System, method and device for detecting a siren

• US 7,629,880 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The ADT Security Corporation (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LifeShield LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dickinson, Edwin L., Stilp, Louis A., Dodds, Larry V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trieu; Van T.
• Application Number:
  US11/680,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20070146127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 340/502, 340/505, 340/506, 340/526, 340/531, 340/539.1, 340/628, 340/630, 340/309.5, 340/508, 340/539.18, 370/210, 370/242, 379/386, 455/73, 455/701, 713/340
• US Class Current: 340/508
• 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, wherein the device forms part of a security system comprised of one or more security system elements, comprising:

attaching the device in proximity to the alarm;

receiving an audio input;

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

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

wirelessly transmitting a first notification to at least one of the security system elements; and

transmitting an alarm notification to a remote emergency system with one of the one or more security system elements.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises an audio input device for receiving the audio input, the method further comprising:

sampling an output of the audio input device at a first sampling rate prior to said determining that the audio input has at least a threshold magnitude; and

in response to said determining that the audio input has at least a threshold magnitude, sampling the output of the audio input device at a second sampling rate more rapid than the first sampling rate.

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

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

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said attaching comprises attaching the device 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 of the device parameter data of the threshold magnitude.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

wirelessly 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 threshold magnitude based on the received audible input; and

storing the threshold magnitude in a memory.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising, with the one security system element:

receiving the first notification from the device;

receiving a second notification indicating a detection of an audible alarm from a third device; and

wherein said transmitting an alarm notification is in response to receiving the first notification and the second notification.

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

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating with one of the security system elements to register itself with the one security system element.

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

attaching a first device of the system in proximity to the alarm;

receiving an audio input at the first device;

determining that the audio input has a threshold magnitude;

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

wirelessly transmitting a first notification to a second device of the system;

receiving the first notification at the second device; and

transmitting an alarm notification to a remote emergency system with the second device.

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

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining that the audio input has a cadence comprising an audible pattern.

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

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

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the second characteristic comprises a cadence comprising an audible pattern.

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

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the second characteristic comprises a minimum duration.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein said attaching the first device comprises attaching the first device within twelve inches of the audible alarm.

25. The method of claim 16, further comprising comparing the time of said receiving the audio input with temporal hazard risk data.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein said wirelessly transmitting is performed with an antenna assembly having polarization diversity.

27. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining a first antenna of a plurality of antennas to use for said wirelessly transmitting.

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

wirelessly transmitting a first data with said first antenna;

receiving a reply to said first data; and

storing information indicating a successful use of said first antenna in a memory.

29. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining an increased probability that the audible alarm is the result of a true hazard.

30. The method of claim 16, further comprising storing in a memory of the first device parameter data including data of the threshold magnitude and data of the second characteristic of the audible alarm.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

wirelessly receiving updated parameter data at the first device; and

storing the updated parameter data in a memory of the first device.

32. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving the audible alarm at the first device;

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

storing the parameter data in a memory of the first device.

33. The method of claim 16, further comprising at the second device:

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

wherein said transmitting an alarm notification is performed in response to said determining that the audio input persists for a minimum duration.

34. The method of claim 16, further comprising at the second device:

receiving a second notification from a third device; and

wherein said transmitting an alarm notification is performed in response to receiving the first notification and the second notification.

35. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining the time of said receiving the audio input; and

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

36. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving an audio input at a third device; and

determining that the audio input to the third device has a plurality of the characteristics of the audible; and

wirelessly transmitting a second notification from the third device to the second device.

37. The method of claim 16, wherein the first device comprises an audio input device for receiving the audio input, the method further comprising:

sampling an output of the audio input device at a first sampling rate prior to said determining that the audio input has a threshold magnitude; and

in response to said determining that the audio input has a threshold magnitude, sampling the output of the audio input device at a second sampling rate more rapid than the first sampling rate.

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

attaching a first device of the system in proximity to the alarm;

receiving an audio input at the first device;

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

wirelessly transmitting a first notification with the first device in response to determining that characteristics of the audio input conform to those of the audible alarm;

receiving the notification at a second device;

with the second device, determining whether there is an increased probability that the audible alarm is the result of a true hazard; and

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

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said 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.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein said determining that characteristics of the audio input conform to those of the audible alarm comprises determining that the audio input has a threshold magnitude.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said determining that characteristics of the audio input conform to those of the audible alarm further comprises determining that the audio input has a cadence comprising an audible pattern.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein said determining whether there is an increased probability comprises determining that the audible alarm persists for a minimum duration.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein said determining whether there is an increased probability comprises determining that the audible alarm is detected during a predetermined time period.

44. The method of claim 38,

wherein said determining whether there is an increased likelihood comprises determining whether the audible alarm persists for a minimum duration and whether the audible alarm is detected during a predetermined time period.

45. The method of claim 38, wherein said 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.

46. The method of claim 38, wherein said determining whether there is an increased probability comprises determining whether an audible alarm is detected by multiple devices within a structure.

47. The method of claim 38, wherein said determining that characteristics of the audio input conform to those of the audible alarm comprises:

sampling an output of an audio input device at a first sampling rate until determining that the audio input has at least a threshold magnitude; and

sampling the output of the audio input device at a second sampling rate more rapid than the first sampling rate upon determining that the audio input has at least a threshold magnitude.

48. A system for detecting an audible alarm, comprising:

a first device 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 a duration of the sound; and

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

a second device configured to receive the notification and to transmit an alarm notification to a remote emergency system.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein said communication module includes a passive transponder.

50. The system of claim 48, wherein said detection module includes an analog to digital converter.

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

52. The system of claim 48, wherein said communication module includes a first antenna and a second antenna.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein said communication module is configured to transmit using at least two communication frequencies with said first antenna and with said second antenna.

54. The system of claim 48, wherein said communication module includes an antenna assembly having polarization diversity.

55. The system of claim 48, further comprising a memory storing parameter data used by said detection module to distinguish the audible alarm from the other sounds.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein said parameter data is configured to be wirelessly received from a remote device.

57. The system of claim 55, wherein said parameter data is determined based, at least in part, on a test input of the audible alarm.

58. The system of claim 48, wherein said second device is configured to determine whether the received notification is received during a predetermined time period prior to transmitting the alarm notification.

59. The system of claim 48, wherein said detection module is further configured to distinguish the audible alarm from the other sounds based on an audible pattern of the sound.

60. The system of claim 48, wherein said detection module is configured to sample an output of said audio input device at a first sampling rate prior to detecting an audio input that has at least a threshold magnitude;

and

wherein said detection module is configured to sample the output of the audio input device at a second sampling rate more rapid than the first sampling rate upon detecting an audio input that has at least the threshold magnitude.