GB2394344A

GB2394344A - Alarm arrangement for use with a mobile phone

Info

Publication number: GB2394344A
Application number: GB0224400A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Klaus Dieter Maier; Brian Laurence Mcdonald
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-10-19
Filing date: 2002-10-19
Publication date: 2004-04-21
Also published as: GB0224400D0

Abstract

An alarm arrangement for use with a mobile phone 20, comprising means 12A,12B for mounting the mobile phone to the device, a controller 15 and a electro-magnetic actuator 16 for pressing a key 22 on said mobile phone. The device is connected to a sensing device 11 and is arranged to receive alarm signals therefrom. The alarm signals are processed by the controller which instructs the electro-magnetic actuator to press a key on the mobile phone, whereupon the phone dials a stored number and sends an alarm message to a remote location via the phone network. The message may be an audio recording or an SMS message and may include information regarding the alarm condition. The arrangement may be such that the transmission of information is repeated, and the signal used to locate the mobile phone.

Description

1 2394344

ALARM ARRANGEMENT FOR USE WITH A MOBILE PHONE

The invention relates to the field of security devices for detecting hazardous

conditions, and for transmitting a signal representing such conditions. Particularly the invention relates to a security system device for detecting one or more conditions, for generating a signal in response to such conditions, and for interactively transmitting the signal to selected receivers using a mobile telephone.

Alarm systems that use mobile phone technology are well known devices that are designed to communicate alarm conditions via a mobile services switching centre to one or more alarm destinations defined for the alarm system, such as a mobile phone, to a telephone on the fixed line, to an alarm centre, or the like, characterized in that the alarm system is arranged to give an alarm via the mobile telephone network when one or several alarm conditions are detected. These systems are characterized by an arrangement with a purpose built device using mobile telephone receiver and sender circuits, designed exclusively for the purpose to communicate alarm conditions. Alternatively these systems use an arrangement with a common mobile phone suitable for voice communication and/or data communication that was modified in its' hardware and/or its' software to enable the alarm arrangement to detect and communicate the alarm condition using the mobile phone.

A disadvantage of both types of alarm systems is their relatively high cost, due to the fact they require either a communication device build exclusively to communicate alarm conditions or an arrangement that uses a mobile telephone which has been adapted in its hardware and software. A way to reduce the cost is to use a surplus mobile phone a communication device in the alarm arrangement. The adaptation of hardware and/or software of mobile phones requires specialist tools, which are not available to the typical user of an alarm system. Therefore the user of an alarm system user will find it difficult to make use of any surplus mobile phones to integrate into such an alarm system.

An object of this invention is to provide an alarm arrangement that allows the detection and communication of one or more alarm conditions by means of a mobile phone, where changes to the hardware or software of the mobile phone are not required. Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.

Accordingly, this invention provides an alarm arrangement for use with a mobile phone, in which arrangement information is transmitted with the aid of said mobile phone via a mobile telephone switching centre to an alarm destination defined for said mobile phone, comprising a means for attaching said mobile phone to the arrangement, and a means for electromechanically pressing a key on saw mobile phone, the arrangement being functionally arranged so that said mobile phone is arranged to give an alarm via said mobile phone switching centre, when said key on said mobile phone is pressed.

One means for electromechanically pressing a key, or actuator, may be use to establish a connection to the alarm destination by pressing a key with associated re-dial functionality on the mobile phone. An alarm arrangement with a number of actuators may be used to switch the mobile phone on, dial different telephone numbers, recall telephone numbers from the mobile phone's number storage, establish telephone connections, generate tone signals, or activate similar functions of mobile phone.

The alarm arrangement is connected to alarm devices, such as one or more door switches and/or thermal relays and/or level monitoring devices and/or fire alarm devices and/or burglar alarm devices and/or motion detectors and/or counter devices and/or the like.

A controller unit may be used to detect alarm conditions in the alarm arrangement and generate the signals required by the actuators to press and release keys on the mobile phone.

The establishment of the connection between the alarm arrangement and the alarm destination is in itself communicating that an alarm condition has occurred. Features used to transmit caller identity in telephone technology such as Caller Line Identification may be employed to make this more apparent.

In different embodiments the alarm notification may be further enhanced by providing information, in the case, where several alarm conditions could lead to an alarm, on which of the alarm conditions has occurred. Further sensor device information such as temperature, level, motion, counter states, location obtained through GPS receivers, or the like may be communicated to the alarm destination. This information may be transmitted by audio signals, such as recorded voice messages, text messages (SMS), Dual Tone Multi-

Frequency (DTMF) signals, or the like.

The alarm communication may be arranged to be repeated on basis of time and/or number of events. The repeatedly transmitted information may be utilised for the positioning of the alarm arrangement.

The alarm arrangement and the mobile telephone receive their energy from a power source connected to the electric network, or from an accumulator, or from a battery.

