Smart-home hazard detector providing useful follow up communications to detection events

• US 8,988,232 B1
• Filed: 10/07/2014
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Sloo, David, Rogers, Matthew L., Fadell, Anthony M., Goldenson, Andrew W., Webb, Nick, Lee, Jeff, Le Guen, Sophie
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US14/508,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20150097678A1
• Time in Patent Office: 168 Days
• Field of Search: 340/602, 340/501, 340/511, 340/527, 340/539.1, 340/577, 340/588, 340/628, 340/632, 340/13.24, 340/286.05, 340/309.16, 379/43
• US Class Current: 340/602
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/33 to fire, excessive heat or smoke
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/34 by opening air passages
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/75 for maintaining constant air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/89 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/02 by investigating impedance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/121 for determining moisture content, e.g. humidity, of the fluid moisture content of the tested material G01N27/048
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0031 comprising two or more sensors, e.g. a sensor array
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/004 CO or CO2
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/10 Detecting, e.g. by using light barriers by reflection from the object G01S17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/70 Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras camera calibration G06T7/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/46 Extracting features or characteristics from the video content, e.g. video fingerprints, representative shots or key frames
• 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 17/117 by using a detection device for specific gases, e.g. combustion products, produced by the fire G08B17/103, G08B17/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 : responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 : Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 : Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 : Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/002 : Generating a prealarm to the central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 : Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/012 : using recorded signals, e.g. speech G08B25/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 : using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/02 : Monitoring continuously signalling or alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/04 : Monitoring of the detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/145 : of fire detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/185 : Signal analysis techniques for reducing or preventing false alarms or for enhancing the reliability of the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/22 : Provisions facilitating manual calibration, e.g. input or output provisions for testing; Holding of intermittent values to permit measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/26 : by updating and storing reference thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 : using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/22 : using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 : using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 : Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 : indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 : from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 : based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 : for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 : Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 : for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 : Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 : Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 : by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 : via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/196 : characterised by user interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 : using handheld communication devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/197 : Sound control or voice control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1975 : Gesture control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 : Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters

Abstract

Ambient amount of a hazardous condition may be monitored. A mode may be set to a state indicative of the hazardous condition being present in the ambient environment. It may then be determined that the amount of the hazard in the ambient environment has dropped below a threshold hazardous condition level. A time period may then be tracked during which the amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector has remained below the threshold hazardous condition level. It may be determined that the time period has reached at least a threshold duration, during such time period the amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector having remained below the threshold hazardous condition level. An indication of the hazardous condition easing may be output in response to the time period being at least the threshold duration.

Claims

1. A method for detecting that a hazardous condition is easing, the method comprising:

measuring, by a hazard detector, a first amount of the hazardous condition present in an ambient environment of the hazard detector;

setting, by the hazard detector, a mode of the hazard detector to a state indicative of the hazardous condition being present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector;

measuring, by the hazard detector, a second amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector, the second amount of the hazardous condition being less than the first amount of the hazardous condition;

determining, by the hazard detector, that the second amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector is below a threshold hazardous condition level while the mode of the hazard detector is set to the state indicative of the hazardous condition being present;

tracking, by the hazard detector, a time period during which the amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector has remained below the threshold hazardous condition level while the mode of the hazard detector is set to the state indicative of the hazardous condition being present;

determining, by the hazard detector, that the time period has reached at least a threshold duration, during such time period the amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector having remained below the threshold hazardous condition level while the mode of the hazard detector is set to the state indicative of the hazardous condition being present; and

outputting, by the hazard detector, an indication of the hazardous condition easing in response to the time period being at least the threshold duration.

2. The method for detecting that the hazardous condition is easing of claim 1, wherein outputting the indication of the hazardous condition easing comprises:

outputting, by the hazard detector, an auditory indication that comprises a spoken message indicative of the hazardous condition easing.

3. The method for detecting that the hazardous condition is easing of claim 2, wherein the spoken message indicative of the hazardous condition easing comprises a spoken indication of a name of a room in which the hazardous condition is easing.

4. The method for detecting that the hazardous condition is easing of claim 1, further comprising:

setting, by the hazard detector, the mode of the hazard detector to a second state indicative of the hazardous condition not being present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector in response to determining that the time period has reached at least the threshold duration.

5. The method for detecting that the hazardous condition is easing of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the hazard detector, the threshold duration based on a type of the hazardous condition, wherein;

the hazardous condition is selected from the group consisting of;

smoke and carbon monoxide, and

the threshold duration varies based on whether the hazardous condition is smoke or carbon monoxide.

6. The method for detecting that the hazardous condition is easing of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the hazard detector, one or more event characteristics of the hazardous condition; and

determining, by the hazard detector, the threshold duration based on the one or more event characteristics of the hazardous condition.

