Apparatus and method for a telephone alarm system

Claim 2

A telephone alarm device for automatically transmitting messages over telephone communication systems, comprising: first recording means for storing at least one message; second recording means for storing at least one telephone number; means for activating device operation; means connectable to a telephone communication system and responsive to said activating means for electrically connecting said alarm device to the telephone communication system; means connected to said second recording means and responsive to said connecting means for transmitting dial signals, corresponding to selected ones of said telephone numbers, onto said telephone communication system to access corresponding telephones; means connected to the telephone communication system and responsive to said transmitting means for detecting when the addressed telephone has been answered; and means connected to said connecting means and to said first recording means, and responsive to said detecting means for transmitting signals corresponding to said stored message onto the telephone communications system.

Claim 3

A telephone alarm device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first recording means comprises a conventional tape recorder.

Claim 4

A telephone alarm device as defined in claim 1 wherein said activating means comprises a manually operated remote transmitter which transmits a control signal causing device activation.

Claim 5

A telephone alarm device as defined in claim 1 wherein said activating means comprises a timer means which transmits an activation signal at a predetermined time.

Claim 6

A telephone alarm device as defined in claim 1 additionally comprising: means connected to said telephone communication system for detecting incoming telephone calls; means responsive to said incoming call detecting means for connecting said alarm device to the telephone communication system; means connected to said telephone communication system for detecting and decoding control signals received over said communication system from a remote telephone; and means responsive to signals from said detecting and decoding means and connected to said activating means for modifying the time of device activation or preventing such activation.

Claim 7

A telephone alarm device as defined in claim 1 additionally comprising: timer means for generating clock signals used in controlling system operation; means connected to said telephone communication system and to said timer means, and responsive to audio signals on said telephone communication system for determining the status of the telephone line and of the addressed telephone; and means connected to said connecting means and responsive to said status determining means for disconnecting the alarm device from the telephone communications system when said status determining means indicates that communication is completed or is not possible.

Claim 8

A telephone alarm device as defined in claim 6 additionally comprising: means responsive to said answer detecting means and to said status determining means for recording information indicating that the addressed telephone number has been tried or that it was answered; and means connected to said dial signal transmitting means and responsive to said information recording means for prohibiting the dialing of telephone numbers which are recorded as answered or which are recorded as having been tried a specified maximum number of times.

Claim 9

A telephone alarm device for communicating messages over telephone communication systems, comprising: first recording means for storing at least one audible message; second recording means for storing at least one telephone number; timer means for generating signals at predetermined times; alarm means responsive to said timer means for initiating the calling of said telephone numbers; activating means for transmitting activation signals from a remote transmitter; relay means connectable to a telephone communication system for electrically connecting said alarm device to the telephone communication system; dialing control means connected to said relay means and said second recording means, and responsive to said alarm means and said activating means for accessing selected ones of said telephone numbers by causing said relay means to open and close in a manner which transmits dial signals onto said telephone communication system, said signals corresponding to said selected ones of said telephone numbers; means connected to the telephone communication system and responsive to said dialing control means for detecting when the accessed telephone has been answered; means connected to said relay means and to said first recording means, and responsive to said answer detecting means for transmitting signals corresponding to said stored message onto the telephone communications system; means connected to said relay means and to said timer means and responsive to audio signals on said telephone communication system for determining the status of the telephone line and of the accessed telephone when said relay means is open, and detecting incoming telephone calls when said relay is closed; memory means responsive to said answer detecting means and said status determining means for storing information indicating how many unsuccessful attempts have been made to call the selected telephone number and whether the accessed telephone was answered; means connected to said dialing control means and responsive to said memory means for preventing the dialing of telephone numbers which have previously been answered or which have been accessed a specified maximum number of t4mes; answer control means connected to said relay means and responsive to said incoming call detecting means for causing said relay means to connect said alarm device to the telephone communication system when an incoming call is detected; . means connected to said telephone communication system for detecting and decoding control signals received over said communications system from a remote telephone; means responsive to signals from said detecting and decoding means and connected to said timer means and said alarm means for modifying the time for initiating the calling of telephone numbers or for preventing such initiation; and means connected to said relay means and responsive to said status determining means for disconnecting the alarm device from the telephone communication system when said status determining means indicates that communication is completed or is not possible.

