IP Library Granted Patent US 9,860,242
Granted Patent B2
US 9,860,242 · App. 14/456,771 · Granted Jan 2, 2018

One-time access to an automation system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,860,242
App. No.
14/456,771
Granted
Jan 2, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems are described for managing one-time access to an automation system. According to at least one embodiment, a computer-implemented method to grant a user access to an automation is described. The method may comprise receiving one or more access parameters to authorize one-time permission to the user to access the automation system. The method may further comprise granting one-time permission to the user to access the automation system based at least in part on the one or more access parameters. The method may additionally comprise generating a message comprising at least the one-time permission to access the automation system. The one or more access parameters may comprise at least one of a limited time frame, single use entry code, or a limited number of entries.

Claims (54)

1. A computer-implemented method to grant a user access to an automation system of a premises, comprising:

receiving, by a controller of the automation system, a request to grant a non-occupant one-time permission to access the premises while an occupant is not present at the premises, the occupant of the premises comprising an owner or administrator of the automation system and the non-occupant comprising personnel external to the premises and automation system;

receiving, by the controller, information including a type of personnel associated with the non-occupant in the request relative to the one-time permission to access the premises;

determining, by the controller, a zone of the premises and an access duration to the zone for the non-occupant based at least in part on the type of personnel associated with the non-occupant;

generating, by the controller, a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to grant the one-time permission, the URL including a single use entry code to the premises and an indication of access to the zone of the premises and the access duration;

granting, by the controller, the non-occupant the one-time permission to access the zone of the premises based at least in part on the URL; and

transmitting, by the controller, a message comprising the URL to the non-occupant to access the zone of the premises.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the indication of access further comprises a limited number of entries.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the URL is sent to the non-occupant via at least one of a SMS, email, ping message, or social media message.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising:

receiving a request to activate the URL, wherein activating the URL grants the non-occupant access to the premises.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating the URL to send to the non-occupant, wherein the URL activates a webpage allowing the non-occupant to access the premises.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

notifying an administrator of the automation system when the access has been executed.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a request to grant the access to the non-occupant for a predetermined time period.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , further comprising:

expiring the one-time permission based at least in part on the predetermined time period independent of whether the access has been executed.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the first zone is at least one of a door, room, series of rooms, or a combination thereof.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , furthering comprising:

limiting the access to the premises to a first zone.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

arming the automation system a predetermined time period after the one-time permission has been redeemed.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

expiring the one-time permission to access the premises after the access has been executed.

13. An apparatus to grant a user access to an automation system of a premises, comprising:

a processor of a controller of the automation system;

a memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to:

receive a request to grant a non-occupant one-time permission to access the premises while an occupant is not present at the premises, the occupant of the premises comprising an owner or administrator of the automation system and the non-occupant comprising personnel external to the premises and automation system;

receive information including a type of personnel associated with the non-occupant in the request relative to the one-time permission to access the premises;

determine a zone of the premises and an access duration to the zone for the non-occupant based at least in part on the type of personnel associated with the non-occupant;

generate a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to grant the one-time permission, the URL including a single use entry code to the premises and an indication of access to the zone of the premises and the access duration;

grant the non-occupant the one-time permission to access the zone of the premises based at least in part on the URL; and

transmit a message comprising the URL to the non-occupant to access the zone of the premises.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the indication of access further comprises a limited number of entries.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

expire the one-time permission based at least in part on a predetermined durational time period independent of whether the access has been executed.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

notify an administrator of the automation system when the access has been executed.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

arm the automation system a predetermined time period after the permission has been redeemed.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a controller of an automation system to:

receive a request to grant a non-occupant one-time permission to access the premises while an occupant is not present at the premises, the occupant of the premises comprising an owner or administrator of the automation system and the non-occupant comprising personnel external to the premises and automation system;

receive information including a type of personnel associated with the non-occupant in the request relative to the one-time permission to access the premises;

determine a zone of the premises and an access duration to the zone for the non-occupant based at least in part on the type of personnel associated with the non-occupant′

generate a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to grant the one-time permission, the URL including a single use entry code to the premises and an indication of access to the zone of the premises and the access duration;

grant the non-occupant the one-time permission to access the zone of the premises based at least in part on the URL; and

transmit a message comprising the URL to the non-occupant to access the zone of the premises.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

expire the one-time permission based at least in part on a predetermined durational time period independent of whether the access has been executed.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

arm the automation system a predetermined time period after the permission has been executed.

Assignments (10)
AFTER-ACQUIRED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 27, 2025
From: VIVINT LLC; SMART HOME PROS, INC.; VIVINT AMIGO, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS PRIORITY COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 070349/0816 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 038275, FRAME 0377 Recorded Nov 11, 2024
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 069334/0010 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 049283, FRAME 0566 Recorded Nov 11, 2024
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 069334/0137 →
RELEASE (REEL 047029/ FRAME 0304) Recorded Nov 1, 2024
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: VIVINT LLC (F/K/A VIVINT, INC.)
Reel/Frame 069289/0468 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2021
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 056832/0725 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 23, 2019
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 049283/0566 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 6, 2018
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 047029/0304 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2016
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 038402/0356 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2016
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 038275/0377 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 11, 2014
From: HWANG, JUNGTAIK
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 033509/0099 →