Emergency notification device and system

• US 8,289,157 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2011
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Fireear, Inc.
• Inventors: Patenaude, Jean-Marc G., Jones, Russell K. III
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US13/187,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20110273284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.14
• 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. A system for emergency notification comprising;

an audio monitoring device including;

an audio detection component;

a transmission component configured to send audio data as a message either directly or through an intermediary device, said message including device identification information and audio data; and

a server remote from said audio detection component, said server including a database of audio monitoring device identification information, wherein monitoring device identification is associated with user data, and said server is configured to;

a) receive said message; and

b) generate an alert to at least one user including the device identification information and audio data together.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said audio detection component has associated filters configured to screen audio data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said server is configured to send the audio data portion of the message using said user data.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said audio detection component includes a sound level threshold filter.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said sound level threshold filter includes a fixed or programmable switch allowing a user to set a threshold volume sensitivity level.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the audio detection component includes a tone range filter.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the audio detection component includes a timer configured to activate said transmission component only if a detected audio signal is detected for longer than a preset time interval.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said server is linked to a monitoring center, where said server is programmed to send said alert data, which may include audio data, to said monitoring center for further action.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said audio detection component is configured to learn a sound signature of an emergency alarm.

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

11. The system of claim 1, additionally comprising a temperature sensing unit linked to the transmission component and configured to transmit a sensed temperature, or an equivalent signal, to said server.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said temperature sensing unit is configured to detect temperatures falling below a threshold.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said temperature sensing unit is configured to detect temperatures exceeding a threshold.

14. The system of claim 1, additionally comprising a power monitoring unit linked to the transmission component and configured to transmit power information to said server.

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

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

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

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the audio detection component transmits information to the central unit via wireless transfer.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the audio detection component transmits information to the central unit via wired transfer.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein said power monitoring unit can detect power failures and transmit said power failure information to said server.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein said transmission component includes a translation component having the ability to process audio data and transmit a representation of such audio data to said server.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein said alert may take the form of an SMS text message, an automated voice message, or an electronic mail message.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein said translation component has the ability to modify the frequency of audio data and to transmit such audio data over a band limited transmission channel.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein said audio data recorded by said audio monitoring device is ambient sound.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said server is configured to transmit the ambient sound data portion of the message, using said user data.

25. The system of claim 1, further comprising said server authenticating said audio monitoring device identification information.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the audio monitoring device further includes a communication telephone jack and a pass-through telephone jack.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the audio monitoring device further includes a reset actuator, wherein said reset actuator allows communication to said server to terminate notification.

28. The system of claim 1, further comprising a step for terminating said alert generation step if said server receives a user reset signal from a user.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission component is configured to receive an acknowledgement from said server.

30. The system of claim 1, further comprising a step of sending a test signal to said server from said audio monitoring device.