This disclosure relates to presence detection and more specifically to a method and system for determining the presence of persons in a building or campus during an emergency.
There are many types of emergencies that require first responders to ascertain the presence and location of individuals in a defined space such as an office building. Examples of such emergencies may include structure fires, active shooter in a location such as a school, earthquakes, and the like. In such emergencies one of the first thing a first responder will do is to assess the scene, including determining how many individuals are inside the structure or location and where they are located. First responders may include firefighters, policemen, emergency medical services personnel, and the like. For example in the case of a fire, fire service response to a commercial or industrial building is typically initiated with a fire sensor signal relayed to an alarm company, followed by a 9-1-1 call. Presently, the information that reaches first responders about the fire incident is minimal. Consequently, standard operating procedure upon arrival at a building site is based on minimal situational awareness, requiring significant time after arrival to conduct an on-scene assessment.
There is a need to provide first responders to an emergency in a structure with reliable data about the presence and location of individuals in the structure.
One general aspect includes a method where a processor receives data from internet of things (IoT) devices in a building. The IoT data may be stored in a data store. The processor then receives a trigger signal. Upon receipt of the trigger signal the processor accesses a floorplan data store to retrieve a floorplan of the building. The processor converts the IoT data into information relevant to a first responder. The processor then maps the information relevant to a first responder to the floorplan to generate mapped information relevant to a first responder, and transmits the mapped information relevant to a first responder to a display device. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding computer systems, apparatus, and computer programs recorded on one or more computer storage devices, each configured to perform the actions of the methods.
Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The information relevant to a first responder such as presence information is developed from sensor data from a plurality of IoT devices in the building. The sensor data may be transmitted to the processor through a network. The mapped information relevant to a first responder may include data convertible into a display of the floorplan. Implementations of the described techniques may include hardware, or computer software on a computer-accessible medium.
One general aspect includes a system including a processor connected to a network capable of accessing IoT data from a plurality of IoT devices disposed in a building. An application programming interface capable of converting data from the IoT devices into information relevant to a first responder is provided. The system includes a floorplan data store containing a floorplan of the building. The system further includes a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store program instructions executable by the processor to: receive information relevant to a first responder; store the information relevant to a first responder in a first data store; receive a trigger signal; and access the floorplan data store to retrieve the floorplan of the building. The program instruction further include instructions to map the information relevant to a first responder to the floorplan to generate mapped information relevant to a first responder that is then transmitted to a display device. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding methods and computer programs recorded on one or more computer storage devices, each configured to perform the actions of the methods.
One general aspect includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, including program instructions executable by a processor. The instructions include instructions to receive IoT data from a plurality of IoT devices. The instructions also include instructions to store the IoT data in a data store. The instructions include instructions to receive a trigger signal, and instructions to access a floorplan data store to retrieve a floorplan of the building. The instructions also include instructions to convert the IoT data into information relevant to a first responder, and instructions to map the presence information to the floorplan to generate mapped information relevant to a first responder The instructions further include instructions to transmit the mapped presence information to a display device. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding computer systems, and methods.
Modern building automation systems have a wealth of sensor data which, when properly collected, analyzed, and communicated, can be made available remotely to responders and public safety networks in secure, interoperable formats. These include environmental systems, security systems, fire protection systems, energy management systems, lighting systems elevator systems, heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, etc. Each individual system processes and stores a large amount of data that is potentially useful to emergency responders. Such data would include floor plans of the building, sensor data from smoke and heat detectors, gas detectors, motion detectors, etc. Other information may include data from HVAC systems, door and elevator access, room occupancy, lights, and cameras. Sensors that provide the sensor data may be augmented with additional sensors to provide more granular data.
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The first responder information system 100 includes a processor 121 which may be connected to the IoT systems (e.g. IoT System 102, IoT system 105, IoT system 109 and IoT system 113) through a network, a wireless device or directly hardwired. The processor 121 may include a central processing unit (CPU) and a graphics processing unit (GPU). The processor 121 may access a data store 125 that may be used to store data generated by the IoT systems and data associated with the floor plans of building 101. In one embodiment the data associated with the floor plans of building 101 may be stored separately in a data store operated by the building management, alternately in a data store operated by a local government permitting authority. The data store 125 may include any type of a variety of storage types such as magnetic storage, optical storage, flash storage and cloud storage.
Associated with the processor 121 may be a data conversion subsystem 123 that converts data from the sensors into information relevant to first responders (e.g. presence information). For example, if the IoT system is a thermostat coupled to a motion detector the data conversion subsystem 123 may convert data relating to motion that has been detected by the motion detector into data indicating the presence of an individual at that location in the building.
Associated with the processor 121 may be a mapping subsystem 124 that accesses a data store 125 where floorplans of buildings are stored. The mapping subsystem 124 may be an application that integrates the information relevant to the first responder with the floor plan of a building to generate information relevant to the first responder mapped to the relevant floorplan (mapped first responder information). For example, if the information relevant to the first responder is information about the presence of an individual in a room the mapping subsystem 124 integrates presence information from the data conversion subsystem 123 with a floorplan of the building to generate mapped presence information. Data store 125 may also be used to store the information relevant to the first responder generated by the data conversion subsystem 123.
Access to the first responder information may be controlled by authentication policies to ensure that only first responders in an emergency have access to the data. For example the data may be made unavailable unless there has been an emergency trigger such as a fire alarm, a security alarm, a 911 call was a detection of some other emergency.
The first responder information system 100 may also include a 911 operator computer 129 having an application 131 capable of converting the mapped first responder information (e.g. presence information) into a visual display of the floor plan and the information relevant to the first responder (e.g. the location of the individual in the floorplan). In another embodiment the first responder information system 100 may include a user equipment 133 with an application 135 capable of converting the mapped first responder information (e.g. presence information) into a visual display of the floor plan and the information relevant to the first responder (e.g. the location of the individual in the floorplan). User equipment 133 may be a smart phone, lap top, notebook, web book, smart watch, personal digital assistant, data messaging device, a two-way pager, a wireless e-mail device, a cellular telephone with data messaging capabilities, a wireless Internet appliance, a wireless communications device, or a data communication device, as examples. User equipment 133 and 911 operator computer 129 may access the processor 121 through a network, for example the Internet 137.
In operation the first responder information system 100 allows a first responder operating a user equipment 133, or a 911 operator operating a 911 operator computer 129 to access the processor 121 that provides the user equipment 133 or the 911 operator computer 129 with information relevant to the first responder (e.g. presence data) in case of an emergency. For example, in case of a fire the first responder or 911 operator may access presence data in data store 125 to determine the location of individuals in a burning building. As further described below, the presence data may be continuously stored in the data store 125, or stored for a predetermined interval of data (e.g. 15 minutes) in a buffer. In an embodiment, the storage may be initiated by an emergency trigger such as a fire alarm. In another embodiment the trigger may be the sound of a gunshot, a 911 call, a security alarm, or other action signaling in emergency.
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In an embodiment the presence detection system and building 301 may interact with the presence detection system in buildings 303, 305 and 306 to provide a cascading alert of an emergency. For example, building 305 may be an apartment building with an active shooter. The sound of a gunshot triggers the operation of the presence detection system in building 305. The presence detection system in building 305 may access external IoT system 313, for example a television camera facing the apartment building. If building 301 is a school building the presence system in building 301 may be programmed to initiate a lockdown if the presence system in buildings 305 or building 303 detect a gunshot. If building 306 is a house the presence system and building 306 may be programmed to lock all doors and closed garage doors if a gunshot has been detected by presence system in building 305.
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In step 401 the method 400 receives IoT device data into a processor. The IoT device data may include data from smart thermostats, carbon monoxide detectors, cameras, fitness sensors, baby monitors, and motion detectors, and security systems among others. For example, a smart thermostat may be coupled with a motion detector to regulate temperature when no one is present in a room. The motion detector may provide data related to the detection of motion in the room.
In step 403 the IoT device data is stored into a data store. The data may be stored for a period of time (rolling window). In one embodiment the IOT device data is not stored into the data store until a trigger has been activated.
In step 405 the first responder information system may receive a trigger signal indicating an emergency requiring first responders. For example trigger may be a fire alarm, the sound of a gunshot, a security alarm, a 911 call or similar signal indicating an emergency.
In step 407 the first responder information system stores the IoT device data into a data store.
In step 409 the first responder information system converts the IoT device data into information relevant to a first responder (e.g. presence and location information). For example, in the case of a smart thermostat coupled with a motion detector, the motion detector data would be converted into data indicating the presence of an individual at the location of the motion detector. In another example, a smart television that has been turned on to provide the data that the television is on to the first responder information system which then converts the data into information relevant to a first responder (e.g. data indicating the presence of an individual at the location of the smart television).
In step 411 first responder information system may access a floorplan from a floorplan data store. The floorplan data store may be a storage device associated with the presence system, a storage device associated with the building management system, or a storage device associated with a local government permitting authority.
In step 413 the first responder information system will map the information relevant to the first responder (e.g. presence and location information) to the floorplan.
In step 415 the first responder information system will transmit the mapped information relevant to the first responder to a display device such as a first responder user equipment or a 911 operator computer.
