Mobile user interface for event notifications arising from smart-home hazard detection devices

• US 10,032,363 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2017
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Bruck, Timo A., Rossi, Shiney, Sloo, David, Boyd, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blount, Eric M
• Application Number:
  US15/484,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20170352259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 340628
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/33 to fire, excessive heat or smoke
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/34 by opening air passages
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/75 for maintaining constant air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/89 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/02 by investigating impedance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/121 for determining moisture content, e.g. humidity, of the fluid moisture content of the tested material G01N27/048
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0031 comprising two or more sensors, e.g. a sensor array electrochemical electrode arrays G01N27/27
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/004 for CO, CO2
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/10 Detecting, e.g. by using light barriers by reflection from the object G01S17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/70 Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras camera calibration G06T7/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/46 Extracting features or characteristics from the video content, e.g. video fingerprints, representative shots or key frames
• 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 17/117 by using a detection device for specific gases, e.g. combustion products, produced by the fire G08B17/103, G08B17/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 : responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 : Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 : Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 : Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/002 : Generating a prealarm to the central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 : Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/012 : using recorded signals, e.g. speech G08B25/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 : using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/02 : Monitoring continuously signalling or alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/04 : Monitoring of the detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/145 : of fire detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/185 : Signal analysis techniques for reducing or preventing false alarms or for enhancing the reliability of the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/22 : Provisions facilitating manual calibration, e.g. input or output provisions for testing; Holding of intermittent values to permit measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/26 : by updating and storing reference thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 : using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/22 : using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 : using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 : Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 : indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 : from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 : based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 : for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 : Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 : for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 : Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 : Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 : by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 : via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 : Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters

Abstract

System for displaying hazard events and adjusting hazard detector settings on a mobile device includes a user interface executed on the mobile device, a hazard detector, and a computer server system communicatively coupled to the mobile device and hazard detector. The hazard detector generates hazard events indicating detection of smoke or carbon monoxide. The hazard events are transmitted to the computer server system and then to the mobile device. User interface displays the hazard events in an event group. User interface receives an adjusted value for a setting of the hazard detector and transmits the adjusted value to the computer server system. The computer server system determines that the adjusted value corresponds to the hazard detector, receives a check-in event from the hazard detector, and transmits the adjusted value to the hazard detector in response to receiving the check-in event. The hazard detector applies the adjusted value to the setting.

Claims

1. A hazard detection system, comprising:

a user interface application executed on a mobile device that communicates with a computer server system, the user interface application being configured to;

present a graphical interface that provides an option to enable and disable a pre-alarm feature of a hazard detector, wherein;

the pre-alarm feature causes the hazard detector to output a pre-alarm alert indicative of a hazard level being present above a pre-alarm threshold but below an alarm threshold; and

the pre-alarm alert is indicative of the hazard level rising but not having reached an emergency level at which an alarm is sounded;

receive user input that enables the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector via the graphical interface; and

transmit data indicative of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being enabled and of a user account linked with the hazard detector to a computer server system;

the computer server system that communicates with a plurality of hazard detectors that are linked with a plurality of user accounts, wherein the computer server system is configured to;

receive the data indicative of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being enabled and of the user account;

store an indication of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being enabled by the user interface application, wherein the indication of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being enabled is linked with the user account; and

transmit, to the hazard detector, data indicative of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being enabled by the user interface application; and

the hazard detector comprising;

one or more hazard sensors;

one or more processors; and

a wireless interface, wherein the hazard detector is configured to;

receive, via the wireless interface, the data indicative of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being enabled by the user interface application;

detect, using measurements from the one or more hazard sensors, that the hazard level that is greater than the pre-alarm threshold but less than the alarm threshold; and

in response to detecting the hazard level that is greater than the pre-alarm threshold but less than the alarm threshold and in response to the data indicative of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being enabled by the user interface application, output the pre-alarm alert.

2. The hazard detection system of claim 1, wherein the user interface application is further configured to output for presentation an indication of when the pre-alarm alert occurred.

3. The hazard detection system of claim 2, wherein the indication of the pre-alarm alert is arranged along a graphical timeline.

4. The hazard detection system of claim 3, wherein one or more indications of alarms, one or more indications of a hazard clearing, or both are additionally arranged along the graphical timeline.

5. The hazard detection system of claim 1, wherein the user interface application is further configured to:

present the graphical interface to enable or disable the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector, wherein the graphical interface indicates that the pre-alarm feature is currently enabled;

receive user input that disables the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector; and

transmit data indicative of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being disabled and of the user account linked with the hazard detector to the computer server system.

