Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CALL FORW~I)ING SYSl~ FOR DOORBELL/INTERCOM BOX `~: ~
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TECEtNICAI, FIELD OF IrElE INVE~ON
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The present invention pertains in general to intercom systems, and more :,!'.. ~`'`,~'
particularly, to the portion of the interrom system that allows a remote station to -~ .
communicate with an outdoor doorbell station and allows the remote station to be ; ~ ~:
disposed on the outside of a telephone central of~lce.
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BACK(~ROUND OF Tl~IE lNVENTION -
Intercom systems typically incoIporate a speaker at the door. VVhen the
doorbell is rung, the intercom system will generate a chime and transmit this
chime to all the active remote stations within the intercom system. A user can
then depress a bu~ton typically labelled "DOOR" in conjunction with a button
labelled "TALK to transmit voice to the speaker at the doorbell box. By
releasing the ~TALK button, the us~r can then listen to an individual at the door -~
and, therefore, carry on a conversation.
One of the disadvant~ges to present intercom systems is that when an
individual is away from his home, the doorbell is unanswered. This would allow
an individual to determine if the house was vacant. Some systems ha~/e actually
utilized tapes of dogs barking, etc. to deceive a potential burglar into thinking
~I that the house was in fact occupied. However, none of these systems at present
~1; allow a user at a remote location away fronn the house to converse with the ;
person at the door.
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SUMM[ARY OF T~IE INVENIION
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The present invention disclosed and claimed hërein comprises a door box
forwarding system. The system includes a door speaker/microphone combination
disposed at the door of a residence for allowing two-way voice communication.
A doorbell switch is associated with the door speaker/microphone combination
culd the switch is depressible to indicate the presence of an individual at the door. ~ ;
A lookup table is provided for storing at least one address of a remote location. ~-
The processing unit is operable in response to activation of the switch to access
the lookup table at the address of the remote location. A voice channel is then
effected between the door speaker/rnicrophone combination and the remote
location in accordance with the at least one address.
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BRIEF DESCI~ION OF THE D~AW~GS
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For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the
advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in -
conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which: ~ -
S FIGURE 1 iUustrates an overaU diagrammatic view of the system of the
~: present invention; ~ :
FIGURE 2 illustrates a rnore detailed diag~am of the control system and ~:
the remote stations;
FIGURE 3 illustrates a detailed diagram of the control system;
FIGU~E 4 illustrates a detailed block diagram of the door box of i~
FIGURE 3;
~ - ~ FIGIl~E 5 illustrates a flowchart for the overaU remote door operation,
- ~ inc1uding local door operation;
FIGURE 6 illustrates a flowchart of the steps required to access local
stahons for communicahon with the doorbell box; and
:: FIGURE 7 illustrates a flowchart for the operation of accessing a remote
location for:connecting to the doorbell box. :~ `
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DETAILED DESC~ION OF 'l~k; INVEN~I~ON
Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated a diagrammatic view of
the overall system of the present invention. A doorbell box 10 is disposed on the
door 12 in a residence. The doorbell bo~ 10 contains a speaker 16, a
microphone 14 and a doorbell switch 18. The doorbell box 10 also interfaces -
with a remote latch 20, which remote latch 20 is operable to be controlled from a ;~
remote location to unlock the door and allow individuals to enter.
The doorbell box 10 is connected through two wires 22, which form part
of a communication trunk 24, to allow communication with a control station 26.
The control station 26 is a centralized station which is disposed on a wall in the
residence in which the door 12 is disposed and is operable to interface with a
plurality of auxiliary stations. These auxiliary stations 26 can be phones,
intercom speakers, radios, etc. The system communicates with all of the :~auxiliary stations 28 and the door box 10 through the trunk 24. However, a
wireless connection can also be provided.
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The control station 26 is also connected through a telephone wire 28 to a
public telephone system 3û. The public telephone system 30 is connected to
other residences, such as a residence 32 illustrated in FIGURE 1, to allow the
control stations 26 to communicate with the residence 32.
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In the operation of the system of the present invendon, the control
station 26 detects depression of the doorbell 18 and then performs one of two
steps. In a ~rst normal operating mode, the control station 26 will ~enerate a
chime at each of the auxiliary stations 28 having a s~eaker associated therewith.
If this mode is chosen, a user can then utilize the auxiliary station to effect a
voice channel with the speaker 16 and the microphone 14 and taL~c to the
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~ individual that depressed the door~ell button 18. Additionally, the user can
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control the door latch 20 through the lines 22 and the control station 26 to unlatch
the door from the remote auxiliary station 24.
