Abstract:
Devices, systems and methods that are capable of dynamically indicating emergency evacuation routes in a premises. In the premises, utility outlets such as electrical sockets and light switches are used to indicate, visually and/or audibly, an evacuation route. The use of utility outlets to indicate the evacuation routes takes advantage of devices that must be installed in virtually all buildings at predictable locations.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is related to co-pending, and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/683,304, Attorney Docket No. 66816/P012US/10609934, entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LINKING UTILITY CONTROL DEVICES;” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/683,327, Attorney Docket No. 66816/P013US/10609935, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INFRASTRUCTURE REPORTING;” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/683,298, Attorney Docket No. 66816/P014US/10614006, entitled “LIGHT SWITCH USED AS A COMMUNICATION DEVICE;” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/683,308, Attorney Docket No. 66816/P015US/10614005, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREMISES MONITORING USING WEIGHT DETECTION;” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/683,326, Attorney Docket No. 66816/P016US/10614296, entitled “ANTICIPATORY UTILITY CONTROL DEVICE;” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/683,335, Attorney Docket No. 66816/P017US/10614295, entitled “PLUG AND PLAY UTILITY CONTROL MODULES;” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/683,354, Attorney Docket No. 66816/P018US/10701603, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SUBSTITUTING DATA IN RESPONSES TO INTERNET INQUIRIES;” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/696,625, Attorney Docket No. 66816/P019US/10701605, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY IN THE DELIVERY OF MEDIA WITHIN A NETWORK;” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, Attorney Docket No. 66816/P020US/10703550, entitled “ENTERPRISE CONTROLLED INTERNAL ROUTING OF ANALOG AND VOIP COMMUNICATIONS,” the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The current disclosure relates to utility outlets. More specifically, the current disclosure is directed to the use of utility outlets to indicate emergency evacuation routes. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In the event of an emergency in a building, safety procedures typically require immediate evacuation. Where the building is large and/or the occupants are not familiar with the building, directing the occupants out of the building is of primary concern. Accordingly, property owners or building occupiers usually provide a diagram or copy of evacuation routes applicable to evacuation from particular locations in a building. For example, hotels provide evacuation routes on the doors in the hotel room. Similarly, employers sometimes provide evacuation routes to employees. 
         [0004]    While the procedure of posting or publishing evacuation routes may enhance safety in an emergency, there are certain situations in which these procedures are inadequate. For example, a visitor to a building would not usually have access to the evacuation routes published to employees. Further, an occupant of a building may be in an area, such as a passageway, where no evacuation route is posted. Even when an occupant of a building has access to evacuation routes, those publications and postings are necessarily prepared prior to the emergency. Therefore, where there is more than one possible evacuation route from a particular location, the existing evacuation route publications or postings typically display a previously determined preferred evacuation route. Significantly, the previously determined preferred route may be the most dangerous of the possible routes in a particular emergency. In other words, a preferred route may become the most dangerous route based on the location of the cause of the emergency. For example, a fire may have engulfed the passageway of a preferred evacuation route. Accordingly, in a scenario where there are optional routes, the existing systems do not provide a means of indicating the safest routes based on the circumstances at the time of the emergency. 
         [0005]    Further, smoke alarms, although very useful for determining the existence of fire, are typically poor at determining the room or location of the fire. This is because most smoke detectors work either by optical detection and/or by ionization detection methods. They do not detect heat/fire directly, and because smoke particles travel much quicker than fire or heat, smoke detectors are very poor at discriminating where a fire actually is. Because authorities require only a relatively few smoke alarms for large buildings, the challenge of fire location in those buildings is exacerbated yet further. The above discussion also applies to other emergencies, such as gas leak, biohazards, chemical agents, terrorist attacks, and more. 
         [0006]    In environments such as the home, it is not practical to post evacuation routes. Even if such routes were to be posted, some occupants, such as young children, might not be able to read or remember the route. Further, once the emergency condition exists it is usually too late (or too smoky) for anyone to stop and read the posted route information. Compounding the problem even further is the fact that when smoke or chemicals reduce visibility, occupants of the premises, whether it be a room in a home, a room in a public facility or an office or hallway in a work environment, can become confused as to the nearest exit and thus be trapped, or waste precious time trying to escape the problem area. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is directed to devices, systems and methods that are capable of dynamically indicating the safest emergency evacuation routing based on conditions occurring at the time of the emergency. Specifically, the system uses utility outlets, such as electrical sockets and light switches, to indicate (via visual or audible indicators) the safest evacuation route based on conditions existing during an emergency. The use of utility outlets for the evacuation routes takes advantage of devices that must be installed in virtually all buildings at predictable locations. In one embodiment, a signal is sent from a sensor to one or more wall mounted light switches or power outlets causing the switch or outlet to display, perhaps in conjunction with other light switches and/or outlets, the direction to the appropriate exit. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, the switches and outlets are coordinated to act in a systemic approach that allows each light switch and/or power outlet to flash (possibly with direction indicators to the closest viable exit) and/or wail faster and faster to indicate its proximity to a viable and appropriate exit. 
         [0009]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0010]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of one embodiment of the current invention showing a utility outlet; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the operation of one embodiment of the current invention showing an electrical switch; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of the current invention showing an electrical switch; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating the operation of one embodiment of the current invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of the current invention showing the combination of a utility outlet and a face plate. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of the current invention as applied to a building with multiple exit routes. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of the current invention showing the steps in dynamically displaying an evacuation route. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of one embodiment of the current invention showing a utility outlet. In this embodiment, utility outlet  10  has the primary purpose of providing a connection to a power source. Plugs are inserted into sockets  101  or  102  in the conventional manner so as to allow power to flow from the socket through the plug to the device being powered. In addition to serving as connection to a power source, utility outlet  10  serves as a device to indicate an evacuation route in the event it receives a signal that there is an emergency condition. The emergency signal may be received either via a power cable, a separate communication cable, wirelessly or from a device within the socket itself. When the emergency signal is received, the utility outlet displays the evacuation route by illuminating some light signal such as, for example, apparatus  103 . Illumination apparatus  103  can be a single light source or it may comprise several individual light sources, such as illumination devices  401  to  406 . Illumination devices  401  to  406  may illuminate all at once, constantly or intermittently. Concurrent illumination (constantly or intermittently) would, for example, be appropriate where the utility outlet is located close to an exit in a building and the utility outlet serves the purpose of identifying the location of that exit. Additionally, however, each of illumination devices  401 - 406  can illuminate consecutively in a way to indicate a certain direction. Alternatively, illumination apparatus  103  could be in the shape of an arrow that indicates a direction by constant or intermittent illumination. Touch sensitive plate  105  may be used to turn the illumination apparatus  103  and device  104  on or off. Touch sensitive plate  105  may also be used to turn the illumination apparatus and audio devices of other utility outlets on or off. It should be noted that the face plate used to cover the utility outlet when installed would have sufficient open space to allow easy visibility of illumination apparatus  103  and access to touch sensitive plate  105 . Device  10  can have, if desired, an audio device, such as device  104  which can provide sound, voice, or some coordination thereof. The sound can act with an illumination source or separately therefrom to indicate a direction out of a premises. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates an electrical switch, such as switch  20 , used to switch electrical current to a lighting circuit or device. Switch  20  can also provide a means of indicating an evacuation route in case of an emergency. Electrical power to the controlled device is switched by pressing the actuator  201 . To indicate an evacuation route, upon the receipt of an emergency signal, electrical switch  20  activates an illumination apparatus  202  located on actuator  201 . Illumination apparatus  202  comprises, in this example, several illumination devices  202 - 1  to  202 - 6 . Illumination apparatus  202  may activate in different ways to indicate an emergency. That is, the illumination devices  202 - 1  to  202 - 6  may illuminate all at once, constantly or intermittently and, as discussed above with respect to the device shown in  FIG. 1 , can indicate the direction of evacuation. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment  30  showing an electrical switch wherein all of the outwardly visible portions of actuator  302  serve as an illumination device. In this scenario, after being activated by a signal of an emergency condition, actuator  302  illuminates constantly or intermittently. The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3  takes advantage of the fact that, typically, switches are located close to exits. Accordingly, illuminating the actuator of the switch during the time of an emergency indicates the exit. This illumination can be of a particular color, a strobe, a very bright light, or any combination thereof. 
