Evacuation system

• US 10,032,348 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2017
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: oneEvent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: oneEvent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Wedig, Kurt Joseph, Parent, Daniel Ralph, Wedig, Tammy Michelle, Sutter-Parent, Kristin Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi
• Application Number:
  US15/494,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20170221326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 34053911, 34053913, 34053918, 3405731, 340 1014, 340506, 34028605, 340521, 340502, 340522, 340628, 340577, 340584, 340541, 4554561, 455457
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/06 Electric actuation of the alarm, e.g. using a thermally-operated switch
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/00 Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/004 Alarm propagated along alternative communication path or using alternative communication medium according to a hierarchy of available ways to communicate, e.g. if Wi-Fi not available use GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/085 using central distribution transmission lines
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/066 guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip

Abstract

A system includes a first sensor configured to identify information regarding an emergency condition associated with a structure and a second sensor configured to identify an occupancy pattern regarding the structure. The system also includes a processor operatively coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and a transceiver. The processor is configured to determine a severity of the emergency condition based at least in part on the information regarding the emergency condition and prioritize rescues within the structure based at least in part on the occupancy pattern. The system also includes the transceiver which is configured to transmit an identification of the emergency condition, a location of the structure, the occupancy pattern, the prioritization of rescues, and the severity of the emergency condition.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first sensor configured to identify information regarding an emergency condition associated with a structure;

a second sensor configured to identify an occupancy pattern regarding the structure;

a processor operatively coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and a transceiver, wherein the processor is configured to;

determine a severity of the emergency condition based at least in part on the information regarding the emergency condition; and

prioritize rescues within the structure based at least in part on the occupancy pattern; and

wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit an identification of the emergency condition, a location of the structure, the occupancy pattern, the prioritization of rescues, and the severity of the emergency condition.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises a heat sensor, and wherein the information regarding the emergency condition comprises a temperature.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises a smoke detector, and wherein the information regarding the emergency condition comprises an amount of smoke.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the occupancy pattern includes a number of occupants in the structure.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the occupancy pattern includes a number of occupants in a given room of the structure.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the occupancy pattern is specific to a given location within the structure.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a gas sensor, and wherein the information regarding the emergency condition comprises a concentration of a detected gas.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the occupancy pattern comprises a time that one or more occupants were detected in the structure.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the identification of the emergency condition to the emergency response center via a telecommunications network, the Internet, or a public switched telephone network.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the occupancy pattern comprises an expected occupancy of the structure based on historic occupancy information.

11. A method comprising:

identifying, by a first sensor within a structure, an emergency condition associated with the structure and information regarding the emergency condition;

determining, by a processor operatively coupled to the first sensor, a severity of the emergency condition based at least in part on the information regarding the emergency condition;

determining, by a second sensor operatively coupled to the processor, an occupancy pattern regarding the structure;

determining, by the processor, a prioritization of rescues within the structure based at least in part on the occupancy pattern; and

transmitting, by a transceiver, an identification of the emergency condition, a location of the structure, the occupancy pattern, the prioritization of rescues, and the severity of the emergency condition.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises a heat sensor, and wherein the information regarding the emergency condition comprises a temperature.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises a smoke detector, and wherein the information regarding the emergency condition comprises an amount of smoke.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the occupancy information includes a number of occupants in the structure.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the occupancy information includes an indication that there are one or more occupants in a given room of the structure.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the occupancy pattern is specific to a given location within the structure.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises a gas sensor, and wherein the information regarding the emergency condition comprises a concentration of a detected gas.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the occupancy information comprises a time that one or more occupants were detected in the structure.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the occupancy pattern comprises an expected occupancy of the structure based on historic occupancy information.