Smart-home hazard detector providing location-specific pre-alarm configuration

• US 9,251,696 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2014
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Sloo, David, Webb, Nick, Matsuoka, Yoky, Fadell, Anthony Michael, Rogers, Matthew Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Girma, Fekadeselassie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang, Son M
• Application Number:
  US14/508,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20150097684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 34053926-53928, 340/577, 340/584, 340628-633
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 electrochemical electrode arrays G01N27/27
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/004 for CO, 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: Y02A 50/20 : Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters

Abstract

A particular smart hazard detector may itself function as a guide during a process of installation of the same at an installation location. Additionally, the installation location of the particular smart hazard detector may play a central role in how various settings of the smart hazard detector are defined and adjusted over time.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a hazard detector having a heads-up pre-alarm capability, a standard emergency alarm capability, and a default configuration profile in which there is a first heads-up pre-alarm threshold for a hazard to be detected and a fixed emergency alarm threshold for the hazard to be detected, the method comprising:

providing an opportunity for a user to select a designated location from a predefined list of a plurality of designated locations within the residence for installation of the hazard detector;

after receiving the selection of the designated location, accessing over a network, information pre-stored in a database remote from the hazard detector to identify a second heads-up pre-alarm threshold based upon the designation of the particular location, wherein each designated location of the plurality of designated locations is linked with a heads-up pre-alarm threshold indicative of a hazard concentration amount; and

instantiating a command to operate the hazard detector according to the second heads-up pre-alarm threshold and the fixed emergency alarm threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

instantiating a command to set the second heads-up pre-alarm threshold to a level greater than the first heads-up pre-alarm threshold when the designated location corresponds to a type of household location predicted to be associated with levels of the hazard to be detected generally greater than one or more other types of household locations.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the type of household location predicted to be associated with levels of the hazard to be detected generally greater than one or more other types of household locations is selected from a kitchen type of location and a garage type of location.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

instantiating a command to set the second heads-up pre-alarm threshold to a level less than the first heads-up pre-alarm threshold when the designated location corresponds to a type of household location predicted to be frequented by one or more individuals susceptible to irritation by the hazard to be detected.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the type of household location predicted to be frequented by one or more individuals susceptible to irritation by the hazard to be detected is selected from a bedroom type of location and a caregiver type of location.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the second heads-up pre-alarm threshold in a memory element of the hazard detector; and

periodically or intermittently receiving an update to the second heads-up pre-alarm threshold from a computing system remote from the hazard detector.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an opportunity for the user to manually modify or adjust the second heads-up pre-alarm threshold.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

prompting via user-interface for input to modify or adjust the second heads-up pre-alarm threshold; and

instantiating a command to increase or decrease the second heads-up pre-alarm threshold based on received user input.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each one of the emergency alarm threshold and the second heads-up pre-alarm threshold defines a particular concentration limit for the hazard to be detected per particular time period.

10. A hazard detector having a heads-up pre-alarm capability and a standard emergency alarm capability, comprising:

a network interface;

at least one hazard detection feature; and

a processing system, in operative communication with the at least one hazard detection feature, that;

adjusts a first heads-up pre-alarm threshold of the at least one hazard detection feature to a second heads-up pre-alarm threshold based in response to a user input that selects a particular installation location from a plurality of predefined installation locations for the hazard detector within a residence, so that carbon monoxide detection operates according to the second heads-up pre-alarm threshold for a first, lesser amount of carbon monoxide over time to be detected and a fixed emergency alarm threshold for a second, greater amount of carbon monoxide over time to be detected; and

accesses via the network interface information pre-stored in a database remote from the hazard detector to identify and retrieve the second heads-up pre-alarm threshold based upon the selected particular installation location of the hazard detector within the residence, wherein each predefined installation location of the plurality of the predefined installation locations is linked with a heads-up pre-alarm threshold indicative of an amount of carbon monoxide over time.

11. The hazard detector of claim 10, wherein the second heads-up pre-alarm threshold is adjusted to a level greater than the first heads-up pre-alarm up threshold.

12. The hazard detector of claim 10, wherein the second heads-up pre-alarm threshold is adjusted to a level less than the first heads-up pre-alarm up threshold.

13. The hazard detector of claim 10, further comprising an output device, wherein a particular audible alert of first volume intensity is generated by the output device when a detected magnitude of the hazard is determined to be greater than the second heads-up pre-alarm threshold and less than the emergency alarm threshold, and another particular audible alert of second volume intensity greater than the first volume intensity is generated by the output device when the detected magnitude of the hazard is determined to be greater than the emergency alarm threshold.

14. The hazard detector of claim 10, further comprising an output device, wherein a particular audible alert is output by the output device when a detected magnitude of the hazard is determined to be increasing, to indicate rising levels of the hazard.

15. The hazard detector of claim 10, further comprising an output device, wherein a particular audible alert is output by the output device when a detected magnitude of the hazard is determined to be decreasing, to indicate falling levels of the hazard.

16. A hazard detector, comprising:

a network access device;

an output device;

an input device;

at least one hazard detection feature;

a processor operatively coupled to the network access device, output device, input device, and at least one hazard detection feature; and

a memory operatively coupled with and readable by the processor, and having stored therein processor-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

prompt, via the output device, for user-input of a designated location for installation of the hazard detector within a residence, wherein the designated location is selected from a predefined list of a plurality of designated locations;

receive, via the input device, selection of an indication of the designated location from among the plurality of designated locations for installation of the hazard detector within the residence;

access, via the network access device, information pre-stored in a database remote from the hazard detector to identify a particular heads-up pre-alarm threshold based upon the indication of the designated location, wherein each designated location of the plurality of designated locations is linked with a heads-up pre-alarm threshold numerically indicative of a pre-alarm hazard condition; and

operate the at least one hazard detection feature according to the particular heads-up pre-alarm threshold and a fixed emergency alarm threshold different than the particular heads-up pre-alarm threshold.

17. The hazard detector of claim 16, wherein the at least one hazard detection feature is selected from a carbon monoxide detection feature and a smoke detection feature.