FALSE ALARM IDENTIFICATION

• US 20150161882A1
• Filed: 12/11/2014
• Published: 06/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EchoStar Technologies International Corporation (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Lett, David B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,495,860 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19682 Graphic User Interface [GUI] presenting system data to the user, e.g. information on a screen helping a user interacting with an alarm system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation

Abstract

Methods and systems, such as home automation gateways and television receivers, are disclosed for distinguishing between false alarms and actual events. Aspects include transmitting sensor data, such as a video feed from a closed-circuit video system, to a display to allow a user to confirm whether an alarm event is a false alarm or an actual alarm event. Sensor data is optionally recorded to allow later review of the sensor data.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a home automation gateway comprising one or more processors, a signal from one or more sensors indicating a possible alarm event, wherein the home automation gateway is connected to a network;

receiving sensor data from the one or more sensors;

transmitting the sensor data, wherein receiving the sensor data at a presentation device generates a display of the sensor data;

transmitting a request for user input to confirm the possible alarm event; and

detecting user input specifying that the possible alarm event is a false alarm event.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the sensor data to persistent memory.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor data includes video or audio from a closed circuit camera system.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

generating a live video feed acquired by the closed-circuit camera system.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

generating a video feed acquired by the closed-circuit camera system over a predetermined time period before or after the possible alarm event.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor data includes one or more of fire alarm system data and security system data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a notification of the signal, wherein receiving the notification at a presentation device generates a display of the notification.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the notification includes the request for user input.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving sensor data from the one or more sensors includes receiving sensor data over the network.

10. A home automation gateway, comprising:

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer readable memory element communicatively coupled with and readable by the one or more processors and having stored therein processor-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processor to;

receive a signal from one or more sensors indicating a possible alarm event;

receive sensor data from the one or more sensors;

transmit the sensor data, wherein receiving the sensor data at a presentation device generates a display of the sensor data;

transmit a request for user input to confirm the possible alarm event; and

detect user input specifying that the possible alarm event is a false alarm event.

11. The home automation gateway of claim 10, further comprising:

an audio-video input connection and an audio-video output connection;

wherein the processor-readable instructions that cause one or more processors to transmit the sensor data cause the one or more processors to;

overlay the sensor data on audio-video signals received at the audio-video input connection to generate an overlaid audio-video feed; and

transmit the overlaid audio-video feed using the audio-video output connection.

12. The home automation gateway of claim 10, wherein the processor-readable instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

store the sensor data to persistent memory.

13. The home automation gateway of claim 10, wherein the sensor data includes video or audio from a closed circuit camera system.

14. The home automation gateway of claim 13, wherein the processor-readable instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

generate a live video feed acquired by the closed-circuit camera system.

15. The home automation gateway of claim 13, wherein the processor-readable instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

generate a video feed acquired by the closed-circuit camera system over a predetermined time period before or after the possible alarm event.

16. The home automation gateway of claim 10, wherein the sensor data includes one or more of fire alarm system data and security system data.

17. The home automation gateway of claim 10, wherein the processor-readable instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

transmit a notification of the signal, wherein receiving the notification at a presentation device generates a display of the notification.

18. The home automation gateway of claim 17, wherein the notification includes the request for user input.

19. The home automation gateway of claim 10, wherein the home automation gateway is connected to a network and wherein the instructions that cause the one or more processors to receive sensor data from the one or more sensors cause the one or more processors to receive sensor data over the network.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive a signal from one or more sensors indicating a possible alarm event;

receive sensor data from the one or more sensors;

transmit the sensor data, wherein receiving the sensor data at a presentation device generates a display of the sensor data;

transmit a request for user input to confirm the possible alarm event; and

detect user input specifying that the possible alarm event is a false alarm event.