Dynamic distributed-sensor thermostat network for forecasting external events using smart-home devices

• US 9,286,781 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2015
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Filson, John B., Daniels, Eric B., Mittleman, Adam, Nelmes, Sierra L., Matsuoka, Yoky
• Primary Examiner(s): VINCENT, DAVID ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US14/677,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20150213703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• Field of Search: 706/12, 706/20, 706/45, 706/62
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 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;

a thermostat that is located in a first home, the thermostat having a primary function of controlling a temperature within the first home;

a smoke detector that is located in a second home, the smoke detector having a primary function of detecting smoke within the second home; and

a camera that is located in a third home, the camera having a primary function of video monitoring for the third home;

wherein;

the thermostat includes a primary sensor that senses conditions related to controlling the temperature of the first home and also includes a secondary sensor that is disposed within the thermostat and that senses conditions that are not related to controlling the temperature of the first home, 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 includes a primary sensor that senses conditions related to detecting smoke within the second home and also includes a secondary sensor that is disposed within the smoke detector and that senses conditions that are not related to detecting smoke within the second home, 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 includes a primary sensor that senses conditions related to video monitoring for the third home and also includes a secondary sensor that is disposed within the camera and that senses conditions that are not related to video monitoring for the third home, 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 thermostat, the smoke detector, and the camera according to the steps of;

receiving said sensor measurements from said secondary sensors of the thermostat, smoke detector, and camera;

analyzing selected ones of said sensor measurements from said secondary sensors of said thermostat, smoke detector, and camera to determine whether an event has occurred, wherein the event is a geographically distributed event 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 analysis of selected ones of said sensor measurements from said secondary sensors of said thermostat, smoke detector, and camera;

wherein the determination that the event has occurred requires processing of said sensor measurements of said secondary sensors from each of the thermostat, smoke detector, and camera.

2. The smart home system network of claim 1, wherein the event detection processor is further configured to predict a trajectory of the future event.

3. 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;

a thermostat that is located in a first home, the thermostat having a primary function of controlling a temperature within the first home;

a smoke detector that is located in a second home, the smoke detector having a primary function of detecting smoke within the second home; and

a camera that is located in a third home, the camera having a primary function of video monitoring for the third home;

wherein;

the thermostat includes a primary sensor that senses conditions related to controlling the temperature of the first home and also includes a secondary sensor that is disposed within the thermostat and that senses conditions that are not related to controlling the temperature of the first home, 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 includes a primary sensor that senses conditions related to detecting smoke within the second home and also includes a secondary sensor that is disposed within the smoke detector and that senses conditions that are not related to detecting smoke within the second home, 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 includes a primary sensor that senses conditions related to video monitoring for the third home and also includes a secondary sensor that is disposed within the camera and that senses conditions that are not related to video monitoring for the third home, 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 thermostat, the smoke detector, and the camera according to the steps of;

receiving said sensor measurements from said secondary sensors of the thermostat, smoke detector, and camera;

analyzing selected ones of said sensor measurements from said secondary sensors of said thermostat, smoke detector, and camera to determine whether an event has occurred, wherein the event is a geographically distributed event 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 analysis of selected ones of said sensor measurements from said secondary sensors of said thermostat, smoke detector, and camera;

wherein the determination that the event has occurred requires processing of at least two different sensor measurements provided by the secondary sensors of the thermostat, smoke detector, and camera.

4. The smart home system network of claim 3, wherein the event detection processor is further configured to predict a trajectory of the future event.

5. The smart home system network of claim 3, wherein the secondary sensor of the thermostat is a seismic sensor or an acceleration sensor, and wherein the secondary sensor of the smoke detector is a seismic sensor.

6. A method for detecting an event comprising:

receiving a plurality of sensor measurements from a secondary sensors of a plurality of smart-home devices of a smart home system network, the plurality of smart-home devices including;

a thermostat that is located in a first home, the thermostat having a primary function of controlling a temperature within the first home;

a smoke detector that is located in a second home, the smoke detector having a primary function of detecting smoke within the second home; and

a camera that is located in a third home, the camera having a primary function of video monitoring for the third home;

wherein;

the thermostat includes a primary sensor that senses conditions related to controlling the temperature of the first home and also includes a secondary sensor that is disposed within the thermostat and that senses conditions that are not related to controlling the temperature of the first home, 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 includes a primary sensor that senses conditions related to detecting smoke within the second home and also includes a secondary sensor that is disposed within the smoke detector and that senses conditions that are not related to detecting smoke within the second home, 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 includes a primary sensor that senses conditions related to video monitoring for the third home and also includes a secondary sensor that is disposed within the camera and that senses conditions that are not related to video monitoring for the third home, 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;

analyzing selected ones of said sensor measurements from said secondary sensors of said thermostat, smoke detector, and camera to determine whether an event has occurred, wherein the event is a geographically distributed event 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 analysis of selected ones of said sensor measurements from said secondary sensors of said thermostat, smoke detector, and camera;

wherein the determination that the event has occurred requires processing of at least two different sensor measurements provided by the secondary sensors of the thermostat, smoke detector, and camera.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising predicting a trajectory of the future event.