Systems and methods for crowdsourcing detected events

• US 10,453,328 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2014
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ricks, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Afrifa-Kyei, Anthony D
• Application Number:
  US14/252,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20150294543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,017 Days
• Field of Search: 340932, 340989, 3409951, 340541
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/00 Alarm systems in which the alarm condition is signalled from a central station to a plurality of substations
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/003 Signalling to neighbouring houses

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for crowdsourcing detected events is described. In one embodiment, an event is detected via one or more sensors located at a first location within a predetermined geographic area. Data from the one or more sensors is analyzed to determine a scope of the event. Upon determining the scope of the event affects a second location within the predetermined geographic area, a notification is sent to a user associated with a location within the predetermined geographic area that does not include a sensor of a type that detects the event.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for crowdsourcing detected events, comprising:

detecting an event associated with a first area inside a first structure or a second area outside of the first structure via one or more sensors, wherein the first structure is located at a first location within a predetermined geographic area;

identifying a type of the event related to the first structure based at least in part on sensor data of the one or more sensors at the first location;

computing an estimated path of the event based at least in part on the type of the event and a topographical map including a structure, terrain, or both of the predetermined geographic area;

analyzing the estimated path to determine a scope of the event;

identifying a structure associated with one or more subscribed users along the estimated path;

upon determining that the scope of the event directly affects a second structure at a second location associated with a subscribed user of the one or more subscribed users within the predetermined geographic area based at least in part on determining that the detected event will affect the second structure at the second location based at least in part on the analyzed estimated path, sending a notification to a first device associated with the second structure at the second location using a service that enables notification based at least in part on detected events associated with one or more sensors of a subscribed user location, the first structure at the first location and the second structure at the second location each comprise a home automation system and the service the enables the notification is provided by the home automation system of the second structure at the second location;

determining that the scope of the event directly affects a third structure at a third location that is absent of a home automation system based at least in part on comparing timing information and proximity information associated with the analyzed estimated path and event information provided by a third party service; and

upon determining that the scope of the event directly affects the third structure at the third location that is absent of the home automation system and associated with a second subscribed user based at least in part on comparing the timing information and the proximity information associated with the analyzed estimated path and the event information provided by the third party service, sending to a first device associated with the third location using the service that enables notification, a second notification different from the notification based at least in part on the third structure at the third location being absent of the home automation system;

wherein the first location is different than the second location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second location fails to include a sensor capable of detecting the event.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the type of event that is detected based at least on a type of the one or more sensors.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

based on the type of event detected, identifying an information service related to the type of event detected.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

generating the notification based on at least one of information related to the type of event detected and information received from the identified information service.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

computing the estimated path related to the detected event by analyzing at least one of information from the one or more sensors located within the predetermined geographic area;

information from one or more sensors located outside the predetermined geographic area; and

information received from the information service related to the type of event detected.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

based on the estimated path, sending a notification to a second device associated with the third location outside the predetermined geographic area.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

indicating, in the notification, a number of locations that are confirmed to have detected the event; and

indicating, on a graphical map, a position of each location confirmed to have detected the event.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the notification using a selected messaging service.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the notification via a selected social network.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the event comprises at least one of a wildfire, a tsunami, a tornado, flooding, a hurricane, a typhoon, a dust storm, high winds, biological contamination, chemical contamination, burglary, property damage, and wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect at least one of these events.

12. A computing device configured for crowdsourcing detected events, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

detect an event via one or more sensors located at a first location within a predetermined geographic area;

identify a type of the event related to the first location based at least in part on sensor data of the one or more sensors at the first location;

compute an estimated path of the event based at least in part on the type of the event and a topographical map including a structure, terrain, or both of the predetermined geographic area;

determine a scope of the event based at least in part on the computed estimated path of the event;

identify a structure associated with one or more subscribed users along the estimated path;

upon determining that the scope of the event directly affects a second location associated with a subscribed user of the one or more subscribed users within the predetermined geographic area based at least in part on the estimated path, send a notification to a first device associated with the second location using a service that enables notification based at least in part on detected events associated with one or more sensors of a subscribed user location, the first location and the second location each comprise a home automation system and the service the enables the notification is provided by the home automation system of the second location;

determining that the scope of the event directly affects a third location that is absent of a home automation system based at least in part on comparing timing information and proximity information associated with the analyzed estimated path and event information provided by a third party service; and

upon determining that the scope of the event directly affects a third location that is absent of a home automation system and associated with a second subscribed user based at least in part on comparing the timing information and the proximity information associated with the analyzed estimated path and the event information provided by the third party service, sending to a first device associated with the third location using the service that enables notification, a second notification different from the notification based at least in part on the third location being absent of the home automation system;

wherein the first location is different than the second location.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

determine the type of event that is detected based at least on a type of the one or more sensors.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

identify, based on the type of event detected, an information service related to the type of event detected.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

generate the notification based on at least one of information related to the type of event detected and information received from the identified information service.

16. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

compute the estimated path related to the detected event by analyzing at least one of information from the one or more sensors located within the predetermined geographic area;

information from one or more sensors located outside the predetermined geographic area; and

information received from the information service related to the type of event detected.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

send, based on the estimated path, a notification to a second device associated with the third location outside the predetermined geographic area.

18. A computer-program product for crowdsourcing, by a processor, detected events, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions thereon, the instructions being executable by the processor to:

monitor a first area inside a first structure and a second area outside of the first structure via one or more sensors;

detect an event associated with the first area or the second area via the one or more sensors, wherein the first structure is located at a first location within a predetermined geographic area;

identify a type of the event related to the first structure based at least in part on sensor data of the one or more sensors at the first location;

compute an estimated path of the event based at least in part on the type of the event and a topographical map including a structure, terrain, or both of the predetermined geographic area;

analyze the estimated path to determine a scope of the event;

identify a structure associated with one or more subscribed users along the estimated path;

upon determining that the scope of the event directly affects a second structure at a second location associated with a subscribed user of the one or more subscribed users within the predetermined geographic area based at least in part on determining whether the detected event is an isolated event based at least in part on the analyzed estimated path, send a notification to a first device associated with the second structure at the second location using a service that enables notification based at least in part on detected events associated with one or more sensors of a subscribed user location, the first structure at the first location and the second structure at the second location each comprise a home automation system and the service the enables the notification is provided by the home automation system of the second structure at the second location;

determining that the scope of the event directly affects a third structure at a third location that is absent of a home automation system based at least in part on comparing timing information and proximity information associated with the analyzed estimated path and event information provided by a third party service; and

upon determining that the scope of the event directly affects the third structure at the third location that is absent of the home automation system and associated with a second subscribed user based at least in part on comparing the timing information and the proximity information associated with the analyzed estimated path and the event information provided by the third party service, send to a first device associated with the third location using the service that enables notification, a second notification different from the notification based at least in part on the third structure at the third location being absent of the home automation system;

wherein the first location is different than the second location.

19. The computer-program product of claim 18, wherein the second location fails to include a sensor capable of detecting the event.