Audio monitoring and sound identification process for remote alarms

• US 9,472,092 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2015
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• 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
• Application Number:
  US14/978,437
• Time in Patent Office: 301 Days
• Field of Search: 340/514, 340/506, 340/521, 340/540, 340/541, 340/628
• 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 method for remote monitoring of alarms, audio test signals generated by a plurality of alarm devices, including a first and second alarm of the same type (e.g., smoke detector, door or window alarm, etc.), are sensed. For each alarm device, the respective audio test signal is processed to generate alarm identification data, and an indication of a type of the alarm device and a location of the alarm device is received. An audio signal that the first alarm device generated in response to detecting an alarm condition is sensed, and processed according to an audio recognition technique to identify the alarm device that generated the audio signal. A notification is caused to be sent to a user. The notification includes the type and the location of the first alarm device.

Claims

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

sensing audio test signals generated by a plurality of alarm devices, the plurality of alarm devices including at least a first alarm device and a second alarm device both having a same alarm type;

for each of the plurality of alarm devices,

processing, by one or more processors, the respective audio test signal to generate alarm identification data for the alarm device, and

receiving, by the one or more processors, an indication of a type of the alarm device and a location of the alarm device;

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

processing, by the one or more processors and according to 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 using at least (i) the alarm identification data for the first alarm device, and (ii) the alarm identification data for the second alarm device, to identify the alarm device that generated the audio signal; and

causing, by the one or more processors, transmission of a notification to a user, the notification including (i) the type of the first alarm device and (ii) the location of the first alarm device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein processing the audio signal to identify the alarm device that generated the audio signal includes using one or more of (i) signal strength data, (ii) directionality data, or (iii) multi-path delay data.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the same alarm type is either (i) a smoke detector, (ii) a carbon monoxide detector, (iii) a water leak detector, (iv) a door alarm device, (v) a window alarm device, or (vi) mechanical equipment.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein causing transmission of a notification to the user includes causing transmission of an electronic mail message to the user.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein causing transmission of a notification to the user includes causing transmission of a text message to the user.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein transmission of a notification to the user includes causing transmission of one or both of (i) an outbound telephone alert, and (ii) a social media alert, to the user.

7. 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.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving an indication of a type of the alarm device and a location of the alarm device includes receiving the indication of the type of the alarm device and the location of the alarm device from the user via a user interface of a computing device.

9. 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;

sense audio test signals generated by a plurality of alarm devices, the plurality of alarm devices including at least a first alarm device and a second alarm device both having a same alarm type;

for each of the plurality of alarm devices,

process the respective audio test signal to generate alarm identification data for the alarm device, and

receive an indication of a type of the alarm device and a location of the alarm device;

sense an audio signal that the first alarm device generated in response to detecting an alarm condition;

process, according to an audio recognition technique, the audio signal to identify the alarm device that generated the audio signal, at least in party by using at least (i) the alarm identification data for the first alarm device, and (ii) the alarm identification data for the second alarm device, to identify the alarm device that generated the audio signal; and

cause transmission of a notification to a user, the notification including (i) the type of the first alarm device and (ii) the location of the first alarm device.

10. The system of claim 9, 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 by using one or more of (i) signal strength data, (ii) directionality data, or (iii) multi-path delay data.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the same alarm type is either (i) a smoke detector, (ii) a carbon monoxide detector, (iii) a water leak detector, (iv) a door alarm device, (v) a window alarm device, or (vi) mechanical equipment.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the notification is an electronic mail or a text message.

13. A computer-implemented method for remote monitoring of alarms, the method comprising:

sensing a plurality of audio test signals each generated by a respective one of a plurality of alarm devices, the plurality of alarm devices including at least a first alarm device and a second alarm device both having a same alarm type;

for each of the plurality of alarm devices,

recording the respective audio test signal, and

receiving, by one or more processors, an indication of a type of the alarm device and a location of the alarm device;

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

processing, by the one or more processors and according to 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 using at least (i) the recorded audio test signal for the first alarm device, and (ii) the recorded audio test signal for the second alarm device, to identify the alarm device that generated the audio signal; and

causing, by the one or more processors, transmission of a notification to a user, the notification including (i) the type of the first alarm device and (ii) the location of the first alarm device.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein processing the audio signal to identify the alarm device that generated the audio signal includes using one or more of (i) signal strength data, (ii) directionality data, or (iii) multi-path delay data.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the same alarm type is either (i) a smoke detector, (ii) a carbon monoxide detector, (iii) a water leak detector, (iv) a door alarm device, (v) a window alarm device, or (vi) mechanical equipment.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein causing transmission of a notification to the user includes causing transmission of an electronic mail message to the user.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein causing transmission of a notification to the user includes causing transmission of a text message to the user.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein causing transmission of a notification to the user includes causing transmission of one or both of (i) an outbound telephone alert, and (ii) a social media alert, to the user.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, 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.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein receiving an indication of a type of the alarm device and a location of the alarm device includes receiving the indication of the type of the alarm device and the location of the alarm device from the user via a user interface of a computing device.