Mobile user interface for smart-home hazard detector configuration

• US 9,520,054 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2014
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Rossi, Shiney, Bruck, Timo A., Sloo, David, Boettcher, Jesse W., Boyd, Jeffrey A., Simister, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fan, Hongmin
• Application Number:
  US14/508,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20150097682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• 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

System for displaying hazard events and adjusting hazard detector settings on a mobile device includes a user interface executed on the mobile device, a hazard detector, and a computer server system communicatively coupled to the mobile device and hazard detector. The hazard detector generates hazard events indicating detection of smoke or carbon monoxide. The hazard events are transmitted to the computer server system and then to the mobile device. User interface displays the hazard events in an event group. User interface receives an adjusted value for a setting of the hazard detector and transmits the adjusted value to the computer server system. The computer server system determines that the adjusted value corresponds to the hazard detector, receives a check-in event from the hazard detector, and transmits the adjusted value to the hazard detector in response to receiving the check-in event. The hazard detector applies the adjusted value to the setting.

Claims

1. A system for adjusting a setting of a hazard detector on a mobile device remote from the hazard detector, the system comprising:

a user interface executed on the mobile device that accesses a computer server system via the Internet, the mobile device configured to;

display a current value for the setting of the hazard detector, the current value indicating a value for the setting that is currently in effect on the hazard detector,

receive user input indicating an adjustment to the setting, the adjustment to change the setting from the current value to an adjusted value,

transmit the adjusted value to the computer server system via the Internet,

display a pending indicator for the setting indicating that the adjusted value is not in effect on the hazard detector,

receive a signal from the computer server system indicating that the adjusted value is in effect on the hazard detector, and

display an indication of the setting such that the adjusted value is indicated as being in effect on the hazard detector;

the computer server system being communicatively coupled via the Internet to the mobile device and configured to;

receive the adjusted value,

determine that the adjusted value corresponds to the hazard detector,

store the adjusted value while waiting for a check-in event from the hazard detector;

after storing the adjusted value while waiting for the check-in event from the hazard detector, receive the check-in event from the hazard detector,

transmit the adjusted value to the hazard detector in response to receiving the check-in event, and

transmit the signal indicating that the adjusted value is in effect to the mobile device, wherein the computer server system is located remote from a structure at which the hazard detector is installed; and

the hazard detector, installed at the structure, being communicatively coupled with the Internet such that the hazard detector communicates with the computer server system via an Internet-connected router and the Internet, the hazard detector configured to;

detect at least one of smoke and carbon monoxide (CO),

transmit the check-in event to the computer server system after a time interval since transmitting a previous check-in event,

receive the adjusted value, and

apply the adjusted value to the setting.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second user interface executed on a second mobile device, the second user interface being configured to;

receive a second user input indicating a second adjustment to the setting, the second adjustment to change the setting to a second adjusted value, and

transmit the second adjusted value to the computer server system;

the computer server system being communicatively coupled to the second mobile device and further configured to;

receive the second adjusted value, and

determine which of the adjusted value and the second adjusted value to transmit to the hazard detector.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the computer server system determines which of the adjusted value and the second adjusted value to transmit by comparing a time indicating when the adjusted value is received with a second time indicating when the second adjusted value is received, and wherein a most recent adjusted value is transmitted to the hazard detector.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the hazard detector is further configured to;

receive a second user input indicating a second adjustment to the setting, the second adjustment to change the setting to a second adjusted value, and

transmit the second adjusted value to the computer server system; and

the computer server system is further configured to;

receive the second adjusted value, and

determine which of the adjusted value and the second adjusted value to transmit to the hazard detector.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the hazard detector is further configured to activate a light source at a brightness level corresponding to the adjusted value.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the hazard detector is further configured to generate speech in a language corresponding to the adjusted value.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the hazard detector is further configured to generate speech that announces a location corresponding to the adjusted value, the location indicating a room that the hazard detector is located in.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

detecting an ambient light level at the hazard detector that is less than a threshold; and

determining, based on the adjusted value, whether a light source of the hazard detector is to be activated in response to detecting the ambient light level.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

detecting an increase in humidity level at the hazard detector; and

determining, based on the adjusted value, whether a smoke threshold of the hazard detector is adjusted in response to detecting the increase, the smoke threshold indicating a level of detected smoke at which an alert of the hazard detector is activated.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

