Smart home sensor malfunction detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12345536-B2
Application number	US-202318203604-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2023
Priority date	Jan 22, 2016
Publication date	Jul 1, 2025
Grant date	Jul 1, 2025

Abstract

Methods and systems for assessing, detecting, and responding to malfunctions involving components of autonomous vehicles and/or smart homes are described herein. Malfunctions may be detected by receiving sensor data from a plurality of sensors. One of these sensors may be selected for assessment. An electronic device may obtain from the selected sensor a set of signals. When the set of signals includes signals that are outside of a determined range of signals associated with proper functioning for the selected sensor, it may be determined that the selected sensor is malfunctioning. In response, an action may be performed to resolve the malfunction and/or mitigate consequences of the malfunction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for detecting sensor malfunctions in a smart home, comprising:
receiving, by one or more processors, sensor data including a set of signals associated with a sensor associated with the smart home;
determining, by one or more processors, a sensor range indicative of a range of signal values associated with proper functioning of the sensor, wherein the sensor range is determined based upon a baseline plurality of signals received from the sensor during a plurality of previous time frames associated with operation of the smart home;
determining, by one or more processors, that the sensor is malfunctioning when at least one signal in the set of signals associated with the sensor is outside the sensor range; and
performing, by one or more processors, an action in response to determining that the sensor is malfunctioning;
wherein performing the action comprises:
generating, via the one or more processors, an alert regarding the sensor's malfunctioning, wherein the alert includes an indication of an adjustment to a cost or coverage associated with an insurance policy covering operation of the smart home based upon at least one of the determination that the sensor is malfunctioning or an increase in a risk based upon the sensor's malfunctioning; and
transmitting the alert to one or more computing devices.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising: selecting, by the one or more processors, the sensor from a plurality of sensors in response to sensor data indicating an event involving the smart home, and the sensor is disposed within an area of the smart home involved in the event.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the received sensor data includes a plurality of signals at different times from each of the plurality of sensors, each signal being associated with a timestamp indicating a time associated with the signal.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is 4 determined to be malfunctioning without any indication of an event.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining, by one or more processors, a cause of the sensor's malfunction based upon the received sensor data.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
based upon the received sensor data, determining, via the one or more processors, an apportionment of liability for a cost of repair or replacement of the sensor between one or more of: a manufacturer of the sensor, a manufacturer of a smart equipment, an installer of the sensor, an insurer of the smart home, an owner of the smart home, or an owner, operator, or insurer of a second smart home.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein performing the action comprises:
automatically scheduling, via the one or more processors, repair or replacement of the sensor by a third party based upon the determined apportionment of liability.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving additional information associated with a plurality of other smart homes regarding a plurality of sensor malfunctions; and
determining, via the one or more processors, one or more repairs to correct the sensor's malfunctioning based upon the received sensor data and additional information.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining the sensor is malfunctioning includes determining a probability of malfunctioning based upon the received sensor data.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the probability of malfunctioning indicates a probability of future failure of the sensor based upon comparison with data from a plurality of other smart homes.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein performing the action further comprises:
identifying, via the one or more processors, one or more autonomous operation features of the smart home that utilize the received sensor data from the sensor to control the smart home;
determining, via the one or more processors, a risk level for each of the identified autonomous operation features, wherein each risk level indicates a risk associated with operation of the autonomous operation feature when the sensor is malfunctioning; and
limiting, via the one or more processors, operation of at least one of the identified one or more autonomous operation features based upon a respective risk level exceeding a safety threshold level.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the alert further includes a recommendation to take at least one action selected from a group consisting of: repair the sensor, replace the sensor, avoid using one or more autonomous operation features of the smart home, and avoid using one or more settings associated with the one or more autonomous operation features.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising: presenting the alert to one or more of the following: an occupant of the smart home or an owner of the smart home.

14. A computer system configured to detect sensor malfunctions in a smart home, comprising:
one or more processors;
a non-transitory program memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer system to:
receive sensor data including a set of signals associated with a sensor associated with the smart home;
determine a sensor range indicative of a range of signal values associated with proper functioning of the sensor;
determine that the sensor is malfunctioning when at least one signal in the set of signals associated with the sensor is outside the sensor range; and
perform an action in response to determining that the sensor is malfunctioning by at least:
generating, via the one or more processors, an alert regarding the sensor's malfunctioning, wherein the alert includes an indication of an adjustment to a cost or coverage associated with an insurance policy covering operation of the smart home based upon at least one of the determination that the sensor is malfunctioning or an increase in a risk based upon the sensor's malfunctioning; and
transmitting the alert to one or more computing devices.

15. The computer system of claim 14 , wherein the sensor range is determined based upon a baseline plurality of signals received from the sensor during a plurality of previous time frames associated with operation of the smart home.

16. The computer system of claim 14 , wherein the sensor is determined to be malfunctioning without any indication of an event.

17. The computer system of claim 14 , wherein the executed executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computer system to determine a cause of the sensor's malfunction based upon the received sensor data.

18. The computer system of claim 14 , wherein each signal in the set of signals is associated with a timestamp indicating a time associated with a respective signal.

19. A computer-implemented method for detecting sensor malfunctions in a smart home, comprising:
receiving sensor data including a set of signals associated with a sensor associated with the smart home;
determining, by one or more processors, a sensor range indicative of a range of signal values associated with proper functioning of the sensor;
determining, by one or more processors, that the sensor is malfunctioning when at least one signal in the set of signals associated with the sensor is out

Assignees

• State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co

Inventors

• Konrardy Blake
• Christensen Scott T
• Hayward Gregory
• Farris Scott

Classifications

• G06Q10/1093

  Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups · CPC title

• B60W40/04

  Traffic conditions · CPC title

• B60W30/0956

  the prediction being responsive to traffic or environmental parameters · CPC title

• G08G1/20

  Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles · CPC title

• G01C21/3697

  Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level (G01C21/3679 takes precedence) · CPC title