GB2567488A

GB2567488A - An audible alarm/sound monitoring system

Info

Publication number: GB2567488A
Application number: GB1716943.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shermer John
Original assignee: Lightwaverf Tech Ltd
Current assignee: Lightwaverf Tech Ltd
Priority date: 2017-10-16
Filing date: 2017-10-16
Publication date: 2019-04-17
Also published as: GB201716943D0

Abstract

A system 1 for detecting and identifying one or more audible alarms/sound, comprising a first audible/sound sensor 11 which generates a signal representative of the received alarm/sound, a processor which compares said signal to a signature of a recognisable alarm/sound, and outputs an alarm/sound recognised message when it is determined that the said signal matches the said signature, and an output sub-system which issues a notification to a user device to alert a user to the audible alarm/sound in response to receipt of the alarm/sound recognised message. An additional alarm/sound sensor may receive the audio, and generate an additional signal for comparison with the signature, and the notification may only be issued when both signals received by both sensors match the signature. The additional sensor may receive a different frequency of sound, and/or may be configured to receive sound from a different direction to the first sensor 11. A housing may be provided, including a remote power source connector and a power outlet 18 which delivers electrical power from the remote power source to one or more other devices.

Description

The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document:

“Wi-Fi” - page 14

Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.gov.uk/ipo

Title: An audible alarm/sound monitoring system

Description of Invention

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system for detecting and identifying one or more audible alarms and/or other sounds. Embodiments further include user devices, hub units, and servers for use in and with such systems.

Modern environments can include a large number of different devices which are configured to emit audible alarms. This is increasingly true of domestic environments, as much as it is of commercial and industrial environments.

These audible alarms are intended to inform a user local to the device emitting the alarm of an event. In some instances, such events require user action for example to turn off a device, empty a device (such as a washing machine), or investigate further (as may be the case for a smoke alarm or a burglar alarm).

Local users, on hearing an alarm, need to identify the origin of the alarm, to identify the meaning of the alarm, and then they need to take appropriate action. However, remote users (too far away to hear the alarm) remain unaware of the alarm. This means that appropriate action cannot be taken by the user.

Therefore, not only can audible alarms be confusing to local users (e.g. as to what the alarm indicates and what action is needed) but such alarms are only suitable for local users.

A remote alert system may send an alarm notification to a location which is geographically remote from the origin of the alarm. Whilst remote alert systems for various devices exist, these tend to be expensive and are not available for all types of device. Furthermore, users wishing to have remote alerts for all devices are typically required to replace all of those devices with new devices capable of remote notifications. This is expensive and limits the user’s choice with regard to other features of the devices.

There are also few remote alert systems which operate with a large number of different devices. Therefore, a user may need to configure multiple remote alert systems in order to monitor more than one alarm remotely.

Similar issues arise in relation to other sounds.

There is a need, therefore, alleviate one or more problems associated with the prior art.

Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention provides a system for detecting and identifying one or more audible alarms or sounds, the system comprising: an audible alarm/sound sensor configured to receive an audible alarm/sound and to generate a signal representative of the alarm/sound; a processor configured to compare the signal representative of the alarm/sound with a signature of a recognisable alarm/sound and to output an alarm/sound recognised message when the processor determines that the signal representative of the alarm/sound matches the signature of the recognisable alarm/sound; and an output sub-system which is configured, in response to receipt of the alarm/sound recognised message, to issue a notification to a user device to alert a user to the audible alarm/sound.

The processor may be configured to compare the signal representative of the alarm/sound with a plurality of recognisable alarm/sound signatures and wherein the alarm/sound recognised message may include an indication of the identity of the alarm/sound based on which recognisable alarm/sound signature matches the signal representative of the alarm/sound.

The output sub-system may be configured to issue the notification using a radio frequency signal.

The system may further include an additional audible alarm/sound sensor configured to receive the audible alarm/sound and to generate an additional signal representative of the alarm/sound, wherein the processor may be configured to compare the additional signal representative of the alarm/sound with the signature of the recognisable alarm/sound and to output the alarm/sound recognised message when the processor determines that both the signal representative of the alarm/sound and the additional signal representative of the alarm/sound match the signature of the recognisable alarm/sound.

The additional audible alarm/sound sensor may be configured to receive a different frequency of sound than the audible alarm/sound sensor.

The additional audible alarm/sound sensor may be configured to receive sound primarily from a first direction and the audible alarm/sound sensor is configured to receive sound primarily from a second direction, the first and second directions being different to each other.

The or each audible alarm/sound sensor, the processor, and the output subsystem may be provided in a housing, and the housing may include a remote power source connector configured to be connected to a remote power source and a power outlet configured to deliver electrical power from the remote power source connected to the system to one or more other devices or systems.

A system may further include a hub unit which may be configured to receive the alarm/sound recognised message and to send the message to at least one other device or system.

The hub unit may be communicatively coupled to a wide area network and may be configured to send the message to the at least one other device or system over the wide area network.

The at least one other device or system may include at least one of a server and the user device.

A system may further include the user device, wherein the user device may be configured to display a notification to a user on a display screen of the user device in response to receipt of the alarm/sound recognised message.

The notification may include an indication of at least one of the source and cause of the alarm/sound.

The system may be further configured to control one or more devices or systems in response to the alarm/sound recognised message.

Another aspect provides a user device for use with a system as above, wherein the user device is configured to receive the alarm/sound recognised message and to perform one or more actions in response to receipt of the alarm/sound recognised message.

Another aspect provides a hub unit for use with a system as above, wherein the hub unit is configured to receive the alarm/sound recognised message and to perform one or more actions in response to receipt of the alarm/sound recognised message.

Another aspect provides a server for use with a system as above, wherein the server is configured to receive the alarm/sound recognised message and to perform one or more actions in response to receipt of the alarm/sound recognised message.

Embodiments of the present invention are described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of some embodiments;

Figure 2 shows a housing of some embodiments; and

Figure 3 shows a side view of the housing of figure 2.

Embodiments of the present invention may include an audible alarm/sound monitoring system 1 - see figure 1, for example. The system 1 is configured to monitor an environment around the system 1 (i.e. a local environment) for one or more audible alarms or other sounds and to take at least one action in response to detecting the or each audible alarm or sound.

The system 1 may, therefore, include an audible alarm/sound sensor 11 which may be a microphone for example. The audible alarm/sound sensor 11 is configured to detect an audible alarm/sound and may be configured to detect audible alarms/sounds in the human audible frequency range (i.e. 20-20,000 Hz) or in a sub-set of frequencies within that range (in other words, the sensor 11 has a detection frequency range).

The system 1 may include a plurality of such audible alarm/sound sensors 11. A first sensor 11a of the plurality of audible alarm/sound sensors 11 may be configured to detect an alarm/sound in a frequency range which is different to the detection frequency range of a second of the sensors 11 b. Accordingly, the first and second sensors 11 a,11 b may be different types of sensor 11 (each selected, for example, for its performance in detecting sounds in the relevant frequency range for that sensor 11 a,11 b).

In some embodiments, a first sensor 11 a of the plurality of audible alarm/sound sensors 11 may be configured to detect an alarm/sound primarily (i.e. substantially) from a first direction with respect to the system 1 and a second sensor 11 b of the plurality of audible alarm/sound sensors 11 may be configured to detect an alarm/sound primarily (i.e. substantially) from a second direction with respect to the system 1. The first and second directions may be different directions. The first and second directions may overlap or may partially overlap, or may be distinct with substantially no overlap. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the system 1 may be configured to determine direction information for a particular detected sound.

In some embodiments, the system 1 includes audible alarm/sound sensors 11 which are both configured to detect alarms/sounds from different directions and in different frequency ranges.

The or each audible alarm/sound sensor 11 is configured to detect and receive an alarm/sound, converting the sound of the alarm/sound into a signal representative of the alarm/sound (i.e. an electrical signal). The or each audible alarm/sound sensor 11 may not be able to determine whether a particular sound is an alarm (or sound of interest) and so may operate in substantially the same manner in relation to all received sounds during an operative period for the system 1 (i.e. when the system 1 is turned-on and is monitoring alarms/sounds).

The system 1 may include an analog-to-digital converter 12 (ADC) which is configured to receive the signal representative of the alarm/sound and to convert that signal (which may be an analog signal) into a corresponding digital signal (also representative of the alarm/sound).

In some embodiments, the system 1 includes an ADC 12 in relation to each audible alarm/sound sensor 11 (e.g. if a plurality of such sensors 11 is provided). In some embodiments, a single ADC 12 is configured, through multiplexing, to convert signals representative of an alarm/sound from a plurality of different audible alarm/sound sensors 1. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the system 1 includes a multiplexer 13 which is configured to receive a plurality of signals representative of an alarm/sound (each from a respective audible alarm/sound sensor 11) and to provide these signals to an ADC 12 of the system 1 selectively. In some embodiments, a plurality of such multiplexers 13 are provided - each associated with a respective ADC 12.

The or each ADC 12 is configured to output a respective digital signal representative of an alarm/sound to a processor 14 of the system 1. Collectively the analog signal and the digital form of that signal will be referred to herein as a signal representative of the alarm/sound and may, therefore, be a reference to an analog signal or a digital signal unless explicitly stated otherwise.

The processor 14 could take a number of different forms and may be a microcontroller, a central processing unit, a FPGA, etc.

The processor 14 is connected in electrical communication with a memory 15 of the system 1. The memory 15 is configured to store one or more signatures of recognisable alarms/sound. The or each signature may comprise a representation of an alarm/sound (which may be a digital representation) or an approximation thereof. The or each signature may be substantially uniquely associated with a corresponding recognisable alarm/sound.

The processor 14 is configured to receive one or more signals representative of an alarm/sound (e.g. from the or each ADC 12). The processor 14 may be configured to compare at least one signature of a recognisable alarm/sound from the memory 15 with the or each received signal. This may comprise, for example, generating an incoming signal signature from the or each signal and then comparing this to the at least one signature of a recognisable alarm/sound.

The incoming signal signature may be determined in substantially the same manner as the signature of the or each recognisable alarm/sound - as described herein.

When the processor 14 determines a match between compared signature and the received signal, then the processor 14 is configured to issue an ‘alarm/sound recognised message’ to an output sub-system 16 of the system

1.

Electrical power for the operation of the components of the system 1 may be provided by a power source 17 of the system 1. The power source 17 may include a local power source 17a and/or a remote power source connector 17b. The local power source 17a may include, for example, a battery but could also or alternatively include a power generation unit which may be configured to generate or scavenge electrical power from the environment for example, the power generation unit may include a solar panel. The remote power source connector 17b may be a connector (such as a plug) suitable to connect the system 1 to a mains electrical supply. Accordingly, the remote power source connector 17b may comprise a domestic three pin (e.g. for the United Kingdom or Europe) or two pin (e.g. for Europe or the United States) plug.

The system 1 may further include a power outlet 18 which is configured to deliver electrical power from the power source 17 to another device or system. In some embodiments, the power outlet 18 comprises a connector which corresponds with the remote power source connector 17b (i.e. configured to mate with a connector of the same type and configuration as the remote power source connector 17b). Accordingly, in some embodiments, the power outlet 18 comprises a socket, which may be a domestic three pin (e.g. for the United Kingdom or Europe) or two pin (e.g. for Europe or the United States) socket.

As will be appreciated, therefore, the system 1 may be plugged into a conventional domestic mains electrical power outlet (e.g. a wall socket or other socket) and may be configured to have one or more devices or other systems plugged into the system 1. The system 1 may use electrical power from the mains supply (as provided through the domestic mains electrical power outlet) and may allow the one or more devices or other systems to draw electrical power from the mains supply through the system 1. Therefore, although the system 1 may be plugged into an available socket, the one or more devices or other systems can still draw power from that socket, via the system 1.

The system 1 may be configured to perform a training operation in a training mode in order to generate one or more signatures of recognisable alarms.

Accordingly, the processor 14 may be further configured to operate in accordance with a training program. In the training mode 1, an alarm/sound is sounded and the system 1 detects the alarm/sound and generates a signature which is then stored in the memory 15.

The generation of a signature could be achieved in a number of different ways. In accordance with some embodiments, the signal representative of the detected alarm/sound is Fourier transformed and the frequency components of at least one portion of the signal are recorded as the signature. In some embodiments, the magnitude of each frequency component is also recorded as part of the signature. In some embodiments, a plurality of portions of the signal is analysed in this manner to generate the signature (each portion being over a different time to another portion). In some embodiments, the signature comprises an indication of one or more frequency components of the alarm/sound and may also comprise an indication of the magnitude of the one or more frequency components.

In some embodiments, a plurality of audible alarm/sound sensors 11 is provided - as discussed above. Therefore, the signature for a particular alarm/sound may be for the signal from a particular one of the audible alarm/sound sensors 11, may include parts for respective ones of the audible alarm/sound sensors 11 (which may, for example, provide a directional signature for the origin of the alarm/sound), or may be based on a combination (e.g. an average, such as a mean, or a sum) of the signals from multiple different ones of the audible alarm/sound sensors 11. As will be understood, by using signals from a plurality of audible alarm/sound sensors 11 the signature of the recognisable alarm/sound may be dependent on the direction of emission of the alarm/sound with respect to the system 1 - this may be the case even if the system 1 does not actually determine the direction of emission of the alarm/sound as such.

The use of the digital signals from multiple audible alarm/sound sensors 11 in this manner may enable the system 1 to distinguish between two very similar alarms/sounds which are emitted from different locations. This may be useful when two devices emit alarms/sounds which are substantially identical. This may occur in relation to devices from the same manufacturer - e.g. a washing machine from a first manufacturer may emit the same alarm/sound at the end of a washing cycle as a dishwasher from that first manufacturer. This may also occur if there are multiple different similar devices in the same environment - such as smoke detectors. Thus, two alarms/sounds which are otherwise substantially identical can be distinguished, in some embodiments, by the use of a recognisable alarm/sound signature based on signals from a plurality of audible alarm/sound sensors 11.

In some embodiments, similar alarms may be distinguished using a signature based on a signal from a single audible alarm/sound sensor 11. This may be possible because, within many environments (particularly domestic environments) there is no single path for the sound from the device emitting the alarm/sound to take in order to reach the system 1. Instead, there are multiple such paths and, in some embodiments, this multipath effect will be sufficient to allow two similar alarms emitted from different locations to be distinguished. In such embodiments, the signature for the recognisable alarm/sound may need to be based on samples of the signal from the audible alarm/sound sensor 11 at a higher sample rate - i.e. the signature may be longer than would otherwise be required. In some embodiments, the magnitude of the sound, and hence the signal, may be used to distinguish between two otherwise similar alarms/sounds.

One or more signatures generated during the training mode operation may be stored as signatures of recognisable alarms/sounds in the memory 15.

In some embodiments, the memory 15 may store one or more rules associated with the or each recognisable alarm/sound signature stored therein. The or each rule may be used by the processor 14 to determine whether or not to issue the alarm/sound recognised message in response to determining a match. The or each recognisable alarm/sound signature may be stored with its own rule or rules, or one or more rules may be associated with a plurality of different recognisable alarm/sound signatures.

The one or more rules may include, for example, combinational logic. For example, if a first alarm/sound is recognised then the alarm/sound recognised message may not be sent unless a second alarm/sound is also recognised (e.g. at the same time or within a predetermined period).

In some embodiments, the system 1 is configured to receive data from one or more other sensors. This data may include, for example, an indication that a window is open or closed, an indication that a burglar alarm/sound has been set or not, an indicator that a user is local to the system 1 or not, an indicator that a heating system is on or not, and the like.

In some embodiments, this data is from a home automation system.

In embodiments in which the system 1 is configured to receive data from one or more other sensors, then whether or not the alarm/sound recognised message is sent in relation to a particular recognisable alarm/sound may be dependent on the data received from the one or more other sensors (e.g. if the burglar alarm is recognised and a front door is closed, the message may be sent but if the burglar alarm is recognised but the front door is not open then the message may not be sent). As will be appreciated, this will allow complex rules to be defined using information available to the system 1 (which may be information from a home automation system).

The output sub-system 16 is configured, in response to receipt of an alarm/sound recognised message to take one or more actions. These actions may include, for example, sending a notification and/or the message to a remote user device 2 which alerts the remote user device to the sounding of the alarm/sound which has been recognised through the matching of a recognisable alarm/sound signature and a received signal.

The notification or message to the remote user device 2 may be sent in a number of different manners according to various embodiments of the invention. For example, the notification or message may be sent directly from the output sub-system to the remote user device 2 over a wireless communication channel - which may include a local area network, a cellular telephone network, or a point-to-point communication interface between the system 1 and the remote user device 2.

In some embodiments, the notification or message is sent indirectly - i.e. via one or more other devices which may perform one or more other functions in relation to the notification or message.

For example, the system 1 may, in some embodiments, form part of a wider monitoring and control system 100 (such as the home automation system) of which the audible alarm/sound monitoring system 1 is a part. The monitoring and control system 100 may include a hub unit 3 and the remote user device 2 may also form part of the monitoring and control system 100 in some embodiments.

The hub unit 3 may be configured to communicate with the system 1 using a wireless communication interface. The hub unit 3, therefore, may be remote from the system 1. The wireless communication interface may be a radio frequency communication interface and, as such, both the hub unit 3 and the output sub-system 16 (and so the system 1) may each include a radio frequency transceiver to provide the wireless communication interface. These radio frequency transceivers may be configured to communicate using a digital communication signal and may be configured to operate using a carrier frequency of around 400 MHz (e.g. 433.92 MHz) and/or around 800 Mhz (e.g. 868 MHz).

The notification or message may, therefore, be sent to the hub unit 3 using the wireless communication interface of the system 1.

The hub unit 3 may be configured to communicate with a wide area network (WAN) - such as the Internet. In some embodiments, the hub unit 3 includes a network interface - which may be wired (e.g. Ethernet) or wireless (e.g. Wifi) connectable so as to communicate with one or more LAN network devices (such as a router and/or switch) to access the WAN. In some embodiments, the hub unit 3 can communicate directly with the WAN.

The remote user device 2 may be connected to the WAN and the hub unit 3 may be configured to communicate with the remote user device 2 via the WAN. In some embodiments, the hub unit 3 may communicate with the remote user device 2 via another mechanism - for example over a local area network (LAN) or a cellular telephone network. Accordingly, a notification or message received by the hub unit 3 may be sent to the remote user device 2 by the hub unit 3.

The hub unit 3 may be configured, on receipt of the alarm/sound recognised message, to take other actions in relation to other devices and systems with which the hub unit 3 is configured to communicate. This may include one or more home automation devices which are communicatively coupled to the hub unit 3.

Therefore, for example, on receipt of the alarm/sound recognised message for a burglar alarm, the hub unit 3 may be configured to actuate the operation of one or more devices - such as lights - to flash or turn-on one or more lights. In other examples, on receipt of the alarm/sound recognised message for a smoke alarm (or other alarm/sound indicative of a possible fire), the hub unit 3 may be configured to turn-off power to one or more appliances. These one or more appliances may be appliances which might have a relatively high fire risk - such as toasters, tumble driers, cookers, or the like.

In response to the alarm/sound recognised message for a particular alarm/sound, the hub unit 3 may be configured to operate a door or window closure mechanism to open or close a door or window, or to unlock a door or window. Thus, for example, in response to an alarm/sound which indicates a possible fire, one or more doors or windows may be unlocked to allow escape. Furthermore, for example, in response to an alarm/sound which indicates a high concentration of carbon monoxide or dioxide, or of another gas, one or more windows may be opened.

The monitoring and control system 100 may include a server 101. The server 101 may be configured to execute one or more programs which may control the operation of one or more parts of the monitoring and control system 100.

For example, the hub unit 3 may be configured to communicate with the server 101 - e.g. by sending a notification or message received by the hub unit 3 to the server 101. The server 101 may then be configured to forward the notification or message to the remote user device 2.

Therefore, in some embodiments, the hub unit 3 may be a router for messages and notifications between the server 101, and/or the system 1, and/or the remote user device 2.

The server 101 may be configured to issue one or more messages or notifications in response to received messages or notifications. This may include instructions which are sent to one or more devices or other systems which are connected to the hub unit 3 or otherwise. Such instructions may instruct the operation of the devices or other systems in the same manner as described above in relation to the operation of the hub unit 3. In other words, the server 101 may be configured, on receipt of the alarm/sound recognised message, to take other actions in relation to other devices and systems with which the server 101 is configured to communicate (be that directly or indirectly). This may include one or more home automation devices which are communicatively coupled to the server 101 (directly or indirectly). Accordingly, in such embodiments, the actions taken are determined by the server 101 and the hub unit 3 (and potentially also the system 1) may simply forward messages and notifications (and instructions) to the server 101 or other destination (such as the other device or system) irrespective of their content.

The remote user device 2 may be remote from the system 1 and/or the hub unit 3. This may include within the same environment as the system 1 and/or the hub unit 3 - e.g. within the same building or even within the same room. In some embodiments the remote user device 2 is in a different room and/or building to one or both of the system 1 and the hub unit 3. In some embodiments, the remote user device 2 is sufficiently remote from the system 1 such that the alarms which the system 1 is configured to recognise would not be audible to the user of the remote user device 2.

In some embodiments, the remote user device 2 may be a portable computing device. This may include, for example, a mobile telephone (i.e. a cellular telephone), a tablet, a laptop, a smart watch, or the like.

In some embodiments, the remote user device 2 is communicatively coupled to the system 1. This communicative coupling may be, for example, via the hub unit 3, and/or the WAN, and/or the LAN, and/or the server 101.

The remote user device 2 is configured to receive a recognised alarm/sound message through the communicative coupling. In response to receipt of the message, the remote user device 2 may display a notification to the user on a display screen of the remote user device 2. In some embodiments, the remote user device 2 may also or alternatively sound an alarm/sound - which may be an alarm/sound which sounds like the recognised alarm/sound. The notification which is displayed to the user, in some embodiments, may include information about the identity of the alarm/sound - for example, an indication of the device which is emitting the alarm/sound and/or the meaning of the alarm/sound.

The remote user device 2 may be configured to store a historical record of the received recognised alarm/sound messages - e.g. with the date and/or time of receipt. The remote user device 2 may be configured to display this information to the user (e.g. on the display screen) and allow the user to browse the historical record.

The remote user device 2 may be configured to display one or more options of potential actions to the user, e.g. via the display screen, in response to the receipt of the recognised alarm/sound message. These options may include, for example, to cancel the notification on the remote user device 2, to send a message to the device emitting the alarm/sound to cease emitting the alarm/sound, to control one or more devices or other systems with which the remote user device 2 is communicatively coupled (e.g. one or more home automation devices or systems which are coupled to the remote user device 2 directly, through the hub unit 3, and/or through the server 101).

In some embodiments, the historical record is stored on the server 101 (either in addition to on the remote user device 2 or instead of on the remote user device 2). The server 101 may be configured to send all or part of the historical record to the remote user device 2 via the communicative coupling between the server 101 and the remote user device 2 which is provided in some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the training mode of operation is controlled using the remote user device 2. As such, the remote user device 2 may be configured to receive a user input indicating entry into the training mode and the remote user device 2 may transmit a corresponding instruction to the system 1 (which may be via the server 101 and/or the hub unit 3, for example).

In some embodiments, the remote user device 2 is further configured to provide the user with recognisable alarm/sound signature management capabilities. For example, the remote user device 2 may be configured to poll the system 1 (e.g. in response to a user instruction) to provide the remote user device 2 with a list of the stored recognisable alarm/sound signatures from the system 1. The remote user device 2 may be configured to permit user input to delete one or more of the stored recognisable alarm/sound signatures and/or to add information regarding the or each recognisable alarm/sound signature (such as the source and/or cause of the alarm/sound) - the appropriate action may then be taken in relation to the recognisable alarm/sound signature as stored in the system 1.

The remote user device 2 may be further configured to permit user input to program one or more actions to be taken by the remote user device 2, the hub unit 3, and/or the server 101 in response to a recognised alarm/sound message for a particular alarm/sound. This may include the programming of combination logic for such actions - e.g. particular actions to be taken if the alarm/sound is detected and/or one or more other things is true (or false), such as a window being open or the like.

Information which may be stored in the remote user device 2, the hub unit 3 and/or the system 1 may also or alternatively be stored on the server 101 and accessed by the remote user device 2, the hub unit 3 and/or the system 1 as the case may be.

The system 1 may be provided in a housing 200 - see figure 2, for example. The housing 200 may contain the components of the system 1 including, for example, the or each audible alarm/sound sensor 11, the or each ADC 12, the or each multiplexer 13, the processor 14, the memory 15, and/or the output sub-system 16. In some embodiments, the housing 200 may contain the power source 17 and/or one or more parts of the power source 17 (e.g. pins of the remote power source connector 17b) may extend out of the housing 200.

In some embodiments, the housing 200 may contain the power outlet 18 and/or parts thereof.

The housing 200 may include one or more transparent or translucent windows through which one or more indicator lights 202 may be visible - the indicator lights 202 being part of the system 1. The housing may define one or more apertures configured to receive at least part of one or more indicator lights 202 (such as a light emitting diode).

The housing 200 may include one or more user interface elements 201 such as one or more buttons or touch sensitive elements (which may include a touch sensitive display) configured to receive inputs from the user. In some embodiments, the housing 200 may define one or more apertures configured to receive one or more such user interface elements 201. The or each user interface element 201 may form part of the system 1, for example.

The alarm/sound which may be detected by the audible alarm/sound monitoring system 1 may include, for example: a fire alarm, a smoke detector alarm, a carbon monoxide alarm, a carbon dioxide alarm, a burglar alarm, a panic alarm, a personal alarm (e.g. as may be used by the elderly), a fall alarm (e.g. as used by the elderly and disabled), a bomb alert alarm, an alarm clock alarm, a washing machine or dishwasher completed cycle notification, a doorbell, a telephone ring, a telephone notification (such as a notification of receipt of a short message service message), an email notification, a calendar notification, a social networking notification, a baby monitor alarm, an egg timer, a cooker alarm, a microwave completed cook notification, a bell, a spoken keyword or trigger word, running water, an internal or external door opening/closing, a running shower, a toilet flush, a tap running, a garage door opening/closing, a window opening/closing, the sound of someone falling, the sound of glass breaking, the sound of an explosion, the sound of a fire, or the like.

