Evacuation system

• US 9,129,498 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2014
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• 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:
  US14/283,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20140253317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/521, 340/502, 340/514, 340/522, 340/534, 340/691.1, 340/541, 340/577, 340/539.13, 340/584, 340/628
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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, at a node located in a structure, an indication of an evacuation condition. The structure includes a plurality of nodes in communication with one another. The method also includes sending, by the node, a message to one or more additional nodes. The message informs the one or more additional nodes that the node is going to determine an evacuation route in response to the indication of the evacuation condition such that the one or more additional nodes do not determine the evacuation route. The method also includes determining, by the node, the evacuation route based at least in part on the indication of the evacuation condition and at least in part on a layout of the structure. The method further includes providing, by the node, the evacuation route to the one or more additional nodes.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a node located in a structure, an indication of an evacuation condition, wherein the structure includes a plurality of nodes in communication with one another;

sending, by the node, a message to one or more additional nodes, wherein the message informs the one or more additional nodes that the node is going to determine an evacuation route in response to the indication of the evacuation condition such that the one or more additional nodes do not determine the evacuation route;

determining, by the node, the evacuation route based at least in part on the indication of the evacuation condition and at least in part on a layout of the structure; and

providing, by the node, the evacuation route to the one or more additional nodes.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the one or more additional nodes based on locations of the one or more additional nodes, wherein the node and the one or more additional nodes are located in a specific area of the structure.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the specific area of the structure comprises a particular floor of the structure.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the evacuation condition includes a type of the evacuation condition, and wherein the evacuation route is determined based at least in part on 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 wherein the evacuation route is determined based at least in part on the magnitude of the evacuation condition.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recording, by the node, a personalized message to be played in response to a low battery condition of the node;

determining, by the node, that the node has the low battery condition; and

responsive to the determination of the low battery condition, playing the personalized message to inform a user of the low battery condition.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing, by the node, the layout of the structure, locations of the one or more additional nodes, and contact information for an emergency response center.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the node, an area of the building to be evacuated based at least in part on the indication of the evacuation condition, wherein the area of the building comprises only a portion of the building.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the evacuation route is specific to the area of the building to be evacuated.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the area of the building comprises a single room within the building.

11. A node comprising:

a memory configured to store a layout of a structure in which the node is located; and

a processor operatively coupled to the memory and configured to;

process an indication of an evacuation condition for the structure, wherein the structure includes a plurality of nodes in communication with one another;

generate a message to be sent to one or more additional nodes, wherein the message informs the one or more additional nodes that the node is going to determine an evacuation route in response to the indication of the evacuation condition such that the one or more additional nodes do not determine the evacuation route;

determine the evacuation route based at least in part on the indication of the evacuation condition and at least in part on the layout of the structure; and

cause the evacuation route to be provided to the one or more additional nodes.

12. The node of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to identify the one or more additional nodes based on locations of the one or more additional nodes, wherein the node and the one or more additional nodes are located in a specific area of the structure.

13. The node of claim 12, wherein the specific area of the structure comprises a particular floor of the structure.

14. The node of claim 11, wherein the indication of the evacuation condition includes a type of the evacuation condition, and wherein the processor determines the evacuation route based at least in part on the type of the evacuation condition.

15. The node of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to record a personalized message to be played in response to a low battery condition of the node, wherein the personalized message is provided by a user of the node.

16. The node of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine that the node has the low battery condition; and

responsive to the determination of the low battery condition, play the personalized message to inform the user of the low battery condition.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor of a node, the instructions comprising:

instructions to receive an indication of an evacuation condition for a structure, wherein the node is located in the structure, and wherein the structure includes a plurality of nodes in communication with one another;

instructions to send a message to one or more additional nodes, wherein the message informs the one or more additional nodes that the node is going to determine an evacuation route in response to the indication of the evacuation condition such that the one or more additional nodes do not determine the evacuation route;

instructions to determine the evacuation route based at least in part on the indication of the evacuation condition and at least in part on a layout of the structure; and

instructions to provide the evacuation route to the one or more additional nodes.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions to determine an area of the building to be evacuated based at least in part on the indication of the evacuation condition, wherein the area of the building comprises only a portion of the building.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the evacuation route is specific to the area of the building to be evacuated.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising:

instructions to record a personalized message to be played in response to a low battery condition of the node, wherein the personalized message is provided by a user of the node;

instructions to determine that the node has the low battery condition; and

instructions to play the personalized message to inform the user of the low battery condition responsive to the determination of the low battery condition.