THREAT DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20130328697A1
• Filed: 05/24/2013
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Douglas H. Lundy
• Original Assignee: Douglas H. Lundy
• Inventors: Lundy, Douglas H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,994,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.16
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A data multi-hop sensing and threat detecting network, including modular sensor devices, smart plug and portable sensor devices, and low power sub-sensor devices. A determination is made to alert when a sensed value is either (1) greater than a predetermined upper threshold value or the running average baseline value (whichever is greater) plus the upper fluctuation buffer value, or (2) less than a predetermined lower threshold value or the running average baseline value (whichever is less) less the lower fluctuation buffer value. The running average baseline is smoothed by applying large number numerology to the sensed values.

Claims

1. In a data sensing and threat detecting network including a plurality of sensor devices for communication with detector units, a plurality of sub-sensor devices for communication with at least one of said sensor devices.

2. A network according to claim 1 wherein the network is a multi-hop network.

3. A network according to claim 1 wherein said sub-sensor devices are low power devices.

4. A network according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said sensor devices is a modular sensor.

5. A network according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said sub-sensor devices is a modular sub-sensor.

6. A network according to claim 1 including at least one smart plug sensor device.

7. A network according to claim 1 including means associated with at least one of said sensor and sub-sensor devices for sensing and adjusting for directly related data.

8. A network according to claim 1 comprising means for comparing values of said sensor and sub-sensor devices with predetermined threshold values in a manner to minimize false positive values of said sensor and sub-sensor devices while minimizing introduction of false negative values of said sensor and sub-sensor devices in deciding whether an alert should be declared.

9. In a data sensing and threat detecting network, means including at least one sensor device and a plurality of sub-sensor devices for sampling substantially all of physical space in a venue.

10. A network according to claim 9 wherein the network is a multi-hop network.

11. A network according to claim 9 wherein at least one of said sub-sensors is a modular sub-sensor.

12. A network according to claim 9 wherein said sub-sensor devices are low power devices.

13. In a data sensing and threat detecting network, at least one portable sensor device.

14. A network according to claim 13 wherein the network is a multi-hop network.

15. A network according to claim 13 wherein the network includes a plurality of sub-sensor devices.

16. A network according to claim 13 wherein said portable sensor device has a size which is less than about 8 inches by 8 inches by 8 inches.

17. A network according to claim 13 wherein said portable sensor device includes means for communicating with an associated detector unit via a cellular or WiFi network.

18. In a data sensing and threat detecting network including a plurality of sensing devices, means for comparing sensed values of said sensing devices with predetermined threshold values in a manner to minimize false positive sensed values of said sensing devices while minimizing introduction of false negative sensed values of said sensing devices in deciding whether an alert should be declared.

19. A network according to claim 18 wherein said sensing devices include at least one sensor device and a plurality of sub-sensor devices associated with said at least one sensor device.

20. A network according to claim 18 wherein the network is a multi-hop network.

21. A network according to claim 18 wherein said means for comparing includes means for keeping a running average baseline of sensed data of said sensing devices, and means for comparing newly received sensed data of said sensing devices with the running average baseline.

22. A network according to claim 18 wherein said means for comparing includes means for determining, based on a predetermined threshold value and a difference between the predetermined threshold value and a predetermined modified threshold value for a sensed condition by at least one of said sensing devices, at what sensed value to alert, wherein said means for determining includes means for keeping a running average baseline of sensed values of said at least one sensing device, and means for determining to alert when a sensed value of said at least one sensing device is at a value which is either (1) greater than the upper threshold value or the running average baseline value (whichever is greater) plus the upper fluctuation buffer value, or (2) less than the lower threshold value or running average baseline value (whichever is less) less the lower fluctuation buffer value.

23. A method of determining, based on a predetermined threshold value and a difference between the predetermined threshold value and a predetermined modified threshold value for a sensed condition, at what sensed value to alert comprising:

(a) keeping a running average baseline of sensed values; and

(b) determining to alert when a sensed value is at a value which is either (1) greater than the upper threshold value or the running average baseline value (whichever is greater) plus the upper fluctuation buffer value, or (2) less than the lower threshold value or running average baseline value (whichever is less) less the lower fluctuation buffer value.

24. A method according to claim 23 further comprising determining to alert when a predetermined maximum and/or minimum allowable sensed value is reached.

25. A method according to claim 23 further comprising adjusting the predetermined threshold value and the predetermined modified threshold value based on experience of actual sensed data received.

26. A method according to claim 23 further comprising smoothing the running average baseline.

27. A method according to claim 23 applying large number numerology to the sensed values to smooth the running average baseline.

28. A method of smoothing an aware state in a data sensing and threat detecting network comprising utilizing a buffer zone between a modified threshold and a threshold so that, when a sensing device enters an aware state at the modified threshold, the sensing device remains in the aware state and does not return to a normal state until its sensed value reaches the threshold value.