Mobile user interface for event notifications arising from smart-home hazard detection devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Interconnected hazard detection systems in homes are not effective when no one is present, as they rely on alarms that may not prevent property damage, and users find it inconvenient to adjust settings on standalone detectors, especially those mounted high on walls or ceilings.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to remotely access and control hazard detectors through a mobile interface, enabling the transmission of hazard events to a computer server and displaying alerts on mobile devices, along with the ability to adjust settings from a mobile device, facilitating remote monitoring and management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hazard detectors are mounted high on walls or ceilings for optimal detection coverage, then detection effectiveness is improved, but ease of adjusting settings deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a remote device (smartphone, tablet, or computer) as an intermediary between the user and the hazard detector. This intermediary communicates with the detector via a network connection, allowing users to adjust settings without physically accessing the high-mounted detector. The remote device serves as a mediator that bridges the gap between the user's location and the detector's optimal mounting position.
2Device complexity
If hazard detectors rely on local alarms only, then device complexity is minimized, but effectiveness when no one is present deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hazard detector is enhanced with multiple functions beyond local alarming. It now includes network communication capabilities to send notifications to remote devices, providing both local and remote alerting functions. This multi-functionality ensures the system remains effective whether occupants are present or absent, while the added complexity is justified by the significant improvement in reliability.
3Device complexity
If users must physically access detectors to adjust settings, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of time for configuration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of physically accessing the detector (climbing ladders, reaching high locations) with an electronic/digital system. Users interact with a graphical user interface on a remote device to adjust settings, which are then transmitted electronically to the detector. This substitution eliminates the time-consuming physical access requirement while introducing network communication and software interface components.
Data Source
AI summary
System for displaying hazard events and adjusting hazard detector settings on a mobile device includes a user interface executed on the mobile device, a hazard detector, and a computer server system communicatively coupled to the mobile device and hazard detector. The hazard detector generates hazard events indicating detection of smoke or carbon monoxide. The hazard events are transmitted to the computer server system and then to the mobile device. User interface displays the hazard events in an event group. User interface receives an adjusted value for a setting of the hazard detector and transmits the adjusted value to the computer server system. The computer server system determines that the adjusted value corresponds to the hazard detector, receives a check-in event from the hazard detector, and transmits the adjusted value to the hazard detector in response to receiving the check-in event. The hazard detector applies the adjusted value to the setting.