PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9123221-B2
Application Number: US-201313897910-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Wireless device networks with smoke detection capabilities

Abstract:
An electronic device may include a smoke detector. The electronic device may use the smoke detector to monitor for the presence of smoke. In response to detecting smoke with the smoke detector, the electronic device may issue an alert or take other suitable action. The electronic device may transmit alerts to nearby electronic devices and to remote electronic devices such as electronic devices at emergency services facilities. Alerts may contain maps and graphical representations of buildings in which smoke has been detected. Motion detectors and other sensors and circuitry may be used in determining whether electronic devices are being used by users and may be used in determining where the electronic devices are located. Alerts may contain information on the location of detected smoke and building occupants.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cellular telephone, comprising:
 a display; 
 at least one port; 
 a housing in which the display is mounted; 
 a smoke detector; and 
 communications circuitry configured to transmit data to external equipment in response to detecting smoke with the smoke detector, wherein the smoke detector is mounted within the housing adjacent to the port and is configured to monitor for smoke through the port, wherein the port comprises a speaker port having mesh with openings and wherein the smoke detector is configured to receive the smoke through the openings in the mesh of the speaker port. 
 
     
     
       2. The cellular telephone defined in  claim 1  wherein the display comprises a touch screen display. 
     
     
       3. The cellular telephone defined in  claim 2  wherein the smoke detector comprises a light source and a light detector. 
     
     
       4. The cellular telephone defined in  claim 2  wherein the smoke detector comprises an ionizing detector. 
     
     
       5. The cellular telephone defined in  claim 1  wherein the communications circuitry comprises wireless communications circuitry. 
     
     
       6. The cellular telephone defined in  claim 5  wherein the wireless communications circuitry comprises cellular telephone transceiver circuitry. 
     
     
       7. The cellular telephone defined in  claim 5  wherein the wireless communications circuitry comprises wireless local area network transceiver circuitry. 
     
     
       8. The cellular telephone defined in  claim 5  further comprising satellite navigation system receiver circuitry configured to receive signals to determine the location of the cellular telephone. 
     
     
       9. The cellular telephone defined in  claim 1  further comprising a motion sensor. 
     
     
       10. The cellular telephone defined in  claim 9  further comprising a proximity sensor. 
     
     
       11. A cellular telephone, comprising:
 a housing; 
 a display on the housing; 
 control circuitry coupled to the display; 
 a port; and 
 a smoke detector coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the smoke detector is mounted in the port and is configured to monitor for smoke through the port. 
 
     
     
       12. The cellular telephone defined in  claim 11  further comprising wireless circuitry coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the wireless circuitry is configured to wirelessly transmit commands to fire suppression equipment. 
     
     
       13. The cellular telephone defined in  claim 11  further comprising wireless circuitry coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the wireless circuitry is configured to wirelessly transmit an alert to an electronic device that directs the electronic device to display a map on which a location at which smoke has been detected by the smoke detector is labeled. 
     
     
       14. The cellular telephone defined in  claim 11  further comprising wireless circuitry coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the wireless circuitry is configured to wirelessly transmit an alert to an electronic device that directs the electronic device to display a graphic representation of a building in which smoke has been detected by the smoke detector. 
     
     
       15. The cellular telephone defined in  claim 11  comprising:
 a motion detector coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine whether a user of the cellular telephone is using the cellular telephone within a building at least partly based on data from the motion detector; and 
 wireless circuitry coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the wireless circuitry is configured to wirelessly transmit an alert to an electronic device that contains an interactive prompt, wherein the alert directs the electronic device to display a graphic representation of a building in which smoke has been detected by the smoke detector, and wherein the graphic representation of the building includes a label representing the user. 
 
     
     
       16. The cellular telephone defined in  claim 11  further comprising wireless circuitry coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the wireless circuitry is configured to wirelessly transmit commands to a sprinkler system. 
     
     
       17. A method, comprising:
 monitoring for smoke with a smoke detector in a cellular telephone, wherein monitoring for smoke with the smoke detector in the cellular telephone comprises monitoring for smoke through a port in the cellular telephone; 
 in response to detecting that smoke is present in a building with the smoke detector, transmitting an alert to an electronic device, wherein transmitting the alert comprises transmitting an interactive prompt, and wherein the interactive prompt provides an opportunity to contact a person who is associated with the building in which the smoke is detected by the smoke detector. 
 
     
     
       18. The method defined in  claim 17 , wherein transmitting the alert further comprises transmitting information about the person who is associated with the building. 
     
     
       19. The method defined in  claim 18 , wherein the information comprises the location of the person who is associated with the building. 
     
     
       20. The method defined in  claim 17 , wherein transmitting the alert further comprises transmitting an alert that contains a map that includes a geographic location of detected smoke. 
     
     
       21. The method defined in  claim 17 , wherein transmitting the alert further comprises transmitting a graphic representation of the building. 
     
