US5923731A — Telephone monitoring and alarm device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 363 words

A telephone monitoring and alarm apparatus which monitors a telephone line entering a user's location and other alarms for recognition of conditions predetermined by the user and initiates a programmable response, the monitoring and alarm apparatus comprising; a) telephone line sensing means for sensing the voltage upon a telephone line and determining whether the telephone line is busy or cut and providing an output indicative thereof; b) a second sensing means for detecting the occurrence of a predetermined event; c) a signal reception means to receive signals from a remote sensing means; d) a processing means for processing and prioritizing inputs, retrieving information from an information storage means, and implementing programs and instructions contained in said information and transmitting alert messages; e) a programming means to program information to be utilized upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition by said processing means; f) an information storage means to store information provided by said programming means for later retrieval by said processing means; g) an alerting means which upon receipt of said alert messages from said processing means notifies predetermined locations or users; h) a system status display means which displays the operating status of said telephone monitoring and alarm apparatus as determined by said processing means; i) a power supply means for providing power to all components of said telephone monitoring and alarm apparatus; j) an attenuation means for attenuating the incoming telephone line signal so as to provide an output suitable for further processing; k) a polarity compensating means and voltage comparison means for comparing the signal strength on the telephone line against a predetermined reference voltage to determine whether the telephone line is busy or cut and providing an output indicative thereof; and l) said voltage comparison means is a voltage dividing network connected to four op amps such that a line voltage within a predetermined range indicates the telephone line is busy while a line voltage less than a predetermined value indicates the telephone line is cut, said polarity compensation means is accomplished by two op amps configured for a positive polarity telephone line signal while the remaining two op amps are configured for a negative polarity telephone line signal.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 363 words

A telephone monitoring and alarm apparatus which monitors a telephone line entering a user's location and other alarms for recognition of conditions predetermined by the user and initiates a programmable response, the monitoring and alarm apparatus comprising; a) telephone line sensing means for sensing the voltage upon a telephone line and determining whether the telephone line is busy or cut and providing an output indicative thereof; b) a second sensing means for detecting the occurrence of a predetermined event; c) a signal reception means to receive signals from a remote sensing means; d) a processing means for processing and prioritizing inputs, retrieving information from an information storage means, and implementing programs and instructions contained in said information and transmitting alert messages; e) a programming means to program information to be utilized upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition by said processing means; f) an information storage means to store information provided by said programming means for later retrieval by said processing means; g) an alerting means which upon receipt of said alert messages from said processing means notifies predetermined locations or users; h) a system status display means which displays the operating status of said telephone monitoring and alarm apparatus as determined by said processing means; i) a power supply means for providing power to all components of said telephone monitoring and alarm apparatus; j) an attenuation means for attenuating the incoming telephone line signal so as to provide an output suitable for further processing; k) a polarity compensating means and voltage comparison means for comparing the signal strength on the telephone line against a predetermined reference voltage to determine whether the telephone line is busy or cut and providing an output indicative thereof; and l) said voltage comparison means is a voltage dividing network connected to four op amps such that a line voltage within a predetermined range indicates the telephone line is busy while a line voltage less than a predetermined value indicates the telephone line is cut, said polarity compensation means is accomplished by two op amps configured for a positive polarity telephone line signal while the remaining two op amps are configured for a negative polarity telephone line signal.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 333 words

A telephone monitoring and alarm apparatus which monitors a telephone line entering a user's location and other alarms for the recognition of conditions predetermined by the user and initiates a programmable response, the monitoring and alarm apparatus comprising; a) a telephone line sensing means for sensing the voltage upon a telephone line and determining whether the telephone line is busy or cut and providing an output indicative thereof; b) a second sensing means for detecting the occurrence of a predetermined event; c) a signal reception means to receive signals from a remote sensing means; d) a processing means for processing and prioritizing inputs, retrieving information from an information storage means, and implementing programs and instructions contained in said information and transmitting alert messages; e) a programming means to program information to be utilized upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition by said processing means; f) an information storage means to store information provided by said programming means for later retrieval by said processing means; g) an alerting means which upon receipt of said alert messages from said processing means notifies predetermined locations and users; h) a system status display means which displays the operating status of said telephone monitoring and alarm apparatus as determined by said processing means; i) a power supply means for providing power to all components of said telephone monitoring and alarm apparatus; j) a radio frequency reception means for receiving radio frequency signals generated by said sensing means and providing a received signal output; k) a signal conversion means which converts said received signal output into a format suitable for further digital processing and generates a stream on digital signal bits; and l) a digital word restoration and comparison means which restores said stream of digital signal bits into a digital word of predetermined length, compares said digital word against a preselected programmable verification code, outputs a digital word of predetermined length, and generates a received data valid signal when said digital word matches said preselected programmable verification code.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 333 words

A telephone monitoring and alarm apparatus which monitors a telephone line entering a user's location and other alarms for the recognition of conditions predetermined by the user and initiates a programmable response, the monitoring and alarm apparatus comprising; a) a telephone line sensing means for sensing the voltage upon a telephone line and determining whether the telephone line is busy or cut and providing an output indicative thereof; b) a second sensing means for detecting the occurrence of a predetermined event; c) a signal reception means to receive signals from a remote sensing means; d) a processing means for processing and prioritizing inputs, retrieving information from an information storage means, and implementing programs and instructions contained in said information and transmitting alert messages; e) a programming means to program information to be utilized upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition by said processing means; f) an information storage means to store information provided by said programming means for later retrieval by said processing means; g) an alerting means which upon receipt of said alert messages from said processing means notifies predetermined locations and users; h) a system status display means which displays the operating status of said telephone monitoring and alarm apparatus as determined by said processing means; i) a power supply means for providing power to all components of said telephone monitoring and alarm apparatus; j) a radio frequency reception means for receiving radio frequency signals generated by said sensing means and providing a received signal output; k) a signal conversion means which converts said received signal output into a format suitable for further digital processing and generates a stream on digital signal bits; and l) a digital word restoration and comparison means which restores said stream of digital signal bits into a digital word of predetermined length, compares said digital word against a preselected programmable verification code, outputs a digital word of predetermined length, and generates a received data valid signal when said digital word matches said preselected programmable verification code.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 34 words

The telephone line monitoring and alarm apparatus of claim 2 wherein said radio frequency reception means is accomplished by an RF antenna tuned to receive the radio frequency signal generated by said sensing means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 38 words

The telephone line monitoring and alarm apparatus of claim 2 wherein said signal conversion means consists of an analog to digital converter which converts said amplified received signal output into a digital stream and provides a digital output.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 66 words

The telephone line monitoring and alarm apparatus of claim 2 wherein said digital word restoration and comparison means is accomplished by a device which receives said stream of digital signal bits, compares said bits against a predetermined address to verify only preselected sensing means are going to be processed, de-multiplexes incoming digital signal bits, and generates a four bit word and a received data valid signal.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-07-12	2003-01-11	2003-07-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-07-12	2007-01-11	2007-07-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-07-12	2011-01-11	2011-07-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Telephone monitoring and alarm device

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