Mobile user interfaces for smart-home hazard detection devices

• US 10,163,333 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2018
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• 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:
  US16/019,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20180308347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 182 Days
• Field of Search: 340632
• 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

Various arrangements are presented for controlling a night light feature of a hazard detector. A user interface application executed on a mobile device may output, a graphical interface that provides an option to enable a night light feature of the hazard detector. The application may transmit data indicative of the night light feature being enabled and of an associated user account to a computer server system. The computer server system may receive and store data indicative of the night light feature being enabled and of the user account. The hazard detector may receive from the computer server system data indicative of the night light feature of the hazard detector being enabled by the application. The hazard detector may enable the plurality of LEDs to provide illumination in response to the received data indicative of the night light feature of the hazard detector being enabled by the application.

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 night light feature of a hazard detector, wherein;

the night light feature activates a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) to provide illumination;

receive user input that enables the night light feature via the graphical interface; and

transmit data indicative of the night light feature of the hazard detector being enabled and of a user account linked with the hazard detector to the 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 night light feature of the hazard detector being enabled and of the user account;

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

transmit, to the hazard detector, data indicative of the night light 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 night light feature of the hazard detector being enabled by the user interface application; and

enable the plurality of LEDs to provide illumination in response to the received data indicative of the night light feature of the hazard detector being enabled by the user interface application.

2. The hazard detection system of claim 1, wherein the graphical interface provides a second option to adjust a brightness at which the plurality of LEDs are illuminated for the night light feature.

3. The hazard detector system of claim 2, wherein the graphical interface is further configured to:

receive user input that adjusts the brightness via the graphical interface; and

transmit data indicative of the adjusted brightness to the computer server system.

4. The hazard detector system of claim 3, wherein the computer server system is further configured to:

receive the data indicative of the adjusted brightness;

store a second indication of the adjusted brightness as set by the user interface application, wherein the adjusted brightness is linked with the user account; and

transmit, to the hazard detector, data indicative of the adjusted brightness of the hazard detector being enabled by the user interface application.

5. The hazard detector system of claim 4, wherein the hazard detector is configured to:

receive, via the wireless interface, the data indicative of the adjusted brightness; and

cause the plurality of LEDs to illuminate at an adjusted brightness level in response to the received data indicative of the adjusted brightness.

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

receive user input that disables the night light feature via the graphical interface; and

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

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

receive the data indicative of the night light feature of the hazard detector being disabled and of the user account;

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

transmit, to the hazard detector, data indicative of the night light feature of the hazard detector being disabled by the user interface application.

8. The hazard detector system of claim 7, wherein the computer server system is further configured to:

receive, via the wireless interface, the data indicative of the night light feature of the hazard detector being disabled by the user interface application; and

disable illumination in response to the received data indicative of the night light feature of the hazard detector being disabled by the user interface application.

9. The hazard detector system of claim 1, wherein the hazard detector is configured to:

enable the plurality of LEDs to provide illumination in a first color in response to detection of a hazard, wherein the hazard detector being configured to enable the plurality of LEDs to provide illumination in response to the received data indicative of the night light feature of the hazard detector is performed in a second color.

10. The hazard detector system of claim 1, wherein the hazard detector comprises a rounded light ring that disperses light from the plurality of LEDs.

11. The hazard detector system of claim 10, wherein the hazard detector further comprises a button to test hazard detection functionality of the hazard detector.

12. The hazard detector system of claim 1, wherein the hazard detector further comprises an ambient light sensor, where the plurality of LEDs are controlled at least in part based on an output of the ambient light sensor.

13. A method for controlling a night light feature of a hazard detector, the method comprising:

outputting, by a user interface application executed on a mobile device, a graphical interface that provides an option to enable the night light feature of the hazard detector, wherein;

the night light feature activates a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) of the hazard detector to provide illumination;

receiving, by the user interface application executed on the mobile device, user input that enables the night light feature via the graphical interface;

transmitting, by the user interface application executed on the mobile device, data indicative of the night light 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 night light feature of the hazard detector being enabled and of the user account;

storing, by the computer server system, data indicative of the night light feature of the hazard detector being enabled by the user interface application, wherein the data is linked with the user account;

transmitting, by the computer server system, to the hazard detector, data indicative of the night light feature of the hazard detector being enabled by the user interface application;

receiving, via the hazard detector, the data indicative of the night light feature of the hazard detector being enabled by the user interface application; and

enabling, by the hazard detector, the plurality of LEDs to provide illumination in response to the received data indicative of the night light feature of the hazard detector being enabled by the user interface application.

14. The method for controlling the night light feature of the hazard detector of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, by the user interface application executed on the mobile device, user input that adjusts brightness of the plurality of the LEDs via the graphical interface; and

transmitting, by the user interface application executed on the mobile device, data indicative of the adjusted brightness to the computer server system.

15. The method for controlling the night light feature of the hazard detector of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, by the computer server system, the data indicative of the adjusted brightness;

storing, by the computer server system, a second indication of the adjusted brightness as set by the user interface application, wherein the adjusted brightness is linked with the user account; and

transmitting, by the computer server system, to the hazard detector, data indicative of the adjusted brightness of the hazard detector being enabled by the user interface application.

16. The method for controlling the night light feature of the hazard detector of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, by the hazard detector, the data indicative of the adjusted brightness; and

causing, by the hazard detector, the plurality of LEDs to illuminate at an adjusted brightness level in response to the received data indicative of the adjusted brightness.

17. The method for controlling the night light feature of the hazard detector of claim 13, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the user interface application executed by the mobile device, user input that disables the night light feature via the graphical interface; and

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

18. The method for controlling the night light feature of the hazard detector of claim 17, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the computer server system, the data indicative of the night light feature of the hazard detector being disabled and of the user account;

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

transmitting, by the computer server system, to the hazard detector, data indicative of the night light feature of the hazard detector being disabled by the user interface application.

19. The method for controlling the night light feature of the hazard detector of claim 18, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the computer server system, the data indicative of the night light feature of the hazard detector being disabled by the user interface application; and

disabling, by the computer server system, illumination in response to the received data indicative of the night light feature of the hazard detector being disabled by the user interface application.

20. 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 a graphical interface that allows a night light feature of a hazard detector to be enabled, wherein;

the night light feature, when enabled, causes a plurality of LEDs of the hazard detector to illuminate, through a light pipe, in a second color other than a first color that is output when a hazard is detected;

receive user input that enables the night light feature of the hazard detector; and

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