     
       22. The method defined in  claim 21 , wherein transmitting the graphic representation of the building comprises transmitting at least one label indicating where the portable electronic device is located within the building relative to detected smoke.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly, to using networked electronic devices to detect smoke associated with fires. 
     Fires are a serious threat to the occupants of residential and commercial buildings. Smoke detectors are widely used to combat the risks associated with fires. Smoke detectors are generally mounted at fixed locations within a building. A building occupant who is located in a portion of a building that is remote from fixed smoke detector locations may be out of range of smoke detector coverage and may have difficulty hearing audible alarms generated by the smoke detectors. Smoke detector alarms are typically limited in scope and do not include information of interest to first responders and neighbors such as information on current building occupants. 
     It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide systems with improved smoke detection and alert capabilities. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electronic device such as a cellular telephone, computer, or other electronic equipment may include a smoke detector. The electronic device may use the smoke detector to monitor for the presence of smoke. In response to detecting smoke with the smoke detector, the electronic device may issue an alert or take other suitable action. For example, the electronic device may activate fire suppression equipment, may transmit a text or email message, may transmit alerts to other electronic devices, may generate audible alerts, etc. 
     Using wired and wireless communications circuitry, the electronic device may transmit alerts to nearby electronic devices and to remote electronic devices such as electronic devices at emergency services facilities. Alerts may contain maps and graphical representations of buildings in which smoke has been detected. 
     Motion detectors and other sensors and circuitry may be used in determining whether electronic devices are being used by users and may be used in determining where the electronic devices are located. Alerts may contain information on the location of detected smoke and building occupants. 
     Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of a system in which a network of electronic devices may be used to monitor for the presence of smoke in the surrounding environment and may be used to take actions such as issuing alerts or controlling fire suppression equipment in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram of an illustrative light-based smoke detector of the type that may be used in an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram of an illustrative ionization smoke detector of the type that may be used in an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device such as a laptop computer of the type that may be provided with a smoke detector in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device such as a handheld electronic device of the type that may be provided with a smoke detector in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device such as a tablet computer of the type that may be provided with a smoke detector in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of illustrative electronic devices such as a display and associated electronic equipment of the type that may be provided with a smoke detector in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an illustrative wearable electronic device of the type that may be provided with a smoke detector in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device having ports such as a speaker port in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device of the type shown in  FIG. 9  showing how a smoke detector may be mounted within a housing of the electronic device adjacent to a speaker grill in a speaker port in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a system diagram of a network of electronic devices with smoke detection capabilities and alert generation capabilities in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  shows an illustrative alert of the type that may be presented on an electronic device to alert emergency services personnel of the location and nature of an emergency in which smoke has been detected in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  shows an illustrative alert of the type that may be presented on an electronic device to alert a homeowner or others about an emergency in which smoke has been detected in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  shows an illustrative visual alert of the type that may be presented on an electronic device to visually inform a homeowner or others about the nature of an emergency in which smoke has been detected and the location of known occupants of the home relative to the location of detected smoke in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  shows an illustrative visual alert of the type that may be presented on an electronic device to visually inform a building occupant such as an apartment dweller or others about the nature of an emergency in which smoke has been detected and the location of known occupants of the building relative to the location of detected smoke and the alerted building occupant in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  shows an illustrative map-based alert of the type that may be presented on electronic devices to visually alert neighbors and other members of the public in the vicinity of a home in which smoke has been detected in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in using electronic devices in a network of electronic devices to monitor for the presence of smoke and in using the electronic devices to issue alerts or take other actions in response to detected smoke in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Electronic devices may be provided with smoke detectors that allow the electronic devices to monitor a building or other structure for the presence of smoke. If smoke is detected, there is a risk that the building is on fire. Accordingly, the user of an electronic device that detects smoke, emergency services personnel, building occupants, neighbors, and others may be notified in response to detection of smoke. Sprinkler systems and other fire suppression equipment may also be activated in response to the detection of smoke. The electronic devices may be used in sending alerts, issuing commands to fire suppression equipment, and taking other actions. 
