US6747557B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for signaling a weather alert condition to a residential environment
Assignee: Landis and Gyr Technologies LLC
•
Filing: 2000-10-31
•
Granted: 2004-06-08
•
Expires: 2020-10-31
Abstract
Abstract As system and method are provided for communicating weather conditions to remote locations, such as inside of residential homes, offices, or businesses. In accordance with one embodiment, a modified smoke detector is provided having an integrated RF receiver for receiving message packets containing information that may be conveyed through its speaker, buzzer, or other sound-emanating device. In accordance with another embodiment, a system is provided. The system which may include a mechanism for detecting a weather condition, a wireless transmitter in communication with the mechanism for detecting a weather condition, wherein the wireless transmitter configured to receive a signal from the means for detecting a weather condition and transmit a corresponding signal via electromagnetic waves. The system may also include a receiver remotely located from the wireless transmitter, the receiver configured to receive the electromagnetic signal transmitted from the smoke detector. Finally, the system may include a sound-emanating device, and a sound control mechanism for controlling the sound-emanating device, wherein the sound control mechanism is responsive to the electromagnetic signal received by the receiver. In yet another embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes steps of: (1) determining that a weather condition (e.g., severe weather condition) exists, (2) transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal containing information about the weather condition, (3) receiving the RF signal with a RF receiver disposed in a smoke detector (or other device), and (4) sounding a buzzer (or other sound emanating device) in response to receiving the RF signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas D. Petite
- 👤 Zachary Thomas Petite
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:34
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q9/00; G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/042; G05B19/418; G05B19/4185; G08; G08B; G08B25/00; G08B25/007; G08B25/009; G08C; G08C17/00; G08C17/02; H04L; H04L69/00; H04L69/08; H04L69/085; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04M; H04M11/00; H04M11/04; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/20; G05B2219/25; G05B2219/25198; G08C2201/00; G08C2201/40; G08C2201/42; G08C2201/50; G08C2201/51; H04Q2209/00; H04Q2209/80; H04Q2209/82; H04Q2209/823
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A severe weather alert system comprising: a severe weather detector configured to detect a severe weather condition; a radio frequency (RF) transmitter in communication with the severe weather detector, the RF transmitter configured to transmit a signal in response to a signal received from the severe weather detector via RF electromagnetic waves; a smoke detector having an RF receiver configured to receive the RF signal transmitted from the RF transmitter, the smoke detector further including circuitry to control a sound emanating device to emit a unique sound to indicate a severe weather condition; discriminator circuitry configured to determine whether the received RF signal is destined for the smoke detector; and an RF transmitter within the smoke detector, wherein the RF transmitter of the smoke detector is configured to relay the received RF signal if the discriminator circuitry determines that the received RF signal is not destined for the smoke detector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A severe weather alert system comprising: a severe weather detector configured to detect a severe weather condition; a radio frequency (RF) transmitter in communication with the severe weather detector, the RF transmitter configured to transmit a signal in response to a signal received from the severe weather detector via RF electromagnetic waves; a smoke detector having an RF receiver configured to receive the RF signal transmitted from the RF transmitter, the smoke detector further including circuitry to control a sound emanating device to emit a unique sound to indicate a severe weather condition; discriminator circuitry configured to determine whether the received RF signal is destined for the smoke detector; and an RF transmitter within the smoke detector, wherein the RF transmitter of the smoke detector is configured to relay the received RF signal if the discriminator circuitry determines that the received RF signal is not destined for the smoke detector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The severe weather alert system of claim 1 , wherein the severe weather detector is a meteorological weather center.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The severe weather alert system of claim 1 , wherein the severe weather detector is a human.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The severe weather alert system of claim 1 , wherein the severe weather detector is a weather gauge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The severe weather alert system of claim 1 , wherein the RF transmitter is in communication with the severe weather detector via a public switched telephone network (PSTN).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The severe weather alert system of claim 1 , wherein the RF transmitter is in communication with the severe weather detector via a wide area computer network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The severe weather alert system of claim 1 , wherein the RF transmitter is in communication with the severe weather detector via a cellular link.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The severe weather alert system of claim 1 , wherein the RF transmitter is in communication with the severe weather detector via a RF link.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The severe weather alert system of claim 1 , wherein the smoke detector further includes a sound control mechanism configured to control the sound emitted from the sound emanating device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The severe weather alert system of claim 9 , wherein the sound control mechanism is configured to control the sound emanating device to emit a sound that is distinct from the sound emitted from the smoke detector when signaling a smoke detector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The severe weather alert system of claim 9 , further including a second sound emanating device, wherein the second sound emanating device is controlled by conventional smoke detector circuitry.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The severe weather alert system of claim 1 , wherein the sound emanating device is a piezoelectric buzzer.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for signaling a severe weather condition comprising the steps of: determining that a severe weather condition exists; transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal containing information about the severe weather condition; receiving the RF signal with a RF receiver disposed in a smoke detector; determining whether the smoke detector is a destination detector for the RF signal; and sounding a buzzer of the smoke detector in response to receiving the RF signal, if it is determined that the smoke detector is a destination detector for the RF signal; and relaying the received RF signal to another smoke detector, if it is determined that the smoke detector is not a destination detector for the RF signal.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for signaling a severe weather condition comprising the steps of: determining that a severe weather condition exists; transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal containing information about the severe weather condition; receiving the RF signal with a RF receiver disposed in a smoke detector; determining whether the smoke detector is a destination detector for the RF signal; and sounding a buzzer of the smoke detector in response to receiving the RF signal, if it is determined that the smoke detector is a destination detector for the RF signal; and relaying the received RF signal to another smoke detector, if it is determined that the smoke detector is not a destination detector for the RF signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 13 , further including the step of communicating a signal indicative of a severe weather condition to the RF transmitter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of communicating a signal includes communicating the signal across a public switched telephone network (PSTN).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of communicating a signal includes communicating the signal across a cellular link.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of communicating a signal includes communicating the signal across a wide area computer network.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of sounding the buzzer sounds the buzzer to emit a sound different than the buzzer emits when sounding a smoke detector.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of determining that a severe weather condition exists includes forecasting a severe weather condition.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for signaling a weather condition comprising the steps of: determining that a weather condition exists; transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal containing information about the weather condition; receiving the RF signal with a RF receiver disposed in a smoke detector; determining whether the smoke detector is a destination detector for the RF signal; and causing a device to emit an audible sound in response to receiving the RF signal, if it is determined that the smoke detector is a destination detector for the RF signal; and relaying the received RF signal to another smoke detector, if it is determined that the smoke detector is not a destination detector for the RF signal.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for signaling a weather condition comprising the steps of: determining that a weather condition exists; transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal containing information about the weather condition; receiving the RF signal with a RF receiver disposed in a smoke detector; determining whether the smoke detector is a destination detector for the RF signal; and causing a device to emit an audible sound in response to receiving the RF signal, if it is determined that the smoke detector is a destination detector for the RF signal; and relaying the received RF signal to another smoke detector, if it is determined that the smoke detector is not a destination detector for the RF signal.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for signaling a weather condition comprising: means for detecting a weather condition; a wireless transmitter in communication with the means for detecting a weather condition, the wireless transmitter configured to transmit a signal in response to a detected weather condition via electromagnetic waves; a receiver remotely located from the wireless transmitter, the receiver configured to receive the electromagnetic signal transmitted from the wireless transmitter; a sound emanating device; discriminator circuitry configured to determine whether the received wireless signal is destined for the receiver; an RF transmitter coupled to the receiver, wherein the RF transmitter is configured to relay the received signal if the discriminator circuitry determines that the received wireless signal is not destined for the receiver; and sound control means for controlling the sound emanating device, the sound control means being responsive to the electromagnetic signal received by the receiver, if the discriminator circuitry determines that the received wireless signal is destined for the receiver.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for signaling a weather condition comprising: means for detecting a weather condition; a wireless transmitter in communication with the means for detecting a weather condition, the wireless transmitter configured to transmit a signal in response to a detected weather condition via electromagnetic waves; a receiver remotely located from the wireless transmitter, the receiver configured to receive the electromagnetic signal transmitted from the wireless transmitter; a sound emanating device; discriminator circuitry configured to determine whether the received wireless signal is destined for the receiver; an RF transmitter coupled to the receiver, wherein the RF transmitter is configured to relay the received signal if the discriminator circuitry determines that the received wireless signal is not destined for the receiver; and sound control means for controlling the sound emanating device, the sound control means being responsive to the electromagnetic signal received by the receiver, if the discriminator circuitry determines that the received wireless signal is destined for the receiver.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein the receiver is disposed inside a smoke detector.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein the sound control means includes circuitry configured to output a signal that is input to the sound emanating device.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein the wireless transmitter is an RF transmitter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5999094A
Cited
US4949077A
Cited
US5451929A
Cited
US5289165A
Cited
US5628050A
Cited
US5726634A
Cited
US6075451A
Cited
US5644294A
Cited
US5905438A
Cited
US5889468A
Cited
US6031455A
Cited
US6121885A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-06-08 | 2007-12-08 | 2008-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-06-08 | 2011-12-08 | 2012-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-06-08 | 2015-12-08 | 2016-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |