Patent Publication Number: US-2017358188-A1

Title: Systems including a smart device for receiving a prerecorded message and transmitting the prerecorded message to a detector

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     One or more adverse condition detectors is typically installed in a structure, e.g., a residence or an office building. The detectors can be configured, based upon hardware in the detector, to detect one or more types of adverse conditions. For example, a detector may be configured to detect smoke, heat, fire, carbon monoxide, or carbon dioxide. 
     When a detector detects the adverse condition for which it is configured to detect, the detector typically gives warning to people within the structure. In this regard, the detector may sound a loud audible alarm that can be heard throughout the structure, which conveys to the people to leave the structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present system is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1A  is a diagram of a wireless network of an exemplary smart warning system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1B  is a block diagram of an exemplary smart device as depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an exemplary detector of the smart warning system of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 3A  is an exemplary housing for the detector depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 3B  is the detector of  FIG. 3A  showing a projection of an arrow shape to indicate direction for egress. 
         FIG. 4  depicts an exemplary smart device user interface of the smart warning system depicted in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 5A  is flowchart depicting exemplary architecture and functionality of a status check process of the smart device depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 5B  is a flowchart depicting exemplary architecture and functionality of an emergency process of the smart device depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6A  is a flowchart depicting exemplary architecture and functionality of a status check process of the smart warning system depicted in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 6B  is a flowchart depicting exemplary architecture and functionality of an alert message receipt process of the smart warning system depicted in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 6C  is a flowchart depicting exemplary architecture and functionality of an alert activation process of the smart warning system depicted in  FIG. 1A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure describes smart warning systems and methods. In particular, a smart warning system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises one or more detector devices that are configured to detect adverse conditions within a structure, e.g., a house, an office building, or the like. In one embodiment, the detector devices are smoke detectors. Other types of detectors may be used in other embodiments. For example, the detector devices may be configured to detect a carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) leak. Notably, the detector device of the present disclosure may be configured to detect any number of adverse conditions. As an example, the detector device may be configured to detect smoke and CO 2 . 
     Further, the exemplary detectors of the present disclosure each comprise wireless technology. In this regard, each of the detectors is configured to communicate with each of the other detectors over a local area network (LAN). Additionally, at least one detector is configured to communicate over a cellular network. Thus, information may be readily transmitted by each detector to a cellular device, e.g., a smart phone. Note that a smart phone is merely an example, and the cellular device may include any type of device that is configured to communicate with other cellular devices over the cellular network. For example, the smart device may be a tablet or a laptop. 
       FIG. 1A  depicts a smart warning system  98  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The smart warning system  98  comprises four detectors  103   a - 103   d,  a cellular device  101 , a wireless area network (WAN)  100 , and a cellular network  92 . 
     The cellular network  92  comprises at least one cell tower  94  and other devices and components that work together to provide communication between devices and/or networks. In the present disclosure, the cell tower  94  is communicatively coupled to the smart device  101  and the detectors  103   a - 103   d  via the WAN  100 . Thus, the cellular network provides communication via the smart device  101  and the detectors  103   a - 103   d.    
     As noted hereinabove, the smart device  101  is configured to communicate with at least one cell tower  94 , which is part of the cellular network  92 . Additionally, the smart device is configured to communicate with at least one of the detector devices  103   a - 103   d  over the WAN  100 . Note that the smart device  101  may be any type of device known in the art or future-developed that comprises a transceiver (not shown). For example, the smart device  101  may be a cellular phone, a tablet, or a laptop computer. The transceiver transmits messages from the smart device  101  through the cell tower  94 , which in turn (based upon data in the message) transmits the messages to the detectors  103   a - 103   d  via the WAN  100 . Also, the transceiver receives messages from the detectors  103   a - 103   d  through the cell tower  94 . 
     Further note that the WAN  100  may be any type of network known in the art that is configured to facilitate communication between the detectors  103   a - 103   d  and the smart device  101 , between each of the detectors  103   a - 103   d,  and between the detectors  103   a - 103   d  and the cellular network  92 . Note that in one embodiment, the WAN  100  is a “mesh network,” which means that each of the detectors  103   a - 103   d  is considered a “node,” and each node relays data through the WAN  100  thereby cooperating in the distribution of messages in the WAN  100 . 
     Each detector  103   a - 103   d  is configured to detect adverse conditions within the structure (not shown) in which they are installed. For example, the detectors  103   a - 103   d  may detect the presence of smoke. In another embodiment, the detectors may detect the presence of CO 2 . 
       FIG. 1B  depicts an exemplary smart device  101  of the present disclosure. The exemplary smart device  101  comprises a processor  88 , display device  84 , input device  82 , microphone device  90 , and transceiver  83 . Each of these components communicates over local interface  89 , which can include one or more buses. 
     Smart device  101  further comprises control logic  86 . Control logic  86  can be software, hardware, or a combination thereof. In the exemplary smart device  101  shown in  FIG. 1B , control logic  86  is shown as software stored in memory  87 . Memory  87  may be of any type of memory known in the art, including, but not limited to random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, and the like. 
     As noted hereinabove, control logic  86  are shown in  FIG. 1B  as software stored in memory  87 . When stored in memory  87 , control logic  86  can be stored and transported on any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch the instructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions. 
     In the context of the present disclosure, a “computer-readable medium” can be any means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The computer readable medium can be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium 
     Processor  88  may be a digital processor or other type of circuitry configured to run the control logic  86  by processing and executing the instructions of the control logic  86 . The processor  88  communicates to and drives the other elements within the smart device  101  via the local interface  89 . 
     In addition, the transceiver  83  is an electronic component that is configured to transmit and receive messages from a network. The transceiver  83  may be any type of device known in the art from communicating via networks to other electronic components on the networks. 
     The display device  84  is a device for visually communicating information to a user (not shown). The display device  84  may be, for example, a backlit liquid crystal display (LCD) screen (not shown), which is touch-sensitive for operation with a stylus (not shown). Other types of display devices may be used in other embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     The input device  82  enables the user to enter data into the smart device  101 . In one embodiment, the input device  82  is a keyboard, and the user uses the keyboard to type data into the smart device  101 , which can be stored as data  80 . In addition, the display device  84  may be a touch screen (not shown), and the smart device  101  may comprise a stylus (not shown) that the user can used to enter data via the touch screen (not shown). 
     One exemplary input device, the microphone device  90 , may be any type of sound capture device known in the art or future-developed. In one embodiment, the microphone device  90  captures analog data indicative of a user&#39;s voice and translates the analog data into digital data. In the embodiment, the user (not shown) speaks into the microphone device  90  a message that the user desires to be played if adverse conditions are detected by one of the detectors  103   a - d . The control logic  86  stores the digital data indicative of the message as prerecorded message data  91 . Further, the control logic  86 , either automatically, periodically, or upon request by the user via the input device  82 , transmits the prerecorded message data  91  to one or all of the detectors  103   a - 103   d.    
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an exemplary detector  103   a  of the present disclosure. Note that only  103   a  is described, however, the other detectors  103   b - 103   d  are configured identically. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the detector  103   a  comprises one or more sensors configured to detect the presence of an adverse condition. The exemplary sensors in  103   a  include, but are not limited to, smoke/fire sensor  207 , CO2 sensor  227 , and CO sensor  225 . Thus, the detector  103   a  is configured to detect smoke, fire, CO and CO 2 . 
     In one embodiment, the smoke/fire sensor  207  may comprise an optical sensor that is configured to detect any number of conditions, e.g., smoke, fire, presence of an individual, etc. The smoke/fire sensor  207  may comprise a potentiometric sensor (or ion sensor) that detects the presence of analytes in the air. The smoke/fire sensory  207  may perform air-sampling to detect analytes in the air. Also, the smoke/fire sensor may comprise an infrared sensor that may be used to detect flames. The afore-described sensors are merely examples of the types of sensors that may be used in the detector  103   a.  Any sensor technology hereafter developed suitable for sensing the presence of smoke or fire may be used in the detector  103   a  of the present disclosure. 
     The detector  103   a  may be powered by standard residential electricity supply (e.g., 120 VAC)  201 . Additionally, the detector may comprise a rechargeable battery  203  in the event residential power fails. As depicted in the diagram, the battery  203  may be charged with the residential electricity supply  201 . 
     Detector  103   a  also preferably comprises one or more visual and aural warning displays, for example, a speaker  233  through which the above-referenced voice messages are played, a buzzer  229 , as well as a light display  231 . In one embodiment, the light display  231  may comprise an arrow shape that points the way to egress from the building. Optionally, detector may comprise a microphone  235 . So configured, any detector  103   a - 103   d  may be used as a two-way communication system, either detector-to-phone, or detector-to-detector, via the WAN  100  ( FIG. 1A ). 
