Smart hazard detector drills

{
  "publication_number": "US10121361B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Smart hazard detector drills",
  "abstract": "Systems and methods for initiating a drill by receiving an indication to start a drill. Initiating the drill also includes verifying that a remote device used to initiate the drill is within proximity of a device used to propagate the drill. Once proximity is verified, the drill is conducted.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method for conducting building safety, comprising: receiving, via an interface of an electronic device, an indication to conduct a safety drill; instructing, via a wireless interface of the electronic device, a hazard detector to emit a sound in response to the indication to conduct the safety drill, wherein the sound prompts occupants of the building to perform a safety drill; verifying, based on sensor data, that the occupants satisfactorily completed the safety drill, wherein the verifying comprises evaluating wireless signal strength between the electronic device and at least one device within the building, including the hazard detector to confirm whether the electronic device has sufficiently distanced itself from the building; transmitting a report to an insurance company associated with the building that indicates that the drill occurred and was completed; and receiving an acknowledgement that an insurance account of the insurance company has been updated and that a cost component relating to the insurance account has been maintained or adjusted based on said completion of the safety drill.",
    "2. The method of claim 1, comprising: displaying, on the electronic device, a success screen that indicates information about the safety drill.",
    "3. The method of claim 2, wherein the success screen comprises the acknowledgement.",
    "4. The method of claim 1, wherein the verifying using sensor data comprises obtaining data via at least one hazard detector or at least one thermostat.",
    "5. The method of claim 4, comprising using additional smart devices in a smart network comprising the at least one hazard detector and at least one thermostat to assist in conducting the safety drill.",
    "6. The method of claim 1, wherein the verifying using sensor data comprises confirming evacuation of the building.",
    "7. The method of claim 1, wherein the verifying comprises corroborating that a number of people exiting the building is at least equal to a percentage of people associated with a profile of the building or equal to a number of people detected in the building.",
    "8. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost component is a rebate.",
    "9. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost component is a premium discount.",
    "10. The method of claim 9, wherein the premium discount is proportional to the number of times the safety drill is successfully performed within a given time frame.",
    "11. An electronic device comprising: an input interface; a processor; and memory storing instructions, that when executed, are configured to cause the processor to: receive, via the input interface, an indication to initiate a safety drill; connect to a hazard detector, via a wireless interface, and instruct the hazard detector to emit a sound in response to the indication to conduct the safety drill, wherein the sound prompts occupants of the building to perform a safety drill; verify, based on sensor data, that the occupants satisfactorily completed the safety drill by evaluating wireless signal strength between the electronic device and at least one device within the building, including the hazard detector to confirm whether the electronic device has sufficiently distanced itself from the building; transmit a report to an insurance company associated with the building that indicates that the drill occurred and was completed; and receive an acknowledgement that an insurance account of the insurance company has been updated and that a cost component relating to the insurance account has been maintained or adjusted based on said completion of the safety drill.",
    "12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to display a success screen that indicates information about the safety drill.",
    "13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the success screen comprises the acknowledgement.",
    "14. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to obtain data via at least one hazard detector or at least one thermostat.",
    "15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the instructions are configured to use additional smart devices in a smart network comprising the at least one hazard detector and at least one thermostat to assist in conducting the safety drill.",
    "16. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to confirm evacuation of the building.",
    "17. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to corroborate that a number of people exiting the building is at least equal to a percentage of people associated with a profile of the building or equal to a number of people detected in the building.",
    "18. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the cost component is a rebate.",
    "19. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the cost component is a premium discount.",
    "20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the premium discount is proportional to the number of times the safety drill is successfully performed within a given time frame."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This disclosure relates to systems, devices, methods, and related computer program products for smart buildings including the smart home. More particularly, this patent specification relates to detection units, such as hazard detection units (e.g., smoke detectors. carbon monoxide sensors, etc.) or other monitoring devices, that are useful in smart building and smart home environments and drills to prepare for an actual emergency.\n\nSome homes today are equipped with smart home networks to provide automated control of devices, appliances and systems, such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) systems, lighting systems, alarm systems, and home theater and entertainment systems. Smart home networks may include control panels that a person may use to input settings, preferences, and scheduling information that the smart home network uses to provide automated control the various devices, appliances and systems in the home. For example, a person may input a desired temperature and a schedule indicating when the person is away from home. The home automation system uses this information to control the HVAC system to heat or cool the home to the desired temperature when the person is home, and to conserve energy by turning off power-consuming components of the HVAC system when the person is away from the home. Also, for example, a person may input a preferred nighttime lighting scheme for watching television. In response, when the person turns on the television at nighttime, the home automation system automatically adjusts the lighting in the room to the preferred scheme.",
  "cpc": [
    "G08B 29/14",
    "G08B 17/10",
    "G08B 17/113",
    "G08B 21/10",
    "G08B 25/10",
    "G08B 29/188",
    "G08B 29/24",
    "H04W 4/90",
    "H05K 999/99"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G08B 17/10",
    "G08B 21/10",
    "G08B 25/10",
    "G08B 29/14",
    "H04W 4/90",
    "G08B 29/00",
    "G08B 29/18",
    "G08B 29/24"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Google LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Julia R. Deluliis",
    "David Sloo",
    "Ted S. Boda",
    "Anthony Michael Fadell"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2017-05-15",
  "publication_date": "2018-11-06",
  "grant_date": "2018-11-06",
  "priority_date": "2014-04-07",
  "application_number": "US-201715595610-A",
  "family_id": "54210260",
  "cited_by_count": 9,
  "citations": [
    "US20030135324A1",
    "US20090079575A1",
    "US7221928B2",
    "US20090138353A1",
    "US20090247116A1",
    "US7579945B1",
    "US20110241877A1",
    "US20110161239A1",
    "US9672728B2"
  ]
}