False alarm identification

• US 9,495,860 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2014
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EchoStar Technologies International Corporation (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Lett, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T
• Application Number:
  US14/567,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20150161882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 340/500, 340/506, 340/539.11, 340/539.14, 340/541, 340/628, 340/632, 348/143, 348/153, 725/80, 725/85, 725/133
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19682 Graphic User Interface [GUI] presenting system data to the user, e.g. information on a screen helping a user interacting with an alarm system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation

Abstract

Methods and systems, such as home automation gateways and television receivers, are disclosed for distinguishing between false alarms and actual events. Aspects include transmitting sensor data, such as a video feed from a closed-circuit video system, to a display to allow a user to confirm whether an alarm event is a false alarm or an actual alarm event. Sensor data is optionally recorded to allow later review of the sensor data.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a television receiver, a first signal from one or more fire alarm sensors or security alarm sensors indicating a first possible alarm event, wherein the television receiver functions as a home automation gateway connected to a home network;

receiving first sensor data from one or more home automation sensors connected to the home network;

transmitting the first sensor data, wherein receiving the first sensor data at a presentation device generates a first display of the first sensor data;

transmitting a first request for user input to confirm the first possible alarm event;

detecting first user input specifying that the first possible alarm event is a false alarm event;

transmitting a second request for user input to ignore future possible alarm events generated based on additional sensor data sharing one or more characteristics with the first sensor data;

receiving a second signal from the one or more fire alarm sensors or security alarm sensors indicating a second possible alarm event;

receiving second sensor data from the one or more home automation sensors;

transmitting the second sensor data, wherein receiving the second sensor data at the presentation device generates a second display of the second sensor data;

transmitting a third request for user input to confirm the second possible alarm event;

detecting second user input specifying that the second possible alarm event is an actual alarm event.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

facilitating establishing a connection between a user and a local emergency telephone number in response to detecting the second user input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first sensor data and/or the second sensor data includes video or audio from a closed-circuit camera system.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

generating a live video feed acquired by the closed-circuit camera system.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

generating a video feed acquired by the closed-circuit camera system over a predetermined time period before or after the first possible alarm event or before or after the second possible alarm event.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first sensor data and/or the second sensor data includes one or more of fire alarm system data and security system data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a notification of the first signal, wherein receiving the notification at the presentation device generates a display of the notification.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the notification includes the first request for user input.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving sensor data includes receiving sensor data via the home network.

10. A home automation gateway, comprising:

one or more processors;

an audio-video input connection in data communication with the one or more processors;

an audio-video output connection in data communication with the one or more processors;

a network transceiver in data communication with the one or more processors for establishing a network connection with a home network; and

a non-transitory computer readable memory element communicatively coupled with and readable by the one or more processors and having stored therein processor-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including;

receiving a first signal from one or more fire alarm sensors or security alarm sensors indicating a first possible alarm event;

receiving first sensor data from one or more home automation sensors connected to the home network;

transmitting the first sensor data, wherein receiving the first sensor data at a presentation device generates a first display of the first sensor data;

transmitting a first request for user input to confirm the first possible alarm event;

detecting first user input specifying that the first possible alarm event is a false alarm event;

transmitting a second request for user input to ignore future possible alarm events generated based on additional sensor data sharing one or more characteristics with the first sensor data;

receiving a second signal from the one or more fire alarm sensors or security alarm sensors indicating a second possible alarm event;

receiving second sensor data from the one or more home automation sensors;

transmitting the second sensor data, wherein receiving the second sensor data at the presentation device generates a second display of the second sensor data

transmitting a third request for user input to confirm the second possible alarm event; and

detecting second user input specifying that the second possible alarm event is an actual alarm event.

11. The home automation gateway of claim 10,

wherein transmitting the first sensor data includes:

overlaying the first sensor data on audio-video signals received at the audio-video input connection to generate an overlaid audio-video feed; and

transmitting the overlaid audio-video feed using the audio-video output connection.

12. The home automation gateway of claim 10, wherein the operations further include:

facilitating establishing a connection between a user and a local emergency telephone number in response to detecting the second user input.

13. The home automation gateway of claim 10, wherein the first sensor data and/or the second sensor data includes video or audio from a closed-circuit camera system.

14. The home automation gateway of claim 13, wherein the operations further include:

generating a live video feed acquired by the closed-circuit camera system.

15. The home automation gateway of claim 13, wherein the operations further include:

generating a video feed acquired by the closed-circuit camera system over a predetermined time period before or after the first possible alarm event or before or after the second possible alarm event.

16. The home automation gateway of claim 10, wherein the first sensor data and/or the second sensor data includes one or more of fire alarm system data and security system data.

17. The home automation gateway of claim 10, wherein the operations further include:

transmitting a notification of the first signal, wherein receiving the notification at the presentation device generates a display of the notification.

18. The home automation gateway of claim 17, wherein the notification includes the first request for user input.

19. The home automation gateway of claim 10, wherein receiving the first sensor data includes receiving the first sensor data via the home network.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

receiving a first signal from one or more fire alarm sensors or security alarm sensors indicating a first possible alarm event;

receiving first sensor data from one or more home automation sensors connected to a home network;

transmitting the first sensor data, wherein receiving the first sensor data at a presentation device generates a first display of the first sensor data;

transmitting a first request for user input to confirm the first possible alarm event;

detecting first user input specifying that the first possible alarm event is a false alarm event;

transmitting a second request for user input to ignore future possible alarm events generated based on additional sensor data sharing one or more characteristics with the first sensor data;

receiving a second signal from the one or more fire alarm sensors or security alarm sensors indicating a second possible alarm event;

receiving second sensor data from the one or more home automation sensors;

transmitting the second sensor data, wherein receiving the second sensor data at the presentation device generates a second display of the second sensor data;

transmitting a third request for user input to confirm the second possible alarm event; and

detecting second user input specifying that the second possible alarm event is an actual alarm event.