Abstract:
A multi level hazard detection system for home residents or owners or service providers that want to efficiently monitor and detect numerous common hazards in houses,offices or industrial structures. Hazards that may be dangerous their health or to the structural integrity of their houses, offices and industrial structures and all appliances and systems that are of these structures such as heating and cooling systems, pipes and more. By detecting hazards in advance, residents home owners and service providers can better protect their property. The multi level hazard detection system generally includes Single or Multi Sensor Device ( 170 ) that can be based on Low Power Communication Module ( 110 ), A Monitor and Control Device ( 140 ) which can be a mobile phone, desktop or laptop computer, an Analytic Server ( 150 ) and Relay Dongle ( 160 ).

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/956,412 filing date Aug. 1, 2013 which in turn claims the benefit from U.S. provisional patent Ser. No. 61/678,152 filing date Aug. 1, 2012—both of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to environmental monitoring and more specifically it relates to multi level hazard detection system for home residents, owners or service providers that want to efficiently monitor and detect numerous common hazards in houses, offices or industrial structures. Hazards that may be dangerous their health or to the structural integrity of their houses, offices and industrial structures and all appliances and systems that are of these structures such as heating and cooling systems, pipes and more. By detecting hazards in advance, residents, home owners and service providers can better protect their property. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The invention generally relates to an environmental monitoring which includes Single or Multi Sensor Device ( 170 ) that can be based on Low Power Communication Module ( 110 ), A Monitor and Control Device ( 140 ) which can be a mobile phone, desktop or laptop computer, an Analytic Server ( 150 ) and Relay Dongle ( 160 ). 
         [0004]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter. 
         [0005]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0006]    An object is to provide a multi level hazard detection system for home residents, owners or service providers that want to efficiently monitor and detect numerous common hazards in houses, offices or industrial structures. Hazards that may be dangerous to their health or to the structural integrity of their houses, offices and buildings and all appliances and systems that are inside these buildings such as heating and cooling systems, pipes and more. By detecting hazards in advance, residents, home owners and service providers can better protect their property. 
         [0007]    Another object is to provide a Multi Level Hazard Detection System that accurately detects termites inside walls. 
         [0008]    Another object is to provide a Multi Level Hazard Detection System that accurately detects rodents. 
         [0009]    Another object is to provide a Multi Level Hazard Detection System that accurately detects moles inside and around walls and close cabinets. 
         [0010]    Another object is to provide a Multi Level Hazard Detection System that detects radon (Rn) gas in basements. 
         [0011]    Another object is to provide a Multi Level Hazard Detection System that provides a simple monitoring application that is accessible for the user at any given moment. 
         [0012]    Another object is to provide a Multi Level Hazard Detection System that is modular and have the ability to be upgraded with more sensors to detect new kind of hazards. 
         [0013]    Another object is to provide a Multi Level Hazard Detection System that collects data from houses, offices or industrial buildings to provide tools for policy makers to take collective action in solving common hazards. 
         [0014]    Another object is to provide a Multi Level Hazard Detection System that can detect changes in refrigerator&#39;s temperature and to alert the user about these changes. 
         [0015]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention. To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of this application. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0016]    There may be provided a system comprising an analytics server that is arranged to process detection signals to search for an existence of at least one hazard; wherein the detection signals reflect a sensing of an environment by at least one hazard detection sensor, and to generate information relating to the existence of the hazard. An environment of a hazard detection sensor may include any location that a parameter of that location can be sensed by hazard detection sensor, alternatively is may be regarded as the detection zone of the hazard detection sensor. 
         [0017]    The may include the at least one hazard detection sensor; wherein the at least one hazard detection sensor is prevented from processing the detection signals to search for an existence of at least one hazard. 
         [0018]    The system may include the at least one hazard detection sensor; wherein the at least one hazard detection sensor is arranged to transmit the detection signals only after determining that the detection signals represent a change in the environment. 
         [0019]    The detection signals may represent at least one out of audio, vibration, moist and temperature sensed by the at least one hazard detection sensor. 
         [0020]    The at least one hazard may include at least one out of (a) an existence of termites inside a wall of a building, (b) an existence of moles inside or around walls or close cabinets, (c) an existence of Radon gas in a basement, or (d) an existence of rodents at the environment of the hazard detection sensor. 