     An illustrative system such as system  100  of  FIG. 1  may be used in monitoring for smoke and taking action in response to the detection of smoke. As shown in  FIG. 1 , system  100  may contain multiple electronic devices  10 . Electronic devices  10  may be coupled by a communications network including communications paths  118  to form a network of two or more electronic devices. Communications paths  118  may include wired paths (e.g., paths that pass through the internet, paths that pass through local area network equipment, and paths that pass through other networks) and may include wireless paths (e.g., cellular telephone network paths, wireless local area network paths, etc.). 
     Electronic devices  10  may run on battery power and/or line power from a wall outlet. As shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, electronic device  10 ′ may be powered by battery  110 . Electronic device  10 ″ may be powered by wall power received over power cable  112  from wall outlet  114 . If desired, electronic devices  10  (e.g., devices  10 ,  10 ′,  10 ″, and  10 ′″ of  FIG. 1 ) may contain both batteries and power regulator circuitry for receiving alternating current (AC) power from a wall outlet or other source of AC power. 
     Electronic devices  10  may include portable electronic devices and stationary electronic devices. Devices  10  may be located inside buildings such as building  102  and may be located outside buildings such as building  102  (see, e.g., external electronic device  10 ′″). 
     Building  102  may have one or more stories, two or more stories, or ten or more stories (as examples). In the example of  FIG. 1 , building  102  has lower floor  106  and upper floor  104 . This is merely illustrative. Buildings such as building  102  of  FIG. 1  may have any suitable number of floors. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , buildings such as building  102  may include fire suppression equipment  116 . Fire suppression equipment  116  may include sprinkler systems, chemical fire suppressor dispensing systems, and other fire suppression systems. The fire suppression equipment may be activated by wired-path or wireless control signals that are supplied by one or more of electronic devices  10 . 
     Building  102  may contain multiple rooms  108 . There may be any suitable number of devices  10  in each room  108  (e.g., no devices, one device, multiple devices, etc.). There may also be any suitable number of devices  10  outside of building  102  (e.g., no devices, one device such as device  10 ′″, multiple devices, etc.). 
     Fires such as fire  120  may be started by accident within building  102 , producing smoke  122 . One or more of electronic devices  10  may contain smoke detector equipment to monitor for the presence of smoke  122 . In response to detection of smoke  122  by the smoke detector in one of devices  10 , that device  10  may issue alerts using the hardware of that device, may issue alerts by broadcasting or otherwise communicating alerts using other devices  10  in the network of system  100 , may issue control commands to fire suppression equipment  116  that directs fire suppression equipment  116  to emit water or other fire suppression substances, or may take other suitable actions to help protect the occupants of building  102  and others. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram of an illustrative light-based smoke detector of the type that may be used in electronic devices  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , smoke detector  124  may include a light source such as light source  126  and a light detector such as light detector  128 . Baffle structure  130  may be used to block light  132  that is emitted from light source  126 , so that light  132  does not directly reach light detector  128 . Baffle structures  130  may have an opening such as opening  134  that allows particles of smoke  122  to enter the interior of baffle structures  130  in alignment with the output of light source  126 . During operation, light source  126  emits light  132 . In the absence of smoke  122 , light  132  will exit opening  134  and will not be detected by light detector  128 . In the presence of smoke  122 , light  132  will be illuminate smoke particles  122 . Light  132  that is deflected by the illuminated smoke particles  122  may pass through the interior of baffle structures  130  to light detector  128 . The output of light detector  128  on path  136  will be proportional to the amount of smoke  122  that is present. When little or no smoke  122  is present in baffle  130 , light detector  128  may produce a signal on output  136  indicating that smoke  122  (and therefore fire) are absent from building  102 . When smoke  122  is present, light  132  of more than a threshold amount will be reflected into light detector  128 . In response, light detector  128  may generate an output signal on output  136  that indicates that smoke  122  (and potentially fire  120 ) have been detected. 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram of an illustrative ionizing smoke detector. Smoke detector  124  of  FIG. 3  has a radiation source such as radiation source  138  that emits ionizing radiation  140 . Radiation  140  ionizes air molecules  142  between electrodes  144 . Control circuitry  146  applies a voltage across electrodes  144 . In the presence of ionized air molecules and in the absence of smoke  122 , a current will flow between electrodes  144  and will be measured by control circuitry  146 . When smoke  122  is present, the ionized air molecules are neutralized by smoke  122  so that the amount of current flow between electrodes  144  is significantly reduced. Control circuitry  146  can produce an output signal on path  148  that is indicative of the presence or absence of smoke (as an example). 
     If desired, other types of smoke detector such as pyroelectric detectors, infrared light detectors, image-sensor (camera) based detectors, and other smoke detector structures may be used in implementing smoke detectors  124 . The configurations of  FIGS. 2 and 3  are merely illustrative. 
     Electronic devices  10  of the type shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 , and  9  and other electronic devices  10  may be provided with smoke detectors  124  and/or circuitry for issuing alerts to a user and/or taking other suitable action (e.g., issuing wired or wireless fire suppression equipment control commands for equipment  116  of  FIG. 1  that direct equipment  116  to suppress fire  120 ). An electronic device that detects smoke may present a local alert to the user of that electronic device and may transmit alerts to one or more remote electronic devices. Alerts may include visual information, audio information, etc. 
     Electronic device  10  of  FIG. 4  has the shape of a laptop computer and has upper housing  12 A and lower housing  12 B with components such as keyboard  16  and touchpad  18 . Device  10  has hinge structures  20  to allow upper housing  12 A to rotate in directions  22  about rotational axis  24  relative to lower housing  12 B. Display  14  is mounted in upper housing  12 A. Upper housing  12 A, which may sometimes referred to as a display housing or lid, is placed in a closed position by rotating upper housing  12 A towards lower housing  12 B about rotational axis  24 . Smoke detector  124  may be mounted in a port that is located along the right hand edge of housing  12 B (e.g., a connector port or other port) or may be located elsewhere in housing  12 A or housing  12 B. 
