Security system providing a localized humanly-perceivable alert for identifying a facility to emergency personnel

• US 9,786,137 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2016
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Henrie, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US15/133,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20170018152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 340540-542, 3405451, 3405452
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/04 by breaking of glass
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/38 using flashing light
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/064 indicating houses needing emergency help, e.g. with a flashing light or sound

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for guiding emergency personnel to a location in a facility proximate to an alarm that has been generated. In one aspect, a method may include detecting an alarm condition at a facility protected by a security system and determining a location at the facility of the alarm condition. The method may further include causing at least one indicator at the facility, which is proximate to the determined location of the alarm condition, to generate an identifying alert that is humanly perceivable from an exterior of the facility such that emergency personnel can identify the facility based at least in part on the identifying alert. In some aspects, the method may also include notifying a security representative of the alarm condition, and receiving a notification from the security representative indicating that emergency personnel are dispatched to the facility.

Claims

1. A security and automation system comprising:

a sensor, at a premises, configured to generate alarm condition messages in response to alarm conditions;

a control unit, at the premises, communicatively coupled to the sensor and to at least one indicator, the control unit configured to;

receive an alarm condition message from the sensor based on the sensor detecting an alarm condition;

determine a location of the alarm condition within the premises based at least in part on the alarm condition message;

validate the alarm condition by confirming both (a) the security and automation system is armed and (b) the alarm condition includes at least one of a door of the premises opening, a window of the premises opening, a motion sensor of the premises being triggered, and a glass break sensor detecting glass breaking at the premises;

upon validating the alarm condition message, send a dispatch request to emergency personnel, the dispatch request including information regarding the premises and the alarm condition;

upon failing to validate the alarm condition message, bypass sending the dispatch request;

receive a dispatch notification indicating that the emergency personnel are dispatched to the premises in response to sending the dispatch request; and

upon receiving both the alarm condition message and the dispatch notification, activate a premises location indicator at the premises.

2. The security and automation system of claim 1, the control unit being further configured to:

identify an interior location indicator proximate to the sensor that detects the alarm condition.

3. The security and automation system of claim 2, the control unit being further configured to:

activate the interior location indicator upon receiving both the alarm condition message and the dispatch notification and upon identifying the interior location indicator proximate to the sensor.

4. The security and automation system of claim 3, at least one of the premises location indicator and the interior location indicator comprising a visual alert, an audible alert, or a combination thereof.

5. The security and automation system of claim 4, the control unit being further configured to:

identify a time of day in relation to receiving the alarm condition message from the sensor.

6. The security and automation system of claim 5, the control unit being further configured to:

upon determining the time of day indicates a time within predetermined daylight hours, activating both the visual alert and the audible alert in relation to at least one of the premises location indicator and the interior location indicator.

7. The security and automation system of claim 5, the control unit being further configured to:

upon determining the time of day indicates a time within predetermined night time hours, activating the visual alert and bypass activating the audible alert in relation to at least one of the premises location indicator and the interior location indicator.

8. The security and automation system of claim 2, the premises location indicator comprising an exterior light of the premises, and the interior location indicator comprising an interior light of the premises.

9. The security and automation system of claim 1, validating the alarm condition comprising the control unit determining that both (a) the sensor detects smoke at the premises and (b) an occupant of the premises confirms a fire exists at the premises.

10. The security and automation system of claim 1, the sensor comprising at least one of a door sensor, a window sensor, a motion sensor, a glass break sensor, and a smoke sensor.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the instructions, the instructions comprising:

receive an alarm condition message from a sensor based on the sensor detecting an alarm condition at the premises;

determine a location of the alarm condition within the premises based at least in part on the alarm condition message;

validate the alarm condition by confirming both (a) a security and automation system at the premises is armed and (b) the alarm condition includes at least one of a door of the premises opening, a window of the premises opening, a motion sensor of the premises being triggered, and a glass break sensor detecting glass breaking at the premises;

upon validating the alarm condition message, send a dispatch request to emergency personnel, the dispatch request including information regarding the premises and the alarm condition;

upon failing to validate the alarm condition message, bypass sending the dispatch request;

receive a dispatch notification indicating that the emergency personnel are dispatched to the premises in response to sending the dispatch request; and

upon receiving both the alarm condition message and the dispatch notification, activate a premises location indicator at the premises.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, the instructions further comprising:

identify an interior location indicator proximate to the sensor that detects the alarm condition.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, the instructions further comprising:

activate the interior location indicator upon receiving both the alarm condition message and the dispatch notification and upon identifying the interior location indicator proximate to the sensor.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, at least one of the premises location indicator and the interior location indicator comprising a visual alert, an audible alert, or a combination thereof.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, the instructions further comprising:

identify a time of day in relation to receiving the alarm condition message from the sensor.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, the instructions further comprising:

upon determining the time of day indicates a time within predetermined daylight hours, activating both the visual alert and the audible alert in relation to at least one of the premises location indicator and the interior location indicator.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, the instructions further comprising:

upon determining the time of day indicates a time within predetermined night time hours, activating the visual alert and bypass activating the audible alert in relation to at least one of the premises location indicator and the interior location indicator.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, the premises location indicator comprising an exterior light of the premises, and the interior location indicator comprising an interior light of the premises.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, validating the alarm condition comprising an instruction to determine that both (a) the sensor detects smoke at the premises and (b) an occupant of the premises confirms a fire exists at the premises.

20. A method comprising:

receiving an alarm condition message from a sensor based on the sensor detecting an alarm condition at the premises;

determining a location of the alarm condition within the premises based at least in part on the alarm condition message;

validating the alarm by confirming both (a) a security and automation system at the premises is armed and (b) the alarm condition includes at least one of a door of the premises opening, a window of the premises opening, a motion sensor of the premises being triggered, and a glass break sensor detecting glass breaking at the premises;

upon validating the alarm condition message, sending a dispatch request to emergency personnel, the dispatch request including information regarding the premises and the alarm condition;

upon failing to validate the alarm condition message, bypassing sending the dispatch request;

receiving a dispatch notification indicating that the emergency personnel are dispatched to the premises in response to sending the dispatch request; and

upon receiving both the alarm condition message and the dispatch notification, activating a premises location indicator at the premises.