Pre-recorded alarm-reporting system and control element therefor

Claim 2

In an alarm system of a type having means for detecting a predetermined condition to be reported, the combination comprising transmitting means responsive to detection of the condition and serving to call a predetermined party and immediately to transmit a prerecorded message to said predetermined called party and then to condition the transmitting means to an ''''on-hook'''' condition, means operative during a limited period following termination of said message and serving to generate a reply signal in response to an incoming verification call originated by said called party, said limited period being sufficient to accommodate dialing of said verification call by said called party, and control means coupled to operate said transmitting means and responsive to generation of said reply signal to cause said transmitting means to transmit a prerecorded confirmation message to said called party.

Claim 3

In an alarm system according to claim 1 further including means responsive to transmission of said prerecorded confirmation message to transmit at least one additional prerecorded message to another predetermined called party.

Claim 4

In an alarm system according to claim 1 wherein said control means causes said transmitting means to transmit said confirmation message only in response to generation of said reply signal within a predetermined period following transmission of said prerecorded message.

Claim 5

In an alarm system according to claim 1 wherein said transmitting means includes communication transceiver means and tape transport apparatus operably coupled to transmit via said transceiver means and having a tape record including a plurality of prerecorded tracks thereon, a first of said tracks being prepared with signals adapted to operate communication equipment to provide a connection from said tape transport apparatus to said called party and also prepared with recorded electrical signal representations reproducible audibly by said tape transport apparatus to provide the first named said message, a second of said tracks being prepared with recorded electrical signal representations serving to provide said different message.

Claim 6

In an alarm system according to claim 4 further including a local audible alarm means and wherein said first track further includes prerecorded control signals serving to operate said local alarm.

Claim 7

In an alarm system according to claim 1 wherein said transmitting means serves to repeat the transmission of the first named said message and said control means further serves to operate said transmitting means in response to receipt of said reply signal to inhibit transmission of said repeated message.

Claim 8

In an alarm system of a type having means for detecting a predetermined condition to be reported, the combination comprising transmitting means responsive to detection of the condition and serving to transmit repetitively a prerecorded message to a predetermined called party, means serving to generate a reply signal in response to an incoming call originated by said called party, and control means coupled to operate said transmitting means in response to said reply signal to cause said transmitting means to inhibit transmission of said repeated message, said control means further serving to originate a call to another called party promptly after inhibiting transmission of said repeatEd message.

Claim 9

In an alarm system of a type having means for detecting a predetermined condition to be reported, the combination comprising transmitting means responsive to detection of the condition and serving to transmit repetitively a prerecorded message to a predetermined called party, means serving to generate a reply signal in response to an incoming call originated by said called party, and control means coupled to operate said transmitting means in response to said reply signal to cause said transmitting means to inhibit transmission of said repeated message, said control means further serving to originate a call to another called party promptly after inhibiting transmission of said repeatEd message.

Claim 10

In an alarm system according to claim 7 further including an audible alarm located in the region of the premises to be protected, and wherein said control means serves, in the absence of receipt of a reply signal from said called party, cause said transmitting means to transmit another prerecorded message to another called party, and in the further absence of receipt of a reply signal, said transmitting means serves to operate said audible alarm.

Claim 11

An alarm system to be operably coupled to a telephone line of a type employing dial-operated telephone equipment, said alarm system serving to protect premises from a predetermined condition, said alarm system comprising a detector for sensing said predetermined condition, a prerecorded tape player and a tape element associated therewith, said player being operably coupled to respond to said predetermined condition of said detector to commence playing a first track of the tape, said player being further operably coupled to said telephone line for transmitting via said line from said first track prerecorded communication control signals adapted to control communication means for making connection with an appropriate called party and a prerecorded alarm report message for transmission to said called party and a prerecorded ''''on-hook'''' signal of predetermined duration, a second track of said tape being prepared with a prerecorded confirmation message, switching means operably coupled to receive signals from said telephone line and serving to switch said player to transmit said confirmation message from said second track in response to receipt of a reply from said called party occurring within the duration of said ''''on-hook'''' signal.

Claim 12

An alarm system to be operably coupled to a telephone line of a type employing dial-operated telephone equipment, said alarm system serving to protect premises from a predetermined condition, said alarm system comprising a detector for sensing said predetermined condition, a prerecorded tape player and a tape element associated therewith, said player being operably coupled to respond to said predetermined condition of said detector to commence playing a first track of the tape, said player being further operably coupled to said telephone line for transmitting via said line from said first track prerecorded communication control signals adapted to control communication means for making connection with an appropriate called party and a prerecorded alarm report message for transmission to said called party and a prerecorded ''''on-hook'''' signal of predetermined duration, a second track of said tape being prepared with a prerecorded confirmation message, switching means operably coupled to receive signals from said telephone line and serving to switch said player to transmit said confirmation message from said second track in response to receipt of a reply from said called party occurring within the duration of said ''''on-hook'''' signal.

Claim 13

An alarm system according to claim 9 further including an audible alarm locally disposed on the premises being protected and wherein said first track includes a repetition of said communication control signals and prerecorded alarm report message and ''''on-hook'''' signal, said first track being further prepared with prerecorded communication control signals for making connection with another called party and another prerecorded alarm report message and prerecorded ''''on-hook'''' signal of predetermined duration, and said first track further being prepared with signals for operating said audible alarm, and means for transmitting the last named signals to operate said audible alarm in the absence of receipt of a reply from any of said called parties.

Claim 14

In an alarm system of a type having means for detecting a predetermined condition to be reported, the combination comprising transmitting means responsive to detection of the condition and serving to transmit a prerecorded message to a predetermined called party and to repeat said transmission a predetermined number of times, means serving to generate a reply signal in response to an incoming call originated by said called party, said transmitting means further serving, in the absence of receipt of said reply signal, to transmit a prerecorded message to another called party subsequent to said predetermined number of transmissions of the first named call.

Claim 15

In an alarm system of a type having means for detecting a predetermined condition to be reported, the combination comprising transmitting means responsive to detection of the condition and serving to transmit a prerecorded message to a predetermined called party and to repeat said transmission a predetermined number of times, means serving to generate a reply signal in response to an incoming call originated by said called party, said transmitting means further serving, in the absence of receipt of said reply signal, to transmit a prerecorded message to another called party subsequent to said predetermined number of transmissions of the first named call.