IP Library Granted Patent US 9,454,882
Granted Patent B2
US 9,454,882 · App. 14/316,597 · Granted Sep 27, 2016

Verifying occupancy of a building

Inventors: James E. Nye (Alpine, UT); Jeremy B. Warren (Draper, UT)
Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
G08B13/04G08B13/1672G08B29/188
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,454,882
App. No.
14/316,597
Granted
Sep 27, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for detecting occupancy of a building is described. In one embodiment, the method includes using a microphone to monitor for sounds at a building, detecting a sound via the microphone, and determining whether the sound is made by a human or made by an animal. In some cases, the microphone is a glass break sensor microphone.

Claims (32)

1. A method for detecting occupancy, comprising:

using a microphone from a glass break sensor to monitor for sounds at a building, the glass break sensor being installed proximate to a pane of glass at the building and communicatively coupled to an automation and security system at the building, wherein the glass break sensor is originally dedicated to detect breaking glass;

detecting a sound via the microphone detecting a triggering of a motion sensor; analyzing the sound in relation to the triggering of the motion sensor; and

determining whether the sound is made by a human or made by an animal upon determining, based on the analyzing, the sound is made by the animal; ignoring the triggering of the motion sensor; and upon detecting the triggering of the motion sensor and determining the sound is made by the human, triggering an alarm.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a human footstep from the sound.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a human voice from the sound.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying an animal footstep from the sound.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying an animal sound from the sound.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether the sound originates within the building or outside the building.

7. A microphone configured for detecting occupancy, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor, wherein the memory stores computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

monitoring for sounds at a building using the microphone, the microphone being from a glass break sensor, the glass break sensor being installed proximate to a pane of glass at the building and communicatively coupled to an automation and security system at the building, wherein the glass break sensor is originally dedicated to detect breaking glass;

detecting a sound via the microphone 3 detecting a triggering of a motion sensor; analyzing the sound in relation to the triggering of the motion sensor; and

determining whether the sound is made by a human or made by an animal, the microphone being part of the home automation and security system; upon determining, based on the analyzing, the sound is made by the animal, ignoring the triggering of the motion sensor; and upon detecting the triggering of the motion sensor and determining the sound is made by the human, triggering an alarm.

8. The microphone of claim 7 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

identifying a human footstep from the sound.

9. The microphone of claim 7 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

identifying a human voice from the sound.

10. The microphone of claim 7 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

identifying an animal footstep from the sound.

11. The microphone of claim 7 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

identifying an animal sound from the sound.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

using a microphone from a glass break sensor to monitor for sounds at a building, the glass break sensor being installed proximate to a pane of glass at the building and communicatively coupled to an automation and security system at the building, wherein the glass break sensor is originally dedicated to detect breaking glass;

detecting a sound via the microphone detecting a triggering of a motion sensor; analyzing the sound in relation to the triggering of the motion sensor; and

determining whether the sound is made by a human or made by an animal; upon determining, based on the analyzing, the sound is made by the animal; ignoring the triggering of the motion sensor; and upon detecting the triggering of the motion sensor and determining the sound is made by the human, triggering an alarm.

Assignments (11)
AFTER-ACQUIRED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 27, 2025
From: VIVINT LLC; SMART HOME PROS, INC.; VIVINT AMIGO, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS PRIORITY COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 070349/0816 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 7, 2025
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: VIVINT LLC
Reel/Frame 069767/0257 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 038275, FRAME 0377 Recorded Nov 11, 2024
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 069334/0010 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 049283, FRAME 0566 Recorded Nov 11, 2024
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 069334/0137 →
RELEASE (REEL 047029/ FRAME 0304) Recorded Nov 1, 2024
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: VIVINT LLC (F/K/A VIVINT, INC.)
Reel/Frame 069289/0468 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2021
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 056832/0725 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 23, 2019
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 049283/0566 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 6, 2018
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 047029/0304 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2016
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 038402/0356 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2016
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 038275/0377 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2014
From: NYE, JAMES E.; WARREN, JEREMY B.
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 033191/0620 →
Continuity (1)
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