Systems and methods for monitoring sound during an in-building emergency

• US 9,800,738 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2015
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Boyden, Edward S., Cheatham, III, Jesse R., Duncan, William D., Ferren, Bran, Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Kare, Jordin T., Malaska, Stephen L., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Tuckerman, David B., Wood, Jr., Lowell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US14/699,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20150244873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 34028601, 34028605, 340331, 340332, 340506
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2410/00 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F

Abstract

A system for monitoring a building having one or more microphones coupled to a telephone includes a detector configured to detect a triggering event within the building and transmit an activating signal when the triggering event is detected, and a control module configured to receive the activating signal from the detector. The control module is programmed to activate at least one of the one or more microphones to monitor sound when the activating signal is received.

Claims

1. A system for providing a display map during an emergency within a building, the system comprising:

at least two detectors located within the building for detecting triggering events, wherein each detector of the at least two detectors includes a microphone coupled to a telephone within the building and configured to detect a triggering event; and

a control module configured to receive respective triggering event data from the at least two detectors, the control module being programmed to;

record the respective triggering event data from the at least two detectors;

generate a respective data point representing each respective triggering event data for display on the display map;

plot each respective data point on the display map;

generate a priority classification for the at least two triggering events based on the respective triggering event data; and

plot the priority classification on the display map.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the triggering event includes an audible sound.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is programmed to:

generate prioritized evacuation instructions for persons within the building based on the at least two triggering events; and

plot the prioritized evacuation instructions on the map.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the prioritized evacuation instructions are based on a location of the at least two triggering events.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is programmed to:

generate prioritized evacuation instructions for persons within the building based on the respective triggering events; and

plot the prioritized evacuation instructions on the display map.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is programmed to:

generate one or more danger regions for persons within the building based on the respective triggering event data; and

plot the one or more danger regions on the display map.