IP Library Granted Patent US 10,579,673
Granted Patent B2
US 10,579,673 · App. 16/427,590 · Granted Mar 3, 2020

Sound sensors in security systems

Inventors: James H. Pratt (Round Rock, TX); Steven Belz (Sunnyvale, TX); Michael Lattanzi (Bothell, WA); Constance Missimer (Seattle, WA)
Assignees: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.; AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
G06F16/683G08B13/1672G08B13/196G08B13/19695H04N5/232H04N5/23296H04N7/181H04N7/183G08B25/14H04M3/56H04R1/326H04R17/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,579,673
App. No.
16/427,590
Granted
Mar 3, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Directional sound location is used to determine security events of a security system. A sound sensor reports a vector direction to a sound source of an acoustic signal. If the vector direction is historically observed at similar times, then perhaps the sound source is not considered a security event. However, if the vector direction is unknown or unfamiliar, the security system may infer the security event and notify emergency services.

Claims (34)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a controller of a security system, an output generated by a sound sensor;

determining, by the controller of the security system, a time associated with the output generated by the sound sensor;

determining, by the controller of the security system, that the time associated with the output fails to match a historical log of times associated with outputs generated by the sound sensor; and

generating, by the controller of the security system, a security event in response to the time associated with the output failing to match the historical log.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending a command to a camera to capture a video data.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a database lacks an entry for the time associated with the output generated by the sound sensor.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a video data from a video camera.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending a message that notifies of the security event.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising instructing a video camera to align to the output generated by the sound sensor.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising aligning a video camera according to the output generated by the sound sensor.

8. A system, comprising:

a hardware processor; and

a memory device, the memory device storing instructions, the instructions when executed causing the hardware processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving an output generated by a sound sensor associated with a controller of a security system;

determining a time associated with the output generated by the sound sensor;

determining that the time associated with the output fails to match a historical log of times associated with outputs generated by the sound sensor; and

generating a security event in response to the time failing to match the historical log.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise sending a command to a camera to capture a video data.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a database lacks an entry for the time associated with the output generated by the sound sensor.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving a video data from a video camera.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise sending a message that notifies of the security event.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise instructing a video camera to align to the output generated by the sound sensor.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise aligning a video camera according to the output generated by the sound sensor.

15. A non-transitory memory device storing instructions that when executed cause a hardware processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving a vector direction generated by a sound sensor associated with a controller of a security system;

determining a time associated with the vector direction generated by the sound sensor;

determining that the vector direction and the time fail to match a historical log of outputs generated by the sound sensor; and

generating a security event in response to the vector direction and the time failing to match the historical log.

16. The non-transitory memory device of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise sending a command to a camera to capture a video data.

17. The non-transitory memory device of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a database lacks an entry for at least one of the vector direction and the time.

18. The non-transitory memory device of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving a video data from a video camera.

19. The non-transitory memory device of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise sending a message that notifies of the security event.

20. The non-transitory memory device of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise instructing a video camera to align to the vector direction.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2025
From: SIMPLISAFE, INC.
To: CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073579/0854 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2024
From: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
To: SIMPLISAFE, INC.
Reel/Frame 067947/0701 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2024
From: AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
To: SIMPLISAFE, INC.
Reel/Frame 067949/0258 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2019
From: PRATT, JAMES H.; BELZ, STEVEN
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
Reel/Frame 049337/0190 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2019
From: LATTANZI, MICHAEL; MISSIMER, CONSTANCE
To: AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
Reel/Frame 049337/0313 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 16028513 · Jul 6, 2018
Continuation 15614655 · Jun 6, 2017
Continuation 14806701 · Jul 23, 2015
Related Publication 20190303401A1 · Oct 3, 2019