Sound monitoring screen savers for enhanced fire, safety, security and health monitoring
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for monitoring sound with a personal computer, comprising:
- running a sound monitoring screen saver program in a personal computer in response to a timeout event occurring because an externally generated input is not received by the personal computer within a predetermined time period during operation of the personal computer;
from time to time during the running of the sound monitoring screen saver program, accessing from the personal computer an Internet site and sending to the accessed Internet site a predetermined signal if the computer is properly functioning under operation of the running screen saver program;
receiving ambient sound at the microphone of the personal computer;
determining with the running screen saver program whether ambient sound received at the microphone includes an alarm sound from a residential smoke detector providing a sound output in accordance with a predetermined standard; and
accessing from the personal computer the Internet site when an alarm sound is determined and sending an alarm indicating signal to the accessed Internet site.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method, system and device useful with conventional personal computers respond automatically to an identified alarm sound by sending a notification signal via the Internet only when a special sound monitoring program is active.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method for monitoring sound with a personal computer, comprising:
-
running a sound monitoring screen saver program in a personal computer in response to a timeout event occurring because an externally generated input is not received by the personal computer within a predetermined time period during operation of the personal computer; from time to time during the running of the sound monitoring screen saver program, accessing from the personal computer an Internet site and sending to the accessed Internet site a predetermined signal if the computer is properly functioning under operation of the running screen saver program; receiving ambient sound at the microphone of the personal computer; determining with the running screen saver program whether ambient sound received at the microphone includes an alarm sound from a residential smoke detector providing a sound output in accordance with a predetermined standard; and accessing from the personal computer the Internet site when an alarm sound is determined and sending an alarm indicating signal to the accessed Internet site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. An alarm monitoring system, comprising:
-
a central receiving station including a computer having a plurality of sound monitoring screen saver programs stored thereat; and a plurality of user sites, each of the sites including at least one respective conventional personal computer having a microphone, system software and means for communicating with the computer at the central receiving station to download from the computer at the central receiving station a respective one of the sound monitoring screen saver programs compatible with the system software in the respective personal computer. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A memory device for a computer, comprising:
-
a memory substrate for a personal computer; and screen saver means disposed on the memory substrate, the screen saver means including; means, encoded on the memory substrate to cooperatively function with system software of the personal computer, for controlling what indicia are displayed on a display of the personal computer during user inactivity periods; means, encoded on the memory substrate to cooperatively function with system software of the personal computer, for determining when sound received through a microphone of the personal computer is an alarm sound; and means, encoded on the memory substrate to cooperatively function with system software of the personal computer, for communicating responsive signals when an alarm sound and/or alarm signal is determined. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification