Abstract: A switching system and method of remote switching and/or regulating an electrically operated device by the use of the DTMF telephone or modem signals. A switching and/or regulating element is actuated and/or controlled by the system upon detecting a specific code generated remotely by telephone or modem. The system allows to remotely monitor environmental sounds, the status of the device and/or the variables controlled by this device by the use of signals generated by the system. The system also allows a bi-directional communication by transmiting sounds or spelling words, spelling data and sentences generated by a voice synthesizer for monitoring outside the premises by the use of a telephone for human understanding. The system may use unlimited types of messages which can also describe the status of any type of physical variable sensed on the premises and/or transmits modulated data of the messages described above for out of the premises computer communication linked by the telephone network via a modem.

Abstract: A switching system and a method of remote switching an electrically operated device by using calling signals generated by a telephone. A switching element is actuated by the system upon detecting a specific code of the calling signals generated by the telephone and validating a predetermined number of these calling signals. The calling signals are treated by a processing circuit which in turn conditions circuit elements to actuate the switching. More specifically, but not exclusively, the calling signals are sound signals generated by the telephone and the switching system is located in proximity to the telephone source whereby to receive the sound signals.