Audio listen and voice security system

In a security alarm system including a central station which communicates with a subscriber premises, apparatus comprising:

• a) a plurality of audio means for detecting analog audible sounds, wherein each of said audio means is mounted in audible proximity to at least one of a plurality of alarm sensors;
• and
• b) audio controller means coupled to each of said audio means and separately coupled to said central station via a telephone line, comprising;
• i) receiver means for receiving an audio input from each of the plurality of audio means,
• ii) means for digitally encoding the analog audio inputs of each of said audio means into audio data,
• iii) means for storing the audio data in random access memory means,
• iv) means coupled to the telephone line for encoding and decoding DTMF signals, and
• v) processor means responsive to detected alarm conditions for coupling all of said audio means to said digital encoding mans, prior to an alarm condition, and only the audio means in closest physical proximity to an alarm sensor reporting an alarm, after the reporting of an alarm, for periodically compiling the pre alarm audio data from all of the audio means and storing the data to a first address of said random access memory, for storing post alarm audio data from the single audio means to a second address, after detecting an alarm, for seizing said telephone line and establishing communications from said central station to the audio means in closest physical proximity to the alarm sensor reporting an alarm condition with the reporting of the alarm condition, and thereafter for selectively 1) coupling voice communications from the central station to the subscriber premises through a speaker and 2) listening to the audio means.

In a security alarm system including a central station which communicates with a subscriber premises via a telephone link, apparatus comprising:

• a) a system controller coupled to a plurality of alarm sensors distributed about a subscriber premises;
• b) a plurality of microphones, wherein each of said microphones is mounted in audible proximity to at least one of said plurality of alarm sensors;
• and
• c) audio controller means coupled via a phone line to said central station for continuously monitoring each of said microphones and for periodically storing digital data compilations of the audio inputs from each of said microphones at a first address of a memory means, prior to an alarm, and for selecting and storing audio data from the microphone in closest proximity to an active alarm sensor at a second address for a predetermined period of time after the detection of an alarm, until reset, and including means for seizing said telephone link and establishing communications from said central station to the audio means in closest physical proximity to the alarm sensor reporting an alarm condition with the reporting of the alarm condition.