Smart-home hazard detector providing location-specific pre-alarm configuration

Abstract

A particular smart hazard detector may itself function as a guide during a process of installation of the same at an installation location. Additionally, the installation location of the particular smart hazard detector may play a central role in how various settings of the smart hazard detector are defined and adjusted over time.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for configuring a hazard detector, the method comprising:
 providing for selection of a designated location from a plurality of designated locations within a residence, the designated location indicative of a location at which the hazard detector is located;   after receiving the selection of the designated location, accessing stored information to identify a first pre-alarm criteria based upon the designated location, wherein the first pre-alarm criteria is indicative of a lesser amount of hazard than a fixed emergency alarm criteria; and   initiating operation of the hazard detector according to the first pre-alarm criteria and the fixed emergency alarm criteria.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 prior to initiating operation of the hazard detector according to the first pre-alarm criteria, operating the hazard detector according to a default configuration profile, the default configuration profile comprising the fixed emergency alarm criteria and a second pre-alarm criteria distinct from the first pre-alarm criteria.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first pre-alarm criteria is indicative of a greater amount of hazard than the second pre-alarm criteria; and   the designated location corresponds to a type of household location predicted to be associated with hazard levels to be detected generally greater than one or more other types of household locations.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the type of household location predicted to be associated with hazard levels to be detected generally greater than one or more other types of household locations is a kitchen or a garage. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first pre-alarm criteria is indicative of a lesser amount of hazard than the second pre-alarm criteria; and   the designated location corresponds to a type of household location typically occupied by an individual especially susceptible to the hazard.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the type of household is a bedroom. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the stored information is accessed from a computerized storage arrangement remote from the hazard detector via a network. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 storing the first pre-alarm criteria in a memory element of the hazard detector; and   receiving an update to the first pre-alarm criteria from a computing system remote from the hazard detector via a network after initiating operation of the hazard detector according to the first pre-alarm criteria.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 providing an opportunity for a user to adjust the first pre-alarm criteria.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 prompting, via a user-interface, for user input to adjust the first pre-alarm criteria; and   executing an instruction at the hazard detector to adjust the first pre-alarm criteria based on the user input.   
     
     
         12 . A hazard detector, comprising:
 a hazard sensor; and   a processing system, comprising one or more processors, in operative communication with the hazard sensor, the processing system configured to:
 access stored information to identify a first pre-alarm criteria based upon a designation of a particular location, wherein:
 a user has selected a particular location from a plurality of predefined locations for the hazard detector within a residence; 
 each location of the plurality of predefined locations is linked with a pre-alarm criteria; and 
 the first pre-alarm criteria is distinct from a fixed emergency alarm criteria; and 
 
 monitor for a hazard according to the first pre-alarm criteria and the fixed emergency alarm criteria. 
   
     
     
         13 . The hazard detector of  claim 12 , further comprising a processor-readable storage device, wherein the processing system accesses the stored information from the processor-readable storage device of the hazard detector. 
     
     
         14 . The hazard detector of  claim 12 , the hazard detector further comprising a wireless communication interface that is in communication with the processing system, wherein the processing system accesses the stored information from a remote computer system accessible via the wireless communication interface. 
     
     
         15 . The hazard detector of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the processing system is further configured to monitor for the hazard according to a default configuration profile prior to monitoring for the hazard according to the first pre-alarm criteria; and   the default configuration profile comprises the fixed emergency alarm criteria and a second pre-alarm criteria distinct from the first pre-alarm criteria.   
     
     
         16 . The hazard detector of  claim 15 , wherein the second pre-alarm criteria is representative of a hazard level greater than the first pre-alarm up criteria. 
     
     
         17 . The hazard detector of  claim 15 , wherein the second pre-alarm criteria is representative of a hazard level less than the first pre-alarm up criteria. 
     
     
         18 . The hazard detector of  claim 12 , further comprising an audio output device, wherein the processing system is further configured to cause a first audible alert to be generated by the audio output device when a detected magnitude of the hazard is determined to meet the first pre-alarm criteria but is less than the fixed emergency alarm criteria; cause a second audible alert to be generated by the audio output device when the detected magnitude of the hazard is determined to be greater than the fixed emergency alarm criteria. 
     
     
         19 . The hazard detector of  claim 18 , wherein the processing system is configured to cause the audio output device to output the second audible alert at a greater volume than the first audible alert. 
     
     
         20 . The hazard detector of  claim 12 , further comprising a light, wherein: the processing system causes the light to illuminate when the first pre-alarm criteria is met by measurements made by the hazard sensor, but the measurements are less than the emergency alarm criteria. 
     
     
         21 . A hazard detector system, comprising:
 a computerized device for a user to select a particular location from a plurality of predefined locations, the particular location indicative of a location of the hazard detector within a residence; and   a hazard detector, comprising:
 a hazard sensor that detects a presence of a hazard; 
 one or more processors operatively coupled to the hazard detector; and 
 a memory operatively coupled with and readable by the one or more processors, and having stored therein processor-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 access stored information to identify a first pre-alarm criteria based upon a particular location selected by a user from a plurality of locations; and 
 monitor measurements made by the hazard sensor according to the first pre-alarm criteria and the fixed emergency alarm criteria, wherein the first pre-alarm criteria is indicative of an elevated level of the hazard that is less than the fixed emergency alarm criteria.