WO1998025247A1

WO1998025247A1 - Alarm communication system

Info

Publication number: WO1998025247A1
Application number: PCT/SE1997/001955
Authority: WO
Inventors: Måns FORSBERG
Original assignee: Telia Ab
Priority date: 1996-12-04
Filing date: 1997-11-21
Publication date: 1998-06-11
Also published as: SE9604468D0; SE518535C2; SE9604468L

Abstract

Alarm communication system including one or more alarm transmitters (1) with call function which are in connection with one or more alarm objects (2) which shall be monitored by one or more alarm centra via a telecommunication network, at which each alarm transmitter is allocated a subscriber number. The alarm centre (5) is connected to a place of reception for number presentation (4) which gives network alarm to alarm centra if the continuous 'monitoring calls' are not coming forth.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION: ALARM COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

Alarm communication system including one or more alarm transmitters with call function which are in connection with one or more alarm objects which shall be monitored by an alarm receiver via a telecommunication network, at which each alarm transmitter is assigned a subscriber number.

PRIOR ART

Within prior art there are many different variants of alarm communication systems where the telecommunication network is used as a part of a monitoring system.

Further, it is previously known by different systems to receive the number of the calling telephone subscription before a call is answered. One example of such a system is Telia Number Presentation. With Telia Number Presentation and a telephone, or additional unit with display, one can see from which telephone number a call is coming even before one answers. One also can see who has/have called while one has been not at home.

In order to utilize the service Number Presentation, one needs an additional unit or a special telephone with built in additional unit. On that additional unit (box) one can read date, definite time and telephone number. And whether the telephone number is unknown or unlisted ("protected"). Number Presentation consequently is a well known concept .

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

The alarm systems which are constructed in such a way that an alarm signal shall be transmitted via the telecommunication network, via a called circuit connection, to a device which receives the alarm signal and after that to a person or equipment which receives and takes measures regarding the cause of the alarm, have certain disadvantages .

The disadvantages which these alarms are afflicted with i.a. are that the alarm signal will not reach the unit which receives the alarm signal, when there is a defect on the subscriber line to the alarm transmitter, or when there is a defect in other parts of the telecommunication system. This is a shortcoming which the present invention will manage without causing a rise of the call fee to the one who is owner of the telephone subscription, and not causing unnecessary heavy load on the telecommunication network.

TECHNICAL SOLUTION

The technical solution is evident from what is indicated in the patent claims.

ADVANTAGES

By the invention an alarm communication system is obtained which gives a higher security to the one who is owner of the alarm. The alarm owner can with greater security trust his/her alarm when he/she knows that the probability for the alarm being reached the receiver increases. The solution also implies that one will have a comparatively simple system which results in that alarm also is triggered off when the alarm transmitter for some reason has become defective.

Another advantage is that one by the invention will have an alarm system with two functions. The alarm system on one hand monitors that the alarm system all the way from the alarm transmitter to the place of monitoring is faultless and that the alarm object is in wanted state. In addition there is, by the invention, only an intermittent and moderate increase of load obtained in the network. DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

In figure 1 a basic drawing of the alarm communication system according to the invention is shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In figure 1 a basic drawing over the alarm communication system according to the invention is shown where an alarm transmitter 1 is connected to an alarm device 2 and a telecommunication network 3, and further via the telephone connection of the place of reception to the place of reception for number presentation 4 which is in connection with one or more alarm centra 5.

The alarm transmitter 1 consists of a calling alarm transmitter which is connected to an object which shall be monitored. The alarm transmitter in certain cases can consist of two parts, namely one at the alarm object existing alarm transmitter which is completed with a special calling alarm transmitter which are connected to the same telephone. The alarm transmitter can be connected, in known way, to the alarm object which can consist of a part in a process industry which needs to be monitored, or a part in a villa which needs monitoring or the like. The alarm transmitter also can be connected to a moving object such as, for instance, a car, or to a person.

The alarm transmitter as such is of the type which calls one in advance programmed telephone number. It is set to call this number at certain time intervals, for instance every 3 minutes. When the alarm transmitter shall make a "monitoring call", this is made in normal way to the place of reception 4.

The signal then will pass via the public network which consists of both the fixed and the mobile telecommunication network to the receiver equipment of the place of reception for reception of number presentation. The place of reception 4 has a computer which registers the "monitoring calls".

This computer is programmed to, on basis of the subscriber number which is represented at the "monitoring calls" which are repeated at a certain interval which is in accordance with the interval to which the call function of the alarm transmitter is set, register this as the alarm transmitter and the telecommunication network, from the alarm transmitter to the alarm centre, being faultless. In those cases when the "monitoring calls" do not occur when they should be received, at the preset time interval, the computer transmits a network error alarm to the alarm centre 5, for measures to be taken.

When the computer registers the incoming "monitoring calls", the call is not answered, but there only is made a registration of the telephone number to which the alarm transmitter is connected. This results in that no telephone charge is debited for the monitoring. The basic principle consequently is that the telecommunication network will be monitored by continuous calls. The intervals at which the calls are made depends on how important it is to have safe monitoring of a certain object. In the cases the alarm object needs a more thorough monitoring during the night, then the interval of the calling is set to a a shorter time during the night. A corresponding measure also is taken with the computer at the place of reception 4 which is expected to be called.

The setting of time interval to a higher frequency at night and a lower frequency at daytime also means that the telecommunication network will be less loaded during daytime when the load of telecommunication traffic normally is higher.

The alarm transmitter is, as has been mentioned, connected to the public telecommunication network and can communicate with this both via a fixed connection to the network and via the mobile cellular telecommunication network. The previosly mentioned alarm centre in corresponding way can communicate in these two ways. At communication via the wireless network, mobile telephone equipment is connected to the alarm transmitter which in conventional way transmits to the receiver. In similar way then an alarm centre with alarm receiver can receive telephone signals from a nearby base station. The number presentation equiment then can consist of a portable mobile telephone where the signals which are represented by the telephone number are directly transmitted to the alarm receiver for registration of which subscriber number that is calling. The setting of interval time can be made directly by setting of time information with conventional technology at the alarm transmitter. The setting of corresponding time at the alarm centre can be made via

Internet, at which the alarm owner has possibility to set the interval time of the calling device directly from own computer located at the alarm owner's. By that the alarm owner himelf/herself can set the time interval for calling. The invention is not restricted to the above presented, but can be modified in different ways within what is defined in the patent claims. The invention also can be used in the opposite direction, i.e. that the alarm transmitter is called. This will increase the security against exchange of alarm transmitter for false alarm transmitter. Absence of "monitoring call" to the alarm transmitter then can be indicated locally m the monitored object .

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Alarm communication system including one or more alarm transmitters (1) with call function which are in connection with one or more alarm objects (2) which shall be monitored by one or more places of reception (4) via a telecommunication network at which each alarm transmitter is allocated a subscriber number, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the place of reception (4) has equipment for reception of number presentation which gives the place of alarm reception information about which subscriber number that is calling.

2. Alarm communication system according to patent claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the alarm transmitter (1) and the place of alarm reception (4) are arranged to transmit, respective receive, telephone signals at the same time .

3. Alarm communication system according to patent claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that "monitoring calls" from alarm transmitters to places of monitoring are executed by registration of the identity of the alarm transmitter subscription without the "monitoring call" being answered so that a call is established.

4. Alarm communication system according to patent claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the "monitoring call" from the transmitter to the receiver is made at preset intervals.

5. Alarm communication system according to patent claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the monitoring is executed by continuous calls.

6. Alarm communication system according to patent claim 4, c a r a c t e r i z e d in that the preset interval times are shorter at night compared with daytime.

7. Alarm communication system according to patent claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the number presentation equipment consists of a mobile telephone with function for showing the number of the calling party.

8. Alarm communication system according to patent claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the alarm receiver consists of a computer which is connected to an open data network such as, for instance, Internet, or via called circuit connection to make it possible for the owner of the alarm object to set the interval time of the calling device via own computer.

9. Alarm communication system according to patent claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that no debiting of the "monitoring call" from the alarm transmitter is made.

10. Use of a number presentation equipment to control triggering of alarm in an alarm communication system which makes use of the priciple of continuous calls to an alarm receiver, at which absence of a call generates alarm to an alarm centre (5) .