As will be appreciated, therefore, the alarm/sound may be substantially continuous or intermittent. Indeed, in some instances, the alarm may, in fact be a sound which is not necessarily an alarm. Embodiments of the invention should, therefore, be construed accordingly and references to the word “alarm” should be understood to be a reference to an alarm (and not a sound of a different type), or a sound (which may not be an alarm), or an alarm/sound.

Although embodiments have been described using the system 1 to compare the digital signals to the signatures of recognisable alarms/sounds, in some embodiments the system 1 is configured to send the digital signal to the hub unit 3 which may store the or each signature and which may be configured to perform the comparison. In some embodiments, the system 1 is configured to send the digital signal to the server 101 - via the hub unit 3 or otherwise. The server 101 may, in such embodiments, store the or each signature and may perform the comparison.

In some embodiments, the system 1 may be further configured to generate a heartbeat signal - i.e. a signal which indicates that the system 1 is operational. This heartbeat signal may be generated by the processor 14 for example and may be sent to the output sub-system 16. The heartbeat signal may be sent to one or more of the remote user device 2, the hub unit 3, and the server 101.

If the heartbeat signal is not received for a predetermined period (e.g. by the remote user device 2 and/or the hub unit 3 and/or server 101), then an error notification may be generated. This error notification may be generated by the device 2, unit 3 or server 101 (e.g. by the remote user device 2 and/or the hub unit 3 and/or server 101) which was otherwise expecting to receive the heartbeat signal.

The error notification may be sent to the remote user device 2 (if not generated at the remote user device 2) and the notification may be displayed to a user for further action (such as investigating whether the system 1 is malfunctioning or has lost power, for example).

The error notification may be stored in the historical record, for example.

As will be appreciated, embodiments of the present invention may allow a user who is not sufficiently close to an alarm/sound to be alerted to the alarm/sound and provided with information about the cause of the alarm/sound. In some embodiments, the user can also take action in response to the alarm/sound.

When the user is sufficiently close to hear the alarm/sound themselves, then embodiments provide useful information to the user regarding the source and/or cause of the alarm/sound.

Embodiments may also be useful in relation to users with disabilities or the elderly. For example, embodiments may be used by the supervisors of assisted living facilities to monitor alarms/sounds in the residences of occupants of the facility. In addition, a deaf user may receive visual notifications of alarms/sounds via their remote user device 2 in relation to alarms/sounds which they may not otherwise be aware. The same may be true for those with other hearing impairments - who may be able to determine that an alarm/sound is sounding but not sufficiently clearly to be able to distinguish the origin or cause of the alarm/sound without, for example, an embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments enable the remote user device 2 to be alerted to alarms/sounds without the devices and systems which generate those alarms/sounds requiring modification or replacement. In other words, some embodiments will operate with existing devices and systems. These existing devices and systems need not be configured for providing remote notifications and could originate from a number of different manufacturers, using a number of different user interfaces and operating systems. Some embodiments, therefore, offer a single system 1 through which multiple different alarms/sounds, from multiple different devices and systems may be detected.

In some embodiments, the system 1 is at least partially implemented using another device. For example, the system 1 may be a multifunction system which is configured to perform other operations. In some embodiments, the system 1 is a digital assistant system which is configured to receive oral commands and to act in accordance with those commands.

In some embodiments, the system 1 may be configured to use remote processing of one or more signals representative of an alarm/sound (e.g. from the or each ADC 12). Thus, for example, the system 1 may be configured to transmit a signal or a signature (e.g. a hash) of a signal representative of an alarm/sound (e.g. from the or each ADC 12) to a remote device of the monitoring and control system 100 (such as the server 101).

The server 101 may be connected in electrical communication with a memory (comparable to memory 15 of the system 1). The memory of the server 101 may be configured to store one or more signatures of recognisable alarms/sounds. The or each signature may comprise a representation of an alarm/sound (which may be a digital representation) or an approximation thereof. The or each signature may be substantially uniquely associated with a corresponding recognisable alarm/sound.

The server 101 may be configured to receive one or more signals representative of an alarm/sound (e.g. from the or each ADC 12 of the system 1). The server 101 may be configured to compare at least one signature of a recognisable alarm/sound from the memory of the server 101 with the or each received signal. This may comprise, for example, generating an incoming signal signature from the or each signal and then comparing this to the at least one signature of a recognisable alarm/sound.

