GB2413883A

GB2413883A - Monitoring system for alarms

Info

Publication number: GB2413883A
Application number: GB0409945A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Heaton; Jonathan Beardmore; Andrew Eccleston
Original assignee: Mygard PLC
Current assignee: Mygard PLC
Priority date: 2004-05-04
Filing date: 2004-05-04
Publication date: 2005-11-09
Also published as: WO2005106815A1; GB0409945D0; EP1745451A1

Abstract

A monitoring device is capable of recording the warning signals from an alarm or the like and subsequently recognising signals from that source. Such recognition is communicated in accordance with pre programmed instructions. As shown the system has a microphone 2 which detects sound from an alarm. The resulting signal is passed through filters BF1, BF2, BF3. The frequency response of the filters in controlled by a microprocessor MPC to detect the frequency of the sound being emitted. This is compared with stored frequencies and if a match is found then the microprocessor makes one or more telephone calls by means of a telephony interface AC4. A keypad 4 can be used to programme the system to initiate a sound recognition sequence and store the sound characteristic of an alarm in a memory. The keypad can also be used to select the telephone numbers to be called, identify the alarm being sounded and compose the message to be sent over the telephone system.

Description

24 1 3883 - 1 Event Monitoring and Transmitting System This invention

relates to a device for recording signals such as sounds and continuously monitorin, for signals which match tile recorded sounds and in tile event of a match being detected, transmitting an alert or data stream to one or more remote locations.

Preferably this is achieved by means of telephony according to a predetermined set of instructions entered by the user into the device. The invention also relates to system of this kind which operate on light or vibration signals in an analogous fashion.

Background of the Invention

Many alarm devices, such as smoke detectors, use audible sounds to alert those nearby that an alarm condition has occurred. Sometimes people who need to hear such alarms cannot do so, for example because they are a long way front the sound source (possibly many miles). It is already known that devices can be Constructed to reeognise certain sounds. Blunt (US Patent 5651070) describes a portable device which can be programmed to reeognise a plurality of sounds and send a transmission to a user who is unable to hear the sound, for example because they are hearing impaired. Heaton et al. describe a device (GB 2374969) that can be programmed to recognise a range of sounds and communicate with a remote monitoring station, and thence to a plurality of recipients.

2() Accordingly tle present invention seeks to provide a device wicks is capable of recording ceiai' sounds (especially tle sound of various alanns), recognising them (or their absence) and communicating directly A'itl, a plurality of recipients by neans of telephony. This avoids the need for a remote monitoring station. Preferably, the device can pass a recorded message to said recipients in the event of an alarm being detected.

Preferably the arrangement is such that a user can control how said recipients arc to be contacted in the event of different alarms being detected. The device may also be arranged to record a sample of the sound that has been recognised and relay it to one or more recipients in accordance with instructions programmed into the device by the user.

In addition the device may be adapted to transmit in real time sounds being detected by the device by means of telephony. The device may also be adapted to monitor the mains power supply and transmit messages to recipients if the mains power supply fails for a longer than a predetennined period.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which sounds are detected by means of microphone 2 and amplified by means of summing amplifier ACT. The amplified sound is passed into three variable-frequency band pass filters (BF1, BF2 and BF3). The frequencies of these three filters are controlled by the microprocessor MPC and the PSoC (Programmable System on Chip) ICI which generate square waves (squat, sq2 and sqw3) which in turn vary the frequency of band pass filters BFI, BF2 and BF3. The output of these filters is fed into microprocessor MPC. Microprocessor MPC is capable of executing a stored program which is stored in non-volatile memory within microprocessor MPC or on an external integrated circuit IC2.

By varying the frequency of tle three filters the microprocessor MPC is able to detect characteristic of the sound being, detected. The MPC compares the characteristic frequencies, cadence and spectral density of the sound being detected with the characteristics of reference sound stored in its memory. If there is a thatch then an alam has been detected and the MPC executes a set of stored instructions whicl1 will nomlally hivolve making one of more telephone calls by means of telephony interface AC4 (conventional analogue telephony interface).

The device is powered by mahls electricity via power supply circuit AC2 with a back-up battery charged by circuit AC3. The microprocessor can sense the absence of mains poNver and also low battery condition. These conditions can also be used to generate an

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I O alaml.

The device is able to record a plurality of reference sounds. This is achieved by programming the unit via the keypad 4 and initiating a sound recognition sequence outlined above. The characteristics of that sound are stored in nenory.

The device is also able to record voice messages that can be relayed to third parties by means of the telephony interface AC4. This is achieved by programming the unit via the keypad and speaking a message into the microphone. The sound is converted into a digital representation by means of an analogue to digital converter and stored in memory 2() \vithh1 the microprocessor or memory IC2. The device can be programmed so that the user can replay the recorded message to check it. A range of pre-rccorded messages may also be stored within memory IC2.

T lie device is further able to relay sound directly from the micropllo', e via the 2s microprocessor MPC to the telephony interface AC4, thus allo\vUl;, the called party to - 4 listcn to sounds local to the device. Following the detection of an alarm the device is also able to record a period of sound and store it in memory (eitl1er IC4 or MPC). This sound can then be relayed to called parties so that they are able to hear the sound that caused tlc alarm condition to occur.

Tl1e device is also able to receive input and amend stored instructions to be carried out wl1cn an alarm is detected. This is achieved by programming the unit via the keypad.

The programming process involves identifying the type of alaml, the telephone nunber(s) to be dialled, the nature and type of the message and any conditions attached to tl1e message. For example this migl1t include instructions on whctl1er to cease calling once an answer is detected and whetl1er to call at night or at weekends. These instructions are encoded and stored within microprocessor MPC.

The device is able to communicate with tile user by means of light emitting diodes LI, L2, L3 and L4 and speaker 6, which is itself controlled by microprocessor MPC and integrated circuit IC3. IC3 provides amplification for the speaker and may also include a digital to analogue converter if the DAC function is not provided within MPC. Pre- recorded voice prompts are stored in memory IC2.

C'ystals C1 and C2 provide timing for integrated circuits ICl and MPC.

The device is fitted wetly a r eset circuit 8 to allow the unit to be reset if required.

The device is fitted witl1 a tamper circuit 10 wl1icll can detect, for example, attempts to open tl1e umt wile it is an1lcd and thus cause an alam1 to be generated.

The device is preferably enclosed within a plastic housing with suitable apertures for tile battery compartment, keypad, lights, microphone and speaker. This housing has the facility to be mounted on a wall.

Example components include: Microprocessor MPC - Toshiba TMJP86FM48U PSoC ICI - CY8C24223 IC3 - LM4900 . IC2 - AT45DB08 I B (ROM) In a typical installation, the device is set up to record the sound of a particular alann, using the following procedure: The user activates the alarm and, while it is sounding, instructs the device via keypad (4) to record the sound.

The device detects the sound by means of microphone (2), analyses the sound by means of the filters and microprocessor to identify distinct characteristics of the sound and records characteristic inflation about the sound and a sample of the sound into the memory. These distinct characteristics may include distinctive frequencies, periods, silences, amplitudes other distinguishing characteristics. There are a number of known techniques for characterizing sounds and persons skilled in the art could employ one or several of them.

The user can then instruct the device to replay the sound via speaker (6) in order that he can be satisfied that a good copy of the sound has been recorded.

The user can then repeat these steps and record a plurality of other sounds. - 6

In addition tile user can, by means of keypad (4) and the microphone (2), record spoken messages that are to be relayed to recipients when an alarm sound is detected.

These messages arc processed by means of the microprocessor and stored in memory.

The user can also instruct the device to transmit messages by various telephony means to a plurality of remote recipients upon various alarm events occurring,. This is achieved by entering into the device the telephone number (or other means of addressing, the recipient, such as an IF address) of the recipient, the alarm(s) which are to trigger attempts to communicate with tile recipient, instruction regarding the nature of the transmission (for example a nonnal telephone call, a data message using a data encoding protocol, GSM short message service (SMS) or similar) and instructions explaining how messages to multiple recipients are to be processed. An example of such an instruction might be that in the event of alarm one (for example a fire alarm) being detected the unit is to transmit a message to recipient one. If recipient one does not answer then the unit is to transmit a message to recipient two. A second example of such an instruction might be that in the event of alarm one being detected the unit is to transmit a message to both recipient one and recipient two regardless of whether either one answers.

The device can be programmed to automatically transmit a sample of sound recorded or detected by the device to one or more recipients, and/or there may be a facility for the user to initiate such a transmission. This will allow the recipient to hear the sound that was recognised by the device and would allo\v further verification of its recognition.

The device may also be instructed to transmit a continuous data stream fiom the microphone to the recipient. T his data stream, typically encoded sound, would allow the remote recipient to listen to sounds local to the device even though the recipient \vas far away. - 7

Tlle user can also instruct the device to transmit a message to one or more recipients if mains power is lost for more than a predetermined period of time.

Either continuously, or whenever a sound is detected, the microprocessor (2) within the device starts to scan tile audible fi-equency range by adjusting the sensitivity to fi-eq'e'ey of tile filters (BPFI-BPF2). Tile microprocessor records the ellaraeteristies of the sound being heard. If tile distinctive characteristics of this sound matel1 tile distinctive characteristics of any of the pre-reeorded alanm sounds stored in memory then tile microprocessor accesses the memory to see what actions are to be taken upon this alarms being detected. The microprocessor then eateries these actions out using a combination of memory, microplloile, and telephony means.

Preferably, to avoid frequent false alarms from transient power failures, the microprocessor is informed of the absence of mains power by circuit AC3 and uses its internal timer to see whether mains power remains absent for a pre-detennined period before executing stored instructions to eominunieate with recipients.

The software embedded within the microprocessor can use a variety of techniques to analyse the outputs from tile filters. These include: o Spectrum analysis. The frequency of square waves (sqwl-sqw3) are varied over time and the outputs of band pass filters BPF1-BPF3 are monitored to derive a frequency map wlicl1 indicates tle presence (above a threshold) of a frequency or its absence. This gives rise to a characteristic frequency pattern By repeatin;, tle analysis over time a map of the characteristic frequencies of complex sounds can be made and stored in memory. When the unit is in listening mode the spectrum analysis occurs continuously and the detected sound characteristics are compared witl1 the reference sound

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stored h1 memory. If these match to a degree greater than a specified threshold then the microprocessor starts to execute a list of stored instructions which set out the actions to be taken upon receipt of an alaml.

O Amplitude analysis. The unit is sensitive to sounds greater than a ccrtah1 volume. This can be combined with frequency analysis such that the unit becomes sensitive to loud sounds of a specific frequency.

O Frequency analysis. The unit searches for specific frequencies to confirm their presence or absence and infers whether the reference sound is present. Where the spectrum analysis detects a reasonable, but not compelling match then amplitude and frequency analysis may be used to accept or reject a recognition event.

The software embedded within the microprocessor MPC is capable of executing the following functions: o Leaming multiple reference sounds o Replaying recorded reference sounds (so that tile user can verify Blat a good recording has been made.) o Accepting instructions that configure the unit to take specific actions when a reference sound is detected or mains power is absent. These instructions are supplied by the user and entered into the unit via keypad 4.

These instructions include tile telephone number of each recipient who Is to be called when a reference sound is detected, the message to be transmitted and other instructions relating, for example, to conditional calling or tmle of day calling o Listening for any of the recorded reference sounds and executing algorithms for deciding whether the reference sounds are present, including a combination of some or all of spectrum analysis, amplitude analysis and frequency analysis, the algorithm being adaptive to tile level of confTdeTlce associated witl1 the recognition.

O Monitoring the maiTls power level for the prolonged absence of mains power and, if detected, executing stored instructions to decide what messages to transmit.

A, o Initiating communications via the telephony interface according to reference sounds detected and tile associated stored instructions.

It will be appreciated that the described embodiment could be modified iT1 a number of ways, for example by: ( 1) Combining the memory and microprocessor into a single unit.

(2) Using digital filters as an alternative to the filters envisaged in the diagram.

Sounds detected by Microphone (2) would then be encoded into a digital forth by means of an analogue to digital converter. The resulting digital image of the sound can then by analysed by software stored in meTnoTy and processed by microprocessor to detemlinc the distinctive chaT-acte'istics of the sound.

(3) losing a different arrangement of microplloTles, microprocessors, memories, filters and dialogue to digital converters.

(4) Using a different form of user interface. This could include a mixture of buttons and other physical mcclaTlisms, touch-sensitive screens, voice driven commands, lights of various sorts. one OT- more screens, speakers OT- interface to anotlleT- device such as a - lo - PDA or a PC by means of a wire or by wireless means (for example using Bluetootll), or other user interface means known to those skilled in the art.

In an alternative arrangement one or more of the recipients could be a machine and talc messages might be in the form of maclline-readable data.

In another alternative the telephony means could use wireline telephony or some other fond of wire-based data communications, such as a cable modem or data network, to transmit messages to recipients. Altematively the telephony means could use wireless telephony (such as GSM, or UMTS or other wireless telephony standards) to transmit . messages to recipients, or both wireline and wireless telephony means could be utilised.

The telephony means (6) may be provided with the ability to recognise DTMF (or other) tones or signals or responses of any kind from the recipient. These responses can be communicated to the processor (3) and can execute the remainder of the stored instructions according to said responses. This allows the device to transmit messages to recipients depending on the outcome of message transmitted to other recipients.

In another alternative the telephony means might be capable of receiving messages from a remote source (such as a computer) which might be used to initiate a transfer of data or to change the stored instructions within the device or to otherwise change the state of the memory within the device, for example to modify the software.

If the source of the alam1 is not sound but light (such as a flashing lamp) the microphone and filters may be replaced by one or more lightsensitive devices (whicl1 may use, for example, light filters to vain the frequency to which they are receptive) and thus allow a characteristic signal to be detected and analysed, by the microprocessor The characteristics in this case will be the frequency, intensity and oscillatory patterns associated with tile light source. - 11

As a further alternative the source of the alarm may be vibration. Such a device could be used to detect movement of a vehicle, for example. Instead of a microphone, one or more vibration-sensitive devices may be connected to the filters. Tl1is allows a characteristic vibration signal to be detected and analysed by tile microprocessor, in temls S of the specific frequency(ies) detected. In another embodiment of this invention the software in the memory analyses tile frequency range for frequencies not associated with the normal operation of the device. Such a device could be used, for example, to identify unusual frequencies within a machine that might indicate imminent failure.

In some embodiments of the invention tle device may be able to recognise a plurality of external stimuli (light, sound and vibration) and be able to identify characteristics of these combined stimuli and generate messages for recipients according to stored instructions as set out above. - 12

Claims

Claims: 1. A monitoring device capable of recording characteristics of one

or more specie c vacating signals, and to subsequently reco,nise the incidence of corresponding signals and to communicate directly witl1 one omnore recipients according to user-programmable instructions stored in the device.
2. A device according to claim 1 in which the communication is achieved by wireless or wireline telephony.
3. A device according to claim I or claim 2 in which the communication is in the form of voice or data, including text messaging.
4. A device according to any preceding claim in whiel1 the instructions stored in the device can be programmed by the user by means of a user interface or an interface to another device.
5. A device according to any preceding claim and further comprising means for receiving a response from the recipient and means for determining further action to be taken by reference to the stored instructions and the response.
6. A device according to any preceding claim including a mains power supply and a backup battery system, and means for detecting the absence of mains power and for communicating a corresponding message to one or more recipients according to stored i nstructions. - 13
7. A device according to any preceding claim further comprising means for relaying some or all of the recognised signal to at least one recipient.
8. A device according to any preceding claim including means for relaying a signal in real time from a sensor in the device to a remote recipient.
9. A device according to any preceding claim in which the instructions are so arranged as to enable the device to communicate witl1 different recipients depending on I. tile signal recognized.
10. A device according to any preceding claim in which the device is arranged to attempt to communicate with different recipients depending on the result of attempts to communicate with other recipients.
11. A device according to any preceding claim which is adapted to receiving messages via wireless or wireline telephony which can cause a change of state within the device or initiate a stored program within the device.
12. A device according to any preceding claim in which the warning signal comprises at least one of light, sound or vibration.
13. A monitoring device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.