CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATION

[001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/993,605, filed, March 23, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

[002] The present disclosure relates to a network of devices for the detection of fires.

BACKGROUND

[003] Wildfires have a severe impact on the environment, economy, and individuals. Overall, wildfires can be devastating, as individual homes are lost, local businesses are destroyed, and large areas of land are leveled. In the United States alone, the annual cost to fight wildfires is expected to exceed 3 billion by the year 2025. This projected cost is an increase of nearly 16% from just 15 years prior. In addition, areas already at high risk for wildfires are continuing to be subject to longer periods of seasonal conditions that cause fires. Existing systems, including satellite imagery, manned watchtowers, and mounted cameras are helpful in detecting fires, but often cannot detect fires in real-time. Thus, a network of devices that can detect a wildfire in real time is desirable.

SUMMARY

[004] Described herein are detection methods and networks that can be used for determining and indicating the presence of a potential fire hazard. In some embodiments, the detection network can include one or more individual detection devices and a server.

[005] In one representative embodiment, a method for fire detection is provided. The method includes obtaining, at a first time interval, a light sensor value from a light sensor associated with a detection device while the detection device is in a first power state and determining, based on the light sensor value, that emitted light external to the detection device is within a predetermined range of wavelengths. Upon determining that the emitted light is within the predetermined range of wavelengths, the method includes increasing the power state of the detection device from the first power state to a second power state and activating one or more additional sensors associated with the detection device. The method further includes obtaining, at a second time interval, a collection of sensor values from the light sensor and each of the one or more additional sensors; comparing the collection of sensor values to a one or more thresholds to determine whether the collection of sensor values exceed the one or more thresholds, wherein the collection of sensor values exceeding the one or more thresholds indicates the presence of one or more conditions associated with a fire hazard. Upon determining that the collection of sensor values exceeds the one or more thresholds, the method can include outputting a message indicating the presence of a potential fire hazard.

[006] In some embodiments, upon determining that the collection of sensor values exceeds the one or more thresholds, the method can include increasing the power state of the detection device from the second power state to a third power state and tagging the collection of sensor values with an event identification indicating the presence of a potential fire hazard, a device identification for the detection device, and a set of GPS coordinates of the detection device; wherein the message includes the tagged collection of sensor values.

[007] In some embodiments, outputting the message includes repeating to output the message at a third time interval until an acknowledgement is received by the detection device. In other embodiments, the method further includes determining that the detection device has not received an acknowledgement from a server within a threshold time period. Upon determining that the detection device has not received the acknowledgement, the method can include outputting the message to a network of one or more proximate detection devices, wherein the one or more proximate detection devices are configured to relay the message to the server until the one or more proximate detection devices receive the acknowledgement and upon the one or more proximate detection devices receiving the acknowledgement, relay the acknowledgement to the detection device.

[008] In some embodiments, the third power state of the detection device supplies an increased power level to the detection device sufficient to perform the following operations until the detection device is destroyed or lacks a requisite power source: obtaining the collection of sensor values from the light sensor and the one or more additional sensors, and outputting the message indicating the presence of a potential fire hazard and the tagged collected sensor values to the server. In further embodiments, the method includes directing each of the one or more proximate detection devices to enter an alert mode thereby directing each of the one or more proximate detection devices to: increase its power state from the first power state to the second power state, activate one or more additional sensors, and obtain sensor values from the light sensor and one or more additional sensors, and compare the sensor values to the one or more thresholds, according to embodiments of the disclosed method. In other embodiments, the detection device includes a lens to focus the emitted light external to the detection device on the light sensor. [009] In some embodiments, upon determining the collection of sensor values fails to exceed the one or more thresholds, the method includes decreasing the power state of the detection device from the second power state to the first power state and obtaining the light sensor value from the light sensor at the first time interval according to the embodiments of the disclosed method. In further embodiments, the method includes determining a change in orientation of the detection device by comparing a set of current spatial coordinates with a set of baseline spatial coordinates and upon determining a change in orientation, outputting an indication of the change in orientation.

[010] In some embodiments, the predetermined range of wavelengths includes the range of about 850 nm to about 1050 nm. In other embodiments, the one or more additional sensors in addition to the light sensor include a carbon sensor, an oxygen sensor, a nitrogen sensor, a volatile organic compound sensor, a temperature sensor, a particulate matter sensor, and/or a combination thereof.

[011] In some embodiments, the method includes determining whether the structural integrity of the detection device has been damaged by measuring a resistance of a conductive wire coupled to an inner surface of the detection device such that when the conductive wire is broken the change in the resistance is detected by the detection device and the detection device outputs an alert to the server directly and/or by the one or more proximate detection devices.

[012] In other embodiments, the method includes receiving routing instructions instructing the detection device to communicate with the one or more proximate detection devices in a hierarchical order as to optimize communication between the detection devices.

[013] In some embodiments, the method includes comprising receiving a predetermined pulse of low frequency directing the detection device to output diagnostic information from the detection device. In other embodiments, the method includes capturing the external environment of the detection device upon determining the collection of sensor values exceed the one or more thresholds.

[014] In another representative embodiment, a fire detection system is provided. The fire detection system can include a network having a plurality of detection devices and a server. Each detection device within the network containing a light sensor, one or more additional sensors, and wireless networking hardware, wherein each detection device is configured to determine that an external light detected by the light sensor during a first time interval is within a predetermined wavelength range such that when the external light is within the predetermined wavelength range, the detection device activates the one or more additional sensors, in addition to the light sensor, to determine during a second time interval that a collection of sensor values exceeds a one or more thresholds indicating the presence of one or more conditions associated with a potential fire hazard. Each detection device within the network is configured to communicate with the server and one or more of the plurality of detection devices such that when one or more of the plurality of detection devices determines the collection of sensor values exceeds the one or more thresholds, a message indicating the presence of the potential fire hazard is output to the server.

[015] In some embodiments, each detection device of the network is configured to operate in a first power state to determine that the external light detected is within the predetermined wavelength range and to increase its power state to operate in a second power state to determine that the collection of sensor values exceeds the one or more thresholds. In some embodiments, the detection device of the network that determines whether the collection of sensor values exceeds the one or more thresholds, outputs the message indicating the presence of the potential fire hazard at a third time interval until an acknowledgement output by the server is received by the detection device. In further embodiments, each detection device of the network is configured to determine, after outputting the message, that it has not received the acknowledgement from the server within a threshold time period, wherein when the detection device determines that it has not received the acknowledgement, the detection device outputs the message to one or more of the one or more detection devices of the network, wherein the one or more detection devices are configured to relay the message to the server until the one or more detection devices receive the acknowledgement and relay the acknowledgement to the detection device.

[016] In some embodiments, each detection device of the network is configured to increase its power state to operate in a third power state to supply an increased power level to the detection device sufficient to perform the following until the detection device is destroyed or lacks a requisite power source: to obtain the collection of sensor values from the light sensor and the one or more additional sensors and to output the message indicating the presence of a potential fire hazard and tagged collected sensor values to the server.

[017] In other embodiments, the one or more additional sensors in addition to the light sensor include a carbon sensor, an oxygen sensor, a nitrogen sensor, a volatile organic compound sensor, a temperature sensor, a particulate matter sensor, and/or a combination thereof. In other embodiments, each of the detection devices of the network contains a conductive wire coupled to an inner surface of the detection device, wherein the detection device is configured to measure the resistance of the conductive wire such that the detection device is alerted when the conductive wire is broken. [018] In some embodiments, each of the detection devices of the network contains an accelerometer configured to determine a set of spatial coordinates of the detection device. In further embodiments, each of the detection devices of the network contains a lens configured to focus the external light toward the light sensor. In other embodiments, each of the detection devices of the network contain an optical camera and/or a camera for viewing thermal infrared radiation.

[019] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[020] FIG. l is a block diagram illustrating a detection device which can be configured to implement embodiments of the disclosed technology.

[021] FIG. 2 is a system diagram showing a detection device and a server connected via a network and which can be configured to implement embodiments of the disclosed technology.

[022] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a computing environment for implementing embodiments of the disclosed technology.

[023] FIG. 4 is a system diagram showing an exemplary fire detection network.

[024] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an exemplary detection device.

[025] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary detection device.

[026] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram showing a method for determining and outputting the presence of a potential fire hazard.

[027] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram showing a method for comparing the light sensor value and/or the collection of sensor values to the one or more thresholds.

[028] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing an example method for comparing the light sensor value and/or the collection of sensor values to the one or more thresholds.

[029] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram showing a method for the transmission of data among the network of the individual detection devices and the server.

[030] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing a method coordinating and prioritizing the output of data. [031] FIG. 12 is a flow diagram showing a method for directing one or more proximate detection devices to enter an alert mode.

[032] FIG. 13 is a flow diagram showing methods for updating the one or more detection devices and outputting diagnostic reports to the server.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

General Considerations

[033] Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for detecting the presence of a potential fire hazard. The disclosed methods, apparatus, and systems should not be construed as limiting in anyway. Instead, the present disclosure is directed toward all novel and nonobvious features and aspects of the various disclosed embodiments, alone in various combinations and sub-combinations with one another. Furthermore, any features or aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be used alone or in various combinations and sub-combinations with one another. The disclosed methods, apparatus, and systems are not limited to any specific aspect or feature or combination thereof, nor do the disclosed embodiments require that any one or more specific advantages be present or problems be solved.

[034] Although the operations of some of the disclosed methods are described in a particular, sequential order for convenient presentation, it should be understood that this manner of description encompasses rearrangement, unless a particular ordering is required by specific language set forth below. For example, operations described sequentially may in some cases be rearranged or performed concurrently. Moreover, for the sake of simplicity, the attached figures may not show the various ways in which the disclosed methods, apparatus, and systems can be used in conjunction with other methods, apparatus, and systems. Furthermore, as used herein, the term “and/or” means any one item or combination of items in the phrase.

