SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ASSISTING FIREFIGHTERS DURING A FIRE DRILL BY IDENTIFYING LOCATIONS OF VICTIMS, EXITS, AND DANGEROUS AREAS
First Claim
1. A system for helping a firefighter to identify dangerous areas, locations of victims, and routes of egress during a fire drill, comprising:
- a fire jacket;
a fire goggle attached to the fire jacket;
a communication device with an earpiece attached to the fire jacket;
a first locator attached to the fire jacket;
a compassing device attached to the fire jacket;
a temperature sensing device;
a smoke sensing device;
a life saving device associated with each of one or more victims, wherein the life saving device includes a second locator for locating each of the victims;
a processor associated with the fire jacket; and
memory associated with the fire jacket, the memory storing instructions to be executed by the processor, the instructions comprising a method, the method comprising the following steps;
detecting that a firefighter has put on the fire jacket and the fire goggle, so that the fire drill is initiated;
detecting the location of a victim, wherein the detection is based on the life saving device that the victim is wearing;
determining a direct route between the firefighter and the victim;
assessing whether the direct route is dangerous, wherein the assessment is based on;
average temperature of the direct route, as detected by the temperature sensing device that is installed at a point along the direct route; and
average amount of smoke along the direct route, as detected by the smoke sensing device that is installed at a point along the direct route;
if, based on the assessment, the direct route is dangerous;
calculating a safer indirect route in consideration of the average temperature and the average amount of smoke along the indirect route;
upon determining a target route, guiding the firefighter to advance along the target route until the victim is found;
after the victim is found by the firefighter;
determining a direct exit route between the firefighter and a designated exit;
assessing whether the direct exit route is dangerous, wherein the assessment is based on;
average temperature along the direct exit route, as detected by the temperature sensing device that is installed at a point along the direct exit route; and
average amount of smoke along the direct exit route, as detected by the temperature sensing device that is installed at a point along the direct exit route;
if, based on the assessment, the direct exit route is dangerous, calculating an indirect route in consideration of the average temperature and the average amount of smoke along the indirect exit route;
upon determining a target exit route, guiding the firefighter to advance along the target exit route.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for helping a firefighter to identify locations of victim, routes of egress, and dangerous areas during a fire drill are provided. The system'"'"'s components include a fire jacket, a fire goggle, a communications device with earpiece, a locator, a compass, a temperature sensor, a smoke sensor, a processor and memory. Also provided is a life saving device with locator associated with each of one or more victims. The temperature and smoke sensors are disposed within a building in which the fire drill is to be executed. The memory stores instructions that cause the processor to execute a method that guides a firefighter to a victim and/or exit along the safest and most direct route possible. The route being determined based on feedback from the sensors as well as real-time location data from the locators.
13 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for helping a firefighter to identify dangerous areas, locations of victims, and routes of egress during a fire drill, comprising:
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a fire jacket; a fire goggle attached to the fire jacket; a communication device with an earpiece attached to the fire jacket; a first locator attached to the fire jacket; a compassing device attached to the fire jacket; a temperature sensing device; a smoke sensing device; a life saving device associated with each of one or more victims, wherein the life saving device includes a second locator for locating each of the victims; a processor associated with the fire jacket; and memory associated with the fire jacket, the memory storing instructions to be executed by the processor, the instructions comprising a method, the method comprising the following steps; detecting that a firefighter has put on the fire jacket and the fire goggle, so that the fire drill is initiated; detecting the location of a victim, wherein the detection is based on the life saving device that the victim is wearing; determining a direct route between the firefighter and the victim; assessing whether the direct route is dangerous, wherein the assessment is based on; average temperature of the direct route, as detected by the temperature sensing device that is installed at a point along the direct route; and average amount of smoke along the direct route, as detected by the smoke sensing device that is installed at a point along the direct route; if, based on the assessment, the direct route is dangerous; calculating a safer indirect route in consideration of the average temperature and the average amount of smoke along the indirect route; upon determining a target route, guiding the firefighter to advance along the target route until the victim is found; after the victim is found by the firefighter; determining a direct exit route between the firefighter and a designated exit; assessing whether the direct exit route is dangerous, wherein the assessment is based on; average temperature along the direct exit route, as detected by the temperature sensing device that is installed at a point along the direct exit route; and average amount of smoke along the direct exit route, as detected by the temperature sensing device that is installed at a point along the direct exit route; if, based on the assessment, the direct exit route is dangerous, calculating an indirect route in consideration of the average temperature and the average amount of smoke along the indirect exit route; upon determining a target exit route, guiding the firefighter to advance along the target exit route. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for helping a firefighter to identify dangerous areas, locations of victims, and routes of egress during a fire drill, comprising:
