Evacuation system

• US 9,189,939 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2015
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• 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:
  US14/734,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20150269822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 161 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.18, 340/573.1, 340/10.14, 340/506, 340/286.05, 340/521, 340/502, 340/522, 340/628, 340/577, 340/584, 340/541, 455/456.1, 455/457
• 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 system to notify emergency responders of a condition, comprising:

a node located in a structure, wherein the node comprises a memory, a processor, a sensor, and a transceiver;

wherein the sensor of the node is configured to identify an emergency condition associated with the structure and information regarding the emergency condition;

wherein the processor is configured to determine a severity of the emergency condition based at least in part on the information regarding the emergency condition; and

wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit to an emergency response center an identification of the emergency condition, a location of the structure, and the severity of the emergency condition such that emergency responders can prepare for the emergency condition on their way to the location of the structure, and wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit additional information regarding the emergency condition to a portable device of an emergency responder, wherein the portable device is in direct communication with the node.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a heat sensor, and wherein the information regarding the emergency condition comprises a temperature.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a smoke detector, and wherein the information regarding the emergency condition comprises an amount of smoke.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the node further comprises an occupancy unit configured to detect occupants in the structure.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit an indication to the emergency response center that there is one or more occupants in a given room of the structure.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the occupancy unit is configured to distinguish between a baby, a child, and an adult, and wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit an indication to the emergency response center that there is an occupant in a given room of the structure, along with an indication of whether the occupant is a baby, a child, or an adult.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the occupancy unit is configured to distinguish between human and animal occupants in the structure.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a gas sensor, and wherein the information regarding the emergency condition comprises a concentration of a detected gas.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine an evacuation route for occupants in the structure based at least in part on the information regarding the emergency condition.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is configure to transmit the identification of the emergency condition to the emergency response center via a telecommunications network, the Internet, or a public switched telephone network.

20. The system of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the transceiver, the identification of the emergency condition to the emergency response center via a telecommunications network, the Internet, or a public switched telephone network.

11. A method for notifying emergency responders of a condition, comprising:

identifying, by a sensor of a node located in a structure, an emergency condition associated with the structure and information regarding the emergency condition, wherein the node includes the sensor, a memory, a processor, and a transceiver;

determining, by the processor of the node, a severity of the emergency condition based at least in part on the information regarding the emergency condition; and

transmitting, from the transceiver to an emergency response center, an identification of the emergency condition, a location of the structure, and the severity of the emergency condition such that emergency responders can prepare for the emergency condition on their way to the location of the structure, and further comprising transmitting additional information regarding the emergency condition to a portable device of an emergency responder, wherein the portable device is in direct communication with the node.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises a heat sensor, and wherein the information regarding the emergency condition comprises a temperature.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises a smoke detector, and wherein the information regarding the emergency condition comprises an amount of smoke.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the node further comprises an occupancy unit for detecting occupants in the structure.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting, by the transceiver, an indication to the emergency response center that there is one or more occupants in a given room of the structure.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising distinguishing, by the occupancy unit, between a baby, a child, and an adult, and comprising transmitting, by the transceiver, an indication to the emergency response center that there is an occupant in a given room of the structure, along with an indication of whether the occupant is a baby, a child, or an adult.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising distinguishing, by the occupancy unit, between human and animal occupants in the structure.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises a gas sensor, and wherein the information regarding the emergency condition comprises a concentration of a detected gas.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining, by the processor, an evacuation route for occupants in the structure based at least in part on the information regarding the emergency condition.