Verifying occupancy of a building

• US 9,454,882 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2014
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nye, James E., Warren, Jeremy B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US14/316,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20150379836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 340/565, 340/425.5, 340/577, 340/566, 340/603, 340/501, 340/517, 340/521, 340/541
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/02 Mechanical actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/04 by breaking of glass
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1672 using sonic detecting means, e.g. a microphone operating in the audio frequency range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/188 Data fusion; cooperative systems, e.g. voting among different detectors

Abstract

A method for detecting occupancy of a building is described. In one embodiment, the method includes using a microphone to monitor for sounds at a building, detecting a sound via the microphone, and determining whether the sound is made by a human or made by an animal. In some cases, the microphone is a glass break sensor microphone.

Claims

1. A method for detecting occupancy, comprising:

using a microphone from a glass break sensor to monitor for sounds at a building, the glass break sensor being installed proximate to a pane of glass at the building and communicatively coupled to an automation and security system at the building, wherein the glass break sensor is originally dedicated to detect breaking glass;

detecting a sound via the microphone detecting a triggering of a motion sensor;

analyzing the sound in relation to the triggering of the motion sensor; and

determining whether the sound is made by a human or made by an animal upon determining, based on the analyzing, the sound is made by the animal;

ignoring the triggering of the motion sensor; and

upon detecting the triggering of the motion sensor and determining the sound is made by the human, triggering an alarm.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a human footstep from the sound.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a human voice from the sound.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying an animal footstep from the sound.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying an animal sound from the sound.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the sound originates within the building or outside the building.

7. A microphone configured for detecting occupancy, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor, wherein the memory stores computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of;

monitoring for sounds at a building using the microphone, the microphone being from a glass break sensor, the glass break sensor being installed proximate to a pane of glass at the building and communicatively coupled to an automation and security system at the building, wherein the glass break sensor is originally dedicated to detect breaking glass;

detecting a sound via the microphone 3 detecting a triggering of a motion sensor;

analyzing the sound in relation to the triggering of the motion sensor; and

determining whether the sound is made by a human or made by an animal, the microphone being part of the home automation and security system;

upon determining, based on the analyzing, the sound is made by the animal, ignoring the triggering of the motion sensor; and

upon detecting the triggering of the motion sensor and determining the sound is made by the human, triggering an alarm.

8. The microphone of claim 7, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

identifying a human footstep from the sound.

9. The microphone of claim 7, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

identifying a human voice from the sound.

10. The microphone of claim 7, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

identifying an animal footstep from the sound.

11. The microphone of claim 7, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

identifying an animal sound from the sound.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

using a microphone from a glass break sensor to monitor for sounds at a building, the glass break sensor being installed proximate to a pane of glass at the building and communicatively coupled to an automation and security system at the building, wherein the glass break sensor is originally dedicated to detect breaking glass;

detecting a sound via the microphone detecting a triggering of a motion sensor;

analyzing the sound in relation to the triggering of the motion sensor; and

determining whether the sound is made by a human or made by an animal;

upon determining, based on the analyzing, the sound is made by the animal;

ignoring the triggering of the motion sensor; and

upon detecting the triggering of the motion sensor and determining the sound is made by the human, triggering an alarm.