         [0021]    The detection signals may be indicative of a temperature within a refrigerator and wherein the analytic server is arranged to determine that the refrigerator does not operate properly in response to the temperature within the refrigerator. 
         [0022]    The analytics server may be arranged to process detection signals from at least two different types of hazard detection sensor before declaring that a hazard exists. 
         [0023]    The analytics server may be arranged to apply hazard detection algorithms of different types for detecting different hazards. 
         [0024]    The analytics server may be arranged to calculate an attribute of a certain frequency components of a group of detection signals obtained during a time window, wherein the certain frequency range is characteristic of a certain hazardous animal and determine whether the certain hazardous animal is located at a vicinity of a one hazard detection sensor. 
         [0025]    The analytics server may be arranged to: calculate, a for each point of time out of multiple points in time of a time window, a sum of amplitudes of spectral components of the detection signals within a frequency window thereby providing multiple sums associated with the multiple points in time; and process the multiple sums to search for a signature that is characteristic of a hazardous animal. 
         [0026]    According to an embodiment of the invention there may be provided a method that may include processing, by an analytics server, detection signals to search for an existence of at least one hazard; wherein the detection signals reflect a sensing of an environment by at least one hazard detection sensor, and generating information relating to the existence of the hazard. 
         [0027]    The method may include generating the detection signals by the at least one hazard detection sensor; wherein the at least one hazard detection sensor is prevented from processing the detection signals to search for an existence of at least one hazard. 
         [0028]    The method may include transmitting, by the at least one hazard detection sensor, the detection signals only after determining that the detection signals represent a change in the environment. 
         [0029]    The detection signals represent at least one out of audio, vibration, moist and temperature sensed by the at least one hazard detection sensor. 
         [0030]    The at least one hazard comprises at least one out of (a) an existence of termites inside a wall of a building, (b) an existence of moles inside or around walls or close cabinets, (c) an existence of Radon gas in a basement, or (d) an existence of rodents at the environment of the hazard detection sensor. 
         [0031]    The detection signals are indicative of a temperature within a refrigerator and wherein the method comprises determining by the analytics server that the refrigerator does not operate properly in response to the temperature within the refrigerator. 
         [0032]    The method may include processing detection signals from at least two different types of hazard detection sensor before declaring that a hazard exists. 
         [0033]    The method may include applying hazard detection algorithms of different types for detecting different hazards. 
         [0034]    The method may include calculating an attribute of a certain frequency components of a group of detection signals obtained during a time window, wherein the certain frequency range is characteristic of a certain hazardous animal and determining whether the certain hazardous animal is located at a vicinity of a one hazard detection sensor. 
         [0035]    The method may include calculating, a for each point of time out of multiple points in time of a time window, a sum of amplitudes of spectral components of the detection signals within a frequency window thereby providing multiple sums associated with the multiple points in time; and processing the multiple sums to search for a signature that is characteristic of a hazardous animal. 
         [0036]    There may be provided a single or multi sensor device that comprises an acoustic sensor, and an elastic funnel, wherein when the single or multi sensor device is installed on a wall the elastic funnel isolates the acoustic sensor from acoustic signals originating outside the wall and allows acoustic signals generated in the wall to propagate towards the acoustic sensor. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0037]    Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0038]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 2  is a top view of various components of the system of  FIG. 1  that are installed in a house according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 3  illustrates a method according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0041]      FIG. 4  illustrates a method according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0042]      FIG. 5  illustrates various components of a system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0043]      FIG. 6  illustrates various components of a system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0044]      FIG. 7  illustrates a Single Or Multi Sensor Device according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0045]      FIG. 8  illustrates a Single Or Multi Sensor Device according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0046]      FIG. 9  illustrates a Single Or Multi Sensor Device according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0047]      FIG. 10  illustrates a Single Or Multi Sensor Device according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0048]      FIG. 11  illustrates a graph that illustrates multiple spectral components of multiple detection signals according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0049]      FIG. 12  illustrates multiple vectors that are obtained from the multiple spectral components of multiple detection signals according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0050]      FIG. 13  illustrates multiple elements of a sum vector according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0051]      FIG. 14  illustrates a method according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0052]      FIG. 15  illustrates a method according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       [0053]    Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0054]      FIG. 1 :  FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the overall of the present invention. It includes the key components of the system such as, multi sensors (blocks  111 - 114 ), The Low Power Communication Module ( 110 ) which aggregates the sensors inputs and forward these inputs to Monitor &amp; Control ( 140 ) or to the Relay Dongle ( 160 ). The monitor and control can analyze the inputs to provide audio visual feedback or text notifications to the user or it can forward some of the processed inputs to Analytic Server ( 150 ). The Relay Dongle ( 160 ) just forwards the data to the Analytic Server ( 150 ). The Analytic Server ( 150 ) is a server side service that process complicated detection algorithms, and delivers immediate feedback to the Monitor &amp; Control ( 140 ), and creates robust reports for individuals and organizations to help them in addressing the detected hazards in an efficient manner. The sensor may include an ultrasonic sensor, a video sensor, a radar sensor and the like. 
