Intelligent occupancy monitoring using premises network

• US 20070176770A1
• Filed: 01/30/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Shrode, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 7,852,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.130
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 99/009 Methods or equipment not provided for in groups A62C99/0009 - A62C99/0081
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

An identification system combines RF identification tags with ambient condition detectors of a monitoring system. The tags could be carried by individuals in the region(s) being monitored to provide occupancy feedback to first responders in the event of an alarm condition.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a plurality of passive location indicators;

providing at least one locator activating electromagnetic field and wirelessly transmitting location specifying indicia in response thereto;

sensing a first ambient condition at a first location;

sensing indicia received at the first location;

responsive to a sensed first condition at a first location, transmitting a representation of that condition to a displaced location;

transmitting indicia received at the first location to the displaced location; and

displaying representations of the indicia at a display location.

2. A method as in claim 1 which includes associating person identifying indicia with respective ones of the displayed indicia.

3. A method as in claim 1 which includes sensing at least one type of ambient condition at a plurality of spaced apart locations.

4. A method as in claim 3 which includes transmitting a second plurality of different location specifying indicia to members of the plurality.

5. A method as in claim 4 which includes associating person specifying indicia with at least some of the transmitted location specifying indicia.

6. A method as in claim 4 which includes displaying members of the second plurality along with indicia which identify a respective member of the plurality of spaced apart locations.

7. A method as in claim 5 which includes displaying members of the second plurality along with indicia which identify a respective member of the plurality of spaced apart locations and which display at least one person specifying indicium.

8. A method as in claim 1 which includes transmitting a request for location specifying indicia to at least the first location.

9. A method as in claim 8 which includes determining that a predetermined ambient condition is present at least at the first location.

10. A method as in claim 9 which includes sensing a selected ambient condition at a plurality of spaced apart locations.

11. A system comprising:

a plurality of ambient condition detectors, members of the plurality each include an RF receiver of identifying signals emitted from members of a plurality of RF emitting identification tags; and

a control unit, displaced from the detectors which receives signals from the detectors indicative of sensed ambient conditions.

12. A system as in claim 11 where at least some of the detectors forward indicia to the control unit, the indicia identify tags for which identifying signals have been received.

13. A system as in claim 12 where the control unit includes software, responsive to at least some signals from the detectors, which direct at least some of the detectors to forward the respective indicia.

14. A system as in claim 13 where the detectors comprise at least one of fire, flame, smoke or intrusion detectors.