Cloud Safety Automation with Remote Hazard Alerts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current home automation systems lack comprehensive and integrated solutions for detecting and responding to various hazard conditions, such as fires, toxic gases, and intrusions, especially in providing timely and effective notifications and alerts to occupants and emergency services, particularly when they are outside the premises.

Innovation Solution

A safety automation system comprising a computing management system with detection devices, wireless communication circuitry, and mobile user interface devices that can detect hazards, send notifications, and control ancillary alert devices, including tactile, visual, and audible alerts, while also providing location information and system maintenance alerts, utilizing cloud computing and satellite navigation for real-time tracking and alerts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If home automation systems use traditional local notification methods, then system complexity is reduced, but notification effectiveness and response time deteriorate when occupants are outside the premises

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a remote server as an intermediary between the detection device and the user's mobile device. The detection device sends hazard notifications to the server, which then relays them to the user's smartphone or tablet via wireless network, enabling reliable remote notification without requiring direct communication between detection and user devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from local physical notification (bells, lights within the premises) to remote digital notification through wireless networks and mobile devices, adding a spatial dimension that allows occupants to receive alerts anywhere with network connectivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If the system provides comprehensive hazard detection and remote notification capabilities, then safety response effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety response effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a universal communication protocol and standard wireless technologies (WiFi, cellular) that allow the detection device, server, and mobile devices to communicate without proprietary complex interfaces. The mobile device serves multiple functions including receiving alerts, displaying maps, providing navigation, and system control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects hazards, sends notifications to the server, and relays them to the user's device without requiring manual intervention. The server automatically manages message routing and delivery, reducing the need for complex user-side configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the system integrates multiple alert devices and notification methods, then hazard response capability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehazard response capabilityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple alert methods (local bells, lights, remote mobile notifications, map location display, navigation guidance) into a single integrated system managed through a simple mobile interface. Users interact with one application that coordinates all alert devices and provides comprehensive hazard response information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3323119B1Safety automation system and method of operation
Publication Date: 2019.10.09 CARRIER CORP
  • EP3323119B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3323119B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3323119B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A safety automation system (20) for an occupiable structure and method of operation includes a plurality of detection devices (30) to facilitate the detection of a hazard condition and output a hazard detected signal to a computing management system (44) that may be a cloud computing system. The management system includes a computer processor (46), and a computer readable storage medium (48) capable of generating various notifications to a mobile user interface device (32).