When the server 101 determines a match between compared signature and the received signal, then the server 101 may be configured to issue an ‘alarm/sound recognised message’ to the system 1 and this may be handled, for example, in the same way as a locally generated such message (e.g. it may be provided by the system 1 to the output sub-system 16 of the system 1)·

As will be appreciated, a digital assistant system may be continuously monitoring signals received from its microphone or microphones (which may act as the audible alarm/sound sensor 11). On detection of a trigger (such as a particular word), the digital assistant system may be configured to send an audio clip to a remote server for processing. Accordingly, as described above, some embodiments, may take advantage of this infrastructure.

In some embodiments, instead of a trigger word, the digital assistant system may be configured to detect the signature of an alarm/sound or likely alarm/sound (e.g. as identified by at least one predetermined characteristic such as pitch, volume, frequency, repetitive form, or the like). This may then trigger the digital assistant system to provide an audio clip of the likely alarm/sound (or a signature thereof, or the like) to the server 101 as one or more signals representative of an alarm/sound.

In embodiments in which the processing of the one or more signals representative of an alarm/sound is performed remotely, it may be said, therefore, that the processor 14 is located remotely and forms part of the server 101. In some embodiments, the processor 14 may, therefore, be located remotely from the audible alarm/sound sensor 11.

Providing such a system reduces the need for otherwise acceptable devices and systems to be replaced in order to provide notifications to a remote user device 2. This can reduce environmental pollution - particularly, as electronic devices often need specialist disposal and some devices (such as smoke detectors) may include radioactive materials which might otherwise be disposed of inappropriately - e.g. in landfill.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms comprises and comprising and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A system for detecting and identifying one or more audible alarms or sounds, the system comprising:

an audible alarm/sound sensor configured to receive an audible alarm/sound and to generate a signal representative of the alarm/sound;

a processor configured to compare the signal representative of the alarm/sound with a signature of a recognisable alarm/sound and to output an alarm/sound recognised message when the processor determines that the signal representative of the alarm/sound matches the signature of the recognisable alarm/sound; and an output sub-system which is configured, in response to receipt of the alarm/sound recognised message, to issue a notification to a user device to alert a user to the audible alarm/sound.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to compare the signal representative of the alarm/sound with a plurality of recognisable alarm/sound signatures and wherein the alarm/sound recognised message includes an indication of the identity of the alarm/sound based on which recognisable alarm/sound signature matches the signal representative of the alarm/sound.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the output sub-system is configured to issue the notification using a radio frequency signal.

4. A system according to any preceding claim, further including an additional audible alarm/sound sensor configured to receive the audible alarm/sound and to generate an additional signal representative of the alarm/sound, wherein the processor is configured to compare the additional signal representative of the alarm/sound with the signature of the recognisable alarm/sound and to output the alarm/sound recognised message when the processor determines that both the signal representative of the alarm/sound and the additional signal representative of the alarm/sound match the signature of the recognisable alarm/sound.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the additional audible alarm/sound sensor is configured to receive a different frequency of sound than the audible alarm/sound sensor.

6. A system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the additional audible alarm/sound sensor is configured to receive sound primarily from a first direction and the audible alarm/sound sensor is configured to receive sound primarily from a second direction, the first and second directions being different to each other.

7. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each audible alarm/sound sensor, the processor, and the output sub-system are provided in a housing, and the housing includes a remote power source connector configured to be connected to a remote power source and a power outlet configured to deliver electrical power from the remote power source connected to the system to one or more other devices or systems.

8. A system according to any preceding claim, further including a hub unit which is configured to receive the alarm/sound recognised message and to send the message to at least one other device or system.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the hub unit is communicatively coupled to a wide area network and is configured to send the message to the at least one other device or system over the wide area network.

10. A system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the at least one other device or system includes at least one of a server and the user device.

11. A system according to any preceding claim, further including the user device, wherein the user device is configured to display a notification to a user on a display screen of the user device in response to receipt of the alarm/sound recognised message.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the notification includes an indication of at least one of the source and cause of the alarm/sound.

13. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the system is further configured to control one or more devices or systems in response to the alarm/sound recognised message.

14. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the processor is located remotely from the audible alarm/sound sensor.

15. A user device for use with a system according to any preceding claim, wherein the user device is configured to receive the alarm/sound recognised message and to perform one or more actions in response to receipt of the alarm/sound recognised message.

16. A hub unit for use with a system according to any of claims 8-10, wherein the hub unit is configured to receive the alarm/sound recognised message and to perform one or more actions in response to receipt of the alarm/sound recognised message.

17. A server for use with a system according to claim 10, wherein the server is configured to receive the alarm/sound recognised message and to perform one or more actions in response to receipt of the alarm/sound recognised message.

Intellectual Property Office