Method and apparatus for improving premises-line call availability in an alarm system

• US 20030128115A1
• Filed: 11/18/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telular Corporation (Ametek Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Telular Corporation (Ametek Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hickey, Jeffrey M., Giacopelli, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 6,973,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2854 Wide area networks, e.g. public data networks

Abstract

When an alarm panel needs to transmit alarm data, it seizes the PSTN and disconnects the premises-wiring. If in a call, the user is cut off immediately and it appears to the user that the connection to the PSTN has been lost. If trying to place a call, the user also perceives that the connection to the PSTN is lost. The present invention provides tonal signals to the user to indicate that the PSTN line is in use by the alarm panel and also notifies the user when the PSTN connection is available for use.

Claims

1. In an alarm reporting apparatus for monitoring a premises for an alarm-condition and for reporting the alarm-condition to an alarm station, said alarm reporting apparatus comprising sensing means for sensing an alarm-condition, reporting means for reporting the alarm-condition to an alarm station via the PSTN, and seizing means for seizing control of the PSTN line at the premises and for disconnecting the premises-wiring from its connection to the PSTN line, the improvement comprising:

Signal-generating means operatively associated with said alarm reporting apparatus for generating signals to the premises-wiring for indicating the status of the connection of said alarm reporting apparatus to the PSTN.

2. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said signal-generating means comprises voltage-detection means for detecting a voltage on the premises-wiring, and means for supplying central-office functions to the premises-wiring when said voltage-detection means detects no voltage on said premises-wiring;

said means for supplying central-office functions to the premises-wiring comprising tone-generating means for generating a distinct signal to the premises-wiring, whereby a telephone device connected to the premises-wiring may detect such distinct signal for indicating such status to a user.

3. The improvement according to claim 2, wherein said tone-generating means comprises means for generating at least one tone-signal from at least one of the following:

Dial-tone signal, ring-tone signal, busy-tone signal.

4. The improvement according to claim 2, wherein said means for supplying central-office functions to the premises-wiring comprises voltage-generating means for generating voltage to the premises-wiring when said voltage-detection means detects no voltage on the premises-wiring.

5. The improvement according to claim 4, wherein said tone-generating means comprises means for generating at least one tone-signal from at least one of the following:

Dial-tone signal, ring-tone signal, busy-tone signal, after said voltage-generating means has generating talk voltage to the premises-wiring.

6. The improvement according to claim 2, wherein said tone-generating means for generating a distinct signal to the premises-wiring comprises first means for generating a first distinct signal, and second means for generating a second distinct signal different than said first distinct signal;

said first distinct signal indicating the seizure of the PSTN by said alarm monitoring apparatus, and said second distinct signal indicating release of the seizure of the PSTN by said alarm monitoring apparatus.

7. The improvement according to claim 6, wherein said tone-generating means for generating a distinct signal to the premises-wiring comprises third means for generating a third distinct signal different than said first and second distinct signals;

said second distinct signal indicating the release of the PSTN by said alarm monitoring apparatus when a telephone device connected to the premises-wiring is off-hook, and said third distinct signal indicating release of the seizure of the PSTN by said alarm monitoring apparatus when a telephone device connected to the premises-wiring is on-hook.

8. The improvement according to claim 2, wherein said signal-generating means further comprises switch means for connecting and disconnecting the premises-wiring with said alarm reporting apparatus, said switch disconnecting said premises-wiring with said alarm monitoring apparatus when said voltage-detection means detects no voltage on the premises-wiring.

9. The improvement according to claim 4, wherein said signal-generating means further comprises another voltage-detection means for detecting voltage on the PSTN, whereby when both said voltage detection means detect no voltage, said voltage-generating means for generating voltage to the premises-wiring does not supply said voltage to the premises-wiring.

10. The improvement according to claim 1, in combination with premises-wiring of a protected site at which said alarm monitoring apparatus is located, and at least one telephone device connected to said premises-wiring;

said signal-generating means being operatively connected between said alarm reporting apparatus and said premises-wiring.

