IP Library Granted Patent US 10,522,012
Granted Patent B1
US 10,522,012 · App. 16/031,937 · Granted Dec 31, 2019

Verifying occupancy of a building

Inventors: James E. Nye (Alpine, UT); Jeremy B. Warren (Draper, UT)
Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
G08B13/1672G08B13/02G08B13/04G08B29/188
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,522,012
App. No.
16/031,937
Granted
Dec 31, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method for detecting occupancy of a building is described. In one embodiment, the method includes using a microphone to monitor for sounds at a building, detecting a sound via the microphone, and determining whether the sound is made by a human or made by an animal. In some cases, the microphone is a glass break sensor microphone.

Claims (39)

1. A method, comprising:

detecting, via a home automation system, a motion associated with a premises;

receiving one or more sounds based at least in part on detecting the motion associated with the premises;

determining whether an entity associated with the one or more sounds is a human or an animal based at least in part on receiving the one or more sounds, wherein the determining comprises comparing the one or more sounds with sound profiles of the home automation system; and

initiating an alarm based at least in part on determining the entity associated with the one or more sounds.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a location of the entity relative to the premises, wherein initiating the alarm is based at least in part on the location of the entity.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating the alarm is based at least in part on a status of a setting of the home automation system.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the motion is detected via a glass break sensor of the home automation system.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether the entity is associated with the premises, wherein initiating the alarm is based at least in part on determining that the entity is not associated with the premises.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

generating a notification based at least in part on determining the entity associated with the one or more sounds; and

transmitting the notification to a user of the home automation system based at least in part on determining that the entity is not associated with the premises.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

transmitting the notification to a third-party based at least in part on determining that the entity is not associated with the premises.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor, wherein the memory stores computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform steps of:

detecting, via a home automation system, a motion within a premises;

receiving one or more sounds based at least in part on detecting the motion within the premises;

determining whether an entity associated with the one or more sounds is a human or an animal based at least in part on receiving the one or more sounds, wherein the determining comprises comparing the one or more sounds with sound profiles of the home automation system; and

initiating an alarm based at least in part on determining the entity associated with the one or more sounds.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

determining a location of the entity relative to the premises, wherein initiating the alarm is based at least in part on the location of the entity.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein initiating the alarm is based at least in part on a status of a setting of the home automation system.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

determining whether the entity is associated with the premises, wherein initiating the alarm is based at least in part on determining that the entity is not associated with the premises.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

generating a notification based at least in part on determining the entity associated with the one or more sounds; and

transmitting the notification to a user of the home automation system based at least in part on determining that the entity is not associated with the premises.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

transmitting the notification to a third-party based at least in part on determining that the entity is not associated with the premises.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

detecting, via a home automation system, a motion within a premises;

receiving one or more sounds based at least in part on detecting the motion within the premises;

determining whether an entity associated with the one or more sounds is a human or an animal based at least in part on receiving the one or more sounds, wherein the determining comprises comparing the one or more sounds with sound profiles of the home automation system; and

initiating an alarm based at least in part on determining the entity associated with the one or more sounds.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein initiating the alarm is based at least in part on a status of a setting of the home automation system.

Assignments (9)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 7, 2025
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: VIVINT LLC
Reel/Frame 069767/0257 →
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 056832/0824 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 23, 2019
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 049283/0566 →
SUPPL. NO. 2 SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 6, 2018
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA N.A.
Reel/Frame 047024/0048 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 6, 2018
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 047029/0304 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2018
From: NYE, JAMES E.; WARREN, JEREMY B.
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 046311/0915 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15276565 · Sep 26, 2016
Continuation 14316597 · Jun 26, 2014