Security system providing a localized humanly-perceivable alert for identifying a facility to emergency personnel

• US 10,255,773 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2018
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Henrie, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blount, Eric
• Application Number:
  US16/101,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20190043323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 239 Days
• Field of Search: 3405451, 3405452
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/04 by breaking of glass
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/38 using flashing light
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/064 indicating houses needing emergency help, e.g. with a flashing light or sound

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for guiding emergency personnel to a location in a facility proximate to an alarm that has been generated. In one aspect, a method may include detecting an alarm condition at a facility protected by a security system and determining a location at the facility of the alarm condition. The method may further include causing at least one indicator at the facility, which is proximate to the determined location of the alarm condition, to generate an identifying alert that is humanly perceivable from an exterior of the facility such that emergency personnel can identify the facility based at least in part on the identifying alert. In some aspects, the method may also include notifying a security representative of the alarm condition, and receiving a notification from the security representative indicating that emergency personnel are dispatched to the facility.

Claims

1. A security system comprising:

a sensor configured to generate an alarm condition message in response to an alarm condition;

a control unit communicatively coupled to the sensor and to at least one indicator, the control unit configured to;

receive the alarm condition message from the sensor;

determine a type of alarm condition message;

determine a location of the alarm condition based at least in part on the alarm condition message; and

cause an interior indicator of the at least one indicator proximate to the location of the alarm condition to generate an identifying alert if the alarm type indicates a fire;

cause just at least one exterior indicator of the at least one indicator outside of a facility containing the sensor to generate an identifying alert if the alarm type indicates an unauthorized entry; and

the interior or exterior indicator configured to generate the identifying alert, wherein the identifying alert is perceivable from an exterior of a facility protected by the security system.

2. The security system of claim 1, further comprising a controller communicatively coupled to the control unit and to the at least one indicator, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

send an identification message to the controller for at the least one indicator; and

wherein the controller is configured to;

receive the identification message from the control unit;

and send a control message to the at least one indicator proximate to the location of the alarm condition in response to receiving the identification message, the control message causing the at least one indicator to generate the identifying alert.

3. The security system of claim 2, wherein the control unit further comprises an indication module, wherein the indication module is configured to:

determine the location of the alarm condition based on the alarm condition message;

determine at least one of the at least one indicators that is proximate to the location of the alarm condition; and

cause the at least one indicators determined to be proximate to the location of the alarm condition to generate the identifying alert.

4. The security system of claim 1, wherein the identifying alert is at least one of a visual alert visible from the exterior of the facility or an audible alert perceivable from the exterior of the facility.

5. The security system of claim 1, wherein the at least one indicator comprises one or more existing elements within the facility.

6. The security system of claim 5, wherein the at least one indicator comprises at least one of an inter light of the facility or an exterior light of the facility.

7. The security system of claim 2, wherein the control unit sends the identification message in response to receiving a dispatch notification indicating that emergency personnel are dispatched to the facility.

8. The security system of claim 7, wherein the control unit receives the dispatch notification from a monitoring system associated with the security system.

9. The security system of claim 2, wherein the controller is a component in a building automation system associated with the facility.

10. The security system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sensors, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is configured to generate an alarm condition message in response to an alarm condition.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the instructions, the instructions comprising:

receiving the alarm condition message from the sensor;

determining a type of alarm condition message;

determining a location of the alarm condition based at least in part on the type of alarm condition message; and

causing an interior indicator of the at least one indicator proximate to the location of the alarm condition to generate an identifying alert if the alarm type indicates a fire;

causing just at least one exterior indicator of the at least one indicator outside of a facility containing the sensor to generate an identifying alert if the alarm type indicates an unauthorized entry; and

wherein the interior or exterior indicator configured to generate the identifying alert, wherein the identifying alert is perceivable from an exterior of a facility protected by the security system.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, the instructions further comprising:

receiving a dispatch of emergency personnel to the facility protected by the security system, wherein causing the identifying alert is based at least in part on the received dispatch of emergency personnel.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, the instructions further comprising:

determining a location of a sensor that detected the alarm condition, and wherein causing the identifying alert proximate to the alarm condition is based at least in part on the determined location of the sensor that detected the alarm condition.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein causing the identifying alert comprises sending a control message to at least one indicator.

15. A method comprising:

receiving the alarm condition message from the sensor;

determining a type of alarm condition message;

determining a location of the alarm condition based at least in part on the type of alarm condition message; and

causing an interior indicator of the at least one indicator proximate to the location of the alarm condition to generate an identifying alert if the alarm type indicates a fire;

causing just at least one exterior indicator of the at least one indicator outside of a facility containing the sensor to generate an identifying alert if the alarm type indicates an unauthorized entry; and

wherein the interior or exterior indicator configured to generate the identifying alert, wherein the identifying alert is perceivable from an exterior of a facility protected by the security system.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

notifying a security representative of the alarm condition; and

receiving a notification from the security representative indicating that emergency personnel are dispatched to the facility, wherein causing the at least one indicator at the facility to generate the identifying alert is based at least in part on the received notification.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one indicator comprises at least one of an exterior light fixture visible from an exterior of the facility or an interior light fixture visible from the exterior of the facility.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising alternating the at least one exterior or interior light fixture between an off state and an on state such that the at least one exterior or interior light fixture presents a flashing pattern.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the identifying alert is based at least in part on a time of day.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising terminating the identifying alert in response to the emergency personnel arriving at the facility.