         [0021]    It should be noted that in some embodiments any or all of the utility outlets can give off a sound (or even a verbal command) to aid the occupant to move towards an outlet where, for example, in the case of fire, smoke prevents viewing the utility outlet from a distance. This would also help the visually impaired to evacuate. In one embodiment, the sound could be used as a means to direct the occupant closer to the utility outlet so that the direction of exit as indicated by the device could be observed. Alternatively, the sound can be used as an indicator of the direction in which to evacuate. In other words, only the utility outlets in the direction of an exit furthest away from the source of danger would emit a sound, thus leading the occupant away from the most dangerous exits. 
         [0022]    In another embodiment, each switch and/or socket could be established to work together with all other switches and/or sockets within the same area or room. In this mode, each switch and/or socket would emit loud sounds and light that would pulse or point with increasing frequency and/or duration as an indicator toward a viable exit. The switch or socket closest to the viable exit could be set to operate continuously. In yet another embodiment, each switch or socket could be silenced momentarily (using programmable times, e.g. 10 seconds) so as to allow for easier hearing of the next switch or socket with a higher frequency and/or duration, indicating the direction to a viable exit. The switch or socket may have a touch sensitive plate to turn the switch or socket on or off. This touch sensitive plate could also serve as a means by which an occupant activates or deactivates the illumination apparatus or audio device of other switches. In the event there is more than one viable exit, the one closest to the switch or socket will be chosen automatically. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 4A through 4F  illustrate the operation of the set of illumination devices  401  to  406  positioned on control device  10 . Illuminating the devices  401  to  406  consecutively in a particular direction visually indicates that the occupant should move in that direction. For example, in  FIG. 4A  at time  1 , only illumination device  401  is illuminated.  FIG. 4B  shows time  2  in which illumination device  401  is no longer illuminated, and illumination device  402  is the only device illuminated.  FIGS. 4C through 4F  show progressive frames until illumination device  406  is illuminated. At that point the process starts over with illumination device  401 . The consecutive illumination of devices  401  to  406  occurs rapidly and repeatedly, thereby creating the effect of a flow from left to right in this example. The occupant is thus urged to move to his/her right along the wall where the outlet is positioned. Reversing the sequence of illuminating the illumination devices would, accordingly, show a flow from right to left encouraging the occupant to move in the opposite direction, i.e. to his/her left. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 4A to 4F  illustrate a single outlet  10  having consecutive lights to show a direction out of the area. However, multiple outlets  10  can be used to create an apparent movement of lights along a wall leading an occupant along the evacuation route. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating one embodiment  50  showing a combination of a utility outlet  504  and faceplate  501  for utility outlet  504 , serving as a way of indicating an evacuation route in the event of an emergency. In this embodiment, face plate  501  is shaped to point in a particular direction. The utility outlet and faceplate would be installed in a building so that the pointed portion would point towards the exit. For example, a utility outlet installed in a room where there is one door would point to the door. The surface of faceplate  501  could be an illumination device. Additionally, the shape of the plate is raised from the wall or otherwise easily discernible from the wall by touch. Apart from helping persons who cannot see because of the emergency conditions, this would also help visually impaired persons to find the exit. It should be noted that the pointed portion alone could be the illuminated portion, or the entire faceplate can be made to illuminate during an emergency. 