Claim 10

A telephone alarm device for communicating messages over telephone communication systems, comprising: first recording means for storing at least one audible message; second recording means for storing at least one telephone number; timer means for generating signals at predetermined times; alarm means responsive to said timer means for initiating the calling of said telephone numbers; activating means for transmitting activation signals from a remote transmitter; relay means connectable to a telephone communication system for electrically connecting said alarm device to the telephone communication system; dialing control means connected to said relay means and said second recording means, and responsive to said alarm means and said activating means for accessing selected ones of said telephone numbers by causing said relay means to open and close in a manner which transmits dial signals onto said telephone communication system, said signals corresponding to said selected ones of said telephone numbers; means connected to the telephone communication system and responsive to said dialing control means for detecting when the accessed telephone has been answered; means connected to said relay means and to said first recording means, and responsive to said answer detecting means for transmitting signals corresponding to said stored message onto the telephone communications system; means connected to said relay means and to said timer means and responsive to audio signals on said telephone communication system for determining the status of the telephone line and of the accessed telephone when said relay means is open, and detecting incoming telephone calls when said relay is closed; memory means responsive to said answer detecting means and said status determining means for storing information indicating how many unsuccessful attempts have been made to call the selected telephone number and whether the accessed telephone was answered; means connected to said dialing control means and responsive to said memory means for preventing the dialing of telephone numbers which have previously been answered or which have been accessed a specified maximum number of t4mes; answer control means connected to said relay means and responsive to said incoming call detecting means for causing said relay means to connect said alarm device to the telephone communication system when an incoming call is detected; . means connected to said telephone communication system for detecting and decoding control signals received over said communications system from a remote telephone; means responsive to signals from said detecting and decoding means and connected to said timer means and said alarm means for modifying the time for initiating the calling of telephone numbers or for preventing such initiation; and means connected to said relay means and responsive to said status determining means for disconnecting the alarm device from the telephone communication system when said status determining means indicates that communication is completed or is not possible.

Claim 11

A telephone alarm device as defined in claim 8 wherein said first recording means comprises a conventional tape recorder which permits the modification or replacement of recorded messages by any user.

Claim 12

A telephone alarm device as defined in claim 8 wherein said second recording means comprises a conventional electronic memory element.

Claim 13

A telephone alarm device as defined in claim 8 wherein said activating means comprises a manually operated remote transmitter which transmits a control signal causing the alarm device to begin calling said telephone numbers.

Claim 14

A telephone alarm device as defined in claim 8 additionally comprising a manual data entry device which is connected to said alarm device so as to permit manual entry and modification of all user-supplied data in said alarm device.

Claim 15

A telephone alarm device as defined in claim 8 wherein a party may terminate the calling of said telephone numbers by said alarm device, after such action has started, by physically depressing a key which is electrically connected to said alarm device.

Claim 16

A telephone alarm device as defined in claim 8 additionally comprising an audible alarm device connected to said timer menas, wherein said timer means may be set to activate said audible alarm device on the occurrence of at least one predetermined time, and wherein if the user does not physically depress a switch on said alarm device within a specified time after activation of said audible alarm, then said alarm device will begin calling said telephone numbers.

Claim 17

A telephone alarm device as defined in claim 14 additionally comprising means connected to said message transmitting means and responsive to said activating means and to said audible alarm for transmitting an additional audible signal along with the transmitted message so as to better indicate the probable location of the alarm device user.

Claim 18

A telephone alarm device as defined in claim 8 wherein said telephone numbers may include long distance numbers and numbers accessing a dialable extension such as a remote paging device.

Claim 19

A telephone alarm device as defined in claim 8 wherein at least one of said dialing control means and said answer control means comprise a microprocessor circuit and its associated logic control elements.