[035] The following discussion is intended to provide a brief, general description of an exemplary computing environment in which the disclosed technology may be implemented. In particular, some or all portions of this computing environment can be used with the below methods and apparatus to, for example, obtain sensor data, compare one or more threshold values with sensor values, manage the network, as well as output a message indicating the presence of a potential fire hazard. For example, outputting the message can comprise saving an indication of the presence of a potential fire hazard (e.g., saving the indication to a log file), sending the indication (e.g., sending a network message to a neighboring detection device and/or to a server), and/or outputting the message in another manner.

[036] Although not required, the disclosed technology is described in the general context of computer executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by individual detection devices, a personal computer, and/or a server. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, the disclosed technology may be implemented with other computer system configurations, including handheld devices, tablets, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like.

[037] The technology described herein may be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. Moreover, the technology described herein may also be practiced in conjunction with both client server and cloud computing environments for data processing, acquisition, machine learning, etc.

[038] A variety of examples are provided herein to illustrate the disclosed technology. The technologies from any example can be combined with the technologies described in any one or more of the other examples to achieve the scope and spirit of the disclosed technologies as embodied in the claims, beyond the explicit descriptions provided herein. Further, the components described within the examples herein may be combined or recombined as well, as understood by one skilled in the art, to achieve the scope and spirit of the claims.

Computing Environments

[039] FIG. l is a schematic block diagram of a detection device 100 capable of implementing embodiments of the techniques described herein. The detection device 100 includes a variety of optional hardware and software components, shown generally at 102. In general, a component 102 in the detection device can communicate with any other component of the device, although not all communications are show for ease of illustration. The detection device can be a computing device capable of wireless two-way communication with one or more other detection devices 100 (e.g., in a mesh topology) and/or one or more mobile communications networks 130, such as Wi-Fi and/or cellular (e.g., LTE) to contact one or more network servers. Although the detection device 100 is described herein in a particular manner, the detection device can be any of a variety of computing devices (e.g., cell phone, smartphone, tablet, handheld device, laptop computer, notebook computer, netbook, media player, or the like).

[040] The illustrated detection device 100 includes a controller or processor 104 (e.g., a signal processor, microprocessor, ASIC, or other control and processing logic circuitry) for performing such tasks as signal coding, data processing, input/output processing, power control, and/or other functions.

[041] The illustrated detection device 100 includes a memory 106. The memory 106 can include non-removable memory 108 (e.g., RAM, ROM, flash memory, a hard disk, or other well-known memory technique) and/or removable memory 110 (e.g., a flash memory). The memory 106 can be used for storing data and/or code for running programed operations. Example data can include sensor readings, text, image data, sound files, video data, and/or other data sets to be output to and/or received from one or more network servers or other detection devices via one or more wired or wireless networks. The memory 106 can, for example, store a collection of sensor values from one or more sensors and/or weights that can be applied to the collection of sensor values to determine whether a potential hazard is present. Such collection of readings and other data can be transmitted to network servers to communicate and identify the potential hazards.

[042] A wireless modem 112 can be coupled to one or more antennas 114 and can support two- way communications between the processor 104 and external devices (e.g., one or more detection devices 100). The modem 112 is shown generically, and can include, for example, a modem for cellular communication at long range with a mobile communication network 130, a Bluetooth®- compatible modem 118, and/or a Wi-Fi® compatible modem 116 for communicating at short range with an external Bluetooth-equipped device and/or a local wireless data network or router. The wireless modem 112 can be configured for communication with one or more mobile networks and/or one or more other detection devices 100 for data communication across, for example, a long-range wide-area mesh network technology (e.g., LoRaWAN® or another type of mesh network).

[043] The detection device 100 can further include at least one input/out port 120, a power supply 122, one or more sensors 124, such as, for example, a light sensor, carbon sensor, nitrogen sensor, oxygen sensor, temperature sensor, and/or other sensors. The detection device 100 can also include an accelerometer and/or an infrared proximity sensor for detecting the orientation or motion of the detection device 100, a transceiver 126 for wirelessly transmitting analog or digital signals) and/or physical connector 128, such as a USB port. The illustrated components 102 are not required or all inclusive, as any of the components shown can be deleted and other components can be added.

[044] The detection device 100 can determine location data that indicates the location of the detection device based upon information received through triangulation between cell towers of a cellular network and/or one or more other detection devices 100, or determined based upon the known location of the detection device 100 at the time of installation of the detection device 100. Alternatively, the location of the detection device 100 can be based upon information received through a satellite navigation system receiver (e.g., a GPS receiver). The location of the detection device can also be determined from other detection devices 100, and/or Wi-Fi routers in the vicinity of the detection device 100. A LoRa WAN mesh network, for example, can use tri angulation, trilateration, and multilateration to determine the physical location of each detection device 100 and associate the sensor data with the coordinates for the communication to the user and/or user interface.

[045] With the software and/or hardware components, the detection device 100 can implement the methods discussed herein. For example, the processor 104 can obtain a collection of sensor values, compare the sensor values to thresholds, and output information to a server computing device, and/or receive data and/or instructions from the server computing device, for example, weights assigned to the collection of sensor values.

