Telecommunications systems

In a telecommunications system, means for controlling connections to a telephone network

• CHARACTERIZED IN THAT
• the controlling means has first and second modes of operation, a first mode for controlling calls to the telephone network and a second mode for controlling calls from the telephone network, the controlling means including
• a signal receiver for receiving address and command signals in both the first and second modes of operation,
• a data processor responsive to the signal receiver,
• a memory associated with the data processor for storing precoded binary data, the data processor converting the address and command signals to binary data for comparison with the precoded binary data, and
• an address or command signal generator responsive to the data processor.

A telecommunications system for connection to a telephone network

• CHARACTERIZED BY
• means for intercepting telephone calls to and from the telephone network, the intercepting means comprising
• data processing means having memory,
• means for controlling connection to the telephone network,
• means for receiving dial or other service request signals, and
• peripheral device interface connecting the data processing means to security and fire alerting devices, utility meters, thermostats, appliances or other devices,
• the data processing means actuating the means for controlling connection to the telephone network, the data processing means being responsive to entry at the dial or other service request signal receiving means of a particular service request code or being responsive to data provided by the peripheral device interface.

A telecommunications system for connection between a telephone network and at least one telephone station set

• CHARACTERIZED BY
• a signal receiver for receiving signals from the network and the telephone station set
• a ring generator for applying a ringing signal to the telephone station set and
• a data processor having memory and an associated clock for controlling the ring generator responsive to the signal receiver
• means for entering data to data processor
• the ring generator providing distinctive ringing of the telephone station set responsive to a particular signal being received by the signal receiver.

A telecommunications system for connection to a telephone network

• CHARACTERIZED BY
• means for intercepting telephone calls to and from the telephone network, the intercepting means connected between at least one telephone station set having signal generating means and the telephone network, said intercepting means comprising
• means for receiving address and command signals from the telephone station set or the telephone network, at least one such command signal being predetermined and comprising a service request code and a data entry illegal as an address signal, and
• data processing means responsive to the signal receiving means, the data processing means in one mode recognizing the predetermined signal and initiating a service corresponding to the service request code, and in a second mode initiating a connection to the network.