       FIG. 5  shows an illustrative configuration for electronic device  10  based on a handheld device such as a cellular telephone, music player, gaming device, navigation unit, or other compact device. In this type of configuration for device  10 , housing  12  has opposing front and rear surfaces. Display  14  is mounted on a front face of housing  12 . Display  14  may have an exterior layer that includes openings for components such as button  26  and speaker port  27 . Smoke detector  124  may be located in speaker port  27  or elsewhere in device housing  12 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 6 , electronic device  10  is a tablet computer. In electronic device  10  of  FIG. 6 , housing  12  has opposing planar front and rear surfaces. Display  14  is mounted on the front surface of housing  12 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , display  14  has an external layer with an opening to accommodate button  26 . Smoke detector  124  may be located in port  23  (e.g., a connector or speaker port) or other opening in housing  12 . 
       FIG. 7  shows an illustrative configuration for electronic device  10  in which device  10  includes an electronic device such as display device  10 A and/or includes additional electronic device  10 B. Device  10 A may be a television, a computer monitor, or a computer that has been integrated into a computer display. Electronic device  10 B may be a wired router, a wireless router, a storage device, a set-top box, a desktop computer, or other electronic equipment. Electronic device  10 B may be coupled to accessories such as display  10 A or may be used separately. As shown in  FIG. 7 , display  10 A may have a housing  12 - 1  mounted on stand  270 . Display  14  may be mounted on a front face of housing  12 - 1 . Device  10 B may have a housing such as housing  12 - 2 . Smoke detectors such as smoke detector  124  may be mounted in ports such as port  29 A of display device  10 A and port  29 B of device  10 B. Ports  29 A and  29 B may be connector ports, speaker ports, or other housing openings. 
       FIG. 8  shows an illustrative configuration for electronic device  10  in which device  10  is a wearable device such as a wristwatch device. Display  14  may be mounted on housing  12 . Strap  13  may be coupled to housing  12  so that housing  12  and the rest of device  10  may be attached to the wrist or other body part of a user. Housing  12  may have openings to accommodate buttons  26  and openings to form ports such as port  29 C. Port  29 C may be, for example, a speaker port or a connector port. Smoke detector  124  may be mounted in port  29 C. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an illustrative handheld electronic device of the type that may be provided with smoke detector  124 . Device  10  of  FIG. 9  has a proximity sensor such as proximity sensor  202 . Proximity sensor  202  may have an infrared light emitter such as an infrared light-emitting diode and may have an infrared detector that detects emitted infrared light from the infrared light emitter that has reflected from nearby objects. Camera  200  may have a lens and an image sensor for capturing image data. Camera  200  and proximity sensor  202  and other components in devices such as electronic device  10  may be used in monitoring the surroundings of device  10  and monitoring the usage of device  10 . For example, sensor data and data from other circuitry in device  10  may be used in detecting smoke. Sensor data and other data from circuitry in device  10  may also be used in determining whether device  10  is actively being used by a user and/or whether the user is present in the vicinity of device  10  (e.g., by detecting user movement relative to device  10 ). 
     Openings may be formed in display  14  to accommodate buttons such as button  26  and speaker port  27 . Openings may be formed in housing  12  to form connector ports such as connector port  210  and speaker and microphone ports  208 . Smoke detector  124  may be mounted in connector port  210 , ports  208 , port  27 , or other openings in device  10 . As an example, smoke detector  124  may be mounted under the speaker mesh associated with speaker port  27 . 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view of device  10  of  FIG. 9  taken along path  204  and viewed in direction  206 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , smoke detector  124  may be located under mesh  27 M of speaker port  27 . Device  10  may contain components  5  mounted on one or more substrates such as printed circuit  7  within the interior of housing  12 . Smoke detector  124  may be mounted within the interior of device  10  under port  27  (e.g., on printed circuit  7 , on a flexible printed circuit cable that is coupled to printed circuit  7 , etc.). In the presence of smoke  122 , smoke  122  can pass through openings within speaker mesh  27 M and can be detected by smoke detector  124 . 
     The illustrative configurations for device  10  that are shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 , and  10  are merely illustrative. In general, electronic device  10  may be a laptop computer, a computer monitor containing an embedded computer, a tablet computer, a cellular telephone, a media player, or other handheld or portable electronic device, a smaller device such as a wrist-watch device, a pendant device, a headphone or earpiece device, or other wearable or miniature device, a television, a computer display that does not contain an embedded computer, a gaming device, a navigation device, a storage device, a router, an embedded system such as a system in which electronic equipment with a display is mounted in a kiosk or automobile, equipment that implements the functionality of two or more of these devices, or other electronic equipment. 
     Housing  12  of device  10 , which is sometimes referred to as a case, is formed of materials such as plastic, glass, ceramics, carbon-fiber composites and other fiber-based composites, metal (e.g., machined aluminum, stainless steel, or other metals), other materials, or a combination of these materials. Device  10  may be formed using a unibody construction in which most or all of housing  12  is formed from a single structural element (e.g., a piece of machined metal or a piece of molded plastic) or may be formed from multiple housing structures (e.g., outer housing structures that have been mounted to internal frame elements or other internal housing structures). 
     Display  14  may be a touch sensitive display that includes a touch sensor or may be insensitive to touch. Touch sensors for display  14  may be formed from an array of capacitive touch sensor electrodes, a resistive touch array, touch sensor structures based on acoustic touch, optical touch, or force-based touch technologies, or other suitable touch sensor components. 
