IP Library Granted Patent US 10,127,798
Granted Patent B1
US 10,127,798 · App. 15/405,556 · Granted Nov 13, 2018

Monitoring system control technology using multiple sensors, cameras, lighting devices, and a thermostat

Inventors: Stephen Scott Trundle (Falls Church, VA); Alison Jane Slavin (Vienna, VA)
Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
G08B29/02G08B13/00G08B25/10G08B25/14H04W4/50H04W4/80H04W88/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,127,798
App. No.
15/405,556
Granted
Nov 13, 2018
Kind
B1
Abstract

Techniques are described for providing control of a monitoring system (e.g., a home alarm or security system) using one or more mobile devices. In some implementations, a native mobile device application enables use of a mobile device as a security/automation system keypad and controller for a home security system. In these implementations, the mobile device, using the native mobile device application, checks real time status of system and sensors, arms/disarms system, turns lights on/off, looks in on live video of security cameras, reviews history of system events, reviews saved video clips, monitors/changes thermostat settings, and performs other features of a traditional security keypad in a home security system.

Claims (36)

1. A system for monitoring a property, the system comprising:

a monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property, the monitoring system including multiple sensors that are installed at the property and that are configured to sense attributes of the property, multiple cameras that are installed at the property and that are configured to capture live video of the property, a thermostat that is installed at the property and that is configured to control temperature at the property, and multiple lighting devices that are installed at the property and that are configured to control lighting at the property; and

a native mobile device monitoring application that is loaded onto a mobile device and that runs on a mobile device platform used by the mobile device, the native mobile device monitoring application including instructions that, when executed by the mobile device, cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising:

performing a synchronization process to synchronize the native mobile device monitoring application with the monitoring system, the synchronization enabling the native mobile device application to receive sensor events detected by the multiple sensors that are installed at the property, receive live video from the multiple cameras that are installed at the property, control the thermostat that is installed at the property, and control the multiple lighting devices that are installed at the property;

based on the synchronization:

checking real time status of the multiple sensors installed at the property and displaying the real time status of the multiple sensors installed at the property through the native mobile device monitoring application,

receiving live video from the multiple cameras that are installed at the property and displaying the live video from the multiple cameras that are installed at the property through the native mobile device monitoring application,

monitoring thermostat settings for the thermostat that is installed at the property and displaying the thermostat settings for the thermostat that is installed at the property through the native mobile device monitoring application,

monitoring lighting device settings for the multiple lighting devices that are installed at the property and displaying the lighting device settings for the multiple lighting devices that are installed at the property through the native mobile device monitoring application, and

based on checking the real time status of the multiple sensors installed at the property, detecting an event related to the monitoring system;

enabling a user to provide user input to control the thermostat that is installed at the property and control the multiple lighting devices that are installed at the property;

receiving user input defining (i) a first control operation to control the thermostat that is installed at the property, (ii) a second control operation to control at least one of the multiple lighting devices that is installed at the property, and (iii) a third control operation to arm the monitoring system;

based on the received user input and the synchronization, sending control communications that cause the monitoring system to (i) change at least one of the thermostat settings for the thermostat that is installed at the property and at least one of the lighting device settings for the multiple lighting devices that are installed at the property and (ii) arm;

based on the event related to the monitoring system, determining to capture one or more images using a camera of the mobile device; and

capturing, using the camera of the mobile device, the one or more images and associating the one or more images with the detected event.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the native mobile device monitoring application includes instructions that, when executed by the mobile device, cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising displaying an interface that enables a user to review a history of monitoring system events through the native mobile device monitoring application.