[046] Although FIG. 1 illustrates a detection device 100, computing services (e.g., remoter server computation) can be provided locally or through a central service provider or a service provider via a network, such as the Internet and/or a wireless network, such as a mesh network. As such, any of various centralized computing devices or service providers can perform the role of a server computing device and deliver data and instructions to the detection devices 100.

[047] FIG. 2 illustrates a generalized implementation environment 200 in which the technology as described herein can be implemented. In the illustrated environment 200, various types of services (e.g., such as for computing tasks performed as a part of the hazard detection and/or integrating machine learning capabilities) are provided by a computing cloud 202. For example, the computing cloud 202 can comprise a collection of one or more computing devices (e.g., one or more servers, such as remote servers 204), which can be located centrally or distributed and which provide cloud-based services to various types of users and devices connected via a network 206, such as the Internet, a wireless network (e.g., 4G LTE, 5G, or a more advanced network), and/or a mesh network (e.g., a LoRa WAN network). For the purpose of discussion, the computing devices in the computing cloud 202 are referred to herein as “servers.” Further, it should be understood that any other form of client-server network can be used to implement the disclosed technology.

[048] The implementation environment 200 can be used in different ways to accomplish computing tasks. For example, some tasks (e.g., obtaining sensor values, determining thresholds, and power management of the detection devices 100) can be performed on a detection device 100, while other tasks (e.g., computationally-intensive operations and/or storage of data to be used in subsequent processing) can be performed by computing devices within the computing cloud 206.

[049] In the illustrated environment 200, the servers 204 can provide services for the detection devices 100. The detection device 100 generally has limited processing, power, and storage capacity. In contrast, the computing devices in the computing cloud 202 can have substantial processing, power, and storage capacity.

[050] The use of server (“server-side”) resources for the management of the detection devices and/or communicating a potential hazard to a user depends on the ability of the network 206 to provide high-bandwidth communications and on the ability of the processor of the one or more servers 204 to handle computationally-intensive and storage-intensive tasks, thereby allowing the real-time (or substantially real-time) detection of the presence of a potential fire hazard. To the extent that computing, and storage resources associated with the one or more remote servers can be utilized efficiently, the resources of the detection device can then be reserved for local tasks. Further, the use of the servers to perform computationally intensive tasks can preserve the power supply of the detection device 100 to maintain the detection devices’ self-sufficiency, which can serve an important element in the detection of fires.

[051] FIG. 3 illustrates a general embodiment of a computing environment 300 for implementing the computing resources in the computing cloud 202. With reference to FIG. 3, the computing environment 300 includes at least one central processing unit 302 and a memory 304. The central processing unit 302 executes computer-executable instructions and may be a real and/or a virtual processor. In a multi-processing system, multiple processing units execute computer-executable instructions to increase processing power and as such, multiple processors can be running simultaneously. The memory 304 may be volatile memory (e.g., registers, cache, RAM), non volatile memory (e.g., ROM, flash memory, etc.), or some combination of volatile and non-volatile memory. The memory 304 stores software 306 that can, for example, implement the technologies described herein. A computing environment may have additional features. For example, the computing environment 300 includes storage 308, one or more input devices 310, one or more output devices 312, one or more communication connections 314, and one or more touchscreens.

An interconnection mechanism (not shown) such as a bus, a controller, or a network, interconnects the components of the computing environment 300.

[052] The storage 308 may be removable or non-removable, and includes magnetic disks, magnetic tapes or cassettes, CD-ROMs, CD-RWs, DVDs, or any other non-transitory storage medium which can be used to store information and that can be accessed within the computing environment 300. The storage 308 stores instructions for the software 308, which can implement technologies described herein.

[053] The input device(s) 310 may be a touch input device, such as a touchscreen, keyboard, keypad, mouse, pen, or trackball, a voice input device, a scanning device, or another device, that provides input to the computing environment 300. The output device 312 can be a display, touchscreen, printer, speaker, CD-writer, or another device that provides output from the computing environment 300.

[054] The communication connections 314 enable communication over a communication medium (e.g., a connecting network) to another computing entity. The communication medium conveys information such as computer-executable instructions, compressed graphics information, or other data in a modulated data signal. Computer-readable media are any available media that can be accessed within a computing environment 300. For example, and not limitation, with the computing environment 300, computer-readable medial include memory 304 and/or storage 308.

As should be readily understood, the term computer-readable storage media includes non-transitory storage media for data storage such as memory 304 and storage 308. The term computer-readable storage media does not include signals and carrier waves.

Server-Assisted Fire Detection System

[055] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary fire detection network 400, including a one or more detection devices 402 (e.g., detection device 100), a remote computing environment 404, and a wireless communication link 406. The remote computing environment 404 can include, for example, one or more servers in a computing cloud (e.g., computing cloud 202). The wireless communication link 406 can be supported by a wireless transceiver (e.g., transceiver 126).

