IP Library Granted Patent US 11,610,470
Granted Patent B1
US 11,610,470 · App. 16/660,683 · Granted Mar 21, 2023

Systems and methods for crowdsourcing detected events

Inventor: Sean Ricks (American Fork, UT)
Assignee: VIVINT, INC.
G08B27/003G08B27/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,610,470
App. No.
16/660,683
Granted
Mar 21, 2023
Kind
B1
Abstract

A computer-implemented method for crowdsourcing detected events is described. In one embodiment, an event is detected via one or more sensors located at a first location within a predetermined geographic area. Data from the one or more sensors is analyzed to determine a scope of the event. Upon determining the scope of the event affects a second location within the predetermined geographic area, a notification is sent to a user associated with a location within the predetermined geographic area that does not include a sensor of a type that detects the event.

Claims (52)

1. A computer-implemented method for crowdsourcing detected events, comprising:

detecting an event via one or more sensors of a building or residential automation system located at a first location within a predetermined geographic area;

determining a type of event based at least in part on a type of at least one of the one or more sensors;

querying, based at least in part on detecting the event via the one or more sensors located at the first location, one or more additional sensors of an additional building or residential automation system located within a predetermined range of the first location for an indication that the one or more additional sensors are detecting an event whether the event is detected at one or more other locations different from the first location, wherein the one or more additional sensors are of a type corresponding to the type of the event;

in response to determining that the event detected at the first location is detected at the one or more other locations, continually receiving real-time sensor data associated with the event from the one or more other locations;

estimating a path of the event based at least in part on sensor data from the one or more sensors at the first location and the one or more additional sensors; and

transmitting, over a network, a notification to a second location located on the estimated path, the notification indicating the detected event.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the notification indicates one or more locations included in the estimated path, the one or more locations comprising the second location.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the notification comprises a geographical map of the one or more locations included in the estimated path and the first location.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second location fails to include a sensor capable of detecting the event.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying an information service related to the type of the event.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

generating the notification based on at least one of information related to the type of event detected and information received from the identified information service.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein estimating the path of the event comprises:

computing the path of the event by analyzing at least one of information from one or more sensors within the predetermined geographic area; information from one or more sensors located outside the predetermined geographic area; and information received from the information service related to the type of event detected.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

sending a notification to a third location outside the predetermined geographic area based on the estimated path.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

indicating, in the notification, a number of locations that are confirmed to have detected the event; and

indicating, on a graphical map, a position of each location confirmed to have detected the event.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sending the notification using a selected messaging service.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sending the notification via a selected social network.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the event comprises at least one of a wildfire, a tsunami, a tornado, flooding, a hurricane, a typhoon, a dust storm, high winds, biological contamination, chemical contamination, burglary, property damage, and wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect at least one of these events.

13. A computing device configured for crowdsourcing detected events, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to:

detect an event via one or more sensors of a building or residential automation system located at a first location within a predetermined geographic area;

determine a type of the event based at least in part on a type of at least one of the one or more sensors;

query, based at least in part on detecting the event via the one or more sensors located at the first location, one or more additional sensors of an additional building or residential automation system located within a predetermined range of the first location for an indication that the one or more additional sensors are detecting an event at one or more other locations different from the first location, wherein the one or more additional sensors are of a type corresponding to the type of the event;

determine that the event detected at the first location is related to an event detected at the one or more other locations in response to the event detected at the first location occurring within a predetermined time of the event detected at the one or more other locations;

in response to determining that the event detected at the first location is detected at the one or more other locations, estimate a path of the event based at least in part on sensor data from the one or more sensors at the first location and the one or more additional sensors; and

transmit, over a network, a notification to a second location located on the estimated path, the notification indicating the detected event.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the notification indicates one or more locations included in the estimated path, the one or more locations comprising the second location.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the notification comprises a geographical map of the one or more locations included in the estimated path and the first location.

16. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to

identify an information service related to the type of the event.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein estimating the path of the event comprises:

computing the path of the event by analyzing at least one of information from one or more sensors within the predetermined geographic area; information from one or more sensors located outside the predetermined geographic area; and information received from the information service related to the type of event detected.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

send a notification to a third location outside the predetermined geographic area based on the estimated path.

19. A computer-program product for crowdsourcing, by a processor, detected events, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions thereon, the instructions being executable by the processor to:

detect an event via one or more sensors of a building or residential automation system located at a first location within a predetermined geographic area;

identify, in response to detecting the event, one or more additional sensors of an additional building or residential automation system that are located within a predetermined proximity of the first location;

query the identified one or more additional sensors of the additional building or residential automation system for an indication that the one or more additional sensors are detecting an event at one or more other locations different from the first location;

determine that the event detected at the first location is related to an event detected at the one or more other locations in response to the event detected at the first location occurring within a predetermined time of the event detected at the one or more other locations;

in response to determining that the event detected at the first location is detected at the one or more other locations, estimate a path of the event based at least in part on sensor data from the one or more sensors at the first location and the one or more additional sensors; and

transmit, over a network, a notification to a second location located on the estimated path, the notification indicating the detected event.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more sensors or the one or more additional sensors comprises at least one of the following: a motion sensor, a forced entry sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, or an audio sensor.

Assignments (7)
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 069767/0207 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 067456, FRAME 0729 Recorded Nov 11, 2024
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 069334/0165 →
RELEASE (REEL 057434 / FRAME 0591) Recorded Nov 1, 2024
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: VIVINT LLC (F/K/A VIVINT, INC.)
Reel/Frame 069289/0529 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2024
From: RICKS, SEAN
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 068956/0540 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2024
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067456/0729 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT NO. 2 Recorded Jul 12, 2021
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 057434/0591 →