         [0055]      FIG. 2 :  FIG. 2  is a top view of the present invention. Illustrating an installation of the system in two rooms in a house, with a multi sensors (combination of  111 - 114  blocks and  110  and  120  blocks) located on each wall. Each unit sends its sampled sensors data to the Monitor &amp; Control ( 140 ) or to the Relay Dongle ( 160 ). 
         [0056]      FIG. 3 :  FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a sub-operation  300  of the present invention. The following figure includes the process of the Low Power Communication Module ( 110 ). The process defines the flow of data from the sensor to the Monitor and Control device ( 140 ) and/or to the Relay Dongle ( 160 ) which forwards the data to the Analytic Server ( 150 ). It includes stages  301 - 306 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 4 :  FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating the overall operation  400  of the present invention. The following figure describes how the Low Power Communication Module ( 110 ) regulates its power conception by turning off power consuming functions whenever they are not required for the proper operation of the module. It include stages  401 - 406 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 5 :  FIG. 5  is an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The following figure describes an alternative overall view of the proposed invention. 
         [0059]      FIG. 6 :  FIG. 6  is a second alternative embodiment of the present invention. The following figure describes an alternative overall view of the proposed invention, that doesn&#39;t requires Low Power Communication Module ( 110 ) just Communication Module ( 210 ). 
         [0060]      FIG. 7 :  FIG. 7  illustrates a Single Or Multi Sensor Device  170  according to an embodiment of the invention. It has two light emitting diodes (LEDS)  173  and a microphone  172  at its front panel, an electrical plug  174  and elastic funnel  171  that assists in conducting sound waves from a wall  80  on which the Single Or Multi Sensor Device  170  installed to a microphone  175 . The elastic funnel  171  can be made from elastic material and can have a conical shape or any other shape. Once the Single Or Multi Sensor Device  170  is installed on a wall (or another object) the elastic funnel  171  and that wall can defined a relatively close and substantially isolated space in which sound acoustic waves from the wall can propagate substantially without interference to the microphone. The elastic funnel, when the single or multi sensor device is installed on a wall, isolates the acoustic sensor from acoustic signals originating outside the wall and allows acoustic signals generated in the wall to propagate towards the acoustic sensor. 
         [0061]      FIG. 8 :  FIG. 8  illustrates a Single Or Multi Sensor Device  170  according to an embodiment of the invention. It has two light emitting diodes (LEDS)  173  and two microphones  172  at its front panel, an electrical plug  174  and elastic funnel  171  that assists in conducting sound waves from a wall  80  on which the Single Or Multi Sensor Device  170  installed to a microphone  175 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 9 :  FIG. 9  illustrates a Single Or Multi Sensor Device  170  according to an embodiment of the invention. It has two light emitting diodes (LEDS)  173  and a microphone  172  at its front panel, another microphone  172  at its top panel, an electrical plug  174  and elastic funnel  171  that assists in conducting sound waves from a wall  80  on which the Single Or Multi Sensor Device  170  installed to a microphone  175 . It also has an ultrasonic sensor  176  that is illustrated as emitting ultrasonic waves. 
         [0063]      FIG. 10 :  FIG. 10  illustrates a Single Or Multi Sensor Device  170  according to an embodiment of the invention. It has a two light emitting diodes (LEDS)  173  and a microphone  172  at its front panel, can have conductor that allows it to be coupled to an electrical plug  174  and another wire that couples it to an external microphone  172 . 
