Suspended Alarm Status Indicator for False Alarm Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic alarm monitoring systems often generate false alarms due to users being unaware of the system's status, leading to reduced security, increased costs, and unnecessary burdens on first responders, as existing status indicators are not readily visible or noticeable near alarm triggering devices.
Innovation Solution
A system that analyzes input data from various sensors and devices to provide a human-perceptible indication of the alarm system's status, using visual, auditory, or vibrational cues before an alarm is triggered, ensuring users are aware of the system's state and preventing false alarms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If status indicators are placed on keypads or security panels, then the system can display status information, but users may not notice the indicators because these devices are not frequently interacted with or visible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the status indicator from traditional two-dimensional display locations (keypads, panels) to a three-dimensional spatial location - suspended in the environment above the entryway. This dimensional change makes the indicator visible from multiple angles and distances, ensuring users cannot miss it when approaching the entrance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a intermediate indicator device that mediates between the alarm system and the user. This suspended indicator acts as a visual intermediary that communicates system status (armed/disarmed) before the user even interacts with the keypad or panel, providing advance warning.
2Loss of information
If repetitive annunciations are emitted from sirens to alert users, then users may be notified of system status, but this imposes additional operational costs and disturbs pets at the premises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the acoustic/mechanical siren system with an optical/electronic visual indicator system. The suspended indicator uses LEDs or other visual elements to communicate status, eliminating the need for audible warnings that cause disturbance and operational costs while maintaining effective user notification.
3Device complexity
If no status indication is provided near alarm triggering devices, then the system remains simple, but users are unaware of the system state and may trigger false alarms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the alarm system into distinct functional components: the alarm triggering devices remain simple and unchanged, while a separate suspended indicator system provides status information. This segmentation allows the indicator to be added without complicating the core alarm devices, maintaining simplicity while improving reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for processing input data for an alarm monitoring system at a premises. Input data is received in proximity to an alarm triggering device. The input data is analyzed along with other data. An indication is generated based on the analysis as to whether actuation of an alarm triggering device could occur. Based on the indication and/or the analysis, a human-perceptible indication is initiated of the status of an alarm monitoring system at the premises, in proximity to a person and/or prior to actuating an alarm triggering device. An indication may be a color of light, change in light color, audio tone, change in audio tone, vibration, and/or change in vibration.