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WO-2026096958-A2 - SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LOCAL CONTROL OF EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION DEVICES

WO2026096958A2WO 2026096958 A2WO2026096958 A2WO 2026096958A2WO-2026096958-A2

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for controlling emergency notification devices, such as smoke and CO alarms, through remote devices while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. By determining the proximity of a remote controlling device, like a thermostat, to the alarm using local area networks such as Bluetooth® or a Home Area Network (HAN), the system verifies user presence at the alarm location. The disclosed technology provides functionality for silencing of emergency notification devices from the remote device interface, enhancing convenience and safety. The framework can be applied to various alarm systems and remote devices, ensuring accurate location verification through network analysis. The system prevents unauthorized silencing by requiring proximity confirmation. Such innovative approach addresses the limitations of traditional alarm systems, which require direct interaction, by providing a compliant and user-friendly solution for remote alarm management.

Inventors

  • VANDENBUSSCHE, Brett
  • Read, Travis J.
  • MEINICKE, Krzysztof
  • JUNTUNEN, ROBERT

Assignees

  • RESIDEO LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251031
Priority Date
20241101

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A method comprising: determining a first network connection of a first device; determining a second network connection of a second device; analyzing the first network connection and the second network connection; determining, based on the analysis, whether the first device and the second device are connected to a same local communication network; and enabling control of the second device by the first device based on the determination, the control corresponding to the determination as to whether the first network connection and the second network connection are the same local communication network.
  2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the local communication network includes a limited range.
  3. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first device and the second device are connected within the limited range type of network.
  4. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the limited range includes a wireless range determined by a wireless broadcast signal.
  5. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the wireless broadcast signal includes a Bluetooth® signal.
  6. 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the wireless broadcast signal includes a Wi-Fi signal.
  7. 7. The method of claim 3, wherein the first device includes a thermostat.
  8. 8. The method of claim 7, w herein the second device includes a smoke alarm or a carbon monoxide alarm.
  9. 9. A system comprising: Attorney Docket No. 203863-217301/PCT Resideo Ref. No. R214491-WO Electronically Filed: October 31, 2025 a first device. a second device, and one or more computers comprising one or more processors and one or more non- transitory computer readable media, the one or more non-transitory computer readable media comprising program instructions stored thereon that when executed, cause the one or more computers to: determine a first network connection of the first device; determine a second network connection of the second device; analyze the first network connection and the second network connection; determine, based on the analysis, whether the first device and the second device are connected to a same local communication network; and enable control of the second device by the first device based on the determination, the control corresponding to the determination as to whether the first network connection and the second network connection are the same local communication network.
  10. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the local communication network includes a limited range type of network.
  11. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first device and the second device are configured to connect within the limited range.
  12. 12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the limited range includes a wireless range determined by a wireless broadcast signal.
  13. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless broadcast signal includes a Bluetooth® signal.
  14. 14. The system of claim 12, further comprising the wireless broadcast signal including a Wi-Fi signal.
  15. 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the first device includes a computing device configured to enable user input. Attorney Docket No. 203863-217301/PCT Resideo Ref. No. R214491-WO Electronically Filed: October 31, 2025
  16. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second device includes an emergency notification device configured to produce an audible sound.
  17. 17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium tangibly encoded with computerexecutable instructions, that when executed by a processor, perform a method comprising: determining a first network connection of a first device; determining a second network connection of a second device; analyzing the first network connection and the second network connection; determining, based on the analysis, whether the first device and the second device are connected to a same local communication network; and enabling control of the second device by the first device based on the determination, the control corresponding to the determination as to whether the first network connection and the second network connection are the same local communication network.
  18. 18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the local communication network includes a limited range type of network; and wherein the first device and the second device are connected within the limited range.
  19. 19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the limited range includes a wireless range determined by a wireless broadcast signal.
  20. 20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the local communication network includes one or more of Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, a near-field communication (NFC), or a home area network (HAN).

Description

Attorney Docket No. 203863-217301/PCT Resideo Ref. No. R214491-WO Electronically Filed: October 31, 2025 SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LOCAL CONTROL OF EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION DEVICES CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of, and priority to, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/715,199 filed November 1, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE [0002] The present disclosure relates to alarm control mechanisms, and more particularly, to a system that determines the proximity of a remote controlling device to an emergency notification device, such as a smoke and/or carbon monoxide (CO) alarm device, silencing of the notification and/or alarm from the remote device while ensuring compliance with regulatory7 requirements. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE [0003] Alarm systems, such as smoke and CO alarms, require mechanisms to ensure that silencing commands are executed only when the user is present at the alarm location. Traditional methods rely on direct interaction with the alarm device, which can be inconvenient and may not comply with regulatory requirements for remote silencing. [0004] To that end, according to some embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods provide a novel framework to determine the proximity of a remote controlling device, such as a thermostat, to a smoke and/or CO alarm device. By utilizing Bluetooth, Home Area Network (HAN), or other local area networks, the system can infer that the thermostat is local to the alarm device, thereby allowing the alarm to be silenced from the thermostat interface. This ensures compliance with regulatory requirements by proving the user's presence at the alarm location. [0005] It should be understood that while the discussion herein focuses on smoke and CO alarms, the embodiments described should not be construed as limiting, as other types of alarm systems can be the basis of the disclosed framework’s operation without departing from the scope of the instant disclosure. For example, the framework can be implemented in fire alarms, security7 alarms, and other ty pes of alert systems. Moreover, while the discussion herein mayfocus on thermostats, it should not be so limited, as one of skill in the art would recognize that Attorney Docket No. 203863-217301/PCT Resideo Ref. No. R214491-WO Electronically Filed: October 31, 2025 embodiments exist, without departing from the scope of the instant disclosure, where other ty pes of remote controlling devices can be utilized. [0006] According to some embodiments, a method is disclosed that automatically and dynamically determines the proximity' of a remote controlling device to an alarm device to enable silencing functionality. In accordance with some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for carrying out the above- mentioned technical steps of the framework’s functionality. The non-transitory' computer- readable storage medium has tangibly stored thereon, or tangibly encoded thereon, computer- readable instructions that when executed by a device cause at least one processor to perform a method that determines proximity for alarm silencing. [0007] In accordance with one or more embodiments, a system is provided that includes one or more processors and/or computing devices configured to provide functionality7 in accordance with such embodiments. In accordance with one or more embodiments, functionality' is embodied in steps of a method performed by at least one computing device. In accordance with one or more embodiments, program code (or program logic) executed by a processor(s) of a computing device to implement functionality in accordance with one or more such embodiments is embodied in, by and/or on a non-transitory computer-readable medium. DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] The features, and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the following description of embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the various views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating principles of the disclosure: [0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example configuration within which the systems and methods disclosed herein could be implemented according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; [0010] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of an exemplary system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; [0011] FIG. 3 illustrates an example environment where the disclosed systems and methods can be implemented according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; [0012] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary workflow according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; Attorney Docket No. 203863-217301/PCT Resideo Ref. No. R214491-WO Electronically Filed: October 31, 2025 [0013] FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary