Owner controlled evacuation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020410844-A1
Application number	US-202016876381-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 18, 2020
Priority date	Jul 15, 2013
Publication date	Dec 31, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method includes receiving, by a user device, information regarding a sensed condition in a structure. The sensed condition is sensed by a sensory node. The method also includes providing, by the user device, a notification identifying the sensed condition to a user of the user device, and receiving, by the user device, information regarding navigable pathways of the structure. The method further includes determining, by the user device, a location of the user device, and identifying, by the user device, a first evacuation route based at least in part on the information regarding the sensed condition, the information regarding navigable pathways of the structure, and the location of the user device. The method also includes displaying, by the user device, the first evacuation route.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An evacuation system comprising:
a plurality of sensory nodes installed within a structure, wherein each of the plurality of sensory nodes is configured to detect an evacuation condition, and wherein at least one of the plurality of sensory nodes is an occupancy sensor; at least one decision node in communication with the plurality of sensory nodes, wherein the at least one decision node is configured to determine an evacuation route from the structure based upon a severity of the evacuation condition and a layout of the structure; and a warning unit configured to transmit the evacuation route and the layout of the structure to an emergency response center, wherein the at least one decision node is configured to determine the severity of the evacuation condition based upon a rate at which the evacuation condition is spreading within the structure, occupancy information obtained from the occupancy sensor, type and location of the evacuation condition, and a magnitude of the evacuation condition.

2 . The evacuation system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one decision node is configured to determine the location of the evacuation condition based upon a location or identity of the plurality of sensory nodes that detect the evacuation condition.

3 . The evacuation system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one decision node is further configured to receive status information from the plurality of sensory nodes and identify an abnormal condition within at least one of the plurality of sensory nodes based upon the status information.

4 . The evacuation system of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of sensory nodes is configured to communicate with one another and with the at least one decision node via a communication network, and wherein a first one of the plurality of sensory nodes is configured to provide the status information of a second one of the plurality of sensory nodes to the at least one decision node.

5 . The evacuation system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sensory nodes comprises:
a sensor configured to detect the evacuation condition; a memory configured to store identity information of the plurality of sensory nodes and routing information configured to facilitate communication with other ones of the plurality of sensory nodes and with the at least one decision node; and a processor configured to:
transmit information of the evacuation condition to the at least one decision node based upon information received from the sensor and the memory;
facilitate communication between the plurality of sensors; and
receive input from the at least one decision node and take action in response to the input.

6 . The evacuation system of claim 5 , wherein the identity information comprises location information of the plurality of sensory nodes, and wherein the location information comprises at least one of global positioning coordinates and installation position with the structure.

7 . The evacuation system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one decision node is configured as an exit sign located proximate to an exit of the structure.

8 . The evacuation system of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one decision node is configured to communicate with other decision nodes in the evacuation system.

9 . The evacuation system of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one decision node is configured to determine the evacuation route for a portion of the structure within which the each of the at least one decision node is located.

10 . The evacuation system of claim 1 , wherein one of the at least one decision node is configured to determine the evacuation route and communicate the evacuation route to other ones of the at least one decision node.

11 . A portable occupancy unit comprising:
a plurality of sensors configured to detect an indication of occupancy within a structure; a user interface configured to receive information from and return information to a user; a memory configured to store at least a layout of the structure and data corresponding to the indication of occupancy, and a processor configured to:
receive the indication of occupancy from each of the plurality of sensors;
determine an overall likelihood of an occupant being present within the structure from the indication of occupancy, wherein the overall likelihood is determined from weights assigned based upon a type of the plurality of sensors, a number of occupants identified by the plurality of sensors, and an individual likelihood of occupancy determined for each of the plurality of sensors;
compare the overall likelihood with a threshold; and
upon the overall likelihood exceeding the threshold, alert the user via the user interface.

12 . The portable occupancy unit of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises an ultrasonic detector comprising a wave generator and a wave detector, wherein the wave generator is configured to emit ultrasonic waves within the structure, and wherein the wave detector is configured to receive the ultrasonic waves reflected back from the structure and detect the indication of occupancy based upon a shift in frequency between the emitted and reflected ultrasonic waves.

13 . The portable occupancy unit of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises an ultrasonic detector, a gas detector, an infrared detector, a scent detector, and a microphone detector.

14 . The portable occupancy unit of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the portable occupancy unit is incorporated into a suit of an emergency responder.

15 . The portable occupancy unit of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to assign a higher weight to the indication of occupancy from an ultrasonic detector than the indication of occupancy from a scent detector, wherein the ultrasonic detector and the scent detector are part of the plurality of sensors.

16 . The portable unit of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to increase the overall likelihood as a number of the plurality of sensors that detect occupants in the structure increases.

17 . The portable unit of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate a report with information of the overall likelihood and the individual likelihood, and provide the report to the user via the user interface.

18 . A method comprising:
determining, by an evacuation system, a severity of a condition within a structure, wherein the severity is determined based upon a rate at which the condition is spreading within the structure, occupancy information detected by an occupancy sensor, type and location of the condition, and a magnitude of the condition; and taking, by the evacuation system, an action based upon the severity of the condition, wherein the action comprises at least one of notifying an emergency rescue personnel, raising an alarm within the structure, controlling a sensitivity of at least one sensor detecting the condition, and identifying a false alarm.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the evacuation system determines that severity is high based at least upon the rate at which the condition is spreading being greater than a predetermined threshold, a number of occupants indicated in the occupancy information being greater than an occupancy threshold, and a rate of dispersion of the condition indicated in the magnitude of the condition being greater than a dispersion threshold.

20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising increasing, by the evacuation system,

Assignees

• Oneevent Tech Inc

Inventors

• Wedig Kurt J
• Parent Daniel Ralph

Classifications

• G01C21/206

  specially adapted for indoor navigation · CPC title

• G08B17/10

  Actuation by presence of smoke or gases {, e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means} · CPC title

• G08B25/10

  using wireless transmission systems {(G08B25/009 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G08B7/066

  guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip · CPC title

• G08B25/016 Primary

  Personal emergency signalling and security systems (emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12) · CPC title