thereto, a communication process, and computer program used therefore. The communication apparatus of the present invention connected via a network to one or more terminal appliances in the house, communicates with the outside via two or more different communication configurations including a first communication configuration with a high speed digital transmission technique and a second communication configuration providing service for telephone subscribers. The communication apparatus is characterized in recognizing a situation thereby to disconnect the first communication configuration and to use only the second communication configuration for communication with the outside.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus used in a house, comprising:

a data processor connected with at least one terminal appliance in the house; and

first and second transceivers connected with the data processor being capable of connecting to a high-speed digital network and a high-security telephone network, respectively, the high-speed digital network being one of an ADSL network, a fiber optical network, and a cable network,

wherein the data processor is operable to recognize whether a resident stays in the house and is operable to disconnect communication via the high-speed digital network and uses only the high-security telephone network for communication, upon recognizing an absence of the resident from the house, and

wherein the data processor is operable to recognize whether the resident stays in the house by using at least one of an obstacle detecting sensor and a luminary appliance.

2. A communication apparatus used in a house, comprising:

a data processor connected with at least one terminal appliance in the house;

first and second transceivers connected with the data processor being capable of connecting to a high-speed digital network and a high-security telephone network, respectively, the high-speed digital network being one of an ADSL network, a fiber optical network, and a cable network; and

a display connected to the data processor,

wherein the data processor is operable to recognize whether a resident stays in the house and is operable to disconnect communication via the high-speed digital network and uses only the high-security telephone network for communication, upon recognizing an absence of the resident from the house, and

wherein the data processor is operable to recognize the absence of the resident from the house when the display is switched off.

3. A communication apparatus used in a house, comprising:

a data processor connected with at least one terminal appliance in the house; and

first and second transceivers connected with the data processor being capable of connecting to a high-speed digital network and a high-security telephone network, respectively, the high-speed digital network being one of an ADSL network, a fiber optical network, and a cable network,

wherein the data processor is operable to recognize whether a resident stays in the house and is operable to disconnect communication via the high-speed digital network and uses only the high-security telephone network for communication, upon recognizing an absence of the resident from the house, and

wherein the communication apparatus is operable to function as an answering machine and the data processor is operable to recognize the absence of the resident from the house when the answering machine is set on standby.