Nomadic security device with patrol alerts

• US 9,069,356 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2011
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Papaefstathiou, Efstathios, Sanchez, Russell, Clinton, Nathaniel T.
• Primary Examiner(s): NWUGO, OJIAKO K
• Application Number:
  US13/158,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20120313779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,479 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0038 by providing the operator with simple or augmented images from one or more cameras located onboard the vehicle, e.g. tele-operation images analyzed by a computer and used for automatic navigation G05D1/0246
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0238 using obstacle or wall sensors G05D1/0246 and G05D1/0289 take precedence; lidar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S17/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/027 comprising intertial navigation means, e.g. azimuth detector inertial navigation G01C21/16; inertial navigation combined with non-inertial navigation instruments G01C21/165
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19682 Graphic User Interface [GUI] presenting system data to the user, e.g. information on a screen helping a user interacting with an alarm system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence

Abstract

There is provided a device such as a robot that includes a processor and a number of sensors. Each of the sensors provides respective sensor data to the processor. The sensor data from each sensor is indicative of corresponding characteristics of an environment of the device. A memory includes a security mode component that is executable by the processor and is configured to cause the device to autonomously navigate at least a portion of the environment. A detection component executable by the processor is configured to detect an unusual condition in the environment.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a processor of the device;

a plurality of sensors of the device, each of the sensors providing respective sensor data to the processor, the respective sensor data being indicative of corresponding characteristics of an environment of the device; and

a memory of the device including a security mode component executable by the processor and configured to cause the device to;

autonomously navigate at least a portion of the environment, and a detection component executable by the processor;

autonomously detect an unusual condition in the environment based at least in part upon a comparison between the characteristics currently sensed at a particular location of a plurality of locations within a navigation environment and the compiled expected value or range of values for the characteristics at that particular location, wherein the expected value or range of expected values is based on prior sensor readings for each location;

receive a command from a user indicating travel that corresponds with a current point of view of a camera of the device; and

a mapping component of the memory device executable by the processor and configured for generating a map of the environment, the map indicating conditions within the environment, location of certain objects, and virtual boundaries associated with privacy conditions for the virtual boundaries.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one of a depth sensor, an infrared sensor, a camera, a temperature sensor, a motion sensor, a geo-locating sensor, an altitude sensor, compass, air pressure sensor, an audio sensor, a sonar sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a smoke sensor, a cliff sensor, a global positioning sensor, an accelerometer, and a gyroscope.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the mapping component is configured to generate the map based on user input, the sensor data, or a combination of user input and the sensor data.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the security mode component is configured to issue an alert upon detection of the unusual condition.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the security mode component is further configured to invoke a mapping component to tag a location on the map corresponding to the unusual condition, and to cause the device to navigate to a location of the unusual condition.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the security mode component is further configured to activate at least one of the sensors as the device approaches the location of the unusual condition.

7. The device of claim 1, comprising a transmitter/receiver component executable by the processor and configured to transmit an alert of the unusual condition, the security mode component being further configured to activate the transmission component to cause the transmission of the alert as the device approaches the location of the unusual condition.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the security mode component is configured to, via a mapping component, generate one or more navigations paths.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the map includes portions of the environment designated as private or semi-private portions, the navigations paths including certain navigation paths that exclude one or more of the private and semi-private portions.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the security mode component is configured to cause the device to navigate the certain navigation paths during one of certain time periods and the existence of certain specified conditions.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the navigation paths include certain points at which security mode component causes the device to activate one or more of the sensors.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the certain points include at least one of a door, a window and a system, and wherein activating one or more of the sensors comprises activating a video camera to capture video images of the certain points.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising a transmitter/receiver component executable by the processor and configured to transmit the video images of the certain points to a remote device, the security mode component being further configured to activate the transmitter/receiver component to cause transmission of the video images of the certain points to the remote device.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the security mode component is configured to automatically notify a user, one or more designated third parties, or combinations thereof upon detection of the unusual condition.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising a transmitter/receiver component executable by the processor, the security mode component being configured to cause the transmitter/receiver component to transmit a notification upon detection by the detection component of the unusual condition.

16. The device of claim 1, comprising a mobility component that conveys the device by changing the position and orientation of the device as well as the orientation of the sensors.

17. The device of claim 1, the memory device further comprising an obstacle detector component executable by the processor and configured to analyze data received from the sensors and detect obstacles not appearing on the generated map.

18. One or more computer-readable storage media comprising code that, when executed by a processor of an autonomous device, cause the autonomous device to perform acts comprising:

navigating along one or more navigation paths to various locations within an environment;

sensing characteristics of the environment at each of the locations;

compiling expected values and ranges of values for each of the sensed characteristics for each location of the various locations within a navigation environment;

autonomously detecting an unusual condition based at least in part upon a comparison between the characteristics currently sensed at a particular location of the various locations within the navigation environment and the compiled expected value or range of values for the characteristics at that particular location;

responding to the detection of an unusual condition by sending a notification of the detected unusual condition to thereby alert a remote user;

receive a command from a user indicating travel that corresponds with a current point of view of a camera of the device; and

generate a map of the environment, the map indicating conditions within the environment, location of certain objects, and virtual boundaries associated with privacy conditions for the virtual boundaries.

19. The computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions of claim 18, wherein detecting an unusual condition includes characterizing the detected unusual condition, and wherein the notification includes the characterizing information.

20. A method of monitoring an environment, comprising:

providing a robot, the robot carrying a plurality of sensors along a navigation path, the sensors sensing characteristics of the environment at various locations along the navigation path;

autonomously detecting an unusual condition based at least in part upon a comparison between the characteristics currently sensed at a particular location within a navigation environment and an expected value or range of values for the characteristics at that particular location, wherein the expected value or range of expected values is based on prior sensor readings for each location;

responding to the detection of an unusual condition by sending to a user a notification of the detected unusual condition;

receive a command from a user indicating travel that corresponds with a current point of view of a camera of the device; and

generate a map of the environment, the map indicating conditions within the environment, location of certain objects, and virtual boundaries associated with privacy conditions for the virtual boundaries.