3. A method for monitoring a property using a monitoring system comprising multiple sensors that are installed at the property and that are configured to sense attributes of the property, multiple cameras that are installed at the property and that are configured to capture live video of the property, a thermostat that is installed at the property and that is configured to control temperature at the property, and multiple lighting devices that are installed at the property and that are configured to control lighting at the property, the method comprising:

performing, by a native mobile device monitoring application that is loaded onto a mobile device and that runs on a mobile device platform used by the mobile device, a synchronization process to synchronize the native mobile device monitoring application with the monitoring system, the synchronization enabling the native mobile device application to receive sensor events detected by the multiple sensors that are installed at the property, receive live video from the multiple cameras that are installed at the property, control the thermostat that is installed at the property, and control the multiple lighting devices that are installed at the property;

based on the synchronization:

checking, by the native mobile device monitoring application that is loaded onto the mobile device and that runs on the mobile device platform used by the mobile device, real time status of the multiple sensors installed at the property and displaying the real time status of the multiple sensors installed at the property through the native mobile device monitoring application,

receiving, by the native mobile device monitoring application that is loaded onto the mobile device and that runs on the mobile device platform used by the mobile device, live video from the multiple cameras that are installed at the property and displaying the live video from the multiple cameras that are installed at the property through the native mobile device monitoring application,

monitoring, by the native mobile device monitoring application that is loaded onto the mobile device and that runs on the mobile device platform used by the mobile device, thermostat settings for the thermostat that is installed at the property and displaying the thermostat settings for the thermostat that is installed at the property through the native mobile device monitoring application,

monitoring, by the native mobile device monitoring application that is loaded onto the mobile device and that runs on the mobile device platform used by the mobile device, lighting device settings for the multiple lighting devices that are installed at the property and displaying the lighting device settings for the multiple lighting devices that are installed at the property through the native mobile device monitoring application, and

based on checking the real time status of the multiple sensors installed at the property, detecting, by the native mobile device monitoring application that is loaded onto the mobile device and that runs on the mobile device platform used by the mobile device, an event related to the monitoring system;

enabling, by the native mobile device monitoring application that is loaded onto the mobile device and that runs on the mobile device platform used by the mobile device, a user to provide user input to control the thermostat that is installed at the property and control the multiple lighting devices that are installed at the property;

receiving, by the native mobile device monitoring application that is loaded onto the mobile device and that runs on the mobile device platform used by the mobile device, user input defining (i) a first control operation to control the thermostat that is installed at the property, (ii) a second control operation to control at least one of the multiple lighting devices that is installed at the property, and (iii) a third control operation to arm the monitoring system;

based on the received user input and the synchronization, sending, by the native mobile device monitoring application that is loaded onto the mobile device and that runs on the mobile device platform used by the mobile device, control communications that cause the monitoring system to (i) change at least one of the thermostat settings for the thermostat that is installed at the property and at least one of the lighting device settings for the multiple lighting devices that are installed at the property and (ii) arm;

based on the event related to the monitoring system, determining, by the native mobile device monitoring application that is loaded onto the mobile device and that runs on the mobile device platform used by the mobile device, to capture one or more images using a camera of the mobile device;

capturing, using the camera of the mobile device, the one or more images; and

associating, by the native mobile device monitoring application that is loaded onto the mobile device and that runs on the mobile device platform used by the mobile device, the one or more images with the detected event.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the event related to the monitoring system is a security breach of the property.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the native mobile device monitoring application includes instructions that, when executed by the mobile device, cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising:

transmitting, to an additional computing device, the one or more images and data identifying the event related to the monitoring system.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein capturing, using the camera of the mobile device, the one or more images and associating the one or more images with the detected event comprises capturing, using the camera of the mobile device and without user input, the one or more images and associating the one or more images with the detected event.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the native mobile device monitoring application includes instructions that, when executed by the mobile device, cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising:

capturing, using the camera of the mobile device, a video and associating the video with the detected event.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 21, 2021
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK
To: ENERGYHUB, INC.; ICN ACQUISITION, LLC; ALARM.COM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 055069/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2017
From: ALARM.COM, INCORPORATED; ENERGYHUB, INC.; ICN ACQUISITION, LLC
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 044167/0235 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2017
From: TRUNDLE, STEPHEN SCOTT; SLAVIN, ALISON JANE
To: ALARM.COM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 041185/0555 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 14665277 · Mar 23, 2015
Continuation 13735193 · Jan 7, 2013
Continuation 12782633 · May 18, 2010
Provisional Application 61179215 · May 18, 2009
Cited By (4)
US 12,236,773 US 12,260,726 US 12,374,211 US 12,626,552