detecting that a primary power source of the hazard detector is supplying power; and

determining, based on the adjusted value, whether an indicator of the hazard detector is activated in response to detecting that the primary power source is supplying power.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

detecting a hazard level that is greater than a pre-alarm threshold and less than an alarm threshold, the hazard level indicating an amount of smoke or CO; and

determining, based on the adjusted value, whether an alert of the hazard detector is activated in response to detecting the hazard level.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

detecting a specific motion at the hazard detector; and

determining, based on the adjusted value, whether an alert of the hazard detector is deactivated in response to detecting the specific motion.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the adjusted value transmitted by the mobile device to the computer server system via the Internet and subsequently transmitted by the computer server system to the hazard detector via the Internet adjusts an ancillary feature of the hazard detector that is distinct from an alarm activated based on either smoke and carbon monoxide detection.

8. A method for adjusting a setting of a hazard detector on a mobile device remote from the hazard detector, the method comprising:

displaying a list of settings for the hazard detector, the hazard detector being configured to detect at least one of smoke and carbon monoxide (CO);

receiving a first user input selecting the setting from the list of settings;

expanding a display area for the setting in response to receiving the first user input;

displaying a current value for the setting in the expanded display area, the current value indicating a value for the setting that is currently in effect on the hazard detector;

receiving a second user input indicating an adjustment to the setting, the adjustment to change the setting from the current value to an adjusted value, wherein the adjusted value corresponds to an ancillary feature of the hazard detector that is distinct from alarm functionality triggered by either smoke and carbon monoxide detection;

transmitting the adjusted value from the mobile device to a computer server system via the Internet;

storing the adjusted value by the computer server system while waiting for a check-in event from the hazard detector;

transmitting a check-in event from the hazard detector to the computer server system via the Internet, after transmitting the adjusted value from the mobile device to the computer server system, wherein the hazard detector is located at a structure remote from a location of the computer server system;

transmitting the adjusted value from the computer server system to the hazard detector via the Internet after transmitting the check-in event from the hazard detector to the computer server system; and

applying the adjusted value to the setting on the hazard detector.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

detecting motion at the hazard detector; and

determining, based on the adjusted value, whether a light source of the hazard detector is to be activated in response to detecting motion.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, having instructions stored therein, which when executed cause a computer to perform a set of operations comprising:

displaying a list of settings for a hazard detector, the hazard detector being configured to detect at least one of smoke and carbon monoxide (CO);

receiving a first user input selecting a first setting from the list of settings;

expanding a first display area for the first setting in response to receiving the first user input;

displaying a first current value for the first setting in the expanded first display area, the first current value indicating a value for the first setting that is currently in effect on the hazard detector;

receiving a second user input selecting a second setting from the list of settings;

reducing the first display area for the first setting in response to receiving the second user input;

expanding a second display area for the second setting in response to receiving the second user input;

displaying a second current value for the second setting in the expanded second display area, the second current value indicating a value for the second setting that is currently in effect on the hazard detector, wherein the first current value and the second current value correspond to ancillary features of the hazard detector that are distinct from one or more alarm features corresponding to either smoke or carbon monoxide detection;

receiving a third user input indicating an adjustment to the second setting, the adjustment to change the second setting from the second current value to an adjusted value;

displaying a pending indicator for the second setting indicating that the adjusted value is not in effect on the hazard detector;

transmitting the adjusted value to a computer server system via the Internet, wherein the computer server system is located remote from a structure at which the hazard detector is located;

receiving a signal from the computer server system indicating that the adjusted value for the second setting is in effect on the hazard detector; and

removing the pending indicator in response to receiving the signal.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, having further instructions stored therein, which when executed cause the computer to perform a set of operations comprising:

displaying a replacement date for the hazard detector, the replacement date indicating a date by which the hazard detector should be replaced with a new hazard detector.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, having further instructions stored therein, which when executed cause the computer to perform a set of operations comprising:

displaying a media access control address of the hazard detector.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, having further instructions stored therein, which when executed cause the computer to perform a set of operations comprising:

displaying a wireless internet protocol address of the hazard detector.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, having further instructions stored therein, which when executed cause the computer to perform a set of operations comprising:

displaying a model number or serial number of the hazard detector.