Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus for receiving and processing coded words each word including, in succession, a reference bit, a start bit, data or command bits, a flag bit, a stop bit and a parity bit. The various bits are encoded within a corresponding number of bit periods by eighteen cycles of a 900 hertz signal. The start bit is reversed in phase with respect to the phase of the reference bit to represent a logic "0" and each of the additional bits is either reversed in phase or not reversed in phase with respect to the preceding bit thereby to represent a logic "0" or logic "1", respectively.The data processing apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a microprocessor which performs multiple sampling and frequency comparison operations on each coded word to detect and lock onto the reference bit and then to detect the phase reversed start bit.

Abstract: Apparatus for a signalling system, includes a microprocessor operative to process data words and command words within first and second message intervals. During the first message interval, the microprocessor operates to generate and apply data words in succession to an output terminal and to receive and test command words received in succession at an input terminal. During the second message interval, the microprocessor operates to receive and test data words received in succession at the input terminal and to generate and apply command words in succession to the output terminal. Each command word includes flag data specifying the word as a command word and command data representing either a "send" command or a "retransmit" command. Each data word includes flag data specifying the word as a data word.

Abstract: Apparatus for a monitoring and signalling system such as a home health car system includes a first sensor operative to monitor the entry and exit of an individual from a room (such as a bathroom), and other sensors operative to monitor usage of appliances such as lamps, televisions, refrigerators and telephones. Each sensor, upon monitoring an associated activity, produces and applies a signal to a microprocessor and causes an activity timer in the microprocessor to be set to either a first time period of about 1-2 hours (for an entry into the room) or a second time period of about 8-10 hours (for an exit from the room or for use of an appliance). The activity timer cycles through its associated time period and initiates an alarm sequence at the expiration of the time period for indicating a lack of activity. Thus, if an individual who has entered the room does not exit within the 1-2 hour period, or an appliance is not used for a period of 8-10 hours, an alarm sequence is initiated.

Abstract: Apparatus for a monitoring and signalling system such as a home health care system includes a plurality of sensors operative to monitor the occurrence of activities performed by an individual in his or her residence and to produce binary coded signals indicative of the occurrence of the monitored activities. Each signal comprises six successive identical messages within a one-second interval, with each message including a binary word identifying the monitoring and signalling system, the particular sensor originating the signal, and the nature of the monitored activity. Each message further includes a preamble and a pair of interwords on opposite sides of the binary word.The apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a microprocessor which operates to repetitively sample each signal originating with a sensor to determine the binary content of the signal and to extract a binary word from a message while rejecting preambles, interwords and "glitches" (noise) present in the signal.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in a signalling system for communicating with a centralized communication center over a telephone network. The signalling system includes apparatus operative under prescribed circumstances to produce an alarm condition for initiating an alarm communication by which alarm data can be communicated to the centralized communication center over the telephone network, and apparatus operative at a prescribed time of day to produce a self-check condition for initiating a self-check communication by which prescribed data can be communicated to the centralized communications center over the telephone network. The apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a programmable read only memory which stores telephone number data representing first and second telephone numbers, and a microprocessor which utilizes this data in attempting communication with the centralized communications center.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.