Event detection by microphone

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10257629-B2
Application number	US-201715490646-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 18, 2017
Priority date	Apr 18, 2017
Publication date	Apr 9, 2019
Grant date	Apr 9, 2019

Abstract

A method for security and/or automation systems is described. In one embodiment, the method includes detecting a sound using a microphone, generating an audio signature of the detected sound, comparing the audio signature of the detected sound to an audio signature of a characterized sound, and determining whether a recognizable event occurs based on the comparison. In some embodiments, the microphone is attached to a pipe at the premises.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for security and/or automation systems, comprising:
detecting a sound using a microphone;
generating an audio signature of the detected sound;
comparing the audio signature of the detected sound to an audio signature of a characterized sound;
when the audio signature of the detected sound matches the audio signature of the characterized sound, logging information related to the detected sound to a database where the audio signature of the characterized sound is stored and performing an automation task, the automation task comprising at least one of adjustment of a light setting in the premises, adjustment of a thermostat setting of the premises, adjustment of an appliance setting in the premises, adjustment of a machine in the premises, adjustment of a machine setting in the premises, adjustment of an automated locking mechanism, adjustment of a setting of the automation system, or any combination thereof; and
when the audio signature of the detected sound does not match the audio signature of the characterized sound, characterizing the non-matching detected sound.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microphone is attached to a pipe at the premises.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
monitoring for recurrences of the characterized sound to identify typical times when the characterized sound occurs, typical rate of occurrence for the characterized sound, typical time span associated with the characterized sound, or any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
when the audio signature of the detected sound does not match the audio signature of the characterized sound:
generating a notification regarding the non-matching detected sound, the notification including at least a request for information regarding the non-matching detected sound.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the notification includes a prompt of whether to monitor for subsequent incidents of the non-matching detected sound.

6. The method of claim 5 , comprising:
when a response to the prompt indicates to monitor for subsequent incidents of the non-matching detected sound:
adding an audio signature of the non-matching detected sound to a database; and
logging information related to the non-matching detected sound to the database upon detecting a subsequent incident of the non-matching detected sound.

7. The method of claim 5 , comprising:
when a response to the prompt indicates not to monitor for subsequent incidents of the non-matching detected sound, discarding an audio signature of the non-matching detected sound.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more attributes of the characterized sound includes at least one of pitch, frequency, wavelength, timbre, tone, and amplitude, or any combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the characterized sound includes a first occupant exiting a first door, a second occupant exiting the first door, the first or second occupant exiting a second door, a garage door opening or closing, a first car starting, a second car starting, the first car leaving the premises, the second car leaving the premises, the first car arriving at the premises, the second car arriving at the premises, voice of the first occupant, voice of the second occupant, the first occupant getting into or out of a first bed, the second occupant getting into or out of a second bed, the first or second occupant walking from a first room to a second room, a furnace operating, an air conditioner operating, a swamp cooler operating, a television operating, a clothes washer operating, a clothes dryer operating, a dishwasher operating, a refrigerator operating, confirming an occurrence of an expected event within a certain time period, or any combination thereof.

10. An apparatus for an automation system, comprising:
a processor;
memory in electronic communication with the processor; and
instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to:
detect a sound using a microphone;
generate an audio signature of the detected sound;
compare the audio signature of the detected sound to an audio signature of a characterized sound;

when the audio signature of the detected sound matches the audio signature of the characterized sound, log information related to the detected sound to a database where the audio signature of the characterized sound is stored and perform an automation task, the automation task comprising at least one of adjustment of a light setting in the premises, adjustment of a thermostat setting of the premises, adjustment of an appliance setting in the premises, adjustment of a machine in the premises, adjustment of a machine setting in the premises, adjustment of an automated locking mechanism, adjustment of a setting of the automation system, or any combination thereof; and
when the audio signature of the detected sound does not match the audio signature of the characterized sound, characterize the non-matching detected sound.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the microphone is attached to a pipe at the premises.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , the instructions being executable by the processor to:
monitor for recurrences of the characterized sound to identify typical times when the characterized sound occurs, typical rate of occurrence for the characterized sound, typical time span associated with the characterized sound, or any combination thereof.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , the instructions being executable by the processor to:
when the audio signature of the detected sound does not match the audio signature of the characterized sound:
generate a notification regarding the non-matching detected sound, the notification including at least a request for information regarding the non-matching detected sound.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein, the one or more attributes of the characterized sound including at least one of pitch, frequency, wavelength, timbre, tone, and amplitude, or any combination thereof.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code for an automation system, the code executable by a processor to perform the steps of:
detecting a sound using a microphone;
generating an audio signature of the detected sound;
comparing the audio signature of the detected sound to an audio signature of a characterized sound;
when the audio signature of the detected sound matches the audio signature of the characterized sound, logging information related to the detected sound to a database where the audio signature of the characterized sound is stored and performing an automation task, the automation task comprising at least one of adjustment of a light setting in the premises, adjustment of a thermostat setting of the premises, adjustment of an appliance setting in the premises, adjustment of a machine in the premises, adjustment of a machine setting in the premises, adjustment of an automated locking mechanism, adjustment of a setting of the automation system, or any combination thereof; and
when the audio signature of the detected sound does not match the audio signature of the characterized sound, characterizing the non-matching detected sound.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the microphone is attached to a pipe at the premises.

Assignees

• Vivint Inc

Inventors

• Liu Shiwei
• Davis Aaron
• Peel Justin
• Lin Rongbin Lanny
• Bunker Brandon

Classifications

• G10L25/51

  for comparison or discrimination · CPC title

• H04R29/00 Primary

  Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements {(for hearing aids H04R25/30; detection of loudspeaker connection H04R5/04; sound-field adaptation dependent on speaker detection H04S7/308)} · CPC title

• G10L25/90

  Pitch determination of speech signals · CPC title