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In a second mode of operation, the control station 26 can be set such
that, upon detection of depression of the doorbell switch 18, the user can ma~ce a
S call to the residence 32. Upon detecting an off-hook condition, a voice channel
will then be opened between the telephone line 28 and the speaker 16 and
microphone 14, such that the individual answenng the phone at the residence 32
will now be able to taLk to the individual at the door box 10, unknown to that
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individual. Further, the individual in the residence 32 can remotely unlatch the -
remote latch 20. Additionally, a prompt can be provided by the control station
26 to the remote station 32 prior to effecting a voice charmel between the
telephone at the residence 32 and the bo~c 10. lllis will allow the individual to
decide not to answer the phone. The system would then re~spond to the
depression of a button on the telephone panel at the residence 32 in order to
effect the voice channel.
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Referring now to FIGIJR~ 2, there is illustrated a more detailed diagram
of the overall system. The control unit 26 is generally disposed within a main
control panel on one of the walls in the residence as described above. Typically,
a processor unit 36 is disposed at the heart of the control panel 26, the processor
~; 20 unit containing all of t~ memoTy, program memory instructions and logic
necessary to interface with all of the auxiliary stations 28 and also with the public
' telephone system 3û. The control unit 26 can also contain a digital communicator
38 and a message center 40. The digital communicator 38 is system that allows
prerecorded messages or prompts to be stored and, upon detecting an Uevent~
from a processor unit 36, the digital communicator can then effect a
c~mmunication link through the processor unit 36 with the telephone system 30 totransmit the message to a recipient telephone number. Digital communicators 38
are well-known in the security field and are merely smart dialers.
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The message center 40 is a local message center which allows incoming
calls from the telephone company 30 to be handled by the processor unit 36 and
stored in the message center 43. The message center is a cassette in the
preferred embodiment, but could be a digital recording system. Further, the
message center 40 could contain voice messaging feahlres for use by the intercomsystem. Additionally, a battery 42 is provided to provide backup power, the
primary power being derived from an A/C power source at the residence (not
shown~. The processor unit 36 communicates with the telephone system 30
through an RJllC jack 46 and with the various auxiliary stations 28 through the
trunk 24. There are a number of different types of auxiliary stations available,with only two types illustrated, a m~un station 48 and two substations 50 and 52.
The main station 48 is basically comprised of a telephone handset 54, a display
56 and a keypad portion 58. Further, a speaker (not shown) is provided. The
keypad 58 contains all necessary keys to operate the system and interface with the
processor unit 36. The substations 50 and 52 each haYe a handset 60 and 62,
respectively, and also have a display and keypad, but wit'n significantly less
functions than the display 56 and keypad 58 of the main station 48.
ach of the main auxiliary stations 48 and the substations 50 and 52 can
access the control unit 26 when the doorbell 18 on the door box 10 is pressed. In
this situation, the processvr unit 36 would detect depression of tbe key switch
associated with the doorbell 18 and then generate a chime for transmission to the ~ ~ -
speakers associated with all the auxiliary statiQrls. The user could then eitherpick up the associated handset or press an associated button to utilize the external
speaker (not shown) associated with each of the auxiliary stations. A voice
channel could then be effected through an audio switch associated with the
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processor unit 36, as will be described hereinbelow.
Referring now to FIGIl~ 3, there is illustrated a general block diagram
of the processor Ullit 36. The processor unit 36 generally has associated
~ ~ therewith a central processing unit (CPU) 66 which is any microprocessor based
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system having associated therewith address and data buses and various bus
control and I/O control systems. These are conventional. A memory 68 is
provided which is compnsed of both Read Only Memory (ROM) and Random
Access Memory (RAM). The memory is utilized for storing instructions in the
S non-volatile ROM memory and for storing data in the volatile RAM memory.
The transmission of control signals between the CPU 66 and the auxiliary stations ~ `
28 is effected through a digital I/O circuit 70 and a digital communication bus 72.
The digital communication bus 72 is part of the trunk 24, which is routed to each
of the stations. This allows control signals to be transferred between the CPU 66
and the auxiliary stations 28.
The auxiliary stations 28 each have an audio channel associated
therewith. This audio channel is connected to a cross-point switch matrix 74
through an audio trunk 76, which audio trunk 76 is part of the trunk 24. A
separate audio line is provided for each of the stations and also, additionally, the
cross-point switch 74 is connected to the telephone line through a hybrid
transformer 78 and also to the door box 10 through an output pair of lines 80.