         [0064]      FIG. 11 :  FIG. 11  illustrates a graph  510  that illustrates multiple spectral components of multiple detection signals according to an embodiment of the invention. It also illustrates a frequency window  512 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 12 :  FIG. 12  illustrates multiple (K) vectors  520 ( 1 )- 520 (K) that are obtained from the multiple spectral components of multiple detection signals according to an embodiment of the invention. These K spectral components can belong to a frequency window such as  512 . These multiple (K) vectors  520 ( 1 )- 520 (K) are summed ( 530 ) to provide sum vector  540 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 13 :  FIG. 13  includes a graph  550  that illustrates the values of multiple elements of sum vector  540  according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       Overview 
       [0067]    Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate Single or Multi Sensor Device ( 170 ) that can be based on Low Power Communication Module ( 110 ), A Monitor and Control Device ( 140 ) which can be a mobile phone, desktop or laptop computer, an Analytic Server ( 150 ) and Relay Dongle ( 160 ). 
       A. Single or Multi Sensor Device ( 170 ) 
       [0068]    This element can be but not limited to the size of a small tennis ball. It has a set of sensors that sense different features such as sound, vibration moist and more and it includes a processor and communication unit that are wrapped in but not just in plastic or metal package, and can be mounted to a room&#39;s wall. The main function of this element is to transmit sensors information back to the Monitor &amp; Control ( 140 ) device or to the Relay Dongle ( 160 ). 
         [0069]    The Single or Multi Sensor Device ( 170 ) includes three different parts. The first part is a set of sensors of different types that constantly sense changes in the nearby environment. The sensors which can sense sound, vibration, moist and other features are connected to what is called Sensor Deck ( 120 ), which aggregates all the data from the different sensors and wrap this data into data packages that are time stamped and forward to future processing. The last part is the Low Power Communication Module ( 110 ) that wakes up at certain times slot (as described in  FIG. 3 ) to deliver the data packages to the Relay Dongle ( 160 ) or the Monitor and Control Device ( 140 ). 
         [0070]    The Single or Multi Sensor Device ( 170 ) can endorse numerous sensors with different configuration for different types of hazard detection. It can be based on a system on a chip architecture that wraps all functionality from sensor to communication into one chip, or it can have modular architecture to allow the easy addition or removal of sensors from the device. The device can be physically plugged into a wall or lay in a cabinet depending of the system application requirements. The device can be wrapped in plastic or metal package or any other suitable material and suitable design that fit the device functionality, marketing and sales requirements. Various examples of this component are shown in  FIGS. 6-10 . 
       B. Monitor &amp; Control Device ( 140 ) 
       [0071]    This device can be mobile phone or desktop computer. It delivers an audiovisual status of different sensors and provides the user with the ability to understand whether there is a problem or not that requires immediate intervention. For example, it can detect termite&#39;s activity in one of the walls. The Monitor &amp; Control Device ( 140 ) can also act as relay that sends all the information directly to the analytic server. 
         [0072]    The Monitor &amp; Control Device ( 140 ) is a user device with audiovisual interface, to provide with the user with the most up to date information about potential hazards in his house. In addition, the device can access the user account located at the server side, and provide the user the ability to define his account, to add new sensors, to request and pay for new services, to generate reports and to get any service that is derived out of his but not just his sensors data. 
         [0073]    The Monitor and Control Device ( 140 ) can be smartphone, touchpad, laptop computer, desktop computer and any device that can run audio visual applications and is but not necessarily connected to the web. 
       C. Analytic Server ( 150 ) 
       [0074]    This element is a standard web server. It provides the following but not just the following functionality:
       Processing sensors data to analyze whether there is a hazardous event near the relevant sensor or set of sensors.   Manages service DB to serve and collect the right data from and to the right user.   Provides an advance in depth analysis that enable policy makers, corporate or and collective entity to understand its common status. An example for trend report could be the burst of termites in a neighborhood.       
 
         [0078]    Analytic Server ( 150 ) is a machine that runs a set of web services that provides the following functionality—user management, sensors management, hazard status, trends and reports, notification services, deep analysis of collected data to provide up to date hazard detection information. 
         [0079]    The Analytic Server ( 150 ) can be comprised out of one machine or a set of tightly connected machines that handle data and processing management to many users simultaneously. 
       D. Relay Dongle ( 160 ) 
       [0080]    This element is a small device that is plugged but not necessarily plugged to a house electrical outlet. It communicates with the different sensors, collects their streamed data and forwards the data to the Analytic Server ( 150 ). 