Alarm acknowledgements, operational and stand-by states of the alarm arrangement may be controlled from the alarm destination by means of audio signals, or the like.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein corresponding parts of the various figures bear as appropriate the same numerical designations and in which; Figure 1, is a side view of one alarm arrangement without a mobile phone attached to it;

Figure 2, is a side view of the alarm arrangement shown in Figure 1 with a mobile phone attached to it; Figure 3, is a side view of another alarm arrangement; Figure 4, is a side view of a further alarm arrangement.

As shown in Figure 1, according to the embodiment, the arrangement comprises a base 10 with means to attach, clamps, or holders 12A,12B situated on one side of base 10.

Holders 12A,12B can slide along base 10 and can be fixated at desired positions. An actuator body 14 is fixed to the side of base 10 opposite to the holders 12A, 12B. The movable part of the actuator 16 can be moved electro-mechanically in the directions 18 and reaches through a hole, or opening 20, to the side of base 10 with holders 12A, 12B. An alarm device 11 is connected to a controller unit 15 through a connection 13. Controller unit 15 is connected to actuator body 14 though a connection 17.

The specific embodiment shown in Figure 1 makes use of a last number redial feature present in most common mobile phones. The re-dial feature allows to dial the phone number that was last dialled on a mobile telephone by pressing one specific key associated with the re-dial functionality once, or several times. If this feature is present in the mobile telephone that is to be attached to the alarm arrangement, one actuator is sufficient to establish the connection to the alarm destination and therefore communicate the alarm. The alarm destination the user intends to notify of the alarm has to be dialled as last number on the mobile phone, before attaching the mobile phone to the alarm arrangement.

Figure 2 shows the alarm arrangement introduced in Figure 1 with a mobile phone 20 attached. Mobile phone 20 comprises a re-dial key 22 and further keys 24, 26,28. Mobile

phone 20 is attached to the arrangement in a way that movable part of the actuator 16 is directly placed above mobile phone key 22, which is used to re-dial the last number previously dialled on mobile phone 20. Mobile phone 20 is fixated in this position by means of holders 12A,12B which are slid to positions on base 10, so that mobile phone 20 is held firmly in its' position, then holders 12A, 12B are fixated in these positions to base 10. Mobile phone 20 is powered through an external power supply adaptor 30 that is connected to a power source 32 which may be a mains adapter, an accumulator, a battery or the like. Power source 32 also powers the alarm arrangement (not shown).

Once an alarm condition occurs in alarm device 11, this condition is communicated through connection 13 to controller unit 15. Controller unit 15 then generates and communicates actuator control signals through connection 17. These signals control the movement of moveable part of the actuator 16 to press down and release re-dial key 22 as often as it is required to re-dial the number last dialled on mobile phone 20. Thus mobile phone 20 will dial the last number dialled and notify the alarm destination by establishing the connection that an alarm condition has occurred. If a feature to transmit caller identity such as Caller Line Identification (CLI) is present and activated on mobile phone 20 and the alarm destination supports this feature also, the alarm destination will be informed of the identity transmitted. This is useful to identify the alarm source when several alarm arrangements use the same alarm destination. The identity / phone number of the mobile phone 20 attached to the alarm alarm arrangement that is communicating the alarm will be transmitted to the alarm destination. In an alternative embodiment of the invention as shown in Fig 3, the alarm arrangement comprises a loud speaker 36 mounted on holder 12A, a microphone 40 mounted on holder 12B, an alarm device 11A connected to a controller unit 15A through a connection 13A, a sensor device 11 B connected to a controller unit 15A through a

connection 13B. Sensor device 11 B may provide sensor information such as temperature, level, motion, counter states, location details obtained through GPS receivers, or the like.

Controller unit 15A is connected to actuator body 14 though a connection 17A, controller unit 15A is connected to loudspeaker 36 though a connection 19, and controller unit 15A is connected to microphone 40 though a connection 21. A mobile phone 20A is attached to the alarm arrangement comprising a re-dial key 22B, further keys 24A, 26A, 28A, a build-in microphone 34 and a build-in loudspeaker 38.

Mobile phone 20A is placed and fixated between holders 12A, 12B, so that loud speaker 36 is near microphone 34 of mobile phone 20A, microphone 40 is near loudspeaker 38 of mobile phone 20A, and movable part of the actuator 16 is directly placed above mobile phone key 22B that is used to re-dial the last number previously dialled on mobile phone 20A. Once an alarm condition is occurs in alarm device 11A, this condition is communicated through connection 13A to controller unit 15A. Controller unit 15A then generates and communicates the actuator control signals through connection 17A. These signals control the movement of moveable part of the actuator 16 to press down and release re-dial key 22B as often as it is required to re-dial the number last dialled on mobile phone 20A. Thus mobile phone 20A will dial the last number dialled and notify the alarm destination by establishing the connection that an alarm condition has occurred. Controller unit 15A then generates audio signals using connection 19 and loudspeaker 36, which are communicated to the alarm destination by way of microphone 34 through mobile phone 20A.

These audio signals are then used to communicate information, like which alarm condition has occurred, in the case where several alarm conditions can lead to an alarm, and communicate sensor information gained by sensor device 11 B. This sensor information is

communicated from sensor device 11 B via connection 13B to controller unit 15A. The audio signals can comprise recorded voice messages, tone signals such as Dual Tone Multi-

Frequency (DTMF) signals, or the like.

The alarm destination communicates to and controls the alarm arrangement by transmitting alarm acknowledgements, operational states, or other control signals using audio signals. Microphone 40, is used to detect audio signals communication from the alarm destination that is emitted from loudspeaker 38 and communicates this detected audio signals communication to the control unit 15A via connection 21.

In alternative embodiments of the invention multiple actuators may be used. The alarm arrangement shown in Figure 4 shows an example with 4 actuators. The alarm arrangement comprises holders 12A, 12B that slide along base 10 and that fixate mobile phone 20 in the desired position, actuator bodies 14A, 46, 52, 58 that can slide along base 10 and that can be fixated to base 10 at desired positions, movable parts of the actuators 16A, 44, 50, 56 that can move in directions 18A, 42, 48, 54, and that reach through a opening 60 to the side of base 10 with holders 12A, 12B. An alarm device 11 C is connected to a controller unit 15C through a connection 13C, controller unit 15C is connected to actuator body 14A though a connection 17E, to actuator body 46 though a connection 17B, to actuator body 52 though a connection 17C, and to actuator body 58 though a connection 17D. Mobile phone 20 is attached to the alarm arrangement.

Mobile phone 20 is placed and fixated between holders 12A, 12B, so that mobile phone keys 22, 24, 26, 28 are situated under opening 60. Then actuator bodies 14A, 46, 52, 58 are slid into positions, where movable part of actuator 56 is placed directly above mobile phone key 28, movable part of actuator 50 is placed directly above mobile phone key 26, movable part of actuator 44 is placed directly above mobile phone key 24, and movable part of actuator 16A is placed directly above mobile phone key 22.

Once an alarm condition is occurs in alarm device 11C, this condition is communicated through connection 13C to controller unit 15C. Controller unit 15C then generates and communicates actuator control signals through connection 17E, 17B, 17C, 1 7D. These signals control the movement of moveable parts of the actuators 1 6A, 44, 50, 56, which are moved to press down and release keys 22, 24, 26, 28. Depending on the functionality of keys 22, 24, 26, 28 and the order of pressing, mobile phone 20 can be switched on, telephone numbers dialled, telephone numbers recalled from the mobile phone's number storage, telephone connections established, DTMF tones generated, or other functions of mobile phone 20 activated.

While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be

construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of preferred embodiments of thereof. Many other variations are possible. For example the arrangement may be attached to the mobile phone by means of permanent fixtures, the holders might be attached to different contact surfaces on the mobile phone, the actuators may have a different structure to the actuators sketched in the drawings, and the moveable part of the actuator might move in circular instead of linear direction.

Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. An alarm arrangement for use with a mobile phone, in which arrangement information is transmitted with the aid of said mobile phone via a mobile telephone switching centre to alarm destinations defined for said mobile phone, comprising a means for attaching said mobile phone to the arrangement, and a means for electro-mechanically pressing a key on said mobile phone, the arrangement being functionally arranged so that said mobile phone is arranged to give an alarm via said mobile phone switching centre, when said key on said mobile phone is pressed.

2. An alarm arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the key on said mobile phone

allows to re-dial the last number dialled on said mobile phone.

3. An alarm arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the alarm arrangement comprises a plurality of means for electro-mechanically pressing a plurality of keys on said mobile phone.

4. An alarm arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, or Claim 2, or Claim 3, wherein the alarm arrangement attached to said mobile phone comprises connections to alarm devices.

5. An alarm arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, or Claim 2, or Claim 3, or Claim 4, wherein a controller unit controls said means for electromechanically pressing said keys according to the state of the alarm devices.

6. An alarm arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, or Claim 2, or Claim 3, or Claim 4, or Claim 5, wherein the transmission of information is arranged to be repeated.

7. An alarm arrangement as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the repetition is arranged to occur on the basis of time.

8. An alarm arrangement as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the repetition is arranged to occur on the basis the number of events.

9. An alarm arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, or Claim 2, or Claim 3, or Claim 4, or Claim 5, or Claim 6, or Claim 7, or Claim 8, wherein the transmitted information is in short message service messages.

10. An alarm arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, or Claim 2, or Claim 3, or Claim 4, or Claim 5, or Claim 6, or Claim 7, or Claim 8, wherein the transmitted information is in audio signals.

11. An alarm arrangement as claimed in Claim 4, or Claim 5, or Claim 6, or Claim 7, or Claim 8, or Claim 9, or Claim 10, wherein the transmitted information comprises sensor information.

12. An alarm arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the repeatedly transmitted information is utilised for the positioning of said mobile phone.

13. An alarm arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the arrangement receives its energy from a power supply device.

14. An alarm arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein alarm acknowledgements, operational and stand-by states of said mobile phone can be controlled from the alarm destination.

15. An alarm arrangement for use with a mobile phone substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.