SYSTEM AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES FOR REMOTE CONTROL, BY DTMF SIGNALS, OF ELECTRONIC KEYBOARD-OPERATED EQUIPMENT

Abstract: Electronic system (10) for remote control of an electronic apparatus (23) with keyboard (24) comprising interfaces for connection to a telephone line (25), for a radio transmitter, for computer control, storage and programming circuits with codes corresponding to commands that can be carried out in the apparatus (23), circuits of commutators for effecting commands, a strip-line (28) that brings onto the outside the contacts of the apparatus (23) and a microprocessor which on receiving certain codes, following certain keys being struck on the numeric pad of a telephone (20) or on the keyboard of a computer, with DTMF signals, compares said codes with those stored and then causes the apparatus (23) to carry out the operations corresponding to those obtainable by direct keystroking on the user's own keyboard (24).

Description: System and electronic devices for remote control, by DTMF signals, of electronic keyboard-operated equipment The invention concerns systems and devices for remote control of equipment operated by electronic keyboards and numeric pads. As is well known, the widely used 12-key numeric pads for table-top or cellular telephones can open and close certain circuits, generating DTMF signals. More and more extensive use is made of telephone calls using computers and the like together with modems. The same applies to the use of computers with a wide variety of electronic equipment operated by complex keyboards which have up to a hundred keys or more. In a great many cases it would be advantageous to operate these complex keyboards or at any rate generate the signals transmitted from them through the ordinary telephone network. In certain instances this could even be decisive or in any case extremely useful bearing in mind the increasingly numerous and sophisticated services that can be operated through these complex keyboards. By means of the above invention types of apparatus operated by complex keyboards can be remote-controlled through ordinary telephone lines both using the 12-key numeric pads and also computer keyboards with modems to the great advantage of users as will now be explained. 2 Subject of the invention is an electronic system for remote control by means of DTMF signals of an electronic keyboard device comprising: an interface for connection to a telephone line an interface for a radio transmitter an interface for control from a computer a circuit for recognition of the active interface a storage and programming circuit into which codes are inserted, each code corresponding to the command or sequence of commands that can be put into effect in the apparatus to be remote-controlled using the keys of the person's own keyboard or numeric pad a circuit for peripheral device commands a circuit for a number of commutators for giving the commands corresponding to the various codes a circuit for peripheral device readings a strip-line circuit on the outside of which are all the contacts for the keyboard apparatus to be remote-controlled, a connector for connection to the strip-line circuit a microprocessor When, having pressed certain keys on the phone numeric pad or computer keyboard, and with DTMF signals, one or more codes have been received from the user, the microprocessor compares them with those contained in the storage and programming circuits, decides the methods and times of action by said commutators., relating these times, as required, to the way said commutators function - monostable, bistable, delayed opening, delayed closing - thus carrying out the desired operations in the remote- controlled device. Advantageously the telephone interface comprises an RJ1 1 connector to the line, a call detector, a transformer for analogue telephone lines and electronic circuits able to bring the signal back within the masks imposed by the TTL series. The interface for a radio transmitter, useful when the apparatus operating with this system cannot be placed close to a telephone socket, advantageously comprises a narrow-band super-regenerative receiver with 3 carrier frequency of 433.92 Mhz and on-off carrier modulation for reception of the digital signal sent by the transmitter, comprising a call detector, an uncoupling repeater for analogue telephone lines, a DTMF/4bit converter of the analogue signal to a digital signal, a narrow-band transmitter with SAW and Resonator, a carrier at 433.92 Mhz with on-off carrier modulation. The actual radio contact between the transmitter and the receiver of the above system is indicated by a LED placed on the interface of radio reception showing whether the carrier is present or not. The interface for a PC advantageously consists of an RS 232/TTL converter connected to the PC by a DB9 connector permitting direct intervention in the system using, instead of a telephone, a VT100 terminal with asynchronous connection and further permitting the system to send control information onto the PC's screen and wait for any commands to be sent. All the firmware needed for managing the system is stored so that there is no need to install a management program in the computer. The manu of options, commands and configuration of the system are supplied through the RS 232 gate. The circuit for recognising the active interface automatically connects the microprocessor to the interface concerned from among the existing ones, namely for connection to the telephone