     A schematic diagram of an illustrative configuration that may be used for electronic devices  10  of system  100  is shown in  FIG. 11 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , electronic device  10  may include control circuitry such as storage and processing circuitry  28 . Storage and processing circuitry  28  may include storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory configured to form a solid state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. Processing circuitry in storage and processing circuitry  28  may be used to control the operation of device  10 . The processing circuitry may be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, baseband processors, power management units, audio codec chips, application specific integrated circuits, etc. 
     Storage and processing circuitry  28  may be used to run software on device  10 , such as internet browsing applications, voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP) telephone call applications, email applications, media playback applications, operating system functions, etc. To support interactions with external equipment, storage and processing circuitry  28  may be used in implementing communications protocols. Communications protocols that may be implemented using storage and processing circuitry  28  include internet protocols, wireless local area network protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocols—sometimes referred to as WiFi®), protocols for other short-range wireless communications links such as the Bluetooth® protocol, cellular telephone protocols, etc. 
     Circuitry  28  may use components such as smoke detector  124  to detect the presence of smoke  122 . In response to detection of smoke  122 , control circuitry  28  may send an alert message (e.g., a text message, email message, social network message, web-based message, or other message) or may otherwise cause an alert to be presented to remote alert recipients, may issue local alerts (e.g., to the user of a device that detects smoke), may issue other alerts, may issue control commands wirelessly or over a wired path that direct fire suppression equipment  116  to extinguish a fire, or may take other suitable actions. 
     Input-output circuitry  30  may be used to allow data to be supplied to device  10  and to allow data to be provided from device  10  to external devices. Input-output circuitry  30  may include input-output devices  32  such as button  26 , touch screens, joysticks, click wheels, scrolling wheels, touch pads, key pads, keyboards, light-emitting diodes and other status indicators, data ports, etc. Input-output devices  32  in circuitry  30  may include display  14 , vibrator  42 , speakers such as speaker  46 , light-emitting components such as camera flash  44  (sometimes referred to as a strobe or light-emitting diode), a microphone and other audio components, and other input-output devices. Input-output devices  32  may also include sensors  48 . Sensors  48  may include a microphone, an ambient light sensor, proximity sensor  202 , an accelerometer, compass, gyroscope or other component(s) that serves as motion sensor  50 , camera  200  or other image sensor device for capturing image data, and smoke detector  124 . 
     During operation, a user can control the operation of device  10  by supplying commands through input-output devices  32  and may receive status information and other output from device  10  using the output resources of input-output devices  32  (e.g., visual information on display  14 , vibrations from vibrator  42 , sound from speaker  46 , flashes of light from flash  44 , etc.). This output may be used in alerting a user about the detection of smoke  122  by the user&#39;s device or the devices of other users and may alert the user to the possibility of a fire such as fire  120 . 
     Wireless communications circuitry  34  may include radio-frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry formed from one or more integrated circuits, power amplifier circuitry, low-noise input amplifiers, passive RF components, one or more antennas, filters, duplexers, and other circuitry for handling RF wireless signals. Wireless signals can also be sent using light (e.g., using infrared communications). 
     Wireless communications circuitry  34  may include satellite navigation system receiver circuitry such as Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver circuitry  35  (e.g., for receiving satellite positioning signals at 1575 MHz) or satellite navigation system receiver circuitry associated with other satellite navigation systems. Wireless local area network transceiver circuitry such as transceiver circuitry  36  may handle 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands for WiFi® (IEEE 802.11) communications and may handle the 2.4 GHz Bluetooth® communications band. Circuitry  34  may use cellular telephone transceiver circuitry  38  for handling wireless communications in cellular telephone bands such as bands in frequency ranges of about 700 MHz to about 2700 MHz or bands at higher or lower frequencies. Wireless communications circuitry  34  can include circuitry for other short-range and long-range wireless links if desired. For example, wireless communications circuitry  34  may include wireless circuitry for receiving radio and television signals, paging circuits, etc. Near field communications may also be supported (e.g., at 13.56 MHz). In WiFi® and Bluetooth® links and other short-range wireless links, wireless signals are typically used to convey data over tens or hundreds of feet. In cellular telephone links and other long-range links, wireless signals are typically used to convey data over thousands of feet or miles. 
     Wireless communications circuitry  34  may have antenna structures such as one or more antennas  40 . Antenna structures  40  may be formed using any suitable antenna types (e.g., inverted-F antennas, etc.). 
       FIG. 12  is a diagram showing how electronic devices  10  may be used as part of a communications network. Electronic devices  10  may be located in buildings such as a residential building or a commercial building (e.g., a user&#39;s home such as a single family house, a multi-dwelling building such as an apartment building, etc.) or may be located outside of buildings (e.g., when a user of a portable electronic device is traveling on a public street or is otherwise located outside of a building with the electronic device). Electronic devices  10  may also be located in firehouses, police stations, the business establishments of security service vendors, or other emergency services structures. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , electronic devices  10  in buildings such as home  102  may be coupled to other electronic devices  10  in the network of  FIG. 12  through communications network paths such as communications paths  118  and other communications paths in communications network  212 . Network  212  may include local area networks, wide area networks, etc. Electronic devices  10  in apartment building  102  may be coupled to other electronic devices  10  in the network of  FIG. 12  through communications network paths such as communications paths  118  and other communications paths in communications network  212 . Electronic devices  10  at emergency services facility  216  may likewise be coupled to other electronic devices  10  in the network of  FIG. 12  through communications network paths such as communications paths  118  and other communications paths in communications network  212 . If users of electronic devices  10  such as wearable electronic devices, handheld electronic devices, and other portable electronic devices carry those electronic devices  10  into the field outside of any building, those electronic devices may be coupled to other electronic devices  10  in the network of  FIG. 12  through communications network paths such as communications paths  118  (e.g., wireless links) and other communications paths in communications network  212 . 
     Communications network  212  and its communications paths such as communications paths  118  may include wired and/or wireless communications paths (e.g., Ethernet links, wireless local area network paths such as wireless links in an IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network, cellular telephone wireless paths with wireless base station equipment such as cellular base stations  214 , and other wired and wireless paths). Those electronic devices  10  that include smoke detector circuitry  124  may monitor their surroundings for the presence of smoke. 
     Electronic devices  10  may use information from sensors and other components to determine whether or not a user of an electronic device is present in the vicinity of an electronic device. For example, if a motion sensor detects motion of a device, it can be concluded that the device is being carried or otherwise handled by a user. As another example, if touch commands and button presses are being supplied to an electronic device, or if the electronic device is being used to conduct a telephone call or handle other user activity, it may be concluded that the user is present in the vicinity of an electronic device. Camera data and proximity sensor data may also be used to determine of a user is present in the vicinity of a device. Information from a satellite navigation system receiver and/or information from surrounding wireless local area networks may be used in determining the current location of the user&#39;s device. Information on the identity of the user of each device may be determined by ascertaining the owner of each device and/or the name of the user of a device who has actively logged into that device. 
     When smoke is detected by a smoke detector in a device  10 , suitable action may be taken. For example, emergency services personnel at emergency services  216  may be notified, users of electronic equipment such as devices  10  may be presented with alerts, fire suppression equipment in the vicinity of the detected smoke may be activated, and other suitable action may be taken. 
     Alerts may be presented using output from input-output devices  32  of devices  10 . As an example, alerts may be presented in the form of an audible tone, a vibration, a voice recording, a synthesized text-to-voice message, a visible output such as light from a light-emitting diode or a flashing camera strobe or other light source, a visible output such as images on a display (e.g., text, graphics, video, interactive prompts, etc.), or other suitable types of alerts. The content of an alert may inform the recipient of the alert about the nature of the detected smoke incident (e.g., incident location, the identity of nearby people, etc.), whether emergency services personnel have been notified, etc. 
       FIG. 13  is a diagram of an illustrative alert of the type that may be provided to emergency services personnel (as an example). Alert  218  may be presented on an electronic device  10  at emergency services facility  216  ( FIG. 12 ) in response to detection of smoke using the smoke detector of one of the electronic devices  10  at home  102  ( FIG. 12 ). The device that detects the smoke may transmit alert  218  to devices  10  at emergency services facility  216  and other alert recipients using wired and/or wireless paths. As shown in  FIG. 13 , alert  218  may include information such as information  220  that informs the recipient of alert  218  that smoke has been detected in the vicinity of a device  10  with a smoke detector  124 . Alert  218  may also contain information  222  such as a street address or other address information that identifies the location of the detected smoke. Information such as information  224  may specify whether there are any known occupants of the building containing the device that detected the smoke. For example, if an electronic device that is owned by a homeowner detects smoke at the home of the homeowner and if that electronic device (or other networked electronic device within the home) is being actively used within the home (indicating the presence of at least one home occupant) or detects a nearby occupant using a camera, proximity sensor, or other sensor, information  224  may specify that there is at least one known occupant of the home. When emergency services personnel respond to alert  218 , they can attempt to locate and assist that home occupant. 
     Information on the status of home occupants can be gathered by each device  10  that is located within the home, may be gathered by one of devices  10  that serves as a coordinator device and that is coupled to other devices  10  via communications network  212 , or may be gathered by other equipment. Information that may be used to determine whether a user of a device is currently present within a home includes information on the location of each device  10  (e.g., information gathered using satellite navigation signals, information on the known location of each device as supplied by users when setting up the devices and/or services such as home networking and smoke monitoring services) and information on whether devices that are known to be in the home are actively being used by a user (e.g., motion sensor data indicating that a wearable device is being worn and moved by a user, camera sensor data, proximity sensor data, ambient light sensor data, or other data indicating that a user is moving device  10  and/or is moving in the vicinity of device  10 ). 
     Alerts may be issued to people other than emergency services personnel. For example, alerts may be provided to the user of a device that has detected smoke, users of nearby devices, users of other devices that are located in the same building in which the device that has detected the smoke is located, users of devices that are within a given distance of the building in which the smoke was detected, homeowners, families of homeowners, friends and relatives of the homeowner, and other parties who are associated with the homeowner who are interested in learning about the detected smoke. Alert recipients such as occupants of the building in which the smoke was detected will benefit by receiving a warning about the presence of smoke that allows them to safely leave the building. Homeowners and other interested parties who are not present in the immediate vicinity of the home or other building in which the smoke was detected can benefit from being alerted that the home or other building is potentially not safe and should be avoided until the situation has been resolved. 
       FIG. 14  is a diagram of an illustrative alert of the type that may be provided to users of devices  10  such as users of devices  10  in the building in which the smoke has been detected (e.g., occupants in various different rooms of a house and/or occupants of apartments within an apartment building) or that may be provided to users outside of the building in which the smoke has been detected (e.g., nearby users such as users in adjacent homes and/or distant users such as the homeowner and other residents of the home that are not currently present within the home). As shown in  FIG. 14 , alert  236  may include information  226  that informs recipients of alert  236  of the location at which smoke has been detected by a smoke detector in one of devices  10 . Alert  236  may also include information such as information  228  that informs recipients of the alert of whether or not the fire department, police department, or other emergency services providers have been contacted. Information  228  may help prevent situations in which numerous duplicative reports are made of a fire, thereby reducing the burden on emergency services. 
     Alerts such as alert  236  may include interactive prompts. The interactive prompts may be selected by a user (e.g., by clicking on the prompt using a mouse and cursor, by touching the prompt in a touch screen environment, by issuing an appropriate voice command in a voice control input-output environment, etc.). In the example of  FIG. 14 , interactive prompt  230  contains a label such as “call fire department now”. If the recipient of alert  236  needs to contact the fire department (e.g., to discuss the nature of the detected smoke and to provide updates on the situation), the recipient can select the interactive prompt. In response to selection of interactive prompt  230 , the device  10  that is displaying prompt  230  can place a telephone call to the fire department or other emergency services. 
     Alert  236  may, if desired, include information  232  about people associated with the building in which the smoke was detected (e.g., the name and contact information of the homeowner, the name and contact information of the residents of the home or other building, the name and contact information of a property manager or other designated contact person, etc.). One or more associated interactive prompts may also be provided. For example, alert  236  may contain an interactive prompt such as interactive prompt  234  that provides an opportunity for a recipient of alert  236  to contact an appropriate contact person such as the homeowner of the home or other building in which the smoke has been detected (as an example). 
     Alerts can contain graphics, video, moving image content, text, photographic images, graphic (visual) representations of buildings, and other visual content. In the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 15 , alert  238  contains a graphic representation of the home in which the smoke has been detected (i.e., graphic home representation  240 ). Home representation  240  may include rooms such as rooms  108  and room name labels such as room name labels  244 . Home representation  240  may also include information on the location at which the smoke has been detected by one of devices  10 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 15 , information  242  is being presented to inform the recipient of alert  240  of the location where smoke has been detected. Smoke location information  242  may be visually presented on graphic home representation  240  in a location that represents the location of the room that contains smoke (i.e., in the upper left room  108  of  FIG. 15 ) and/or may contain text or other information that labels the location of the detected smoke (e.g., “master bedroom”). 
     The user&#39;s current location  248  may be displayed in alert  238  (e.g., using a “current location” label that is located at the position within graphic representation  240  that corresponds to the alert recipient&#39;s current location). Labels such as occupant location labels  246  may also be provided to identify the locations of other occupants of the building. Labels  246  may indicate the location of the occupants visually by virtue of the position of each label  246  on graphic home representation  240  and/or with text. If desired, labels such as labels  246  may contain information on the name of the building occupants, as shown in the  FIG. 15  example. 
     In the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 16 , alert  250  contains a graphic representation of an apartment building in which the smoke has been detected (i.e., graphic building representation  262 ). Graphic building representation  262  may include a visual representation of rooms such as rooms  108  (e.g., apartments). Labels such as label  252  may indicate visually and with text that smoke has been detected and where the detected smoke is located. Labels such as label  254  may provide the apartment number of the apartment in which the smoke has been detected. Apartment number (apartment unit) label  258  and label  256  may be used to graphically and textually identify the location of the recipient of alert  250  within the apartment building. Using this information, the recipient can determine whether the detected smoke is near to the recipient&#39;s current location and can take appropriate action (e.g., by leaving the building). Interactive prompts such as selectable onscreen option  260  may be provided in alert  250 . Option  260  and other interactive prompts may be selected when an alert recipient desires more information on the detected smoke. In the example of  FIG. 16 , option  260  provides an alert recipient with an opportunity to be taken to a website associated with the apartment building that is visually represented by graphic building representation  262 . In general, interactive prompts may be used to provide the alert recipient with additional information on the smoke detection event from any suitable party (e.g., a web server associated with an emergency services organization, etc.). 
     In the example of  FIG. 17 , an alert recipient at a device  10  has been provided with visual alert  264 . Alert  264  may contain a map such as map  266  or other graphic information that visually indicates the geographic location of the detected smoke relative to the alert recipient&#39;s current location and other points of interest. Map  266  may include graphic depictions of buildings such as buildings  280 , streets such as streets  268 , and other geographic (map) points of interest. In the  FIG. 17  example, map  266  includes information on the location at which the smoke has been detected by one of devices  10  such as “smoke detected” label  278 . Text  274  in label  278  may be used to inform the alert recipient that smoke has been detected. Label  278  may be placed on map  266  at a location that represents the geographic location of the detected smoke. Address information  276  may also be provided in alert  264  to indicate where the smoke has been detected. 
     The alert recipient&#39;s current location (building  272  in the  FIG. 17  example) may be highlighted using a current location label such as label  270 . Information such as information  282  on the status of emergency services alerts (i.e., whether alerts have or have not been provided to the fire department or other emergency services) may be provided in alert  264 . Alert  264  may also contain selectable on-screen options such as interactive prompt  284 . A recipient of alert  264  (i.e., the user of the electronic device on which alert  264  is being displayed) may select option  284  to view the web site of the fire department or other emergency services online information (e.g., to obtain supplemental information on the detected smoke event). 
       FIG. 18  is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in using electronic devices  10  to detect smoke and to take appropriate action in response to the detected smoke. At step  286 , one or more electronic devices  10  may be used in monitoring for the presence of smoke and in determining what action should be taken in response to detecting smoke. 
     Smoke may be detected by devices  10  during step  286  using smoke detectors  124 . In the event that smoke is not detected, devices  10  may continue to monitor for the presence of smoke, as shown by line  288 . 
     During the operations of step  286 , electronic devices  10  may gather sensor data and information from input-output devices and other circuitry in device  10  (e.g., control circuitry  28 ) to determine which electronic devices are being used. Examples of data that may be gathered to determine whether or not a device is being used include motion sensor data (e.g., to determine whether or not the motion of an electronic device is sufficient to indicate that the electronic device is being carried by a user), information from the touch sensor in the touch pad or touch screen of device  10 , information from a keyboard, buttons, or other mechanically actuated structures that are used by a user, temperature sensor data to indicate the presence of a user body part, camera sensor data to visually detect movement of the user near the device, infrared temperature sensor data that indicates whether or not a user is nearby and emitting heat, a proximity sensor to detect whether or not a user&#39;s hand or other body part is near to the device, data from a satellite navigation system indicating whether the device is being moved, information from sensors (e.g., motion sensors) such as a gyroscope or compass to detect device movement, etc. Information on whether users are present and operating devices  10  may be used in identifying occupants of a building. 
     Devices  10  may also gather information on the identity of any users that are present. For example, devices  10  may determine the usernames of users who have logged into devices  10 , may determine the names of the owners of each device  10 , etc. User identity information may be used in labeling the content in alerts. Location information for each device  10  may be gathered using satellite navigation system receiver  35 , information from wireless local area network base stations, etc. 
     In response to detecting smoke with one of devices  10 , the detecting device  10  may be used in taking suitable action at step  290 . The device  10  that detects the smoke may, for example, use wireless communications circuitry  34  or wired communications circuitry to transmit alert information, commands, or other data to external electronic equipment such as other devices  10 . Device  10  may, for example, issue commands that direct fire suppression equipment  116  to suppress fire (step  294 ). As shown by step  292 , the device  10  that detects the smoke (sometimes referred to as the transmitting device) may also send text messages, send email messages, send visible and/or audio alerts to other devices  10  such as devices associated with other occupants of the building in which the smoke was detected, the homeowner and others who may not be present in the home, but who are interested parties, neighbors, emergency services personnel, and other device users. Alerts may be presented in the form of audio played back on receiving devices  10 , in the form of vibrations, in the form of alerts presented visually on displays  14  in devices  10 , or other suitable formats. 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20130520
Publication Date: 20150901
Grant Date: 20150901
Priority Date: 20130520
Inventors: PUSKARICH PAUL G.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G08B27/003", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/21", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/72538", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08B17/11", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08B17/107", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08B21/22", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08B25/08", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/72421", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08B17/113", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08B27/003", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08B17/11", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08B17/107", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08B21/22", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08B17/113", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08B17/10", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/21", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/72421", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08B17/11", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08B21/22", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08B27/003", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08B17/107", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08B25/08", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/21", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08B25/08", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 51895346