Monitoring and signalling system

摘要

A monitoring and signalling system including a remote control unit in the residence of an individual and a centralized communication center interconnected with the remote control unit by a telephone network. A plurality of sensors are located within the residence and operate to monitor the occurrence of particular activities performed by the individual and to produce signals in response to monitoring the occurrence of the activities. A microprocessor in the remote control unit receives and processes signals produced by the sensors and accumulates sensor activity data representing a running tally of the number of times each sensor has monitored its associated activity. The microprocessor is also able to detect a prolonged lack of activity and to initiate an alarm sequence during which steady audible and visual alarm indications are provided in a pre-alarm period and followed by intermittent audible and visual alarm indications while an alarm communication is established and completed with the centralized communications center. The microprocessor is also able on a daily basis to initiate a self-check communication during which the sensor activity data corresponding to the various sensors is transmitted to the centralized communications center and processed to identify any sensor which failed to monitor an associated activity since the last self-check operation.