VOICE ANNUNCIATED REMINDERS AND ALERTS

• US 20150161873A1
• Filed: 12/04/2014
• Published: 06/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nye, James Ellis
• Granted Patent: US 10,276,026 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1016 using wireless transmission calling systems using transmission by inductive loop H04B5/00

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for announcing reminders and alerts is described. In one embodiment, appointments of an electronic calendar are monitored via a processor of a home automation system. A trigger of an upcoming appointment is detected. Information regarding the upcoming appointment is announced via a speaker of the home automation system.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for announcing audio data via a home automation system, the method comprising:

monitoring, via a processor of a home automation system, appointments of an electronic calendar;

detecting a trigger of an upcoming appointment; and

announcing, via a speaker of the home automation system, information regarding the upcoming appointment.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

querying an emergency alert system; and

receiving emergency information from the emergency alert system.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

announcing, via the speaker, an alert based on the emergency information received from the emergency alert system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

querying a web-based calendar system; and

receiving calendar information from the web-based calendar system.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

querying a mobile device calendar system; and

receiving calendar information from the mobile device calendar system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving calendar information from a user interfacing with a user interface of the home automation system.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing calendar information in a storage device of the home automation system.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the speaker, information regarding the upcoming appointment; and

storing the information regarding the upcoming appointment in a storage device at the speaker.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a room associated with the speaker is occupied.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

upon determining the room associated with the speaker is occupied, announcing, via the speaker, information regarding the upcoming appointment.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

upon determining the room associated with the speaker is not occupied, blocking the announcement of information regarding the upcoming appointment.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

upon determining the room associated with the speaker is occupied, determining the identity of a person occupying the room; and

upon determining the identified person is associated with the upcoming appointment, announcing, via the speaker, information regarding the upcoming appointment.

13. A home automation system configured to announce audio data, comprising:

a processor;

one or more speakers;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

monitor appointments of an electronic calendar;

detect a trigger of an upcoming appointment; and

announce, via the one or more speakers of the home automation system, information regarding the upcoming appointment.

14. The home automation system of claim 13, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

query an emergency alert system; and

receive emergency information from the emergency alert system.

15. The home automation system of claim 14, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

announce, via the speaker, an alert based on the emergency information received from the emergency alert system.

16. The home automation system of claim 13, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

query a web-based calendar system; and

receive calendar information from the web-based calendar system.

17. The home automation system of claim 13, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

determine whether a room associated with the speaker is occupied.

18. The home automation system of claim 17, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

upon determining the room associated with the speaker is occupied, announce, via the speaker, information regarding the upcoming appointment.

19. The home automation system of claim 17, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

upon determining the room associated with the speaker is occupied, determine the identity of a person occupying the room; and

upon determining the identified person is associated with the upcoming appointment, announce, via the speaker, information regarding the upcoming appointment.

20. A computer-program product for announcing audio data, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions thereon, the instructions being executable by the processor to:

monitor appointments of an electronic calendar;

detect a trigger of an upcoming appointment; and

announce, via a speaker of a home automation system, information regarding the upcoming appointment.