     Detector  103   a - 103   d  preferably further comprises a computer-based processor system  205  which may be configured with a central processing unit (CPU)  215  connected to a communication bus  219 , and a computer-readable memory  211 , such as, without limitation, flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), or random access memory (RAM), and can also include a secondary memory. The memory  211  may comprises control logic  280 . 
     Control logic  280  comprises instructions, which are executed by the processor system  205  to operate in a specific and predefined manner, as described below. Control logic  280  may be implemented as one or more modules. The modules may be configured to reside in the processor memory. The modules include, but are not limited to, software or hardware components that perform certain tasks. Thus, a module may include, by way of example, components, such as, software components, processes, functions, subroutines, procedures, attributes, class components, task components, object-oriented software components, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, micro-code, circuitry, data, and the like. Control logic  280  may be installed in the memory  211  using a computer interface coupled to the communication bus  219  which may be any suitable input/output device. The computer interface may also be configured to allow a user to vary the control logic  280 , either according to pre-configured variations or customizable variations. 
     As will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art, the processor system  205  may be achieved with a specialized apparatus to perform the steps described herein by way of one or more dedicated processor systems  205  with hard-wired logic or programs stored in nonvolatile memory, such as, by way of example, read-only memory (ROM), for example, components such as ASICs, FPGAs, PCBs, microcontrollers, or multi-chip modules (MCMs). 
     The processor system  205  further comprises a mesh network radio frequency transceiver  217  coupled to an antenna  223 . A mesh network is a network topology in which each node in the network relays data, cooperating to distribute such data. Wireless mesh networks may use any suitable wireless communications protocol, e.g., cellular, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15, or the like. In one embodiment of the processor system  205 , the network transceiver  217  is compatible with a wireless protocol particularly useful in local area network (LAN) applications, such as Wi-Fi® (802.11), or in personal area network (PAN) applications, such as BlueTooth® (802.15), Z-wave, wireless internet, etc. In addition, the processor system  205  may optionally comprise a frequency modulated (FM) radio receiver coupled to a compatible antenna. This allows a detector  103   a  to receive warnings through FM radio from EAS, providing a means to receive notifications in the event a smart phone  101  is not within the WAN  100 . 
     Note that in one embodiment, the prerecorded message data  91  ( FIG. 1B ) is received by one or more detectors  103   a - 103   b,  and the control logic  280  stores the prerecorded message data  91  in memory  211 . In the event that one of the sensors  207 ,  281 ,  227 , or  225  detects an adverse condition, the control logic  208  may play the prerecorded message on the speaker  233  so that it is audible for those in the structure or building in which the detectors  103   a - 103   d  are installed. 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates an exemplary housing  303  for a detector  103   a - 103   d,  a grid  301  of openings for aural messages to be emitted, and an arrow-shaped light display  231 . In  FIG. 3B , the arrow-shaped light  231  may include a projection lens that allows light from the arrow-shaped light  231  to be projected as an arrow shape image  302  on a floor  305  pointing in the direction toward safe egress. 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram of a user interface that is displayed by control logic  86  ( FIG. 1B ) to a display device  84 . simply illustrates a smart phone, known in the art or hereafter developed, that is configured with control logic  86  ( FIG. 1B ) and that facilitates a user to control the system  98  ( FIG. 1A ). 
     In this regard, the control logic  86  displays a list of options to a user (not shown). In the exemplary user interface the user has the following options: “DETECTOR INTERFACE,” “RELAY EAS/WEA ALERT MESSAGES,” “USER-DEFINED ALERTS,” “DETECTOR STATUS,” and “SILENCE ALERT.” 
     When the detector interface selection is selected by the user, the control logic  86  displays options for testing the detectors  103   a - 103   d.  In this regard, the control logic  86  is configured to transmit data indicative of a status query to at least one of the detectors  103   a - 103   d.  In response, each of the detectors self-tests for operational errors, e.g., a dead battery or inoperative connection through the WAN  100  to one or more other detectors  103   a - 103   d.    
     When the relay eas/wea alert messages selection is selected by the user, the control logic  86  displays one or more options for forwarding alerts to the detectors  103   a - 103   d.  For example, there may be a tornado warning, and upon selection by the user, the control logic  86  transmits data indicative of the warning to the detectors  103   a - 103   d.  Upon receipt, the detectors  103   a - 103   d  are configured to initiate aural or visual alerts to alert occupants of the structure. 
