Systems and methods for automatically generating an escape route

• US 10,573,149 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2019
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Inventors: Jordan, II, Jackie O, Donovan, John, Turrentine, David, Wollenschlager, Torri, Nussbaum, Bryan R, Stockweather, Deanna, Stoiber, Jeffrey W, Markwardt, Kerstin, Carlson, Gail L, Schiebel, Kyle C, Winslow, Troy, Harr, Joseph P, Wagner, Ellakate, Harris, Jr., Michael, Sun, Jennylind
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Zhen Y
• Application Number:
  US16/282,789
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 34053913
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/01 Customer relationship services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/163 Real estate management
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/172 Classification, e.g. identification
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/02 using only mechanical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/22 Electrical actuation
• 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 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/043 detecting an emergency event, e.g. a fall
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0461 integrated or attached to an item closely associated with the person but not worn by the person, e.g. chair, walking stick, bed sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/185 Electrical failure alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/062 indicating emergency exits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/066 guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip
• 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 12/2825 : 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/283 : Processing of data at an internetworking point of a home automation network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 : Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 : Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 : Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

Methods and systems for generating escape routes are provided. With a home owner'"'"'s or insured'"'"'s permission, a smart home controller or insurance provider remote processor may analyze data received from a plurality of smart devices disposed on, within, or proximate to a home, as well as data received from an insurance provider. If it is determined that an emergency situation necessitating an evacuation exists, the smart home controller or insurance provider remote processor may automatically generate escape routes to guide occupants to safety. The smart home controller may then transmit the generated escape routes to inform occupants of emergency situation and how to reach safety. The smart home controller and/or insurance provider may also issue commands to smart devices to ensure the safety of the generated escape routes. Insurance policies, premiums, or discounts may be adjusted based upon the escape route determination functionality.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of escape route management for a property, the property populated with a hardware controller in communication with a plurality of smart devices, each of the plurality of smart devices configured to monitor various conditions associated with the property, the method comprising:

receiving, by the hardware controller via a first communication network, sensor data indicative of an emergency situation necessitating evacuation from at least one of the plurality of smart devices;

analyzing, by one or more processors, the sensor data to determine a location of an individual located on the property;

based upon the sensor data and the location of the individual, determining, by the one or more processors, an escape route for the individual to evacuate an area made unsafe by the emergency situation;

determining, by the one or more processors, a first set of actions to be performed by a first portion of the plurality of smart devices to ensure safety of the escape route, the first set of actions including an action that contains the emergency situation; and

directing or controlling, by the hardware controller, the first portion of the plurality of smart devices to perform the first set of actions to facilitate the individual escaping the emergency situation using the escape route.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein directing or controlling the first portion of the plurality of smart devices to perform the first set of actions comprises:

directing or controlling, by the hardware controller, the first portion of the plurality of smart devices to contain the emergency situation by performing at least one of;

shutting off utilities, de-energizing electronic equipment, activating emergency generators, activating a sump pump, deploying a fire ladder, shutting a fire or flood door, or opening windows.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, by the hardware controller via a second communication network, the escape route to a mobile device associated with the individual.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein transmitting the escape route to the mobile device associated with the individual comprises:

determining, by the one or more processors, a safety tip based upon the escape route; and

transmitting, by the hardware controller via the second communication network, the safety tip to the mobile device associated with the individual.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein transmitting the escape route to the mobile device associated with the individual causes the mobile device to perform at least one of:

displaying, on a visual interface, the escape route superimposed on a map or a floor plan of the property, or

reciting, via an audio output, directions guiding the individual along the escape route.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the escape route for the individual further comprises:

determining, by the one or more processors, a plurality of safe zones that are associated with a low risk of harm due to the emergency situation; and

generating, by the one or more processors, a plurality of routes between the location of the individual and any one of the plurality of safe zones, wherein the plurality of routes avoid guiding the individual through the area made unsafe by the emergency situation.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:

selecting, by the one or more processors, the escape route from the plurality of routes by analyzing a plurality of additional factors associated with each of the plurality of routes, wherein the plurality of additional factors includes at least one of;

an estimated time to reach one of the plurality of safe zones, an estimated time until a safety of the route is compromised, a preference of the individual, or a distance between the route and the area made unsafe by the emergency situation, an accessibility of the route.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the hardware controller via the first communication network, a second set of sensor data from at least one of the plurality of smart devices, the second set of sensor data indicating that the particular escape route is no longer safe; and

based upon the second set of sensor data and an updated location of the individual, determining, by the one or more processors, a modified escape route.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting, by the hardware controller via a second communication network, the modified escape route to a mobile device associated with the individual on the property.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining, by the one or more processors, a second set of actions to be performed by a second portion of the plurality of smart devices to ensure safety of the modified escape route; and

directing or controlling, by the one or more processors, the second portion of the plurality of smart devices to perform the second set of actions.

