Audio monitoring and sound identification process for remote alarms

• US 9,812,001 B1
• Filed: 09/08/2016
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• 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 T
• Application Number:
  US15/259,199
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 340514, 340540, 340541, 340628-632
• 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, first and second audio test signals, generated by first and second alarm devices at first and second locations, respectively, are sensed, with both alarm devices corresponding to the same alarm type. For each alarm device, the respective audio test signal is processed to generate alarm identification data. An audio signal that the first alarm device generated in response to detecting an alarm condition (e.g., a fire, smoke, etc.) is sensed, and processed according to an audio recognition technique, and using the generated alarm identification data, to identify the alarm device that generated the audio signal. A notification is then caused to be sent to a user. The notification includes the location of the first alarm device.

Claims

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

sensing a first audio test signal generated by a first alarm device while the first alarm device is at a first location, the first alarm device corresponding to a first alarm type;

sensing a second audio test signal generated by a second alarm device while the second alarm device is at a second location different than the first location, the second alarm device also corresponding to the first alarm type;

for each of the first alarm device and the second alarm device, processing, by one or more processors, the respective audio test signal to generate alarm identification data for 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 the first location.

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 first 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 a notification to be sent to the user includes causing an electronic mail message to be sent to the user.

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

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

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the one or more processors and from the user via a user interface of a computing device, an indication of the first location and an indication of the second location.

9. A system comprising:

an audio sensor configured to

sense a first audio test signal generated by a first alarm device while the first alarm device is at a first location, the first alarm device corresponding to a first alarm type,

sense a second audio test signal generated by a second alarm device while the second alarm device is at a second location different than the first location, the second alarm device also corresponding to the first alarm type, and

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

a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

for each of the first alarm device and the second alarm device, process the respective audio test signal to generate alarm identification data for the alarm device,

process, 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

cause transmission of a notification to a user, the notification including the first location.

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 first 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 first audio test signal generated by a first alarm device while the first alarm device is at a first location, the first alarm device corresponding to a first alarm type;

sensing a second audio test signal generated by a second alarm device while the second alarm device is at a second location different than the first location, the second alarm device also corresponding to the first alarm type;

for each of the first alarm device and the second alarm device, recording the respective audio test signal;

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

processing, by 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 the first location.

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 first 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 a notification to be sent to the user includes causing an electronic mail message to be sent to the user.

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

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

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, by the one or more processors and from the user via a user interface of a computing device, an indication of the first location and an indication of the second location.