SYSTEM, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETECTING A SIREN

• US 20070146127A1
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The ADT Security Corporation (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lifeshield Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dickinson, Edwin, Stilp, Louis, Dodds, Larry
• Granted Patent: US 7,629,880 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/531
• 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

Abstract

A system, device and method for detecting an audible alarm are provided. In one embodiment, the method may include the steps of receiving an audio input, determining that the audio input has at least a threshold magnitude, determining that the audio input includes one or more a target frequencies, determining that the audio input is received for a minimum duration; and wirelessly transmitting a first notification. The transmission may be received at a second device that may transmit an alert notification to a remote device, which may be, for example, the user or remote emergency system.

Claims

1. A method of using a device to detect an audible alarm, comprising:

receiving an audio input;

determining that the audio input has at least a threshold magnitude;

determining that the audio input includes one or more a target frequencies;

determining that the audio input is received for a minimum duration; and

transmitting a first notification.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting comprises wirelessly transmitting, the method further comprising:

receiving the first notification from the device; and

transmitting an alert notification to a remote device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that the audio input includes a cadence.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said cadence comprises a specific cadence.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving is performed within six inches of the audible alarm.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the time of said receiving with temporal hazard risk data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the time of said receiving the audio input; and

selecting said transmitting from a plurality of processes based, at least in part, on the time of said receiving.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting is performed using at least one of two frequencies with which the device is configured to transmit.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that the audio input is received during a predetermined time period.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing in a memory parameter data of the minimum threshold and target frequencies.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving updated parameter data; and

storing the updated parameter data in the memory.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an audible input of the audible alarm;

setting the minimum threshold based on the received audible input; and

storing the minimum threshold in a memory.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising, at a second device:

receiving the first notification from the device;

receiving a second notification from a third device; and

in response to receiving the first notification and the second notification, transmitting an alarm notification to a remote device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold magnitude is adjustable.

15. A method of using a system to detect an audible alarm having characteristics, comprising:

receiving an audio input at a first device;

determining that the audio input has a threshold magnitude;

determining that the audio input has a second characteristic of the audible alarm; and

transmitting a first notification.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second characteristic comprises a target frequency.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining that the audio input has a cadence.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining that the audio input persists for a minimum duration.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining that the audio input persists for a minimum duration.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the second characteristic comprises a cadence.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the cadence comprises a specific cadence.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the second characteristic comprises a minimum duration.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein said receiving is performed within twelve inches of the audible alarm.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising comparing the time of said receiving with temporal hazard risk data.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein said transmitting is performed with an antenna assembly having polarization diversity.

26. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining a first antenna of a plurality of antennas to use for said transmitting.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said determining a first antenna of a plurality of antennas to use for said transmitting comprises:

transmitting a first data with said first antenna;

receiving a reply to said first data; and

storing information of said first antenna in a memory.

28. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining an increased likelihood that the audible alarm is the result of a true hazard.

29. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing in a memory parameter data including data of the threshold magnitude and data of the second characteristic of the audible alarm.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

receiving updated parameter data; and

storing the updated parameter data in a memory.

31. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving the audible alarm;

setting parameter data, including the threshold magnitude, based on the received audible alarm; and

storing the parameter data in a memory.

32. The method of claim 15, further comprising at a second device:

receiving the first notification;

determining that the audio input persists for a minimum duration; and

transmitting a alarm notification to a remote device.

33. The method of claim 15, further comprising at a second device:

receiving the first notification;

receiving a second notification from a second device; and

in response to receiving the first notification and the second notification, transmitting an alarm notification to a remote device.

34. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining the time of said receiving the audio input; and

selecting said transmitting from a plurality of processes based, at least in part, on the time of said received audio input.

35. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving an audio input at a second device; and

determining that the audio input to the second device has a plurality of the characteristics of the audible alarm.

36. A method of using a device to detect an audible alarm that is triggered by a true hazard and that has multiple characteristics, comprising:

receiving an audio input;

determining that characteristics of the audio input conform to those of the audible alarm;

determining whether there is an increased likelihood that the audible alarm is the result of a true hazard; and

transmitting a notification if there is an increased likelihood that the audible alarm is the result of a true hazard.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein determining that characteristics of the audio input conform to those of the audible alarm comprises determining that the audio input has two or more of the multiple characteristics of the audible alarm.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein determining that characteristics of the audio input conform to those of the audible alarm comprises determining that the audio input has a threshold magnitude and one or more frequencies.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein determining that characteristics of the audio input conform to those of the audible alarm further comprises determining that the audio input has a cadence.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein determining whether there is an increased likelihood comprises determining that the audible alarm persists for a minimum duration.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein determining whether there is an increased likelihood comprises determining that the siren is detected during a predetermined time period.

42. The method of claim 36, further comprising mounting the device within a predetermined distance from the device emitting the audible alarm.

43. The method of claim 36, wherein determining that characteristics of the audio input conform to those of the audible alarm comprises determining that the audio input has three or more of the multiple characteristics of the audible alarm.

44. The method of claim 36, wherein determining whether there is an increased likelihood comprises determining that an audible alarm is detected by multiple devices with a structure.

45. A device for detecting an audible alarm, comprising:

an audio input device configured to receive sounds that include the audible alarm and other sounds;

a communication module;

a detection module configured to receive information representative of at least some of said received sounds from said audio input device and to distinguish the audible alarm from the other sounds based, at least in part, on the magnitude of the sound and one or more frequencies of the sound; and

a controller communicatively coupled to said detection module and said communication module and configured to cause said communication module to transmit a notification after detection of the audible alarm.

46. The device of claim 45, wherein said communication module includes a passive transponder.

47. The device of claim 45, wherein said detection module includes an analog to digital converter.

48. The device of claim 45, wherein said detection module and said controller are formed, at least in part, by a processor.

49. The device of claim 45, wherein said communication module includes a first antenna and a second antenna.

50. The device of claim 45, wherein said communication module is configured to transmit using at least two communication frequencies with both of said first antenna and said second antenna.

51. The device of claim 45, wherein said communication module includes an antenna assembly having polarization diversity.

52. The device of claim 45, wherein further comprising a memory storing parameter data used by said detection module to distinguish the audible alarm from other sounds.

53. The device of claim 52, wherein said parameter data is configured to be updated from a remote device.

54. The device of claim 52, wherein said parameter data is determined based, at least in part, on a test input of the audible alarm.

55. The device of claim 45, wherein said detection module is further configured to distinguish the audible alarm from the other sounds based on the duration of the sound.

56. The device of claim 45, wherein said detection module is further configured to distinguish the audible alarm from the other sounds based on the cadence of the sound.