Systems and methods for multi-criteria alarming

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9767674-B2
Application number	US-201615205426-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2016
Priority date	Jul 18, 2013
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

Systems and methods for using multi-criteria state machines to manage alarming states and pre-alarming states of a hazard detection system are described herein. The multi-criteria state machines can include one or more sensor state machines that can control the alarming states and one or more system state machines that can control the pre-alarming states. Each state machine can transition among any one of its states based on sensor data values, hush events, and transition conditions. The transition conditions can define how a state machine transitions from one state to another. The hazard detection system can use a dual processor arrangement to execute the multi-criteria state machines according to various embodiments. The dual processor arrangement can enable the hazard detection system to manage the alarming and pre-alarming states in a manner that promotes minimal power usage while simultaneously promoting reliability in hazard detection and alarming functionality.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hazard detection system, comprising:
a plurality of sensors comprising a smoke sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, and a heat sensor;
a radio; and
a state machine operative to:
manage placement of the state machine into a plurality of states of the system, one state at a time, based on sensor values obtained by the plurality of sensors, the plurality of states comprising an alarm state and a pre-alarm state;
transition to the pre-alarm state, wherein when in the pre-alarm state:
the radio is monitored for a hush command; and
if the hush command is received while in the pre-alarm state, transition to a first other one of the plurality of states; and

transition to the alarm state, wherein when in the alarm state:
the radio is monitored for the hush command; and
if the hush command is received while in the alarm state, transition to a second other one of the plurality of states.

2. The hazard detection system of claim 1 , wherein the first other one of the plurality of states is a hushed pre-alarm state, and wherein the second other one of the plurality of states is a hushed alarm state if the sensor values meet a first set of criteria.

3. The hazard detection system of claim 2 , wherein the state machine is operative to:
ignore the hush command while in the alarm state if the sensor values meet a second set of criteria; and
remain in the alarm state.

4. The hazard detection system of claim 2 , wherein when in the hushed alarm state, the state machine is operative to:
revert to the alarm state if the sensor values meet a second set of criteria.

5. The hazard detection system 1 , wherein the plurality of states comprises an idle state and a monitor state, wherein the state machine is operative to:
transition to the idle state, wherein when in the idle state, the plurality of sensors are polled at a first rate;
transition to the monitor state, wherein when in the monitor state, the plurality of sensors are polled at a second rate, wherein the second rate is faster than the first rate.

6. A method for operating a hazard detection system comprising a plurality of sensors, a radio, and a state machine, the method comprising:
managing placement of the state machine into a plurality of states of the system, one state at a time, based on sensor values obtained by the plurality of sensors, the plurality of states comprising an alarm state and a pre-alarm state;
transitioning to the pre-alarm state, wherein when in the pre-alarm state:
monitoring the radio for a hush command; and
if the hush command is received while in the pre-alarm state, transitioning to a first other one of the plurality of states; and

transitioning to the alarm state, wherein when in the alarm state:
monitoring the radio for the hush command; and
if the hush command is received while in the alarm state, transitioning to a second other one of the plurality of states.

7. The method claim 6 , wherein the first other one of the plurality of states is a hushed pre-alarm state, and wherein the second other one of the plurality of states is a hushed alarm state if the sensor values meet a first set of criteria.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
ignoring the hush command while in the alarm state if the sensor values meet a second set of criteria; and
remaining in the alarm state.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein when in the hushed alarm state, the method further comprising:
reverting to the alarm state if the sensor values meet a second set of criteria.

10. The hazard detection system 6 , wherein the plurality of states comprises an idle state and a monitor state, the method further comprising:
transitioning to the idle state, wherein when in the idle state, the plurality of sensors are polled at a first rate; and
transitioning to the monitor state, wherein when in the monitor state, the plurality of sensors are polled at a second rate, wherein the second rate is faster than the first rate.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a smoke sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, and a heat sensor.

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Matsuoka Yoky
• Fadell Anthony Michael
• Rogers Matthew Lee
• Lee Jeffrey Theodore

Classifications

• G08B29/20

  Calibration, including self-calibrating arrangements · CPC title

• G08B29/14

  checking the detection circuits · CPC title

• G08B25/002 Primary

  Generating a prealarm to the central station · CPC title

• G08B21/14

  Toxic gas alarms (G08B21/16 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G08B25/008

  Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system · CPC title