# US RE50,005 E1 · Systems and methods for detecting events based on wireless signal degredation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US RE50,005 E1 - Document ID: USRE50005E1 - Status: Granted - Kind: E1 - Application number: 17/825,834 - Filed: 2022-05-26 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-17 - Assignees: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP - Applicants: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP - Inventors: Craig E. Trivelpiece; Robert C. Hall, Jr.; Timothy C. Gamroth - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/USRE50005E1 ## CPC - A62C 37/40: with electric connection between sensor and actuator - A62C 3/0214: {for buildings or installations in fire storms} - A62C 99/0072: {using sprayed or atomised water} - G08B 17/06: Electric actuation of the alarm, e.g. using a thermally-operated switch - G08B 17/10: Actuation by presence of smoke or gases {, e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means} - G08B 25/007: {Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols} - G08B 25/10: using wireless transmission systems {(G08B25/009 takes precedence)} - A62C: FIRE-FIGHTING (fire-extinguishing compositions, use of chemical substances in extinguishing fires A62D1/00; spraying, applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces in general B05; alarm arrangements G08B, e.g. fire alarms actuated by smoke or gases G08B17/10) - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS ## Abstract A method for detecting an event in or around a building. The method includes recording a baseline signal characteristic that characterizes a wireless signal transmitted between devices in or around the building during a baseline time period and recording a second signal characteristic that characterizes the wireless signal during a second time period after the baseline time period. An event in or around the building is detected in response to a determination that the second signal characteristic is abnormal relative to the baseline signal characteristic, the event degrading the wireless signal during the second time period. An alarm is triggered in response to detecting the event. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for detecting an event in or around a building, the method comprising: recording a baseline signal characteristic that characterizes a wireless radio signal transmitted between transceivers of devices in or around the building during a baseline time period; recording a second signal characteristic that characterizes the wireless radio signal during a second time period after the baseline time period; detecting an event comprising at least one of a fire within the building or an increased level of water vapor within the building in response to a determination that the second signal characteristic is abnormal relative to the baseline signal characteristic; and triggering an alarm in response to detecting the event. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal is within a frequency range compliant with IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi communications specifications or IEEE 802.15.4-based specifications. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the event comprises: identifying a building location located between a first device from which the wireless signal is transmitted and a second device at which the wireless signal is received; determining that the event is occurring within the building location. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second signal characteristic is determined to be abnormal relative to the baseline signal characteristic if the second signal characteristic comprises at least one of a degradation in signal strength, a degradation in link quality, or a degradation in bit rate relative to the baseline signal characteristic. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: observing the baseline signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic at a plurality of locations throughout the building; and transmitting the baseline signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic observed at the plurality of locations to a controller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the controller comprises at least one of a building management system (BMS) controller or a fire system controller. ### Claim 7 A system for detecting an event within a building, the system comprising: a wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless devices distributed throughout the building and configured to: record a baseline signal characteristic that characterizes a wireless radio signal transmitted between transceivers of the plurality of wireless devices during a baseline time period; record a second signal characteristic that characterizes the wireless radio signal during a second time period after the baseline time period; a controller configured to: detect an event comprising at least one of a fire within the building or an increased level of water vapor within the building in response to a determination that the second signal characteristic is abnormal relative to the baseline signal characteristic; and trigger an alarm in response to detecting the event. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the wireless signal is a frequency range compliant with IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi communications specifications or IEEE 802.15.4-based specifications. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to: identify a building location located between a first device from which the wireless signal is transmitted and a second device at which the wireless signal is received; determine that the event is occurring within the building location. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the second signal characteristic is determined to be abnormal relative to the baseline signal characteristic if the second signal characteristic comprises at least one of a degradation in signal strength, a degradation in link quality, or a degradation in bit rate relative to the baseline signal characteristic. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of wireless devices are configured to: observe the baseline signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic at a plurality of locations throughout the building; and transmit the baseline signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic observed at the plurality of locations to the controller. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the controller comprises at least one of a building management system (BMS) controller or a fire system controller. ### Claim 13 A method for detecting an event in or around a building, the method comprising: recording a baseline signal characteristic that characterizes a wireless radio signal transmitted between transceivers of devices in or around the building during a baseline time period; recording a second signal characteristic that characterizes the wireless radio signal during a second time period after the baseline time period; detecting an event comprising at least one of a fire within the building or an increased level of water vapor within the building in response to a determination that the second signal characteristic is abnormal relative to the baseline signal characteristic. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the wireless signal is within a frequency range compliant with IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi communications specifications or IEEE 802.15.4-based specifications. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein detecting the event comprises: identifying a building location located between a first device from which the wireless signal is transmitted and a second device at which the wireless signal is received; determining that the event is occurring within the building location. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the second signal characteristic is determined to be abnormal relative to the baseline signal characteristic if the second signal characteristic comprises at least one of a degradation in signal strength, a degradation in link quality, or a degradation in bit rate relative to the baseline signal characteristic. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising: observing the baseline signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic at a plurality of locations throughout the building; and transmitting the baseline signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic observed at the plurality of locations to a controller. ### Claim 18 A method for detecting an event in a space in or around a building, the method comprising: recording a baseline signal characteristic that characterizes a wireless radio signal transmitted between transceivers of devices in the space during a baseline time period; recording a second signal characteristic that characterizes the wireless radio signal during a second time period after the baseline time period; detecting an event comprising at least one of a fire within the space or an increased level of water vapor within the space in response to a determination that the second signal characteristic is abnormal relative to the baseline signal characteristic; and triggering an alarm in response to detecting the event. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the wireless radio signal is within a frequency range compliant with IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi communications specifications or IEEE 802.15.4-based specifications. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein detecting the event comprises: identifying a location between a first device from which the wireless radio signal is transmitted and a second device at which the wireless radio signal is received; determining that the event is occurring within the location. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the second signal characteristic is determined to be abnormal relative to the baseline signal characteristic if the second signal characteristic comprises at least one of a degradation in signal strength, a degradation in link quality, or a degradation in bit rate relative to the baseline signal characteristic. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: observing the baseline signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic at a plurality of locations throughout the space; and transmitting the baseline signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic observed at the plurality of locations to a controller. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the controller comprises at least one of a building management system (BMS) controller or a fire system controller. ### Claim 24 A system for detecting an event within a space in or around a building, the system comprising: a network comprising a plurality of devices distributed throughout the space and configured to: record a baseline signal characteristic that characterizes a wireless radio signal transmitted between transceivers of the plurality of devices during a baseline time period; record a second signal characteristic that characterizes the wireless radio signal during a second time period after the baseline time period; a controller configured to: detect an event comprising at least one of a fire within the space or an increased level of water vapor within the space in response to a determination that the second signal characteristic is abnormal relative to the baseline signal characteristic; and trigger an alarm in response to detecting the event. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the wireless radio signal is a frequency range compliant with IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi communications specifications or IEEE 802.15.4-based specifications. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the controller is further configured to: identify a location between a first device from which the wireless radio signal is transmitted and a second device at which the wireless radio signal is received; determine that the event is occurring within the location. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the second signal characteristic is determined to be abnormal relative to the baseline signal characteristic if the second signal characteristic comprises at least one of a degradation in signal strength, a degradation in link quality, or a degradation in bit rate relative to the baseline signal characteristic. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of devices are configured to: observe the baseline signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic at a plurality of locations throughout the space; and transmit the baseline signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic observed at the plurality of locations to the controller. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the controller comprises at least one of a building management system (BMS) controller or a fire system controller. ### Claim 30 A method for detecting an event in a space in or around a building, the method comprising: transmitting a first wireless radio signal through the space during a first time period; transmitting a second wireless radio signal through the space during a second time period after the first time period; detecting an event that causes degradation of wireless radio signals within the space in response to a determination that a second signal characteristic of the second wireless radio signal is abnormal relative to a first signal characteristic of the first wireless radio signal, wherein the event comprises at least one of a fire within the space or an increased level of water vapor within the space. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein at least one of the first wireless radio signal or the second wireless radio signal is within a frequency range compliant with IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi communications specifications or IEEE 802.15.4-based specifications. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein detecting the event comprises: identifying a location between a first device from which the second wireless radio signal is transmitted and a second device at which the second wireless radio signal is received; determining that the event is occurring within the location. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the second signal characteristic is determined to be abnormal relative to the first signal characteristic if the second signal characteristic comprises at least one of a degradation in signal strength, a degradation in link quality, or a degradation in bit rate relative to the first signal characteristic. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, further comprising: observing the first signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic at a plurality of locations throughout the space; and transmitting the first signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic observed at the plurality of locations to a controller.