     When the user-defined alerts selection is selected by the user, the control logic  86  provides a graphical user interface (GUI) that enables the user to define an alert that the control logic  86  transmits to the detectors  103   a - 103   d.  Upon definition, the user may elect to transmit data indicative of the user-defined alert to the detectors  103   a - 103   d.    
     When the silence alert selection is selected by the user, this indicates that the alert message previously sent to the detectors  103   a - 103   d  isn&#39;t or is no longer valid. In response, the detectors  103   a - 103   d  silence some or all the aural or visual alerts that were previously initiated. 
       FIGS. 5A  is a flowchart depicting exemplary functionality and architecture of the control logic  86  ( FIG. 1B ) of the smart device  101 . In step  501 , the control logic  86  is launched by the smart device  101 , and the control logic  86  displays a home graphical user interface (not shown) that may include displaying the options hereinabove outlined. Note that in one embodiment, the control logic  86  may automatically launch in order to provide alerts to the user of the status of the warning system  98 . In another embodiment, the user may click on an icon (not shown) to affirmatively launch the control logic  86 . 
     Upon launching the control logic  86  in step  501 , the control logic  86  may request user login credentials in step  502 . Note that in one embodiment, the control logic  86  may be launched selection by a user (not shown) of an icon displayed on the smart device  101  ( FIG. 1 ). However, in other embodiments, the control logic  86  may be launched in other ways. In response to the request for user login credentials, the user enters the appropriate information via the input device  82  ( FIG. 1B ). 
     Once activated, the control logic  86  automatically issues a system check query in step  503  to the detector  103   a - 103   d  ( FIG. 1A ) via the WAN  100  ( FIG. 1A ) or the cellular network  92  ( FIG. 1A ). Note that the system check query may be issued by the control logic  86  in the form of a message or data packet that is transmitted to one or more detectors  103   a - 103   d.    
     One or more of the detectors  103   a - 103   d  receive the status check query. In step  504 , the one or more detectors  103   a - 103   d  respond either via the WAN  100  or the cellular network  92  by providing an indication of the status of the network in step  504 . Additionally, in step  505  the one or more detectors transmit data indicative of the status of the detector  103   a - 103   d  in step  505 . In step  506 , the control logic  86  displays data indicative of the status of the WAN  100  and of each detector  103   a - 103  to the display device  84  ( FIG. 1B ). 
       FIG. 5B  is a flowchart depicting architecture and functionality of the control logic  86  when data indicative of an emergency (“emergency message”) is received by the smart device  101  in step  807 . Note that the emergency message may contain data indicative of the particular detector that is not operating appropriately or indicative of the network  100 . 
     When an emergency message is received in step  507  through the WAN  100  and the cellular network  92  by the smart device  101 , the control logic  86  is configured to launch automatically in step  508 . The message is converted to from cellular network protocol to WAN protocol in step  509  then transmitted to the WAN  100  at step  509 . 
       FIGS. 6A through 6C  provide exemplary architecture and functionality of control logic  280  ( FIG. 2 ) by the CPU  215  ( FIG. 2 ) resident on the detectors  103   a - 103   d . Periodically, any one detectors  103   a - 103   d  may initiate a network check in step  601  querying the other detectors  103   a - 103   d.  In response, the detectors  103   a - 103   d  answer the query  602  through the WAN  100 . The control logic  280  transmits data indicative of the network health of other detectors  103   a - 103   b  in step  603 . Additionally, the control logic  280  transmits the data indicative of a report status to the smart device  101 . 
     Note that if a detector  103   a - 103   d  does not respond, the smart device  101  may flag the detector  103   a - 103   d  as inoperative. In one embodiment, each detector  103   a - 103   d  periodically executes a self-check in step  604  and automatically reports its status to the network at step  603 . In this embodiment, the detectors  103   a - 103   d  transmits the data to the smart device  101  at step  605 . 
     In the event an alert message is received by a detector  103   a - 103   d  via the smart device  101  in step  606 , the detectors  103   a - 103   d  aurally and/or visually alert residents of the structure in step  607 . Further, the data indicative of the alert message is transmitted to the other detectors  103   a - 103   d  in the WAN  100  in step  608 . Similarly, if any detector  103   a - 103   d  detects fire, smoke, CO or CO2 in step  609 , the detectors  103   a - 103   d  aurally and/or visually alert residents in the structure at step  610 . Further, data indicative of the alert is transmitted to the WAN  100  in step  611 . It should be noted that data indicative of the alert can also be transmitted to the smart device  101  via the WAN  100  and the cellular network  92 .