Gte Products Corporation

Gte Laboratories Incorporated

Gte Sylvania Incorporated

United Telecommunications, Inc.

Robert J Fahey

Martin L Resnick

Robert A Norbedo

J Edward Schlener

Richard W Anderson

William R McClellan

Apparatus for a monitoring and signalling system such as a home health care system. The monitoring and signalling system includes a plurality of ac-based sensors powered by an ac voltage and operative to monitor the occurrence of activities performed by an individual in his or her residence and to produce signals indicative of the occurrence of the monitored activities. Signals produced by the sensors during the presence of the ac voltage are processed by a microprocessor. A loss or absence of the ac voltage and the subsequent restoration of the ac voltage causes the ac-based sensors to produce signals falsely indicating the occurrence of monitored activities. In accordance with the present invention, the microprocessor operates to monitor the state of the ac voltage to detect a loss or absence of the ac voltage and a subsequent restoration thereof and, upon detecting the restoration of the ac voltage, to refuse to accept for processing, for a two-second interval, signals received from the sensors.

Apparatus for monitoring and signalling system

Apparatus for a signalling system. The apparatus includes a plurality of remote control units each of which is arranged to store self-check timing data therein. This data has a value representing a predetermined period of time the expiration of which corresponds to a predetermined time of day differing from the times of day associated with at least some of the other remote control units. At or following this particular time of day, a self-check operation is initiated for communicating a self-check message, including identification number data identifying the remote control unit, to a centralized communications center. A computer at the communications center receives and processes self-check messages produced by the remote control units and operates in response to each message from a remote control unit to note the identification number data therein and, using this data, to derive self-check timing data for use by the remote control unit in the next self-check operation. The self-check timing data has a value representing a period of time the expiration of which corresponds to the same time of day at or following which the last self-check operation was initiated by the remote control unit. The new self-check timing data is communicated back to the remote control unit for use thereby in initiating the next self-check operation.

Apparatus for signalling system

Apparatus for a signalling system. The signalling system includes a remote control unit arranged to communicate with a centralized communications center. The remote control unit operates at or following a specified time of day to initiate a self-check call and to communicate data to the communications center. The communications center includes a disc unit which stores therein self-check timing data specifying the time of day at which the remote control unit is scheduled to initiate a self-check call. A computer at the communications center receives data from the remote control unit and operates in response thereto to update the self-check timing data in the disc unit to specify the time of day at which the next self-check call is to be initiated by the remote control unit. In the absence of data from the remote control unit, there is no updating of the self-check timing data. On a regular basis, the self-check timing data in the disc unit is compared with time-of-day data produced by a clock and representing the present time of day. In the event the self-check timing data in the disc unit specifies a time of day earlier by more than a predetermined amount than the present time of day, the computer operates to produce an output condition indicating a missing or late self-check call. The output conditions may be used in the preparation of a hard-copy printout for maintenance purposes.

A telephone status monitor apparatus for determining the on/hook and off/hook conditions of a telephone connected across tip and ring terminals across which a ringing voltage may be present and superimposed on normal on/hook and off/hook voltages. The ringing voltage typically has an 'on' time of two seconds and an 'off' time of four seconds. The apparatus in accordance with the invention includes status circuitry operative under microprocessor control to repetitively sample the voltage across the tip and ring terminals on the minute and on the minute plus three seconds, the latter three second interval being intermediate to the two second 'off' time and four second 'on' time of the ringing voltage. Each sampled voltage is compared with a reference voltage as a result of which an output signal is produced by the status circuitry having either a first value representative of an apparent on/hook condition or a second value representative of an apparent off/hook condition. The values of successive output signals corresponding to the samples on the minute and on the minute plus three seconds are examined by the microprocessor. When a pair of successive output signals have the same value, either the first value or second value, an output condition representative of an on/hook condition or off/hook condition, respectively, is produced by the microprocessor.

Telephone status monitor apparatus

A variable timing system including a remote control unit employed in the residence of an individual and interconnected with a centralized communication system by a telephone network. The remote control unit includes a plurality of storage devices arranged to store count data for use by the remote control unit in the performance of its operations and representing particular periods of time. The centralized communications center includes a disc storage unit which is also arranged to store count data therein representing particular periods of time. An operator-controlled unit at the communications center may be used in conjunction with a computer to selectively vary the value of any one or more of the count data stored in the disc unit thereby to correspond to increased or decreased periods of time. Under prescribed conditions the remote control unit operates to establish communication with the communications center for the purpose of transmitting specified data to the communications center. Upon establishing this communication, the computer operates to extract from the disc storage unit the various count data stored therein and to communicate the count data back to the remote control unit. The count data is then stored in the appropriate storage devices of the remote control unit for use by the remote control unit.

Variable timing system

A monitoring and signalling system including a remote control unit in the residence of an individual and a centralized communication center interconnected with the remote control unit by a telephone network. A plurality of sensors are located within the residence and operate to monitor the occurrence of particular activities performed by the individual and to produce signals in response to monitoring the occurrence of the activities. A microprocessor in the remote control unit receives and processes signals produced by the sensors and accumulates sensor activity data representing a running tally of the number of times each sensor has monitored its associated activity. The microprocessor is also able to detect a prolonged lack of activity and to initiate an alarm sequence during which steady audible and visual alarm indications are provided in a pre-alarm period and followed by intermittent audible and visual alarm indications while an alarm communication is established and completed with the centralized communications center. The microprocessor is also able on a daily basis to initiate a self-check communication during which the sensor activity data corresponding to the various sensors is transmitted to the centralized communications center and processed to identify any sensor which failed to monitor an associated activity since the last self-check operation.

Monitoring and signalling system

Apparatus for monitoring usage of a telephone connected across tip and ring terminals of a telephone system. The apparatus includes status circuitry operative under microprocessor control to repetitively sample the voltage across the tip and ring terminals and to examine the sampled voltages to determine whether the telephone is in an on/hook condition or an off/hook condition. When the telephone is in an off/hook condition an output of a first value is produced by the status circuitry, and when the telephone is in an on/hook condition an output of a second value is produced by the status circuitry. The microprocessor examines the outputs to detect the occurrence of transitions in the outputs between the first and second values representing transitions between on/hook and off/hook conditions of the telephone. For each detected transition, an activity timer within the microprocessor is set to a count corresponding to a predetermined activity-monitoring time period and decremented at a predetermined rate. In the event the activity timer times out, an alarm condition is produced. Thus, so long as the telephone is used during the activity-monitoring time period an alarm condition will be prevented.

Apparatus for monitoring usage of a telephone

Apparatus for a monitoring and signalling system such as a home health care system. The system includes a remote control unit in the residence of an individual and interconnected with a centralized communications center by a telephone network. A plurality of sensors located within the residence of the individual operate to monitor the occurrence of particular activities performed by the individual and to produce signals in response to monitoring the occurrence of the activities. A microprocessor in the remote control unit receives and processes signals produced by the sensors and accumulates sensor activity data representing a running tally of the number of times each sensor has monitored its associated activities. On a daily basis, the sensor activity data is transmitted to the centralized communications center. A disc storage unit at the communications center stores sensor presence data therein specifying the presence of each of the sensors within the system. A computer at the communications center examines the sensor activity data readout from the remote control unit and the sensor presence data for each of the sensors stored in the disc unit and operates if the sensor activity data corresponding to any of the sensors specified to be present in the system by the data in the disc unit indicates that the sensor has not monitored its associated activity since the last readout of data from the remote control unit to produce an output condition. This output condition may be used to derive a hard-copy printout for maintenance purposes.

A detector circuit for detecting the loss or reduction of dc power to a dc load and for detecting a low battery voltage condition of a standby battery employed to power the load upon loss or reduction of dc power supplied to the load. The dc voltages for use by the dc load and for charging the battery are derived from a dc power supply circuit with which the detector circuit of the present invention is used. The detector circuit of the invention includes a first voltage monitoring circuit operative to examine a dc voltage at a predetermined point in the dc power supply circuit and when the value of this dc voltage is less than a predetermined value indicating a loss of power to the dc load to cause a transfer circuit to couple the battery and the dc voltage thereacross to the dc load. Following this coupling operation, the transfer circuit receives the dc voltage coupled from the battery to the load and maintains the battery coupled to the load. The detector circuit further includes a second voltage monitoring circuit operative following the abovementioned coupling operation to examine the value of dc voltage coupled to the dc load from the battery and when the value of the dc voltage is less than a predetermined value to cause the transfer circuit to uncouple the standby battery and the dc voltage thereacross from the dc load.

Detector circuit

A data transmission circuit for use in a telephone system. The telephone system includes a telephone line connected with tip and ring terminals and a subscriber telephone coupled across the tip and ring terminals. The on/hook condition of the telephone is determined by a telephone status monitor circuit which periodically examines the voltage across the tip and ring terminals and produces an output signal when the telephone is in an on/hook condition. Following this output signal, and when data is to be transmitted between a first terminal of the data transmission circuit and the tip and ring terminals, a continuous dc loop is established between the tip and ring terminals and, after a dialtone period, the loop is made and broken in accordance with dialing pulses representing a telephone number of the location to be called. At the termination of the dialing operation, the dc loop is maintained and an ac path is established between the first terminal and the tip and ring terminals for the transmission of data between the first terminal and the tip and ring terminals.

Data transmission circuit for establishing a bidirectional data path in

A dc power supply circuit for supplying simultaneously dc voltages to a dc load and to a standby battery employed to power the load upon a loss of dc power to the load. The load is adapted to draw varying amounts of current. The dc power supply circuit in accordance with the invention includes a capacitor which is arranged to retain a dc voltage derived from an ac voltage. A fixed voltage regulator circuit coupled to the capacitor operates to supply a fixed dc voltage to the load and to maintain this voltage as the current drawn by the load varies. An adjustable voltage regulator circuit coupled to the capacitor operates to supply a varying dc voltage to the battery as the current drawn by the load varies. The varying voltage of the adjustable voltage regulator circuit is achieved by a current sensing resistor which senses the current drawn jointly by the load and the battery and which causes control circuitry coupled to the adjustable voltage regulator circuit to vary the dc voltage thereof in accordance with variations in the current sensed by the current sensing resistor. In accordance with the invention, the current drawn jointly by the load and battery is limited to a predetermined maximum amount, for example, one ampere, with the load being supplied first and at all times with its needed current and the difference between the current drawn by the load at any given instant and one ampere being made available to the battery.

DC power supply circuit

A telephone status monitor circuit for determining the on/hook and off/hook conditions of a telephone connected across standard tip and ring terminals of a telephone system. The telephone status monitor circuit includes a charging circuit, in the form of a series combination of a capacitor and a resistor, which is adapted to be alternately and periodically switched in and out of circuit with the tip and ring terminals. When the charging circuit is in circuit with the tip and ring terminals, the capacitor is charged to the value of the voltage across the tip and ring terminals. When the charging circuit is out of circuit with the tip and ring terminals, the charging circuit is coupled to additional circuitry which examines the value of the voltage across the capacitor. If the value of the voltage across the capacitor corresponds to an on/hook condition, a first output signal is produced by the additional circuitry. If the value of the voltage across the capacitor corresponds to an off/hook condition, a second output signal is produced by the additional circuitry.

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Framingham, MA, United States of America

Robert J Fahey