Claim 20

A telephone alarm device for communicating messages over telephone communication systems, comprising: a tape recorder permitting both recording and playback, and having electronic interfacing capability; an electronic memory circuit for storing signals corresponding to selected telephone numbers, and signals comprising alarm activation times; an electronic clock circuit for producing check signals at predetermined times; alarm control means connected to said electronic memory circuit, and said electronic clock circuit for comparing the time of the current clock signal with said stored alarm activation times and for producing an activation signal when a match is found; a line seize relay connected to said alarm control means and responsive to said activation signal for connecting the alarm device to a telephone communication system; a tone generator circuit connected to said telephone communication system and said alarm control means for transmitting audio signals onto said telephone communication system; dialing control means connected to said memory circuit and to said line seize relay for identifying selected telephone numbers in said memory and causing said line seize relay to successively open and close so as to create dial signals corresponding to the identified telephone numbers; a polarity detector circuit connected through said line seize relay for detecting changes in loop polarity on said telephone communication system, indicating that the dialed telephone has been answered; message control means connected to said polarity detector circuit and to said electronic clock circuit for producing signals causing said tape recorder to play the recorded message when said polarity detector identifies a change in loop polarity, and causing said tape recorder to terminate the playing of said recorded message at a predetermined time after such playing was begun; a tape activation relay connected to said tape recorder and to said message control means and responsive to signals from said message control means for activating or deactivating the operation of said tape recorder; an amplifier and filter combination connected to the audio output of said tape recorder, and to said message control means, said telephone communication system, and responsive to signals from said message control means, for .controlling the volume and band width of the message from said tape recorder, and transmitting said message onto the telephone control system; an audio level detector circuit connected to said telephone communication system for producing signals indicating the presence of incoming audio signals on said telephone communicaton system; a touch tone detector circuit connected to said telephone communications system, for detecting and relaying incoming communication signals from a remote telephone; answer control means connected ,to said audio level detector and said line seize relay and to said tone generator, and responsive to signals from said audio level detector for indentifying incoming telephone calls, and in response thereto causing said line seize relay to connect said audio device to said telephone communication system and causing said tone generator circuit to transmit a tone onto said telephone communication system indicating that said device is connected thereto; response control means connected to said touch tone decoder circuit, said tone generator circuit, said clock circuit and said electronic memory circuit for accessing or modifying the contents of said clock circuit or memory circuit in response to signals received through said touch tone detector circuit, and for causing said tone generator circuit to transmit audio signals, comprising necessary responses, onto said telephone communication system; and line status control means connected to said audio level detector circuit, said clock circuit and said line seize relay and responsive to signals from said level detector circuit for identifying whether the called telephone is ringing, busy, or whether other signals are present, and causing said line seize relay to disconnect said alarm device from said telephone communication system if no appropriate response is detected before the elapsing of a predetermined time period.

Claim 21

A telephone alarm device for communicating messages over telephone communication systems, comprising: a tape recorder permitting both recording and playback, and having electronic interfacing capability; an electronic memory circuit for storing signals corresponding to selected telephone numbers, and signals comprising alarm activation times; an electronic clock circuit for producing check signals at predetermined times; alarm control means connected to said electronic memory circuit, and said electronic clock circuit for comparing the time of the current clock signal with said stored alarm activation times and for producing an activation signal when a match is found; a line seize relay connected to said alarm control means and responsive to said activation signal for connecting the alarm device to a telephone communication system; a tone generator circuit connected to said telephone communication system and said alarm control means for transmitting audio signals onto said telephone communication system; dialing control means connected to said memory circuit and to said line seize relay for identifying selected telephone numbers in said memory and causing said line seize relay to successively open and close so as to create dial signals corresponding to the identified telephone numbers; a polarity detector circuit connected through said line seize relay for detecting changes in loop polarity on said telephone communication system, indicating that the dialed telephone has been answered; message control means connected to said polarity detector circuit and to said electronic clock circuit for producing signals causing said tape recorder to play the recorded message when said polarity detector identifies a change in loop polarity, and causing said tape recorder to terminate the playing of said recorded message at a predetermined time after such playing was begun; a tape activation relay connected to said tape recorder and to said message control means and responsive to signals from said message control means for activating or deactivating the operation of said tape recorder; an amplifier and filter combination connected to the audio output of said tape recorder, and to said message control means, said telephone communication system, and responsive to signals from said message control means, for .controlling the volume and band width of the message from said tape recorder, and transmitting said message onto the telephone control system; an audio level detector circuit connected to said telephone communication system for producing signals indicating the presence of incoming audio signals on said telephone communicaton system; a touch tone detector circuit connected to said telephone communications system, for detecting and relaying incoming communication signals from a remote telephone; answer control means connected ,to said audio level detector and said line seize relay and to said tone generator, and responsive to signals from said audio level detector for indentifying incoming telephone calls, and in response thereto causing said line seize relay to connect said audio device to said telephone communication system and causing said tone generator circuit to transmit a tone onto said telephone communication system indicating that said device is connected thereto; response control means connected to said touch tone decoder circuit, said tone generator circuit, said clock circuit and said electronic memory circuit for accessing or modifying the contents of said clock circuit or memory circuit in response to signals received through said touch tone detector circuit, and for causing said tone generator circuit to transmit audio signals, comprising necessary responses, onto said telephone communication system; and line status control means connected to said audio level detector circuit, said clock circuit and said line seize relay and responsive to signals from said level detector circuit for identifying whether the called telephone is ringing, busy, or whether other signals are present, and causing said line seize relay to disconnect said alarm device from said telephone communication system if no appropriate response is detected before the elapsing of a predetermined time period.

Claim 22

A device as defined in claim 18 additionally comprising: a remote transmitter for transmitting a signal which causes said alarm device to call said telephone numbers and transmit.said message to parties answering said telephone numbers; and . an alarm receiver connected to said alarm control means and responsive to signals from said remote transmitter for causing said alarm control means to transmit an activation signal in response to a signal from said remote transmitter and to cause said tone generator circuit to transmit one or more tones concurrently with said message so as to indicate that the user is probably near the premises of said alarm device.

Claim 23

A device as defined in claim 18 additionally comprising: an audible alarm device; an audible alarm control circuit connected to said alarm control means and said audible alarm device, and responsive to a signal from said alarm control means for activating said audible alarm device; a switch connected to said alarm control means for causing said alarm control means to produce a signal terminating the operation of said audible alarm device in response to the closing of said switch; and a time delay circuit connected to said time clock and said alarm control circuit and responsive to the closing of said switch for causing said alarm control means to transmit an activation signal if no closure of said switch occurs within a predetermined time period from audible alarm activation, and to cause said tone generator circuit to transmit one or more tones concurrent with said message so as to indicate that the user is probably near the premises of said alarm device.

Claim 24

A device as defined in claim 18 wherein at least one of said alarm control means, dialing control means, message control means, answer control means, response control means and said line status control means, comprise a microprocessor circuit and its associated logic control elements.

Claim 25

A device as defined in claim 21 wherein said microprocessor is additionally connected to said electronic memory, said device additionally comprising: an electronic keyboard connected with said microprocessor for manually accessing and modifying the contents of said electronic memory; and a visual display device connected to said microprocessor and to said electronic keyboard, and responsive to signals from said microprocessor and said keyboard for displaying the value of the desired functions.

Claim 28

A method as defined in claim 23 wherein said step of obtaining a means for generating an activation signal additionally comprises the steps of: obtaining an electronic clock circuit having a real-time output signal; obtaining a time responsive alarm circuit for generating activation signals; electronically storing at least one alarm activation time; and causing said alarm circuit to generate an activation signal when the clock output signal corresponds to said alarm activation time.

Claim 29

A method as defined in claim 23 wherein said step of obtaining a means for receiving a remote activation signal additionally comprises the steps of: obtaining a remote transmitter for transmitting an activation signal in response to a manual switch closure thereon; and obtaining a receiver which is responsive to signals from said remote transmitter.