Voice-Activated Building Safety System for Visually Impaired Users

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Solution Overview

Problem

Visually impaired individuals face difficulties in locating and activating fire safety pull stations, especially in unfamiliar environments, and existing systems lack effective methods for them to signal emergency events to emergency responders.

Innovation Solution

A speech-recognition-enabled building safety system that receives voice inputs, determines responses based on speech recognition data, and activates appropriate notifications or directions to emergency devices, such as pull stations or exits, using integrated voice-activated emergency event interfaces in fire safety devices and other building devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional pull stations with braille markings are used, then visually impaired individuals can theoretically locate them, but in practice it remains very difficult for visually-impaired individuals to locate pull stations in unfamiliar buildings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of locating pull stationVSAvoidloss of spatial orientation information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/tactile search process (following braille markings physically) with an acoustic system. Audio sensors detect the user's presence and voice commands, and audio speakers provide directional guidance, substituting the mechanical navigation process with an acoustic field-based system that provides real-time spatial orientation information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary system between the visually impaired user and the pull station. The audio guidance system acts as a mediator that processes the user's location and provides step-by-step directional instructions, bridging the gap between the user's limited spatial awareness and the location of emergency devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If manual pull stations are required for fire safety activation, then the system remains simple and reliable, but visually impaired individuals cannot effectively activate the system without locating the physical device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of fire safety activationVSAvoidease of activating fire alarm

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical activation process (physically pulling a station) with voice-activated electronic activation. The audio sensor detects specific voice commands, and the system electronically triggers the fire alarm and notification devices, eliminating the need for physical contact with the pull station while maintaining system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables users to activate emergency services through voice commands without requiring physical location or manual manipulation of equipment. The audio recognition system processes natural speech and automatically initiates the appropriate safety responses, allowing the system to serve itself through intelligent voice interpretation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If speech recognition technology is integrated into building safety devices, then visually impaired individuals can easily activate emergency responses, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of voice activationVSAvoidcomplexity of integrated system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies multi-functionality by integrating audio sensors, speech recognition capabilities, and multiple notification methods (audio speakers, visual strobes) into a single building safety system. This universal device can detect user presence, recognize voice commands, provide directional guidance, and trigger emergency responses, replacing multiple separate systems with one integrated solution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If audio guidance and voice recognition are added to pull stations, then the system becomes accessible to visually impaired users, but the cost and complexity of installation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to visually impaired usersVSAvoidease of system installation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the building safety system into modular components: audio sensors integrated into existing detectors, independent speech recognition modules, and distributed audio speakers. This segmentation allows for phased installation and integration with existing building systems, reducing the complexity and cost of full system deployment while maintaining adaptability to visually impaired users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10796539B2Visually-impaired-accessible building safety system

Publication Date: 2020.10.06 SIEMENS INDUSTRY INC

AI summary

Building safety systems, methods, and mediums are provided. A method includes receiving a voice input by the building safety system. The method includes receiving voice data produced by a speech recognition process performed on the voice input. The method includes determining a response to the voice input based on the voice data. The method includes producing the response by the building safety system.