[056] With reference to FIG. 5, an exemplary detection device 500 as described herein can be associated with a housing 502 (e.g., within and/or external to) and installed in a desired area of observation, such as those areas at high risk of uncontrolled wildfires and/or that house a large population. The housing 502 can be constructed of any suitable material for protecting the detection device 100 and its individual components 504 (e.g., components 102) from weather and the natural elements. For example, the housing 502 can be constructed of wood, polymer, metal, and/or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the housing can have a strap, aperture to receive a nail or screw, clamp, and/or other element configured to anchor the detection device 500 to an external surface, such as a tree and/or a utility pole.

[057] With reference to FIG. 6, in general, the detection device 500 (e.g., detection device 100, 402) can include one or more sensors 506, one or more cameras 508, a resistance mechanism 510, a power supply 512, and/or an accelerometer 514.

[058] In particular, the detection device 500 can include one or more light sensors 516, such as a photodiode and/or a germanium diode for detecting a potential fire of a square foot (ft) within 200 ft. or greater of the detection device 500. For example, the light sensor 516 can be a photodiode and/or germanium diode that can detect external nonvisible light associated with a potential fire (e.g., infrared light), including light having a wavelength within the range of about 700 to about 1050 nanometers (nm). In some instances, the detection device 500 can be configured to have particular sensitivity to wavelengths in the range between 900 and 1000 nm, which are wavelengths indicating a potential fire. The detection device 500 can also include a lens 518 (e.g., a convex lens) configured to focus the external light on the light sensor 516 for more accurate and/or focused readings of the external light (e.g., between 900 and 1000 nm). In addition, a filter 520 to be used in conjunction with the lens 516 to reject unwanted external light such that only a desired range of wavelengths are incident on the light sensor 516 to focus the light sensor 516 readings.

[059] The detection device 500 can also include one or more sensors to detect the presence of various gases and/or vapors produced by the combustion of materials during a potential fire. For example, the detection device 500 can include one or more of a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor 522, a carbon dioxide (C02) sensor 524, a sulfur oxides (SOx) sensor 526, a nitrogen oxides (NOx) sensor 528, a volatile organic compounds (VOCs) sensor 530, and/or an oxygen (02) sensor 532.

In this manner, the detection device 500 can be configured to detect levels of carbon, nitrogen, VOCs, oxygen, and/or other chemical compounds emitted during the combustion of both natural and/or manufactured materials.

[060] The sensors 506 of the detection device 500 can further include a temperature sensor 534 and a particular matter sensor 536 to, for example, detect a change in the temperature and/or the presence of smoke surrounding the detection device 500, respectively. In other embodiments, the detection device can also include a thermal camera 538 and/or a digital camera 540 to capture the external environment of the detection device 500 upon detection of a potential fire.

[061] In reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the housing 502 can also include a resistance mechanism 510 on the inside surface of the housing 502 for determining whether the structural integrity of the housing 502 has been damaged and/or compromised. For example, a conductive wire can line the inside surface of the housing 502 and include an input pin and a measurement pin wired to the resistance mechanism 510. A voltage can be applied to the input pin and the expected output can be measured at the measurement pin by resistance mechanism 510. In this manner, the detection device 500 (e.g., by way of resistance mechanism 510) can measure the resistance across the conductive wiring as a voltage to the wire is supplied such that when the conductive wire is broken, the change in the resistance can be detected by the detection device 500 (e.g., as the resistance approaches infinity or as the amperage approaches zero). The detection device 500 can then alert a server (e.g., remote computing environment 404) of the potential damage to the housing 502.

[062] The power supply 514 of the detection device 500 can be any various rechargeable power source (e.g., lead acid, lithium, and/or saltwater batteries). The power supply can be of any various voltages and connected to a small solar panel for recharging to allow the detection device 500 to be for self-sufficient for extended periods of time.

Performing Server-Assisted Fire Detection

[063] FIGS. 7-11 are flow diagrams illustrating a methods of fire detection utilizing the fire detection system as described herein.

[064] In the illustrated method 700 of FIG. 7 each of the detection devices 500 can obtain a collection of sensor values and modify its power state to determine the presence of a potential fire hazard. For example, the detection device 500 can obtain, at a first time interval (e.g., for n minutes), a light sensor value 702 from a light sensor associated with the detection device while the detection device is in a first power state. The detection device can then determine, based on the light sensor value, whether the emitted light external to the detection device is within a predetermined range of wavelengths 704 (e.g., between 900 and 1000 nm). Upon determining that the emitted light is within the predetermined range of wavelengths, the detection device 500 can increase the power state of the detection device from the first power state to a second power 706 state to activate one or more additional sensors 708 associated with the detection device 500 and obtain, at a second time interval (e.g., at n seconds), a collection of sensor values from the light sensor and each of the one or more additional sensors 710. In this manner, the detection device can obtain sensor values that indicate the presence of and/or elevated levels (or alternatively decreased levels) of light wavelengths, gases, vapors, temperatures, and/or particulates associated with conditions of a potential fire hazard. The first time interval and the second time interval can be the same time interval or different time intervals (e.g., the first time interval could be 5 minutes and the second time interval could be 30 seconds).

[065] Once the detection device 500 obtains a collection of sensor values from the light sensor and each of the one or more additional sensors, the detection device 500 compares the collection of sensor values to one or more thresholds to determine whether the collection of sensor values exceed the one or more thresholds 712. When the collection of sensor values exceeds the one or more thresholds, the sensor values indicate the presence of one or more conditions associated with a fire hazard. Upon the detection device 500 determining that the collection of sensor values exceeds the one or more thresholds 714, the detection device 500 can output a message 716 (e.g., send by Wi-Fi modem and antenna) indicating the presence of a potential fire hazard.

[066] Additionally, once the detection device 500 determines that the collection of sensor values exceeds the one or more thresholds 712, the detection device 500 can increase the power state from the second power state to a third power state; and tag the collection of sensor values with an event identification indicating the presence of a potential fire hazard, a device identification for the detection device 500, and set of geographical coordinates of the detection device 500. As such, when the detection device 500 outputs the message indicating the presence of a potential fire hazard 716, the message can include the tagged collection of sensor values.

[067] Upon the detection device 500 increasing the power state from the second power state to the third power state 716, the third power state can supply an increased power level to the detection device 500 sufficient to obtain the collection of sensor values from the light sensor and the one or more additional sensors and output the message indicating the presence of a potential fire hazard and the tagged collected sensor values to the server. In this manner, the detection device 500 ignores the management of the power supply and supplies a maximum (or close to maximum) power to continually obtain sensor values and output the sensor values, along with a “max power engaged” warning to the server. As such, the detection device 500 can output as many sensor values as possible to the server and/or drain the power supply as to not feed the fire, before the detection device 500 is consumed by a fire 718.

[068] In general, the different power states can be configured to supply sufficient power for their intended purpose, while conserving battery power when increased power is not needed. For example, the first power state can be a low power state (e.g., an idle state) in which only a minimum number of sensors (e.g., one sensor, such as the light sensor) is operational (e.g., and network communications are not enabled). The second power state can be an incrementally higher power state in which only a limited number of sensors (e.g., a plurality of sensors, but not all sensors of the detection device) are operational. For example, the sensors 506 can be operational in the second power state. The third power state can be an incrementally higher power state than the second power state in which all of the sensors and network communication components are active.

[069] Once the server 404 receives the data (i.e., message indicating the presence of a potential fire hazard and/or tagged collection of sensor values), the server 404 can store the message and/or tagged collection sensor values in a database, display the information on a map application/interface of the observation area, send a push and/or text notification to a user, and/or relay the data to another system, such as a Geographic Information System (GIS) via an application programming interface within a computing environment such as those described herein. As such, the server 404 can include on a user interface a marker for each detection device, the state of each detection device, and/or for each alert, warning, ongoing fire, etc.

[070] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a method for comparing the light sensor value and/or the collection of sensor values to the one or more thresholds, such as those comparisons of FIG. 6. Each sensor value obtained by the detection device 500 can be assigned a weight 802 such as by a user and/or a server utilizing, for example, a fuzzy algorithm that uses a combination of prior sensor values, weather factors (e.g., temperature, snow/rain fall, humidity), historical data, and/or other data to assign each of the sensor values a weight. However, the weights assigned to the sensor values can be assigned in any desired manner to reflect characteristics of the observation area. The assigned weights can, for example, account for various environmental, spatial, and/or temporal conditions, such as seasonal conditions and/or time of day. As such, any individual sensor may also be assigned a weight of zero to effectively remove the sensor value from a final value calculation, such as when the detection device 500 and/or server 404 determines that particular sensor value is unneeded and/or the sensor value indicates continuous false positives and/or sensor malfunction.

[071] Once the weight is determined, the raw sensor value obtained by each sensor can be multiplied by the respective assigned weight to determine a final value 804. The final value, or the sum of final values for two or more sensors, are then compared to the one or more thresholds 806 to determine whether the light sensor value and/or the collection of sensor values exceed (e.g., are greater than) the one or more thresholds. For example, the one or more thresholds can be 1 such that a final value (or sum of final values) of the one or more sensors greater than 1, exceeds the thresholds. Alternatively, the one or more thresholds can be any numerical value determined by, for example, a user, server, software, algorithm, and/or other method. Upon determining whether the sensor values exceed one or thresholds, the detection device 500 can increase, decrease, and/or maintain its respective power state 808 (e.g., the first, second, and/or third power state of FIG. 6).

In the same manner, a separate threshold can be assigned to each sensor value resulting in one or more thresholds used to compare the collection of sensor values.

[072] As one example, as shown in the illustrated method 900 of FIG. 9, a weight of 6 can be assigned to the light sensor value and used to determine whether a light sensor value (i.e., a value corresponding to a nonvisible light wavelength) exceeds a first one or more thresholds, such as a single threshold of 1. The detection device 500 can obtain a light sensor value 904 equal to 0.2, a value which, for example, can correspond to a particular wavelength of nonvisible light (e.g., 950 nm) indicating fire hazard conditions. The light sensor value is then multiplied by the weight (0.2*6 = 1.2) to obtain a final value 906. Since the final value in the illustrated embodiment (i.e., 1.2) is greater than 1 (908), the detection device 500 is directed to increase its power state from the first power state to the second power state and activate one or more additional sensors 910 (e.g., method of FIG. 6).