In step 417 the first responder user equipment or 911 operator computer will convert the mapped information into a display showing the floorplan, the information relevant to the first responder and/or a link to the information relevant to the first responder displayed on the appropriate location in the floor plan (e.g. the location of individuals on the floorplan). The location of individuals on the floorplan may be indicated by a dot on the floorplan or by providing a color pattern for the room illustrated in the floorplan. In another embodiment, the information relevant to the first responder may be video from a camera in a specific room. In that embodiment the information displayed on the floorplan may be a link to the video displayed on the specific room on the floorplan.
In step 701, the method 700 receives IoT device data into a first responder information system including a processor. The IoT device data may include data from smart thermostats, carbon monoxide detectors, cameras, fitness sensors, baby monitors, and motion detectors, and security systems among others. For example, a smart thermostat may provide room temperature data which may be used to determine if there is a fire in a room. In another example the security system may detect the sound of a firearm and provide that information which may be used to determine that there is an active shooter in a room. In yet another example, a video camera may record a camera view of a room that may be used by a first responder to determine if it is safe to enter the room.
In step 703, the IoT device data is stored into a data store. The data may be stored for a period of time (rolling window). In one embodiment the IOT device data is not stored into the data store until a trigger has been activated.
In step 705, the first responder information system may receive a trigger signal indicating an emergency requiring first responders. For example trigger may be a fire alarm, the sound of a gunshot, a security alarm, a 911 call or similar signal indicating an emergency.
In step 709, the first responder information system converts the IoT device data into relevant first responder information. For example, if the IoT device is a thermostat and the temperature is above a specified threshold in a room, the first responder relevant information may be that there is a fire in that room. Alternately, if the IoT device may be a camera (e.g. a nanny cam), the relevant first responder information may be the recorded image of the room, indicating that there is a fire, a person, a possible crime perpetrator such as a gun man or a potential booby trap or other dangerous devices.
In step 711, the first responder information system may access a floorplan from a floorplan data store. The floorplan data store may be a storage device associated with the first responder information system, a storage device associated with the building management system, or a storage device associated with a local government permitting authority.
In step 713, the first responder information system may map the information relevant to the first responder to the floorplan. For example, in the case of a fire alarm the first responder information system may map the room temperature information in a plurality of rooms onto a floor plan of the building. In the case of a police call the image of the room taken by a camera may be inserted as an icon on the room depicted in the floorplan.
In step 715, the first responder information system may transmit the mapped information relevant to the first responder to a display device such as a first responder user equipment or a 911 operator computer.
In step 417, the first responder user equipment or 911 operator computer will convert the mapped information relevant to the first responder into a display showing the floorplan and the relevant first responder information on the relevant location on floorplan.
The present disclosure contemplates a variety of IoT device data and information relevant to the first responder. For example the following table list some examples of IoT data and information relevant to the first responder.
The processor discussed above may comprise one or more processors, together with input/output capability and computer readable storage devices having computer readable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processors, cause the processors to perform various operations. The processors may be dedicated processors, or may be mainframe computers, desktop or laptop computers or any other device or group of devices capable of processing data. The processors are configured using software according to the present disclosure.
Each of the hardware elements may also include memory that functions as a data memory that stores data used during execution of programs in the processors, and is also used as a program work area. The memory may also function as a program memory for storing a program executed in the processors. The program may reside on any tangible, non-volatile computer-readable storage device as computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution by the processor to perform the operations.
Generally, the processors are configured with program modules that include routines, objects, components, data structures and the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The term “program” as used herein may connote a single program module or multiple program modules acting in concert. The disclosure may be implemented on a variety of types of computers, including personal computers (PCs), hand-held devices, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, mini-computers, mainframe computers and the like, and may employ a distributed computing environment, where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.
An exemplary processing module for implementing the methodology above may be stored in a separate memory that is read into a main memory of a processor or a plurality of processors from a computer readable storage device such as a ROM or other type of hard magnetic drive, optical storage, tape or flash memory. In the case of a program stored in a memory media, execution of sequences of instructions in the module causes the processor to perform the process operations described herein. The embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software.
The term “computer-readable medium” as employed herein refers to a tangible, non-transitory machine-encoded medium that provides or participates in providing instructions to one or more processors. For example, a computer-readable medium may be one or more optical or magnetic memory disks, flash drives and cards, a read-only memory or a random access memory such as a DRAM, which typically constitutes the main memory. The terms “tangible media” and “non-transitory media” each exclude transitory signals such as propagated signals, which are not tangible and are not non-transitory. Cached information is considered to be stored on a computer-readable medium. Common expedients of computer-readable media are well-known in the art and need not be described in detail here.
The forgoing detailed description is to be understood as being in every respect illustrative and exemplary, but not restrictive, and the scope of the disclosure herein is not to be determined from the description, but rather from the claims as interpreted according to the full breadth permitted by the patent laws. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. It is to be understood that various modifications will be implemented by those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.