IP Library Granted Patent US 11,769,381
Granted Patent B2
US 11,769,381 · App. 17/380,929 · Granted Sep 26, 2023

Autonomous management and notification on building pathways

Inventors: Jason Ouellette (Westford, MA); James Bauerle (Fishers, IN); Allen Houston (Belfast, IE); Peter Lawrence (Lisburn, GB); Kapang Lam (Chelmsford, MA)
Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
G08B7/066G05B15/02G06Q10/20G06Q40/08G06Q50/26G06Q90/205G08B21/02G05D1/0212
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,769,381
App. No.
17/380,929
Granted
Sep 26, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods for managing building pathway information. A building and/or security management system can detect, based on receiving input from multiple sensor devices, a possible safety issue in a first pathway to an egress of a building, determine, based on detecting the possible safety issue and based on information regarding other pathways in the building, a second pathway to the egress of the building, and indicate at least the second pathway to another system.

Claims (36)

1. A computer-implemented method for managing building pathway information, comprising:

detecting, by a building and/or security management system and based on receiving input from multiple sensor devices, a possible safety issue related to function of a first safety equipment device in a first pathway to an egress of a building;

determining, by the building and/or security management system and based on detecting the possible safety issue and based on information regarding other pathways in the building, a second pathway to the egress, or a different egress, of the building, wherein determining the second pathway to the egress or the different egress is based on determining, by the building and/or security management system, that the second pathway has a second safety equipment device without the possible safety issue; and

indicating at least the second pathway to another system.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the multiple sensor devices include at least one sensor device on a robot, wherein the robot is configured to tour the building and report information recorded from the at least one sensor device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising receiving, from the robot, the information regarding the first pathway, the second pathway, and one or more other pathways to the egress.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 ,

wherein the robot is configured to detect one or more devices in the building, including the first safety equipment device, record status information for the one or more devices, and report the status information of the one or more devices, and

wherein detecting the possible safety issue is based at least in part on the status information of the one or more devices and determining that the one or more devices are in the first pathway.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising providing, to the robot, location information regarding the one or more devices, wherein the robot is configured to travel to the one or more devices to detect or inspect the one or more devices.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more devices include a door or window.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first safety equipment device and the second safety equipment device include fire extinguishers, and wherein the possible safety issue relates to a discharge state of the fire extinguishers.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising modifying, by the building and/or security management system, access to at least a portion of the first pathway based on the possible safety issue.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein indicating at least the second pathway includes notifying, by the building and/or security management system, first responders of at least the second pathway.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising notifying an insurance system of the possible safety issue.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining the second pathway includes determining the second pathway to the different egress.

12. An apparatus for managing building pathway information, comprising:

a memory;

a processor communicatively coupled with the memory and configured to execute a building and/or security management system for:

detecting, based on receiving input from multiple sensor devices, a possible safety issue related to function of a first safety equipment device in a first pathway to an egress of a building;

determining, based on detecting the possible safety issue and based on information regarding other pathways in the building, a second pathway to the egress, or a different egress, of the building, wherein determining the second pathway to the egress or the different egress is based on determining, by the building and/or security management system, that the second pathway has a second safety equipment device without the possible safety issue; and

indicating at least the second pathway to another system.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the multiple sensor devices include at least one sensor device on a robot, wherein the robot is configured to tour the building and report information recorded from the at least one sensor device.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the building and/or security management system for receiving, from the robot, the information regarding the first pathway, the second pathway, and one or more other pathways to the egress.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 ,

wherein the robot is configured to detect one or more devices in the building, including the first safety equipment device, record status information for the one or more devices, and report the status information of the one or more devices, and

wherein the processor is configured to execute the building and/or security management system for detecting the possible safety issue based at least in part on the status information of the one or more devices and determining that the one or more devices are in the first pathway.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the building and/or security management system for providing, to the robot, location information regarding the one or more devices, wherein the robot is configured to travel to the one or more devices to detect or inspect the one or more devices.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the one or more devices include a door, or a window.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the building and/or security management system for modifying access to at least a portion of the first pathway based on the possible safety issue.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, executable by a processor, for managing building pathway information, the code comprising code for:

detecting, by a building and/or security management system and based on receiving input from multiple sensor devices, a possible safety issue related to function of a first safety equipment device in a first pathway to an egress of a building;

determining, by the building and/or security management system and based on detecting the possible safety issue and based on information regarding other pathways in the building, a second pathway to the egress, or a different egress, of the building, wherein determining the second pathway to the egress or the different egress is based on determining, by the building and/or security management system, that the second pathway has a second safety equipment device without the possible safety issue; and

indicating at least the second pathway to another system.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the multiple sensor devices include at least one sensor device on a robot, wherein the robot is configured to tour the building and report information recorded from the at least one sensor device.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20 , further comprising code for receiving, from the robot, the information regarding the first pathway, the second pathway, or one or more other pathways to the egress.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2024
From: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
To: TYCO FIRE & SECURITY GMBH
Reel/Frame 068494/0384 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2023
From: OUELLETTE, JASON; BAUERLE, JAMES; HOUSTON, ALLEN; LAWRENCE, PETER; LAM, KAPANG
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS, LLP
Reel/Frame 064631/0874 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230024877A1 · Jan 26, 2023