GB2312811A

GB2312811A - Alarm systems

Info

Publication number: GB2312811A
Application number: GB9708621A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yeon-Tak Jung
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 1996-04-29
Filing date: 1997-04-29
Publication date: 1997-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 2017-04-29
Also published as: KR970072912A; GB9708621D0; GB2312811B

Abstract

A method of monitoring and notifying events using a telephone system having a central unit 100 and at least one sensing unit 150 is described. The sensing unit transmits an alarm signal to the central unit when an abnormal event such as an intrusion or a fire is detected by the sensing unit. The alarm signal is detected in the central unit, which then automatically dials a preset number and awaits the formation of a speech path. Once the speech path is formed, the central unit outputs a preset audible alarm message via the said speech path. The alarm message may be a voice message or a tone signal.

Description

METHOD OF PREVENTING CRIMES AND DISASTERS USING RADIO TELEPHONE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a radio telephone and in particular to a method of monitoring and notifying events (e.g crimes and disasters) using a radio telephone.

Recently, the number of nuclear families and double-income families have increased and they tend to take more of an interest in the defence of their houses. However, the monitoring units which are required for are expensive and it can be difficult for ordinary people to install the monitoring units in their houses, unless they have the money to pay for specialist installation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved monitoring method which is cost-effective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, there is provided a method of monitoring and notifying events using a telephone system having a central unit and at least one sensing unit adapted to transmit an alarm signal to the central unit when an abnormal event is detected by the sensing unit, the method comprising: detecting in the central unit an alarm signal from the sensing unit, automatically dialling a preset number and awaiting the formation of a speech path; and outputting a preset audible alarm message via the said speech path.

The telephone system may be a radio telephone system. The alarm signal may be transmitted via a radio frequency link.

Preferably, the central unit has a monitoring mode in which it dials the said preset number on receipt of the alarm signal and at least one other mode in which it does not.

The method may further comprise, when the said alarm signal is received, checking that the central unit is in the monitoring mode.

The alarm message may be a speech message stored in a speech memory of the central unit, a tone signal stored in a tone memory of the central unit.

Where the central unit comprises a hook relay and the method may comprise outputting an off-hook control signal to the hook relay before dialling of the said preset number.

Preferably, if the said speech path is not formed, the method comprises outputting an on-hook control signal to the hook relay, re-outputting the off-hook control signal and re-dialling the said preset number.

The present invention also provides a telephone system comprising: a central unit; at least one sensing unit adapted to transmit an alarm signal to the central unit when an abnormal event is detected by the sensing unit; the central unit being adapted, on detection of such an alarm signal, to dial a preset number, await the formation of a speech path and output a preset audible alarm message via the said speech path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of a central unit of a telephone and at least one sensing unit; FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the process of transmitting an alarm signal from a sensing unit; and FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the process of automatically dialling a specific telephone number in the central unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The term "specific number" will be used in the following to denote a specific pre-set telephone number which has been stored by a user.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of a fixed, central unit of a radio telephone and at least one sensing unit in which a controller 111 controls the overall operation of the radio telephone. The controller 111, which is a one-chip microprocessor has a read only memory (ROM) for storing programs and a random access memory (RAM) for temporarily storing data generated during performing the programs. A memory 112 stores the specific number previously set by the user according to the present invention. A key input unit 113 includes keys for setting various functions and modes, and numeric keys for performing dialling functions, and outputs key data corresponding to keys pressed by the user, to the controller 111. A ring detector 114 connected to a telephone line, detects a ring signal input to the telephone line in an on-hook state, informing the controller 111 of an incoming call. A hook relay 115 including a hook switch, performs the functions of connecting and cutting off a speech path between the telephone and the telephone line, depending on an on-hook control signal and an off-hook control signal of the controller 111.

A speech circuit unit 116 is connected between the hook relay 115 and a handset. The speech circuit unit 116 is a speech integrated circuit (a speech IC) and is connected to the telephone line, to process various transmitted/received tone signals as well as speech signals. The handset can be as a speaker or a mike. Under the control of the controller 111, a radio frequency (RF) unit 117 communicates various data and call speech signals to control the portable devices and communications link. A dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) generator 118 connected between the controller 111 and the speech circuit unit 116, converts digital data output from the controller 111 into a DTMF signal, and outputs the converted digital data to the speech circuit unit 116. A tone detector 119 connected between the speech circuit unit 116 and the controller 111, converts various tone signals output from the speech circuit unit 116 into digital data and outputs the converted tone signals to the controller 111. A speech detector 120 connected to an output terminal of the speech circuit unit 116, detects the state of a speech signal during a call, and outputs the detected state to the controller 111. A speech/tone memory 121 located between the speech circuit unit 116 and the controller 111, stores a speech message or a tone signal previously set by the user. Here, the speech message or the above tone signal is an alarm message.

The second to Nth monitoring units 150, 160 to 170 can be attached to doors, windows, and kitchens of a household.

For example, the first monitoring unit 150 can be attached to a porch, the second monitoring unit 160 can be attached to windows in verandas, and the N monitoring unit 170 can be attached in the kitchen. Thus, when there is an intrusion or a fire, that is, an abnormal state, a sensor 152 can sense it. A monitoring controller 151 outputs the alarm signal signifying the abnormal state from the sensor 152. A RF transmitter 154 transmits the alarm signal to RF link via an antenna.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the process of transmitting an alarm signal from the sensing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring now to the construction shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 will now be described.

The sensor 152 senses whether or not there is an intrusion or a fire, that is, the abnormal state. At this time, the monitoring controller 151 checks in step 211 through the sensor 152 whether or not there exists an abnormal state.

When it is checked in step 211 that the sensor 152 has sensed an abnormal state, the monitoring controller 151 proceeds to step 212, while if it is sensed that there wan no abnormal state, the monitoring controller 151 returns to step 211. In step 212, the monitoring controller 151 outputs the alarm signal to the RF transmitter 154.

Thereafter, the RF transmitter 154 transmits the alarm signal to the RF link.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the process o automatically dialling a specific telephone number in a central unit of the radio telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring now to the construction shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 will now be described.

The controller 111 checks in step 311 whether or not an alarm signal is received from the RF link via RF unit 117.

When it is checked in step 311 that an alarm signal is received, the controller 311 proceeds to step 312, to check whether or not the user has pressed a monitoring mode function setting key in the key input unit 113. When it is checked in step 312 that the user has pressed the monitoring mode function key, the central unit 100 of the radio telephone is set to the monitoring mode. When the central unit 100 of the radio telephone is set in the monitoring mode, the monitoring function is activated in addition to the functions of the general radio telephone.

When it is checked in step 312 that the central unit 100 was set to the monitoring mode, the controller 111 proceeds to step 313, and outputs an off-hook control signal to the hook relay 115. On the other hand, when it is checked that the central unit 100 was not set to the monitoring mode, the controller 111 ends the operation. In step 313, if a specific number previously set by the user is stored in the memory 112, the controller 111 automatically dials the specific number in step 314. That is, in step 314, the controller 111 outputs a specific dialling signal stored in the memory 112 to the telephone line via the speech circuit unit 116. Thereafter, the controller 111 senses in step 315 whether or not the speech path is formed. This can be achieved by sensing the signal input from the ring detector 114.

When it is sensed in step 315 that the speech path was not formed, the controller 111 proceeds to step 316 and outputs an on-hook control signal to the hook relay 115 when a busy tone is detected from an incoming part via the specific number. After step 316, the controller 111 returns to step 313, and retries the automatic dialling of the specific number. Meanwhile, if it is sensed in step 315 that a speech path has been formed, the controller 111 proceeds to step 317. In step 317, the controller 111 controls the speech/tone memory 121, and outputs the alarm message to the telephone line via the speech circuit unit 116. After that, the controller 111 proceeds to step 318, and detects whether or not the speech path has been is cut off by checking the on-hook state of the terminal of the incoming part. When it is detected in step 318 that the speech path has been cut off the controller 111 ends the process.

As stated above, when the central unit 100 of the radio telephone, which is set in the monitoring mode, receives an alarm signal from the monitoring unit, the present invention can automatically dial a specific number.

Therefore, although the user is absent from his home, this can result in the prevention of crimes and disasters using the central unit 100 of the radio telephone.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of monitoring and notifying events using a telephone system having a central unit and at least one sensing unit adapted to transmit an alarm signal to the central unit when an abnormal event is detected by the sensing unit, the method comprising: detecting in the central unit an alarm signal from the sensing unit, automatically dialling a preset number and awaiting the formation of a speech path; and outputting a preset audible alarm message via the said speech path.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which the telephone system is a radio telephone system.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the alarm signal is transmitted via a radio frequency link.

4. A method according to any preceding claim in which the central unit has a monitoring mode in which it dials the said preset number on receipt of the alarm signal and at least one other mode in which it does not.

5. A method according to claim 4 further comprising, when the said alarm signal is received, checking that the central unit is in the monitoring mode.

6. A method according to any preceding claim in which the alarm message is a speech message stored in a speech memory of the central unit.

7. A method according to any preceding claim in which the alarm message is a tone signal stored in a tone memory of the central unit.

8. A method according to any preceding claim in which the central unit comprises a hook relay and the method comprises outputting an off-hook control signal to to hook relay before dialling of the said preset number.

9. A method according to claim 8 in which, if the said speech path is not formed, outputting an on-hook control signal to the hook relay, re-outputting the off-hook control signal and re-dialling the said preset number.

10. A method of monitoring and notifying events using a telephone system, the method being substantially as described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

11. A telephone system comprising: a central unit; at least one sensing unit adapted to transmit an alarm signal to the central unit when an abnormal event is detected by the sensing unit; the central unit being adapted, on detection of such an alarm signal, to dial a preset number, await the formation of a speech path and output a preset audible alarm message via the said speech path.

12. A system according to claim 11 which is a radio telephone system.

13. A system according to claim 11 or claim 12 in which the alarm signal is transmitted via a radio frequency link.

14. A system according to any preceding claim in which the central unit has a monitoring mode in which it dials the said preset number on receipt of the alarm signal and at least one other mode in which it does not.

15. A system according to claim 14 in which the central unit is adapted to check that the central unit is in the monitoring mode when the said alarm signal is received.

16. A system according to any preceding claim in which the alarm message is a speech message stored in a speech memory of the central unit.

17. A system according to any preceding claim in which the alarm message is a tone signal stored in a tone memory of the central unit.

18. A system according to any preceding claim in which the central unit comprises a hook relay and is adapted to output an of f-hook control signal to the hook relay before dialling the said preset number.

19. A system according to claim 18 in which the central unit is adapted, if the said speech path is not formed, to output an on-hook control signal to the hook relay, reoutput the off-hook control signal and re-dial the said preset number.

20. A telephone system substantially as described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.