6. The hazard detection system of claim 5, wherein the computer server system is further configured to:

receive the data indicative of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being disabled and of the user account;

store an indication of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being disabled by the user interface application, wherein the indication of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector is linked with the user account; and

transmit, to the hazard detector, data indicative of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being disabled by the user interface application.

7. The hazard detection system of claim 6, wherein the hazard detector is further configured to:

receive, via the wireless interface, the data indicative of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being disabled by the user interface application; and

disable the output of pre-alarm alerts in response to the data indicative of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being disabled by the user interface application.

8. The hazard detection system of claim 1, wherein the hazard level indicates an amount of at least one of smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) present at the hazard detector.

9. The hazard detection system of claim 1, wherein the pre-alarm alert comprises audible speech and light output by the hazard detector.

10. A method for managing pre-alarm alerts, the method comprising:

presenting, by an application executed by a mobile device, a graphical interface that allows a pre-alarm feature of a hazard detector to be enabled, wherein;

the pre-alarm feature causes the hazard detector to output a pre-alarm alert indicative of a hazard level being present above a pre-alarm threshold but below an alarm threshold;

receiving, by the application executed by the mobile device, user input that enables a pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector; and

transmitting, by the application executed by the mobile device, data indicative of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being enabled and of a user account linked with the hazard detector to a computer server system;

receiving, by the computer server system, the data indicative of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being enabled and of the user account;

storing, by the computer server system, an indication of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being enabled by the application, wherein the indication of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector is linked with the user account; and

transmitting, to the hazard detector by the computer server system, data indicative of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being enabled by the application;

receiving, via a wireless interface of the hazard detector, the data indicative of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being enabled by the application;

detecting, by the hazard detector, the hazard level that is greater than the pre-alarm threshold but less than the alarm threshold; and

in response to detecting the hazard level that is greater than the pre-alarm threshold but less than the alarm threshold and in response to the data indicative of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being enabled by the application, outputting, by the hazard detector a pre-alarm alert.

11. The method for managing pre-alarm alerts of claim 10, the method further comprising:

outputting, by the application executed by the mobile device, for presentation an indication of when the pre-alarm alert occurred.

12. The method for managing pre-alarm alerts of claim 11, wherein the indication of when the pre-alarm alert occurred is arranged along a graphical timeline.

13. The method for managing pre-alarm alerts of claim 12, further comprising:

outputting, by the application executed by the mobile device, for presentation one or more indications of when one or more alarms occurred, one or more indications of when one or more hazards clearing occurred, or both are additionally arranged along the graphical timeline along with the indication of when the pre-alarm alert occurred.

14. The method for managing pre-alarm alerts of claim 10, further comprising:

outputting, by the application executed by the mobile device, for presentation the graphical interface to enable or disable the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector, wherein the graphical interface indicates that the pre-alarm feature is currently enabled;

receiving, by the application executed by the mobile device, user input that disables the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector; and

transmitting, by the application executed by the mobile device, data indicative of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being disabled and of the user account linked with the hazard detector to the computer server system.

15. The method for managing pre-alarm alerts of claim 14, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the computer server system, the data indicative of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being disabled and of the user account;

storing, by the computer server system, an indication of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being disabled by the application, wherein the indication of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector is linked with the user account; and

transmitting, by the computer server system, to the hazard detector, data indicative of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being disabled by the application.

16. The method for managing pre-alarm alerts of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, via a wireless interface of the hazard detector, the data indicative of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being disabled by the application executed by the mobile device; and

disabling, by the hazard detector, the output of pre-alarm alerts in response to receiving the data indicative of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being disabled by the application executed by the mobile device.

17. The method for managing pre-alarm alerts of claim 10, wherein the hazard level indicates an amount of at least one of smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) present at the hazard detector.

18. The method for managing pre-alarm alerts of claim 10, wherein the pre-alarm alert comprises audible speech and light output by the hazard detector.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored therein for execution by a mobile device in communication with a computer server system, wherein the instructions cause the mobile device to:

output for presentation one or more indications of previous pre-alarms and alarms that have occurred at a hazard detector;

output for presentation a graphical interface that allows a pre-alarm feature of a hazard detector to be enabled, wherein;

the pre-alarm feature causes the hazard detector to output a pre-alarm alert indicative of a hazard level being present above a pre-alarm threshold but below an alarm threshold; and

a pre-alarm is indicative of the hazard level rising but not having reached an emergency level;

receive user input that enables the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector; and

transmit data indicative of the pre-alarm feature of the hazard detector being enabled and of a user account linked with the hazard detector to a computer server system for transmission to the hazard detector.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the pre-alarm alert comprises audible speech and light output by the hazard detector.