Enhanced alarm monitoring using a sound monitoring screen saver

• US 20060279418A1
• Filed: 07/27/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InnovAlarm Corporation
• Original Assignee: InnovAlarm Corporation
• Inventors: Albert, David E., Albert, Kathryn Marie
• Granted Patent: US 7,403,110 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/521
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4806 Sleep evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence; devices for inducing sleep A61M21/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0202 Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

Alarm monitors comprising 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.

Claims

1. An alarm monitor, comprising:

a conventional personal computer including a microphone, a memory, a communication port, a display and system software; and

a sound monitoring program stored in the memory, including;

first instructional signals encoded on the memory for cooperatively functioning with the system software to determine when sound received through the microphone of the personal computer is an alarm sound; and

second instructional signals encoded on the memory for cooperatively functioning with the system software to communicate responsive signals from the personal computer when an alarm sound is determined.

2. An alarm monitor as defined in claim 1, wherein the sound monitoring program is a screen saver program and further comprises third instructional signals encoded on the memory for cooperatively functioning with the system software to control what indicia are displayed on the display of the personal computer during input inactivity periods.

3. An alarm monitor as defined in claim 1, wherein the sound monitoring program additionally includes instructions for closing or overriding other running application programs in the personal computer when an alarm sound is determined.

4. An alarm monitor as defined in claim 1, wherein the sound monitoring program includes additional instructional signals encoded on the memory for cooperatively functioning with the system software to generate status signals to be transmitted to a remote location to indicate operational status of the personal computer when the alarm sound monitoring program is in operation in the personal computer.

5. An alarm monitor as defined in claim 1, further comprising a Global Positioning System receiver for cooperatively functioning with the system software and the sound monitoring program to determine location of the monitor when an alarm sound is determined, and wherein the responsive signals include said location.