IP Library Granted Patent US 11,694,494
Granted Patent B2
US 11,694,494 · App. 17/391,671 · Granted Jul 4, 2023

Automatic emergency door unlock system

Inventors: Thomas Rogers (Frederick, MD); David James Hutz (Herndon, VA); Noah Robert Weingart (Arlington, VA)
Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
G07C9/00309G07C9/00174G07C9/00571G07C9/00896G07C9/38G08B27/001G07C2009/00333G07C2009/00769
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,694,494
App. No.
17/391,671
Granted
Jul 4, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

In some implementations, systems and techniques are described to automatically unlock a front door of a property in response to detecting an alarm signal indicating an emergency at or near a property. Data indicating occurrence of an emergency condition at a property is initially obtained. A lock configuration for an electronic lock of the property is determined. An unlock instruction is generated for the electronic lock based on the determined lock configuration for the electronic lock. The unlock instruction is transmitted to the electronic lock such that, when the unlock instruction is received by the electronic lock, the electronic lock is unlocked according to the unlock instruction.

Claims (69)

1. A method performed by one or more computers, the method comprising:

obtaining data indicating an emergency detected at a property and context data indicating a severity level of the emergency;

identifying, for an electronic lock of the property, a first time period for keeping the electronic lock unlocked during emergency conditions detected at the property;

determining to adjust the first time period using the severity level of the emergency;

in response to determining to adjust the first time period, determining, for the electronic lock, a second time period for keeping the electronic lock unlocked during the emergency; and

providing, to the electronic lock, an instruction that unlocks the electronic lock for the second time period.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the context data comprises an emergency classification for the emergency detected at the property;

the instruction is associated with the emergency classification; and

providing the instruction to the electronic lock comprises selecting, from among a set of instructions that are each associated with a different emergency classification, the instruction using the emergency classification.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the emergency classification indicates the severity level of the emergency detected at the property.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the context data indicates (i) that the emergency detected at the property is a fire emergency and (ii) an ambient temperature of the property that is detected by one or more sensors located in the property; and

the method further comprises determining the severity level for the fire emergency using the ambient temperature of the property.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the emergency is detected by a server associated with a monitoring system located in the property;

the instruction is generated by the server; and

the instruction is provided to a control unit that causes the electronic lock to unlock for the second time period.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the emergency is detected by a monitoring system component located in the property;

the instruction is generated by the monitoring system component; and

the instruction is provided to the electronic lock by the monitoring system component.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the data indicating the emergency comprises obtaining an indication of the emergency from a third-party electronic device that is not a component of a monitoring system located in the property.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that the emergency has terminated; and

in response to determining that the emergency has terminated, providing, to the electronic lock, a second instruction that locks the electronic lock.

9. A system comprising:

one or more computing devices; and

one or more storage devices storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform operations comprising:

obtaining data indicating an emergency detected at a property and context data indicating a severity level of the emergency;

identifying, for an electronic lock of the property, a first time period for keeping the electronic lock unlocked during emergency conditions detected at the property;

determining to adjust the first time period using the severity level of the emergency;

in response to determining to adjust the first time period, determining, for the electronic lock, a second time period for keeping the electronic lock unlocked during the emergency; and

providing, to the electronic lock, an instruction that unlocks the electronic lock for the second time period.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein:

the context data comprises an emergency classification for the emergency detected at the property;

the instruction is associated with the emergency classification; and

providing the instruction to the electronic lock comprises selecting, from among a set of instructions that are each associated with a different emergency classification, the instruction using the emergency classification.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the emergency classification indicates the severity level of the emergency detected at the property.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein:

the context data indicates (i) that the emergency detected at the property is a fire emergency and (ii) an ambient temperature of the property that is detected by one or more sensors located in the property; and

the operations further comprise determining the severity level for the fire emergency using the ambient temperature of the property.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein:

the emergency is detected by a server associated with a monitoring system located in the property;

the instruction is generated by the server; and

the instruction is provided to a control unit that causes the electronic lock to unlock for the second time period.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein:

the emergency is detected by a monitoring system component located in the property;

the instruction is generated by the monitoring system component; and

the instruction is provided to the electronic lock by the monitoring system component.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein obtaining the data indicating the emergency comprises obtaining an indication of the emergency from a third-party electronic device that is not a component of a monitoring system located in the property.

16. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing instruction that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

obtaining data indicating an emergency detected at a property and context data indicating a severity level of the emergency;

identifying, for an electronic lock of the property, a first time period for keeping the electronic lock unlocked during emergency conditions detected at the property;

determining to adjust the first time period using the severity level of the emergency;

in response to determining to adjust the first time period, determining, for the electronic lock, a second time period for keeping the electronic lock unlocked during the emergency; and

providing, to the electronic lock, an instruction that unlocks the electronic lock for the second time period.

17. The storage media of claim 16 , wherein:

the context data comprises an emergency classification for the emergency detected at the property;

the instruction is associated with the emergency classification; and

providing the instruction to the electronic lock comprises selecting, from among a set of instructions that are each associated with a different emergency classification, the instruction using the emergency classification.

18. The storage media of claim 17 , wherein the emergency classification indicates the severity level of the emergency detected at the property.

19. The storage media of claim 16 , wherein:

the context data indicates (i) that the emergency detected at the property is a fire emergency and (ii) an ambient temperature of the property that is detected by one or more sensors located in the property; and

the operations further comprise determining the severity level for the fire emergency using the ambient temperature of the property.

20. The storage media of claim 16 , wherein:

the emergency is detected by a server associated with a monitoring system located in the property;

the instruction is generated by the server; and

the instruction is provided to a control unit that causes the electronic lock to unlock for the second time period.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2021
From: ROGERS, THOMAS; HUTZ, DAVID JAMES; WEINGART, NOAH ROBERT
To: ALARM.COM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 057074/0116 →