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a fire jacket; a fire goggle attached to the fire jacket; a communication device with an earpiece attached to the fire jacket; a first locator attached to the fire jacket; a compassing device attached to the fire jacket; a temperature sensing device; a smoke sensing device; a life saving device associated with each of one or more victims, wherein the life saving device includes a second locator for locating each of the victims; a processor associated with the fire jacket; and memory associated with the fire jacket, which stores instructions to be executed by the processor, the instructions comprising; detecting that a firefighter has put on the fire jacket and the fire goggle, so that the fire drill is being put into action; detecting the location of a victim, wherein the detection is based on the life saving device that the victim is wearing; determining a direct route between the firefighter and the victim; assessing whether the direct route is dangerous, wherein the assessment is based on; average temperature of the direct route, as detected by the temperature sensing device that is installed at a point along the direct route; and average amount of smoke along the direct route, as detected by the temperature sensing device that is installed at a point along the direct route; if, based on the assessment, the direct route is dangerous, calculating a safer indirect route in consideration of the average temperature and the average amount of smoke along the indirect route; upon determining a target route, guiding the firefighter to advance along the target route until the victim is found; during procession along target route; periodically alerting the firefighter regarding remaining distance to the victim through the earpiece; periodically alerting the firefighter through the earpiece regarding how much time remaining until reaching the victim, based on current pace of the firefighter; detecting whether current direction towards victim is correct using the compassing device; if the current direction is incorrect, alerting the firefighter with the correct direction, through both the goggle and the earpiece; and after the victim is found by the firefighter; determining a direct exit route between the firefighter and a designated exit to a safe area; assessing whether the direct exit route is dangerous, wherein the assessment is based on; average temperature along the direct exit route, as detected by the temperature sensing device that is installed at a point along the direct exit route; and average amount of smoke along the direct exit route, as detected by the temperature sensing device that is installed at a point along the direct existing route; if, based on the assessment, the direct exit route is dangerous, calculating a safer indirect route in consideration of the average temperature and the average amount of smoke along the indirect exit route; upon determining a target exit route, guiding the firefighter to advance along the target exit route through the earpiece; and during procession along target exit route;
periodically alerting the firefighter through the earpiece regarding remaining distance to the exit;
periodically alerting the firefighter through the earpiece regarding how much time remains before reaching the target exit, based on current pace of the firefighter;
detecting whether current path towards victim is correct using the compassing device; and
if the current direction is incorrect, alerting the firefighter with the correct direction, through the ear piece.
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12. A method for helping a firefighter to identify dangerous areas, locations of victims, and routes of egress during a fire drill, comprising the following steps:
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providing a fire jacket to a firefighter, said fire jacket comprising an associated fire goggle, a communicator with earpiece, a first locator and a compass; providing each of a plurality of potential victims with a life saving device, said life saving device comprising a second locator; installing one or more temperature and smoke sensors throughout a building; initiating fire jacket upon detection that said jacket has been equipped on said firefighter; determining, using said fire jacket, a location of a said victim by detecting said second locator of said life saving device of said victim; calculating a target route to said location of said victim, said calculation incorporating data received from said temperature and smoke sensors to determine the shortest, least dangerous path to said victim; guiding said firefighter to said victim along said target route; upon discovering said victim, calculating an exit route to an exit, said calculation incorporating data received from said temperature and smoke sensors to determine the shortest, least dangerous path to said exit; and guiding said firefighter to said exit along said exit route. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification