Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Patent
1989-11-14
1991-02-05
Swann, III, Glen R.
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
324103R, 324113, 340664, 364554, G08B 2100
Patent
active
049908936
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for an alarm system, intended in particular for the monitoring of service apartments.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Apartments intended for elderly and/or handicapped persons are now usually equipped with alarm devices, for example alarm buttons, which can be positioned next to the bed, in the bathroom and/or immediately above floor-level at various points in the apartment.
Also previously disclosed (see Swedish Publication No. 355 683) is the execution of alarm systems connected to the toilet flushing system. The manner in which the system functions is that the alarm is given if flushing does not take place for a certain period.
Alarm systems are also familiar in industry. See European Patent No. 0 049 659, which relates to the acoustical monitoring of industrial installations, whereby unforeseen phenomena are detected by the measurement and signal processing of sound waves at different sensor locations.
The alarm systems referred to above suffer from certain disadvantages and do not solve problems which can occur in the circumstances described above. For example, appliances, hot plates or irons can be left on by mistake, resulting in overheating and the risk of fire. The previously disclosed systems are also unable to show whether the occupant of the apartment has modified his/her pattern of living, for example by using the cooker and other appliances at unusual times, which may be taken as an indication that everything is not right. Furthermore, the previously disclosed systems do not indicate with sufficient rapidity any deviations from the normal pattern of behaviour. For example, if the occupant of the apartment falls and is unable to reach the alarm button, it can take many hours, and even up to 24 hours, before the toilet flush alarm is triggered and help arrives.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention indicates a method for an alarm system which rapidly triggers an alarm if changes take place compared with what is the normal pattern for the apartment. These alarms can be of different kinds, depending on the degree of urgency. It is thus possible, with the help of the invention, to establish whether, and to trigger an alarm of a certain type in the appropriate case, the consumption of electricity during a certain period is higher than normal, which can be caused by leaving an appliance, etc., switched on by mistake. Low electricity consumption during a certain period can also be identified, indicating that the occupant of the apartment is ill, and initiating a different type of alarm. An alarm can also be triggered if an increase in electricity consumption, which is normal at lunchtime, for example, does not occur or is chronologically displaced, which can also be taken as an indication that the occupant of the apartment is not well.
The alarm system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention functions in the following manner. The energy consumption of the apartment in question is recorded in a computer over a period of several weeks. The results are presented in the form of a reference curve or standard curve for each apartment. Extreme values or values which occur only occasionally are filtered out in conjunction with this. Thereafter the actual energy consumption is compared with the standard curve, for example with a reading being taken every minute. Alarms of different kinds are triggered if the values differ by a predetermined amount.
The characterizing features of the invention can be appreciated from the following Patent Claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is now described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which relate to one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 shows a curve for the actual electricity consumption. FIG. 3 shows a curve for the normal distribution of the electricity consumption.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The system illustrated in FIG. 1 consists of an electricity supply cabinet
REFERENCES:
patent: 4012732 (1977-03-01), Herrick
patent: 4147978 (1979-04-01), Hicks
patent: 4253151 (1981-02-01), Bouve
patent: 4524243 (1985-06-01), Shapiro
patent: 4568934 (1986-02-01), Allgood
patent: 4858141 (1989-08-01), Hart et al.
LandOfFree
Method in alarm system, including recording of energy consumptio does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method in alarm system, including recording of energy consumptio, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method in alarm system, including recording of energy consumptio will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-12536