System and method comprising a device which has a microphone and an alarm unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a system comprising a device which has a microphone and an alarm unit, the microphone and alarm unit being connected to one another in such a way that an alarm is triggered when a code word or a special noise is received at the microphone. The system has a plurality of such devices which are connected via a network in order to form a pool such that a plurality of devices of the pool trigger an alarm when a code word or a special noise is received at one device.

Description

[0001] System and procedure with a device that includes a microphone and an alarm unit

[0002]

[0001] From PCT / DE2023 / 000026, a device with at least one sensor unit and at least one alarm unit is known. An alarm is triggered upon speaking a programmed codeword, or its activation is interrupted.

[0003]

[0002] Starting from this, the invention relates to a system with a device that has a microphone and an alarm unit which are connected to each other in such a way that an alarm is triggered when a code word or a special sound is received at the microphone.

[0004]

[0003] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for triggering an alarm, preferably with such a system in which a code word is spoken, this code word is received by a microphone of a device and the device triggers an alarm via a built-in alarm unit.

[0005]

[0004] The present invention is based on the objective of further developing such an alarm system.

[0006]

[0005] This problem is solved with a system having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 10. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0007]

[0006] The invention thus relates to a system of several devices described in PCT / DE2023 / 000026, wherein each feature of the devices described in PCT / DE2023 / 000026 can also be a feature of a device of the system described below.

[0007] An advantage of the alarm system described in PCT / DE2023 / 000026 is that an alarm is triggered on the device solely by a predefined code word. This alarm can also be reported to the police or a security service.

[0008]

[0008] A disadvantage is that the alarm is sometimes insufficient to scare off the burglar. The police and security services often arrive too late. Furthermore, people frequently avoid automatically calling the police or a security service, as false alarms in particular incur costs that they would prefer to avoid.

[0009]

[0009] The system according to the invention leads to activation at only one device, but to an alarm at several devices. This multiplies the intensity of the alarm. In addition, the alarm sounds from different locations. This makes the alarm more easily perceptible to third parties and makes it more difficult for a burglar to locate the alarm.

[0010]

[0010] If one considers an apartment or a house as a unit, then the system with multiple devices extends to different locations within this unit. This increases the intensity of the alarm at this unit and alerts multiple residents of the house or apartment.

[0011]

[0011] However, owners of different units can also connect their devices to each other via the system. An alarm then indicates a problem in one of the connected units. Thus, for example, owners of several adjacent terraced houses can connect not only several devices from their own house, but also several units from different houses as units to form a single system. This means that if an alarm is triggered in one of the houses, the owners of the houses who are home can meet in the street to determine who triggered the alarm. If it then turns out that the alarm is due to a problem that the owners present cannot resolve themselves, one of them can alert a security service or the police.

[0012] Similarly, in a building, the owners of different apartments can join together and, based on experience, meet in the stairwell to clarify who triggered the alarm and what needs to be done.

[0012]

[0013] When an alarm is triggered, those involved don't yet know who activated it. However, everyone involved knows whether they are the one who activated the alarm or the one who was alerted. In a manageable group of people, such as in a house or several houses located close together, all those alerted can therefore meet and quickly determine who activated the alarm.

[0013]

[0014] The alarm can also be forwarded to a pre-defined person, for example, via their mobile phone number. This is particularly useful in situations where, for instance, someone falls and needs help, and a neighbor or relative needs to be notified.

[0014]

[0015] With this type of push notification, the device that primarily triggered the alarm can be identified on the recipient's mobile phone. This allows the source of the alarm to be traced back to the individual who sent it.

[0015]

[0016] However, the mere sound of an alarm in several houses or apartments is already so dangerous for a burglar that it is advisable for him to flee.

[0016]

[0017] The system according to the invention relieves the burden on the police and security service providers. It opens up the possibility of neighborhood assistance in a simple way.

[0017]

[0018] The system works particularly well when the pool has more than 3 and especially more than 5 devices.

[0018]

[0019] As previously described, pool equipment can be located in a house or in neighboring houses.

[0019]

[0020] The alarm can be triggered by receiving a code word or a specific sound. Particularly relevant are specific creaking noises that indicate a break-in. Software already exists that can filter out creaking noises that suggest windows or doors have been forced open.

[0020]

[0021] It is also advantageous if at least one piece of pool equipment has a sensor for gas, smoke, or humidity. This way, the alarm can also be triggered by, for example, an excessively high CO concentration, smoke, or excessive humidity.

[0021]

[0022] It is often advantageous if the device triggering the alarm has a camera that records and transmits and / or saves the current situation. Therefore, it is suggested that at least one device in the pool should have a camera that can be triggered upon receiving a codeword.

[0022]

[0023] Accordingly, it is advantageous if at least one device in the pool has a loudspeaker that can be triggered on a device upon receipt of a codeword.

[0023]

[0024] It is particularly convenient if at least one piece of pool equipment has a display that shows which piece of pool equipment triggered the alarm.

[0024]

[0025] Further development of the device stipulates that at least one device in the pool must have a display indicating what triggered the alarm.

[0025]

[0026] The problem underlying the invention is solved methodically by connecting several devices with microphones and built-in alarm units as a pool in such a way that when a codeword or a specific sound is received by the microphone, an alarm is triggered on several devices. The devices can be connected to each other, for example, via Wi-Fi, LAN, a telephone connection, or an internet connection.

[0026]

[0027] A truly powerful alarm is triggered when the alarm unit is activated synchronously in all devices upon hearing the specific acoustic signal. Similarly, their activation can also be synchronously interrupted.

[0027]

[0028] Depending on the application, the alarm unit can also be triggered with a time delay on all devices using the specific acoustic signal, and / or its activation can be interrupted. A time-delayed trigger makes it possible to scare off the burglar with just one alarm without mobilizing the entire neighborhood. Furthermore, a time-delayed trigger allows an alarm to be initially triggered by only one subsystem of one or more devices, and then, with a further trigger using another codeword or after a defined time interval, the alarm to be triggered on other devices.

[0028]

[0029] Sometimes it's useful to quickly stop the alarm. For this purpose, the system is designed so that an alarm triggered on multiple devices in the pool is interrupted upon receipt of a codeword at the device that triggered the alarm.

[0029]

[0030] However, all participants in the pool can also be authorized to stop the alarm. In that case, the alarm, triggered on multiple devices in the pool, is interrupted upon receipt of a codeword on any one device in the pool.

[0030]

[0031] Alternatively or cumulatively, the alarm can be stopped via app or at the control center.

[0031]

[0032] To document an event that triggers the alarm, it is suggested that the alarm triggered on multiple devices in the pool should activate a microphone and / or a camera on the device.

[0032]

[0033] Since many pool operators want to avoid immediately contacting the police or security services in the event of an alarm, it is suggested that an alarm triggered by multiple devices within the pool area be forwarded to a recipient located outside the pool area only after a delay. This could be done via a telephone line, the internet, or SMS to a private individual or a security service.

[0033]

[0034] To end the alarm, it is proposed that, upon a specific acoustic signal, the alarm, which is forwarded with a time delay to a receiver located outside the pool, be interrupted and / or deactivated.

[0034]

[0035] However, the alarm unit can also be triggered or its activation interrupted by a specific acoustic signal on all devices.

[0035]

[0036] In a version with a user interface, login is similar to that of a Wi-Fi router. After logging in, you can, for example, adjust the sensitivity of the password or define or change the password.

[0036]

[0037] Depending on the version, Wi-Fi can also be used. LEDs in different colors can indicate various states such as battery level, connection status, etc.

[0037]

[0038] In versions that can also make an emergency call, an option is available via a switch directly on the device to determine whether the emergency call is made silently or accompanied by an alarm.

[0038]

[0039] If the user chooses to make the emergency call silently by flipping a switch, a short tone may sound after the code words that triggered the emergency call have been spoken, assuring the user that this has worked.

[0039]

[0040] The device can also be used in a special mobile version. For this, the device is equipped with a battery, giving it portability so that it can be used for approximately three months. By adding a SIM card, the device can even be used on the go. This results in a small, portable version.

Claims

Patent claims:

1. System comprising a device having a microphone and an alarm unit connected in such a way that an alarm is triggered when a codeword or a special sound is received at the microphone, characterized in that the system has several such devices connected to a pool via a network, so that when a codeword or a special sound is received at one device, several devices of the pool trigger an alarm.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the pool has more than 3 and in particular more than 5 devices.

3. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pool equipment is arranged in a house.

4. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pool equipment is arranged in adjacent houses.

5. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one device of the pool has a sensor for gas, smoke or humidity.

6. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one device of the pool has a camera which can be triggered on a device upon receipt of a codeword.

7. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one device of the pool has a loudspeaker which can be triggered upon receipt of a codeword at a device.

8. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one device of the pool has a display that indicates on which device of the pool the alarm was triggered.

9. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one device of the pool has a display that indicates what triggered the alarm.

10. Method for triggering an alarm, preferably with a system according to one of the preceding claims, in which a code word is spoken or a special sound is produced, this is received by a microphone of a device, and the device triggers an alarm via a built-in alarm unit, characterized in that several devices with microphone and built-in alarm unit are interconnected as a pool such that, when a code word or a special sound is received by the microphone, an alarm is triggered on several devices.

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that devices of the pool trigger an alarm synchronously.

12. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that devices of the pool trigger an alarm at a time delay.

13. Method according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the alarm triggered on several devices of the pool is interrupted upon receipt of a codeword at the device triggering the alarm.

14. Method according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the alarm triggered on several devices of the pool is interrupted upon receipt of a codeword on one device of the pool.

15. Method according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the alarm triggered on several devices of the pool activates a microphone and / or a camera on the device.

16. Method according to one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the alarm triggered on several devices of the pool is forwarded to a receiver located outside the pool with a time delay.

17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that, in the event of a special acoustic signal, the alarm which is transmitted with a time delay to a receiver located outside the pool is interrupted and / or deactivated.

18. Method according to one of claims 10 to 17, characterized in that, in the event of a specific acoustic signal, the alarm unit is triggered or its activation is interrupted in all devices.