System and method for detecting and reporting defective telephone lines and alarm events

• US 20030081735A1
• Filed: 08/27/2002
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Numerex Corporation (Sierra Wireless Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Numerex Corporation (Sierra Wireless Incorporated)
• Inventors: Murray, Tomas J., Bridenbaugh,, Ray F. Jr., Emory, Thomas M. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/228,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20030081735A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/1.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/70 Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/73 Validating charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/74 Backing up
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/70 Administration aspects, modify settings or limits or counter-check correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7072 Validate charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/709 Backup

Abstract

Optically isolated input circuits and a processor interface with either a switch closure event detector or a pulse generator to rapidly detect changes in the status of inputs representing events such as telephone line cuts and emergency conditions. The processor determines telephone line status by applying software algorithms to data acquired with a voltage sampling circuit. The processor initializes a radio module to wirelessly transmit information regarding detected events over a local wireless system to an event clearinghouse.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting a loss of integrity of a telephone line having a tip line and a ring line and for transmitting an indication of the loss of integrity via a wireless network, comprising:

a telephone event detector for;

monitoring the tip line and the ring line; and

generating a telephone line output signal;

a processor for;

enabling the telephone event detector;

monitoring the telephone line output signal to detect the loss of integrity;

generating a message that includes the indication of the loss of integrity; and

sending the message to a wireless transceiver; and

the wireless transceiver for;

receiving the message; and

sending the message to an event clearinghouse via the wireless network.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein monitoring the telephone line output signal to detect the loss of integrity, comprises:

monitoring a voltage differential between the tip line and the ring line via the telephone line output signal;

if the voltage differential is outside a predetermined range of voltage differentials, then enabling the telephone event detector circuit; and

monitoring the telephone line output signal to detect a pulse.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

if the pulse is detected, then determining that the telephone line is intact.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

if the pulse is not detected, then determining that the loss of integrity has occurred.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the telephone event detector is connected between a landline interface and a communications device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the message is a 32-bit message.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the message is a 128-bit message.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver sends the message via a voice channel of the cellular network.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the message includes a device identifier and an event descriptor that indicates the loss of integrity.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the device identifier is formatted as a mobile identification number (MIN).

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the event descriptor is formatted as an electronic serial number (ESN).

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver sends the message to the event clearinghouse via a cellular network.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the wireless transceiver sends the message via a control channel of the cellular network.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an external event detector circuit for;

monitoring an external event input; and

generating an event output signal to the processor.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the event output signal comprises an interrupt to the processor.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the event clearinghouse forwards the message to an event recipient, according to a predetermined event handling protocol.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the event recipient is a secure web site.

18. An apparatus for detecting a loss of integrity of a telephone line and for transmitting an indication of the loss of integrity via a wireless network, comprising:

a pair of current sensors for sensing a voltage differential between a tip line and a ring line of the telephone line and generating a telephone line output signal;

an enable circuit connected to the current sensor and a processor;

the processor for;

monitoring the voltage differential between the tip wire and the ring wire of the telephone line by monitoring the telephone line output signal;

if the voltage differential is outside a predetermined range of voltage differentials for more than a predetermined threshold period of time, then activating the enable circuit, so that the enable circuit causes a charging capacitor to discharge into the current sensors; and

monitoring the telephone line output signal to determine whether the telephone line has lost integrity; and

sending a message to a wireless transceiver; and

the wireless transceiver for;

receiving the message; and

sending the message to an event clearinghouse via a wireless network.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

an external event detection circuit for detecting an external event; and

generating an interrupt to the processor.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

a bridge circuit for limiting voltage provided to the current sensors and for supporting the interchangeability of the tip and ring lines.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein monitoring the telephone line output signal to determine whether the telephone line has lost integrity, comprises:

monitoring the telephone line output signal to detect a pulse; and

if a pulse is not detected, determining that the telephone line has lost integrity.

22. A method for detecting and reporting a loss of integrity of a telephone line, comprising:

monitoring a voltage differential between a tip line and a ring line of the telephone line;

if the voltage differential is outside a predetermined range of voltage differentials, then activating an enable circuit;

monitoring an output of the enable circuit to determine whether the loss of integrity has occurred;

if the loss of integrity has occurred, then generating a message that indicates the loss of integrity; and

sending the message to an event clearinghouse via a wireless network.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein activating an enable circuit, comprises:

waiting a predetermined period of time to activate the enable circuit.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein monitoring an output of the enable circuit comprises:

monitoring the output of the enable circuit to determine whether a pulse is detected; and

if the pulse is detected, then determining that the loss of integrity has occurred.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the wireless network is a cellular network.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the message is sent via a control channel of the cellular network.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the message is sent via a voice channel of the cellular network.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the message is sent via a short message service (SMS).