         [0026]    In this embodiment, utility outlet  504  serves as a power socket in a traditional manner and also has the capability of receiving a signal of an emergency condition via either a power cable, a separate communications cable or from an internal sensor. The received signal is communicated to the faceplate, for example, by contacts  505  and  506  that mate with contacts  502  and  503 , respectively. The faceplate is thereby activated to illuminate and display an evacuation route. It should be noted that utility outlet  504  and faceplate  501  may be connected to each other by any means that facilitates the emergency signal being transmitted from utility outlet  504  to the faceplate  501 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating one embodiment as applied to building  60  with multiple exit routes.  FIG. 6  depicts passageways  60 -West,  60 -East, and  60 -North in building  60 . In this embodiment of the current invention, a system of utility outlets indicates evacuation routes away from the source of danger. In this example, there is a fire in location  64 . In this embodiment, utility outlets/switches  65  through  77  are visible from the passageways. Utility outlets/switches  65  through  77  receive signals from a fire alarm system that there is a fire in the building and that smoke was detected at location  64 . Alternatively, if devices  65  through  77  are equipped with heat detectors, device  69  would detect that a fire is in location  64 , initiates an alarm and send signals to the other devices  65 - 68  and  70 - 77 . Devices  65 - 77  would then indicate evacuation routes. It should be noted that the arrows beside utility outlets  65  through  77  show the direction that each utility outlet would indicate in this example. Where there are alternative evacuation routes, the utility outlet displays a particular direction based on a signal from the separate alarm system or from one of the devices  65 - 77 . 
         [0028]    An occupant in position  60 -A would potentially have the option to exit via one of exits  61 ,  62  or  63 . However, based on the fire being at location  64 , a user in location  60 -A can view utility outlet  66  and determine the safest way to go is in the direction of exit  61 . Notably, an occupant in location  60 -B will be directed by utility outlets  67  through  70  and  73  through  77  to go in an easterly direction away from exit  61  and towards exit  63 . Similarly, the occupant in position  60 -C will be directed away from exits  61  and  62  by utility outlets  74  through  77  and towards exit  63  in an easterly direction. In contrast, an occupant in position  60 -D would be directed in a northerly direction away from exits  61  and  63  and towards exit  62  by utility outlets  71  and  72 . Accordingly, the utility outlets in this embodiment provide a dynamic, location specific indicator as to the safest route. 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of the current invention and showing the steps in dynamically displaying an evacuation route. As an example, in this embodiment, a fire in a building is used as the emergency event. The flow chart in  FIG. 7  shows some of the steps a utility outlet may follow in displaying an evacuation route. 
         [0030]    In process  701 , the utility outlet determines whether a signal to illuminate has been received, from an emergency alarm system. If there is a signal that there is not an emergency condition, the system remains in a non-indicating (no light or sound) state. If there has been a signal received by the utility outlet that an emergency condition exists, then the utility outlet, in process  703 , determines if there is more than one exit route that the utility outlet can indicate. If there is only one exit route, the utility outlet indicates the direction of the sole exit/evacuation route in process  704 . If there is more than one exit route that the utility outlet can indicate, then in process  705 , the utility outlet determines if the location of the event causing the emergency, in this case a fire, has been identified. In process  706 , if the location of the fire is unknown to the utility outlet then the utility outlet indicates any evacuation route or an otherwise previously identified preferred evacuation route. If the location of the fire has been identified then, in process  707 , the utility outlet indicates a direction along the safest of the possible evacuation routes. 
         [0031]    It should be noted that any or all of the utility outlets may have, among other things, one or more of the following capabilities: detecting the source of danger, storing the evacuation routes, storing the location of other utility outlets, sending signals to other utility outlets, receiving signals from other utility outlets, coordinating with other utility outlets to display an evacuation route and controlling the illumination of other utility outlets. In one embodiment, the utility outlet may be able to detect the location of the emergency causing event by, for example, a heat detector in the case of a fire. 
         [0032]    It should also be noted that although a fire was used here as an example of an emergency, the current invention also applies to emergencies such as hazardous chemical release, burglary, gas leaks, biohazards, terrorist attacks, etc. In all applicable emergency situations, the utility outlet may contain the device for detecting the emergency situation or rely on a separate emergency and alarm system for a signal that there is an existing emergency. 
         [0033]    Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.