7. The method for detecting that the hazardous condition is easing of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the hazard detector, from one or more hazard detectors located in other rooms of a structure in which the hazard detector is installed, information indicative of the hazardous condition; and

determining, by the hazard detector, the threshold duration based on the received information indicative of the hazardous condition from the one or more hazard detectors located in other rooms of the structure in which the hazard detector is installed.

8. The method for detecting that the hazardous condition is easing of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring, by the hazard detector, a humidity level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector; and

determining, by the hazard detector, the threshold duration based on the measured humidity level.

9. The method for detecting that the hazardous condition is easing of claim 1, further comprising:

sounding, by the hazard detector, an auditory alarm, indicative of the hazardous condition being present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector.

10. A hazard detector, comprising:

a hazard sensor that measures amounts of a hazardous condition present in an ambient environment of the hazard detector;

an output device that outputs information into the ambient environment of the hazard detector; and

a processing system that comprises one or more processors, the processing system being in communication with the output device and the hazard sensor, the processing system being configured to;

receive a first measurement of the first amount of the hazard present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector;

set a mode of the hazard detector to a state indicative of a hazardous condition being present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector;

receive a second measurement of a second amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector, the second amount of the hazardous condition being less than the first amount of the hazardous condition;

determine that the second amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector is below a threshold hazardous condition level while the mode of the hazard detector is set to the state indicative of the hazardous condition being present;

track a time period during which the amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector has remained below the threshold hazardous condition level while the mode of the hazard detector is set to the state indicative of the hazardous condition being present;

determine that the time period has reached at least a threshold duration, during such time period the amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector having remained below the threshold hazardous condition level while the mode of the hazard detector is set to the state indicative of the hazardous condition being present; and

cause the output device to output an indication of the hazardous condition easing in response to the time period being at least the threshold duration.

11. The hazard detector of claim 10, wherein the output device is a speaker and the processing system is configured to cause the output device to output a spoken message indicative of the hazardous condition easing in response to the time period being at least the threshold duration.

12. The hazard detector of claim 11, further comprising a processor-readable storage medium that stores an indication of a type of room in which the hazard detector is installed wherein the spoken message comprises a spoken indication of the type of room.

13. The hazard detector of claim 10, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

set the mode of the hazard detector to a second state indicative of the hazardous condition not being present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector in response to determining that the time period has reached at least the threshold duration.

14. The hazard detector of claim 10, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

determine the threshold duration based on a type of the hazardous condition, wherein;

the hazardous condition is selected from the group consisting of;

smoke and carbon monoxide, and

the threshold duration varies based on whether the hazardous condition is smoke or carbon monoxide.

15. The hazard detector of claim 10, the hazard detector comprising:

a humidity sensor that measures humidity of the ambient environment of the hazard detector, wherein the processing system is further configured to;

receive a measured humidity level from the humidity sensor; and

determine the threshold duration based on the measured humidity level.

16. The hazard detector of claim 10, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

receive from one or more hazard detectors located in other rooms of a structure in which the hazard detector is installed, information indicative of the hazardous condition; and

determine the threshold duration based on the received information indicative of the hazardous condition from the one or more hazard detectors located in other rooms of the structure in which the hazard detector is installed.

17. A non-transitory processor-readable medium for a hazard detector, comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause one or more processors of the hazard detector to:

receive a first measurement of a first amount of a hazardous condition present in an ambient environment of the hazard detector;

set a mode of the hazard detector to a state indicative of a hazardous condition being present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector;

receive a second measurement of a second amount the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector, the second amount of the hazardous condition being indicative of less of the hazard than the first amount of the hazardous condition;

determine that the second amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector is below a threshold hazardous condition level while the mode of the hazard detector is set to the state indicative of the hazardous condition being present;

track a time period during which the amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector has remained below the threshold hazardous condition level while the mode of the hazard detector is set to the state indicative of the hazardous condition being present;

determine that the time period has reached at least a threshold duration, during such time period the amount of the hazardous condition present in the ambient environment of the hazard detector having remained below the threshold hazardous condition level while the mode of the hazard detector is set to the state indicative of the hazardous condition being present; and

cause an indication of the hazardous condition easing to be output into the ambient environment of the hazard detector in response to the time period being at least the threshold duration.

18. The non-transitory processor-readable medium for the hazard detector of claim 17, wherein the processor-readable instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

cause an auditory indication to be output that comprises a spoken message indicative of the hazardous condition easing.

19. The non-transitory processor-readable medium for the hazard detector of claim 17, wherein the processor-readable instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

determine the threshold duration based on a type of the hazardous condition, wherein;

the hazardous condition is selected from the group consisting of;

smoke and carbon monoxide, and

the threshold duration varies based on whether the hazardous condition is smoke or carbon monoxide.

20. The non-transitory processor-readable medium for the hazard detector of claim 17, wherein the processor-readable instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

receive a humidity level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector; and

determine the threshold duration based on the measured humidity level.