line, by radio transmitter, for control by the computer. The storage and programming circuit is able to supply its own password which the user needs to transmit to the system in order to have the call accepted; if the password is wrong, the microprocessor intervenes to clear the telephone line. On keystroking a pre-programmed line clearance code, the user can clear the line as soon as transmission has been completed. In any case a circuit automatically clears the telephone line after a time out from the last operation that took place. Advantageously each command put in by the user and translated into action by the system is stored with all useful details such as date, time and password, so that its history can be reviewed at any time. Also advantageously a circuit makes access possible through the interface RS232 to all the information desired that can be visualised on the screen of the computer connected to the system. The commutators are low-powered galvanic-insulated relais or else are optoisolators, this being so in order to avoid any electrical interaction between the above system and the keyboard apparatus to be remote controlled. The invention offers evident advantages. By means of an ordinary telephone or an ordinary computer, using the DTMF signal, remote control can be made of electronic equipment operated by complex keyboards. Bearing in mind the ever-increasing number of devices managed by computers with complex keyboards and of the frequently occurring need for timely use of such keyboards, making it possible to use such equipment in the same way as with a keyboard itself but at any distance through ordinary telephone lines, the above invention will be found of extreme interest and will be destined to adoption on a very large scale. The possibility of being informed both by telephone as well as by a computer screen of all operations both past and present, permits a continuous check to be kept on remote management of keyboard equipment, with maximum certainty that the commands given and the results obtained are correct. Characteristics and purposes of the invention will be made still clearer by the following examples of its execution illustrated by diagrammatically drawn figures. Fig. 1 Diagram showing application of the invention connected to a telephone. Fig. 2 As above with telephone-radio connection. Fig. 3 As above with computer-telephone connection. Fig. 4 Network of connections between radio transmitter and telephone line. Fig. 5 Network for realization of the invented electronic device. Fig. 6 Diagram to show application of the system by telephone connection The ordinary 20 or cellular 21 telephone is connected by telephone line 25 to the device 10 realized by the system subject of the invention. Said device 10 is connected, by connector 37, to the strip-line 28 in turn connected to the apparatus 23 to be remote controlled all of whose contacts are external on the keyboard 24. The contacts of the device 10 are therefore in parallel with said keyboard's contacts. In Figure 2 the telephone 20 is connected by the wire 25 to the radio transmitter 26 with antenna 27 (see Fig.4) connected to the device 10, subject of the invention, by the antenna 42. In Figure 3, the personal computer 30 is connected through the modem 31 to the telephone line 25 which, on arrival, is connected to the device 10 through the modem 32. The network diagram in Figure 4 shows the composition of transmitter 26 with the antenna 27 connected to the telephone 30 by the line 25. Said transmitter 26 comprises the call detector 33, digital converter 34 and digital transmitter 35. The network diagram in Figure 5 for the device 10 comprises the telephone interface 40, the radio interface 41 with antenna 42 and the com- puter interface 43. These interfaces are connected to the circuit 44 that recognises the active interface and automatically connects it to the microprocessor 45. This microprocessor is connected to the storage and programming circuit 46 and to circuit 47 that commands the peripheral devices through the sequence of commutators 48. This sequence of commutators 48 is connected, through the connector 50, to the strip-line 28 on the apparatus 23 with keyboard 24, to be remote controlled. The codes, corresponding to the command and to the sequence of commands that can be effected in the apparatus to be remote-controlled by the keys on its keyboard, are inserted in the storage and programming circuit 46. The commands sent by telephone are stored in said storage circuit with 6 details of date, time and password so that at any time the history of the functions can be reviewed through the peripheral device reading circuit 49 connected to the microprocessor. On receiving from the user one or more codes, after keystroking them on the telephone numeric pad or on the computer keyboard, with DTMF signals, from among the codes put into the storage and programming circuits, the microprocessor compares them with those contained in the storage circuits 46 and decides how and when said commutators shall act so as to produce the desired operations in the apparatus to be remote- controlled. Access to all information can be obtained via interface RS 232 putting in the initial and final data for the period of interest, or else by everything done by a single password. All information requested can be seen on the screen of the computer connected to the system. Figure 3 gives a diagram of how to use the system by telephone. The wording in the various boxes shows how the system functions.

Claims: 7 Claims 1 . Electronic system (10) for operating remote control by means of DTMF signals, of an electronic apparatus (23) with keyboard (24) comprising: an interface (40) for connection to a telephone (20) by a telephone line (25), an interface (A1) for a radio transmitter (26), an interface (43) for control by a personal computer (30) a circuit (44) for recognition of the active interface, a storage and programming circuit (46) into which codes are inserted, each one corresponding to the command or to the sequence of commands that can be effected in the apparatus (23) to be remote-controlled by means of the keys on the numeric pad of the telephone (20) or by those on the keyboard of the computer (30), a circuit (47) for commanding the peripheral devices, a circuit (48) comprising a number of commutators for carrying out commands corresponding to the various codes, a circuit (49) for reading peripheral devices, a strip-line circuit (28) that places externally all contacts of the apparatus (23) with keyboard (24) to be remote-controlled, a connector (50) for connection to the strip-line circuit (28), a microprocessor (45) which, having received one or more codes from the user, who has keystroked them on the numeric pad of the telephone (20) or on the keyboard of the computer (30) with DTMF signals, compares the codes with data contained in the storage and programming circuit (46), decides ways and times of action by said commutators (48), relating said times, as required, to an operation that may be monostable, bistable, delayed opening, delayed closing, and so produces by telephone the desired functions in the apparatus (23) to be remote-controlled. 2. Electronic system (10) as in claim 1 , in which the telephone interface comprises an RJ1 1 connector to the telephone line (25), a call detector, a transformer for analogue telephone lines and electronic circuits able to return the entering signal within the mask imposed by the TTL series. 3. Electronic system (10) as in claim 1 , in which the interface for the radio transmitter (26), useful when the device (10) functioning with that system cannot be placed close to a telephone socket, comprises a narrow-band super regenerative receiver with a carrier frequency of 433.92 Mhz with on-off carrier modulation for reception of the digital signal sent by the transmitter (26) comprising a call detector (33), an uncoupling repeater for analogue telephone lines, a converter (34) of the DTMF analogue signal into a digital signal 4. Electronic system (10) as in claim 3, in which actual contact between the transmitter (26) and the receiver is indicated by a LED placed on the radio reception interface (41) showing whether the carrier is present or not. 5. Electronic system (10) as in claim 1 , in which the interface (43) for a personal computer consists of an RS 232/TTL converter connected to the computer (30) by a DB9 connector so that direct action can be taken on the system using, instead of a telephone, a VT100 terminal with asynchronous connection and further permitting the system to send checking information to the screen of said computer (30) and await any possible commands, all the firmware needed for managing the system being contained in the storage circuit (46) so that no management program need be installed in the computer (30), the menu of options, commands and configuration of the system being supplied by the gate RS 232. 6. Electronic system (10) as in claim 1 , in which the circuit (44) for recognition of the active interface, automatically connects the microprocessor (45) to the active interface from among the existing ones, namely for connection (40) to the telephone line (25), for the radio transmitter (41) for control (43) by the computer. 7. Electronic system (10) as in claim 1 , in which the storage and programming circuit (46) can decide its own password which the user must necessarily transmit to the system to obtain acceptance of the call, the microprocessor (45) clearing the telephone line (25) if the password is not correct. 8. Electronic system (10) as in claim 1 , in which, by keystroking a pre-programmed clearing code, the user can clear the telephone line (25) as soon as the last transmission has been completed. 9. Electronic system (10) as in claim 1 , in which a circuit determines automatic clearance of the telephone line (25) after a time out from the last operation executed. 10. Electronic system (10) as in claim 1 , in which each command put in by the user and transformed into action by the system is stored with all useful details such as the date, time and password enabling its history to be reviewed at any time. 1 1. Electronic system (10) as in claim 1 , in which a circuit permits access, through the interface RS232, to all information while all the required information can be seen on the screen of the computer (30) connected to the system. 12. Electronic system (10) as in claim 1 , in which the commutators (48) are low-powered, galvanic insulated relais. 13. Electronic system (10) as in claim 1 , in which the commutators (48) are optoisolators. 14 Electronic apparatus possessing characteristics as indicated by the system described in claims 1 to 13.

Inventors: VALENTINI OTTIMO, VALENTINI, OTTIMO
Applicants: ALLCOM DI VALENTINI, VALENTINI OTTIMO, VALENTINI, OTTIMO
Application year: 1998
Main classification: H04M11
IPC codes: H04M11