IP Library Granted Patent US 9,984,590
Granted Patent B2
US 9,984,590 · App. 15/146,330 · Granted May 29, 2018

Identifying a change in a home environment

Inventors: Mark B. Stevens (Austin, TX); John D. Wilson (League City, TX)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
G09B21/006A61B5/024A61B5/0816A61B5/4806A61H3/06A61H3/061G01S15/523G01S15/89G08B21/02G09B21/00G09B21/001G09B21/008G09B29/004A61H2003/063A61H2201/501A61H2201/5043A61H2201/5046A61H2201/5048A61H2201/5058A61H2201/5082A61H2201/5092A61H2201/5097
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,984,590
App. No.
15/146,330
Granted
May 29, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and computer implemented method for detecting a change in a home environment for a visually impaired user is disclosed. The method may include monitoring the home environment using a set of sensors configured to collect environment data for a set of areas of the home environment. The method may also include detecting an environmental change in an area of the home environment. The method may also include providing, in response to a triggering event, a notification of the environmental change.

Claims (26)

1. A computer implemented method for detecting a change in a home environment for a visually impaired user, the method comprising:

mapping, using a sonar mapping system, a first sonar map of a set of areas of the home environment;

mapping, in response to receiving a noise alert from a sound detection system coupled to the sonar mapping system, a second sonar map of the set of areas;

identifying an object of the second sonar map meeting an obstruction criterion; and

providing a notification to the visually impaired user that the identified object meets the obstruction criterion, in response to an alert from a sleep sensor.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alert from the sleep sensor includes a change in a pulse beyond a pulse threshold, and a change in respiration frequency beyond a respiration frequency threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

collecting, by the sonar mapping system, a background noise level of the set of areas;

collecting, by the sonar mapping system, a sound baseline of the set of areas; and

creating, using the sound baseline offset by the background noise level, the sonar map.

4. A system for detecting a change in a home environment for a visually impaired user, the system comprising:

a plurality of sound capture devices each configured to emit one or more sound probes in the home environment and to detect reflected sound waves;

a sleep sensor configured to monitor one or more biological signs of the visually impaired user; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the plurality of sound capture devices and the sleep sensor;

wherein the processor is configured to generate a first sonar map of a set of areas of the home environment based on the reflected sound waves detected by the plurality of sound capture devices, and to generate a second sonar map based on subsequent reflected sound waves in response to receiving a noise alert;

wherein the processor is further configured to compare the second sonar map to the first sonar map to identify an object of the second sonar map meeting an obstruction criterion; and t

wherein the processor is further configured to provide a notification to the visually impaired user that the identified object meets the obstruction criterion in response to an alert from the sleep sensor indicating that the visually impaired user has awoken.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the alert from the sleep sensor includes a change in a pulse beyond a pulse threshold, and a change in respiration frequency beyond a respiration frequency threshold.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of sound capture devices are further configured to collect a background noise level of the set of areas and a sound baseline of the set of areas; and wherein the processor is configured to generate the first and second sonar maps using the sound baseline offset by the background noise level.

7. A non-transitory computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer readable program stored therein, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a first computing device, causes the first computing device to:

map a first sonar map of the set of areas of the home environment;

map, in response to receiving a noise alert from a sound detection system, a second sonar map of the set of areas;

identify an object of the second sonar map meeting an obstruction criterion; and

providing a notification to the visually impaired user that the identified object meets the obstruction criterion, in response to an alert from a sleep sensor.

8. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the alert from the sleep sensor includes a change in a pulse beyond a pulse threshold, and a change in respiration frequency beyond a respiration frequency threshold.

9. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the computer readable program, when executed on the first computing device, further causes the first computing device to generate the first and second sonar maps using a sound baseline offset by a background noise level.

Assignments (20)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2022
From: GENERAC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061476/0745 →
AMALGAMATION Recorded Jul 25, 2022
From: 1339416 B.C. LTD.; ECOBEE TECHNOLOGIES INC.
To: 1339416 B.C. LTD.
Reel/Frame 060907/0090 →
CONTINUED - CHANGE OF JURISDICTION Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: ECOBEE INC.
To: ECOBEE TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 059805/0101 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: 1339416 B.C. LTD.
To: ECOBEE TECHNOLOGIES ULC
Reel/Frame 059825/0668 →
AMALGAMATION Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: 1339416 B.C. LTD.; ECOBEE TECHNOLOGIES INC.
To: 1339416 B.C. LTD.
Reel/Frame 059825/0888 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2022
From: ECOBEE TECHNOLOGIES ULC
To: GENERAC HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 059713/0780 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2022
From: GENERAC HOLDINGS INC.
To: GENERAC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059713/0799 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY FROM ECOBEE, INC. TO ECOBEE INC. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 058568 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC D/B/A AST TRUST COMPANY (CANADA)
To: ECOBEE INC.
Reel/Frame 058965/0106 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY NAME FROM ECOBEE, INC. TO ECOBEE INC. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 058521 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Feb 7, 2022
From: STRUCTURED ALPHA LP, BY ITS GENERAL PARTNER THOMVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD.
To: ECOBEE INC.
Reel/Frame 059205/0822 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 31, 2022
From: 1339416 B.C. LTD.
To: ECOBEE TECHNOLOGIES ULC
Reel/Frame 058907/0363 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 31, 2022
From: ECOBEE TECHNOLOGIES ULC
To: GENERAC HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 058917/0069 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 31, 2022
From: GENERAC HOLDINGS INC.
To: GENERAC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 058917/0161 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 31, 2022
From: 1339416 B.C. LTD.; ECOBEE TECHNOLOGIES INC.
To: 1339416 B.C. LTD.
Reel/Frame 061001/0949 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 31, 2022
From: ECOBEE INC.
To: ECOBEE TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 058905/0211 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2021
From: AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC D/B/A AST TRUST COMPANY (CANADA)
To: ECOBEE, INC.
Reel/Frame 058568/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2021
From: STRUCTURED ALPHA LP, BY ITS GENERAL PARTNER THOMVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD.
To: ECOBEE, INC.
Reel/Frame 058521/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2020
From: ECOBEE INC.
To: AST TRUST COMPANY (CANADA)
Reel/Frame 052704/0656 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2020
From: INC., ECOBEE
To: STRUCTURED ALPHA LP
Reel/Frame 052678/0864 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2019
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: ECOBEE INC.
Reel/Frame 048753/0732 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2016
From: STEVENS, MARK B.; WILSON, JOHN D.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038456/0573 →
Continuity (2)
Division 14284581 · May 22, 2014
Related Publication 20160247416A1 · Aug 25, 2016