US3647971A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic reporting monitoring and control system
Assignee: WATCH TEL 24 Inc
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Filing: 1970-03-20
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Granted: 1972-03-07
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Expires: 1990-03-20
Abstract
Abstract Machinery or other apparatus at a remote location is monitored and/or controlled by means of coded tone signals in the audio range transmitted between a master control station and one or more remote stations through the medium of conventional telephone lines. Both the master and the remote stations have transmitting equipment including an encoder and receiving equipment including a decoder which are operated in a sequence depending upon whether a control, monitoring or automatic reporting operation is taking place. The code employed is a four out of 16 tone system which gives 256 possible tone combinations and hence, 256 discrete pieces of information which can be conveyed between the master and control stations. For example, one such tone combination might be used to identify the remote station, while other tone combinations could be used to convey control commands from the master to a remote station and to report on the conditions of the monitored apparatus at the remote station to the master station.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward J Cushman
- 👤 Jasper Clark
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:12
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B26/00; G08B26/006; H; H04; H04M; H04M11/00; H04M11/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
285 words
A system for transmitting control and monitoring data between a master control station and one or more remote stations containing apparatus to be controlled and having at least one condition to be monitored, comprising: a. switching means at a remote station operable in response to the occurrence of an abnormal condition in said apparatus; b. means at said remote station responsive to said switching means for establishing contact between said remote station and said master control station; c. means at the master control station for transmitting a coded signal to said remote station identifying said master control station when said contact has been established; d. means at the remote station for decoding the signal transmitted by said master control station; e. means at said remote station responsive to the decoded signal for transmitting coded data to said master control station identifying the remote station and all abnormal monitored conditions existing in said apparatus comprising a plurality of oscillators and means for selectively activating a predetermined number less than the total number of said oscillators to produce a plurality of tones corresponding to said predetermined number; and f. means at the master control station for receiving and decoding said coded data comprising: 1. detecting means for separating said coded message into a plurality of groups of discrete voltages, one group for each abnormal condition at said remote station; 2. gating means for providing a plurality of output signals each uniquely representing one abnormal condition at said remote station including a plurality of distinct groups of gates equal in number to the total number of tones which said plurality of oscillators can produce; and 3. means for applying said groups of discrete voltages to said gating means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
285 words
A system for transmitting control and monitoring data between a master control station and one or more remote stations containing apparatus to be controlled and having at least one condition to be monitored, comprising: a. switching means at a remote station operable in response to the occurrence of an abnormal condition in said apparatus; b. means at said remote station responsive to said switching means for establishing contact between said remote station and said master control station; c. means at the master control station for transmitting a coded signal to said remote station identifying said master control station when said contact has been established; d. means at the remote station for decoding the signal transmitted by said master control station; e. means at said remote station responsive to the decoded signal for transmitting coded data to said master control station identifying the remote station and all abnormal monitored conditions existing in said apparatus comprising a plurality of oscillators and means for selectively activating a predetermined number less than the total number of said oscillators to produce a plurality of tones corresponding to said predetermined number; and f. means at the master control station for receiving and decoding said coded data comprising: 1. detecting means for separating said coded message into a plurality of groups of discrete voltages, one group for each abnormal condition at said remote station; 2. gating means for providing a plurality of output signals each uniquely representing one abnormal condition at said remote station including a plurality of distinct groups of gates equal in number to the total number of tones which said plurality of oscillators can produce; and 3. means for applying said groups of discrete voltages to said gating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
gating means for providing a plurality of output signals each uniquely representing one abnormal condition at said remote station including a plurality of distinct groups of gates equal in number to the total number of tones which said plurality of oscillators can produce; and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
gating means for providing a plurality of output signals each uniquely representing one abnormal condition at said remote station including a plurality of distinct groups of gates equal in number to the total number of tones which said plurality of oscillators can produce; and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system set forth in claim 1 wherein said data is transmitted between the master control station and said one or more remote stations via telephone lines.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for transmitting coded data further include means for superimposing said plurality of tones so that said coded message consists of the superimposition of tones of said predetermined number.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
means for applying said groups of discrete voltages to said gating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
means for applying said groups of discrete voltages to said gating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein a different combination of tones of said predetermined number is transmitted for each abnormal monitored condition at said remote station and a still different combination of tones is transmitted to identify said remote station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of oscillators comprises a plurality of oscillator sections each capable of producing a plurality of tones and said coded message comprises a different tone from each oscillator section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said switching means comprises a plurality of sensors each adapted to switch in response to the occurrence of a different abnormal monitored condition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein sixteen oscillators are provided and said predetermined number is equal to four.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. 16 oscillators are provided; b. said predetermined number is equal to four; and c. the number of groups of gates is equal to 16.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means responsive to said switching means comprises automatic dialer means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system as set forth in claim 2, further including timing circuit means at said remote station for continually reactivating said automatic dialer at the end of a predetermined time period set by said timing circuit until said identifying signal from said master control station is received within said predetermined time period.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for selectively actuating a predetermined number of oscillators cOmprises means for scanning all monitored conditions at said remote stations and matrix switching means having an input connected to said scanning means and an output connected to said oscillators.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said master control station further includes means for transmitting coded signals to each of said remote stations for selectively controlling said apparatus and said remote stations contain means for decoding said coded control signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
112 words
A monitoring and control system as set forth in claim 1, said system further including: a. a plurality of sensors at said remote station each actuable in response to a different abnormal monitored condition in said apparatus; b. means for scanning said sensors to ascertain whether an abnormal condition has occurred in said monitored apparatus; c. means at said master control station for transmitting a coded signal to energize said scanning means; d. means at said remote station for applying said coded energizing signal to said decoding means so as to decode said energizing signal; and e. means for applying said decoded energizing signal to said scanning means to energize said scanner.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
66 words
A monitoring and control system as set forth in claim 13 further including: a. means at said remote station energized by said scanning means for transmitting a coded termination signal to said master control station; b. means at said master control station for decoding said termination signal; and c. means at said master control station responsive to said decoded termination signal for terminating said communications link.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-07 | 1975-09-06 | 1976-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-07 | 1979-09-06 | 1980-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-07 | 1983-09-06 | 1984-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |