Fire Alarm Device Audio Image Analytics for First Responder Object Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fire alarm systems lack reliability in determining the existence of objects of interest during emergencies, as external systems like access control and video surveillance often fail due to lack of secondary power sources and complex interdependencies, making information inaccessible to first responders during fires.
Innovation Solution
Integrating audio and image capture capabilities into fire alarm devices with analytics systems to locally determine the presence of objects of interest, which then send signals to the fire alarm panel for notification, ensuring reliable data processing and communication within the fire alarm system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external systems (access control, video surveillance) are used to determine objects of interest, then information about objects of interest can be obtained, but reliability fails during emergencies due to lack of secondary power sources and complex interdependencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fire alarm system with object detection capabilities by integrating audio and image sensors into existing fire alarm devices. This merging eliminates the need for separate external systems like access control and video surveillance, thereby improving reliability during emergencies while reducing overall system complexity and interdependencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire alarm devices are enhanced to perform multiple functions: traditional fire detection and new object detection capabilities. By making fire alarm devices universal platforms that can both detect fire and identify objects of interest, the patent eliminates reliance on specialized external systems, improving reliability while simplifying the system architecture.
2Loss of information
If external systems are used to capture audio and image information, then object detection is possible, but accessibility to first responders deteriorates due to difficult-to-find control components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges object detection control functions into the fire alarm panel, which is a familiar and accessible component for first responders. By combining audio/image capture and object detection analytics into the existing fire alarm infrastructure, the system ensures that control components are easily locatable while maintaining full object information availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire alarm system automatically performs object detection and provides information to first responders without requiring manual activation or interaction with separate external systems. The analytics system processes audio and image data autonomously, and the fire alarm panel automatically presents object information, eliminating the need for first responders to navigate complex external system interfaces.
3Reliability
If fire alarm devices process audio and image data locally, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into two functional parts: fire alarm devices that capture audio and image data, and a fire alarm panel with analytics capability that processes the data. This segmentation allows local data capture at simple devices while concentrating complex processing at the central panel, maintaining reliability through local processing capability while managing device complexity through functional distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire alarm panel acts as an intermediary between the simple audio/image capture devices and the object detection analytics function. The panel receives raw sensor data from distributed fire alarm devices, performs or coordinates the analytics processing, and presents results to first responders. This intermediary role allows local data capture without requiring complex processing at each distributed device.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for object location notification in a fire alarm system is disclosed. The fire alarm system includes a fire alarm panel and fire alarm devices deployed within a premises that capture audio and/or image information. The fire alarm panel generates alarm signals and provides notifications of the existence of objects of interest from the audio and/or image information captured by the fire alarm devices. In examples, the fire alarm devices include alarm notification devices that generate an audible and/or visible fire alarm to occupants of the premises such as sirens and strobe lights, and fire sensor devices such as flame sensor devices and smoke sensor devices that monitor for flame and smoke as the indications of fire, respectively. In one embodiment, an analytics system is integrated within the fire alarm devices that determines the existence of the objects of interest from the captured audio and/or image information.