IP Library Granted Patent US 10,026,282
Granted Patent B2
US 10,026,282 · App. 15/276,565 · Granted Jul 17, 2018

Verifying occupancy of a building

Inventors: James E. Nye (Alpine, UT); Jeremy B. Warren (Draper, UT)
Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
G08B13/1672G08B13/02G08B13/04G08B29/188
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,026,282
App. No.
15/276,565
Granted
Jul 17, 2018
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 (63)

1. A method for detecting occupancy, comprising:

configuring a processor to detect, via a microphone, broken glass and a sound made by a human, wherein the microphone is associated with a security system;

detecting, via the processor, a sound within a detectable range of the microphone;

analyzing, via the processor, the detected sound;

upon determining, based on the analyzing, the detected sound does not indicate glass breaking or a human making the detected sound, ignoring the detected sound;

upon determining, based on the analyzing, the detected sound indicates glass breaking, triggering an alarm condition;

upon determining, based on the analyzing, the detected sound indicates that a human is making the detected sound, determining an identity of the human;

determining, via the processor, a state of the security system, wherein the state of the security system comprises an activation state of one or more sensors associated with the security system; and

triggering, via the processor, the alarm condition based at least in part on the determined identity of the human and the determined state of the security system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microphone is a glass break sensor microphone.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a human footstep from the sound.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a human voice from the sound.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying an animal footstep from the sound.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying an animal sound from the sound.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting a triggering of a motion sensor; and

analyzing the sound in relation to the triggering of the motion sensor.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

upon detecting the triggering of the motion sensor and determining the sound is made by the animal, ignoring the triggering of the motion sensor.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

upon detecting the triggering of the motion sensor and determining the sound is made by the human, triggering the alarm condition.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether the sound originates within a building or outside the building, the microphone being located within the building.

11. 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:

detecting, via a microphone, broken glass and a sound made by a human, wherein the microphone is associated with a security system;

detecting a sound within a detectable range of the microphone;

analyzing the detected sound;

upon determining, based on the analyzing, the detected sound does not indicate glass breaking or a human making the detected sound, ignoring the detected sound;

upon determining, based on the analyzing, the detected sound indicates glass breaking, triggering an alarm condition;

upon determining, based on the analyzing, the detected sound indicates that a human is making the detected sound, determining an identity of the human;

determining a state of the security system, wherein the state of the security system comprises an activation state of one or more sensors associated with the security system; and

triggering the alarm condition based at least in part on the determined identity of the human and the determined state of the security system.

12. The microphone of claim 11 , wherein the microphone is a glass break sensor microphone.

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

identifying a human footstep from the sound.

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

identifying a human voice from the sound.

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

identifying an animal footstep from the sound.

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

identifying an animal sound from the sound.

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

detecting a triggering of a motion sensor; and

analyzing the sound in relation to the triggering of the motion sensor.

18. The microphone of claim 17 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

upon detecting the triggering of the motion sensor and determining 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 the alarm condition.

19. 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:

detecting, via a microphone, broken glass and a sound made by a human, wherein the microphone is associated with a security system;

detecting a sound within a detectable range of the microphone;

analyzing the detected sound;

upon determining, based on the analyzing, the detected sound does not indicate glass breaking or a human making the detected sound, ignoring the detected sound;

upon determining, based on the analyzing, the detected sound indicates glass breaking, triggering an alarm condition;

upon determining, based on the analyzing, the detected sound indicates that a human is making the detected sound, determining an identity of the human;

determining a state of the security system, wherein the state of the security system comprises an activation state of one or more sensors associated with the security system; and

triggering the alarm condition based at least in part on the determined identity of the human and the determined state of the security system.

20. The computer-program product of claim 19 , wherein the microphone is a glass break sensor microphone.

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 042110, FRAME 0894 Recorded Nov 11, 2024
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 069334/0086 →
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 056832/0756 →
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 INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2017
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 042110/0894 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2017
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 042110/0947 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 26, 2016
From: NYE, JAMES E.; WARREN, JEREMY B.
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 039860/0403 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 14316597 · Jun 26, 2014
Related Publication 20170084145A1 · Mar 23, 2017
Cited By (1)
US 12,462,826