11. The improvement according to claim 10, wherein said signal-generating means comprises voltage-detection means for detecting a voltage on said premises-wiring, and means for supplying central-office functions to said premises-wiring when said voltage-detection means detects no voltage on said premises-wiring;

said means for supplying central-office functions to the premises-wiring comprising voltage-generating means for providing voltage to said premises-wiring when said premises-wiring is disconnected from the PSTN and said alarm monitoring apparatus is coupled to the PSTN, and tone-generating means for generating a distinct signal to the premises-wiring, whereby a telephone device connected to said premises-wiring may receive such distinct signal for indicating that said premises-wiring is disconnected from the PSTN and said alarm monitoring apparatus has seized the PSTN line.

12. A method of signaling to a telephone device coupled to a premises-wiring capable of being connected to a PSTN when an alarm-condition is present at a premises, comprising:

(a) supplying voltage to the premises-wiring when an alarm monitoring apparatus has seized connection to the PSTN line of the premises and has disconnected the premises-wiring therefrom; and

(b) generating at least one distinct tone signal to the telephone device coupled to the premises-wiring indicative of the status of the seizure of the connection to the PSTN line by the alarm monitoring apparatus.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said step (b) comprises;

(c) generating a distinct tone signal indicating the seizure of the PSTN by said alarm monitoring apparatus;

(d) generating a second distinct tone signal after said step (c) indicating release of the seizure of the PSTN by said alarm monitoring apparatus.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said step (b) further comprises:

(e) generating a third distinct tone signal;

said step (d) indicating the release of the seizure of the PSTN by the alarm monitoring apparatus when the telephone device connected to the premises-wiring is off-hook; and

said step (e) indicating the release of the seizure of the PSTN by the alarm monitoring apparatus when the telephone device connected to the premises-wiring is on-hook.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

(e) reconnecting the premises-wiring to the PSTN line after said step (d); and

(f) before said step (e), cutting off the supply of voltage of said step (a).

16. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

(c) before said step (b), disconnecting the premises-wiring from the alarm monitoring apparatus in order to isolate the premises-wiring from the alarm monitoring apparatus; and

(d) reconnecting the premises-wiring to the alarm monitoring apparatus after the alarm monitoring apparatus has released seizure of the PSTN line.

17. A signal generating device for generating distinct signals to premises-wiring of a premises protected by an alarm reporting apparatus, comprising:

Signal-generating means operatively for generating signals to the premises-wiring for indicating the status of the connection of the alarm reporting apparatus to the PSTN line at the protected premises;

said signal-generating means comprising voltage-detection means for detecting a voltage on the premises-wiring, and means for supplying central-office functions to the premises-wiring when said voltage-detection means detects no voltage on said premises-wiring;

said means for supplying central-office functions to the premises-wiring comprising voltage-generating means for generating voltage to the premises-wiring when said voltage-detection means detects no voltage on the premises-wiring, and tone generating means for generating a distinct signal to the premises-wiring when said voltage-detection means detects no voltage on the premises-wiring, whereby a telephone device connected to the premises-wiring may detect such distinct signal for indicating such status to a user.

18. The signal generating device for generating distinct signals to premises-wiring of a premises protected by an alarm reporting apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said tone-generating means for generating a distinct signal to the premises-wiring comprises first means for generating a first distinct signal, and second means for generating a second distinct signal different than said first distinct tone;

said first distinct signal indicating the seizure of the PSTN by said alarm monitoring apparatus, and said second distinct signal indicating release of the seizure of the PSTN by said alarm monitoring apparatus.

19. The signal generating device for generating distinct signals to premises-wiring of a premises protected by an alarm reporting apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said tone-generating means for generating a distinct signal to the premises-wiring comprises third means for generating a third distinct signal different than said first and second distinct signals;

said second distinct signal indicating the release of the PSTN by said alarm monitoring apparatus when a telephone device connected to the premises-wiring is off-hook, and said third distinct signal indicating release of the seizure of the PSTN by said alarm monitoring apparatus when a telephone device connected to the premises-wiring is on-hook.

20. The signal generating device for generating distinct signals to premises-wiring of a premises protected by an alarm reporting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said signal-generating means further comprises switch means for connecting and disconnecting the premises-wiring with the alarm reporting apparatus, said switch disconnecting the premises-wiring with the alarm monitoring apparatus when said voltage-detection means detects no voltage on the premises-wiring;

and

said signal-generating means further comprising another voltage-detection means for detecting voltage on the PSTN, whereby when both said voltage detection means detect no voltage, said voltage-generating means for generating voltage to the premises-wiring does not supply said voltage to the premises-wiring.