EP0212947A2 — Automatic personnel monitoring system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 90 words

A monitoring system for indicating the presence of a person at a remote location through a telephone line, characterized by means (12) at a central location for automatically establishing a telephone link between the central and remote locations, and decoder means (18) at the remote location for producing a verification signal in response to an action performed by the person whose presence is to be verified and transmitting said verification signal through the telephone line to the central location to indicate the presence of the person at the remote location.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 90 words

A monitoring system for indicating the presence of a person at a remote location through a telephone line, characterized by means (12) at a central location for automatically establishing a telephone link between the central and remote locations, and decoder means (18) at the remote location for producing a verification signal in response to an action performed by the person whose presence is to be verified and transmitting said verification signal through the telephone line to the central location to indicate the presence of the person at the remote location.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 38 words

The system of Claim 1, characterized in that said decoder means (18) includes means (29) for receiving an object (27) and means for producing said verification signal in response to insertion of the object into said receiving means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 44 words

The system of Claim 2, characterized in that said decoder means includes means (45, 39) responsive to the insertion of said object for temporarily coupling said decoder means to said telephone line and uncoupling a telephone at said remote location from said telephone line.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 51 words

The system of Claim 3, characterized in that said decoder means includes a power supply (43) adapted to draw power from the telephone line, and means (41) for connecting said power supply to the telephone line to produce an output voltage when said detector means is coupled to the telephone line.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 52 words

The system of Claim 4, characterized in that said decoder means includes timer means (47) for timing out a predetermined time period in response to the production of said output voltage and, upon lapse of said predetermined time, uncoupling said decoder means from the line and recoupling said telephone to the line.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 58 words

The system of Claim 5, characterized in that said decoder means includes a switch (41) connecting said power supply to the telephone line, receiver means (66) for receiving signals from the central location and a logic gate (122) controlling said switch, said logic gate being responsive to said timer means and being further responsive to said receiver means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of Claim 1, characterized in that said decoder means includes means for generating a security sequence (60).

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 52 words

The system of Claim 7, characterized in that said means (12) at said central location includes means for transmitting a handshake signal, and said means for generating a security sequence includes receiving means (64, 66) actuated by said handshake signal and security sequence transmitting means (60, 62) responsive to said receiving means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 34 words

The system of Claim 8, characterized in that said means for transmitting a handshake signal includes means (60) for transmitting dual-tone multifrequency signals and wherein said receiving means includes a dual-tone multifrequency receiver (66).

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 61 words

The system of Claim 9, characterized in that said decoder means includes means (58) responsive to said dual-tone multifrequency receiver for converting a received dual-tone multifrequency signal into a decimal equivalent signal, and wherein said security sequence transmitting means includes a tone generator (60) responsive to said decimal equivalent signal for transmitting a corresponding single tone signal to the central location.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 65 words

The system of any one of Claims 8, 9, or 10, characterized in that said receiving means includes an input amplifier (64), said security sequence transmitting means includes an output amplifier and said decoder means includes a power supply adapted to draw power from the telephone line and means (72, 74) for alternately connecting said input amplifier and said output amplifier to said power supply.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 62 words

The system of any one of Claims 1-10, characterized in that said decoder means includes a first portion (50, 52) for generating said verification signal, a second portion (58, 60, 62) for transmitting said verification signal to the central location, a power supply (43), and a power distribution circuit (54) for alternately connecting said first and second portions to said power supply.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 70 words

The system of Claim 11, characterized in that said power distribution circuit includes a first switch (182) for selectively connecting said first portion to said power supply, a second switch (188) for selectively connecting said second portion to said power supply, a first inverter (178) controlling said first switch in response to said verification signal, and a second inverter (184) controlling said second switch in response to said first inverter.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 37 words

The system of any one of the preceding claims, further characterized by a timer (14) at the central location, said means (12) at the central location for automatically establishing a telephone link being responsive to said timer.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 35 words

The system of any one of the preceding claims, further characterized by means (16) at the central location for providing observable indicia regarding whether the presence of the person at the remote location was indicated.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 34 words

The system of any one of Claims 2-6, characterized in that said object (27) is carried by a bracelet (25) and said bracelet includes means for indicating if said bracelet has been tampered with.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 51 words

The system of any one of Claims 2-6, characterized in that said object carries coded information (26) and said decoder means includes a sensor (50) located proximate to said means for receiving an object for sensing said coded information when said object is inserted in said means for receiving an object.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 116 words

The system of Claim 17, characterized in that said sensor includes a plurality of oscillators (150, 152, 154) having first and second states responsive to said coded information, and wherein said verification signal is produced in response to each of said oscillators being in a predetermined one of said first and second states, and said coded information includes at least one metallic member (26) embedded within said object so that each said metallic members is positioned at a predetermined location with respect to said plurality of oscillators and each said metallic member causes at least one of said plurality of oscillators to change states when said object is inserted into said means for receiving an object.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 104 words

A decoder for producing and transmitting a verification signal over a telephone line, of the type having means for supplying power, and communication means for transmitting said verification signal over the telephone line, characterized by means (29) for receiving an object carrying a predetermined code, coupling means (39, 41, 47) responsive to the insertion of said object for coupling said means (43) for supplying power to a telephone line and for uncoupling a telephone from the telephone line, and means (50) for analyzing said object to determine if said predetermined code is present and for producing said verification signal in response to said analysis.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 104 words

A decoder for producing and transmitting a verification signal over a telephone line, of the type having means for supplying power, and communication means for transmitting said verification signal over the telephone line, characterized by means (29) for receiving an object carrying a predetermined code, coupling means (39, 41, 47) responsive to the insertion of said object for coupling said means (43) for supplying power to a telephone line and for uncoupling a telephone from the telephone line, and means (50) for analyzing said object to determine if said predetermined code is present and for producing said verification signal in response to said analysis.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 45 words

The decoder of Claim 19, further characterized by power distribution means (54) for alternately connecting said means for analyzing (50) and said communication means (62) to said means for supplying power, said power supply means (43) being adapted to draw power from the telephone line.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 50 words

The decoder of Claim 19 or Claim 20, characterized in that said communication means includes means (64, 66) for receiving a handshake signal over the telephone line, and security sequence transmitting means (58, 60, 62) actuated by said receiving means for providing a security sequence transmitted over the telephone line.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 48 words

The decoder of Claim 21, characterized in that said receiving means (64, 66) is also operative to receive an end signal over the telephone line and actuate said coupling means to uncouple said means for supplying power from said telephone line and recouple the telephone to the line.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 41 words

The decoder of any one of Claims 19-22, characterized in that said coupling means (39, 41, 47) is responsive to said verification signal to uncouple said means for supplying power from the telephone line and recouple the telephone to the line.

Automatic personnel monitoring system

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