Evacuation system

• US 8,749,392 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: oneEvent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: oneEvent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Wedig, Kurt Joseph, Parent, Daniel Ralph, Wedig, Tammy Michelle, Sutter-Parent, Kristin Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi
• Application Number:
  US12/346,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20100164732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,988 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.18, 340/572.1, 340/573.1, 340/825.49, 340/10.1, 455/456.1, 455/456.4, 455/457, 705/14.39, 705/22, 705/7.11, 707/110, 707/102, 539/539.13, 539/539.18, 539/572.1, 539/573.1, 539/10.1, 539/506, 539/286.11, 539/286.05
• US Class Current: 340/577
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/06 Electric actuation of the alarm, e.g. using a thermally-operated switch
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/00 Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/004 Alarm propagated along alternative communication path or using alternative communication medium according to a hierarchy of available ways to communicate, e.g. if Wi-Fi not available use GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• 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 25/085 using central distribution transmission lines
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/066 guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip

Abstract

A method includes receiving occupancy information from a node located in an area of a structure, where the occupancy information includes a number of individuals located in the area. An indication of an evacuation condition is received from the node. One or more evacuation routes are determined based at least in part on the occupancy information. An instruction is provided to the node to convey at least one of the one or more evacuation routes.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving occupancy information from a node located in an area of a structure, wherein the occupancy information includes a number of individuals located in the area, and wherein the occupancy information further includes an occupancy pattern of the structure during a non-emergency period of time;

receiving an indication of an evacuation condition from the node;

determining one or more evacuation routes in response to the indication of the evacuation condition, wherein the one or more evacuation routes are dynamically determined based at least in part on the occupancy information and based at least in part on a type of the evacuation condition; and

providing an instruction to the node to convey at least one of the one or more evacuation routes.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving location information corresponding to the node, wherein the one or more evacuation routes are based at least in part on the location information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the location information comprises global positioning system (GPS) coordinates, and further wherein the GPS coordinates are uploaded to the node through a portable GPS-enabled device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the evacuation condition includes the type of the evacuation condition.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the evacuation condition includes a magnitude of the evacuation condition, and further wherein the one or more evacuation routes are determined based at least in part on the magnitude of the evacuation condition.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a second instruction to a second node to convey a second evacuation route of the one or more evacuation routes such that the node and the second node convey different evacuation routes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the occupancy pattern includes occupancy pattern information based at least in part on a time of day, and further wherein the one or more evacuation routes are determined based at least in part on the occupancy pattern.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying an emergency response center of the evacuation condition.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing a location of the node to the emergency response center, wherein the node is fixed to the structure.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the location comprises global positioning system (GPS) coordinates.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing the type of the evacuation condition to the emergency response center.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining rescue priorities based at least in part on the occupancy information; and

providing the determined rescue priorities to the emergency response center while one or more emergency responders are en route to the structure.

26. The method of claim 5, wherein the magnitude of the evacuation condition comprises at least one of an amount of smoke generated by a fire, an amount of heat generated by the fire, or an amount of toxic gas present in the structure.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising providing the magnitude of the evacuation condition to an emergency response center.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving status information from the node, wherein the status information includes an identification of the node.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the status information further comprises a location of the node.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the status information further comprises information regarding a battery life of the node.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the status information further comprises information regarding whether the node is functioning properly.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising providing an alert to a system administrator if the node is not functioning properly.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein the status information is received from the node according to a periodic schedule, and further comprising providing an alert to a system administrator if the node fails to provide the status information according to the periodic schedule.

8. A first node comprising:

a transceiver configured to

receive occupancy information from a second node located in an area of a structure, wherein the occupancy information further includes an occupancy pattern of the structure during a non-emergency period of time; and

receive an indication of an evacuation condition from the second node; and

a processor operatively coupled to the transceiver and configured to

determine an evacuation route in response to the indication of the evacuation condition, wherein the evacuation route is dynamically determined based at least in part on the occupancy information and based at least in part on a type of the evacuation condition; and

cause the transceiver to provide an instruction to the second node to convey the evacuation route.

9. The first node of claim 8, wherein the occupancy information is determined at least in part using infrared detection to detect human presence.

10. The first node of claim 8, further comprising a warning unit configured to convey the evacuation route as an audible voice evacuation message.

11. The first node of claim 8, wherein the evacuation route is conveyed by the second node as an evacuation message, and further wherein the evacuation message comprises a pre-recorded voice message recorded by a user of the second node.

12. The first node of claim 8, wherein the occupancy pattern includes occupancy pattern information based at least in part on a time of day, and further wherein the evacuation route is determined based at least in part on the occupancy pattern.

13. The first node of claim 8, wherein the indication of the evacuation condition includes the type of the evacuation condition.

14. The first node of claim 8, further comprising a sensor configured to detect one or more of smoke, heat, or toxic gas.

15. A system comprising:

a first node comprising

a first processor;

a first sensor operatively coupled to the first processor and configured to detect an evacuation condition;

a first occupancy unit operatively coupled to the first processor and configured to determine occupancy information, wherein the occupancy information further includes an occupancy pattern of the structure during a non-emergency period of time;

a first transceiver operatively coupled to the first processor and configured to transmit an indication of the evacuation condition and the occupancy information to a second node; and

a first warning unit operatively coupled to the processor; and

the second node comprising

a second transceiver configured to receive the indication of the evacuation condition and the occupancy information from the first node; and

a second processor operatively coupled to the second transceiver and configured to

determine one or more evacuation routes in response to the indication of the evacuation condition, wherein the one or more evacuation routes are dynamically determined based at least in part on the occupancy information and based at least in part on a type of the evacuation condition; and

cause the second transceiver to provide an instruction to the first node to convey at least one of the one or more evacuation routes through the first warning unit.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second node further comprises a second warning unit operatively coupled to the second processor and configured to convey at least one of the one or more evacuation routes.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the first occupancy unit includes a respiration detector configured to detect a gas associated with human respiration.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the first occupancy unit includes an audio detector configured to detect one or more of a heartbeat, speech, or respiration.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the first occupancy unit includes a scent detector configured to detect human presence based at least in part on a scent.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the second processor is further configured to contact an emergency response center in response to the indication of the evacuation condition.