         [0081]    It provides a connection between the Single or Multi Sensor Devices ( 170 ) and the Analytic Server ( 150 ). It includes all the session management business logic that handles the data transmission. It manages a discovery mechanism that enables an easy installation of a new Single or Multi Sensor Device ( 170 ). It communicates with the Single or Multi Sensor Devices ( 170 ) through wired or wireless communication. It can be configured and controlled wirelessly or through cable port. 
         [0082]    The Relay Dongle can be smartphone, touchpad, laptop or desktop computer. It can also be implemented as dedicated appliance with its specific shape and size. It can be plug to an AC outlet or it can run on battery. 
       E. Connections of Main Elements and Sub-Elements of Invention 
       [0083]    The different sensors ( 111 - 114 ) are connected through a physical medium such as cable or line to the Sensors Deck ( 120 ). The Sensors Deck ( 120 ) is connected to the Low 
         [0084]    Power Communication Module ( 110 ) with cable or line. Both parts,  110  and  120 , are part of the Single or Multi Sensor Device which communicates with the Relay Dongle ( 160 ) or the Monitor &amp; Control ( 140 ) through wired or wireless communication. The Relay Dongle ( 160 ) or the Monitor &amp; Control ( 140 ) are connected to the Analytic Server ( 150 ) via TCP/IP network communication. 
       F. Alternative Embodiments of Invention 
       [0085]    An alternative solution can include single sensor detection system that is wired directly to Monitor &amp; Control Device ( 140 ). In this case the Monitor &amp; Control Device ( 140 ) is an appliance that is not portable and is mounted to a wall. It provides alarms to the user, and it communicates with a service center ( 180 ) when needed much like an alarm system. 
         [0086]    Another alternative solution can include a Communication Module ( 210 ) and not Low Power Communication Module ( 110 ). The difference is that in the Communication Module ( 210 ) there is no need to regulate the power consumption of the Single or Multi Sensor Device ( 170 ). 
       G. Operation of Preferred Embodiment 
       [0087]    The Single or Multi Sensor Device ( 170 ) is installed in houses on walls or inside cabinets or any other close compartments. It records data from its near surrounding environment. The data can include but not just include, audio, vibration, moist, temperature and more. The data is being relay and analyzed in a remote server to detect hazardous events such as termites biting wall&#39;s wood, radon gas accumulation in basement, potential moles, refrigerator malfunction and more. This on-going analysis of received data is done by an Analytic Server ( 150 ) that has the processing power and the ability to manage and link hazardous events to registered users. Registered users can monitor their house status by using the Monitor &amp; Control device ( 140 ) which can be any handheld device or computer with an operating system that can run monitor &amp; control application. This device ( 140 ) is constantly connected to the Analytic Server ( 150 ) to receive notifications about hazards status that may be of an interest to the user. For example, a user may have a sensor in the refrigerator that can sense the temperature. The temperature data is sent to the Analytic Server ( 150 ) via the Relay Dongle ( 160 ). The Analytic Server ( 150 ) may detect that the temperature is beyond the required temperature by a standard refrigerator which means that something is wrong with the refrigerator operation. Then a notification can be sent to the user which will help the user take action and solve the problem. Another example is the sound sensors that records audio from specific wall and sends the samples via Relay Dongle ( 160 ) to the Analytic Server ( 150 ). The Analytic Server ( 150 ) can filter the audio to detect specific sound that is created by termites biting through the wall&#39;s wood. If there is a positive detection a notification is made to the user which will take the proper actions, terminating the threat. In some cases, the Analytic Server ( 150 ) will run a detection algorithm that requires few types of sensors in order to reach a better and more accurate detection. For example, termites can be detected by sound and high CO2 in their close environment. An audio sensor and a CO2 sensor that are located close enough can together provide a better and more reliable detection of termites. 
         [0000]    G Detection of Chirps that Represent Various Hazardous Animals 
         [0088]    The following algorithm was created to detect different types of chirp sounds which can be applied mainly to rodents but also to termites. 
         [0089]    The algorithm includes the following steps: 
         [0090]    Receiving sound samples using microphone or file as a source. The source is being segmented using a configurable time window, for example 1 second. Using a spectrogram operation we convert the signal into three dimensional function S which represent the signal power at a certain time frequency point (see, for example graph  550  of  FIG. 11 ). 
