Audio monitoring and sound identification process for remote alarms

• US 9,142,119 B1
• Filed: 11/12/2014
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Inventors: Grant, Rosemarie Geier
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Application Number:
  US14/538,992
• Time in Patent Office: 314 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/508, 340/521, 340/540, 340/628, 340/692, 340/3.3, 340/3.5
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/126 of annunciator circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/20 Calibration, including self-calibrating arrangements

Abstract

In a computer-implemented method for remote monitoring of one or more alarms, a set of one or more audio test signals is sensed. The set of audio test signals is processed to generate alarm identification data, and/or the set of audio test signals is recorded, and an indication of a type of the alarm device and/or a location of the alarm device, is received. An audio signal generated by the alarm device in response to detecting an alarm condition is sensed, and processed using an audio recognition technique to identify the alarm device. The alarm device is identified using the generated alarm identification data and/or the recorded set of audio test signals, and using the received indication. A user is caused to be notified that the identified alarm device has been triggered.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for remote monitoring of one or more alarms, the method comprising:

sensing a set of one or more audio test signals generated by an alarm device;

at least one of (i) processing the set of audio test signals to generate alarm identification data, or (ii) recording the set of audio test signals;

receiving an indication of one or both of (i) a type of the alarm device, and (ii) a location of the alarm device;

sensing an audio signal that was generated by the alarm device in response to detecting an alarm condition;

processing, via one or more processors and using an audio recognition technique, the audio signal to identify the alarm device that generated the audio signal, wherein processing the audio signal to identify the alarm device that generated the audio signal includes identifying the alarm device that generated the audio signal using

at least one of (i) the generated alarm identification data, or (ii) the recorded set of audio test signals, and

the received indication; and

causing, via one or more processors, a user to be notified that the identified alarm device has been triggered.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein processing the audio signal to identify the alarm device that generated the audio signal includes processing the audio signal to identify (i) a smoke detector located at a residence of the user, (ii) a carbon monoxide detector located at the residence of the user, (iii) a water leak detector located at the residence of the user, (iv) a home security system located at the residence of the user, (v) a door alarm device located at the residence of the user, (vi) a window alarm device located at the residence of the user, or (vii) mechanical equipment located at the residence of the user.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein causing a user to be notified that the identified alarm device has been triggered includes causing at least one of (i) an electronic mail message indicating that the identified alarm device has been triggered to be sent to the user, (ii) a text message indicating that the identified alarm device has been triggered to be sent to the user, (iii) an outbound telephone alert to be sent to the user, or (iv) a social media alert to be sent to the user.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein processing the audio signal to identify the alarm device that generated the audio signal includes:

converting the sensed audio signal to a digital audio signal; and

processing the digital audio signal to identify the alarm device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises processing the set of audio test signals to generate the alarm identification data.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises receiving an indication of the type of the alarm device.

7. A system comprising:

an audio sensor configured to sense audio signals; and

a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

at least one of (i) process a set of one or more audio test signals that were generated by an alarm device and sensed by the audio sensor to generate alarm identification data, or (ii) record the set of audio test signals,

receive an indication of one or both of (i) a type of the alarm device, and (ii) a location of the alarm device,

process, using an audio recognition technique, an audio signal that was generated by the alarm device in response to detecting an alarm condition and sensed by the audio sensor to identify the alarm device that generated the audio signal, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to identify the alarm device that generated the audio signal using

at least one of (i) the generated alarm identification data, or (ii) the recorded set of audio test signals, and

the received indication, and

cause a user to be notified that the identified alarm device has been triggered.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to:

cause the user to be notified at least by causing one or more of (i) an electronic mail message indicating that the identified alarm device has been triggered to be sent to the user, (ii) a text message indicating that the identified alarm device has been triggered to be sent to the user, (iii) an outbound telephone alert to be sent to the user, or (iv) a social media alert to be sent to the user.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to:

process the audio signal to identify the alarm device that generated the audio signal at least in part by

converting the sensed audio signal to a digital audio signal, and

processing the digital audio signal to identify the alarm device.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to process the set of audio test signals to generate the alarm identification data.

11. A computer-implemented method for remote monitoring of one or more alarms, the method comprising:

receiving alarm identification data associated with an alarm device;

receiving an indication of one or both of (i) a type of the alarm device, and (ii) a location of the alarm device;

sensing an audio signal that was generated by the alarm device in response to detecting an alarm condition;

processing, via one or more processors and using an audio recognition technique, the audio signal to identify the alarm device that generated the audio signal, wherein processing the audio signal to identify the alarm device that generated the audio signal includes identifying the alarm device that generated the audio signal using (i) the received alarm identification data and (ii) the received indication; and

causing, via one or more processors, a user to be notified that the identified alarm device has been triggered.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein processing the audio signal to identify the alarm device that generated the audio signal includes processing the audio signal to identify (i) a smoke detector located at a residence of the user, (ii) a carbon monoxide detector located at the residence of the user, (iii) a water leak detector located at the residence of the user, (iv) a home security system located at the residence of the user, (v) a door alarm device located at the residence of the user, (vi) a window alarm device located at the residence of the user, or (vii) mechanical equipment located at the residence of the user.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein causing a user to be notified that the identified alarm device has been triggered includes causing at least one of (i) an electronic mail message indicating that the identified alarm device has been triggered to be sent to the user, (ii) a text message indicating that the identified alarm device has been triggered to be sent to the user, (iii) an outbound telephone alert to be sent to the user, or (iv) a social media alert to be sent to the user.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein processing the audio signal to identify the alarm device that generated the audio signal includes:

converting the sensed audio signal to a digital audio signal; and

processing the digital audio signal to identify the alarm device.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the method comprises receiving an indication of the type of the alarm device.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein receiving alarm identification data associated with an alarm device includes receiving the alarm identification data from a remote server.