Security System Auto-Arm False Alarm Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Security systems often generate false alarms when automatically arming while individuals are still present, leading to unnecessary resource allocation and waste due to the lack of detection for human presence before activating the 'away' mode.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines if motion sensors detect events within a premises and checks for exit signals before auto-arming, allowing for adjustments in the arming mode, such as delaying or canceling the auto-arm process if no exit signal is generated, and notifying the owner and monitoring station.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the security system automatically arms in away mode at a scheduled time, then the system achieves automation and convenience, but false alarms are generated when people are still present in the premises
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of motion and exit signals before executing the automatic arm command. A detection period is established prior to the scheduled arm time, during which motion sensors monitor for presence and exit sensors monitor for departure. Only after confirming no motion and detecting an exit signal does the system proceed with auto-arming, thus preventing false alarms while maintaining automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring motion sensors and exit sensors during the detection period. The automatic arm command is conditioned on feedback from these sensors - specifically, the absence of motion detection and the presence of an exit signal. This feedback loop ensures the system only arms when appropriate, resolving the contradiction between automation and reliability.
2Loss of information
If the system provides an auto-arm warning message before arming, then users are notified, but the system still arms even when people are present causing false alarms
Solution Approach 1:
The warning message is provided during a detection period that precedes the actual arm time. This preliminary notification is followed by continued monitoring for motion and exit signals. The system only completes the arming sequence if no motion is detected and an exit signal is received, thus the warning serves as both notification and initiation of the verification process, preventing false alarms.
Solution Approach 2:
The warning message triggers a feedback verification process where the system monitors sensors during the detection period. The arming command is contingent on feedback confirming no motion and detecting exit. This transforms the warning from a simple notification into the start of a verification sequence that prevents false alarms.
3Measurement precision
If motion sensors detect events during the detection period, then the system can identify presence, but without exit signal verification, the system cannot distinguish between temporary motion and permanent presence
Solution Approach 1:
The exit signal acts as an intermediary indicator that mediates between motion detection and the auto-arm decision. Motion sensors detect presence, but the exit signal provides additional information about departure intent. The combination of no motion detected plus exit signal received serves as the intermediary condition that confirms it's appropriate to arm, resolving the ambiguity of temporary versus permanent presence.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from both motion sensors and exit sensors to make the auto-arm decision. Motion detection provides one layer of information about presence, while exit signal detection provides complementary feedback about departure. The conjunction of these feedback signals - no motion and exit detected - creates a reliable indicator for safe auto-arming.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for reducing false alarms for a security system when the security system is programmed to automatically arm the security system. The method reduces false alarms by preventing the security system to auto-arm the system in away mode based upon certain detected events within the premises. The method comprise the steps of determining if a current time equals or is within a predetermined detection period, judging whether at least one of a plurality of motion sensors have detected an event within a protected area during the predetermined detection period, determining if a premises exit signal has been generated within a predetermined period from said detected movement, generating an automatic arm adjustment signal based upon said detected event and the premises edit signal; and executing a modification to the programmed automatic arm based upon the automatic arm adjustment signal. The method will also notify the owner that the auto-arm mode failed.