Method of distinguishing the presence of a single versus multiple persons

A system for monitoring a life form in a residence having a plurality of areas, the system comprising:

• a. a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors operable to detect the life form in one of the plurality of areas;
• b. a receiver in communication with the plurality of sensors, the receiver operable to collect sensor fire data from each of the plurality of sensors, including adjacent sensor fire data;
• c. a processor in communication with the receiver, the processor operable to analyze the adjacent sensor fire data collected by the receiver and distinguish whether a single person is present in the residence or multiple persons are present in the residence, wherein analysis of the adjacent sensor fire data includes comparing the adjacent sensor fire data to a control data distribution.

A method of distinguishing whether a single person or multiple persons are present in a residence having a plurality of areas, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors associated with one of the plurality of areas and each of the plurality of sensors operable to detect the existence of a person in the one of the plurality of areas;
• b. collecting sensor fire data from the plurality of sensors to build a sensor fire data set containing a plurality of adjacent sensor fires;
• c. analyzing the adjacent sensor fires to distinguish whether a single or multiple persons are present in the residence, wherein analysis of the adjacent sensor fires includes determining whether a statistically significant number of adjacent sensor fires exist over a period of time.

A method for determining whether multiple persons are present in a residence having a first area that is contiguous with a second area and a third area that is not contiguous with the first area, the method comprising:

• a. providing a plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors including a first sensor operable to fire when a person is detected in the first area, a second sensor operable to fire when a person is detected in the second area, and a third sensor operable to fire when a person is detected in the third area;
• b. collecting sensor fire data from the plurality of sensors to build a sensor fire data set containing a plurality of adjacent sensor fires;
• c. determining that multiple persons are present in the residence when a statistically significant number of the plurality of adjacent sensor fires include both the first sensor and the third sensor.

A method of determining whether a single life form or multiple life forms are present in a residence having a plurality of areas, wherein some of the plurality of areas are contiguous and other of the plurality of areas are not contiguous, each of the plurality of areas associated with a sensor that is operable to fire when life form activity is detected in the area, the method comprising:

• a. monitoring adjacent sensor fires;
• and
• b. using adjacent sensor fires from activity occurring in non-contiguous areas as indicative of the presence of multiple life forms in the residence.

A system for monitoring a life form in a residence having a plurality of areas, the system comprising:

• a. a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors operable to detect the life form in one of the plurality of areas;
• b. a receiver in communication with the plurality of sensors, the receiver operable to collect sensor fire data from each of the plurality of sensors, including adjacent sensor fire data;
• c. a processor in communication with the receiver, the processor operable to analyze the adjacent sensor fire data collected by the receiver and distinguish whether a single person is present in the residence or multiple persons are present in the residence, wherein analysis of the adjacent sensor fire data includes determining whether a statistically significant number of adjacent sensor fires exist over a period of time.