WO1989004574A1

WO1989004574A1 - Telephone alerting system

Info

Publication number: WO1989004574A1
Application number: PCT/US1987/002965
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sang-Rok Kim
Original assignee: Kim Sang Rok
Priority date: 1987-11-13
Filing date: 1987-11-13
Publication date: 1989-05-18
Also published as: AU1046388A

Abstract

An improved telephone alerting system (2) that includes at least one triggering device (4, 6) that senses an unsafe condition and generates an electrical signal in response to the unsafe condition. The signal is applied to an electronic circuit consisting, in part, of a timer (8) and a relay (10). When the relay is energized, a signal is passed that activates a telephone set (34), where the system is installed, and opens the telephone cradle switch (12). The activated telephone automatically calls one or more preselected telephone numbers. Thus, when the person answers one of the preselected numbers, the person is able to hear, through the open cradle switch, the events occurring at the protected location where the system (2) is installed. The system (2) therefore indicates the current status of the protected premises without complex circuitry.

Description

TELEPHO E ALERTING SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to alerting systems and is particularly directed to an alerting system which responds to a signal from one or more sensing devices by activating a telephone, dialing a preselected number_ and enabling the party called to hear the events transpiring at the pro¬ tected location.

BACKGROUND ART

It is frequently desirable to provide continuous surveillance for a location, such as a store, warehouse, manufacturing facility or the like, to protect against loss or damage by fire, theft, vandalism, equipment fail¬ ure or other possible misfortunes. On the other hand, it is often economically or otherwise undesirable to provide a human watchman on a 24-hour basis.

In the past, various systems have been proposed for automatically sensing the occurrence of such events and providing an audible and/or visible warning signal, such as an alarm bell, siren or flashing light. More recently, systems have been proposed for further responding to such sensing devices by activating telephone equipment to transmit a warning signal to a central location, such as office of a security service company or the police or fire departments. Numberous types of telephone alerting systems have been proposed heretofore. However, none of the prior art systems have been entirely satisfactory.

A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention however, the following U.S. patents were considered related: PATENT NO. INVENTOR ISSUED

4,085,292 Leslar, etal Apr. 18, 1978 4,371,751 Hilligoss, etal Feb. 1, 1983 4,461,927 Olsen, etal Jan. 24, 1984 4,493,948 Sues, etal Jan. 15, 1985

The william R. Hilligoss, Jr., etal and David Louis Leslar, etal disclose alerting systems which respond to sensing devices by activating a telephone and transmitting a pre-recorded aural message. Again, the Hilligoss and Leslar systems provide no clue as to the nature or extent of the event.

The Ronald E. Olsen, etal patent discloses an alerting system which responds to a sensing device by activating a telephone and transmitting a beeping signal over the telephone line. However, Olsen merely provides a warning that something is amiss at the protected loca¬ tion, but gives no indication as to the nature or extent of the problem or whether the problem is continuing. Thus, Olson's system does not advise whether an intruder is still present or has simply broken in and fled. Obviously, this would be extremely valuable information for persons investigating the matter.

The John M. Sues, etal discloses a system which responds to one or more sensing devices by activating a telephone and transmitting a digitized signal announcing the nature of the event. However, the Sues system is extremely complex and, hence, exepnsive to purchase and install and will be subject to extensive "down-time" and expense for maintenance. Furthermore, Sues's system still does not provide any indication as- to the extent or con¬ tinuance of the event.

Each of the prior art alerting system senses the occurrence of an undesired event and provides a warning that such an event has occurred. However, none of the prior art alerting systems provides any indication as to the current status of the protected location. Thus, if someone throws a rock through a window of the protected location, the alerting system may provide a warning signal. But the prior art systems give no indication as to whether or not a burgler has entered and is currently on the protected premises. Obviously, such information could be of considerable value in determining how to respond to the warning signal. Moreover, although fail¬ ing to provide current status information, the prior art alerting systems are considerable more complex and expensive to install and maintain than the system of the present invention.

DISCLOURE OF THE INVENTION

The disadvantages of the prior art alerting systems are overcome with the present invention and an improved alerting system is provided which responds to one or more sensing devices by activating a telephone system, dialing a preselected number and enabling the party phoned to actually hear the events taking place at the protected location. In this way, the party phoned can determine the nature and extend of the event and whether the event is continuing. Moreover, the present invention is ex¬ tremely simple in circuitry and compact in size. Therefore it is inexepnsive to purchase and maintain and, if desired, may readily be installed within the housing of a conven¬ tional telephone to which it is connected.

The advantages of the peresent invention are pre¬ ferably attained by providing an alerting system having at least one triggering device for sensing an unsafe condition and generating electrical signals in response thereto, a telephone, actuating means connected to said triggering device and to said telephone and responsive to the elec¬ trical signal from said triggering device- to activate said telephone and to cause said telephone to dial a pre¬ selected phone number and to eanble the party called to hear the events actually occurring at the protected location. In this way, the inventive alerting system responds to the signal from the sensing device by activat¬ ing the telephone and placing a call to a preselected phone number. When the party called answers the telephone, they can hear the events actually in progress at the protected location. Thus, for example, in the case of a break-in, the party called, can determine from the sounds coming over the telephone whether or not the burgler is still on the protected premises. Hence, he may decide whether to call the police immediately or to first inves- tigate the matter himself. This minimizes the likelihood of placing false alarms, yet protects the shop owner against walking into a potentially dangerous situation. If desired, the alerting system can be made to dail addi¬ tional telephone numbers as well, for example, the police and/or fire departments so that they can also hear the events transpiring at the protected location. This has the further advantage that the additional telephone calls are connected simultaneously, in the nature of a "confer¬ ence" call. Thus, the property owner can discuss the matter with the police and/or fire department represen¬ tatives to determine the best course of action.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present inven¬ tion to provide an improved alerting system.

Another object of the present invention is to pro- vide an improved alerting system which responds to a signal from a sensing device by telephoning a preselected party and enabling the party called to hear the events actually occurring at the protected location. A specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved alerting system having at least one triggering device for sensing an unsafe condition and generating electrical signals in response thereto. The invention includes: a telephone, an actuating means con¬ nected to the triggering device and to the telephone. The actuating means is responsive to the electrical signal from the triggering device and activates the telephone that causes the telephone to automatically call a preselected phone number and enable the party called to hear the events actually occurring at the protection location.

These and other objects and features of the pre¬ sent invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic representation showing the telephone alerting system. FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the telephone alerting system installed within the housing of the tele¬ phone to which it is connected.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The best mode for carrying out the telephone alert- ing system 2 is presented in terms of a preferred embodi¬ ment that is primarily designed to respond to one or more sensing devices by activating a telephone system, automa¬ tically calling a preselected number and enabling the person called to hear the events occurring at the protected location where the system is installed- The preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 is comprised of the following thirteen major elements: a set of triggering devices 4, 6; a timer 8; a relay 10; a buffer 14; a set of memory calling circuits 16, 18; a monovibrator 20; flip-flops 22, 24, 26; a power conditioning circuit 28 and a printed circuit board 30.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the telephone alerting system 2 has one or more triggering devices as seen at 4 and 6, connected to a timer 8 via a buffer 14. The triggering devices 4 may be substantially any conventional sensing .device that senses the occurrence of an undesired con¬ dition such as a fire, intrusion or earthquake, and responds thereto by generating audible and/or electrical warning signals. Numerous such devices are known and widely available therefore are not described. Although two triggering devices 4 are shown, it will be apparent that additional devices could be added as needed. More¬ over, if desired, sensing devices which generate only audible signals may- be employed and a microphone 6 could be connected, in lieu of or in addition to the triggering devices 4, to generate an electrical signal in response to the actuation of the audible signal.

Where more than one audible signaling device is employed, it is preferred that the audible signals of the respective devices be selected so that the tone or type of the audible signal will clearly identify which of the devices has been actuated. For example, one device might employ a bell as an audible signal, while another device might employ a horn. In this way, anyone hearing the warn- ing signal can immediately determine the nature cf the ^• problem from the sound of the audible signal. In any event, the triggering devices 4 and 6 supply electrical signals to a suitable timer 8 which supplies the signal to ON-OFF relay 10. The ON-OFF relay 10 is connected in parallel with the cradle switch 32 of a conventional telephone set 34 and responds to the signal from timer 8 by activating the telephone cradle switch to turn the telephone set "ON", in the same manner as if the telephone handset had been lifted from the cradle switch 32. The timer 8 may include a buffer cir- cuit 14 to convert the electrical signals from the trigger¬ ing devices 4 and 6 to a desired value for actuating the other components of the alerting system 2.

At the same time that the timer 8 passes the signal to ON-OFF relay 10 to activate the telephone cradle switch 32, the timer 8 serves to pass signals to one or more memory calling circuits, as seen at 16 and 18, to cause these circuits to call a preselected telephone number. Memory calling circuits are well known in the telephone art and the details of these circuits do not constitute part of the present invention. Moreover, as is also well known, the memory calling circuits 16 and 18 may be part of the conventional telephone or, if the telephone does not have such circuits, they may be provided as a part of the alering system 2. in addition, the timer 8 may include a monovibrator

20 and a plurality of flip-flop circuits, as seen at 22, 24 and 26, to permit sequential actuation of the memory calling circuits 16 and 18 with a preselected time interval therebetween. Thus, each of the flip-flop circuits 22, 24 and 26, when activated serve to pass a signal to one of the respective memory calling circuits 16 or 18 to sequentially activate these circuits to call their respective preselected telephone numbers. As a further alternative, a paging transmitter 42 for a remote paging device may be connected to be actua¬ ted by the timer 8 in lieu or in addition to the memory calling circuits 16 and 18. Such remote paging devices are well known and therefore the details are not pre¬ sented.

The elements of the system 2 may be designed into a customized monolithic integrated circuit, a hybrid circuit or discrete components may be mounted on a printed circuit board 30 as shown in FIGURE 1. In whatever design selected, the system 2, in its preferred embodiment, is packaged to be installed within the housing of a conven¬ tional telephone set 34 as shown in FIGURE 2. When so installed, a standard "RJ type" modular connector set- 40 is used to attach the external triggering devices 4, 6 to the buffer 14. Likewise, a second "RJ type" connector may also be used to connect the memory calling circuits 16, 18 and paging transmitter 28 if these elements are located external to the telephone set 34. If a telephone set incorporating memory calling circuits is used, then it will be necessary to internally connect the flip-flop 22, 24, 26 to the respective memory calling circuits and paging transmitter.

The only mandatory internal connections that must be made between the system 2 and the telephone set 34 are to connect the relay 10 and the power conditioning circuit 28. The relay as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 is connected in parallel with the telephone cradle switch 32. The power to the system 2 is tapped off the telephone line and applied to the circuit 28 where the power is conditioned and applied conventionally to the system 2.

In operation, when no problem is present, the telephone, of which cradle switch 32 is a part, may be used in a conventional manner. However, should an un- desired event occur in the protected premises when no one is present, one of the appropriate triggering devices 4 will be activated and generate an electrical signal indicative of the event. As noted above, if an audible signal is used, it is preferably selected to be clearly 5 distinct from the audible signal provided by any of the other sensors. In this way, a person hearing the signal can distinguish from the sound they hear on the telephone which sensing device has been triggered and, hence which undesired event is occurring.

10. In any case, when one of the sensing devices 4 or 6 is activated, an electrical signal will be supplied to timer 8, which passes the signal to ON-OFF relay 10. ON- OFF relay 10 is connected in parallel with the telephone cradle switch 12. Hence, when ON-OFF relay 10 receives

15 the signal from the timer 8, the relay turns_, the telephone "ON", in the same manner as if the telephone handset had been lifted from the cradle switch 32. As noted above, the timer 8 may include a buffer circuit 14 to convert the electrical signals from the triggering devices 4 and 0 6 to desired values for passage to the other components of the alerting system 2.

Simultaneously, the timer 8 then passes an elec¬ trical signal through monovibrator 20 and flip-flop cir¬ cuits 22, 24 to sequentially activate the respective 5 memory calling circuits 16 and 18. The memory circuits in turn, sends a preselected dialing signal to place a phone call to the preselected party. When the pre¬ selected party answers the telephone, the telephone circuit is completed in the same manner as when a 0 normal telephone call is made. Thus, when the dialed party lifts their telephone, the audible signal of the sensor 4 or 6 will be transmitted over the telephone to

5 the dialed party. The dialed party will hear the audible signal from the sensor 4 or 6 substantially as if the dialed party were present at the protected location. Furthermore, any additional sounds arising at the pro- tected location will aso be transmitted to the dialed party by the telephone.

Thus, for example, if a burgler has broken into the protected location, sensor device 4 will be triggered to activate the telephone alerting system 2 and the system will place a telephone call to the preselected party as described above. Moreover, when the preselected party is called by the alerting system 2 and answer the tele¬ phone, the party will ^'not only hear the audible warning signal from sensor 4, but also will be able to hear any noises made by the burgler ransacking the protected loca¬ tion. Thus, the part called will know whether or not the burgler is still present at the protected location.