[073] Similarly, once the detection device 500 is in the second power state, a weight can be assigned to each of the collection of sensor values obtained, for example, from a light sensor, a C02 sensor, and an 02 sensor 912. Upon obtaining the collection of sensor values, the detection device 500 (e.g., by the processor and memory) can multiply each sensor value with its corresponding weight in order to calculate the final value for each sensor 916. The sum of these final values is then compared to the one or more thresholds (e.g., 1) to determine if the collection of sensor values exceeds (or alternatively does not exceed) the one or more thresholds. In this manner, the detection device 500 can be directed to increase its power state from the second power state to the third power state upon determining the collection of sensor values exceeds one or more thresholds and output a message to the server 404 indicating a presence of a potential fire hazard. Additionally, or alternatively, if the detection device 500 determines the collection of sensor values does not exceed the one or more thresholds, the detection device can continue to obtain the collection of sensor values for a number of n time intervals. Or, the detection device 500 can decrease its power state from the second power state to the first power state until the detection device again determines whether a nonvisible light wavelength external to the detection device is within a predetermined wavelength range, to reinitiate the process. [074] Furthermore, output from one or more proximate detection devices can be used by the detection device 500 to determine whether one or more sensor values exceed the one or more thresholds. As described herein (e.g., the method of FIG. 12), one or more proximate devices outputting a message to the server 404 can also provide further output (e.g., an alert) to the detection device 500. This further output from the one or more proximate devices can be a weight, a numerical value, or other value (e.g., scalar, multiplying factor) and used by the detection device 500 in making a determination. For example, the output from one or more proximate devices can increase (or alternatively decrease) a final value (or sum of values, sensor value, weight, threshold, etc.) when the detection devices is determining whether one or more sensor values exceed one or more thresholds. In this manner, based on the additional output, a detection device 500 can be alerted and/or directed to increase its power state before the one or more sensor values obtained by the detection device 500 alone, exceed the one or more thresholds. As such, the detection device 500 is alerted (or potentially alerted) of a fire hazard prior to the detection device 500 itself determining a potential fire hazard. In response, for example, the detection device can obtain one or more sensor values and increase power states earlier than it otherwise would.

[075] Additionally, or alternatively, one or more sensor values alone can exceed one or more thresholds such that the detection device 500 immediately (or near immediately) increases power states and/or outputs a message indicating a potential fire hazard. For example, the detection device 500 can obtain a temperature sensor value (e.g., by way of temperature sensor 534) that alone, exceeds one or more thresholds, such as a threshold associated with elevated temperatures and/or extreme heat external to the detection device which indicates a higher probability of a potential fire hazard. As such, the detection device 500 is directed to increase one or more power states and/or output a message indicating a potential fire hazard and/or external signals to one or more proximate detection devices upon obtaining a single (or collection of) sensor values.

[076] In some implementations, the equation: [weight x current reading x external signal] is used to determine the final value (e.g., final values 906, 916) that is compared (e.g., greater than, less than, or equal to) to one or more thresholds to determine whether one or more sensor values exceed the one or more thresholds. Where the weight , is the weight assigned (e.g., weight 802) to one or more sensor values as described herein; the current reading is the one or more sensor values obtained by the detection device in its current power state; and the external signal is the output received by one or proximate detection devices. For example, the power state transitions can be governed by the above equation where the one or more thresholds of the first power state might be between 0.0 and 0.6, the second power state between 0.6 and 0.8, and the third power state greater than 0.8.

[077] In some implementations, the weight, sensor values, external signals, and/or thresholds are all two-dimensional vector elements that allow holding different weights for different states in vector format.

[078] Accordingly, the illustrated methods of FIGS. 7-9 show that the methods described herein include obtaining and comparing one or more sensor values with one or more thresholds to determine the presence of a potential fire hazard. The corresponding power management system can reduce the power supply demands of the detection device to maintain a level of self- sufficiency, while being able to output continuous sensor values to the server 404 and drain the power supply immediately before being consumed by a fire.

[079] Although the methods of FIGS. 8 and 9 described herein are primarily described as being performed by the detection device 500, any combination of the detection device 500 and server 404 may be used. For example, the detection device 500 can obtain and compare sensor values, while the server 404 (e.g., periodically and/or continuously) can determine and assign the weights for each sensor value for the comparison. Additionally, or alternatively, the detection device 500 can be periodically updated by the server 404 (e.g., to make network wide adjustments) with the assigned weight values and/or corresponding algorithm. As such, the detection device 500 can be enabled to determine and assign the weight values (e.g., with previously stored data) independent of the server 404, such as when the detection device 500 cannot directly connect to the mobile communication network and/or during heavy network traffic. In this manner, the detection device 500 can also determine whether to change power states independently of the server 404.