The lines 80 are input to an amplifier 82, which is operable to drive a
transformer 84 and also receive input from the transfcrrner 84. Therefore, the
arnplifier 82 provides for duplex operation, i.e., voice to be transmitted in both
directions. The trans~ormer 84 is a conventional transformer and is connected toa door control box 86. The door control box 86 is operable to be disposed ?t thedoor and inter~aced with a microphone 88, a speaker 90 and a door latch 92, in
addition to a doorbell switch 9i. In operation, the doorbell switch 91 can be
depressed and initiate a chime throughout the systern. Although, as will be
described herein, depression of the switch 91 can activate a voice forwarding
opera~ion such that the doorbell can be answered over the telephone line. After
the doorbell switch 91 has been depressed, the system can then effect a
~; connection with the speaker 90 such that voice can be transmitted to the
individual at the control box 86. The individual at the door control box 86 is
then allowed to converse through the microphone 88. In addition, the user can
remotely activate a door latch 98 which is operable to open a door. The door
latch 92 is controlled through the sloor control box 86 via control lines 83.
Control lines 83 allow power to be passed to the door control box 86 and also tocontrol lines to be supplied to the door latch 92.
S Referring now to ~IGURE 4, there is illustrated a more detailed sircuit
diagrarn of the door control box 86. The transformer 84 has the secondary
thereof connected between the positive voltage node 85 and a node 87. The node ;~
87 is connected through a resistor 89 and series connected capacitor 93 to the
base of an NPN transistor 94. The collector of transistor 94 is connected to a
node 96 and the emitter of transistor 94 is connected through a parallel
configured resistor 97 and capacitor 98 to ground. The node 96 is also connected ~ -
through a capacitor 99 to ground. The base of transistor 94 is connected througha resistor 100 to the cathode of a xenor diode 101, the anode thereof connected to
ground. The diode 101 therefore provides a reference voltage for the base of
transistor 94.
The node 87 is connected through a resistor 102 to a node 103, node 103 -
;~; connected through ground to a resistor 104. Node 103 is driven by the emitter of
an NPN transistor 105, the base thereof connected to the power supply node 85 ~-~
through a resistor 106 and to ground through a resistor 108. The collector of
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transistor 105 is connected to the positive supply node 85 through a rçsistor 107
and to ground through a capacitor 109. The base of transistor 105 is connçcted
through a c~pacitor 110 to one side of the microphone 88, one side of the
microphone 88 also connected to one side of a variable resistor 111. The wiper
of the variable resistor 111 is connected to ground through a capacitor 112 and
also to a node 114 through a resistor 113. Node 114 is connected through a
transformer 116 to a node 118. Node 118 is connected to ground through a ; ;~
capacitor 117 and also to one side of a transformer 120 through a resistor 119.
The other side of the primary on transformer 120 is connected to node 96. The
secondary of the transformer 120 is connected to the speaker 90. The node 114
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is connected to the cathode of a diode 122, the anode thereof connected to the
positive supply node 85.
The positive node 85 and the ground node are connected to the positive
and negative terminals of a bridge rectifier circuit 24, the input to the bridgeS rectifier circuit input to control lines 126. The door switch 91 is configured in
series with a resistor 125 and connected across the input lines 126.
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In operation, a signal can be impressed on the primary of the transfer 84
and then across the secondary of the transformer on nodes 85 and 87. This is
then input to the base of transistor 94 to drive one side of transformer 120 to
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provide an output to the speaker. The microphone 88, which is disposed between
the variable resistor 111 and ground, has the output voltage thereof impressed on
the base of the transistor lQ5, which then drives node 103 to drive the
transforrner 84.
Refemng now to FIGURE 5, there is illustrated a f~owchart depicting ; -
the ove:rall operation of the call forwarding system ~or the doorbell. The
program IS initiated at a start block 131 and proceeds to a decision block 133 to
determine if the doorbell has been rung by detecting the ring signal. If not, the
program floY s along an N path back to the input of the decision block 133.
When the ring is detected, the prograrn flows along the "Y" path to a function
block l lS to access the lookup table. The lookup table has associated therewiththe addresses of all of the auxiliary stations 28 and also the access information to ~
perform a dial-out to a remote location in the event that a remote operation is ~--
indicated. Once thè lookup table has been accessed, the program flows to a ~ `
decision block 137 to determine whether the remote operation has been selected.
l~is remote operation is typically selected by the user when leaving the premises.
This is a code that is input at the main auxiliary panel 48. A flag is therefore set
which c~n be looked at. If this flag is set~ this indicates that the remote operation
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is selected and the program flows along ~ "Y path from the decision block 137
to a function block 139 to access the remote location. However, if the flag is not
set, the prograrn flows along an UN" path from the decision block 137 to a
function block 141 to access the local stations.
Referring now to FIGURE 6, there is illustrated a flowchart depicting
the operation of accessing the local station, which is initiated at a start block 143.
