Enhanced fire, safety, security and health monitoring and alarm response method, system and device

• US 20060017561A1
• Filed: 07/23/2004
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InnovAlarm Corporation
• Original Assignee: InnovAlarm Corporation
• Inventors: Albert, David E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,148,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/531
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0423 detecting deviation from an expected pattern of behaviour or schedule
• 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 21/0469 Presence detectors to detect unsafe condition, e.g. infrared sensor, microphone G08B21/0476 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

Method, system and device useful with conventional personal computers respond automatically to an identified alarm sound by sending a notification signal via the Internet only when a special sound monitoring program is active. Additionally, bedside detection of acoustic alarms is combined with enhanced waking devices to insure the waking of a child or hearing impaired person in response to, an emergency. Home safety and security are provided using a bedside unit to monitor audible safety and security alarms and send notification signals to the appropriate communication site. A health monitoring method and system utilizes the bedside device to monitor breathing patterns and other health measuring signals and communicate these patterns and signals to a medical monitoring station.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring an area for an audible signal generated by a pre-existing home security device comprising:

operating a sound monitoring unit including a microphone, a microprocessor and a communications port;

by operating the unit, detecting sounds received by the microphone of the unit and determining if detected sound represents a signal from a pre-existing home security device requiring a response; and

using the operating unit, generating and sending response signals out the communications port when a response is required.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sound monitoring unit is a bedside unit which further includes a switch for controlling supply of power to a waking device, and said method further comprises operating the bedside unit to detect from sounds received by the microphone of the bedside unit when the sounds represent a smoke detector alarm and in response thereto switching on supply of power to the waking device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-existing home security device is selected from the group consisting of personal alert pendants, door-open sensors, window-open sensors, glass breaking sensors, and motion detectors.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the sound monitoring unit further comprises a memory having standard security device signal signatures stored therein, and the method further comprises operating the sound monitoring unit in an initial setup mode to select one or more security devices to be monitored.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, by operating the sound monitoring unit in a learning mode during initial setup, allowing the security device to be activated and the resulting audible signal detected and identified as such.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the communications port is a wireless communications port.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein response signals comprise notification signals to local emergency personnel.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein response signals comprise notification signals to an Internet site.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising communicating from the Internet site to a telecommunication number or e-mail address.

10. A method for monitoring an area for an audible signal generated by a personal alert pendant activated by an individual in an emergency situation, the method comprising:

operating a sound monitoring unit including a microphone, a microprocessor and a communications port; and

by operating the unit, detecting sounds received by the microphone of the unit and determining if detected sound represents a signal from a personal alert pendant and in response thereto generating and sending response signals out the communications port of the monitoring unit.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the sound monitoring unit is a bedside unit further including a switch for controlling supply of power to a waking device, and said method further comprises operating the bedside unit to detect from sounds received by the microphone of the bedside unit when a smoke alarm is sounding and in response thereto switching on supply of power to the waking device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the response signals out the communications port comprise notification signals to an Internet site.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising communicating from the Internet site to a telecommunication number or e-mail address.

14. A method for providing parental notification of a child arriving home using a sound monitoring unit, the method comprising:

operating a sound monitoring unit including a microphone, a microprocessor and a communications port;

by operating the unit, detecting sounds received by the microphone of the unit and determining if detected sound represents a signal from a door-open security device; and

using the operating sound detecting unit, generating and sending response signals out the communications port when a door-open security device signal is determined.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the sound monitoring unit is a bedside unit which further includes a switch for controlling supply of power to a waking device, and said method further comprises operating the bedside unit to detect from sounds received by the microphone of the bedside unit when the sounds represent a smoke detector alarm and in response thereto switching on supply of power to the waking device.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the response signals out the communications port comprise notification signals to an e-mail address.

17. A method for monitoring sounds at a bedside comprising:

operating a bedside sound monitoring unit including a microphone, a microprocessor and a communications port;

by operating the bedside unit, detecting sounds received by the microphone of the bedside unit and determining if detected sounds include a breathing pattern duration representing an alarm condition requiring a response; and

using the operating bedside unit, generating and sending response signals out the communications port when a response is required.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the sound monitoring unit is a bedside unit which further includes a switch for controlling supply of power to a waking device, and said method further comprises operating the bedside unit to detect from sounds received by the microphone of the bedside unit when the sounds represent a smoke detector alarm and in response thereto switching on supply of power to the waking device.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the response signals out the communications port comprise notification signals to an Internet site.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising communicating from the Internet site to a telecommunication number.

21. A method for providing for alarm monitoring in a residence, comprising:

receiving at an Internet site a request to monitor a bedside audible alarm monitoring unit along with response instructions; and

receiving at an Internet site an alarm indicating signal sent from the bedside alarm monitoring unit when the bedside unit detects an alarm condition, and transmitting a notification signal from the Internet site in response.

22. An alarm monitor comprising:

a sound monitoring unit including a microphone, microprocessor, memory and a communications port; and

a sound monitoring program stored within the memory, including;

first instructional signals for determining when sound received through the microphone of the unit represents a signal from a home security device or a breathing pattern representing an alarm condition; and

second instructional signals for communicating responsive signals from the unit when an alarm condition is determined.

23. The alarm monitor of claim 22 wherein the communications port is a wireless communications port.

24. The alarm monitor of claim 22 wherein the sound monitoring unit is a bedside unit further including a switch for controlling supply of power to a waking device and the sound monitoring program further includes third instructional signals for determining when sound received through the microphone of the bedside unit represents a smoke detector alarm and fourth instructional signals for engaging the switch to activate the waking device when a smoke detector alarm is determined.

25. The alarm monitor of claim 24 further comprising battery backup power for operation of the monitoring unit including powering the waking device.

26. A home security system comprising:

an audible security alarm; and

a sound monitoring unit having a microphone and a microprocessor to identify the security alarm, and a communications port for sending a notification signal when the security alarm is identified.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the audible security alarm is selected from the group consisting of personal alert pendants, door-open sensors, window-open sensors, glass breaking sensors, and motion detectors.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein the communications port is a wireless communications port.

29. A bedside home security system comprising:

an audible fire alarm;

an audible security alarm;

a waking device; and

a bedside sound monitoring unit having a microphone and a microprocessor to identify and distinguish the fire alarm and the security alarm, a switch controlling supply of power to the waking device to be switched on in response to the fire alarm, and a communications port for sending an alarm notification signal when an audible security alarm is identified.

30. A memory device for a microprocessor in an alarm monitoring unit comprising:

a memory substrate for a bedside unit; and

monitoring means disposed on the memory substrate, the monitoring means including;

means encoded on the memory substrate for determining when sound received through a microphone of the bedside unit is a security alarm sound; and

means encoded on the memory substrate for communicating responsive signals when a security alarm sound is determined.

31. A memory device for a microprocessor in a bedside alarm monitoring unit comprising:

a memory substrate for a bedside unit; and

monitoring means disposed on the memory substrate, the monitoring means including;

means encoded on the memory substrate for determining when sound received through a microphone of the bedside unit is a breathing pattern representing an alarm condition; and

means encoded on the memory substrate for communicating responsive signals when a breathing pattern alarm condition is determined.