IP Library Granted Patent US 11,508,233
Granted Patent B2
US 11,508,233 · App. 17/019,826 · Granted Nov 22, 2022

Handling duress input

Inventors: Rose Blais Alexander (McLean, VA); Rebecca Elisabeth Davenport (Falls Church, VA); Alison Jane Slavin (Falls Church, VA)
Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
G08B25/016G08B25/008G08B25/14G08B15/001
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,508,233
App. No.
17/019,826
Granted
Nov 22, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques are described for handling duress input. For example, techniques are described for handling duress input provided to a mobile application that controls a monitoring system located at a fixed property.

Claims (33)

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

a control device that is configured to control a monitoring system located at a property and perform operations comprising:

receiving duress input indicating a duress situation,

in response to receiving the duress input:

sending, to a monitoring server, data for the duress input, and

controlling an interface of the control device to give an appearance that the monitoring system has been disarmed; and

receiving, from the monitoring system, a command to capture audio; and

in response to receiving the command to capture audio, causing, by the control device, capture of audio using a microphone connected to the control device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein receiving the duress input comprises receiving at least one of a code, a gesture recognizable by the control device, a sequence of touch inputs provided to the control device, or an audio phrase detected by the control device.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein receiving the duress input comprises receiving duress input while the control device is located within the property.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein sending the data for the duress input causes the monitoring server to activate a delay sequence that introduces delay to the duress situation.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein controlling an interface comprises controlling the interface of the control device to give the appearance that the monitoring system has been disarmed by outputting acceptance of the duress input.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein sending the data for the duress input causes the monitoring server to alert a contact to the duress situation and cause dispatch of emergency services to the property.

7. The system of claim 1 , the operations comprising receiving, from the monitoring server, an acknowledgement of receipt and processing of the duress input.

8. The system of claim 1 , the operations comprising enabling a user interface to set up one or more duress codes that serve as the duress input.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control device comprises a mobile device application that is loaded onto a mobile device.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein sending the duress input comprises sending, to the monitoring server, the duress input with a location of the control device.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, by a control device, duress input indicating a duress situation, the control device being configured to control a monitoring system located at a property, and;

in response to receiving the duress input:

sending, to a monitoring server remote from the property, data for the duress input; and

controlling an interface of the control device to give an appearance that the monitoring system has been disarmed;

receiving, from the monitoring system, a command to capture audio; and

in response to receiving the command to capture audio, causing, by the control device, capture of audio using a microphone connected to the control device.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving, by the control device, duress input comprises receiving at least one of a code, a gesture recognizable by the control device, a sequence of touch inputs provided to the control device, or an audio phrase detected by the control device.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving, by the control device, duress input comprises receiving duress input while the control device is located within the property.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein sending the data for the duress input causes the monitoring server to activate, based on receipt of the duress input, a delay sequence that introduces delay to the duress situation.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein controlling the interface of the control device to give the appearance that the monitoring system has been disarmed comprises outputting acceptance of the duress input.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein sending the data for the duress input causes the monitoring server to alert a contact to the duress situation and causing dispatch of emergency services to the property.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising receiving, from the monitoring server, an acknowledgement of receipt and processing of the duress input.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising enabling a user interface to set up one or more duress codes that serve as the duress input.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving, by the control device, duress input comprises receiving duress input by a mobile device application that is loaded onto a mobile device.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein sending, to the monitoring server, the duress input comprises sending, to the monitoring server, the duress input with a location of the control device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2020
From: ALEXANDER, ROSE BLAIS; DAVENPORT, REBECCA ELISABETH; SLAVIN, ALISON JANE
To: ALARM.COM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 054261/0953 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 16720784 · Dec 19, 2019
Continuation 16293056 · Mar 5, 2019
Continuation 16102284 · Aug 13, 2018
Continuation 15798141 · Oct 30, 2017
Continuation 15612660 · Jun 2, 2017
Continuation 14533203 · Nov 5, 2014
Provisional Application 61899907 · Nov 5, 2013
Related Publication 20200410845A1 · Dec 31, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,236,772