The prograrn then flows to a function block 145 to generate the chime locally,
which chime will be output on the speaker associated with the auxiliary stations28. The prograrn then flows to a decision block 147 to determine if the Udoor"
button on any of the auxiliary stations 28 has been pressed, indica~ng that the
user wishes to effect the voice channel with the individu 1 at the door. If not, the
program flows along an ~N path to a timeout decision block 128 which ;
determines if a timeout period has occurred. If not, the program flows back to
the input of decision block 147. After a predetermined time, the prograrn will
flow from the timeout decision block 128 to an END block 130. When the door
button is depressed, the program will flow from the decision block 147 along a
aY7~ path to a function block 132 to connect the door speaker and rnicrophone atthe door box 10 to the requesting one of the auxiliary stations. The program then
flows to a decision block 134 to deterrnine whether the door latch is to be
released. If so, the progrcun flows along thc uy" path to a function block 136 to
release the latch and then to a decision block 138 to determine whether the
prograun is to be terminated. However, if the latch is not to be released, the
program will flow from decision block 134 along the ~N" path to the input of
decision block 138. If the program is not to be terminated, the prograrn then
flows from the decision block 138 along the UN path to the input of the decision
blocX 134. When the prograrn is to be terrnir;ated, the program flows along the `
uy" path to an END block 140. This would occur when either the user had
broken the connection by releasing the Door button or a code has been input at
- the auxiliary station ~8. ; ;
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Referring now to FIGURE 7, there is illustrated a flowchart depicting
the operation for accessing remote locations, which is initiated at a start block
146. The program then flows to a decision block 148 to deterlnine if a dial tonehas been detected. If not, the prograrn flows to a timeout decision block 150 toS determine if a timeout has occurred. If so, the prograrn flows along the uy path
to an END block 152 and, if not, the program flows along a "N" path to the
input of decision block 148. When the dial tone has been detected, the prograrn
flows along the Y" path to a function block 154 to send a dial string which is in
the access lookup table. This dial stnng typically was entered by the user priorto leaving the premises and is stored in an access lookup table. When the flag
indicating a remote operation is set, this is the number that is accessed. This dial
string is then assembled and output through the telephone system 30. -~
~ After the dial stnng has been transmitted, the prograrn flows to a
- ~ decision block 156 to determine if an off-hook condition has occurred, i.e., the
~ 15 ringing has stopped. If the off-hook condition has not occurred, the prograrn ;
- ~ ~ flows along an N" path to a timeout display block 158 to determine if a
predeterrm~ned timeout has occurred. If so, the prograrn flows along a "Y" path
to the END block 152 and, if not, the prograrn flows along an UN" path back to -
the input of de~ision block 156.
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When the off-hook condition has been detected, the program flows along
the Y" path from the decision block 156 to a function bloclc 162, wherein the
door speaker and microphone are connected to the telephone line by the cross-
point switch 74, thus effecting a voice channel between the user at the o~her end
of the telephone line and the door spe~ker and microphone. The prograrn then
flows to a function block 164 to determine whether a la~ch release command has
been receiYed. Tlus latch command would be in the forrn of a DTMF tone that
was received from the telephone line. In this mode, a DTM~ decoder would be
incorporated into the CPU 66 or into the cross-point s~itch matrix 74. This is aconventional circuit and is not illustrated. If ~he latch release command has been
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received, the program flows along a ~Y" path to a function block 166 to release
the door latch 2U and, if not, the program flows along an ~N" path to a terrninate
decision block 168. After releasing the latch, the progIam also flows from the
function block 166 to the input of decision block 168. The decision block 168
determines whether an on-hook condition has occurred from the remote station or
a code has been input indicating such an operation. If not, the program flows
along an ~N" path back to the input of decision block 164 and, if so, the program
flows along the ~Y" path to an END block 170.
In summary, there has been provided a call forwarding svstem that
allows a voice communication channel to be opened between a speaker on a door
box associated with an intercom system at a remote location. This system
includes a central processing unit that is operable to sense when a button at the
door box has been depressed, indicating that an individual desires to ring a
doorbell. Upon sensing the depression of the doorbell switch and receiving the ~u~
indication that the call is to be forwarded, the CPU then accesses a lookup table ~ ;
to determine the phone number of where the voice channel is to be routed. A
dial string is then assembled and sent out to the telephone system and, upon
detecting an off-hook condition, a voise channel is effected between the speakerat the door box and the remote location. Upon receiving an on-hook condition or
a timeout condition, the connection is then broken. Additionally, the user at the
remote location can remotely access a door latch to allow the door to be opened
and allow the individual to enter the prernises. ~: ;
Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it
should be understood ~hat various changes, substitutions and alterations can be
made therein without departing from the SpiIit and scope of the invention as ~ -
defined by the appended claims.