         [0091]    Different animals chirps like Rodent and Termites have dominating frequencies that represents their chirp. Based on the animal the system is configured to filter the relevant frequencies using a band pass filter. Since the spectrogram already includes a frequency representation of the signal the filtered spectrogram is no more than zeroing the amplitude values in every component that is out of the animal&#39;s chirp frequency window. 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
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         [0092]    Sf is a three dimensional discrete function. This function can be represented as a list of vectors Ai, where each vector a fi (n) in the list Ai represent the amplitude in different times in a single frequency. Vectors  520 ( 1 )- 520 (K) illustrates multiple (K) of such vectors. 
         [0093]    We then sum the vectors to create Ac=Σ i=0   K a fi , (see for example vector  540  of  FIG. 12  and graph  550  of  FIG. 13 ) creating a new vector that represents the sum of amplitudes of all the frequencies in the relevant frequency window U in every vector time element. The vector Ac (for example graph  550  of  FIG. 13 ) is therefore a discrete function of amplitude in different times. The following graph represents how Ac can look for Rodents. 
         [0094]    The next stage in the detection algorithm is to detect the dominating frequency in Ac function. Rodent or termites chirp can be characterized by that frequency. We first use FFT to create Afc=fft(Ac) 
         [0095]    We then determine whether there is a significant signal in the representing frequency (usually each animal has a different representing). We use a simple band pass filter around the representing frequency and we measure the signal power to determine whether it is above a certain threshold. In addition we measure the signal to noise ratio and compare to threshold. If the two results are above threshold we mark the 1 second window as detected. 
         [0096]    In order to reduce our false positive we notify a positive detection only after X (&gt;5) detections in a time period of Y (&lt;30 minutes). 
         [0097]    Another approach to detect the signal is to send Ai, the three dimensional filtered array to a neural network. 
         [0098]      FIG. 14  illustrates method  600  according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         [0099]    The following explanation will refer to a single hazard detection sensor although it is applicable to multiple hazard detection sensors. 
         [0100]    Method  600  may start by stage  610  of sensing of an environment of a hazard detection sensor by the hazard detection sensor and generating detection signals to represent the sensing. The hazard detection sensor can be prevented from processing the detection signals to search for an existence of at least one hazard. This allows such a hazard detection sensor to be cheap and allow the analytics server to perform the processing. The detection signals may represent at least one out of audio, vibration, moist and temperature. 
         [0101]    Stage  610  may be followed by stage  620  of transmitting by the hazard detection sensor the detection signals. Alternatively the transmitting can occur only if the hazard sensor determines that there is a need to transmit these detection signals. For example—the transmitting may occur only after determining that the detection signals represent a change in the environment—or otherwise represent information and not just noise. 
         [0102]    Stage  620  may be followed by stage  630  of providing the detection signals to an analytics server. This may involve relaying the detection signals by a relay dongle, transmitting the detection signals by a monitor and control device, transmitting the detection signals by a one or multiple sensors device and the like. The transmitting of stages  620  and/or  630  may involve communication processing—segmenting, packetizing, framing, aggregating, error correction and the like. 
         [0103]    Stage  630  may be followed by stage  640  of processing, by the analytics server, the detection signals to search for an existence of at least one hazard. 
         [0104]    Stage  640  may include at least one of the following:
       (a) Processing detection signals from at least two different types of hazard detection sensor before declaring that a hazard exists.   (b) Applying hazard detection algorithms of different types for detecting different hazards.   (c) Calculating an attribute of a certain frequency components of a group of detection signals obtained during a time window, wherein the certain frequency range is characteristic of a certain hazardous animal and determining whether the certain hazardous animal is located at a vicinity of a one hazard detection sensor.   (d) Calculating (see  FIGS. 12 and 13 ), for each point of time out of multiple points in time of a time window, a sum of amplitudes of spectral components of the detection signals within a frequency window thereby providing multiple sums associated with the multiple points in time; and processing the multiple sums to search for a signature that is characteristic of a hazardous animal.       
 
         [0109]    The hazard may include at least one out of (a) an existence of termites inside a wall of a building, (b) an existence of moles inside or around walls or close cabinets, or (c) an existence of Radon gas in a basement. 
         [0110]    The detection signals may be indicative of a temperature within a refrigerator and stage  640  may include determining by the analytics server that the refrigerator does not operate properly in response to the temperature within the refrigerator. 
         [0111]    Stage  640  may be followed by stage  650  of generating information relating to the existence of the hazard. 
         [0112]    What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodiment of the invention along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention in which all terms are meant in their broadest, reasonable sense unless otherwise indicatefunneld. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.