Patent ID: 8368534
Filing Date: 2013-02-05
Classification: G08B

Abstract:
1. A remote door access monitoring system, comprising: a central monitoring component comprising an optical source, a first optical coupler, an optical power level receiver, and a microcontroller, wherein the optical power level receiver is in communication with the microcontroller, wherein the first optical coupler is in optical communication with the optical power level receiver; and a remote monitoring component comprising a second optical coupler, and a plurality of optical switches, each optical switch operably associated with a respective door that is located at a geographical location different from a geographical location of the central monitoring component, wherein the second optical coupler is in optical communication with the plurality of optical switches; wherein the first and second optical couplers are connected to one another by a single optical fiber and facilitate bidirectional optical communication on the optical fiber; wherein the optical source transmits an optical signal from the optical source to the optical switches and back to the optical power level receiver via the first and second optical couplers, wherein the optical signal passes through each of the optical switches before returning back to the optical power level receiver, wherein each optical switch attenuates the optical signal in response to opening or closing of a respective remote door, and wherein the optical power level receiver is configured to detect an attenuated optical signal from each of the optical switches and notify the microcontroller of the existence of an attenuated optical signal.