Detection of the Occurrence of an Event, Based on Barometric Pressure Measurements
First Claim
1. A method of detecting the occurrence of an event, comprising:
- measuring, by a wireless terminal, a first sample of barometric pressure;
generating, by the wireless terminal, a first characterization of a pressure wave in the vicinity of the wireless terminal, based on the first sample;
detecting, by the wireless terminal, an occurrence of an event that is external to the first wireless terminal based on whether a transient is present in the first characterization of the pressure wave in the vicinity of the first wireless terminal, wherein the transient has a predetermined characteristic; and
displaying, by the wireless terminal, the occurrence of the event.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A technique for detecting the occurrence of an event, and for estimating other event-related information, by analyzing the barometric pressure in the vicinity of one or more wireless terminals. The disclosed detection technique is based on the recognition that the barometric sensor on various wireless terminals, such as smartphones, is capable of measuring very subtle changes in the atmospheric pressure. The disclosed detection technique is also based on the additional recognition of how some of the changes in the atmospheric pressure, as measured by a wireless terminal, correlate to various events that occur within a building or other defined area. For example, the disclosed technique can detect an entry door opening or closing by analyzing a resultant pressure wave having a particular transient that is perceptible by one or more wireless terminals in the area and analyzed by a detection engine.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of detecting the occurrence of an event, comprising:
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measuring, by a wireless terminal, a first sample of barometric pressure; generating, by the wireless terminal, a first characterization of a pressure wave in the vicinity of the wireless terminal, based on the first sample; detecting, by the wireless terminal, an occurrence of an event that is external to the first wireless terminal based on whether a transient is present in the first characterization of the pressure wave in the vicinity of the first wireless terminal, wherein the transient has a predetermined characteristic; and displaying, by the wireless terminal, the occurrence of the event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of detecting the occurrence of an event, comprising:
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receiving, by a data processing system, a first sample of barometric pressure measured at a first wireless terminal; generating, by the data-processing system, a first characterization of a pressure wave in the vicinity of the first wireless terminal, based on the first sample; and detecting, by the data-processing system, an occurrence of an event that is external to the first wireless terminal based on whether a transient is present in the first characterization of the pressure wave in the vicinity of the first wireless terminal, wherein the transient has a predetermined characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of determining the direction in which an event occurred comprising:
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receiving, at the data processing system, i) a first sample of barometric pressure measured at a first wireless terminal and ii) an estimate of location of the first wireless terminal; receiving, at the data processing system, i) a second sample of barometric pressure measured at a second wireless terminal and ii) an estimate of location of the second wireless terminal; generating, by the data-processing system, a first characterization of a pressure wave in the vicinity of the first wireless terminal based on the first sample; generating, by the data-processing system, a second characterization of a pressure wave in the vicinity of the second wireless terminal based on the second sample; and generating, by the data-processing system, an estimate of the direction in which an event occurred, based on; i) a relationship of a) a first transient that is present in the first characterization of the pressure wave in the vicinity of the first wireless terminal and b) a second transient that is present in the second characterization of the pressure wave in the vicinity of the second wireless terminal, to each other, ii) the estimate of location of the first wireless terminal, and iii) the estimate of location of the second wireless terminal; wherein the event is external to both the first wireless terminal and the second wireless terminal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of determining at least one of the location and direction of an event comprising:
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receiving, by a data processing system, i) a first sample of barometric pressure measured at a first wireless terminal and ii) an estimate of location of the first wireless terminal; generating, by the data-processing system, a first characterization of a pressure wave in the vicinity of the first wireless terminal, based on the first sample; and generating, by the data-processing system, an estimate of location of an event that is external to the first wireless terminal based on; i) the first characterization of the pressure wave in the vicinity of the first wireless terminal, and ii) the estimate of location of the first wireless terminal. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification