Emergency notification device and system

• US 8,018,337 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Fireear, Inc.
• Inventors: Jones, Russell K., Patenaude, Jean-Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US12/121,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20090033505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/539.14
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• 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: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

An audio warning monitoring device, system and method including an audio detector, one or more audio screens to determine if monitored sound is an alarm, a processor or logic device to potentially analyze sound data and then instruct a transmitter to send a message with the monitoring device identification and signals representing sound detected by the audio detector to a server. The computer server analyzes the message and authenticates the audio detector, looks up user data associated with the detector, and contacts a user from previously stored user data in order to notify of the alert and then relay the audio signals in an audio file. At the user'"'"'s option, the server may contact a staffed or automated monitoring center. Here a human operator may listen to the signals in the audio file and take appropriate action, such as calling the location of the alarm for verification or contacting a professional first responder(s).

Claims

1. An emergency notification device for use with an emergency condition alarm comprising:

an audio detection component that is configured to monitor sound from an emergency condition alarm; and

a communication component linked to said detection component and configured to transmit information to a remote server, either through an intermediary device or directly, said transmitted information including a device identification signal and ambient sound information, wherein said device identification signal is associated with server data, and said server data including at least one user contact information.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the audio detection component has a sound level threshold filter.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said sound level threshold filter includes a switch allowing a user to set a threshold volume sensitivity level.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the audio detection component has a tone range filter.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the audio detection component has means for screening audio signals including a timer configured to activate said transmission component only if a detected audio alarm sound is detected for longer than a preset time interval.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the emergency notification device further includes a communication telephone jack and a pass-through telephone jack.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the emergency notification device further includes a reset actuator, wherein actuation of said reset actuator allows communication to said server to terminate notification.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication component is configured to receive an acknowledgement from a server and failure in acknowledgement instructs the device in further action.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the audio detection component is configured to learn a sound signature of the emergency condition alarm, via a training mode.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the audio detection component is configured to discriminate a learned sound signature from other background noises.

11. The device of claim 1 additionally comprising an ambient temperature sensing unit linked to the communication component and configured to allow a sensed temperature to be transmitted to said remote server.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said temperature sensing unit has a device configured to detect when ambient temperatures exceed an optionally programmable preset threshold.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein said temperature sensing unit has a device configured to detect when ambient temperatures fall below an optionally programmable preset threshold.

14. The device of claim 1 additionally comprising a power monitoring unit configured to detect a power disturbance or failure, said power monitoring unit linked to the communication component and configured to allow detected power failure data to be transmitted to said remote server.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said audio detection component is configured to detect sound generated by external emergency detection units, including but not limited to low battery indication sounds.

16. The device of claim 1, further including a translator configured to translate audio data to said communication component.

17. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a central unit linked to said audio detection devices and configured to process, transmit or relay information from the audio detection devices to the remote server.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the audio detection unit transmits information to the central unit via wireless transfer.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the audio detection unit transmits information to the central unit via wired transfer.

20. A method to monitor emergency audio alerts comprising:

monitoring ambient sound at a location;

detecting an audio alarm from a warning alarm source at the location;

transmitting to a server warning data, including a monitor identification data and sound data;

looking up, at said server, contact data associated with said monitor identification data; and

transmitting an alert including both message data and the sound data together from the remote server to a user determined by the contact data.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising allowing the contact to review at least some audio data.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising said server authenticating said monitor identification data.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising said server transmitting data to a monitoring center, said data including contact data and/or said sound data.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising a final step for terminating said contacting step if said server receives a user reset signal from a user.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising an initial step of sending a test signal to said server from an ambient sound monitoring device.

26. The method of claim 20 additionally comprising monitoring ambient temperature wherein sensed temperature data may be transmitted to said server.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said sensed temperature data is transmitted if it exceeds an optionally programmable preset threshold.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said sensed temperature data is transmitted if it falls below an optionally programmable preset threshold.

29. The method of claim 20 additionally comprising monitoring power using a power monitoring unit, said power monitoring unit configured to detect a power failure or disturbance from any source, said power monitoring unit linked to the communication component and configured to allow detected power failure data to be transmitted to said server.

30. The method of claim 20 further including, while monitoring ambient sound, monitoring of audio warning sound generated by external emergency detection units, including but not limited to low battery indications sounds, and transmitting warning signal to the server.

31. The method of claim 20, wherein after detecting an audio alarm, translating audio data to a server warning data.

32. The method of claim 20, wherein detecting an audio alarm includes relaying alarm data to a central unit linked to an audio detection device, optionally processing, and transmitting information from the audio detection device to the server of said alarm data.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the audio detection unit transmits information to the central unit via wireless transfer.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the audio detection unit transmits information to the central unit via wired transfer.

35. An emergency notification device for use with an emergency condition alarm comprising:

an audio detection component that is configured to monitor sound from an emergency condition alarm;

a communication component linked to said detection component and configured to transmit information to a remote server, either through an intermediary device or directly, said transmitted information including a device identification signal and sound data, wherein said device identification signal is associated with server data, and said server data including at least one user contact information; and

wherein an alert including both message data and said sound data are sent together from the remote server to a destination determined by the at least one user contact information.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the emergency notification device further includes a reset actuator, wherein actuation of said reset actuator allows communication to said server to terminate notification.

37. The device of claim 35, wherein the communication component is configured to receive an acknowledgement from a server and failure in acknowledgement instructs the device in further action.

38. The device of claim 35 additionally comprising an ambient temperature sensing unit linked to the communication component and configured to allow a sensed temperature to be transmitted to said remote server.

39. The device of claim 38, wherein said temperature sensing unit has a device configured to detect when ambient temperatures exceed an optionally programmable preset threshold.

40. The device of claim 38, wherein said temperature sensing unit has a device configured to detect when ambient temperatures fall below an optionally programmable preset threshold.

41. The device of claim 35 additionally comprising a power monitoring unit configured to detect a power disturbance or failure, said power monitoring unit linked to the communication component and configured to allow detected power failure data to be transmitted to said remote server.

42. The device of claim 35, wherein the audio detection component transmits information to the central unit via wireless transfer.

43. The device of claim 35, wherein the audio detection unit transmits information to the central unit via wired transfer.