Method and apparatus for decoding DTMF tones

1. The method for decoding a DTMF tone which comprises:

collecting the width of serial signals by measuring the time interval between zero-crossing points within a predetermined time;

counting within said predetermined time the number of signal zero-crossing points;

performing interpolation on the data produced by the collecting and counting steps with a Fourier transform;

identifying a first frequency that has the strongest magnitude from the resulting data; and

calculating the lower frequency of the tone being decoded by subtracting the first frequency from the average frequency of the digitized signal.

2. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the collecting and counting steps utilize a zero crossing detector to produce a digitized signal.

3. The method as described in claim 2 wherein the performing interpolation step is performed on the digitized signal from a zero crossing detector.

4. The method as described in claim 1 that further includes sampling at a rate greater than twice the frequency of the highest frequency component of the signal.

5. The method as described in claim 1 that includes providing a zero crossing detector to identify the zero crossing point of an output.

6. The method as described in claim 1 that includes providing a zero crossing detector to identify a zero crossing point of an output and this method step includes providing a detector that includes a comparator.

7. The method as described in claim 1 further including the step of utilizing the decoded DTMF tone to operate a security system.

8. The method is described in claim 1 further including the step of utilizing the decoded DTMF tone to control a security system.

9. Apparatus for decoding a DTMF tone which comprises:

a zero-crossing detector for receiving a DTMF tone to be decoded and producing a digitized output;

means for collecting the width of serial signals by measuring the time interval between zero-crossing points within a predetermined time;

means for counting within said predetermined time the number of signal zero-crossing points;

means for performing interpolation on the data produced by the collecting and counting steps with a Fourier transform;

means for identifying a first frequency that has the strongest magnitude from the resulting data; and

means for calculating the lower frequency of the tone being decoded by subtracting the first frequency from the average frequency of the digitized signal.

10. The apparatus as described in claim 9 that further includes means for sampling at a rate greater than twice the frequency of the highest frequency component of the signal.

11. The apparatus as described in claim 9 wherein said zero crossing point detector includes a comparator.

12. The apparatus as described in claim 9 wherein said apparatus is part of a security system.

13. The apparatus as described in claim 9 wherein said apparatus is a part of an alarm panel in a security system.

14. The apparatus as described in claim 13 wherein said apparatus is used to control the security system in response to DTMF inputs directed to the security system.

15. The apparatus as described in claim 9 wherein said means for collecting and said means for counting includes:

a microprocessor;

memory;

a data bus connecting said memory and said microprocessor;

means coupling the output of said zero crossing detector to said microprocessor.

16. The apparatus as described in claim 9 wherein said means for performing interpolation includes a microprocessor.