Method and system for determination of false alarm

• US 10,325,484 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2015
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Q-Links Home Automation Inc.
• Original Assignee: Q-Links Home Automation Inc.
• Inventors: Saintellemy, Frantz, Tu, Chengyu, Do, Van-Phuoc
• Primary Examiner(s): Haile, Benyam
• Application Number:
  US15/538,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20170372597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/00 Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
• 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 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/002 Generating a prealarm to the central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/16 Security signalling or alarm systems, e.g. redundant systems
• 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: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002

Abstract

A system and method for determining a false alarm includes receiving a provisional alarm signal from a safety alarm system, the provisional alarm signal indicating an alarm type. At least one sensor senses at least one present condition of a type corresponding to the alarm type indicated by the provisional alarm signal. A normal alarm signal is transmitted based on the at least one present condition sensed by the sensor.

Claims

1. A system for determining a false alarm, the system comprising:

a memory unit for storing a plurality of instructions;

a safety alarm hub configured to receive a provisional alarm;

a processor coupled to the memory unit, the processor being configured to;

receive the provisional alarm signal from a safety alarm hub, the provisional alarm signal indicating an alarm type;

upon receipt of the provisional alarm signal, sense with at least one sensor at least one present condition of a type corresponding to the alarm type indicated by the provisional alarm signal,

wherein the at least one sensor is independent of the safety alarm hub,

wherein a defect of the safety alarm hub that causes a sensing of a change in condition does not affect the sensing and an alarm triggering with the at least one sensor or a tampering of the safety alarm hub does not affect the sensing and the alarm triggering with the at least one sensor unless the at least one sensor is also separately tampered with, and

wherein the at least one present condition varies depending on the alarm type that is indicated by the received provisional alarm signal; and

transmit a normal alarm signal based on the at least one present condition sensed by the sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is a thermostat and comprises the at least one sensor and a HVAC interface.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the normal alarm is transmitted to an external service provider.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein transmitting the normal alarm comprises:

determining whether the sensed present condition exceeds a predetermined threshold; and

transmitting the normal alarm if the sensed present condition exceeds the predetermined threshold.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein transmitting the normal alarm comprises:

transmitting a verification request to a user device, the request indicating the condition type; and

transmitting the normal alarm signal in response to receiving a response from the user device confirming the provisional alarm.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein transmitting the normal alarm comprises:

transmitting a verification request to a user device if the sensed present condition does not exceed the predetermined threshold, the request indicating the alarm type; and

transmitting the normal alarm signal in response to receiving a response from the user device confirming the provisional alarm.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the alarm type is intrusion and the at least one sensor comprises an occupancy sensor.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the alarm type is fire alarm and the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a smoke detector and a temperature sensor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the alarm type is presence of a gas and the at least one sensor comprises a gas detector.

10. A method for determining a false alarm, the method comprising:

receiving a provisional alarm signal from a safety alarm hub, the provisional alarm signal indicating an alarm type;

upon receipt of the provisional alarm signal, sensing with at least one sensor at least one present condition of a type corresponding to the alarm type indicated by the provisional alarm signal,

wherein the at least one sensor is independent of the safety alarm system hub,

wherein a defect of the safety alarm hub that causes a sensing of a change in condition does not affect the sensing and an alarm triggering with the at least one sensor or a tampering of the safety alarm hub does not affect the sensing and the alarm triggering with the at least one sensor unless the at least one sensor is also separately tampered with, and

wherein the at least one present condition varies depending on the alarm type that is indicated by the received provisional alarm signal; and

transmitting a normal alarm signal based on the at least one present condition sensed by the sensor.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one sensor is internal to a thermostat system having a HVAC interface.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the normal alarm is transmitted to an external service provider.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmitting the normal alarm comprises:

determining whether the sensed present condition exceeds a predetermined threshold; and

transmitting the normal alarm if the sensed present condition exceeds the predetermined threshold.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmitting the normal alarm comprises:

transmitting a verification request to a user device, the request indicating the condition type; and

transmitting the normal alarm signal in response to receiving a response from the user device confirming the provisional alarm.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the transmitting the normal alarm comprises:

transmitting a verification request to a user device if the sensed present condition does not exceed the predetermined threshold, the request indicating the alarm type; and

transmitting the normal alarm signal in response to receiving a response from the user device confirming the provisional alarm.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the alarm type is intrusion and the at least one sensor comprises an occupancy sensor.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the alarm type is fire alarm and the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a smoke detector and a temperature sensor.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the alarm type is presence of a gas and the at least one sensor comprises a gas detector.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions for performing a method for determining a false alarm, wherein the instructions, when executed, configure a processor to:

receive a provisional alarm signal from a safety alarm hub, the provisional alarm signal indicating an alarm type;

upon receipt of the provisional alarm signal, sense with at least one sensor at least one present condition of a type corresponding to the alarm type indicated by the provisional alarm signal,

wherein the at least one sensor is independent of the safety alarm hub,

wherein a defect of the safety alarm hub that causes a sensing of a change in condition does not affect the sensing and an alarm triggering with the at least one sensor or a tampering of the safety alarm system device does not affect the sensing and the alarm triggering with the at least one sensor unless the at least one sensor is also separately tampered with, and

wherein the at least one present condition varies depending on the alarm type that is indicated by the received provisional alarm signal; and

transmit a normal alarm signal based on the at least one present condition sensed by the sensor.