Dynamic distributed-sensor network for crowdsourced event detection

• US 10,433,032 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2016
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Filson, John B., Daniels, Eric B., Mittleman, Adam, Nelmes, Sierra L., Matsuoka, Yoky
• Primary Examiner(s): Vincent, David R
• Application Number:
  US15/051,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20160173963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 706 15, 706 45
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/02 Knowledge representation; Symbolic representation
• 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 21/10 responsive to calamitous events, e.g. tornados or earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/006 with transmission via telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/188 Data fusion; cooperative systems, e.g. voting among different detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 31/00 Predictive alarm systems characterised by extrapolation or other computation using updated historic data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

Systems and methods for forecasting events can be provided. A measurement database can store sensor measurements, each having been provided by a non-portable electronic device with a primary purpose unrelated to collecting measurements from a type of sensor that collected the measurement. A measurement set identifier can select a set of measurements. The electronic devices associated with the set of measurements can be in close geographical proximity relative to their geographical proximity to other devices. An inter-device correlator can access the set and collectively analyze the measurements. An event detector can determine whether an event occurred. An event forecaster can forecast a future event property. An alert engine can identify one or more entities to be alerted of the future event property, generate at least one alert identifying the future event property, and transmit the at least one alert to the identified one or more entities.

Claims

1. A crowdsourced event detection network based on devices associated with the consumption of one or more resources, the crowdsourced event detection network comprising:

a plurality of smart-home devices that are distributed among a plurality of homes within a geographic region, the plurality of smart-home devices having processing and sensing capabilities and being configured to communicate data, the plurality of smart-home devices including;

an irrigation device on the premises of a first home and at least one additional device located within a second home, the at least one additional device selected from the group consisting of;

a thermostat, a smoke detector, and a camera, wherein;

the irrigation device has a primary function associated with property irrigation and includes a primary sensor that senses conditions related to property irrigation and also includes a secondary sensor that senses conditions that are not related to property irrigation, the secondary sensor of the irrigation device being one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of;

a seismic sensor, an audio sensor, an acceleration sensor, a temperature sensor, and a radiation sensor;

the thermostat has a primary function of temperature control and includes a primary sensor that senses conditions related to temperature control and also includes a secondary sensor that senses conditions that are not related to temperature control, the secondary sensor of the thermostat being one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of;

a seismic sensor, an audio sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a radiation sensor;

the smoke detector has a primary function of smoke detection and includes a primary sensor that senses conditions related to smoke detection and also includes a secondary sensor that senses conditions that are not related to smoke detection, the secondary sensor of the smoke detector being one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of;

a seismic sensor, a temperature sensor, an audio sensor, and a humidity sensor; and

the camera has a primary function of video monitoring and includes a primary sensor that senses conditions related to video monitoring and also includes a secondary sensor that senses conditions that are not related to video monitoring, the secondary sensor of the camera being one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of;

a temperature sensor, a seismic sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a radiation sensor; and

an event detection processor programmed and configured to detect an event from sensor measurements gathered within the geographic region from the secondary sensors of the irrigation device and at least one of the thermostat, the smoke detector, or the camera according to the steps of;

receiving said sensor measurements from said secondary sensors;

processing said sensor measurements from said secondary sensors to determine whether an event has occurred, wherein the event is selected from the group consisting of;

an earthquake, a tornado, a power outage, and a local weather event; and

generating at least one alert identifying the detected event based on said processing of said sensor measurements from said secondary sensors.

2. The crowdsourced event detection network of claim 1, wherein the plurality of smart-home devices are configured to wirelessly communicate data.

3. The crowdsourced event detection network of claim 2, wherein the plurality of smart-home devices wirelessly communicate data according to ZigBee or 6LoWPAN wireless protocols.

4. The crowdsourced event detection network of claim 1, wherein the event detection processor is further configured to predict a trajectory of the event.

5. The crowdsourced event detection network of claim 1, wherein the plurality of smart-home devices further includes a wall plug having one or more secondary sensors selected from the group consisting of:

a seismic sensor, an audio sensor, an acceleration sensor, a temperature sensor, and a radiation sensor, said identification of the detected event being further based on processing of sensor measurements from said one or more secondary sensors of said wall plug.

6. The crowdsourced event detection network of claim 1, wherein the plurality of smart-home devices further includes a doorbell having one or more secondary sensors selected from the group consisting of:

a seismic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a temperature sensor, and a radiation sensor, said identification of the detected event being further based on processing of sensor measurements from said one or more secondary sensors of said doorbell.

7. The crowdsourced event detection network of claim 1, wherein the plurality of smart-home devices are associated with a respective geographic location based on one of a zip code or global positioning system (GPS) coordinates.