After timer 8 has activated flip-flop circuit 22 to place a phone call through memory calling circuit 16, it waits a preselected interval and then passes a signal to the second flip-flop circuit 24 which, in turn, actuates the second memory calling circuit 18, thereby placing a sec¬ ond telephone call. When the second called party answers their telephone, they will also hear the audible signal from the sensor together with the sounds currently occurring at the protected location. In addition, if the party called by first memory calling circuit 16 is still on the line, the system will connect both the dialed parties to the telephone at the protected location, in the manner of a conference call. Consequently, the first, and second dialed parties can both hear the sounds from the protected location, and in addition, can talk to each other to dis¬ cuss what action to take. No other alerting system provides these features. Obviously, any desired number of memory calling circuits may be employed and connected to be sequentially activated by the timer 8. If desired, after a further preselected time interval, timer 8 may send a signal through flip-flop circuit 26 to acti¬ vate the transmitter 42 of a remote paging system.

As noted above, the triggering devices may be either sensor devices which detect the occurrence of an undesired event and respond by generating audible and electrical signals or may be microphones which detect audible signals produced by sensor devices and which generate electrical signals corresponding to those audible signals. Moreover, the memory calling circuits may either be part of the telephone system or may be included in the alerting system of the present invention. Furthermore, the specific circuitry and components of the various portions of the alerting system of the present invention may be varied considerably without departing from the present invention. Therefore, it should be clearly understood that the form of the present invention described above and shown in he accompanying drawing is illustrative only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A telephone alerting system comprising: a) one or more triggering devices for sensing an unsafe condition and generating elec- trical signals in response thereof, b) a telephone, and c) a timing means responsive to said elec¬ trical signals and serving to supply said electrical signals to said telephone where upon receiving said signals said telephone is activated causing said telephone to call a preselected telephone number permitting the party anwering the preselected telephone number to hear the sounds occurring at the protected location where said system is installed.

2. A telephone alerting system for indicating an unsafe condition at a protected location having a tele¬ phone and a sensing device for sensing the occurrence of the unsafe condition and generating an audible signal in response thereto; said alerting system comprising: triggering means generating electrical signals in response to the audible signal from said sensing device and supplying said electrical signals to said telephone to activate said telephone and to cause said telephone to automatically call a preselected phone number so as to permit a party answering the pre¬ selected number to hear the sounds occurring at the protected location.

3. The telephone alerting system of claim 1 wherein said timing means comprises: buffer means connected in parallel with the cradle switch of said telephone and responsive to the audible signal from said sensing device to supply an electrical signal to activate said telephone.

4. The telephone alerting system of claim 1 wherein said timing means comprises: a) at least one memory calling means for causing said telephone to transmit dialing tones to call a preselected phone and, b) means connected to receive said electrical signals and responsive thereto after a preselected time interval to actuate said memory calling means.

5. The telephone alerting system of claim 4 wherein: ^a) said alerting system includes a plurality of memory calling means, and b) said timing means actuates the respective memory calling means sequentially after intervening time intervals.

6. The telephone alerting system of claim 1 wherein: said timing means comprise ON-OFF relay means connected in parallel with the cradle switch of said telephone and responsive to said electrical signals from said triggering means to actuate said cradle switch.

7. The telephone alerting system of. claim 6 wherein said timing means comprises : a) at least one. memory calling means for causing said telephone to transmit dial- i^'ng tones to call a preselected phone and, b) means connected to receive said electrical signals and responsive thereto after a predetermined time interval to actuate said memory calling means.

8. The telephone alerting system of claim 7 wherein: said timing means includes a plurality of memory calling means and means to actuate the respective memory calling means sequentially after intervening time intervals.

9. The telephone alerting system of claim 7 wherein: said timing means includes a plurality of flip-flop circuits, each connected to pass signals to a respective one of said memory calling circuits and serving to sequentially activate each of said memory calling circuits after intervening time intervals.

10. The telephone alerting system of claim 1 wherein: said timing means is mounted on a printed circuit board installable within the housing of said telephone.

11. The telephone alerting system of claim 1 wherein: said timing means includes at least one flip- flop circuit responsive to said signals from said triggering device and serving to pass signals to activate a memory calling circuit within said telephone.

12. The telephone alerting system of claim 9 wherein: at least one of said flip-flop circuits serves to pass signals to the transmitter of a remote paging system.

13. The telephone alerting system of claim 1 wherein: at least one of said triggering devices is a microphone.

14. The telphone alerting system of claim 1 further comprising a power conditioning circuit that is supplied power from the telepone line and that conditions the applied power for further application to said system.