11. A system for escape route management for a property, the property populated with a hardware controller in communication with a plurality of smart devices, each of the plurality of smart devices configured to monitor various conditions associated with the property, the system comprising:

a communication module adapted to communicate data;

a memory adapted to store non-transitory computer executable instructions; and

one or more processors adapted to interface with the communication module, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the system to;

receive, via the communication module, sensor data indicative of an emergency situation necessitating evacuation from at least one of the plurality of smart devices;

analyze, by the one or more processors, the sensor data to determine a location of an individual located on the property;

based upon the sensor data and the location of the individual, determine, by the one or more processors, an escape route for the individual to evacuate an area made unsafe by the emergency situation;

determine, by the one or more processors, a first set of actions to be performed by a first portion of the plurality of smart devices to ensure safety of the escape route, the first set of actions including an action that contains the emergency situation; and

direct or control, by the one or more processors and via the communication module, the first portion of the plurality of smart devices to perform the first set of actions to facilitate ensuring safety of the escape route.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the system to:

transmit, via the communication module, the escape route to a mobile device associated with the individual.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein to transmit the escape route to the mobile device associated with the individual, the one or more processors are further configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the system to:

determine, by the one or more processors, a safety tip based upon the escape route; and

transmit, via the communication module, the safety tip to the mobile device associated with the individual.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the communication module transmitting the escape route to the mobile device associated with the individual causes the mobile device to perform at least one of:

displaying, on a visual interface, the escape route superimposed on a map or a floor plan of the property, or

reciting, via an audio output, directions guiding the individual along the particular escape route.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein to determine the plurality of escape routes for the individual, the one or more processors are further configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the system to:

determine, by the one or more processors, a plurality of safe zones that are associated with a low risk of harm due to the emergency situation; and

generate, by the one or more processors, a plurality of routes between the location of the individual and any one of the plurality of safe zones, wherein the plurality of routes avoid guiding the individual through the area made unsafe by the emergency situation.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the system to:

select, by the one or more processors, the escape route from the plurality of routes by analyzing a plurality of additional factors associated with each of the plurality of routes, wherein the plurality of factors includes at least one of;

an estimated time to reach one of the plurality of safe zones, an estimated time until a safety of the route is compromised, a preference of the individual, or a distance between the route and the area made unsafe by the emergency situation, an accessibility of the route.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the system to:

receive, via the communication module, a second set of sensor data from at least one of the plurality of smart devices, the second set of sensor data indicating that the particular escape route is no longer safe; and

based upon the second set of sensor data and an updated location of the individual, determine, by the one or more processors, a modified escape route.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the system to:

transmit, by the hardware controller via a second communication network, the modified escape route to a mobile device associated with the individual on the property.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the system to:

determine, by the one or more processors, a second set of actions to be performed by a second portion of the plurality of smart devices to ensure safety of the modified escape route; and

director control, by the one or more processors, the second portion of the plurality of smart devices to perform the second set of actions.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions, that when executed cause one or more processors to:

receive by the one or more processors via a local communication network, sensor data indicative of an emergency situation necessitating evacuation from at least one of a plurality of smart devices;

analyze, by the one or more processors, the sensor data to determine a location of an individual located on the property;

based upon the first set of sensor data and the location of the individual, determine, by the one or more processors, an escape route for the individual to evacuate an area made unsafe by the emergency situation;

determine, by the one or more processors, a first set of actions to be performed by a first portion of the plurality of smart devices to ensure safety of the escape route, the first set of actions including an action that contains the emergency situation; and

direct or control, by the one or more processors and via the local communication network, the first portion of the plurality of smart devices to perform the first set of actions to facilitate an individual using the escape route to escape from or evade the emergency situation.