8. A smart home system network comprising:

a plurality of smart-home devices that are distributed among a plurality of homes within a geographic region, the plurality of smart-home devices including;

an irrigation device on the premises of a first home and at least one additional device located within a second home, the at least one additional device selected from the group consisting of;

a thermostat, a smoke detector, and a camera, wherein;

the irrigation device has a primary function associated with property irrigation and includes a primary sensor that senses conditions related to property irrigation and also includes a secondary sensor that senses conditions that are not related to property irrigation, the secondary sensor of the irrigation device being one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of;

a seismic sensor, an audio sensor, an acceleration sensor, a temperature sensor, and a radiation sensor;

the thermostat has a primary function of temperature control and includes a primary sensor that senses conditions related to temperature control and also includes a secondary sensor that senses conditions that are not related to temperature control, the secondary sensor of the thermostat being one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of;

a seismic sensor, an audio sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a radiation sensor;

the smoke detector has a primary function of smoke detection and includes a primary sensor that senses conditions related to smoke detection and also includes a secondary sensor that senses conditions that are not related to smoke detection, the secondary sensor of the smoke detector being one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of;

a seismic sensor, a temperature sensor, an audio sensor, and a humidity sensor; and

the camera has a primary function of video monitoring and includes a primary sensor that senses conditions related to video monitoring and also includes a secondary sensor that senses conditions that are not related to video monitoring, the secondary sensor of the camera being one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of;

a temperature sensor, a seismic sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a radiation sensor; and

an event detection processor programmed and configured to detect an event from sensor measurements gathered within the geographic region from the secondary sensors of the irrigation device and at least one of the thermostat, the smoke detector, or the camera according to the steps of;

receiving said sensor measurements from said secondary sensors;

processing said sensor measurements from said secondary sensors to determine whether an event has occurred, wherein the event is selected from the group consisting of;

an earthquake, a tornado, a power outage, and a local weather event; and

generating at least one alert identifying the detected event based.

9. The smart home system network of claim 8, wherein the plurality of smart-home devices are configured to wirelessly communicate data.

10. The smart home system network of claim 9, wherein the plurality of smart-home devices wirelessly communicate data according to ZigBee or 6LoWPAN wireless protocols.

11. The smart home system network of claim 8, wherein the event detection processor is further configured to predict a trajectory of the event.

12. The smart home system network of claim 8, wherein the plurality of smart-home devices further include:

a wall plug having one or more secondary sensors selected from the group consisting of;

a seismic sensor, an audio sensor, an acceleration sensor, a temperature sensor, and a radiation sensor;

or

a doorbell having one or more secondary sensors selected from the group consisting of;

a seismic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a temperature sensor, and a radiation sensor;

wherein said identification of the detected event being further based on processing of sensor measurements from said one or more secondary sensors of said wall plug or said doorbell.

13. The smart home system network of claim 8, wherein the plurality of smart-home devices are associated with a respective geographic location based on one of a zip code or global positioning system (GPS) coordinates.

14. A method for detecting an event comprising:

receiving sensor measurements from secondary sensors of a plurality of smart-home devices disposed within a geographic region, the plurality of smart-home devices including;

an irrigation device on the premises of a first home and at least one additional device located within a second home, the at least one additional device selected from the group consisting of;

a thermostat, a smoke detector, and a camera;

wherein;

the irrigation device has a primary function associated with property irrigation and includes a primary sensor that senses conditions related to property irrigation and also includes a secondary sensor that senses conditions that are not related to property irrigation, the secondary sensor of the irrigation device being one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of;

a seismic sensor, an audio sensor, an acceleration sensor, a temperature sensor, and a radiation sensor;

the thermostat has a primary function of temperature control and includes a primary sensor that senses conditions related to temperature control and also includes a secondary sensor that senses conditions that are not related to temperature control, the secondary sensor of the thermostat being one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of;

a seismic sensor, an audio sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a radiation sensor;

the smoke detector has a primary function of smoke detection and includes a primary sensor that senses conditions related to smoke detection and also includes a secondary sensor that senses conditions that are not related to smoke detection, the secondary sensor of the smoke detector being one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of;

a seismic sensor, a temperature sensor, an audio sensor, and a humidity sensor; and

the camera has a primary function of video monitoring and includes a primary sensor that senses conditions related to video monitoring and also includes a secondary sensor that senses conditions that are not related to video monitoring, the secondary sensor of the camera being one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of;

a temperature sensor, a seismic sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a radiation sensor;

processing said sensor measurements from said secondary sensors of said plurality of smart-home devices to determine whether an event has occurred, the event being selected from the group consisting of;

an earthquake, a tornado, a power outage, and a local weather event; and

generating at least one alert identifying the detected event based on said processing of said sensor measurements.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of smart-home devices are configured to wirelessly communicate data.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of smart-home devices wirelessly communicate data according to ZigBee or 6LoWPAN wireless protocols.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of smart-home devices further include a wall plug having one or more secondary sensors selected from the group consisting of:

a seismic sensor, an audio sensor, an acceleration sensor, a temperature sensor, and a radiation sensor, said identification of the detected event being further based on processing of sensor measurements from said one or more secondary sensors of said wall plug.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of smart-home devices further include a doorbell having one or more secondary sensors selected from the group consisting of:

a seismic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a temperature sensor, and a radiation sensor, said identification of the detected event being further based on processing of sensor measurements from said one or more secondary sensors of said doorbell.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises associating the plurality of smart-home devices with a respective geographic location based on one of a zip code or global positioning system (GPS) coordinates.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising predicting a trajectory of the detected event.