[080] FIG. 10 illustrates a method 1000 for the transmission of data among the network of the individual detection devices 500 and the server 404. For example, upon the detection device 500 outputting a message indicating the presence of a potential fire hazard (e.g., in FIG. 6), the detection device 500 can output the message at a third time interval 1002 (e.g., selected by a user, a result of optimization, etc.) until an acknowledgement is received 1004. In this manner, the detection device 500 continuously transmits at a time interval the message and/or tagged collection of sensor values (e.g., FIG. 6) to the server 504 until an acknowledgement is received, to ensure, for example, the server 404 has received the message. Upon receiving the acknowledgement, the detection device 500 can continue to obtain, compare, and tag the sensor values to transmit and provide to the server 404 updated data related to a potential and/or ongoing fire hazard. [081] Within a threshold time period (e.g., 2 to 5 min., or alternatively after n number of unsuccessful attempts), if the detection device 500 does not receive an acknowledgement 1008 from the server 404, the detection device 500 can output (e.g., via the Wi-Fi modem and antenna) the message and/or tagged collection of sensor values to one or more proximate detection devices 1010 over a mesh network topology (e.g., a LoRa WAN mesh network). Each proximate detection device 500 can then relay the message and/or tagged collection of sensor values 1012 to the server 404 (or one or more of the other detection devices within the network) until a proximate detection device 500 receives the acknowledgement 1014. Upon a proximate detection device 500 receiving the acknowledgement, the proximate detection device 500 can relay the server acknowledgement to the detection device 500 that originated the message and/or tagged collection of sensor values 1016. Accordingly, the method of illustrated in FIG. 10 can be repeated as necessary to ensure transmission of the message indicating the presence of a potential fire hazard, including the tagged collection of sensor values.

[082] Additionally, or alternatively, one or more detection devices 500 can function as the network hub and/or router of the network. For example, one or more of the detection devices 510 can receive transmissions from and/or amplify and transmit to, all or a portion of the network of detection devices 500.

[083] As illustrated in the method 1100 of FIG. 11, a detection device 500 as described herein can coordinate and prioritize the output of its data and/or data output received from one or more proximate detection devices 500 (e.g., the message and/or tagged collection of sensor values). For example, the detection device 500 can determine whether data identified for output (e.g., data and/or data output received from one or more proximate detection devices) is the same data (or substantially the same) as prior data corresponding to a previous acknowledgement 1102 received by the detection device 500. If the detection device 500 determines the data is the same as the prior data previously transmitted and acknowledged, the detection device 500 can ignore the data, and if the data was transmitted by a proximate detection device 500, can transmit to the proximate detection device 500 an acknowledgement 1104. As such, the proximate detection device 500 is directed to continue obtaining, comparing, tagging, and/or relaying a new message and/or collection of sensor values.

[084] If the detection device 500 determines that the data is not the same data corresponding to the data previously transmitted and acknowledged, but related to similar stored data, for example, data temporarily stored in a buffer of the memory, the detection device 500 can group and tag the data of the detection device and related stored data as the same event (e.g., to reduce and/or prevent network congestion) for output 1108. Otherwise, if the detection device 500 determines the data is neither the same data as the prior acknowledged data nor related to any stored data, the detection device 500 can output the data to the server 404 and the server 504 can subsequently output an acknowledgement.

[085] As illustrated in the method of FIG. 12, upon the detection device 500 outputting a message indicating the presence of a potential fire hazard 1202, the detection device 500 can direct one or more proximate detection devices to enter an alert mode 1204 (e.g., wake up one or more proximate detection devices) thereby directing each of the one or more proximate detection devices to increase its power state from the first power state to the second state 1204, activate one or more additional sensors 1206, obtain sensor values from the light sensor and one or more additional sensors, and compare the sensor values to the one or more thresholds 1208, such as in FIG. 6.

[086] In the illustrated method of FIG. 13, the server 404 can periodically (e.g., hourly, daily, weekly, etc.) update each of the detection devices 500 within the fire detection network. For example, the server 404 can determine each proximate detection device neighboring each of the individual detection devices 1302, determine the shortest path through the network for each individual detection device 1304 (e.g., for optimizing the method illustrated in FIG. 9), and prepare a firmware update 1306. The server 404 can then compile and package the data derived from the above steps and tag the data with the device identification 1308 for delivery to each respective detection device 500.

[087] Likewise, the detection device 500 can derive data to compile and package to the server 404. For example, the detection device 500 can perform sensor diagnostics report 1310 and/or perform a device diagnostic report 1314, indicating, among other information, the power supply health, signal strength, structural integrity of the housing, and/or device orientation. For example, the detection device 500 can check the resistance across the resistance mechanism to determine whether the conductive wire associated with the housing is broken 1314.

[088] Additionally, or alternatively, the detection device 500 can determine whether the orientation of the detection device 500 has changed by comparing a set of the current spatial coordinates of the detection device 500 with a set of baseline spatial coordinates, such as spatial coordinates of the detection device 500 at the time of installation, for example, to determine whether the housing 402 of the detection device has been damaged or compromised. [089] In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of the disclosed invention may be applied, it should be recognized that the illustrated embodiments are only preferred examples of the technology and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the following claims. We therefore claim as our technology all that comes within the scope and spirit of these claims.