Integrated alarm and touch tone telephone system

Abstract

A microprocessor controlled integrated alarm and touch tone telephone system which allows the alarm system to be accessed, programmed, and reported upon through a touch tone telephone, either locally or remotely. Under most circumstances, the telephones on the premises can be operated in a normal manner. However, the alarm system selectively monitors the telephone activities for coded touch tone instructions specifically for the alarm system, and responds thereto by issuing synthesized voice reports on the status of the alarm system. A touch tone decoder circuit decodes dialed touch tones, such that the telephone can be utilized similar to a normal keyboard panel to access and control the alarm system. An internal power supply is provided for the telephone for supplying electrical power thereto independently of the outside telephone lines which normally supply power, in the event the outside telephone lines are inoperative. A ring detector circuit is provided for detecting the presence of a ring voltage across the outside telephone lines, and the microprocessor is responsive to a detected ring voltage to disconnect the telephone from the internal power supply and connect it to the outside telephone lines for normal ringing and usage of the telephone. The microprocessor counts the number of rings by which the telephone is being contacted by an off-premises telephone, and after a given number of rings, answers the telephone to allow the user of the off-premises telephone to dial touch tone encoded instructions into the integrated system and to receive voice synthesized reports therefrom.